New addition to the capter of Carribean

Soon the Captain ermerged on the top deck. Thomas Thompson was a man well into his late 30´s and he didn´t move as agile as he just to. He grab his spyglass and look to ships, but they were to far away. Thompson looked to the Alfred. He look to see if Captain Hinman was on deck too. Despite the fact that the two men started off with very very little in commen their joined venture had been quite succesfull. They had grown allmost accoustume to victory. When they first met Thompson had wondered if Hinman had seen them as equals. Thompson was aware that his Northern Ireland birthplace wasn´t helping when he was to work with americanborn and breed people who was figthing his former country. But he simply accepted that fact and work his best to prove people wrong. Hinman had seen hesitent at the begning, but the succes of their journey had brought them closer together. Raleigh and Alfred had been a good match whether Hinman and Thompson had liked it or not. Each captain convinced that he was the better captain then the other.

But at every incounter Thompson was unsure whether Hinman would follow his lead. Alfred was always slower in the handling, and one could never tell if Hinman was doing his own thing or Alfred was strugling to tackle and here in the Carrebean waters lurked all sorts of danger.

The old fasion pirates was thing of the past. Thompson had allmost forgotten the names of infamous pirates that roomed theese waters 30 years ago. And Hinman from Connecticut knew more about the native Indian tribes then he did of pirates. But in theese waters and the fact that they were themselves on the hunt for prizes paranoia was the better reponse. Suddenly Thompson felt a chill. He look to the outlook to see if he had spotted any more ships or the stranger in the distance had changed course. He knew from their former battles that he had plan very detailed to overcome Alfreds sailing traits. But the look- out seem allmost frozen as if he didn´t know what to do. Thompson imaginged the cannons and smoke that filled the air in sea battle. He strug and went down to inspect their own canons. He look at the men and knew that long journey had drained most of them of energy. He himself felt tired and in need of some landleave. He wasn´t getting any younger.

Even when he went to his quarters, he strug. The long journey wasn´t just making him tired – he also was tired of people questioning his loyalty. He went over to the maps on his desk. His eyes almost hurt as he was trying to focus on the map. He drop into his chair and felt his back acking too. He felt angry. He had served his new country well and loyal, and yet he was still upon as a stranger. He went to his cabinet and found a glass and poured some ale. He began walking to the deck, but remember that it was impossible to keep his hand steady all the way up, so he went back and sat down in his chair to drink the beer before going up.

From mere fatigue he was getting a headacke. He looked at the map. They were sailing toward to windvare island but was still to far away to reach a friendly port. The majority of Islands were still under British rule. The lush green islands of the French Martinque or Gudalopue could be an option. But they were far way still. On the island lay a future promise of rest and fresh food and drink. He hadn´t had fresh meat for last couple of weeks and he hadn´t seen any greenery since Africa. Thompson felt strangely calmed by the proscept of going to Martinque and decided that now matter what he would go there next.

 Model of the USS Raleigh in the U.S. Navy Museum

Sturmvogel 66

Suddenly he could hear the Master of ship calling out orders to the sailors. Something had apperently happened. Thompson sighed and rose. He hesistated for a moment, but emptied his glass , poured another one and drank it too. He went to the deck and surveyed the state of things. The 34 canons were all being prepared and there was a hectic atmosphere on deck. While the Master of ship continued ordering the men about Thompson went to have another look at the unknown ships. He noticed that the activity on Alfred had increase too. He went slow to the portside to get a better look. Eventhought the ships were still to far away to make any clear marks – not to mention colors – Thompson was quite certain that theese were not American ships.