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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781463403188 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 05/24/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 192 |
| File size: | 929 KB |
| Age Range: | 13 - 17 Years |
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Skull and Bones
A Pirate's OdysseyBy R. Samuel
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 R. SamuelAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-0320-1
Chapter One
La Bahía de Los Tiburones.
Strait of Gibraltar 35° 57' 0 N, 5° 35' 60 W April 12, 1870 13:00PM
Bruce Hawkins, the cabin boy of The Dark Cloud, was anything but a boy. He was a large hunk of man in his early twenties, who Captain James Noire had saved from drowning in the English Channel a few months ago. Since Captain Noire saved his life, Bruce, in turn, had to pledge fealty to the pirate captain, serving as his cabin boy. Bruce loathed his position, finding it quite degrading for a large man like him to be a docile handmaid. However, since he wasn't good at anything else and had no purpose in civilized society, being a cabin boy seemed like the only thing he could do. That is until Captain Noire told him of their next course of action.
"OUT! GET OUT YOU MUTINOUS DOG! HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME!" bellowed Captain James Noire.
The crewmen of The Dark Cloud stared at each other blankly as they continued to hear the riot occurring in the captain's quarters.
"Mutiny? Ha! I'm just being an honest man! Like I said, Captain, you are completely off your rocker!" retorted Bruce angrily.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'OFF MY ROCKER? ' I AM CAPTAIN JAMES NOIRE! I ALWAYS KNOW WHAT I AM DOING!" hollered Captain Noire as he burst open the door of his quarters.
Captain Noire grabbed the nape of Bruce's collar and held the large man in the air.
Bruce struggled and gasped for air as Captain Noire's deadly grip took hold around his neck.
"You know, Hawkins, I'm a reasonable man. But the one thing that I hate in this world, other than women, is defiance. I expect my crew to obey my every command, and if they don't, then it's mutiny. And you know for a fact that I also HATE mutiny, right Hawkins?" growled Captain Noire
Reluctantly, Bruce bobbled his head yes in response.
"Good," remarked Captain Noire letting go of Bruce.
Bruce sputtered and coughed on the deck of The Dark Cloud. He watched Captain Noire walk back towards his quarters. His eyes burned with hatred as he glowered at Captain Noire. The man is crazy ... he's insane ... he's bound to kill us all and he knows it! Everyone knows of it, but they are too scared to do anything, thought Bruce bitterly to himself. But not me.
Bruce got up and lunged at Captain Noire who aptly dodged the attack.
"YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US! YOU ARE MAD! WITH YOU AS CAPTAIN, WE'LL ALL BE DEAD!" screamed Bruce as he attempted to attack again.
"I've had enough of this nonsense," snapped Captain Noire impatiently as he evaded Bruce's attack and smashed his fist in Bruce's gut. "Miyazaki, make yourself useful and bind this man in chains."
A tall Japanese man named Daisuke Miyazaki, clad in a red and black samurai outfit with a severe expression on his face nodded in response.
Daisuke Miyazaki drew a thin katana and held it threateningly towards Bruce who was coughing up blood.
Bruce snickered at the sight of the weightless blade.
"Your pretty little sword won't be able to injure a defenseless child. Don't fool with me, boy."
"My pretty little sword can kill you without wasting my breath," growled Daisuke as he slashed Bruce's knees with his katana.
After wounding Bruce, Daisuke began to chain him.
"What you are doing is insane! You are senile! Tell them! Tell them what you are scheming!" spat Bruce who still was confounded that such a lightweight blade was able to maim him.
Captain Noire was unmoved.
"Hurry up, Miyazaki, make sure that those chains are tightly secured. Villa, would you like to remind me where we are?"
"The Strait of Gibraltar, sir," responded a slim Portuguese man from the crow's nest.
Captain Noire's lips curled into a twisted smile.
"How appropriate."
"Sir, shall I take him below deck and put him in the locker? He's quite noisy," mumbled Daisuke who was patiently ignoring the caustic vulgarities spewing from Bruce's mouth.
"Oh, no need for that, Miyazaki. He'll be quiet soon enough. We're right by La Bahía de Los Tiburones. That should keep him quiet."
The crewmen paled.
"Sir, do you think that's a bit harsh? I mean it is one of the most ... deadly places in the sea. That is quite a cruel fate," inquired first-mate Maurice Lebeau.
"Lebeau, that is the price for mutiny. He's lucky I'm in a gracious mood, otherwise, I'd have to deal with him myself," sighed Captain Noire shrugging.
Bruce was confused with the commotion about La Bahía de Los Tiburones.
"What's the big deal about that? Is it some whipping post or something?" whispered Bruce to Maurice.
Maurice frowned.
"It's Spanish for 'The Bay of the Sharks'. And if you still don't understand the big deal about the bay, you'll see for yourself."
"But sharks aren't found in the Mediterranean ... right?" hoped Bruce.
