Downs showed the two men a derisive face as he opened the door and stood back in surprise as the guard stumbled into the room, pushed by Alicia as she and Mel rushed in, slamming the door after them.

"What ...?"

"Not another peep, Lieutenant." Mel stepped to his side and stuck the piece of wire against his neck.

Alicia cut the bonds on Mullen and Terry and then pushed the stunned guard onto the chair and had them tie him securely.

"You'll never get out of here . . ." The wire stung as it pricked his skin drawing a small bubble of blood.

"I said, not a peep."

The group moved out of the office and out onto the grounds with Downs marching stiff-legged in front.

"Any challenges and you shut them down, Lieutenant, or you will be the first to pay." Alicia warned, as they approached the sentries at the entrance to the base.

"Sir, do you require assistance?"

Downs swallowed and said no but he nodded his head and in an instant the two guards found themselves overwhelmed, disarmed and knocked out.

"That was very foolish, Lieutenant." Mel gave him another poke with the wire and he cried out.

"Quick, down to the harbour, Captain. Terry will stay with you out of sight. I'll round up the others and we'll bring the longboat right in to the dock. There are no lights so we'll be well concealed."

Mullen hurried off to the town proper to gather his men, it wouldn't be long before the guards were discovered and there was an alarm sent out. As he trotted along the street in front of the harbour he heard shouting and a moment later two of his crew came running toward him.

"It's Bloode's men, They saw us and recognized us from earlier. Poor Will was cut down without a chance."

Mullen saw the pirates round the corner and start toward them.

"Quick, head for the dock. The Captain and Terry are there with Mel and the Lieutenant that started this whole mess. Let Bloode catch up down there, we'll use Downs as a shield."

Alicia stood up from behind the barrels where they had taken refuge as she heard the yelling and the pounding of feet on the dock planks.

"It's Bloode, they're onto us and they got Will." Mullen and the others slid to a halt and they all turned to face the gang chasing them.

"Avast, Bloode!" Alicia shouted. "Any closer and your master gets his and that means you don't get yours."

Bloode stuttered to a halt and warned his men back. he knew what she meant. No Downs, no sovereigns.

"You can't get away, why not do a deal?"

"Don't trust that foul monster, Alicia. He murdered Colin Partridge at the mission."

Alicia looked at Mel and her heart felt sick. Colin had taken them in so many years ago, with no thought to his own safety, given them shelter and welcomed those of the crew that wished to stay. She faced Bloode and gritted her teeth.

"I'll do a deal, Captain. You and your scurvy crew back out of the way while we borrow your longboat and when we are clear of the harbour, I'll leave your Mister Downs, she deliberately discarded his rank, tied to the harbour buoy. You can pick him up there and get your blood money. . . Bloode."

"Hoy, lads! Did you mark her words?" What makes you think I'd buy a deal like that?" He laughed aloud.

"Because if you don't, I'll leave, Mister Downs here, dead at your feet and you'll get nothing."

He hesitated, then shook his head. "No you wouldn't. I know the reputation of the Pirate Queen. You won't kill no one."

"I didn't say I would . . . she would." Alicia stepped aside so Bloode could see Mel's wire pricking the bleeding neck of his employer.

"Mister Mullen, you and Terry ready that longboat. Captain Bloode will oblige you by stepping aside."

He clenched his teeth and fingered his pistol, stopping any action when Downs yelled out to stand down. Another trickle of blood ran down his neck and he screamed again.

"You'd be wise to keep your voice down, mister," Mel hissed in his ear.

"Your choice, Captain, your boat or your boss and his money." Alicia said.

******

Bloode seethed as he watched his longboat being quickly rowed out of the harbour. By a brilliant moonlight, he saw it stop at the harbour buoy then saw the sail unfurl.

"Find a boat and get us out to the ship." He growled at his crew.

"Wot about him then?" The crewman cocked his head toward the harbour buoy.

"We'll get 'im on the way." Bloode grinned. "This'll up our reward a little I should think."

"You can't do this!" Downs wailed as he was unceremoniously dumped over the side with a rope tight about his waist. He splashed around helplessly as he was hauled tight up against the buoy and the rope wound around, holding him waist high above the water, snugly against the smooth surface.

"Hope your friends don't forget what we said, it can get quite cold out here at night." Alicia said.

"I'd be more afraid of sharks, skipper." Mullen said, watching Downs go pale. "Even that little bit o' blood can draw them in."

Mel sat beside Terry, steely eyes locked on the floundering Lieutenant.

"You're safe with us now." He said, trying to give her some comfort.

Mullen directed the crewmen to pull closer to shore and he furled the sail when they neared the inlet where the longboat from the Pirate Queen was hidden.

"Everybody into the other boat," he said. We'll tow this one then set the sail and let 'er go."

******

Back aboard their ship, the crew gathered for a small ceremony to acknowledge the death of their crewmate Will. Alicia stated that Will would get a fair share from the next ship they took; it would go to his wife and their one child. Nobody objected, nobody would. They all received equal portions including Alicia. No more because she was Captain.

"We sail for Mole St. Nicolas immediately." Alicia said and went down to her cabin with Mel.

"I don't know how to thank you, Alicia. You lost a man and were almost taken yourself." Mel chose a bench seat by the hull.

"We also lost a good man in Colin Partridge. Is there someone there to take his place for the mission?"

"There are a few men that were very close to the work the mission was doing, I think probably one or all will fill the need. I'll miss him so, Alicia. He was so kind to me and Claire."

"Claire is your child?"

"Yes. She's seven. Too young to go through what that- that-"

Alicia put an arm around her. "It was exactly the same with Terry."

"Oh, he's a fine looking lad. So much like his father."

The tone of the statement struck Alicia as just a little more than a friendly comment, and she felt a slight tug of maternal caution.

"He's a lot like his father," she said, removing her arm and standing up. "Headstrong and somewhat of a romantic when it comes to our business."

"He was a great comfort to me on the trip to the ship here."

Again the tug, and Alicia began to experience another feeling, a tiny threat to her status, a testing of the familial bulwark.

"I'm glad all that's over, Mel. Really. As soon as we get you home, the sooner all things will get back to normal. Your daughter must be worried sick."

Mel stood and smoothed her long skirt. "She's in good hands and she's a strong person . . . like her mother." She held up her head and smiled at Alicia. "Thank you again for all you are doing. Maybe you could stay at the mission for a short visit and let me make a special meal for you and the crew."

"That's a very generous offer, Mel. You must know how these dogs eat."

"I do."

"Well, I can hardly refuse a good home cooked meal in spite of the men." They both shared a laugh and Alicia led her out to show her where she could sleep for her few nights on the ship.