True Treasure: Real - Life History Mystery (23 page)

The sailor, now recovered of breath, was escorted to the chair recently vacated by the chatty pirate.

“Gaspar, it is a—I do not know honestly, as I hold pirates in general in low esteem, but I am informed you are the leader of your men. I picked you to water because of course, you looked the most leader-like, and the most likely to fight, so I am glad I was not wrong in my assessment of you.”

Randall gestured for one of the sailors to give Gaspar the mug which was again filled with ale. The pirate sniffed it but would not drink. Randall gestured for the sailor to fill his cup from the same pitcher, and then Randall drank.

“It is rather good stuff. Try it. After what you have been through today, a drink is in order. Don’t you think? Maybe even a whore.”

The pirate finally spoke, “You have women here?”

“Women, liquor, and now your treasure at the bottom of the cove. One of those is always the downfall of any man.” Randall took a swig of his drink then continued to speak, “Yes, pretty ones too. Women who do not fancy a life of laboring in the fields. We take care of them like ladies, and they take care of us.”

“What manner of pirates are you?” Gaspar asked eyeing Randall warily.

Randall shook his head. “We are not pirates, but are in King George’s employ to his Royal Navy.”

The pirate narrowed his eyes. Randall continued. “Drink up. We are not charged to fight pirates, but to keep our ship and mission safe. We only attack pirates as a matter of defense. When you stumbled onto us and our mission, we had no choice but to fire. We could not have you spoil our plans by reporting we are here. It was unlucky on your part that you found us.”

“What do you want?” Gaspar asked as he took another sip of his ale.

“First, your pledge before God as a pirate's oath, that you will not try to escape as we treat you well, and two, you do not attempt to slit our throats in our sleep.”

Randall took a drink of his ale and continued, “We will free you when we leave the island, and you may claim it and its resources as your own. We have no interest in the treasure lying at the bottom of the cove, so you may keep what you can salvage once we have left.”

Randall paused, “Can I have your promise before God and on your honor as a pirate?”

“Before I pledge any such oath, what is it you want?” Gaspar replied holding out his now empty tankard. Randall nodded for the sailor to refill Gaspar’s mug.

“Information. That is all. We fight for honor and have no need of earthly treasure. We want information that you can provide. A small price to pay for your eventual freedom.”

Gaspar’s lips rose in a grim smile. “I shall make my own decision of what is a small price and whether it is worthy of my pledge.”

“Tell me everything you know about the pirate Bloody Graham, Sangree Graham. Every tale you have heard, and the names of the men who have claimed to have met him. We are on a mission to find him and those who would turn him in.”

“Is that all?” Gaspar said as he took another swig. “Information on a pirate?” Gaspar shrugged and laughed. “I swear by God I will tell you all I know, which is little enough,
and
I will not slit your throats in your
sleep
.”

“Or when we are awake.”

“Or when you are awake,” Gaspar tilted his head from side to side emphasizing each word followed by a laugh no mirth. Gaspar crossed his arms, and scratched his bearded chin, “I would like a whore for the information.”

“That can be arranged,” Randall said, “now the information.”

Gaspar nodded and started to tell the stories he had heard of the exploits of the pirate Bloody Graham.

*

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*****

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CHAPTER 8

Keiko and Julian

“Now that we’re alone can you cook some dinner? I’m starving.” Julian said as the captain roared off in his boat leaving them on the Island of Caño.

Keiko half frowned and threw a can of soup to him. “Here, open this and get the camp stove going. I think there is a box of crackers in here somewhere,” she said as she started unpacking the box of supplies.

“Jackpot, energy bars,” she said as she opened the box and ripped one open. “Let’s eat these on the way. We can hike up the hill and start looking.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, you’re spitting food. Is the honeymoon over before it even began?”

Julian came up from behind and bear hugged Keiko. He started kissing Keiko on the back of the neck. He whispered in her ear, “It can wait until morning. “It’s almost sunset and I’d really like to take advantage of you here on the beach under the stars.”

Keiko swiveled around in his arms and kissed him. “Maybe it can wait until tomorrow, but by under the stars I hope you meant in the tent.”

“Sure whatever,” he said through his kisses as he walked her while he held her, into the tent for his favorite activity he had planned for on his honeymoon.

The stars twinkled back and forth above the tent unseen and unnoticed, seeming to wink in happiness at the two star crossed lovers enjoying their life together the way a man and wife should.

***

“Now I’m really hungry,” Keiko said when they came out of the tent. “Look at the sky. All the stars!”

Julian looked up, “It’s like the desert. When you get away from all the city lights, you can see the edge of our galaxy so much more clearly. Amazing isn’t it?”

Keiko went up and hugged Julian. The steady rhythm of the waves washing up on the beach, the moonlight and the starlight, just made the whole island magical.

“I think I can actually feel the earth moving beneath my feet. It’s disorienting, so many stars...”

“You really are a city girl, aren’t you?” Julian laughed. A slight breeze was enough to keep the heat at bay along with the no see-ums and the mosquitoes.

“I feel like we are in paradise. I wonder how Bennett Graham felt? I wonder if he loved anyone, and what made him leave a respected job to become a pirate. Right now I have so many questions and no answers.”

Julian hugged Keiko back, “Don’t look now, but I just saw a flash of light out at sea. There’s a boat off the coast. It’s bobbing on the waves. Someone in the cabin below has a light on that shows when it rises up on a wave. It could be a friend or foe, and they could be watching us with night vision or regular binoculars. Since you are facing me, pretend I’m at twelve o’clock. The boat would be at eight o’clock. I’m going to open the soup and put it on the camp stove. You go to the box for another bar, come hug me from behind, and tell me if you see it as you rest your head on my back while I cook.”