Maurice shrugged.
"We'll see."
It wasn't long before The Dark Cloud was in the lethal waters of La Bahía de Los Tiburones where many treasonous sailors never returned alive. This frightful place earned its name for the plethora of great white sharks which dwelt in those tides. It was a fairly unknown place to many sailors due to the fact that the Spanish government once used it as a place to torture outlaws of the sea and those tried for treason. However, to pirates, this bay was avoided with caution.
Captain Noire peered at the bay and frowned. Other than the dark waters, the ominous sky, and the occasional human skeleton that floated by, the bay was quite calm and serene. Not something one would expect from a bay of sharks.
"This is it? I knew there weren't any sharks in the Mediterranean," scoffed Bruce proudly.
"Not too fast ..." said Captain Noire slowly as he drew a dagger. He stabbed Bruce's leg and drew blood from him. Then he dripped the blood into the sea.
Captain Noire grinned. The scent of freshly drawn blood never fails.
In a few moments, dorsal fins began to encroach in the surrounding waters.
Bruce's eyes grew large in fear. He looked at Captain Noire pleadingly for a second chance.
Captain Noire glanced at Bruce and shook his head no.
"This is the price for disloyalty, Hawkins," said Captain Noire coldly. "I do not tolerate disobedience on my ship."
Captain Noire motioned to Daisuke and Maurice to grab hold of Bruce, who began to scream in terror. The two men carried Bruce towards the helm of the ship. They paused and looked at Captain Noire, who gave a curt wave, signaling them to throw the large man overboard.
Maurice and Daisuke looked at each other, nodded, and threw the screaming Briton overboard.
After hearing the reassuring splash, Captain Noire tottered off nonchalantly back to his cabin, ignoring the feared looks of his crewmen and Bruce's agonized cries.
"Sir, what was Bruce saying ... that you didn't tell us?" asked Maurice cautiously.
Captain Noire abruptly stopped walking.
"Might as well tell you lot our next course," sighed Captain Noire at last.
"Yes, you should," replied Maurice frowning.
"We're going to be searching for the Noire treasure," said Captain Noire quickly.
The crewmen of The Dark Cloud were silent and stared at Captain Noire dumbfounded.
Diogo Villa, the Portuguese look out, spoke up.
"Isn't the Noire treasure the one that ... doesn't exist?" he inquired.
Captain Noire smiled.
"Precisely."
Chapter Two
The Noire Treasure
Strait of Gibraltar 35° 57' 0 N, 5° 35' 60 W April 12, 1870 14:00PM
"Sir," began Maurice. "I mean no disrespect, but are you certain that you want to find the Noire treasure? There are no maps which lead to the fabled Noire treasure! It's like Ponce De Leon searching aimlessly for The Fountain of Youth!"
Captain Noire chuckled.
"I am touched by your concern, Lebeau, but I am no fool. I don't believe in myths. I have the map of the Noire treasure."
Captain Noire reached into his breast pocket and revealed a tattered grubby folded piece of paper. He unfolded the paper and revealed to his crewmen its contents.
The crewmen gathered around and examined the map; it was blank.
Diogo took the map and scrutinized it.
"I can't see anything!"
"Of course you can't see it," snapped Captain Noire irritably snatching the map from Diogo's hands. He bit his finger firmly to the point that he drew blood. Then he let the blood drip from his finger to the center of the map and revealed the map to them. The red blood slowly permeated the entire map as oceans and countries began to form and appear in their appropriate locations. The crewmen gazed at the map in wonder. Finally, the map revealed their current location and gave a vague direction to where The Noire Treasure laid. Captain Noire grinned at the astonished faces of his crew.
"Only a Noire can activate it; specifically, the blood of a Noire. Therefore, there is no fooling the map. "
The crew looked at him skeptically.
"So ... where does it say for us to go?" inquired Diogo.
"Hmm ... east, for now," replied Captain Noire.
"East? For now?"
"Well, yes, until the blood dries up ..."
"I know sir, but it's so vague ... and what did it mean by 'for now'? The direction and location of the treasure will change?"
"Yes, it will. The Noire Treasure is no ordinary treasure ... it is a ... gift, so to say, from Poseidon. "
"Poseidon?" sputtered Maurice incredulously, "As in the Greek god Poseidon?"
Captain Noire nodded.
"Yes, Poseidon gave my ancestor this treasure as a reward for his honesty. The details of the reason why he was given this gift escape me; however, Poseidon isn't so willing to reward mortals. None of the gods are, anyways, they can't be trusted. To say the least, none of the Noires in my family found it. It actually drove many of my family insane and caused bloodshed. Therefore, I believe the Noire treasure is a curse."
"So why are you looking for it?" asked Maurice suspiciously. "Why are you looking for something that can't be found? That doesn't exist? Why are you willing to risk all of our lives over some folly?"
Captain Noire sighed.
