Chapter 3 "Captain Bull's aristocratic barber"



Captain Bull’s aristocratic barber


With long legs crossed, Caprioli sat relaxed in his cabin. Smiling, he stroked his silver white beard. Across from him, captain Bull sat uneasily in his chair.
“You saw a ghost captain…? Asked Caprioli. His eyes shot blue lightning bolts of mirth at him. The hairy mountain of muscle and meat in front of him twitched. Bull raised his arms threateningly.
“Don’t mention his name Count, otherwise we will have more bad luck as can be expected anyway.
“Where did you see him?” Caprioli asked.
“a few minutes ago I saw him sitting on the railing and the spray that came on board went right through him as if he wasn’t there at all !”
Caprioli touched a finger to his chin and turned his head thoughtfully.
“and how do you know that it was a ghost captain? Did you already meet him once?”
Bull looked up surprised and nervous. “meet him…? God forbid! One just knows and feels…!
Caprioli pouted his lips.
“You feel as much as a millstone which should have been hung around your neck a long time ago. But maybe the similarity between the ghost and another person frightened you?”
Bull blew up his cheeks uncomfortably.
“With which other person…?”
“Well I am thinking about a short little man that you had a secret conversation with on the night prior to our departure in that pub in Amsterdam. He then disappeared without a trace”
Cold sweat formed on the captains forehead.
“Do you know this man count? Who is he…? That was the first time I ever saw him.”
Caprioli had a mysterious smile on his face, stood up, looked out the window for a few moments and abruptly turned away.
“How much did he give you to smuggle him on board and how much did he promise you to murder me secretly…?”
Capriolis voice hit Bull’s ears like the cracking of a whip. He raised his hands in defence.
“When Habakuk and I were swept into the sea, you stood at the helm captain. At the right moment you turned the ship in such a way that the breakers had to hit the side of the ship. Then you ordered the most untrained crew to take the worst boat to go after us and then… Bull any sailor could have done better with the manoeuvres. I would have put you in irons a long time ago, if I didn’t know who you upset with your greed. So how much gold did you get?”
Bull pushed himself out of the chair with glassy eyes.
Like a crazy man he groaned:”gold – gold….!”
He ran out of the cabin with roaring laughter.
Habakuk, who until now had stood with crossed arms behind his master, closed the door.
“I think now I have earned a pipe full of tobacco, don’t you agree Habakuk?” asked Caprioli. “We will have a few more experiences on this journey with the captain and his ghost.”
Habakuk grinned, passed the long Dutch clay pipe to the count and lit it for him.
“Captn is afraid of ghost” he answered with a mischievous look in his shiny eyes, “and the ghost is afraid of you sar”
A big cloud of smoke came out of Capriolis mouth. He lent back to let himself fully enjoy the taste of his pipe, but the noise of many running feet on deck diverted his attention.
“Habakuk, go have a look what is going on up there” he ordered his servant. Habakuk disappeared. A few moments later one could hear a shrill whistle, which was the secret signal between the count and his servant. Caprioli jumped up, picked up his sword and rushed out of the cabin.
“My pistols, Pelegrin” he yelled out over his shoulder.
On deck he saw the incredibly strong Habakuk with balled fists, standing opposite a group of sailors and soldiers. One of the sailors had a wetted heavy rope end in his hand and was about to hit Bilg the cabin boy, who was tied down on a low bench.
“Untie him…!” ordered Caprioli.
Habakuk lent down to untie the ropes. Bilg didn’t move. Only his balled fists and white knuckles showed that there was still life in him.
Captain Bull watched all this from the bridge. Now he came down the stairs and yelled at the count:”who is in charge of the ships company here? Go to hell and look after your own affairs!”
He ripped the rope end out of the sailors hand, lifted it over his head and wanted to hit Bilgs back. At the same instant Capriolis sword whistled through the air, and the rope end flew over the railing in a wide arc. Bull only had a tiny bit of rope left in his hand. He stared at it in wonder.
“You are in charge of the ships company, but you are not the master over life and death. The first hit would have made the boy into a cripple and second one could have killed him!”
Capriolis voice was low, but it carried a warning that sent shivers down the backs of every one.
Bull slowly lifted his head and stared at Caprioli with blood shot eyes. Quickly, he grabbed a boarding axe and went for Caprioli in a crouch.
Habakuk wanted to grab him but one look from the count stopped him. As if he were in a tournament the count slowly took the point of his sabre with his left hand and bent it. Now the captain was upon him and raised the heavy weapon. The sabre flashed like lightning through the air towards the captains head, three, four times – and the wind blew Bulls head hair and beard over the railing. The captain stared after his flying hair, dropped the axe, and touched the places where only moments ago grew his thick black jungle. With aloud snort he yelled “you will pay for this!” and rushed off.
With a laugh Caprioli yelled after him:” You will be paying as it was I who was your barber!”
As funny as the shaved captain looked, there was only some quiet snickering from the sailors, only the soldiers roared with laughter. With hands in their pockets and bent heads the sailors slid away. Their only hope to escape the wrath of the captain was this strange count.
Meanwhile Habakuk had untied Bilg and helped him to his feet. Crying, Bilg fell on his knees in front of Caprioli. Then he fell unconscious on his side.
Habakuk picked him up in his arms, carried him to the counts cabin and lowered him on a couch.
As Caprioli stroked his blond head he asked:”What did you do young man…?” he opened his eyes for a moment and whispered:”I secretly listened to the captain, he is crazy, and he also smuggled someone on board….”
With a sigh the boys head dropped back on the pillow.



No comments:

Post a Comment