Pirates Ghostly Spirits

By Bob Gebhardt

In or about the seventeen hundreds the crew of a pirate ship,who had recently plundered two merchant ships,raided a remote primitive village on an island for women and liquor. They were intent on retreating to their lair, a deserted and extinct volcanic island where they could get drunk and enjoy the carnal pleasures. Several of the captives were slaughtered and were damned to spend eternity in different locations.
About two hundred years later a modern day couple sailing the Caribbean become unintentionally and reluctantly involved in a paranormal contact with one spirit, that of a victim of that ancient pirate violence.
They became morally and emotionally obliged to assist in the release of the damned spirit, damned to eternity at the bottom of the sea.
This led them to contact the occupants of the Caribbean Island; the same island used by the pirates and now called The Island of Death.
The author takes us on a journey so enjoy the fantasy of a fictional trip into the spiritual dimensions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781300446859

Book preview

Pirates Ghostly Spirits

Pirates

Ghostly

Spirits

a novel by

Bob Gebhardt

Copyright © 2012 Bob Gebhardt

All rights reserved.

Second Edition

ISBN: 978-1-300-44685-9

No part of this book, eBook, EPUB, text, or the likes, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, data process or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, typing, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Contact Bob Gebhardt

Email

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Website

www.gebhardtnovels.com

Purchase Gebhardt novels online

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www.lulu.com/spotlight/BobGebhardt

This book is dedicated

to my loving wife

Patricia A. Gebhardt

Thank you for editing, support

and encouragement in the preparation

of this fictional novel.

Special thanks to

Stephanie L. Wetton

for her custom art work for

the cover of this novel.

Very special thanks to my friend, neighbor

and professional illustrator,

Mike Bartus

for his help, advice and illustrations

in this and my other novels.

Other Books by Bob Gebhardt

Trove

The discovery of a hide map that leads to a pirate trove

of riches and lifelong friendships.

Island of Death

Those who venture in search of its pirate treasure never come back.

Treasure a Sailor’s Siren

A pirate’s spirit complicates the hunt for untold riches.

El Dorado Relics Recovered

The story of the world famous legend of El Dorado’s elusive treasures.

Sailors Tacking from Murder

The lure of romance, riches and high-seas adventure.

Extra-Dimensional Visitation

A parallel dimension of advanced humans

making rare visits sharing enlightenment.

Sailing Simplified

A short, to the point, lesson on how to sail

small-to-medium sized sailboats.

Visit the author’s website at:

www.gebhardtnovels.com

Disclaimer

This novel is a totally fictional rendering of the author’s imagination including all of the characters and some of the locations. Any similarities between persons or activities must be considered purely coincidental.

The spiritual topics should not be construed as true, real or aligned with any religious teachings. Parapsychology and psychic abilities are unproven, controversial and unexplained mental phenomena at this time.

The presence of angels and Guardian Angels, as well as different types of afterlife activities are beliefs that have been present for eons and many are comforting to believe and interesting to contemplate.

List of Characters:

