Deep Sea Chapter 15

15.

The Surface

Andre Dupree swept the loose hair from his forehead. He never believed in losing sight of those he does not think as friends. It was how he survived in the world of deceit and lies. He was one of the best among the skulduggery. A year ago, he met an ambitious regal personality who had one too many adventures tales told by him, that the word trust was ignored when the other spoke of his own secret.

“I know the island Jaws. Lord Henry made us his guest there for over a month.” Andre laughed. “The old dog thinks too much of his exploits.”

“Get to the point, man.” General Clarke was impatient to hear it out. Lord Stuart leaned on his seat to tap on the upholstery. He did it to signal Clarke to sit down but the other was beyond approach in jumping onto the issue.

“The secret is worth …”

“A barrel of gold coins should suffice.” Lady Jan replied. “It will be here by this time tomorrow.”

“Then my secret is yours to share.” Andre Dupree sang like a woodpecker on the tree trunk. He told them of the underwater cavern and the strength of the guards. He told them of the fortress and the gun placements with the railway tracks.

“There are underwater caverns there.” General Clarke spoke out. “How come we do not know?”

“You do not know because the cavern was a closed area. Only the trusted were allowed there.” Andree boasted of his reputation. “I was his friend then.”

“You are also telling me there is a submerged ship there now.” Lord Stuart, in turn, was surprised. “I thought his plan was flawed.”

“No, his plan shown to you was flawed. He has alternative plans.” Lady Jan smiled. “Only men think they know better but they are fucking fools.”

“Let I call in the dirigibles. I will blast them out of the sea.” General Clarke was all action.

“No, you will not. That ship is mine.” Lady Jan cut in. She then dismissed the man to leave the Hall. She then faced the elderly men there.

“Now we knew more on Lord Henry’s island.” Lady Jan smiled. “I am sure your plans did not include me knowing about the island's inner secret.”

“Plans? What better plans than the secret you have just told us?” Lord Stuart acted innocently.

“Act no more before me.” Lady Jan hit back. “I knew of your intentions ever since we met. I would have done the same. That was why I brought the fleet here. I will get the fishes and above it, destroy the new fleet of Lord Henry.”

“My George, she knew everything.” General Clarke exclaimed out. Lord Stuart shook his head. He regretted that he had to pick the odd relation to join in the tasks but Clarke was the one with the influence then. Unfortunately, he was also a black sheep.

“Sit down, Clarke. You already made me a fool.” Lord Stuart knew that he was cornered. He looked towards the lady. “What are your terms?”

“I knew you were a man of wisdom, Ian. Although it did not extend to your cousin there.” Lady Jan smiled. “I want sixty of what we catch.”

“Agreed.” Lord Stuart knew the odds were against them. He will play along until they can even it.

“I know you will. Now all I need is your non-involvement unless I called for you.” Lady Jan told him. “Whatever you see, you ignored.”

Lord Stuart smiled at the Lady. He knew the Lady was lying. She had no intention to fish but to create a colony here. She was doing what they did a hundred over years ago on her land. It won’t be a consortium of five countries that will annex the land but her five fingers will snatch it from them. Well, he will be ready to repel the boarders.

It was then Andre Dupree was seen coming back.

“Hey, Lady Jan. I was told you are ready to see me.”

“You will take us to Jaws.”

 The Depth

How would you describe a tavern there? It was a saltbox house; with it double levels at the front and the steep roofing that sloped at the rear. It was a design of the older generations when the then Queen decided to tax the house owners with greater than one level. The timber framing (or was also known as post and beam construction) has large pieces of wood with the working joints of pegs, braces, and trusses. Metal nails were sparingly used for they may rust with the saltwater environment. The upper levels were the three guests’ rooms and the attic before the ceiling.

“Jake, you still maintained that room up there?” The patron with the goblet of fermented barley asked. He was seated by the counter with his female associate. It was not rare to find a lady there for half of them were soliciting for money with their vices, or just enjoying a drink after a hard day. The other halves of women were the tough as nail ones and they will stand side with their male counterpart.

