PART I
FEBRUARY, 1780
CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA
NOT A FORTNIGHT after he had left the Caribbean, Elliott dropped the spyglass, wondering how the hell he was going to get the Silver Shilling through the barricade of British ships o’ the line strung out along the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. If he had a smaller ship …
Then again, if he had a smaller ship, it, along with its captain and crew, would be at the bottom of the ocean. Instead, the last two British frigates whose captains were foolish enough to turn and fight him were the ones now breaking bread with Davy Jones.
“Dr. Covarrubias is near three miles north of us, Cap’n.”
“Wonder why,” Elliott muttered to himself more than his lieutenant. It was dark, but the moon was just bright enough to catch a glimmer of another vessel.
“Do you think he’ll give us trouble?”
Elliott shook his head. “I see no reason that he would. He is neither one of King Charles’s minions nor any variation of pirate, and our quarrel is with the British. To my knowledge, he’s never opened his gunports without being pushed to it.” He churned through the possibilities and put the glass to his eye again. “He probably has cargo and awaits what we do.”
The British line was rumored to be changing soon, and any captain worth his salt would take advantage of it.
“The man is the best astronomer since Galileo. One would expect him to be a decent captain.”
“He’s too impetuous for command,” Elliott grunted. “Reckless. But his navigation is impeccable, clearly, and he has a gift for squeezing the last pence and more from his cargos.”
Yeardley snorted. “If he can get his cargos to port.”
“Aye, precisely. He should simply hire a captain and keep to navigation.”
“And Fury? She’ll want her figurehead back.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the two men closest to him glance at her magnificent wooden effigy. His. He’d claimed it, and by doing so had dealt her and her crew a grave insult. Figureheads were sacrosanct and men had gone to war for far milder offenses. If she or her crew were the least bit superstitious …
Yet she’d not pursued him for it. He wondered, not for the first time, if she had any intention of pursuit.
Elliott had taken care to learn her intentions and had then followed her out of the Caribbean, losing distance every hour the wind blew. Had she a mind, she could have sailed around him and approached him from behind. But a ship built for speed and cargo was not built to declare war on an unusually large pirate ship and crew. The Thunderstorm was no match for the Silver Shilling and a captain of her rumored accomplishments would not consider such action for more than a moment.
There are many ways you could have acquired my undivided attention for a night or six.
Or … did she understand Elliott was determined to keep her attention now that he had it, and stealing her figurehead simply the first notice of his intentions?
His cockstand, it seemed, was interminable. Truly, taking that figurehead had been a mistake, if only for strategic purposes because he couldn’t seem to think beyond that fine wooden arse that permanently graced his line of sight, parting at the thighs to reveal … nothing.
Aye, she had had reason to be angry with him, but before it had occurred to her to be angry … Oh, that kiss. What would have happened if he’d stayed in Oranjestad, swallowed his pride, and groveled adequately?
He didn’t grovel well.
“Cap’n?”
Elliott started.
“Fury?”
Elliott looked toward the Virginia coast. Rumor had it that Fury and the Hollander (Elliott had no idea how to pronounce the Dutch captain’s name, nor, he gathered, did anyone else), were, at this moment, somewhere in the Bay with God only knew how many more American privateers, awaiting the change of line.
“If she is in the harbor and if she gets through the blockade and if she sees us, she will sail on past and blow us a kiss whilst she outruns the Navy fleet that will be pursuing her.”
“And after that? She’ll have the Hollander with her.”
The Mad Hangman was a fourth-rate frigate with at least forty guns—three-quarters the size of the Silver Shilling—and the Hollander was rumored to be at least as merciless as Elliott. If Elliott were caught fore and aft ’twixt a ship of the line and a fully armed sloop-of-war whose captain had reason to sink him, he would have a fight on his hands—a fight he did not need or want, and might not be able to win.
But that kiss …
“Point taken. We cannot underestimate anyone capable of mutinying Skirrow, alone or otherwise, so you need not worry I’ve lost my head over her enough to allow her to engage us at any point without reprisal.”
Sage nods all ’round.
