La Espada Negra
by Jim Guy
Episode
#311
Part Four of Six
On board La Espada Negra, Maril and Margie sat in the cabin as they each ran a sharpening stone over the blades of their cutlasses.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Captain," said Maril.
"So do I. If they aren't successful getting Anne back, I am afraid that we will have to make a full-out assault against the pueblo. They will be alert, not like the pirate bases we have attacked."
"Do you trust the Doctor?" asked Maril.
Margie gave a crooked grin. "How can you not trust a man with such a distinguished nose? And his eyes. He has seen a lot of things that he keeps hidden. I have seen that look before in gentle men who have seen a lot of ugliness in their lives."
"You think there is more to this Doctor than he appears to be?" asked Maril.
"I will lay odds that he was something else before he became a Doctor," replied Margie.
The night quiet was broken with a burst of cannon fire. Maril blew out the lantern and the Captain and Ship's Master raced for the main deck.
As Margie ran to the bow, Raquel met her and handed her a telescope. "A ship off the starboard side. They put a shot across the bow. Shall I return fire?"
"No. Get the cannon ready but leave the doors closed. If they wanted to fight they wouldn't have sent a warning shot," said Margie searching for the ship.
The on-coming ship was pacing them as Margie located it. She moved the telescope so she could take in the bow, then the stern. She moved the scope back to the bow.
"Well, I'll be damned," said Margie, as she raced back to the stern and stood next to Maril.
"Who is it?" asked Maril.
"An old friend," said Margie, handing her the scope. "Notice their guns doors are still closed? They fired the bow cannon. Only one ship that I know of has one of those." "Turn slightly to starboard to get us closer," she said to the woman behind the wheel. "Hoist sails and prepare."
As the two ships came closer, Margie picked up a megaphone. "Ahoy the Falcon," she yelled.
"Ahoy the Espada Negra," came the reply. "Drop anchor and prepare to be boarded or the next shot will be a broadside."
"Is that anyway to treat someone who saved your life?" yelled Margie.
There was a sudden silence and Margie watched in her scope as the figure of a woman was looking at her. Margie gave the scope to Maril and waved.
"She is waving back, Captain. I presume that is Mary Rose?"
"Aye, that it is. Drop anchor," replied Margie.
The Falcon came close and grappling hooks were tossed from the Falcon as the crew of La Espada Negra tossed their own. As the ships ground together with a shudder, the flash of long blonde hair signaled the arrival of Mary Rose. Margie went to greet her.
"Margie, what the hell are you doing here?" asked Mary Rose.
"It's a long story. Come have a drink. Mary, this is the Ship's Master, Maril. Maril, Mary Rose."
Maril shook hands with the Captain of the Falcon as they all headed for the Captain's Quarters. Maril noticed that her crew and the crew of the Falcon were all lined up by the rails.
"Should we let them fraternize, Captains?" asked Maril.
"Put it on hold while Mary and I talk," said Margie. Mary nodded her agreement.
When they entered the Captain's Quarters, Margie handed Mary a mug of rum.
"I suppose you are wondering why we are here," said Margie.
"That is an understatement," replied Mary. "I was also curious about a pink pirate flag."
"The pink flag is a long story, but not important right now. One of our crew was injured from a fall from the yardarm and we asked for help from the Doctor. Another of the crew was shot by a soldier and was rescued by a masked woman in black."
"The Queen of Swords," nodded Mary.
"Now, another crew member has been captured by soldiers led by a man on a white horse."
"Captain Grisham."
"Doctor Helm is leading a rescue party to get our people back."
"Margie, how can I help?" asked Mary.
"We are sailing south. If our rescue attempt is successful we will pick up our people there. If not, we will launch a strike against the pueblo," replied Margie.
"I urge you not to do that," said Mary. "So far, the only thing you have done wrong is sail into these waters with a poor taste in clothing."
"Why poor taste?" asked Maril.