Benjamin Horton - Undersecretary Dept. of Defense

Billy - Poco’s brother who drown

Bob Banner - oldest group member, Pam’s husband

Chris Adair - group member, Pam’s husband and pilot

Danielle Rushing - Karen/Jack’s Daughter in Law

Dr. Klein - Karen’s physician

Don Grant - SEAL Team Sergeant Dog,

DOS - Don Orchards, nickname computer geek spirit

Ed Wilson - Commander, Captain of aircraft carrier

Elizabeth Valentine - Karen and Jack’s Daughter

Father John Matthew - Priest acquainted with group

Gene Rushing - Karen and Jack’s son, husband Danielle

Harry Valentine - Karen and Jacks Son in Law,

Jack Rushing - Caribbean tourist Karen’s husband

Jake Corning - treasure broker, Pompous treasure dealer

Joanne Burgess - computer geek, Ron’s wife

Jose Gaspar - legendary pirate, captain of pirate crew

Juanita - friend and fellow captive of Maria

Karen Rushing - terminal cancer patient Jack’s wife

Kevin Banner - group’s associate and financial manager

Marge Torrance - Major US Marine Corps, disabled

Maria - victimized woman by Poco

Norm Bent - Admiral, prior Navy SEAL Captain

Pam - Group member, psychic, Chris’s wife

Pat - older member, nurse, cook, Bob’s wife

Paul Carter - pilot and owner Albatross Marine Aviation

Poco - brutal pirate

Ron Burgess - leader of group, Joanne’s husband

Salvador or Sal - owner of treasure blown up in cave

Tom Rushing - Karen and Jack’s son, Police officer

Voz - Spirit Voz is Spanish for voice

Prologue

Around Year 1717, the Pirate Raid

Maria was carrying a bucket of water from the well to finish cleaning after feeding her family when she heard a disturbance in the settlement. She could not see as it was getting dark and the only light was from candles located inside other huts in the area. She thought it was probably one of the local men who frequently got drunk on the liquor from their still.

After several steps carrying the heavy bucket of water someone grabbed her from behind, one hand on her mouth and one around her breast. She struggled to free herself realizing that it was a pirate raid to get women for their sex slaves which usually resulted in death. She bit down on his hand as hard as she could, actually biting off several joints of two of his fingers.

He reacted throwing her to the ground, cussing and damming her to rot in hell and hit her about the head. He picked something out of his bandolier and she felt a severe shock and had a momentary thought that she had been shot and had died.

She came to in total confusion and disorientation, unable to see or feel except for an overwhelming pressure in her head and severe pain in her left ankle. She soon realized that she was hanging upside down by the ankle and her garments were hanging over her face. She flailed at her garments and managed to get them away from her eyes, and saw that she was hanging from a tree about three feet from the ground.

She saw a woman, who she knew from the settlement, run away and disappear from view. She tried to free herself but this seemed to create more pain.

A man, a scurvy looking pirate with a dirty looking bandage on his hand, came into view and said, Well the bitch finally came to. You worthless bitch you bit my fingers off, so you are going to pay and pay big. I’m going to hang you by the other foot because after two days that one looks like its rotten and going to fall off.

He let her down rather hard on her head and she passed out again. When she came to, she had been totally undressed and apparently sexually violated. She was so badly hurt she prayed to God to let her die.

The woman she had seen earlier came to her and attempted to help by giving her water saying, I will be in trouble if Poco catches me here. Your ankle is in bad shape so I cut the rope off and attempted to get the circulation restored.

Maria tried to get up thinking of escape, but was unable to do so. The woman friend, named Juanita, explained that they had been brought to what she believed was an island by ship, so escape was impossible.

I am not sure but I think this is the pirate island, la isla de la muerte, where they squat between raids and bring their hostages and treasures.

(This fictional island is further chronicled in the novels Trove and Island of Death, also by Bob Gebhardt.)

Over the next day Juanita nursed Maria and brought her food and drink so she was able to sit up and move about a little.

She tried to work her way into the surrounding underbrush to hide but when Poco returned he quickly found her and hit her in the face, reached for her hand to drag her back to where she had a lean-to shelter. She had found a rather stout piece of broken limb as she worked into the underbrush which she swung at him striking him in the head. He let go of her hand, stumbled and fell face down into the dirt, apparently unconscious. She panicked and went all out scrambling into the woods. She used a small tree to get into a standing position and hopped on her good foot. She heard someone coming so she went down into the underbrush but eventually saw that it was Juanita. She called out to her and she quickly came to her side.

What did you do to him? He looked like he was dead. I didn’t check, I just got the hell out of there. If he isn’t dead, you are!

I know, I know, if you help me you will be dead too. But I can’t even get away to hide without help. Maybe you can hit him over the head again and give me some time.

I can’t hit him, no way! I’ll help you, come on let’s move.

She got her arm under her shoulder and they made their way further into the woods until they were exhausted.

Juanita said, "I will get some help, wait here. He won’t find you in the dark; I’m not sure that I will be able to find you until daylight.

This was the third day of drunken celebration and debauchery in the center of the compound where they kept a large fire burning and rum flowing. They had pirated three ships one of which was loaded with gold and precious stones. They spared the crew of that ship unlike the other two where the crew was slaughtered and the ships burned and scuttled. This crew pledged allegiance to the pirate captain, one Captain Jose Gaspar. Most were dubious about their lives but turned to loading all of the treasure, stores and foodstuffs into the pirate ship hold. They watched their ship as it was just scuttled realizing that they were too close to land to burn it and create smoke thus signaling their presence.

