The Fishhook Rebellion by Dan Gooder Richard

Author:Dan Gooder Richard [Richard, Dan Gooder]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, hawaii, hawaiian islands, south pacific, 1847
Publisher: Inkspiration Media
Published: 2023-02-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 49

JOHN BARLEYCORN/GROG SHOP

FRONT STREET/LAHAINA TOWN

NEXT AFTERNOON

BULL SHAW AND KAPU THE UGLY walked through the door of the John Barleycorn. It was their fifth grog shop that afternoon on Fid Street.

Snuff Mitchell wasn’t pleased to see the two men. He never was. Under his breath he said: “Look what the cat drug in.” With a subtle gesture he directed the pair past the long bar to the oceanside verandah. “Bull…wanna drink?” He eyed Kapu. “You know we don’t serve Kanackers here.”

The English deserter and mercenary for hire ignored Snuff Mitchell. He and Kapu took two corner seats outside on the lanai verandah overlooking the water. “You should be glad to see us.” So Bull Shaw began. “Kapu here has been working hard for you all week. Real hard.” Kapu the Ugly’s tattooed shoulder and upper arm bulged with his personal symbols of black kākau shapes: triangular shark teeth and cresting waves. As one of the few remaining native storytellers he could recite the lineage of almost every family on Maui.

Snuff Mitchell wiped out one fid glass and grabbed a bottle. Then poured a fid of strong grog and set it in front of Bull before he sat down at the same table. Snuff let Bull Shaw talk.

“Yeah. Kapu’s been busting up farmers’ stills. You know the potato…melon…sugar cane hale brews that give you a run for your money.”

Snuff refilled Bull’s glass from across the table.

“Do you have our rent payment today?” Bull asked.

Snuff squirmed slightly in his chair. “Bull…ya knowd I wont hornswoggle you. I’ll be straight up. We’ve been laying in supplies for weeks. You know. You made the deliveries with your potato wagon. Just to be ready for this moment when the full whaling fleet has arrived. Those expenses have taken every penny I have. When the sailors leave port…then I’ll have your rent easy.”

Bull downed the second fid. And put his empty glass out for refill. “Be a shame if those deliveries stopped just when business was peakin’. Happened to the Rising Sun. Old Jolly Fred didn’t pay the pony. Closed same day.” Bull swirled his glass. Downed the drink. “You got a nice place here…Snuff.” Bull’s tone turned menacing. “Be a right shame if a bunch of soaplocks got a little too merry and smashed up the place…all because you brought it on yourself by not paying what the Kahuna asks.”

“I hear you…Bull. Just a couple more days.”

But Bull ignored him. “Or worse still—looks to me that your little unlicensed grog shop here could run afoul of some temperance violations.…Certainly be a shame if the missionaries and newspaper editor and dry sea captains were to hear of that. No telling what kind of repercussions might occur from that public press—eh…Snuff?”

“Ya knowd I’ll pony up…Bull. Always do. I’m only askin’ this once. A little more time while the full fleet’s in anchor.”

“Now Snuff. You know how this works. The Kahuna gets special rum shipments at the best price just for shops like you. He passes that savings on to you…because he knows you’ll return the favor.

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