The Sea Lion by Tom Thowsen

Author:Tom Thowsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Sea Lion, Willy Lauer, tom thowsen
Publisher: Tom Thowsen
Published: 2020-02-20T16:00:00+00:00

“Cheers, my dears! Is anyone still awake?” Hiccough. “Bettan! Bettan!” Hiccough. “Please don’t sleep! Guys...” Hiccough. “Fetch me some water... You’re so kind.” Hiccough.

A moment later, there was a splash.

Nobody screamed “Man overboard!”

There was just silence.

FREDRIKSHALD

JUNE 19TH, 1808

The Avenger of Wrath was moored at Fredrikshald and was almost ready to go on a new raid. It had become quite a well-equipped privateer vessel with two cannons and three swivel guns, along with a crew of 40 men who were armed to the teeth. Hand grenades, swords, guns, and muskets—everything a soldier could possibly want. The shipowners, Carsten Tank and Poul Resen Broch, hadn’t been frugal. Week after week, and month after month, they had poured money into the project. However, their investment had yet to yield any returns, in spite of the fact that the ship had already been on multiple raids. The thought of the mounting expenses was a concerning one indeed. It was expensive to keep a ship and a permanent crew, so they had to do something to get to the root of the problem. Was it bad luck or a reluctant crew? After having asked around for some time, they unearthed the issue. The crew was unhappy. They thought the shipowners were greedy—for the food served onboard and for their share of any potential profits. They didn’t want to risk their lives and limbs to make the greedy shipowners even richer. Tank and Broch had taken this concern seriously and decided to do something about it. The crew was promised a higher cut and their provisions would be improved. On top of that, they would have a party with a selection of surprises before they embarked on their next raid. In the aftermath of this promise, the ship was loaded with all the necessities to allow the crew to survive for weeks out at sea. Both shipowners were present to oversee the loading and were impeccably dressed. Tank carried a black top hat, a red coat with glossy brass buttons, white trousers, and black boots. Broch was wearing a light summer suit and brown shoes. Broch’s bookkeeper was clad in a black suit with matching black shoes. The three noblemen stood by the gangway and talked.

“Now, this will be a party to remember.” The bookkeeper nodded towards a couple of men who were rolling barrels of beer across the deck. He could sense the merry atmosphere onboard; the crew was ready to party and they were excited to see these surprises that Tank had promised them. The bookkeeper had a good idea of what these surprises were, seeing as he was the one in charge of the expenses. Aside from the freshly baked goods that were on their way, the party would culminate in a ceremonious horn concert on the dock and a salute from the cannons on deck. Curious spectators, not to mention the families and friends of the crewmen, had already begun to show up.

“You sure know how to spoil them,” the bookkeeper said with a smile.

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