“Yup, I do and it’s a penny for an hour. If its Daisy you bringing, you pay double of that.” Jake the owner replied.

“Bloody yokes, why would I pay more for her act?” Jones who was into his second goblet asked. He was with the Sergeant Major at the corner table listening in. They had taken the walk double fast and finished it with the double mugs of beer.

“That’s for the clean up after her act. When she rides you, your stomach will churn out more than you could spurt.”

“Thank God, she’s my Dolly.” The drunken patron replied.

“My name ain’t Dolly. It’s Polly.” The drunken fool was given a slap across the face before the lady seated next to him walked off. Jake leaned over on the counter to whisper to the drunken man. 

“I guess you lost your fuck for the day, mate.” Jake roared out in laughter while the drunken mate gulped down his drink before leaving to catch up with the lady. Jones joined in the laughter but not the grim-looking Sergeant Major. He was only nursing his remaining drink while his eyes were picking out the five men seated at the other corner. They were partially hidden by the shadows but their body language was emitting loud signals of hostility.

The Sergeant Major assessed the tavern interior to get his bearings. There were four tables in the tavern hall; two of it was designed for eight seaters while the two corners were for three-seaters. The stools at the tables were three-legged and it was made from the hardwood. There was the long bar counter that covered almost two-third across the hall length of thirty-four feet with the shelves of glasses and goblets along with the double barrels at the rear.

On the counter front face was the craving of King Neptune on the throne of fishes.  There the stools were high and hold four legs each.  Above the shelves at the counter was the commemorative plaque for the ship names that did not come back from the seas. There were nine names on it that day.

The kitchen doorway was to the left-hand side of the counter and the aroma of the stew whisked from the pots. The door was the chest-high swinging bat doors with the cravings of the Sirens of the seas. On the ceiling hung were the assorted hurricane lamps that once adorned the ships and was a grim reminder of the bad sailing days.

“Jones, I think we have some chums that need our attention.” The Sergeant Major's right hand was on his waist belt where the Webley was in the holster.

“Aye, I saw them but let me finish my drink.” Jones was unarmed but he was sure the metal goblet will suffice as a fighting weapon. It was then two of the five men stood up and approached the table. At that time, the tavern still held about five other drinking patrons with two ladies on the lookout for the shilling to open their legs. There was also Jake and his wife in the kitchen with the helper who was in the midst of stirring the stew.

“I’ll be darned. They are blooming Far East’s mates.” The Sergeant Major looked at the two tanned looking bald-headed figure approaching the table. The two were dressed in the dark balloon pants and loose half body tunics but on their waist was the curved scimitar favored by those warriors.

“Sergeant Stewart, Sir.” Both men saluted the non-commissioned officer. “Been a long time, Sir.”

“It’s Sergeant Major now, Danny. And you looked like you lost your hairy chest in the Sun.” the Sergeant Major saluted back. “I have not seen you since you left for …Singapore, I believed.”

“Yes Sergeant Major. I took the freighter to India and then by land to Singapore. It has been five long years, Sir.” The one named Danny replied. “Funny to see you here Sir. I would expect you to be landlocked with your …”

“Career? No, Private Jones. I followed my General’ lead. General Henry is now retired and I am his aide.” The Sergeant Major replied. “So tell me why you are here?”

“Nothing personal, Sergeant Major. I am with the Far Eastern fleet. Singapore was good but the luck ran out. I had to join up in the trades and now head one of the packs.” Private Danny smiled. “Pillaging and killing are my forte.”

“I know, Danny. You were a mess in the head but the killing came naturally to you.” Sergeant Major smiled. “There are no personal feelings. We are at war and it ain’t murder when you kill during such war. If you recall, it was killed or be killed.”

