The Job

It was early Sunday morning and Amber insisted in going with me to the ship. We arrived at the docks and after a short goodbye to Amber I headed up to board the ship. "Here Captain is the list of Ports we are headed toward. I know you already have a list but I have noted these with the time frames we need to maintain to make this a profitable trip."

"Yes well we will see if we can maintain this ambitious schedual you have hear M. Larkin." He said as he noted the listing.

Frist stop was Algiers, then Bizerte, Rome, and finnaly Corsica before returning home.


......

The seas weren't anymore rougher than the trip I made to Spain but for some reason my stomach couldn't stand the rocking. Once more I heaved over the rail loosing whatever I had managed to get down me from breakfast, but it didn't stop again I went through the motions despite nothing comming out of me except the sound of the pain.

I could hear the laughs from the men as they went by even if they tried to hide it. "Having problems getting your sea legs M. Larkin" Captain D'Alembert said. "Wheelman take it one full turn into the wind." turning back to me he speaks a bit softer. "If you don't mind losing a bit of time headed to the next port. Less roll from the waves should help a bit." He then headed back toward his cabin. Stopping briefly as he passed his first mate, "The duty is yours sir. Call me if you need anthing." He turned back to look at me then said something else to the first mate but I couldn't hear what he said as he then headed back to his cabin.

The ship turning a bit did stop the roll some and I have to admit I did start to feel better except for the emptiness of my stomach. My legs were still uneasy beneath me so I headed toward my cabin as well.

The next day I felt much better as I headed up on deck. The men were busy either cleaning one thing or another plus seeing them climb up the rigging to adjust and repair even the slightest tear in the sails.

"Well sorry about yesterday Captain. I am feeling better today."

"Crossing the Med is never a problem as the winds always seems to make it a quick haul. It will be the return trip where we face the prevailing winds that will be the toughest. I don't see weather as being a problem either as we should be ahead of the real nasty weather."

We were probably half way to our first stop when I heard the call from the crows nest. "Sails on the Horizon. "

Captain D'Alembert pulls out his spyglass and looks toward where the lookout was pointing. "Quarter turn of the wheel to the Port and bring her to close haul but keep them full."

"Aye Aye Captain." came the first mates reply.

"and prepare to drop sails." the Captain continued as he started to put his spyglass away, he looked at me and said here Mr. Larkin have a look and tell me what you see. Handing me his spyglass.

I raised them up and looking out toward the direction I thought the Captain was looking but all I could see was waves.

"I would guess just a little to your right." The Captain said so I paned a bit and spotted the ship. "Well its flying a French Flag." I said.

"Yes and what type of ship is it?"

"Looks to be a scout of some sort. I would guess a Locust Corvette, but something doesn't look right to me." I said

"What doesn't look right Mr. Larkin?"

"Not sure just hard to tell from here. I don't know it just doesn't seem right. Can't put my finger on what it is for sure." I said.

"Well I noticed the Mainmast looked a bit short, and what of the mizzenmast Mr. Larkin?"

"I don't see a mizzenmast." I said

"Exactly! Its missing. I would guess the ship was recently demasted and they haven't had time or the supplies to get it fixed yet. At any rate I want to know how it happened, and offer assistance if they want it. You never know how much it is welcome till you need it and see ships pass you bye."

We had managed to get withing shouting distance. "Ahoy there do you need any assistance." Captain D'Alembert shouted.

"If you have the time. Wouldn't want to hold you up." was heard coming from the other ship.

"Pull along side and drop the sails. Get a few men on the Grappling Hooks to pull us together." The Captain told the first mate.

"Heave To Captain and once we have you secured you welcome aboard."

I watched the men go to work at pulling the two ship together. Once we had The Captain of the other ship came aboard as the Carpenter we had went onto the other ship to see what they might need.

We proceeded to head to the Captains Cabin to learn of what had happened to the other ship...


((continued)

"Thanks for stopping and offering assistance Captain D'Alembert. I do insist that you don't interrupt your schedule on our account." Said Captain Jean de Mars.

"Don't worry about us. We have enough time in our schedule to help out a fellow Frenchman." Said Captain D'Alembert "But tell me what happened to you. Should we be concerned?"

"We were escorting the Equijane headed to the Levant. A round a day ago we were attacked by a Pirate ship. We engaged it in hopes that the Equijane could get away if we were unable to get the upper hand. I don't know who the other Captain of that ship was but it didn't seem to take him long to demast us and set course in pursuit of the Equijane."

I recognized the name of the ship Equijane as being one of Lasseux's ships. I didn't speak up just continued to listen of the Captains tell of the battle.

"So Captain this Pirate ship anything about it to help us recognize it if we happened to fall the same misfortune as you?" Captain D'Alembert asked.

