The pirates scattered, a few of them scrambling for their cutlasses. The clang of steel hitting steel rang through the air, but Easton’s men were quickly subdued. Teach and his crew clearly had the advantage and surrounded the pirates, their weapons drawn.
Considering how Webb had built up Easton’s reputation and ferocity, Teach had expected much more of a fight from a much larger opponent. Easton wasn’t as broad as Teach and he stood a few inches shorter. His clothing hung on his thin frame, but he stood straight, with an unmistakable air of authority.
“George Easton, surrender now, and we’ll let you live,” Teach said, his second pistol pointing straight at Easton’s chest.
The pirate smirked, his brown eyes wrinkling at the corners. “I must say, that’s very generous of you. But who the devil are you?”
“The name’s Teach.”
Easton tilted his head to the side, considering Teach. “What kind of a fool name is that?”
“The only one you’ll get from me. Now tell your men to lower their weapons.”
“And if I don’t?” Easton asked casually, glancing around. His nonchalant attitude was deceptive. Easton’s men watched him closely, clearly prepared to fight on if he gave the order.
“We’ll show no quarter.” Although Webb wanted Easton returned alive, Teach would not allow any men on his crew to die at a pirate’s hand.
“A man sure in his strength does not threaten.” Easton appeared to have a response for everything.
“You and your men will return with us to Nassau. From there you’ll be sent to England, where you’re to be tried for your crimes,” Teach said.
Easton eyed him, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth. Teach wondered if he ever took anything seriously. “Well, Teach, I’ll happily go back to England. I’ll even help crew your ship if you have the supplies to take us now. But there’s nothing you can say or do to make me return to Nassau. Strand us. Take the ship and go. We have a better chance surviving on this island with nothing but fish and lizards to eat than going anywhere under Webb’s control.”
“You fear Webb more than the law?” Teach asked.
“Of course I do. The law is hard, but at least it’s just on occasion. Webb has never been honorable or just.”
Teach tightened his grip. “I’m afraid you have no choice.”
“Do you really believe that Webb will send me back to London? If we go with you, we’ll die in Nassau.”
“The law says you’re to be taken and tried in England,” Kitts said.
Easton scoffed at him. “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. The law is a weapon Webb bandies around on the rare occasion it serves him. It’s like a dinner knife versus a dagger. Webb will always let you see him politely using his dinner knife, but you’ll be surprised every time when he sneaks up on you in an alley and stabs you with the dagger.”
Kitts and Teach exchanged a confused look. Clearly this man had spent too much time in the sun.
“In short,” Easton continued, “you’re a fool to trust Webb.”
How often had Teach thought those very words? “Nevertheless, you’ll be taken to England and hanged for piracy.”
“That’s not much of an incentive for me to go with you. You’ve already determined my guilt.”
“Do you deny that you’re a pirate?”
“Whether I deny it or not, what evidence do you have?” Easton asked.
“I recognize your ship. You attacked me and my crew aboard the Deliverance. I believe that’s evidence enough.”
Easton narrowed his eyes at Teach, any trace of his earlier nonchalance gone. “So you’re the one who nearly committed me and my men to the bottom of the ocean.”
“No. You did that when you decided to attack us.”
“Would you like to know who gave those orders?”
“Who?” Even as Teach asked the question, he had a feeling he already knew the answer.
“Governor Webb.”
“That’s a lie,” Kitts sputtered, his hand shaking as he pointed his weapon at Easton. “The governor works for the Crown. It’s his job to uphold the laws of our country.”
The pirate ignored Kitts, continuing to watch Teach as he said, “You forget, there were two ships that attacked the Deliverance that day. The captain of the second ship was every bit as bloodthirsty and ruthless as Webb. Nelson liked to see people suffer.”
“Webb said you’re the one who likes to torture his victims.”
“Of course he did. And do you believe everything that comes out of his mouth?”
Teach hesitated, his confidence in Easton’s guilt shifting like the sand underfoot. “Where’s the other ship?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to your question. But don’t you find it interesting that Webb only sent you after me?”
Kitt cleared his throat. Teach could feel the uncertainty of some of his men, because he felt the same doubt.
Easton continued. “Surely you realize that as soon as we return to Nassau, your worth and usefulness to the governor will conclude. And you and anyone close to you is as good as dead. Webb doesn’t leave anything to chance.”
“I’m not the one Webb is after. You are.”
“True, but by taking me back to Nassau, you’ve spent time with me. I could tell you things about Webb that he doesn’t want you to know. You’re now a threat to him. Guilt by association.”
Before Teach could respond, a shot rang out, followed closely by another. Several men ducked, desperately looking around to see where the shots had come from. Easton staggered back, clutching his right shoulder. Teach leapt forward to catch him as he collapsed to the ground. Two of Easton’s men tackled someone near the tree line.
The fighting resumed, even as Teach yelled for his men to stand down. Turning to Easton, Teach pressed a hand to the wound, trying to stanch the flow of blood. “Stand down!” Teach yelled, but only a few of his men responded. They were too busy defending themselves from the pirates. “Call your crew back before we kill the lot of you!”
After only a slight hesitation, Easton let out a sharp whistle. He had to repeat it several times to be heard over the sound of the fighting, but eventually his men obeyed.
“Hillel, get over here,” Easton called out. A pirate approached Easton, the same one Teach and Kitts had encountered in the trees. Somehow he’d freed himself from his bonds. Teach traded places with Hillel, and the young man pressed a rag into Easton’s wound.
Teach stood and walked over to the man who’d been tackled by two pirates. He recognized Nathan from his stocky build and dark brown hair. He was one of the soldiers who’d come with Kitts. A musket lay by Nathan’s side and a crimson stream spurted from a gaping wound in his stomach. It took Teach a moment to realize that Nathan had shot Easton, but the acrid smoke of gunpowder lingered in the air. Who had shot Nathan? And who had shot first?
The ball had entered Nathan’s back, and judging by the amount of blood spilling onto the white sand at his feet, he wouldn’t make it. Teach yelled for Kitts to scour the nearby forest.