The produce arrives

Shortly after nine Brenan heard the sound of teamsters approach his ship. Looking at the four wagons he muttered in irritation. The fruit and vegetables were carried in massive crates roughly one meter wide and high and two meters long. The wagons that carried the great crates strained under the weight, how was he going to load those in his ship?

One of the two men that had been by the bar during Brenan's meeting with Ambrose hopped down from the lead wagon. Brenan met him at the foot of the gangplank keeping him from climbing aboard and pointed at the ten great crates.

"What in Crews name am I supposed to do with those?" The man just shrugged and handed Brenan a receipt of delivery and a heavy purse. Brenan Estimated that each crate empty weighed close to one hundred kilos, full they must weigh closer to three hundred. Ambrose's man clearly understood his predicament and watched him with a grin of pleasure. Finally he made an offer that Brenan should have anticipated.

"You could see if you could rent the crane over at the Boss's wharf. I guess he'd charge you about 50 crowns if you asked him real nice. And because we're already hitched up it'll only cost you a couple crowns each for use to haul these back to the crane." Brenan was steaming but wasn't sure what options he had. All his training as a pirate had involved portable cargo, he had been expecting stacks of small crates not giant shipping containers. Before he could make a decision he heard James call him back onto the ship.

"I heard Captain, You can send him away." James said pointing to the teamster waiting by the gangplank. "We have all we need right now to do the job ourselves, we don't need their crane." Something about the Caruthers boy's tone convinced Brenan and he hopped down to the dock sending the thick necked man on his way.

"Are ye sure Captain?" The teamster asked "I'd hate to see one of yous get hurt. And the price might go up later in the day." Brenan glanced back at James who gave him a cheerful wave and with that sent the teamsters and their oxen off.

James and Mr. Michaels set to work immediately sending the Jones twins up the masts to fasten block and tackle to the booms of the ship's two masts, In less than twenty minutes he watched the first of the crates lifted from the wagon and guided over the cargo hatch located amidships.

James issued a few more commands in a loud confident voice and the crate descended into the gaping hull below. Brenan waited until the ropes were cleared before heading down into the hold.

"Well done Lads!" He called out and saw James flush with pride. "You boys keep sending them down, Mr. Michaels and I will see about setting these bad boys in place."

Brenan dropped through the stern hatch with Michaels following close behind and the two approached the cargo hold through the galley. Mr. Michaels and Sasha were attaching one of the spare gun carriage harnesses to the massive crate that was settled slightly askew under the open cargo hatch.

"Just right lass!" Mr. Michaels boomed approvingly as he stepped closer to examine her sea knots. Michaels picked up the heavy rope that ran through the block and tackle and hesitated as he looked at the captain. Clearly he wanted Brenan to man the ropes, but a third officer couldn't very well order his captain to pull hemp like a deck mule. Brenan smiled at Michaels as he took off his shirt.

"It's OK Mr. Michaels; consider me one of your gun crew until we get this job finished, then I'll get back to being your captain. Mr. Michaels tipped an imaginary cap in Brenan's direction and with a big grin pointed to the heavy rope by his side.

"Very well then, man this rope if you please." It took the better part of two long hard hours, but eventually all ten of the crates were laid out filling most of the ship's small cargo hull. A gap was left near the galley for the crew to eat at and another between the forward bulkhead for the hammocks to hang, but other than that the hold was pretty well filled. By the time the last of the crates had been lowered into the hold and secured to deck below Brenan's crew were working well together. Pleased with how well the crew pulled together Brenan considered sending his crew out for a few hours of liberty but immediately dismissed the idea. After the scene they caused yesterday he didn't want to take any chance of them being recognized.

"We've got a lot to do if we're going to be the first ship out of here on the tide sail on the evening tide." He still had a lot to learn about his new cook. Brenan realized as he recalled how strong Sasha was. When she first started pushing on the crates as he and Michaels had used the ropes Brenan almost told her not to bother, but her added **** had made a big difference in how fast the crates were slid into place. Also as he watched her move about the galley, although he and the rest of the crew all were drenched in sweat, Sasha looked as cool and relaxed as she had over two hours ago when they started.

Still wondering about his latest crew member Brenan returned topside and kept Harry and the rest of the crew busy as he watched the flotsam carefully for the first sign of the turning tide. Finally, he called for all hands to docking stations.

He might actually pull this off. If he can count on his makeshift skeleton crew to do what they have to to negotiate the crowded Freeport harbor.