"Yes I did notice when she sailed by us, the Masthead. It was a bit unusual. Looked like some sort of fish. Not sure if I recognized it as any I had seen before. Also it has 2 large Fore and Aft Masts. Extremely fast and very quick even upwind. Your best bet is to head downwind."

As the Captain described the Masthead I reached into my pocket and felt the carving Jaque had given me. It couldn't be his work or could it. The last time I saw Jaque was the night before my wedding. Perhaps when we get back I will ask him what he knows.

We spent the rest of the day helping raise the mizzenmast and then parted our ways. Heading on into Algiers without incident. The exchange of goods went as schedule plus I picked up some provisions to replace what we had given Captain Mars. I was sure to keep a listing of the cost so I could present it to Lasseux on our return to home.

(Figured it was about time I worked on this story a bit. Was hoping Deoiridh would post this next part since it is told from her husbands point of view. Please don't hold what I write as gospel here as I am going to do it as I feel Captain D'Alembert would have thought given what little I have heard from both Deoiridh and from reading her other stories)

I sat down in my chair and wondered to my self "How am I going to write this log entry?" It was a question that had been on my mind since the meeting with Larkin the senior a few weeks ago. "Now how did that go?" he thought.

....
"Well I am glade we could reach a monetary agreement Captain D'Alembert." M. Larkin continued. "There is just one more provision I need to discuss with you.'

I listened with some interest as to what that could be.

"I have a written proposal I need to have delivered at your first stop. While I can't tell you the details of the proposal secrecy is of utmost importance. You must deliver this to the intended recipient with the seal attached. I can tell you that delivery is crucial to the safe voyage of the ship." M. Larkin stated as he held a sealed envelope.

"I don't like delivery of items I don't have knowledge of Sir. Those are just the sort of things that can get you killed." Gustave Said. "I might be able to do this with the right incentive."

M. Larkin pulled a large bag of coin out and placed it on the table. "Would 2000 db be enough incentive Captain."

"It might just who am I to deliver this proposal to." I said.

"Well when the sun goes down head toward the west end of town. Take a right just past the Dagger's Sheath and look for the house with 3 candles burning in the window. Knock on the door and ask for the lady of the house. She will be the one to deal with.' M. Larkin stated. "oh and one more thing she might want you to deliver a box to the next location. Please say yes."

"Well sir, I don't do deals with woman. I also don't allow packages on-board without knowing the contents." I said.

"You aren't making the deal with the woman, I am. As to the other point all I can say is ask her about the contents I am sure she will be willing to let you do that, but if you can't find it in yourself to do this task then just give it to my son when the time comes. The less he knows the better just don't tell him I asked you to do it." M. Larkin said

"Ok I can do that much." I said as I reached to give M. Larkin a handshake to seal the deal. With my other hand I grasped up the bag and placed it on my belt.

"Good now that is arranged I see my son is at the door. Let me introduce you to him. M. Larkin said.

"Ahh my son, Gustave you should meet him. Namo I was going to wait till tomorrow but now is as good as any to tell you. Come meet Captain Gustave D'Alembert. Gustave meet my son Namo Larkin tomorrows man of the day so to speak." M Larkin said.

........

So now is the time to start this questionable task. First off how do I enter this in my log or should I just not enter anything. Second do I do this or pass the duty off the young Larkin. I picked up my mug of rum as if that would let me think clearer.

to be continued.

It was approaching dusk as I had just finished yet another mug of rum. I looked out the porthole of my cabin and could see the rusty color of the sky indicating the setting sun. Well I can't put this off any longer I though as I got up from my desk and put the envelope into my breast pocket. Looking down at my log book and giving it one last look before closing it. No entry for this task at least not till morning anyway. I thought as I headed out the cabin door.

I looked out towards the city and noticed young Larkin coming toward the ship. No I thought I shall do this deed myself, as I headed toward the gang plank.

"Evening Mister Larkin." Gustave said as he passed Namo on the dock.

"Evening to you Captain D'Alembert." Namo said as he passed stopping to see if there was anything else the Captain needed.

"Loved to stop and talk Larkin but I have some business to take care of at the moment." Gustave said as he kept on walking.

"Captain I need to have a word with you." came from a stranger who was approaching us at the time. "Your men just go through making a shambles of my shop and I had them thrown into Jail over it. That isn't going to get my shop fixed nor will it get your voyage underway soon, however perhaps we can make an arrangement that is satisfactory for all concerned." The man stopped folding his arms in front of him and waiting for a reply.

"Well sir if its compensation you seek you need to talk to Mister Larkin here. As to my men, unless they are one of my officers they can remain in jail. Perhaps it will do them some good." Gustave stated.

"Captain I don't know how to handle this." Namo whispered to Gustave. "I understand it is my job and all but can you come with me and keep me from making a huge mistake?" Namo said to Gustave.

