Roberto and Jackson sat on top of the taffrail on the main deck and looked at the red light coming from the sea horizon to the East.
In the dark sky, the silver moon had already gone past on the other side leaving behind the stars to tell the direction to the sailors at sea.
"So boy, why did you want to be a pirate?"
Jackson turned his head to look at Roberto who sat beside him with a meek expression on his face waiting for the arrival of the morning sun.
His question made Roberto wonder, what really was the reason for him to become a pirate?
"I believe it's because I want to be free. Only the pirates are unbound from the shackles of responsibilities in the forever going sea."
His answer caused Jackson to be a little stunned and also delighted. Another youth who wanted to experience freedom. Reality wasn't that easy as it might sound and a pirate's life was terrible.
"Boy, freedom is but a word to describe being unrestrained by the laws. Everyone is free from the beginning, it's due to them being who they are that they get bound by chains of responsibilities. I am the same, and you are too. But don't lose hope boy, for a day will come when you will understand that being chained is not always bad."
"So I am already free? It was me who chose to be bound?"
"Aye. And also not. Responsibilities are like a container, and rum is your life. Now think, without a container will you be able to drink the rum?"
"....."
Roberto turned quiet and pondered about what Jackson just explained to him. It wasn't difficult to understand but also not easy to grasp.
While the two had conversed, the red light shooting from the edge of the sea horizon brightened and changed to yellow and orange rays.
The night sky got pushed by the lights, and the stars faded away from the eyes. With blazing warmth and a cozy feeling in their hearts, Jackson and Roberto welcomed the ball of flames.
* * *
TAK TAK TAK!
Hey-Hey-Hey!
Aye—Aye!
"The rise of the pirates shall begin with the sun!"
Hey-Hey-Hey!
Aye—Aye!
"We're pirates, we loot, we kill! We're free!"
"At sea, we're kings!"
"Speak the cannons of ships!"
Hey-Hey-Hey!
Aye—Aye!
TAK TAK TAK!
On Daisy, the crew members rejoiced and sang loudly while each holding a wooden mug filled with additive rum made from sugarcane.
Corpse stepped up on the quarterdeck and cheered with the crew. He drank the rum in one big gulp and threw the empty mug to Jackson for refill.
He shifted his gaze to Roger, who sat alone on a cannon and sipped his rum quietly while watching the sea with his foggy eyes.
"Old man Roger, why alone? Do you feel like dancing or singing with the crew?"
Corpse walked over to him and asked with a curious look on his face. Roger eyed him, then stared at the sea again with a chuckle.
"My age of singing and dancing is gone. I have lived a life with no regret, and will continue to do so. You all are young, it's your day. Enjoy the moment."
Roger said with a soft tone. He smiled and drank his rum at his own pace, not caring what anyone had to say. He was enjoying his remaining life as he wanted. There was nothing more he needed now.
Corpse acknowledged him, the old man really has lived long and seen many things none of them had seen before in their life.
He then left Roger and took his mug from Jackson before heading to the ship's bottom called bilge, the part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were unsupported by water.
Stepping down the stairs, he entered the lower deck. After which he walked further back and stepped down on another staircase leading down to the orlop deck.
He glanced around the deck and found nothing wrong so he advanced down once again finally reaching the bilge.
It was like a small dungeon, with many small stalls used for storing oil and other liquids necessary for the ship. Below the floor that he stood on, was a large container filled with clean water.
Why clean water instead of sea water? This ship, she was his beloved, in no way would he use impure things on her.
The water in the bilge was for the ship to balance itself on the sea, and help to keep the ship upright. If there were no water below, the ship would float entirely and become impossible for the crew to handle.
In simple words, the bilge of a ship was an important part and needed to be examined and inspected once a day.
He lit the old lantern in his hand, while drinking his rum, his eyes trailed on the bilge's interior covering. Since this part of the ship was always underwater, there was a need for it to be covered with thick plastic.
Then he came to the pump connected to the water container below, to the orlop deck. This pump was for throwing the water once in a while so the crew could change the old water to fresh one.
Many people who didn't know how to man a ship thought it was easy to command them. A crew, food and water would suffice, they expect.
But it was totally different. Sailors don't get much free time everyday because they are busy looking after the ship.
Cleaning it, washing it, changing the bilge water, repairing and checking from scratch once again– a repeated cycle every single day.
Corpse quickly finished the rum in the mug and placed it on the floor before using his free hand to touch the pump.