“Cap’n,” said another of his crew, lightly landing on his feet beside Elliott. “The line is shifting watch, right on schedule.”
Elliott grinned. “Excellent.” If they were trapped in the Bay, the privateers would take the opportunity of the change to break through the line and head out to sea. “The patrol vessels?”
“There are six. The three to the north have not seen Covarrubias, so far as I can tell. The other three have not come close enough to us to see us.”
Nor would they.
“Sir, I took it upon myself to watch for the Iron Maiden behind us. Should I continue?”
Elliott was still chafing at what had happened in that tavern, though his men thought him daring for having claimed a kiss from Captain Fury and felt the figurehead more than compensated them for the loss of a brawl in which they were so badly outnumbered.
“Nay,” Elliott rumbled. “I gather Dunham went back to Morocco. But good thinking, seaman. Thank you. Dismissed. Leftenant, you stay.”
Yeardley lowered his voice once the rest of his men had scattered to tend their battle preparations. “Do you mean to chase the woman hither and yon?”
Only Elliott’s most trusted officers could get away with asking that question. “Wouldn’t you?”
Yeardley opened his mouth to protest, and then muttered, “Aye, I suppose I would.”
“I want her, Ian. Mayhap as much as I want that pay ship.”
“I don’t have to ask why, but I have never seen you like this over a woman. ’Tis a bit disconcerting.”
Elliott shrugged. “How long have we ever been in one place long enough for me—either of us—to form some attachment?”
“You formed an attachment the minute you saw her in the door.”
He ignored that. “We are here for several reasons, only one of which includes Fury. However, should she have any trouble, we shall assist.” He tilted his head to his right. “I would not be surprised if Covarrubias thinks to charge the line by himself. If possible, we shall assist him also.”
Yeardley accepted that with a nod. Elliott and his crew, the American privateers, and the Spaniard had a common enemy, and engaging the British was the first priority. He had no quarrel with Covarrubias or the privateer fleet, and his bone of contention with Fury could be settled at a later date.
There was only one way Elliott wanted to settle his bone with Fury.
If you don’t want to wait 2 years to get to the end, you can buy it here.
Elliott needs moar guns
+1 Phil Gramm
I gave him 66 guns (18-pounders) and 21 swivels.
Elliot needs moar ships?
He has two, but he can’t sail them both at the same time.
You can never have too many guns.
Truth.
Speaking of – I just got off Skype a few minutes ago with my friend in Japan. She said there is no subway service tomorrow while they deal with this 500 lbs. problem.
Unexploded WWII bomb discovered in central Nagoya
Hey-o!
Elliott AKA Duncan McCockiner.
Patience!
Settle his bone LOL
Key for suzuki won’t turn. I know how to take the cylinder apart and just get rid of the guts so can turn with any key, but can’t remove cylinder without turning key to acc. Tempted to just break it, but worried about repercussions. Sigh. Guess I’m tearing apart the dashboard tomorrow, probably try to cut out the part hiding the release button that would be revealed by turning lock to acc. Anybody have any thoughts about using a screwdriver and vice grips to just force it?
Perfect timing on the opening statement. I started reading it as my daughter said she was “…going to play Fortnight.” The younger daughter took the Xbox though, so…NOT A FORTNIGHT.
Contradiction in terms much?
https://nypost.com/2024/12/13/lifestyle/christian-onlyfans-top-earner-reveals-bids-to-lose-her-virginity-on-camera-multiple-companies-offered/
Haven’t we seen this schtick before? I will lose my virginity 50x to the 70 highest bidders!
Monkeys. We are barely more than monkeys.
Ciri is the hero of Witcher 4. I couldn’t be happier. Or sadder. Or anything, really. It was predictable. But the trailer does give you a primer on the difference between the silver blade… and the steel.
Good episode of “The China Show” this week. The CCP drone impact is at 47:00 but there are a lot of other great clips. Highly recommended.
NERDS!
Funny, I remember your series several years ago about homebuilding… I was sitting in a bar today with my dad chatting about banging up a wall at my sister’s house, and I realized how nerdy our discussion must sound to anyone listening in.
