Mike Sutton's Blog: For prose apply within. - Posts Tagged "cruise-liners"

"Target sighted, five points off the larboard bow!" The first mate yelled as he slid down the mast and planted his feet onto the deck. "You see her yet Captain Wolf?"

The Wolf of the High Seas peered through the spyglass. The giant cruise ship was like a drifting cloud that was wreathed in the flames of the setting sun as it wallowed across the horizon. "Aye. Looks like a fine prize for the likes of us. Fine work Mr. Gnome." Captain Wolf dropped the telescope and began bellowing orders. Michael Roy, Cross-eyed Jones, El Diablo Perro! Raise the sail, make course to intercept, man your battle-stations! With a flurry of hands and feet the Wretched Wanderer seized the wind and was flying towards her quarry.

A crescent moon was passing Jupiter by as WW and her crew came into the shadow of the enormous floating resort hotel. Five stories up, it towered over their heads. Golden light streamed over the railings, trailing with it the sound of laughter and merriment. Captain Lone Wolf caught the scent of roasted beef. His mouth began to water. Oh, it had been many long months since he had tasted the fresh flesh of a cow. His luck was in. Tonight would be special indeed. "DoggRobber, I will need my finest attire for this night. A man should look his best when the Lady comes a knocking on his keel."

With DoggRobber's assistance, the Captain arrayed himself in the magnificent splendor of his finest red coat and favorite wide brimmed hat. The coat was a bit worn, times had been lean over the last months. The hat with the white ostrich plumes that jetted out of the band, only a few were missing. Then the Captain strapped on his cutlass and returned to the deck where his men stood waiting. They too had dressed for the occasion, as well as they could manage.

"Grapple that vessel, prepare for boarding!" Captain Lone Wolf called as the Wretch bumped gently against the white-painted steel hull of the drifting colossus. "Mr. Gnome reconnoiter and report!"

Mr Gnome scaled the rope like a man possessed, letting the silent boat below disappear into the night. He too had smelled the fare and his stomach urged him on. Aboard ship the deck was clear. Music, laughter and the sounds of people dining drifted on from deep in the ship.

Mr. Gnome gave the signal and the rest of the crew were on deck before the heartbeat passed. "Captain, I think that they're having a party yonder that way!" Mr. Gnome said as he took point and walked into the light. Captain and crew were with him, lock-step, weapons drawn as they sauntered towards the dining hall.

A orchestra was humming out Mozart, or Beethoven, or one of those other highfalutin chordmongers. A ditty that minded one to think of angels prancing about on clouds. The Captain stopped for a moment and nodded along with the tune as he scanned the room. Chandeliers hung from steel beams, casting glittering light onto the crowd below.

DoggRobber took that moment to react to the vases of flowers that lined the wall. The enormous sneeze drew all eyes to the crew as they stood in the doorway gawking at the spectacle.

The tables laden with Haves, in their evening finery, turned towards him and stared. Captain Wolf bowed to them, sweeping his hat from his head and across his chest. He then raised his hand and addressed the hall in his finest voice. "Greetings ladies and gents, I am Captain Winston Leonidas Augustus LoneWolf of the Wretched Wanderer and dreaded scourge of the shipping lanes. My lads and I will be relieving you of some of this wonderful bounty that you have set in store. Don't worry! We're not overly greedy! And if you play along well with us, we'll be gentlemanly to a fault!"

"Lads, keep an eye on them! Mr Gnome, you're with me! Let us get our feast aboard the Wretch!"

Mr Gnome saluted as he tried to swallow the handful of mashed potatoes that he had shoved into his mouth. "Aye aye Captain!" He meant to say. "Pthhbt Captain," and a mouthful of spuds was all that came out.

Captain Lone Wolf took a pan in each hand and sauntered back out onto the deck, Mr. Gnome at his heels. And, using the special magic sailors have mastered in the art of weaving and tying rope, they lowered their take down the the Wretch. Five more times they returned to the galley, each time to clapping and cheers by the waiting diners as they hauled off armfuls of vittles. Each time halting the Captain in his tracks. Until with one final bow and a kiss for a beautiful girl, he left them for good, in search of greater plunder.

The Swells laughed and clapped. Whispering to one another, "What a fine performer they got for us this evening to clear away the left-over food. I so do love the theater! Certainly this was a fine act and he was quite talented!" And "Do you think that the funny little man in the raggedy jacket performs at children's parties? I certainly did love the voices that he did."

Later on they would accuse the liner's crew when some of their valuables came up missing.