"Dressing in all-black, wearing masks and a red sash in this area can get you killed. It's like flashing a red cape at a bull. In this case, Montoya is the bull. Also, he will see a pirate ship with cannon as his prime objective."
"Funny, that is what Doctor Helm said," replied Maril.
"Maril, go let the crew fraternize, but remain alert."
Mary Rose laughed. "How long have you been at sea?"
"Two months since our last landing," replied Margie.
"Two months with no men and you want them to fraternize and be vigilant?" asked Mary Rose.
"Ok, half of the crew fraternizes," replied Margie. "Draw straws or something."
Maril walked out of the cabin. In a few minutes, she heard yelling from the men and women.
Maril walked back in. "The crew accepts," she said with a grin.
"Mary, why are you at sea? I heard you had a rancho here and had given it up," said Margie.
"I never gave it up completely, but about two months ago someone tried to kill me. Doctor Helm saved my life," replied Mary.
"What do you know of the Queen of Swords? Can we trust her?" asked Maril.
"We have crossed paths a time or two. We don't always agree on the way to get things done, but yes, you can trust her. She hates Montoya as much as I do," replied Mary.
"Then, let's drink to the Queen of Swords," said Margie as they lifted their tankards.
The moonless night overcame the pueblo and several black-dressed figures crept around the town. Soldiers guarding the area soon were lying on the ground with their hand tied behind their backs and gags in their mouths.
Leaving Chico and the other horses in the shadows, the Queen of Swords crept to the jail. She stopped and them made her way to the fountain.
Three dark-dressed figures circled the pueblo, looking for any soldiers on guard. They met at the fountain in the square. As they started towards the jail, another figure stepped out in front of them. The Queen motioned them to be quiet.
"We must be quiet," she whispered. "I have been in and out of that jail so many times, I think Montoya is thinking of giving me the key."
The Queen led the rescue party to the jail and knocked on the door, just as Helm stepped around the corner of the building.
A guard opened the door.
"Surprise," said the Queen as she sent an upper cut into the soldier's jaw. He fell back as four women and Doctor Helm raced in and closed the door. Four soldiers pulled their swords and rushed the intruders.
"Don't kill them," yelled the Queen as the men found themselves facing the cutlasses of some very determined women.
"Right. For them, you knock; for me you sneak in a window," said Helm.
"The window is more romantic," she chuckled.
As the women fought the soldiers, the Queen and Doctor Helm found the keys and raced to the cell. Inside, they found the young woman lying on the floor of her cell, her face battered and bruised. The girl moaned and opened her one good eye. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I am a friend. They call me the Queen of Swords. Who did this to you?"
"I don't know his name. He is a corporal. He has bad teeth and a scar on his left cheek. Montoya told him to leave me alone but the corporal waited until Montoya left and then he attacked me. I had to kick him in the cojones to get him off me."
"Don't worry, Anne. he will pay," said Josephine, who had come into the cell.
"Good," said Anne. She passed out.
Helm picked her up gently and carried her out of the cell and went to his office.
The Queen walked to Montoya's office. Jo and three other pirates looked at Helm and then at the Queen. They followed the Queen.
The Queen kept to the shadows as she crept up the stairs and surprised the guard who was sitting on the edge of a large planter. He looked up in time to see a fist coming at his face.
Using her dagger, the Queen opened the outer door and slunk into the shadows. She saw one guard at the foot of the stairs and another outside of Montoya's door. The Queen tossed a dagger against the wall, drawing the door guard's attention. When he went to investigate, he was hit over the head with the butt end of a rapier hilt.
The noise alerted the downstairs guard and he came upstairs and cornered the Queen in the hallway. As he aimed his musket, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned his head and a fist connected with his jaw.
"Thanks," whispered the Queen.
"De nada, Reina," replied Jo as she cocked her head to the right and grinned crookedly.
The Queen raised her foot to the door and burst into Montoya's office.
Montoya was sitting at his desk and reached for his sword on the desk. The thud of a thrown dagger digging itself into the desk caused Montoya to freeze.
"You are coming with us, Coronel," said the Queen.
