My fears were confirmed as we strolled through Nassau. I tried to be friendly to the locals like usual, but I was actually striking genuine fear into these people. There was a man selling roasted meat from a small stall that I waved to… he gave me a skewer of meat for free. Children didn’t even make fun of me, they ran. Hell, there was a beggar that literally wouldn’t take my money. “You look like you need it more my friend.”, is what I was told.
I look at the skewer of meat... this is pork. I throw into the next bush I see. No way in hell am I eating that.
By the time I got to the start of the path to the church, I wasn’t feeling great about myself at all. Hell, I might as well had the plague with how people were avoiding me. Just as I start up the path to the church, I feel a hand lightly grab my shoulder. I turn around and see Bheki holding a sack the size of a small melon, “Here is the first half of your share.” He pulls out a second, smaller sack, “This is 500 pesos that Mrs. Brown overpaid. Cap’n asked me to give it to you. Can you run this by her office?”
“Yea, I can do that. It’ll probably be tomorrow though. You feeling better Bheki?”
He looks uncomfortable as he scratches the back of his head, “Yea, I’m alright. I gotta prepare for the funeral.”
He turns to the side and start jogging up the hill. Damn, didn’t even give me a chance to respond. I wonder what’s up with him?
As I start up the hill, I worry if I’ll be able to make it? I was out of breath by the time I reached the top just the other day. But here I am, trying to climb it after losing copious amounts of blood, pulling what feels like all the muscles in my body, and fighting through what is by far the worst hangover of my life. I really hope I don't pass out...
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The beginning was about as terrible as I thought it would be. My head started pounding worse, and the burning in my legs almost brought me to my knees. But, here I am at the top, barely out of breath. The only thing bothering me is the injuries actually.
At a loss as to why, I wrack my mind… the stats. Not only did they rise, I still have blood high active which boosts it by another twenty percent. That means my physical stats are approaching superhuman… actually, my agility is higher than 10 with the blood high bonus. So, I guess I am more agile than anyone in the real world? I don’t feel very agile right now. Although, if my stats weren’t this high then someone would probably be carrying my decrepit ass up the hill.
I follow the crowd around the back of the church to a empty grave. It just so happens to be as far as possible from where we caught that sick fuck just a couple nights ago. The grave is surrounded by what looked like the entire crew. I mean, there is no way I could count that many people at one time, but there is a lot of pirates here. I walk up and take a spot towards the back. As I wait, I start comming down. It's horrible. I feel everything hitting me in full force. The hangover, the blood loss, just all of it is coming at me in waves. I walk over to a stone wall, to sit as I wait. Hopefully I won't fall off.
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It only takes about five minutes before the back doors of the church swing open to ZIjde and Bheki carrying a coffin. There were four others behind them helping carry it with thick leather straps. Following the precession is Billy carrying a canvas sack full of muskets.
They all continue forward, splitting the crowd, until the coffin was hovering above the grave. Billy sets the bag on the ground and brings the first musket to his shoulder. For a few moments, nothing happens. Silence. Well, besides for the sound of the surf assaulting the beach, and the gulls squawking all over the island.
Just before I lost myself in thought completely, the doors of the church swing open. The large priest ambles through the door. He’s wearing traditional Catholic garments, and he’s carrying a large bible with him. He makes his way to the from of the crowd and open the bible. He flips the pages for a few moments until he reaches the verse he wants.
“For men in this line of work, life can be fleeting. Life is also hard. Life is brutal. Very few of us choose to live such a morally draining life. This goes doubly so for one so young as Duncan here. I feel like the following bible verse is fitting for such a young man.”
He clears his throat in a deep cough before continuing, “ Psalms 23 says it best. ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
He looks up from the bible, "I truly feel as though a man as young as this has little to fear from our lord. I hope that others present shall make an effort to live in a virtuous fashion… even if this virtue is questionable. This boy should serve as a reminder to us all, tomorrow isn’t a guarantee.”
He looks over to Billy, “Will you do his honors?”
Billy’s face hardens, which is a stark contrast to the tears running down his face. He raises the first musket and fires into the air, then another, and another. He fires 13 muskets in all. Each shot, the men lower the casket into the ground little by little. As the last shot rings out, the casket reaches the ground.
“With this, young Duncan is laid to rest. My God have mercy on this young man’s soul for any transgressions that may not have been forgiven. As one so young, I like his chances.” The priest ends his speech with a final thud of his book.
The crew starts to take turns saying a few things to his coffin and tossing different objects in his grave. I see Zijde walking towards me, smiling and waving. He is the only person today that hasn’t done their best to not look at me.
“Do you understand what’s going on my friend?”
“I guess they are paying their respects?”
“You aren’t wrong. Most of the are just paying their respects, but on a crew like ours, there are dozens of religions. Wouldn’t be fair to the non-Christian men if we didn’t give them a chance to bury him in their own way. This is their chance to do so. It’s unfortunate, but some men don’t get the chance to be buried according to their tradition. Hell, most of the men don’t get the chance to be buried at all. We do what we can though.”
I just slowly nod my head while he talks. The way everyone talks about the kid, I wish I could have gotten to know him. Although, there is one person I can get to know.
I wait for the men to finish before I walk over to Billy, "Hey Billy, what are your plans?"
Without looking up, "I'm gonna go grab some drinks with the rest of the crew. Then head back to Sarah."
"Well sounds like we are going to the same place, do you mind helping me down the hill?"
"Yea sure, but wh..." Billy looks at my face, his mouth agape with horror.
Jesus I'm getting tired of being ugly...