Chapter 3 - The Pirate and the Old Man
Kate' s heart beemed forth with pride and with joy at the sight of Kevin being sworn in as a member of the crew. She would be whole once again, with another O'Donnell at her side. In her joy she almost had forgotten that her day of pride and joy meant another day of sadness and another parting for the pirate.
"Jack, it is just grand and you have done a wonderful thing for the boy."
"Aye, Kate." was the only response Jack could muster. He looked upon his boy standing tall and proud. Jack knelt down, so as to look Kevin in the eyes.
"I was your age when my father took me to Port Appin and signed me aboard my first ship. You listen, you watch and you learn, and you will be a fine sailor." He hugged Kevin.
"Mr Hagney, come and meet the newest member of the crew." Captain Lewis bellowed.
Mr. Corneilius Hagney was one of Kate's men, in fact the entire crew had been approved and selected by her. Mr. Hagney was special though, an old friend from Ireland, who had served in her father's regiment, he had served Colonel O'Donnell and now he served Kate. He was a good man and a man for the formalities.
"Captain Lewis, sir, Mr Hagney at your service, sir."
Kate smiled whenever she heard Mr. Hagney, for she felt safe, she felt at home.
"Mr. Hagney meet Kate's nephew, Kevin, our new cabinboy." the Captain replied.
Mr. Hagney sized up Kevin from head to toe and looked deep in his blue eyes and could not help but to admire his red hair. He turned towards Kate and smiled.
"Ah Mistress Kathleen, the boy is the spitting image of our dear Colonel O'Donnell, God rest his soul, the spitting image indeed."
Mr. Hagney turned to Kevin, "Well don't just stand there lad, come with me and I will get you stowed away."
The two of them crossed the deck and headed below to the crew's quarters. Kevin's mind was racing, what did this all mean, who was the Colonel, God rest his soul, and what was an O'Donnell?
"Jack, we will be in port for two more days and your welcome to stay on board." Kate said.
"Kate . . ." he paused, "I think it best that I go and let the boy adjust to his new home, besides, I have business in Bath Town."
"Jack, you tend to your business in Bath Town but tonight you will be dining with us in the Captain's Quarter's and sleeping aboard the Concord. One last night with Kevin, it is important, I insist."
Jack knew by the look in Kate's eyes that the matter had been settled and there was no use to argue with an O'Donnell woman, once she had insisted.
"Aye, it is settled then, I shall return this evening."
Jack headed down the gangplank and toward the end of the dock where Annie, the mule, stood still hitched to the now empty cart. He grabbed Annie's bridle and began to lead her into town, towards a large live oak, where many of the tobacco farmers had gathered to grumble about how little they had been paid. Under the oak, stood Micheal McPhearson, his neighbor's son. He led Annie to Micheal and handed him her bridle.
"She is yours now, and good luck."
Micheal took the bridle from Jack and said nothing. The bargain had been struck the night before, the McPhearson's owned Jack's farm lock, stock and mule.
Jack began to stroll down the small lane that was the heart of Bath Town, keeping his eyes peeled as he walked past each of the seven houses that made up the village. He was searching for something or for someone. At the second to the last house, sitting on the front porch he spied the old man, James Murray. At a single moment their eyes met, and Jack began to whistle a tune, an old tune, a Scottish tune. Mr. Murray who had heard Jack's whistle began to whistle a tune, an old tune, a Scottish tune, a signal that they had used years ago. Jack quickened his pace and left Bath Town. Mr. Murray sat on the front porch and continued to hum that tune to himself. He hummed that tune in the silence of his mind ten times, then he stood up and looked around to see if anyone had noticed the pirate leave town. The lane was empty, so quietly and casually he began to walk down the lane and left Bath Town.
Mr. Murray had walked the better part of a mile, when once again he heard Jack whistle that old tune from behind a large oak.
"Iaian, you still are the clever lad, clever as always."
"Mr. Murray, you are truly a sight for sore eyes."
The old man, looked back down the path to make sure that he had not been followed, then turning to the pirate he opened his arms.
"Come here Iaian, and give your old Captain a proper greeting."
They embraced.
"Tell me Iaian, what is it with all the secrecy? You act as if you were a smuggler." the old man smiled from ear to ear, because in all the Irish Sea, and in all the Hebridees, there had never been greater smuggler than James Murray.
"I have some business, some old business that needs attending. I need a boat to once again head out to sea." Jack replied.
"The business with the Campbell? Let it be Iaian, just let it be. Our world is gone, and we have been scattered to the far corners of the earth. No good will ever come of it."
"I cannot let it be. I need a boat."
"Iaian, stay here in Carolina with me and we will become wealthy and fat and best of all we shall do it in a respectable way." Mr. Murray implored the pirate.
"I have lived here for seven years, I have farmed this land and have little to show for it. I have set my mind on finishing that which needs to be finished."
"Farming? You think I am here to farm tobacco, are you daft Iaian, can't you see it? Look around Iaian, tell me what you see?"
The pirate looked around and all he could see was the hard red clay, a prison of tall pines and a few live oaks.
"All I see is the misery of this red clay they call soil, all I see are tall pines that are as a prison wall, and all I see are oaks with Spanish moss hanging about. All I see is death and hardship of a life not lived."
"Iaian, that's your problem, the anger in your heart blinds you to the opportunity. When I look at that red clay, I see bricks from which I will build a kiln. And with that kiln, I shall render these pines, into pitch and tar. Look at these pines how tall and straight they grow. You see a prison wall and I see a ship's mast. You see an old oak and I see a ship's deck. Our Scotland, that we loved so well, is gone. Our King lives across the sea, in exile and he shall not return. The English have won, they have taken Scotland. I know that it stings, the betrayal by our own countrymen, but we Scots can live and prosper here in Carolina. The English want an Empire, and an Empire requires ships and ships cost money. Look about you Iaian, an entire fleet of ships waiting to be built. Stay, stay with your old Captain and we shall make a fortune, and we shall make the English pay for their ambitions."
Jack looked around somewhat in amazement, seeing Mr. Murray's vision and briefly weighing the prospects of that vision. But then his mind and heart turned back to the Campbell. No he had to finish that business.
"Mr. Murray, I need a boat."
"Ahh, you are just like my sons. I tried to get them to come with me but they remain in the service of the Atholl, hoping for the return of a King who shall not return. I beg you lad leave Scotland forever it is just plain vengeance you seek and no good will come of it."
"Mr. Murray, I need a boat, do you have one and I can pay." the pirate replied.
"Iaian, you know I have a boat and you know your money is no good with me. When you go back towards Bath Town, just before it comes in sight, before the last bend, to the left there is a large oak and behind that oak you will see a trail. You follow that trail for about a mile and it opens up onto a beach. There you will find your boat and with it your misery. When are you leaving?"
"I am spending the night on the Concord, early tomorrow, I plan on leaving."
"Fine, have it your way, go back to Bath Town, go back to the Concord. I will see to getting the boat supplied and ready for your parting."
"Thank you."
That was it, that was all Jack could say. He turned and headed back towards Bath Town, leaving Mr. Murray standing alone in the midst of his yet built English fleet of pines and oak. Of course Mr. Murray was right, it was vengeance that drove the pirate onward, not for love, not for money, not for country, not for King, just for vengeance.