Pirates on the Bay by Steven K. Smith

Author:Steven K. Smith [Smith, Steven K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: 1700's, Action & Adventure, Boys, Friendship, Historical, Mystery & Detective Stories, Pirates, Young Adult
ISBN: 9781947881334
Publisher: MyBoys3 Press
Published: 2021-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Boats of all shapes and sizes surrounded the parking lot at the harbor marina. Some rested on trailers across the blacktop, others were stacked two and three high in racks like mini-garages. Most were motor boats outfitted for fishing, but closer to the water, several sailing masts rose high into the air.

“Everyone excited?” Mr. Murphy asked as both families stepped out of their cars.

Derek leaped onto an empty trailer. “Do you mean am I ready to sail the high seas? To voyage where no man has gone before? To battle the mighty Kraken that lurks beneath the waves—”

“Derek!” their dad shouted, motioning him off the trailer. He jumped down and flashed his normal goofy grin.

“Yeah, we’re ready, Mr. Murphy,” answered Sam, calmly.

Their parents eyed each other uneasily, like they were reconsidering whether they wanted to let Derek loose on the open ocean, but Mr. and Mrs. Murphy just laughed. Most of the time Caitlin’s parents just seemed amused by Derek’s crazy behavior, which was a change of pace from their daughter’s, but they also only had to put up with him in small doses.

“Then let’s go,” said Mr. Murphy, walking toward a large sailboat tied to the end of the longest dock. “I think that’s our ship.”

As they drew closer, Sam saw that the vessel had two tall masts and an array of ropes and rigging that ran down toward the bow. He stared to the top of a mast, thinking how in pirate movies the crew had to climb up to the crow’s nest high in the air. It would be like climbing the lighthouse but without any walls.

A series of floating docks rocked under their feet as their group walked to the large ship. A man glanced up from the ship’s deck as they approached. He looked older than Sam’s dad, but he was tall and athletic, his skin tanned from many hours out on the water. He wore basic white pants and a striped polo, and while he didn’t look like a pirate the way One-Eyed Jack had on the boardwalk, Sam assumed this was the ship’s captain.

“Ahoy!” he shouted. “Are you our victims, I mean guests, for the evening?”

“I think so,” said Mr. Murphy. “If this is the sunset dinner cruise.”

“It is,” replied the man. “I’m Captain Pete, and this is my ship, the Beverly Gale.” He waved his hand across the deck like he was showing off his pride and joy. “Are you ready to board?”

“We’re ready!” exclaimed Derek.

“Excuse me, folks.” Sam turned as another man walked up the dock, carrying two stacked wooden crates. A pineapple stuck out from the top. He was younger than Captain Pete, college-aged, maybe, with long hair to his shoulders, rings in both ears, and an assortment of tattoos on his legs below his shorts. He looked like he belonged on a surfboard out in the waves.

“Meet part of the crew,” said the captain as he received the crates. “This here’s my first mate, Leo Sharks.”

The younger man smiled and took a quick bow.

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