Had to write a short story (between 600 - 900 words) in which two unusual or eccentric characters meet for the first time.

Crusade for the Caribbean

The meeting

January 1^st 1701, Northern Caribbean. On-board outlaw Pirate ship; ‘The Dark Mist’.  “Avast, ye blotto bunch of sea beggars!  Hoist the sails yah lazy cockroaches or I’ll be bound to toss ye Duffels down to ‘Davey Jones locker”.  The Pirate Captain was a staggering sight, built like a cannon, strong and muscular. He had an old scar, partially obscured by his dark brown beard, linearly engraved on his left cheek. Enclosing his shoulder length hair was a huge hat with a long black feather and strapped around his waist was rather worn pistol and an impressive sword with a golden handle. He darted to and fro, boldly bawling orders at his obeying crew. 

Meanwhile on-board Royal navy vessel ‘HMS St Andrew’. “Captain Hector Bellamy seems a rather unusual Pirate to say the least”, declared an elderly gentleman sitting in the corner of the dimly lit Skippers quarters.  He was known as Harris Hemmingway, a chubby red faced entrepreneur with a flamboyant cockney accent. “Can the lad be trusted James?”  A tall, well-built man moved gracefully from the window at the back of the room where he stood smoking a black pipe.  His skinny hand floated steadily upwards as he took the bowl of the pipe, hoards of white smoke blew from his mouth and pointy nostrils. His steady blue eyes met the dark brown eyes of Harris. Captain James Field spoke for the first time, “He can be trusted…you will be convinced when you finally meet him”.

The bright beam of the lengthy hot day began to fade hastily as the drowsy sun sank lazily over the horizon, the blue skies were clear the seas were calm. “Norton, get up here!” the languid deck erupted into a sudden shock as the pirate Captain summoned his first mate.  An average sized man with short brown hair, bristly beard, wild eyebrows and a black eye patch slumped up the rickety stairs from the deck to the bridge.  “Aye Captain” Norton exclaimed. “You and this ‘fine crew’ will sober up, shave and wash. Tomorrow we be in royal company. I refuse to entertain any complaints, that’ll be all”, said Hector. “Aye Sir” was Norton’s disheartened reply. “Wait” said the Captain, once again speaking to Norton; “Do tell them to purge themselves of those gaudy outfits. Norton nodded nonchalantly, masking his hindrances skilfully.  The remainder of the dull evening succumbed gradually with no outstanding acts. 

Dawn broke with a flare of fiery sunbeams penetrating the dark skies; it was a warm partly cloudy morning with a slight chilly breeze. The meeting would take place on the shores of what is now modern day Jamaica. The ambiance aboard ‘The Dark Mist’ was palpable. Who would have thought that men loyal to the crown would conspire with pirates, in a request to overthrow the British in the Caribbean?  Captain Hector allotted notice to various speculations; yet he could not fathom the motive behind the sudden request.  “I shall order all deckhands be combat ready, we cannot afford to be off guard” He mumbled solemnly.

HMS St Andrew is a 96-gun first-rate ship, born and bred to be a proud member of the Royal Navy.  The vessel looked a magnificent sight as it gracefully sailed to convene with the Pirates. “Ship to Starboard sir!” yelled a young man who continuously scoured the horizon from crow's nest above. “Drop anchor and sails lads” ordered Captain James. “I say…marvellous, marvellous. I shall hastily burden myself with the demand to prepare tea!” exclaimed Harris, in quite the peculiar conduct.

The Pirates where unawed at the sight of the gigantic British ship for their vessel was the undenied superior. Captain Hector remained suspicious of the British and instructed that all cannons be ready for combat. He summoned Norton to one side and instructed him; “One wrong move, and you see them to Davey Jones”. Norton smile broadly revealing the plethora of mostly gold teeth he possessed. “Aye aye Captain” he hollered. Hector gave him a sturdy pat on the back and instructed that he bring the boarding vessel.  

An hour went by then another. Finally, at precisely 8am Captain Hector Bellamy boarded the ‘HMS St Andrew’. He boasted his finest attires of blue, brown and white cotton pants and shirt with dark brown Pirates boots.

 “You must be Captain Hector” exclaimed Harris who had rushed with staggering haste, considering his demeanour, to meet the Captain.   “Indeed I am, you must be…” he was cut short by the old man whom could not control his joy. Yes yes, “Harris Hemingway at your service. Come now, we have plenty to discuss”.

Down they went to the Captains quarters.

End of part 1.