"You need to grow up Mister Larkin. This clearly falls under your responsibility as the ship quartermaster." Gustave said then added in a whisper. "Just go look and be sympathetic to him. Offer him half of what ever he asks for at first and go from there. You will do fine."

"I still wish you could come with me." Namo asked once more.

"I would but I have another matter I must take care of now." Gusatve said his voice showed an urgency to the matter and I could see he was becoming more agitated.

"Perhaps I can handle the meeting for you Caotain." Namo said.

Gustave almost couldn't believe what he heard. Namo is offering to do what he didn't want to do in the first place. "Well M. Larkin this meeting I am headed to is very important to your father. He in trusted me to take care of it. I just wouldn't feel good about it if he finds out." Gustave said.

"Don't worry about that Captain he won't hear about it from me." Namo said.

"Well M. Larkin here is the envelope to be delivered. Just head west past the sheathed Dagger and make a right. The house you need to go to will have 3 candles in the window. Just ask for the Lady of the house. Oh and just to make sure your father doesn't find out I wouldn't let any of the other crew know about this. She might have some cargo for us as well. Just let her know we will need to inspect the contents before letting it be brought aboard." Gustave said as he handed me the envelope.

"Now sir. It would seem Mister Larkin is a bit too busy to help you out but as the Captain I will see to it personally." Gustave said to the Businessman.

I headed toward the west end of town. The instructions while strange didn't surprise me a bit. Most of what little I knew of my father always had the ring of secrecy about it.

To be Continued.

The sun had just dropped below the horizon as I headed farther west. I could hear the sound of a crowd ahead as I saw the sign of the tavern "The Sheathed Dagger" just ahead. Darkness lie ahead as I looked down the street just past the Tavern entrance. There was still some light which only made the shadowed spaces between the buildings look darker than they were. The buildings looked more and more like abandoned shacks the farther I headed down the street. I could see a glow coming from a building just ahead and as I got closer I could tell it was from a set of candles setting in the window Sile, three to be exact. This must be the place I thought as I approached the door.

The steps creaked as I approached the front door. I took a moment to adjust my vest and then knocked on the door. I was about to knock again when I heard the latch being lifted and the door begin to open. As the door opened farther I could see the man on the other side. I almost took a step back as my first sight of him was his chest and I slowly looked up to see the mans face. A giant of a man stood before me and I remembered what the Captain said. "I would like to talk to the lady of the house." I said as I waited for his reply.

"Lars let the man come to me." I heard coming from behind the giant of a man.

As he moved out of my way I could see an older woman sitting in a large chair just across the room.

"Well stranger why do you wish to speak with me?" The woman said as she took another puff on the pipe in her mouth.

It was then that the scent hit me, Cherry. For a brief moment my thoughts went back to the night on the Docs and Jaque.
I came back to the reality of where I was and responded. "Yes I have a message to give you Madam." as I handed her the envelope.

"Ahh yes I would guess you are Namo. You have your father’s features." She said as she placed the envelope beside her on the chair she was sitting. "There is a small favor I would ask if your travels take you to Bizerte. It isn't much just some personal items of a friend of mine." She then snapped her finger and 3 men dressed in full robes came out of a nearby room carrying a large box. "That is if you have room for this."

I thought for a moment then said. "Well we will need to inspect the contents. We aren't going to transport any kind of drugs or weapons."

There was a strange smile on the woman then she removed the pipe. "Of course not Namo, as I said it is only personal items. Try not to make a mess of things. Oh and so your men don't have to deal with delivery these men will take care of the box for your trip." She got up and started to head into the other room.

"I have already made ration arrangements for this trip." I started then she added. "Don't worry about that my men will fend for themselves."

As I left the house the 2 larger men hoisted the box off the floor using a couple of boards and followed me outside. The other man a bit smaller than the other 2 followed behind carrying a large sack I guessed with their provisions. Once outside the men hoisted the box higher in order to support it with their shoulders as we proceeded toward the ship.

When we arrived Captain D'Alembert approached us. "I see we have the cargo as expected. Have you taken a look at what is in the crate M. Larkin?"

"No not yet was a bit too dark where we were and I wanted to let you see it at the same time." I looked around saw a light coming from a nearby office. "Let me see if we can use this building to inspect the crate." As I headed to knock on the door.

"It would be best if we are not seen by others that live here." mumbled the smallest of the 3 men.

Captain D'Alembert then said. "Fine you can open the crate here and we can get an idea of what is in the crate. Then tomorrow before we set sail we can take a closer look."

The men put the crate down and removed the lid which was only secured with a couple of ropes. Inside there was what looked like a lot of clothing and a couple of smaller boxes which had what looked like child toys to me. "Fine if you’re worried about being seen then I would suggest you get the crate on board and moved down below." Captain D'Alembert said.