Chapter 13: Port Royal, Jamaica
Jeff had come to accept that the pirate’s life was one of often long periods of monotony and boredom punctuated by intense periods of excitement, fear, and bloody violence. The sail to Jamaica was the former and was essentially uneventful with the exception of the periodic episodes of “Lefty” cursing Jeff when he changed his bandages and applied more of his stinging lime juice antiseptic treatment. Jeff was thankful to hear the Captain yell out, “Land ho!” as they came within sight of their destination.
Due to the writ for his arrest that had been issued by none other than the famed Henry Morgan in his capacity as lieutenant governor of Jamaica, Captain Coxen needed to keep a low profile. To this end, he remained aboard the Wandering Wench, which anchored well offshore in an attempt to avoid detection by the Jamaican authorities. Jeff, Jenny, and several other members of the crew took longboats over to the Grand Booty with the cargo to be sold in town and they and The Crow continued into the port.
The ships tied off next to each other at the end of a dock. Captain Jamison and a few members of his crew went into town to arrange for the needed repairs and to find buyers for their cargo while Jeff and the others remained on the ships to guard them. An hour or so later, Jamison returned with a few men with wagons and the offload of the cargo began. All hands participated in the offload and within a few hours it was done. Jeff and most of the remaining crew members were then allowed to go into town to seek out their preferred forms of entertainment, with instructions from Captain Jamison to return by first light the next morning.
While they started out as a group, by the time they had gone just a few blocks, the others had all dispersed to seek out their particular interests and Jeff and Jenny were left to themselves. Although he could tell from the ship that Port Royal was a much larger town than anything else he had seen during his time in the 17th century, Jeff was amazed at how big it actually was once he was in the middle of it. While much of the activity seemed to center around the entertainment of pirates and sailors, with the brothels, gambling halls, tattoo parlors, and taverns that their shipmates had no doubt disappeared to, there was actually quite a variety of businesses present in the town.
Jeff and Jenny walked slowly taking it all in as they politely declined the offers from the numerous prostitutes lining the streets. “Have you been here before?” Jeff asked Jenny.
“Yes, a few times. It seems there are new things to see every time though.” She replied.
“Do you have any suggestions on what to do?” Jeff inquired, raising his voice to be heard over the clatter of a horse-drawn wagon.
“Well, we could hire a couple of these lovely ladies, or perhaps we could get a room to relax in at the Hotel Royale. Some of the rooms even have copper bath tubs and for a small fee, they’ll bring up buckets of hot water.”
“Sounds good to me, but how much does it cost? I didn’t bring a lot of silver with me.” Jeff replied.
“Not to worry, I was planning on it, so I brought plenty of coin,” Jenny assured him.
“I always wanted a sugar momma,” Jeff said with a grin.
“A what?” Jenny asked.
“Sugar momma – a woman who pays my way.” “Oh, I’m not a sugar momma. You will be paying me your share when we get back to the ship!”
“That’s how it is, huh?”
“That is how it is – if you wish to share my hotel room and bath!” Jenny replied.
“Very well, lead the way.” Jeff said with a wave of his hand.
The pair made their way down a side street and soon were standing in front of the hotel. Jenny turned to Jeff and said, “I’ll go in and make arrangements for the room and the bath. You wait here. It would look a little odd for two men to request a room together. Once the bath is ready and there won’t be any interruptions, I’ll call you up from the window.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Jeff acknowledged. Jenny entered the hotel and Jeff leaned up against the railing that ran across the front porch of it to watch the happenings on the street. From the stories he had heard about Port Royal, it was a pretty wild place. Even in the daytime, there were a number of prostitutes on the street and they were having no trouble finding customers. Just as numerous were the drunks, some staggering down the street, and others passed out in out of the way corners. Periodically, wagons drawn by horses, mules, and occasionally men would pass by loaded down with everything from sacks of food, to barrels of rum, to parts for ships.
Quite some time and several propositions from the working women later, Jeff was starting to wonder what was keeping Jenny when he heard her voice from above him. “Mr. Greene?” Jeff stepped into the street and looked up at the second floor of the hotel to see Jenny looking out of the last window on the end of the hotel. She didn’t say a word and merely cocked her head to the side, gesturing for him to come up. Jeff walked into the hotel and saw the stairs next to the front desk, which was unattended at the moment. Jeff quickly made his way up the stairs and down the hall to the end room. Jenny was awaiting his arrival and opened the door just as he raised his hand to knock. She was already naked and she grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him into the room, closing the door behind him. “Come on, the bath will not stay hot forever!” she urged him as she pulled his shirt over his head.
