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Jamski
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lol ED&D is officially full PvP LOL
May 2002
time: 05:36
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Chapter 2 - What the Blind See
After a long and angry-tempered discussion under the hot tropical sun, the buccaneers united with the islanders to vote, to choose by democratic process the man that would die. The warmth of the sun and the gentle lapping of the wave, combined with their exhaustion after the wildest of nights in the arms of Joncha's finest spanish ladies drove Frozzy and Boshko to seek a patch of shade under a swaying palm, where they were both soon fast asleep, missing the excitment of the voting process further up the beach.
* * * * *
"Arr, ye scurvy sons of Satan!" exclaimed FlameFlash, "Bringing yer heathen beliefs ter t'island. Why are we lettin' ye vote?"
Alva restrained the firebrand missionary with his arm.
"We're only being fair, FlameFlash," he answered
"Fair?" exclaimed Rasputin "We should've kill'd them curse'd drunken curs as soon as clap eyes on them. T'were fair."
"Aye," said Kassiopeia, "Tis nothin' but fairness itself."
One after another the pirates and the vilagers cast their votes, each calling his choice out loud. Jon Miller kept the list on a scrap of paper.
"What's the tally, man?" asked Hercules "Who's ter walk t'plank?"
Jon Miller thrust the paper into his hands.
"Um, here mister pirate sir, er..." he stammered, "Er, you should be areading that, um."
Hercules laughed, and the other pirates joined him.
"Ye're a funny man indeed," chuckled Tuberski, "If ye reckon on a common crew like us knowin' our letters and numbers, by God!"
"I'll read it," said DrSpike, pushing his hat back on his head, "If you gentlemen can reef your sails in one moment to hear me..."
The crowd grew silent.
"DrSpike 'as nine votes," read the man himself, "But Alva has a round ten."
Alva tried to draw his pistol, but the officer's reactions were too slow, and he was quickly tethered and bound by the assembled men.
"Why did'ye do it?" questioned Spiffor, "Why kill'd ye ADG the fisherman?"
"I'm innocent!" blustered Alva, but no one believed him.
Alva was taken to the town square and hung by the neck until dead.
* * * * *
Skanky Burns was on the dockside negotiating the purchase of twenty cases of grog from the regular supply ship His Majesty's Navy sent to the island each month. The pirates, of course had followed Spiffor's advice to make themselves scarce in the jungle so as not to be seen by the King's men.
"There may be a bounty on yer heads," he had said, "But I've no wish to see more hangings today. I'll give you men a fair chance to hide."
From the top of Port Grog's only church, Pave kept an eye on the bay. From the docks the wreck of the Apolyton was visible, but since the crew had stripped the ship bare that day, it was impossible to tell what ship it was, or how long it had been there. Finally the Navy vessel weighed anchor just before sunset, and left the bay. Pave waved a large skull and crossbones flag from the church tower, which observed by Jonny with his telescope, was the signal for the crew to return to Rah's Tavern for a hot supper.
* * * * *
"What we'll be needing," explained Ljcvetko, "Is twenty chickens for eggs and thirty barrels of salted beef, at least that's what Boshko told me to tell ye."
"No problem," said Chaunk, "I can provide t'birds for ye."
"And I the beef," claimed Spaced Cowboy.
"And we'll need some rope!" shouted Frozzy, "Not to mention a heap of seasoned timber!"
The villagers looked thoughtful.
"Ah," said Spiffor, "If ye be needin' rope, ye should'ave said while the supply ship was here, then ye could 'ave bought some."
"When will it be back?" asked Boshko
"In a month's time," replied the mayor, "Weather permitting."
The captain turned around, hands deep in the pockets of his sea coat, and his face under the dark shadow of his tricorn hat. He spoke.
"And the timber, what of the timber?"
Spiffor shook his head and replied.
"We 'ave none, save the beams that hold our roofs in place."
There was a long silence, which was finally broken by Theben.
"Well, if we're stuck on this 'ere island, we may as well enjoy it," he said, "More grog, Rah, and make it a double!"
* * * * *
As the mist rose off the jungle the next moring, just after sunrise, the drinking was just coming to a halt.
"We're outa grog," mumbled Rah "Nota drop in the 'ouse. Let's get some from that fat merchant Skanky."
A strange procession of drunken seamen and villagers stumbled blinking into the moring sun and across the street to the house of Skanky Burns.
"Open up!" called Ghengis, "We've come to see yer about a little drink!"
But there was no answer, and entering through the unlocked door, they found the house devoid of life, yet between the towering crates of grog and rum, a trail led - A trail of blood - with the print of a shoe, and a long mark as if some carcass had been dragged. They followed it out of the back door and into the church, where the villagers and crew found the mortal remains of Skanky Burns sitting on the front row, his eyes burnt out, and disemboweled, stone cold dead and facing the altar.
"I never knew him anyway," said Frozzy.
"Me neither," agreed Zopperoni.
"None of us boys did," concluded Jonny, "But that's no way for a man to go."
Somewhere a **** crowed and the sun rose behind the stained glass windows , illuminating the church in the deepest crimson of blood.
Its time to vote, shipmates.
-Jam
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11-05-2004 12:14
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