Chapter Text
DÍA 1: STRANGE
DAY 1: STRANGE
The sea breeze hit the sails again and again moving the big wooden ship that sailed through the, now, relatively calm waters of the ocean. The breeze carried the gentle scent of the salty sea to the entire troop who, at noon, wiped the bow timbers with mops, happily humming lyrics of fantastic stories of mermaids who were thought to live among them. From the helm post, they were watched from above by the captain by the one they served; a tall man with a kind of unbuttoned black trench coat that reached to his knees, a black pirate hat that showed a few strands of blond hair in front, a patch on his right eye due to the last robbery committed by his crew that had left a wound that was still healing, a white shirt with loose sleeves from the shoulder to the wrist where some ruffles protruded from the trench coat, The front of his shirt had a cord that served to adjust the two holes at the top and finally, tight black pants with a gold belt with a pirate skull insignia in front and black boots that reached to the ankles, adorned with golden buckles illuminated by the noonday sun. The man kept his eyes on his crew, keeping an eye on them to make sure everything was done the way he wanted it to be. A man at his side was silently steering the ship, waiting for any instructions from his captain.
- Captain! A shipwreck on the starboard side! - shouted the lookout Clyde from the heights, raising his arms.
- Steady as she goes. - ordered the blond man in a calm voice to the man beside him and then took a few steps to get closer to where the lookout shouted he had seen a man.
- Captain! - shouted the men from below - There's a man floating on a piece of wood!
The blond squinted his eye so he could see into the distance. He didn't have to wait long before he could see in the distance a man lying on a piece of wood; his limbs were spread open and he was floating gently towards them, surely carried by the tide.
- Shall we let him come up? - asked the man who was driving the ship and who, with his two good eyes, was helping the captain.
- No, it's dangerous - he turned around without changing his position, returning to his previous place.
- Tweek, last time we lost many men, how about joining us?
The captain said nothing for a moment, perhaps thinking about his friend's proposal.
- Stay the course, Stan - he mumbled in a gruff voice.
- Tweek....
- I won't make my father's mistake again - silence -. No strangers on board.
- Am I a mistake? - the jet-haired man let go of the helm to face his childhood friend - Look at me! - The boy rested his palms on his white ruffled shirt at chest level - Was it a mistake that your father saved me! That man needs help! - The wind ruffled his loose hair slightly and his knee-high boots squeaked with his movements.
- You know I don't mean you. - My father died because of me, because I was as merciful as you were to bring a stranger up here.
- Your father never let anyone die in the middle of the ocean; if he hadn't saved me and my father I wouldn't be here for sure.
- Stan, that's enough, he won't come up here and that's my last word! - he shouted in anger.
- Sir!
A man's voice rushing upstairs interrupted the discussion.
- What's the matter? - asked the captain indifferently, looking sideways at the newcomer who was calming his breathing.
- The man coming up brings something that shines! Look! - He holds out a bronze spyglass, which the captain takes and does not hesitate to use to ascertain the information. Seeing the shiny object approaching, he then grunted and with a gruff voice, he saw Stan who had a small smile on his face.
- Aren't we pirates? We must take him up to remove the object, right Captain?
- You'll watch him or I'll throw you overboard myself. - He rolled his eyes at his friend's cheerful gesture that didn't change even with the threat made.
** **
- I think he swallowed a lot of water - commented the lookout who had gone down to "report" and who had thrown a bucket of cold water on the newly taken aboard.
All the men had helped to pull him aboard and now surrounded him expectantly to see some sign of life. It had been a long time since anyone new had joined their group after the death of the captain's father, so when word of his order came through there had been a lot of commotion.
The boy was breathing faintly on the wood of the ship. He seemed to be more dead than alive.
- Where is it? - the captain made his way through his men, "Where's that shiny thing?
- It's on his left wrist, sir. We can't take it off, it's tight.... Shall we cut off his hand? - the man pointed out with a half smile showing his crooked teeth.
- ...
The captain leaning one knee on the wood, went about inspecting the man; he seemed to be very tanned, perhaps he had been floating in the open sea for quite a few days so he wouldn't be surprised if he had swallowed water to quench his thirst or hunger. Her eyes wandered over his chest barely covered by the rags that had vestiges of having been a white shirt just like his; his blue pants were a mess and he was barefoot. His eyes looked with interest at his left hand after the brief inspection and he stretched out his hand to try to take the object, but a hand caught his in surprise.
- Who... who are you? - stammered the man with half-open eyes.
Immediately the men around him drew their swords and daggers at him.
- Let go of the captain or you're dead, brat," said the lookout with his outstretched hand holding a dagger.
- Let go of me," the captain spoke in a taciturn voice, breaking free from the weak grip and standing up.