"I am the last Noire alive. My parents and sister are dead and I am the only Noire to be able to use this map; should I die, so does the treasure or curse."
"But that's a good thing? Isn't it?" questioned Diogo who was now getting quite confused.
Captain Noire shook his head.
"No ... it merely proves that man is too weak and too cowardly to seek the unknown. Not to mention, I want to find out if this treasure really exists. Call me arrogant, but I am Captain James Noire, the most notorious pirate of the seas who has found almost every single treasure the world has to offer. If anyone, I am the candidate to find the Noire Treasure and end this chase once and for all."
"But why now? You are young, sir. A mere 25 years of age! You have decades to live!" demanded Dereck Larson, the Danish doctor who was patiently listening along.
"I am bored. The world has nothing to amuse me with. I have the highest bounty on my head than any of the other Captains. I am young, yes, but I feel unsatisfied. All my life, this game of piracy has been child's play.
I want an adventure, a challenge, something that will give me that feeling of adrenaline coursing through my veins."
The four crewmen of The Dark Cloud looked at each other, having a familiar thought cross all of their minds: Our captain is crazy.
"Anything else you'd like to ask?" asked Captain Noire mockingly.
The crewmen shook their heads.
"Good. Now if you will excuse me, I think I'd fancy a few moments alone. This day has been quite tiring to say the least," remarked Captain Noire stifling a yawn.
With that, Captain Noire waved his crewmen off and sauntered back to his quarters.
* * *
Captain James Noire was born in the May of 1848 to Captains Malcolm and Penelope Noire. For five years, the Noire family happily enjoyed various acts of piracy until Penelope Noire gave birth to a young daughter. Upon the birth of their daughter, mutiny began to brew amongst their crew and the Noires were separated. Malcolm and Penelope were hanged, while young James was left with his younger sister. However, James was only five and did not know how to care for a young infant, so he abandoned her in the dark alleyways of London.
He started as a one man crew, sailing about the world and single-handedly overthrowing powerful captains of merchant and pirate ships. With the rising name of James Noire as the most deadly pirate of the world, many outlaws and pirates wanted to join his crew. However, despite all the eager sailors who wished to join him, James Noire denied them all. He hand chose his crewmen from corners all over the world; all of whom were forced to join his crew without their consent.
With a seemingly unpromising crew, James Noire became an even more infamous and despicable name on the seas. It came to the point, at the young age of 20, James Noire was the wealthiest pirate in the world who managed to capture every single ship and elude every government's laws. Yet, this early success left a sense of dissatisfaction within him ...
* * *
Captain Noire's grey eyes fluttered open. He rummaged in his pockets and found a tarnished pocket watch. Hmm ... slept for 2 hours ... that's good enough, he noted to himself, for he was not a man who slept often. He got up from his bed and stretched out his tired limbs.
I could use a nice cup of tea ... I have a splitting headache, he thought to himself as he clutched his head in agony.
He slowly walked out of the door and saw his four crewmen playing cards. Captain Noire frowned. He hated an idle crew.
Be calm James ... be calm ... you have a bloody head ache ... no need to have an aneurysm.
He walked towards his crewmen slowly, clunking his boots ominously as a warning for them to realize his presence.
The four men immediately dropped their cards and stood up reverently.
Captain Noire glared at each one of them.
"Why are you lazing about playing Old Maid? Do you not know our next course of action? Why are you not making preparations for our destination east? Did you not see what I did to Bruce? Shall I seal your fates similarly?" growled Captain Noire.
The crewmen glanced at each other and shook their heads.
"That's what I expect. Now Maurice, I want you to make sure we're sailing east ... that's where the Noire treasure should be for now."
"Aye, sir, but not to undermine your decision, shouldn't we have more men on this journey? I mean we don't have a cabin boy ... or a navigator ... or a powder man," remarked Maurice bravely.
"Multitask for all I care, I have no time or patience to recruit anyone new. I'm in no mood for learning new names and faces," snapped Captain Noire raising his hand in a flourish.
"Sir, we are mere men ... we can't be able to satisfy your needs along with that of the functioning of this ship! We need more men! Besides, you've often said you needed a new cabin boy ..." trailed Diogo.
Captain Noire pondered for a moment.
"I suppose you are right ..." he said reluctantly as he scratched his head.
Dereck frowned.
"This all may be true, but how can we just 'recruit' a pirate? We'll be hanged for God knows!" stated Dereck wisely.
"Ah ... that my dear man, depends on location," began Captain Noire. "The Spanish are ready to gore me, the French want me boiled in a bouillabaisse, the Portuguese want me skinned alive, the Britons want me served with chips, and the Italians want me julienned ..."
"Which basically means... we have no place for recruiting ..." sighed Dereck.
"Of course not, you fool! I didn't mention the one place, where I am feared so much that no one DARES to touch me."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Skull and Bones by R. Samuel Copyright © 2011 by R. Samuel. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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