You need an agenda to go to the bar.
…There’s an old folk’s channel I’m subscribed to who run a podcast and I get it.
I hate to say old folks, my dad’s in his 60s and I don’t consider him old, but also you guys forget a lot and your parking is awful, and my God if I have to remind you not to sign on to the local wifi again,
I rode with my mom to her doctor’s appointment (I usually drive) (there’s a reason for that) and I had to yell at her to stay in her lane, slow down, quit tailgating, and leave her phone alone.
Bathykolpian babes and fantastic fronts to satisfy your lusty libido for Friday Funbags After Dark.
https://archive.is/VCUjD/c416d9716cc5e887897e2a1d47e1ad1d4ecc6f6c.jpg
NSFW.
https://archive.is/HsQ1U/1220e2a066eed57cfa43f4a95c099e55d05c096d.jpg
NSFW.
https://archive.is/aeatl/dfc9ee03f9b944a49d22ac8db6dba7de76ee27b6.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.is/kEMAh/1021e96bf8b7fe7c5593fd6edc48796fde8e2bb7.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.is/UfKLu/6a22c5d5a7ebe3b4351960f86d3e0520bce13eb0.jpg
NSFW.
Do you ever even consider some buxom broads?
Busty boobtacular bimbos?
Rip
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Edwards
Elliot would serve as a suitable replacement figurehead for the Fury.
@GT, “newsflash, no one’s favorite thing is string“
Rule 34 suggests someone has a string fetish.
(I am not that someone.)
🤣
Brrrrr! Morning all!
😱☕
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YYtBF1OVciU
🎶🎶
Good morning, Sean, Ted’S., and cav9!
Hi 😁
When you forget which of your legs was broken by Israel:
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/46309
It hurts so bad I forgot.
What bizzaro CSI timeline are we in?
News said the “3D printed” gun was “matched” to the casings at murder site, then proceeded to show me a unfired looking 9mm projectile from the crime scene next to an evidence marker.
Did the bullet look pristine?
It did!
“Canadians get hurt, but I can assure you one thing: The Americans are going to feel the pain as well, and isn’t that unfortunate,” Ford said.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/13/business/canadian-us-energy/index.html
I’m wondering who the fuck this is. Is Trump supposed to be scared of a Canadian provincial governor (or whatever the fuck they’re called)? Does he really think he’s going to intimidate, well, anyone? Makes me want to pat his head and tell him he’ll be a big strong boy one day.
Premier.
Brother of entertaining but dead cokehead mayor of Toronto IIRC.
Awwww….
Look at the impotent little man over there writing checks he can’t cash. I’m sure Trudeau is just itching to play this game with Trump when Canada’s economy is already hanging by a very tattered thread. That’s why he was so quick to visit Trump when tariffs were thrown out there. To let him know Canada will RESIST!™️
Per the Dashboard, it appears we’ll be getting the Morning Lynx in about twelve hours, so we may as well continue to talk amongst ourselves for a while….
…How’s everyone doing?
Really?
Well, I guess that I mistimed my “last post”.
And with such an intriguing title! 🙁
I was expecting a post on his love life
Old Man should schedule the links before the bottle of wine.
It’s kind of hilarious though, how we’re all like little dogs dancing in circles because our morning bowl of food is late.
Last post for this thread (I think):
Timmerman said he spent the past few days wandering the streets barefoot, sleeping outside and in an abandoned house. He was then found once again by a local resident he had asked for water, subsequently appearing in the video that quickly spread across social media and drew the news media’s attention.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna183747
I think I see where things went off the rails.
What is the fucking attraction with that place?
Bonus Christmas music:
https://youtu.be/wvgmIDDSPL0
Epically bad. Don’t miss.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/14/entertainment/malcolm-in-the-middle-to-return-with-a-four-episode-run-on-disney-starring-frankie-muniz-bryan-cranston-and-jane-kaczmarek/
😲
Well, Frankie needed something to do before the NASCAR season starts!
Shouldn’t Frankie just Relax?
Frankie was busying chasing down Sue.
Oh, look! Links! 😃