The Smuggler's Curse by Norman Jorgensen Read Free Book Online Page A

Captain’s cabin that can be reached only by removing wall panelling.
    â€˜A tidy night’s work, men,’ announces the Captain at first light. Most of the men are on deck, coming or going as the crew change over for the morning watch. The Captain looks around at the faces and nods or smiles at each one. ‘I saved back one of the kegs. I think we earned a nip or two, this beautiful morning.’
    And indeed, it is a very fine morning. By this time, we are well offshore, though Singapore Island still appears as a bluish smudge on the horizon.
    The men do not cheer, as I might have expected, but a happy sounding murmur passes among them.
    â€˜Sam Chi, do you think you can rustle up a tap?’
    Sam Chi grins. He holds the tap and wooden mallet in his hand ready. He bangs the tap in the bunghole, turns it and fills up a tankard.
    Bosun Stevenson is first in line at the keg. He takes a long, deep swig from the tankard, but almost instantly sprays the whole mouthful across the deck. ‘By the Devil’s horns, it’s seawater! The pox-ridden rogues have cheated us!’

C ROSSED
    The Captain’s eyes narrow and flash in anger, and his shoulders square up. ‘Sam Chi, get below and see if the other kegs are the same. So help me …’ He pauses for a moment and scans the horizon. ‘So help them, more like.’
    Sam Chi returns a short while later, puffed and red in the face. ‘I checked six, Captain. All water.’
    A long silence follows, broken only by the sounds of the wind and the creak of the ship. After what seems like an age, the Captain speaks. ‘Boy?’ he says, his voice cold.
    â€˜Sir?’
    â€˜You remember you asked me about my name? Why folk call me Black Bowen? Well, you are about to find out why. If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?’ He looks to theshore. ‘My oath, we shall revenge.’
    I just nod, not knowing what I should say.
    â€˜You saw their boat, Bosun Stevenson?’ the Captain continues.
    â€˜Aye, Captain, the usual forty-foot trading junk. Two masts, high stern battened sails, red, maybe. It was hard to see in the dark. Six crew, including that accursed dog of a master.’
    â€˜Accursed dog? You can say that again. I curse him now, and I’ll curse him again all the way to seven kinds of Hell as I flay the skin from his miserable hide. He’ll be begging for mercy, and it won’t be coming. No one cheats Black Bowen and lives to brag about it. No one cheats the crew of the Black Dragon. Isn’t that right, men?’
    This time the crew all cheer.
    â€˜It’s not Chang Pao that’s cheated us then?’ asks Bosun Stevenson.
    â€˜No, probably not. But I’ll be having a quiet word with him next time, that’s for sure. He can learn the meaning of the words compensation, reimbursement, and reparation all at once. Or he can learn the words bloody revenge. He knows I’m a good customer and he will want to keep dealing with me, long term. No, this will be his captain trying to double his money. He runs off with the brandy and the gold as well. A good bargain if you can get awaywith it. But you need the courage to face both me and Chang Pao if you don’t. In the meantime, we’ll try and get our gold back. And sort out those barefaced thieves.’
    â€˜He’ll be a brave man then, that junk captain,’ says one of the crew.
    â€˜Bloody idiot if you ask me,’ says another. ‘He’ll be seeing his own gizzards spread all over, before too long. Of that, I’m certain.’
    â€˜Boy, to the masthead,’ barks the Bosun. ‘Get closer to God. Younger eyes can see further. You as well, Teuku. Let me know the second you spot the scurvy, pox-ridden knaves. The very second, mind you.’
    â€˜Did you get their language Bosun Stevenson, their