“May I suggest a more decent place to do it? This place is …not suitable. We shall do it in an ancient way. More to it, I am waiting for my stew.” Corporal Jones muttered out. He then looked at the intrusive guests. “No offense, matey but we are all men here. Nothing to hide over with.”

“Yes, Corporal. And a good day to you too, Sergeant. Should we say an hour from now at the clearing near the church? If I am done, you can bury me there. I prefer to die in my own land than some wet watery seabed.”

Both of them nodded and then departed back to their drinks.

“How did he know I am a Corporal?” Jones smiled.

“You smelled like one.” The reply came from the Sergeant Major but Corporal Jones was onto other things then. His smile went wider when he was served the mutton stew with the freshly plucked potatoes. He asked the Sergeant Major what were the ancient ways of fighting.

“With knuckles and ballbusting.” The Sergeant Major smiled. “No weapons.”

“Five to two? That’s a good odd to bet on.” Jones smiled before he wolfed down the bone marrow.

It was near to dusk when the duo made their way to the clearing. They pass the clergyman on his way back to the church. He was dressed in the frock and collar but he had the sides of his frock cut to the waist-high. On his shoulder was the long cloth bag that hung there like a sash.

“Consider, yourself senseless among the people; when will you fools be wise?” The clergyman glared at them. They ignored the man and made their way to the clearing. Their opponents had arrived and stood there with their hands on the hilt of the scimitars.

“We agreed on the ancient ways.” The Sergeant Major spoke up. Private Danny nodded and then removed his scimitar from his waist. The others followed suit while the Sergeant Major did the same by dropping his waist belt. Jones who was unarmed took off his shirt before flexing his muscles.

“No rules.” That was the call to battle it out. The punches and kicks were swift and deadly, and soon the duo was on their haunches. The others have learned some new moves in their fisting. Jones wiped at his bloody slips while the Sergeant Major held his left elbow to ease the pain.

“I say old chap. I think we are done for.” Jones smiled. He saw Danny approaching him with the deadly intent. He has been in street brawls and even battle slaughtering but with these hostiles, he was outnumbered. He saw the raised fist but it never came.

Danny fell backward on the solid punch into his left ribs. He looked up and saw the clergyman had stood in between him and the bloodied duo.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” The clergyman sidestepped out to avoid the raised kick by one of the four others. He reached out with his right fist to crack down on the raised thigh bone. The force of the fist leveled from his waist carried the force on years of battling sandbags. The kicking warrior fell to the ground holding his broken leg.

Another stepped forth with the swinging punches like that of a strong wind on the windmill blades. The clergyman did the upper block with his right hand and the left fist slammed into the underarm of the other. The blow broke the bone there and caused internal bleeding there.

“Come and let us reason together.” The clergyman called out but the remaining two rushed at him with the drawn scimitars. The clergyman grabbed the cloth bag and swung it at the attacking men. The cloth bag had some hand-sized books that lent weight to it. The sash extended out to six feet when lengthen was like a ‘bo’ in action. The force of the weighed down cloth end struck the first scimitar wielding warrior at the nose and cracked the bone. The clergyman pulled back his sash and then do a body turn to swing the sash in a wide swing towards the second warrior. The warrior saw the move and tried to block it with the scimitar. The sash on contact with the scimitar wind around it before striking the warrior on the side of the face. The clergyman then pulled hard on the sash to retrieve the scimitar. He then leveled it at the two fallen warriors.

“You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you.” The clergyman looked at the five wounded warriors. “Not today for all of you. You may, however, pursue your medication in my home. We are ever merciful.”

The five were helped to their feet by the clergyman. Jones and the Sergeant Major wanted to assist but were told to be on their way.

“The lion cannot be in the same pen as the sheep. Your wounds will heal better if you are to make your own journey.” The clergyman led the others to his home leaving Jones and Sergeant Major to their own.

“Now I believe when they say the Lord works in His own mysterious ways.” Jones muttered out while he dragged his weary body back to the tavern.