'No bumps. The screws are tight and the fitting is still in perfect angle.'
Nodding in satisfaction, he picked up the mug and walked to the end and examined the thick plastic layer covering the interior of the hull. Plastic was a product that could last forever without any worry of degrading.
Although it is said that plastic is harmful to nature and the future generations will suffer if they were not careful with plastics, Corpse didn't care.
By the time plastic takes over the world he would be deep in the ground, having only bones with no soul to live.
TAK TAK
He stepped on the stairs and went up. A ship had three decks, the main deck at the top, lower deck below it where the cannons are present and the orlop deck used for storing food and water.
Arriving on the main deck after putting the old lantern back to its spot, he looked at his crew who were still singing and dancing.
"Captain, shall I refill?"
Jackson came and asked with a grinning face. His eyes were blurry and his body swaying left and right. The rum must have already done its work.
"No need."
Corpse handed the mug to Jackson and moved towards his cabin to spend the day studying the Giant Tongue language.
"Aye aye, captain! Let me refill it!"
Jackson lifted his left leg to walk forward but for some reason his weight shifted backwards and he stumbled heavily on the wooden flood. A sharp pain pierced his butts and tears flowed down his eyes.
* * *
The day passed, and night returned. The crew encountered no other merchant ships or passenger ships along the route that Corpse chose.
On the helm, Corpse did some adjustments to the wheel and redirected Daisy. With the fierce winds blowing, she gained a boost as her sails stretched by the force.
The figurehead of the mesmerizing woman with her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes closed and her hair falling behind, seems to chant words as the tall waves reaching to hit her suddenly stop.
In the cold weather when the black clouds blocked the sky like a veil, the sea had become terrifying and merciless.
Each wave it produced could shatter a human's bones to fragments and kill them immediately.
Corpse narrowed his eyes, and glared in the direction of the incoming sea tornadoes called the waterspout. Around the base of these waterspouts, the sea had vortexed deep inside and sucked in air.
The waves were chaotic and pulled Daisy towards the waterspouts. The gear used to lock the wheel in its position, couldn't bear the strong jolt and broke.
ROTATE!
The giant wheel madly rotated. Corpse grabbed the handles of the wheel and forced the rotation to stop but the force was very strong, almost making him unable to hold on.
Gritting his teeth, he applied all his arm strength and spun the wheel to the other direction. Meanwhile the crew divided their work.
Some were busy tying the mortars and cannons on their spots with chains and ropes. Some held on the sails and some rushed down to the lower decks to check the foods and water barrels.
"Captain! The ship! She is being pulled towards the Sea's Eye!"
From the crow's nest, Roberto shouted loudly and informed them about the dangerous situation. Sea's Eye, it was the hollow vortex forming in the sea which could vary in sizes.
If one was pulled in and sucked inside a Sea's Eye, it had to be big enough, then it would result in complete annihilation.
Not even the strongest pirates in the world who had skills to use curses or magic dared to be ignorant about it.
The waves rolled up Daisy and forcefully pulled her towards the Sea's Eye. Corpse had a solemn face, he positioned his legs tightly on the floor then pushed the wheel to rotate towards the starboard side.
BOOM!
Lightning struck, like a falling branch on the port side of the ship, blasting water and splashing it on the deck at the crew members.
"Captain! We are nearing it!"
Roberto shouted once again. His face colorless, in his eyes was terror, his hands shaking and his legs stiff. He couldn't help but think, would he survive?
"All men, to starboard!"
Corpse ordered with a loud shout. Most of the crew members had finished their work except the ones handling the sails. Hearing their captain's orders, they rushed onto the starboard side without any question.
TUM TUM!
Their boots stomped on the wet wooden floor, their legs fastened and hurried them to the taffrail on the starboard side. Clenching on to the polished rail, they then watched the terrifying sea roar.
BOOM!
Lightning struck again, this time further from their ship on the Sea's Eye. The bright light was gulped in the vortex and vanished instantly.
The crew members saw it all and feared whether their lives were coming to an end.
In all of this, Corpse steered the wheel and made Daisy fight against the waves and winds. Each second counted.
"My beloved, show me your magic! Cut through the storm! For I believe you."
His chants were like the singing of mermaids and sirens, yet like cries of vultures and could also be heard like a beating heart.
A strong current traveled throughout the ship, from his feet. Daisy trembled and her sails spread out, the wood boards and planks on her vibrated.
A force, not belonging to the sea, acted on her. It give her the strength required to push herself away from the Sea's Eye.