Montoya started to protest but the drawn cutlasses silenced him. The pirates tied his hands behind his back and led him to Helm's office.
"What is this?" asked Montoya.
"Look at your handiwork," said Helm as he stepped away from Anne.
Montoya gasped. "Who did this? I ordered her jailed, not mauled."
"No, you were just going to hang her because she dressed like me," said the Queen.
"I thought that she and her friends kidnapped the Doctor."
"The Doctor was doing his job," replied Helm. "They needed help and asked me to come. They committed no crime that I know of."
"Bring him," said Jo. The women grabbed Montoya while others hitched up a wagon and loaded Anne into it. Montoya was tied to the wagon by a rope around his neck. Several times Montoya fell as he followed the wagon. By the time they reached the beach, Montoya's pants were ripped, his knees bloody and his face and shirt covered in dirt. Angry hands pulled Montoya into the longboat and then those same hands gently lifted Anne into the boat. Angelica was also helped into the craft and then Helm and the Queen joined them as they rowed to the ship.
Margie walked to the rail. "Ship's Master, weigh anchor when they are aboard."
"Aye, Captain," replied Maril.
Act Four
Marta watched as the Queen, the women and Helm rode out and then turned to check on the patient. She knocked on the door but there was no response. She opened the door to find the room empty, the gown that Angelica had been wearing lay on the bed.
"Angelica. Angelica where are you?" yelled Marta as she raced to the kitchen to find the door open.
The whinny of a horse caused Marta to run to the stables. Angelica lay on the ground with a saddle on top of her.
"Angelica, are you all right? What do you think you are doing?"
"I…I have to go with my shipmates," replied Angelica weakly.
"Look at you. You can't even saddle a horse, let alone ride one. How far do you think you could get without falling off?" asked Marta as she pulled the saddle off.
"Please, Marta. I have to be there in case they need me."
"You would only hinder their efforts as they would be looking out for you. I'll tell you what. I will hitch a buggy and I will drive you, but not to the Pueblo."
"Then, where would you take me?" asked Angelica puzzled.
"Where would they go when they rescue the other woman?"
"To the ship."
"Then, that's where we will go."
"But they moved it; I wouldn't know where to go. How would you know?"
"They borrowed horses from Tessa's uncle, so they must have gone north. There is only one decent cove where they could have landed and been close to Don Elizandro's rancho. Wait here."
A few minutes later, Marta hitched the buggy, helped Angelica into the buggy and wrapped her in a blanket and were on their way.
Within the hour Marta reached the beach and saw the ship at anchor. She drove to the beach and helped Angelica to the shore.
"Ahoy the ship," yelled Marta.
"Ahoy the shore, what do you want?" replied a voice.
"I have Angelica here and she wants to come aboard."
"Wait there. We will send a dinghy."
A few minutes later, several women arrived in a dinghy and took Angelica aboard. One of the women turned to Marta.
"I am Maril. Thank you for bringing her home."
"De Nada. She will need rest. I did what I could for her and Doctor Helm has seen her also," replied Marta.
"Your Doctor Helm does seem to get around, doesn't he?"
"Si. I just hope your friends are also safe. He was with them on the way to Santa Elena," rep[lied Marta.
"Something tells me not to ask, so I won't. Adios, Marta," said Maril as she got back into the dinghy and the women rowed to the ship.
Grisham had ridden to the cove and stayed several hours. When no ship was seen, he led his men back to the Pueblo. As Grisham rode towards the town, he noticed that no soldiers could be seen as they approached. He halted the men and quietly motioned for them to spread out and move in cautiously.
Two soldiers dismounted and crept between the buildings. They discovered an unconscious and tied up guard. Within minutes, Grisham and his men had released all of the unconscious men and discovered the broken door to Montoya's office.
Grisham sent his men around the pueblo to look for tracks.
"Captain," called a private. "Wagon tracks with a man on foot walking behind."
"Good eye Private. Mount up," said Grisham.
Continue to Part Five
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