Island Between Times

By Starshipwriter

Bloodthirsty Pirates: World War II; an Island paradise, and a stolen Ruby with mystical powers makes a leisurely sailing holiday anything but.
Alone and trapped on an island two children must find a way to save their parents before the Shah’s mystic ruby brings time back into order.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Starshipwriter
• Release date: Mar 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301524464

Starshipwriter

In 1600 Shakespeare wrote As You Like It. In that play his character Jaques said “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” I happen to like that phrase. I also believe that we would all like to play different characters from time to time; stories give us the opportunity to do that. We can be a hero or a villain. We can live wherever we dream and travel through time at will. In this crazy world writing keeps me sane: its also a lot of fun.

Book preview

Island Between Times

By Starshipwriter

©Caelin Day pty ltd

Through his telescope Captain William Sutton could clearly see the puff of whitish smoke erupt from the smaller of the two ships: almost simultaneously the Pelicans fore topsail tore across its width.

As the sail collapsed he heard an exclamation of joy beside him. Well done Sir; well done.

Captain Sutton ignored the comment, he was still counting: waiting for the boom that was only just now rolling across the ocean and across the deck of the Lady Scarlet. Yes; he thought, mentally calculating the distance; they were gaining. One should not be too presumptuous mister, he said condescendingly without taking his eye from the glass.

No sir; one should not. The voice had lost most of its excitement.

We are dealing with a cunning one mister; probably the wiliest of them all.

Of course Sir and God willing you shall be the one to put an end to him.

Be it so mister, but many have assumed that before; and we must be on our most vigilant, lest he slips from our grasp as well.

Your plan is working well Sir. The sloops to slow; take his wind, and shepherd the Pelican into the slack water; where we can take her.

Apparently so mister; though I care that things can go awry when one least expects. Take that slack water; no doubt after all his times slipping out of the noose Butcher is cursing a becalmed area in the middle of the sea?

Seems even God himself wants the Butcher taken Sir.

Aye; or the devil looks after his own.

One of the sloops had come up behind; its sails spoiling the smooth flow of air that had filled the Pelicans own sails; without being told crew were immediately climbing into the rigging. They had trimmed and got back most of the lost air when they heard the roar of cannon. Almost in the same instant a hole appeared in the fore topsail. They all knew instantly that it was bar or chain, intentional fired to take out the Pelicans sails. As they thought the thought, there was a tearing sound as the canvas tore across its breadth.

Mr. Simms attend to the sail. Jakes voice was sharp and urgent.

The sailor's reply was raised in apprehension, and tinged with more than a dose of fear. Cap’n; they’ll be within broadside shot afore long?

Aye mister Simms. Jake spoke calmly. I can see for meself. Though the words were deceptive, for in fact his gaze was in the opposite direction: away from the following ships, and anxious faces of his crew.

The mate’s body sagged; he was a simple, though not unintelligent man, and he knew that individually the fast ships that pursued them were no match for the Pelican. There were three frigates and two sloops, the cannon they carried were not heavy, but what they lacked in fighting strength, they more than made up for in number. They had tasted Blood, and would not give up the chase: they would fight, and maybe loose, sinking to the bottom of the sea: testimony again to the feared reputation of Captain Jake Barber.

But together the battle was unequal: even a pirate as fearsome as Jake could not fight five at a time, and they had a plan. The Pelicans only advantage was that once closed in for the kill they would have no room to maneuver.

Nonetheless the prize was worth the risk of dying for; fame for the captains, and a vast reward for their crew. Even Simms knew that sooner or later Jack would be dragged in shackles to swing at the end of a rope, and likely the mate would be by his side. It wasn’t something he relished and he was desperate to say again that time was running out, but he had been dismissed by attitude, and that was more final than words. He began to descend the steps to the lower deck. He stopped, turned again and looked expectantly at the tall black dressed figure; waiting, hoping the captain would acknowledge his unspoken plea.

But the man was silent; he still looked out over the glass like water, across the open ocean. Ignoring the waiting man and apparently, the fully rigged navy ships slowly closing the gap on them, as they wallowed through lack of strong wind

Now Simms looked anxiously at the crew a few steps below him. They were all at their stations, ready and waiting for the order to fight; yet each man knew they were outgunned and outnumbered. Nervously the sailor spoke again, his voice nervous and pleading. Begging your pardon cap'n... He almost lost the courage to continue. We can ill afford to meet them broadside… with their cannon and all... if you were ready to give th...

Gone was the calm. The words were spat. If I were ready to what... Mister? The tone of his voice chilled all of those who had the misfortune to hear it. Since when have you thought it fitting to tell the captain what to do on his own bridge mister Simms? There was a deathly silence, except for the sharp snap of sail as it caught an errant gust of wind. I… I, Jake Barber… Captain of the Pelican. I alone decide what is done aboard her.

His voice lost some of its power, but none of its venom. You would be well advised not to forget again mis... Something caught his attention, relieving the sweating man of his berating. Get back to your duties: all of you, before I have you heaved overboard to wait for the kings men.

In an instant the sailor was gone, the words following, as he meekly joined the others on the main deck. There were just the two of them left on the bridge; then quickly Jack once more looked ahead. The helmsman, alone at his post behind the large timber wheel took a cautious glance at the captain He would have sworn that the captain was looking for something, but there was nothing: nothing that his eyes could set upon, here in the vast emptiness of ocean.

The sloop apparently content with its delaying work stayed where it was least exposed as the larger warships gained on them. The other sloop had come close behind seemingly also satisfied to harry the pelican towards the strange area of slack water.

Sailors are a superstitious lot, and areas like it were treated with the utmost distrust. Some said nature created strange things: most said it was the work of evil spirits, and places where Merfolk waited to lure sailors to their death. Jack was not of the second group as for some time they held their course.

The only sound on deck was the creak of wet ropes straining against timber pulleys; and occasionally the flap of a sail that momentarily lost its wind: quickly re-filled by the anxious crew pulling rope under Jack's scowling stare. Then