Captain Savage: The Fortress pt. 6



Down in the bailey Commodore Pennington enters the open coach that brought him to the
Governors residence a few hours ago. He makes himself comfortable in the soft cushions
while the coachman steers his vehicle towards the main entrance of the fortress.
A sergeant and three soldiers are keeping watch at the gate. The Sergeant duly salutes to the
officer before he orders his man to open the gate. The soldiers follow their instruction
immediately, pulling the heavy leaves open.
After the coach passed they close the latch and relax again. Keeping watch at the gate at night
does not exactly demand a lot of attention.
On his way back to the harbour Pennington conjures up his conversation with the Governor. It
was a huge success to have captured Captain Savage, no matter that it was pure coincidence
that of all things her ship wrecked at this coast. Her pirates did seize a lot of the King###s ships
during the last few years, becoming a serious threat for the crown in these waters. From the
point when she pillaged the harbour of St. George with a joint force of three ships she was a
force to be reckoned with at the latest.
Well, one ship was gone for sure now. Pennington doubts that Savage###s fleet consisted of
more than the other two. On the other hand he himself is commanding at least five warships to
face the remaining enemies. Four of them are currently scattered across the coastal waters on
patrol.
He asks himself how long the interrogation of their prisoner would take until he finally
receives the coordinates for the attack. Should he call all hands on deck the moment he returns
to his ship? Being prepared to set sail as soon as the messenger arrives?
No, there is no need to rouse the crew from sleep yet. The ship is already stocked with
provisions, gunpowder and cannonballs. They can set sail really quick when the time has
come.
The female pirates sneak through the corridors below the fortress, determinedly searching for
the powder magazine. All their senses are geared to detect any sign of the enemy. They both
do not care about the cold and rocky ground beneath their bare feet. Jane even feels neither
the soar bloody spots on her wrists and ankles nor the bruises she received from the
interrogation.
However, they seem to be alone. The last British soldiers to cross their way so far were the
ones Sally had already put down in the guardroom. Actually it seems that she got rid of all the
sentries in this underground maze.
Close to each other the women silently move through the twilight. Sometimes Jane feels the
warmth of Sally###s breath on her skin. It does not make it easier for her to focus on the
mission, but she keeps vigilant. Nevertheless her body aches for Sally###s touch. Oh, how she
would like to just turn around and take her beloved into her arms!
Suppressing her desire she carries on. She has no idea that Sally faces the same desire, too.
Filled with excitement about their assignment and each other the lovers are traipsing the
catacombs.
After a few minutes they come to another camber. Sally peeks around the corner bouncing
back at once. Silently she puts a finger on her lips. By a short show of hands she gives Jane
the full picture.
Jane nods. Silently she moves forward to get an idea of Sally###s impression herself.
Indeed, finally they have found the powder magazine! Its massive door is only a few steps
away, literally just around the corner. Yet, two redcoats are standing guard in front of it.
The pirates look at each other, knowing they have to make quick work of them. Sally
noiselessly puts the sabre back into its scabbard and pulls out her trusty knife instead. With an
unflinching look she licks over the blade and kisses Jane deeply. The captain tastes the slight
metallic flavour on her tongue. For one last sweet moment the lovers enjoy themselves before
returning to their bloody work. Jane feels aroused again, but quickly gives signs who charges
which soldier. Sally confirms with a nod.
Like an arrow from the bowstring the pirates dart towards the sentries. Spotting two shapes in
ragged men###s attire rushing around the corner the soldiers immediately grab their guns.
One of the soldiers tries to give alarm. Jane notices him taking a deep breath and open his
mouth. Before he can make a sound she pushes away his gun hitting her elbow hard against
his voice box.
He stumbles back against the wall. Without hesitation Jane strikes him twice with her sabre.
Sally jumps upon the other guard stabbing him rapidly and repeatedly. Sudden silence fills the
corridor.
Stooping over the dead guards the vanquishers search them for keys. Jane does not find
anything although she examines every single pocket of her victim. Then she hears a silent
cheer. With a triumphant smile Sally finally presents a single key.
She unlocks the door hoping the noise of rusty door hinges does not attract anyone###s attention.
Jane checks the corridor for any unwelcome visitors, but no-one appears. Her spouse already
starts to haul one of the soldiers into the magazine. Jane follows her with the other one. They
drop the bodies in a corner and take a look around.
Barrels over barrels filled with gunpowder are piled inside the large room. There are cases full
of propellants, too. Even grenades with short fox brushes are stored down here. And ##' finally
##' there are some nicely furled black powder fuses. The women look satisfied at each other.
With her knife Sally drills a hole in one of the wooden barrels. Jane sticks the end of a fuse
into the hole and wraps it around the barrel. Carefully she starts to run the fuse back towards
the guardroom. Leaving the magazine Sally carefully locks the door again to draw no
unnecessary attention. A clueless sentry might wonder why the magazine was not guarded,
but at last he would not be alarmed as long as he did not see the blood and the fuse in the
gloomy light.