Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

After Ritaline had changed her outfit to a more benefiting one, her dressing caught the eyes of Thomas, as she was about leaving the ship to the city. Thomas called her, ‘Hey, Ritaline.’ The young beautiful lady turned back.

‘Yes, Thomas. Aren’t you prepared to go out?’ she said.

‘Sure, I will.’ He smiled. ‘I like the two of us to go to the city. Don’t you mind?’

‘Why?’ she asked.

‘It’s just,’ he stuttered, ‘I see it as a nice thing. More so, I will be there to protect you against any enemy.’ He brought out his gun, showing her. Ritaline smiled, ‘Really?’

‘Yes.’

‘Okay. I’m ready. Aren’t you ready yet? Thomas looked at her, thinking she was joking, but when he saw she was been serious, he ran into his cabin.

‘Just a minutes.’ Not long after he walked out of the cabin, wearing a Celtic dress with a hat on. He smiled to Ritaline, looking like a gentleman. The rest crew looked at them; they too were preparing to leave the ship, while some stayed behind, to man the ship, and visit the city when others returned.

‘Comrades, don’t forget what Captain said, make sure you’re back before sunset. Any crew member that is not back by then will be left behind. We must follow up Captain’s order.’

‘You mean you will sail off the ship by sunset if Captain doesn’t return?’ Ritaline asked. Not satisfied with that comment.

‘That’s his order. It must be followed.’ Thomas replied.

‘But where does he go with the others?’

‘Nothing serious; they just went for a business trip into the inter-land.

‘But.’

‘Shall we go now?’ Thomas interrupted, to stop further discussion.

Ritaline was wearing Cote-Hardie wear, and a Barbette head hat. She looked pretty well in her dress. 

‘You look nice in your outfit.’ Thomas appraised her.

‘You look nice too.’ She replied. She knew what Thomas was up to. They both leave the ship, waiting for the upcoming wagon to take them to the city. Ritaline stepped into the wagon, and Thomas followed thereafter, and the wagon drove off.

After Captain Casablanca and his men had gained entrance into the Treasure gate, they appeared into view, and hid themselves in a corner, and drank the beer again. They passed the inner security men, till they got to where the underground was, that lead to where the Treasure are kept. About three security guards are there on the red alert, guarding the place. As soon as Captain Casablanca and some of his men entered into the entrance of the underground; the sword of the last man, mistakenly hit the entrance gate to the Treasure Cave. There was echo of sound. The men stood still as the security officers guarding the underground looked at the direction, each with great intensity, wanting to know where the sound came from, but they could not see anything. Captain Casablanca signal to his men to still stand still. Some of the security officers went round and checked around the place, and returned back to their duty post. Then, Captain Casablanca signaled to Zealot to strangle of one the three security men, while he and another takes on the others. It was an easy kill.  And they dragged them away from view, not long; the time of the wonder beer soon elapsed again. Captain Casablanca signaled to three of his men, who could speak Irish language, and that are of same height with the dead security men to stand at the post. They removed the uniforms of the dead men and wore them, looking like the security guards. Captain Casablanca said to the men before he, and the others walked into the cave, ‘Do all you can, and fight till death if any one tries to foul this mission. Our life is in your hands.’ He whispered his words, and they walked through the staircase, that led to where the treasures are. Soon, they got to where the Treasure is loaded. A security officer walked down to where the three pirates are guarding the gate, and said, ‘Constable. Do you have any problem?’ He looked at them.

‘No sir.’ One of the men said, and Captain signaled to his men to stopped walking the moment he heard the voice of the sergeant.

‘Okay. Make sure you alert us if there is any suspicion. ‘In about thirty minute later, you will be replaced by another.

‘Yes sir.’ He was about leaving when he perceived a smell.

‘Are you drinking beer?’ He smelt it.

‘No sir.’

The sergeant was about making move towards the three pirates when another guards called him from a staircase. ‘Sergeant, you’re needed upper here.’

‘Make sure you don’t drink beer here. Okay.’ The Sergeant said to the three pirates. 

‘Yes sir.’ 

‘And make sure you always brush your mouths whenever you want to come to work. Okay?’ 

‘Yes.’ The pirates said. The moment the sergeant walked away, Captain and his men continued their movement. ‘We have to be careful.’ Captain said, and continued walking with his men. After walking some steps into the cave, they began to see boxes, where the treasure is kept, while some are lay on the racks, glittering to the eyes. Captain Casablanca walked to one of the boxes, and opened it. He was amazed to see what was inside it, when he opened it. The gold bars are caught in the same seizes, lay in box. The pirates were agape by the scene. One them said, ‘this is real riches.’

‘Spssh!’ Captain cautioned. The men smiled to each others, feeling very proud of what they’ve gotten. They began to pack gold bars into their little bags in haste, and some jewels. ‘Men, we don’t need all. Just few, and make haste on what you’re doing.’ They were hurrying up.