She led him over to the large copper bath tub and climbed in while he slipped off his pants. He carefully lowered himself into the water facing her and leaned back, splashing a little water over the rim of the tub. While the water was not exactly hot, it was the closest thing to a hot shower Jeff had experienced since arriving in the 17th century, and it felt great.
After the initial joy of feeling the warm water against his skin, he noticed an odd foam floating on the surface of the water and was struck by a familiar smell. “Is it just me, or does this bath smell like… food?” he asked.
Jenny, who was just finishing washing the grimy disguise from her face, replied, “Yes, I think they were using this water to boil potatoes before they brought it up for the bath.”
Jeff nodded, “That would explain the weird foam too. This is one high-class establishment!”
Jenny laughed, “Only the best potato bath for you, my dear!”
Jeff smiled, “I shouldn’t complain. In my time there are probably spas where people would pay big money for a potato bath! It’s not really a bad thing, but somehow I feel like I’m an ingredient in soup!” The two sank back in the tub and relaxed in the warm water. The copper tub held the heat of the water remarkably well and by the time it started to cool, both Jeff and Jenny were so relaxed that they could barely climb out of it.
They dried off with the rough pieces of cloth that served as towels and Jeff was struck by the fact that hotel towels had not improved much in 300 years. Once they had dried off as thoroughly as they could without removing skin layers with the sandpaper-like towels, the two plopped down next to each other on the bed, such as it was. It was no wider and was significantly shorter than a modern twin bed and their legs hung over the end a good foot or more. The mattress appeared to have been filled with a mixture of straw and feathers, providing a surface that was remarkably lumpy and poked at the skin.
“The pile of sacks in the cargo hold was a lot more comfortable,” Jeff commented, “But this bed would be great for anyone into S&M!”
“S and M? Those candies you spoke of once?” Jenny asked in confusion. “No, those are M&M’s – very different from S&M! S&M is sado-masochism – when people get off sexually from causing or receiving pain.”
“I see, but why would someone get pleasure from pain?” Jenny asked with curiosity.
“It’s not my thing, but some people are really into it for whatever reason,” Jeff replied.
“So you didn’t enjoy your encounter with the crab our first time together?” she asked with a giggle.
“No, I think it would be best to avoi
d crabs of all kinds when it comes to sex,” Jeff chuckled, “Now, I don’t know about you, but I think I better get off this bed before it draws blood! Care to join me on the floor?”
Jeff and Jenny carefully climbed off the bed and spread out a blanket on the floor. The two laid down beside each other and while the floor was pretty hard to lie on, it was better than getting jabbed from all angles on the bed. Jenny snuggled up against Jeff and kissed him softly. The two quickly became engaged in the throes of passion. Some time and several bruises and abrasions dealt to them by the hard, rough floor later, the two rolled onto their backs to catch their breath.
Jeff awoke with a start as the pins and needles sensation in his arm jabbed him to consciousness. After the vigorous workout on the floor, he and Jenny had fallen asleep with his arm around her. At some point she had shifted her position and was now cutting off the circulation in his arm. The orange glow of sunset shined through the window in a way that made Jeff think of his bedroom back home and it took a moment for him to realize where, and when, he was.
Jeff tried to slide his arm out from under Jenny without disturbing her, but she opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Trying to sneak away, Mr. Greene?” she asked sleepily.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you, but I needed to get circulation back in my arm.”
“No matter,” she replied, “I think I’d like some supper now anyway.”
The two found their clothes in the dimming light and got dressed. Jeff looked around the room and asked, “How are we going to man-up your face? There’s no grease or mud or anything.”
“I brought this from the ship,” Jenny said as she pulled a small can from her pocket. A bit of ash and grease from the galley should do it.” She smeared some of the black mixture on her face and Jeff nodded his approval. The walked out of the room and made their way down the stairs. A large, overweight man was at the front desk, but was so engaged in a plate of chicken and a bottle of rum that he made no notice of the pair as they walked out of the hotel.
“So, a tavern then?” Jeff inquired as they hit the street.
“Well, the food at the taverns is fine, but I was thinking we could sample the food from the street vendors,” Jenny suggested.
“Fine with me,” he replied, “You lead the way.” The two made their way back towards the docks and arrived at a small line of wooden carts that had been converted into open-air kitchens. Sailors, prostitutes, and all manner of townspeople crowded the carts to buy food. Several rats weaved fearlessly through the crowd eating scraps that had been dropped and would occasionally go for a big score directly from one of the carts before being chased away with knives, cleavers, and any of a variety of blunt objects the cart owners had on hand.