The man began to cough and turning on his forearms and knees, began to expel the water and things he had swallowed during those days. There was an "agh!" and laughter from the crew accompanied by a grimace of disgust from the blond captain.
- Who are you? What is your name? - the captain asked indifferently after a few seconds.
- I don't know... Where am I? - spoke the man before coughing again.
- This is my strange ship, I am the captain of this ship and I saved your life. As payment we demand your object.
- What? - the man turned a little to look at him - What are you talking about?
- The one you wear on your wrist - the captain pointed out, raising his jaw a little with superiority.
The black-haired man looked with surprise at the object he was carrying.
- What do you want it for? - he whispered crestfallen.
- If you don't remember anything, then it doesn't matter. Hand it over and you will have paid your debt.
- Are you a pirate? - he asked with his eyes fixed on the wood of the ship - If I give it to you, you'll kill me, and if I don't, you'll kill me anyway?
The blond laughed accompanied by the laughter of his crew.
- Wait!
The voice of his friend let himself be heard and broke through the crowd.
- You promised not to kill him, Tweek! - the black-haired man approached his friend's side, examining the stranger who stirred something inside him.
- Silence - he mumbled irritated without looking away from the stranger - if he resists I'll do it, don't interfere in my decision.
The black-haired man looked pitifully at the boy who looked like him.
- Give us your object and I assure you we won't kill you. You will work on the ship to pay for food and water, what do you say? It's better this than walking the plank....
- I don't want to be a dirty pirate - mumbled the stranger.
- If you want to survive, you'd better do what I order you to do and put yourself under my command - the captain held his hidden dagger from his coat pocket- . Choose; death... or live as a pirate.
The man stood very still for a few seconds pondering his decision, until his dark, nasal voice let itself be heard.
- I accept.
The sound of laughter and whispering was not long in coming.
- Give me your jewel, stranger - requested the captain again - you will be on trial and if you do not meet my expectations, I will kill you myself; you must obey me in everything I order you.
The man listened to the words of his now captain without responding.
- If you are going to stay, won't you need a name? - Clyde said mockingly amidst the whispers.
- Let him be called "Stinky"!
- No! Let him be called "Loser"! Because he must have been insane to mess with the captain and think to challenge him!
- Burdock?
Stan's voice interrupted the taunts of the others.
- Captain, look - the red-haired man pointed to the board that had been left to one side where the man had been - "Burdock"? Isn't that the name of a merchantman?
- What were you, some sailor from that fish merchant? - the captain mumbled.
The man was still lost in thought.
- Captain, how about calling him Burdock? - Suggested his friend - For now it's the only clue we have about him and we'd better keep him in mind, don't you think so?
The captain without saying anything, positioned himself in front of the man leaning one knee on the ground, taking his wrist where the object was.
I'll take this at once - his eyes and those of the stranger met for the first time in that instant. Although he should have inspired terror and respect, the stranger's eyes seemed calm, with a defiant tone that unsettled the captain a bit. With some speed and work, he managed to undo the strong lock on the jewel under the stranger's gaze in all his work that made the blond feel a strange discomfort. As soon as he had the jewel in his hands, he was quick to get up and retire to his room, leaving the "new guy" with the others to take care of him, letting out a "I'll go rest, don't bother me until dinner" to his friend as he passed him.
Closing the door behind him, the blond allowed himself to draw in a shaky breath with the jewel being pressed to his chest. The stranger had that defiant look, those blue eyes that reminded him so much of his father, which made him wonder why he had felt so uncomfortable having his piercing blue eyes on him.
- ngh! no! no!" he scolded himself on his way to his bed - I'm not weak! I'm not a weak captain!
- aaaaaaacckk! Captain! All aboard! - crooned the pet parrot flying in the middle of the room.
- Did you escape from the cage again, Jack? - the captain settled with his back to the headboard, extending his arm so the parrot could come to him. The bird approached in gentle flight - Only you listen to me, my friend - the blond stroked the bird's little green head with his left hand - I brought a stranger on board, Jack. Do you think my father would have done the same?
- Ackckkk! The captain loves his son!
The blond nodded with a small smile, letting the bird fly away again. He pondered for a moment what would happen if this stranger was a spy, was he trying to fool him that he didn't remember who he was? It seemed that for now he would have to keep a close eye on him, but for now it was better to rest after being out in the sun all day, his friend could take care of everything for a few hours. He was getting ready to sleep, when he remembered the jewel he had snatched from him. His hand wandered to the lamp beside his bed that illuminated his room with dim light to increase the fire a little more and better inspect the object.
- Interesting... - he mumbled stretching his arm above his head holding the golden slave suspended with his fingers until he noticed something strange - Huh?
The blond stood upright in his place, taking the jewel with both hands moving it so that the light could shine on what he saw.
- What does this "C." and this "T." mean? -
To be continued...