After a while, Captain stopped them. ‘Comrades, let’s go.’ They were about leaving when one of the men saw a very beautiful jewel that caught his attention. He stylishly took it, and they all walked out of the cave to join the three pirates guarding, outside.

‘Comrades, hurry up and change into your outfits’, talking to the pirates guarding outside.  ‘We’ll drink the beer at the same time.’ When the three pirates had changed the uniforms, they joined the others to drink the wonder beer, and all went invisible, walking towards the entrance of the treasure main gate.

Few minutes later, the Sergeant walked down to the staircase, and was surprised by what he saw. The position where the security men should be was vacant. He searched around, and discovered his officers are dead, and naked. He quickly brought out his whistle blew it. Suddenly, everybody was alerted, as the security men ran down, carrying guns.  Captain Casablanca and his men moved faster, going towards the entrance of the building, when suddenly, a jewel fell off from one of the men’s hand while running away. As one of the guards was searching, he then saw the jewel, and shouted, ‘We’ve been robbed.’

‘What?’ The Deputy controller said, and ordered immediate shut down of the whole entrance to the building, ‘Shut down all the gates.’ He shouted. So they began to shut down all gates. It was almost time to sunset; Captain Casablanca and his men drawn out their swords.

Thomas and Ritaline were seated at a corner of a restaurant in the city, enjoying each other’s company, as a band of musicians played at a corner. ‘Shall we dance?’

Ritaline smiled, and stood up, giving her hand to Thomas and both laughed, dancing. Some minutes later, Ritaline said to Thomas, ‘Shall we return to the ship. It’s getting to sunset.’

‘Sure.’ They left the place, and boarded on a wagon.

The security men began to search everywhere, but they couldn’t see anyone, then the Deputy controller said, ‘Get me the dogs.’

At the moment, Captain and his men were about getting to the main gate of the building when they heard the barking of dogs. ‘Dogs!’ Captain whispered his mind out. The pirates guarding the main entrance were waiting for the Captain’s order at that immediate time; then they heard him shouted to them from a short distance, ‘Open the gate.’ The men couldn’t see him, but swung the gate opened at the sound of his words.  And in just a minute they became visible, running with great speed; the dogs are after them running at their direction, while the security men followed. Before Captain and his men could drink the wonder beer again, the Deputy controller sighted them, and shouted, ‘I’ve seen them.’  One of the security men then aimed his gun at the last men, as he was about to drink his beer, and shot at him. He dropped dead, and the beer poured down and dried up. The security men were almost on them. Captain Casablanca and his men made their way out of the building into the wood. When Deputy Controller got to where the dead pirate was, he looked at him, and examined the corpse very well. ‘Search his body. Where could they have come from?’ The dogs stopped barking. ‘You and you, run after them.’ He ordered about ten of his men. One of the security men was searching the dead body, when he saw a sign on the left shoulder of it. 

‘Sir! Sir!!’ The security officer called.

‘Yes.’ The Deputy Controller said, ‘Speak on.’

‘Come and see this.’

‘H’m! An Eagle, holding an axe,’ He thought, ‘he’s one of the dangerous pirates group that has been terrorizing the whole of the western world.’ He stood up from his squatting position. Get me my horse ready, I have to inform the Controller General about this, even though he’s with the king.’

Captain Casablanca and his men had run into the wood, and when saw a big wagon packed outside on a big farm and ran to it. They loaded themselves into it, while Captain Casablanca drove the wagon away. His men shouted in praise, while the dogs barked far-far away from them, soon, they all became visible. Captain Casablanca smiled to himself.  It was already sunset, as Captain drove the wagon with great speed.

When he got to the city, he reduced the speed and pulled over at an inn, closed to the port.

‘Are we not entering in, Captain?’ One of his men said.

‘No. We can’t sleep until we get out of this country. The security men will soon be here, looking for our heads. We need a boat, since our ship must have left by now.’ As he was talking, he saw three fishermen leaving out of the inn, moving to their boats, going for night fishing.  He moved to them, ‘Good day, gentlemen. Can you take us up to Port Jericho?’ He asked. 

One of the fishermen asked, ‘is it only you or with others?’ 

Captain Casablanca smiled, ‘Oh. We’re all going together.’ He said.

The fisherman looked at them, and replied, ‘as you can see, am going for fishing, but I wouldn’t mind if you can pay me very well for the whole night.’

‘Hum! Sure. Only if you will be able to get us to Port Jericho on time, we are going for a wedding ceremony.  The groom is amongst us. I am his senior brother. We’re coming from a bachelors’ party. Can you take us there on time?’

‘Oh. I like wedding ceremony. I wish I could join you. I will take you there, only if you can pay handsomely. 

‘Sure. We will pay you.’  Captain Casablanca agreed.

‘Come in, please. Wow! I will forfeit fishing tonight. Enter, to Port Jericho.’ The fisherman said excitedly. Hours later soldiers arrived at the port, searching everywhere for the pirates.