The steward returned carrying a tray balanced on one hand, the letter resting on the tray, and two other objects. The red wax seal on the note had been broken. Next to the letter was a small, brown leather pouch, tied at the top, with a simple bow. And next to that was a volcanic pistol .31 with the initials "ER" embossed into the handle. Emma smiled slightly; the pistol was hers. Bess lay the tray on the table next to Emma.

Captain Walker shot up and out of his chair, reaching for the tray. The speed of the movement jolted Emma, and the feeling of unease she had been carrying since first seeing that storm on the horizon was finally released. Like a lightning strike flying down the mast of a tall ship, Emma drew her long dagger and reached out to place a hand on Steward Bess's shoulder, lifting her blade to be even with her eye.

Bess screamed at Emma. "Hold! Sweetheart. I will take this one's head off. I swear!" Emma screamed back the blade only, and an inch was held only an inch away from her left eye.

"It would seem that we have returned to the good old days, would it not? Do you remember the last time we were together?" said Captain Walker, now pulling Emma's attention away from Bess.

"Do you remember the last time someone held that pistol to my head?" said Captain Walker, almost spitting the words at Emma.

"Stand fast, all!" said Emma, dagger tip resting just below Bess.

"Let us discuss this like civilized people," Emma's voice raised in pitch.

"Civilised? Let me tell you that the last time I was civilized. It was just a few years back, off the coast of Argentina. Oh, hang on, just a moment. I took an English man-o-war and killed the whole crew. I was wrongfully imprisoned for someone else's crime and then somehow rescued by a group of fine, upstanding privateers. And, for some reason, we ended up with your man holding a gun to my head. That was the last time I was civilized," Captain Walker said.

"Now, I know we have had our differences in the past. But, a lot of water has passed beneath the bow. And, we have both been able to sail the skies and make profit enough. So, can we just think of this as a simple business act? You brought me this letter for the fee. And I am sure you gave your word with that," Emma said, glancing up at the mezzanine. The crewmen were no longer there, and the room was empty.

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"What are you planning, Walker?" Emma growled.

"Planning? Planning, you ask. Well, to be sure, it is not your death, not today. However, there are rules, and I will not break them. But your ship, now that would be a prize," Walker replied.

Thunder roared outside, and lighting hit the ship. The lights all dimmed.

At that moment, Walker slipped out or up. But he left her pistol on the table. Emma pushed Bess onto the deck, followed by a good kick. Grabbed the pistol, shoving it into the holster at her waist. And made for the door she had initially come through.

The door flung open, and Mr Wolf stood in the frame like his cleaver in hand, blood dripping from the blade.

"Now, this is a little more like it," Mr. Wolf said.

“Capt’in, tell me to kill’em. Just once." Mr. Wolf requested.

"No. Walker going to take the Fall; we can't let him," Emma replied, backing out of the cabin. "Mr. Wolf, you need to leave with me," Emma said.

"Aye, Captain. I am with you," Mr. Wolf assured her. "But I did leave our gifts." He continued, tapping his now empty bag.

Emma and Mr. Wolf rushed out of this grand hall and headed back, following the same path.

Emma was first to get to the cabin where they boarded, followed by Mr. Wolf. The sound of an explosion rang out somewhere in the ship's interior.

The storm could be seen raging outside, and the crew were absent.

"Where are the boys." Mr. Wolf said.

"Walker thinks we are trapped here. He is not bothered with us." Emma replied, and another explosion rocked the ship.

"Nice work, Mr. Wolf," Emma said.

"Aye, that been a good'in. But all I did would only slow him. This ship is too much brick shithouse to go down to easy." Mr. Wolf said.

"No! No! No!" Emma rushed to the opening, one leaning out and looking back to see her ship.

"The bastards! Mr. Wolf, they are towing the Fall behind them," Emma spat the words out. The Vicious Fall was only a hundred or so feet away.

It was being pulled from the starboard side.

"What are they waiting for, Mr. Wolf?"

"Get a line around you, Capt'n. We'll get you across and then cut this last line," Mr Wolf began to string the harness around Emma's waist. Two more explosions rocked the ship.

"True enough, this is the last rope on the Fall." Mr. Wolf said

"What are you doing, you great idiot? Reo will cut the line from the other side. If we stay put, our ship and our crew will be safe," Emma said.

Mr. Wolf tied the line around Emma and stepped back.

"Right you are, then," Mr. Wolf replied. The two of them looked at each other. Emma put her hand against the bulkhead for purchase, then grabbed Mr Wolf by the collar.

"Or, we could live for another five minutes, grab hold of that line, and cut the damned thing at this end. Reo Iti will pull us up," Emma said.

"We are not really good at this pirate stuff, are we?" Emma screamed at the wind, and Mr Wolf cut the line.

"We are quite good at the escaping bit!" Mr. Wolf yelled back as they both swung out into the storm with only the sea below.