“Okay.” Keiko stood on her toes and kissed Julian’s chin. “But kiss me first and make it look real.”

Julian did as he was asked. Julian broke away and went to get the can. He pulled back the thumb ring, and poured the contents into the pan. He turned up the flame as he added a bottle of water and stirred the pot. Keiko came out of the tent with her can of sparkling water, set it down next to the stove, and hugged Julian from behind. She watched in the distance and counted. By the time she hit seven she saw the flash of light, then it was gone. She counted again, and once again when she hit seven, it appeared again.

“I see it. So what are you thinking?” she asked.

“I honestly don’t know. It might not be the only vessel out there. Sleep with your gun near you. Actually, I have a better idea. From that angle they can’t possibly see the front of the tent well. After we eat we’ll go in, turn off the light, then sneak out. We’ll sleep in another tent closer to the tree
line. If someone approaches the beach tent, we’ll know. We can set up a trip factor.”

“I’m not sure what you mean, but okay, I’d feel safer sleeping where they don’t know where we are.”

“Are you game to head up the trail at the first light of dawn?”

“Yes. Anything is better than being a sitting duck.”

“Great. Bring the shovel, map, water, and bars. I’ll carry rope and the rest of our supplies. We’ll set up the glow stick alarm system which we’ll be able to see from up the hill, in case anyone breaks the perimeter.”

“You know Julian, being here on the island so far from help in the middle of the night...well now I just feel stupid thinking nothing could go wrong. There are modern day pirates, and we’re the ones that found the star, so now I suddenly pop up in an area known to have tons of buried treasure. Of course, they would think I ran across a clue to where it’s at and we’re checking it out.”

“That’s why Dad gave us all the information. He thought you were being incredibly naive.”

“What did you think, Julian?”

“I thought a honeymoon in an exotic location equals lots of sex.”

Keiko playfully punched Julian.

“Come on, what do you expect a guy to think about when he’s taking his honeymoon with his hot wife? It’s normal.”

“I meant about others thinking we have a clue to a treasure.”

“Sure. They might. We didn’t exactly come equipped to haul the stuff out. The worst they could do is track us to see if we
have
information to the location. But I
am
here on my honeymoon, with my incredible wife, so if they’re male, I’m sure they’ll assume I’d rather be spending my time in bed with you.” Julian kissed her on the head. “Don't worry, I always have a healthy dose of paranoia drilled into me by Ray. Not to mention that in Iraq, the cutest kids could be sent out into the road concealing a bomb. I lost a leg from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't put anything past modern pirates especially keeping an eye on us. They might be observing us while we're out here, but if they suspect we've found the treasure, or a treasure, they'll look for evidence of that when we get back.
If
we find it, then we need to worry. They won’t want us to share the information of its location.”

“Great. If we find it, then we’re in danger. That makes me feel better.” Keiko hugged Julian harder.

“Let’s enjoy tonight, and get up before dawn to hike up the mountain. With any luck they’ll assume we’re sleeping late. We know where we’re going with the help of the map and the GPS coordinates you’ve targeted. If we find it, maybe we can sneak back before they even suspect we’re up.”

Keiko smiled, “You’re right.” She encircled Julian with her arms and with her fingers entwined in his hair, gently coaxed him to her waiting lips for a long slow kiss.

***

Gaspar the Pirate, Randall, and Bennett 1826

“He has taken many ships over the years.”

Randall raised his eyebrows and looked at the guard. “Is that so?”

“The first I heard of him was several years ago.” Gaspar burped and held out his mug again for a refill of the ale, “Bloody Graham made the men of the Valasperio walk the plank to their deaths, but not before he bloodied them with fifty lashes a piece. A pirate named Gemand escaped by hiding a sharp blade under his tongue. He held his breath and cut the rope tied to a shot that was to take him to his watery grave. He saved two other men who could swim as they hit the water, by diving down and cutting them free. The King of Spain’s own nephew, a passenger on the ship escorting the treasure, went down with the ship.”

He took another swig off his mug, and pounded his chest which helped produce a long healthy burp.

Randall turned his head out of the way of the smelly blast.

“Bloody Graham has not an ounce of mercy in his soul. He roams the outer islands looking for those unlucky enough to be blown off course. Aye, it be true, there is a King’s ransom on his head. He’s not a Spaniard like the rest of us, but a bloody Englander. Some rumored he deserted the Royal Navy, others say he was raised as Cook’s cabin boy, then left to fend for himself in the thieves
’ colony that was wiped out by a big blow, and an earthquake goin’ on nigh ten years ago. His first ship was blown onto the beach where he took it and fit with his crew and those that would turn.” Gaspar paused and took another swig of his drink, “He took the treasure off a Spanish galleon La Croix, more gold than any man can imagine and now he sits rich, hiding it from the looters, kings and common men alike.”

“How many men are under his command?” Randall asked.

Gaspar nodded. “He built a full crew of fierce men. Over two hundred. I would not go messing with him with less than three hundred myself. He’s crafty too. Slides at you from out of the dark and the fog firing his guns then taking what he wants. You think you can wait here for him? Your trick will not work. I am sure he heard the guns and saw the smoke. Bloody Graham cannot be caught unawares.”

“Who has issued a ransom on his head?”

Gaspar took a swig from his mug before answering, “He will meet his end by his fellow thieves long afore he would need to worry about the bounty on his head. The Kings of England, Spain, and Portugal would all pay a pretty piece to the men who bring him in.” Gaspar drained the last of the drink. “I have no more tales. Those are all that have been relayed to me.”

He leaned back and stifled a burp, “Where’s my whore?”

Randall motioned for the guards to take the drunken pirate to the women’s quarters.