Whilst being carried to the carpenter’s quarters, the judder of cannon fire threw Catalina from the arms of her carriers, once again knocking her out cold.
Upon opening her eyes, she immediately became aware of the agonizing pain shooting down her leg. Glancing around for help, she could see the lifeless body of Jim to her left, lying in a pool of blood and shattered ship. Neither Garrett nor Thomas, or any other living soul, were to be seen beyond the many more bodies that were strewn across that deck. That was when the smell of battle reached Catalina. The foul, sticky mix of blood, gunpowder and tar burned her nostrils and the salt, sea air bit at her leg wound. She soon realised that she was alone on the Quarter Deck, alone with only the pain and ghostly silence to comfort her.
Using all the upper body strength she could muster, she hauled herself towards the steps that led to the main deck. Once near the top she realised that she was wrong in her assumption of being alone on the ship for, standing there on the deck was at least two boarding party’s worth of pirates surrounding the surviving remainder of her crew. Scanning the faces she recognised Thomas’ and a few other survivors and let loose a sigh of relief. This feeling of relief was to be short-lived as the broadswords, held firmly in the hands of the marauding buccaneers, were being forcefully thrust towards the crewmembers. Straining to hear what was being said, she heard an order for the Captain of the ship to be brought forward. Glowing with pride, Catalina watched as the crew remained silent, unwilling to fulfil this heathen’s request. Movement below her redirected her attention and she watched with sorrow as her Captain was brought in front of the pirates. Once again Catalina’s heart swelled with pride by the Captain’s dignified approach, not once did he appear to have any fear in his heart. Calmly, he addressed the pirates, “I command, as Captain of this ship, that you release my crew immediately and disembark from this vessel to the one from which you came, leaving at once.” At which the pirates exchanged amused glances and sniggered. A cold, evil laugh that sent chills right through Catalina’s body. It was a sound that would haunt her until the end of her days. Sniggering over, the pirates jabbed their swords towards the crew again and issued their commands. Unable to hear well enough, Catalina edged forward, unaware that she was becoming increasingly visible in the sight of the pirate gang.
The commands declared by the pirates were
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