On the sail back to the pirates’ island of death, the shanghaied crew discussed their plight, and almost to the man decided to look for any opportunity to escape. They were sure that although the pirates informed them that they could join them and become fellow pirates they would be murdered when no longer useful. One or two of them managed to secretly talk to some of the women captives who were positive that their lives were in jeopardy and were more than willing to conspire to escape at the first opportunity.

The pirates were for the most part falling down drunk or passed out on the ground, or harassing and molesting the women. One woman was fighting back and struck her attacker in the face so he threw her on the ground and hit her several times and struggled to raise her dress as he knelt between her legs. She kneed him in the groin rather hard which caused him to roll off her, but he grabbed his rum tankard and hit her in the head knocking her out.

As she laid on the ground bleeding he got up and pulled his flintlock pistol from his waist band and shot her in the head. The other women nearby gasped and realized that their cooperation with their tormentors was better that the alternative.

Suddenly there was an alarm as one of the pirates came running and stumbling into the light of the fire hollering, "Raid, raid, we’re being

raided, they already got Poco!"

Some of the less intoxicated took up arms and headed in that direction and shortly thereafter came back dragging Poco by the neck saying, It’s just this little ass Poco; some woman beat him up again.

With that he dumped Poco on the ground by the fire and they all laughed as he groaned and rolled over.

Juanita had also contacted several of her counterparts about helping Maria with her plight and most were afraid but realized they were about in the same situation. They all were being used as slaves and would probably be put to death when they were done with them or left on the island to starve to death. This was obvious as some of their group were lying dead around the camp. Several of the woman captives, who had befriended a few of the crew of the treasure ship, had plotted hiding on the island until the pirates left and take their chances of survival on this deserted island. They were just waiting for an opportunity and this was the time, ready or not. With this mind set they passed the word around and several drifted off into the woods, met up as a group, and, with Juanita, proceeded to Maria’s location.

When they found Maria they carried her to a cave location that the men had pre-plotted as a hiding place away from the areas the pirates frequented.

They were counting on the pirates not keeping track of all their captives and treasure ship crew as they frequently would kill one or two. They apparently did not really care as it was thought they would probably starve to death if they stayed on the God-forsaken island when they departed.

When venturing further into the cavern they found a cave in of mud blocking further access. They had secretly stockpiled some foodstuffs and a couple of weapons toward the back of the old volcanic lava tube but thought it might benefit them to open up the cave further if the cave in wasn’t too deep. They dug in at the top and found the blockage only a few feet thick so a couple of them crawled through and found a large trove of treasure. They surmised that one of the pirates had hidden the treasure and then the roof caved in so he did not attempt to recover it - easy come, easy go.

Departure from the Island

After six days the pirates were restless, about out of rum, and ready to go back out to sea. Several of the murdered captives were lying about and were starting to smell. Captain Jose gave the order to clean up, hide the booty and prepare to get underway at first light. They built the fire up and threw the nearby bodies on it to clean up the area and went about hiding their portion of the booty.

Poco, who had recovered, realized Maria was gone and some of the other women and crew had probably hidden her, having seen the relationship between the two. He located one of the women and offered her a small fortune to tell him where she was hidden. She told him to go to hell, so he started hitting her and shaking her violently when one of the crew members grabbed him and threw him backwards into the raging fire. Several of the pirates that were watching were laughing and chanting, Poco, little man, got his butt kicked by a woman, again.

It wasn’t a woman; it was one of those damn men from the crew. I’ll kill him, I’ll kill all of them, as he was attempting to put out the fire to his tunic and his hair. His hair was singed and his clothing burnt and his exposed skin had a bright red appearance.

One of the shanghaied crew, who was not very well thought of by the other crew members overheard the offer and decided to act. He thought this was a way to assure passage or acceptance as a fellow pirate so he approached Poco.

I will show you where she is if you will take me with you off of this island and help me become accepted by your fellow pirates. I won’t even accept any of the treasure you offered.

That night he and Poco snuck into the woods and quietly made their way to the cave location. They secretly packed two barrels of black cannon powder at the entrance and made a trail of powder out about twenty feet for a wick. Just before first light, Poco called out to