909. Chapter 909

After Hong Kong Hustle

Episode 7.17

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: My priority is to own Castle, which I don't. Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: This is a sequel to chapters 785. 788, 808, 830, 842, 859, 875 and 897.

Javier Esposito tried to peer through the thick fog that enshrouded the pirate ship Revenge, to no avail. The ship had anchored in a small, deserted harbor on the East Coast of South America to make some necessary repairs. But Esposito was positive that there was at least one other ship in the harbor, probably more. No matter whose ships' they were, if they were warships, the Revenge was doomed.

"Something wrong?" Asked Kevin Ryan, Espo's best friend.

"I'm positive there are other ships out there. And they're between us and the open sea."

Ryan searched but saw only fog and heard nothing. "Perhaps we should call the Captain?"

"There's no need." Said Captain Kate Beckett coming onto the quarterdeck. She as dressed as usual in boots with four inch heels, skin tight doeskin pants, a silk and lace shirt, tight in the bodice and loose in the arms, and a wide brimmed black hat, turned up jauntily to one side. At her slender waist were her ever present rapier and a brace of pistols. She stared into the fog. "I think you may be right, Espo. Ryan, very quietly, rouse the hands and make ready to run and fight. We'll probably have to do both."

But, before Ryan had more than half the crew ready, a wind blew from the shore, and the fog began to disperse. There ahead of them were six large ships of a type they had never seen before, blocking their exit from the harbor.

"What kind of ships are those?" Ryan asked, puzzled.

"They're called junks and they're usually found in China. " Said the ship's navigator, Alexis Castle. She and her father, Dr. Richard Castle, the ship's doctor and also the husband of Captain Kate, had joined them on the quarterdeck.

"How well armed are they?" Kate asked.

Alexis thought for a moment. "Chinese cannon are not as good as our guns, but as narrow as the harbor mouth is, they'd probably try to board us. Look at the number of sailors they have."

All five looked across a narrow strip of water to where the crews were pouring onto the decks of the Chinese ships, brandishing muskets, pistols, cutlasses and boarding pikes.

Kate put her arms around Rick. "Lover, I'm sorry to have gotten you into this. All I ever wanted was…"

"They're raising a white flag." Ryan said loudly.

"They want to surrender?" Rick and Kate said together.

"I think they want to parley." Said Alexis. "A small boat is headed this way."

In minutes, two people stepped aboard the Revenge. One as a beautiful Chinese woman and the other, although dressed in Chinese fashion, was obviously European. From his long pigtail and weather beaten face, Kate thought he was a sailor.

The woman spoke. "You are Captain Kate Beckett of the ship Revenge, are you not?"

Kate nodded, surprised at the woman's excellent English. "And you are?"

"Admiral Zhang, Imperial Chinese Navy. That's my squadron over there."

The man grinned and spoke. "And I'm Henry Graham, late of the Honorable East India Company. I was navigator aboard the East Indiaman Lord Howe until she hit a reef off the Chinese coast and sank four years ago. I despaired of ever seeing England again until Admiral Zhang made me an interesting and very profitable offer. So, I became her navigator."

"And why would the Chinese government send a fleet here?" Kate asked.

"We are searching for something that was stolen, the Emperor's Pearl."

"A valuable jewel?"

Zhang smiled. "Very valuable, but not a jewel. The Pearl is the Emperor's favorite concubine. And I believe you know the thief. A Captain Pi?"

Although she tried to suppress it, a spasm of anger crossed Alexis' face.

Zhang smiled. "So, you do know Captain Pi."

Kate nodded. "My daughter became briefly enamored with him, until he kidnapped her and my husband and tried to murder them, and me." Although Kate and Alexis were not blood, both considered themselves to be mother and daughter.

"Then we have a mutual enemy. I have six large ships, but my government does not think that it has anything to learn from Europe. Consequently, our ships and our weapons are not as good as yours. If we can combine our forces, we can catch this Pi. I will get the Pearl back and you will get many valuable pearls and upset your enemy, Governor Bracken."

Kate's eyes narrowed. "Pearls? As in jewels?"

Zhang nodded. "Bracken sent Pi to raid the pearl fisheries on the coast of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Granada. Bracken has been sending his pirate friends after Spanish shipping in the Caribbean, drawing Spanish forces away from New Granada. We know where Pi's ship, the Bumblebee, was five days ago. And it's probably there now."

Kate looked over at Alexis. She knew the girl felt very guilty about allowing Pi to kidnap her and her father, but Kate had no desire to put the girl in any danger. She feared that Alexis would be too rash if they went after Pi and do something foolish and dangerous.

As if she could read Kate's mind, Alexis spoke. "Don't worry, Mother. I won't do anything stupid."

Kate then looked at Rick, who nodded. She turned to Zhang. "We'll go. Where are we headed?"

Graham pulled out a map and pointed to a small bay further south. "We intercepted a ship yesterday sending a message from Pi to Bracken telling of Pi's success and giving his location. We can be there in two days.

At dawn, two days later, the small fleet sailed into the bay where the pearl divers were working, but now for a new boss. As soon as the ships were seen, the small bay erupted into chaos. Pi's pirates on the beach ran for the safety of the jungle, only to be tracked down later by the local natives. But many ran to the Bumblebee which was anchored close to shore. The Bumblebee was a brig of war, carrying some fourteen guns, less than half the number of guns the Revenge had, and less powerful weapons as well.

The Revenge moved slowly into the bay so as to not run aground. About two hundred yards from the Bumblebee, Ryan, casting the lead from the bows, yelled that the water was shoaling rapidly. Kate ordered the anchors dropped. The Revenge faced the Bumblebee broadside to broadside. The Bumblebee was the first to fire, sending a ragged broadside only three rounds of which hit the Revenge. One cut up some rigging aloft and the other two bounced off the ship's stout oak sides.

Then Revenge filed her broadside. Heavy cannonballs tore through the lighter ship, killing men, dismounting guns and smashing into the hull. Before Kate could order another broadside they could see the remaining crewmen fleeing overboard.

Once on board the Bumblebee they found a hoard of pearls, but no Pearl nor Captain Pi. A wounded pirate told Kate that Pi and the Chinese woman were in a small coastal village only a few miles to the south.

Kate quickly told Admiral Zhang of this and offered to take the woman with her. She agreed to go and asked that Graham go as well.

Kate anchored well away from the village and took a party ashore in longboats. It was nearly dark when they crept through the village, which seemed deserted. They headed to the largest house and as they approached, they heard Pi's voice.

"This is dining as God intended it, Pearl. Papaya steaks, fresh off the vine."

At that moment, Esposito kicked in the door to the house and shot a pirate who tried to reach for a musket. Alexis followed him in.

Pi was surprised, but quickly recovered. "Alexis, what a surprise to see you here. How have you been?"

Alexis replied by punching him with the hilt of her sword. When Pi came too, he was tied up.

"I have something for you, Pi." Alexis said with false sweetness. Then she used a wooden spoon to pry open his mouth and push salted beef and pork down his throat. Pi had no choice but to swallow.

When Pi's stomach was bulging with meat, Alexis coldly ran him through the stomach and walked out, never looking back.

Back on the Revenge, Kate and Rick sat and looked at the fortune in pearls they had won.

"When I was nineteen, before my parents were murdered by Bracken, I would have loved a windfall like this. I could have had anything I wanted, a home, a family and a happy life. But now, although I do have you and Alexis, I don't have the home I wished for and even if I do destroy Bracken, that'll never bring my parents back." Kate looked at him with tears in her eyes. "But in having you, I have all the happiness that I could ever have wanted."

"As I have everything I could ever have wanted in you, Kate."