Although the entire scene would have been shut down immediately by a modern day health inspector, by now Jeff was quite used to the less than sanitary conditions of the 17th century and he had thankfully become relatively immune to food borne illness. Jeff and Jenny bought a sampling of the local fare, as well as a bottle of grog to share, and walked to the end of a nearby dock to eat and watch the remnants of the sunset.
“This is pretty good,” Jeff commented between bites.
“Aye,” Jenny agreed, “Port Royal has the best food of any of the places I’ve been.”
By the time they had finished eating, the sun had sunk below the horizon and it was getting dark. Jenny rose to her feet, “Come on, there’s a shop I want to go. We’ll have to hurry to make it before they close!”
Jeff jumped up and followed her as she walked quickly up the dock. “What kind of shop?” Jeff asked as he caught up beside her.
“They sell pastries, but I don’t care about that. They make a drink of chocolate and that is what I want!” she explained with excitement.
After running the gauntlet of prostitutes and drunks, they finally arrived at the shop. As they walked in the door, a man looked up from sweeping the floor. “I be just about to close. I’m afraid I don’t have much left fer ye,” the man said.
“Do you have any chocolate drink?” Jenny asked hopefully.
“Aye, a little. Methinks it be enough fer two.”
“We shall gladly take whatever you have left,” Jenny said with a smile. The man stopped sweeping and walked behind the counter.
“I sell most o’ this to the ladies,” he said as he picked up a pot and scraped the remaining contents into a jar, “It be a bit strange for not one, but two men to have a taste fer it.”
“We’re ahead of our time,” Jeff replied.
Jenny pulled out a few coins and paid the man. “Enjoy yer chocolate!” the man shouted after them as they walked out.
Jenny eagerly took several sips of the thick liquid before handing the jar to Jeff. She watched for his reaction as he took his first sip. “Well?” she asked.
“It’s good,” he nodded.
“As good as S&M’s?”
“M&M’s,” Jeff corrected, “And yes, it’s as good as M&M’s. So, what do you want to do next?”
Jenny thought for a moment. “Want to try to get lucky?” she asked.
“Sure, but don’t you want to explore town a bit more before we go back to the hotel?” Jeff asked.
“What?” Jenny replied with a confused look.
“Did I miss something?” Jeff asked.
“I want to go to the gambling parlor. I don’t want to go back to the hotel yet!” Jenny exclaimed.
“Oh,” Jeff replied, “That’s what you meant by get lucky! I thought you were talking about… something else.”
“Like what?” Jenny asked.
“Well, in my time, the expression ‘getting lucky’ means having sex.”
“Mr. Greene! Is that all you think about?!” she exclaimed, pretending to be shocked.
“Well, yeah,” Jeff admitted, “But in this case, I just misunderstood. In any event, gambling it is!”
Jenny led Jeff down a side street. As they approached the gambling parlor, sounds of music and rowdy people greeted them. They stepped inside the smoke-filled room and Jeff squinted in the dim light to take in the scene. There were seven round tables at which each had at least 4 or 5 men seated around them. At two of the tables there was some type of card game going on and the other tables were all playing a dice game he had not seen before that at first glance looked like craps. A dozen or so women circulated through the room. Some were obviously bar maids while others appeared to be prostitutes waiting to service the lucky winners. Jenny turned to Jeff and said, “I want to play hazard,” she said as she walked toward a table in the back that had empty seats.
“Hazard?” Jeff asked as he followed her.
“The dice game,” she explained.
But before they could take their seats, a loud argument broke out at one of the card games. “Ye be nothin’ but a filthy rook!” a large, angry man bellowed as he stood up and upended the table, sending cards and money flying through the air. An even larger man slowly rose from his chair and swatted the heavy table aside with one hand as he stepped forward toward his accuser.
“Do not be callin’ me a rook! I ha’ no need o’ cheatin’ when I be playin’ one as STUPID as ye!”
Jeff leaned over to Jenny, “Perhaps we should find another gambling parlor.”
“A sound thought,” she nodded in agreement.
But before they could make their way to the door, the fists had already started flying and in a moment the entire parlor erupted into one big brawl. Jeff and Jenny tried to stay outside the fray as they inched toward the door, but it was not to be. A rough looking man stepped up to Jeff and took a swing at his head. Fortunately, Jeff saw it coming and was able to block the punch before sending his attacker flying backward with a kick to his chest. Jenny was not so lucky and she was blindsided by an errant punch meant for someone else that sent her stumbling backward before landing flat on her butt
. She was more surprised than hurt as Jeff helped her to her feet.
By now bottles were flying through the air and several groups of combatants had blocked the path to the door. “Let’s circle back around the other way,” Jeff suggested as he led Jenny toward the back of the room. Bottles shattered against the wall as they made their way around the outer edges of the fighting. As they neared the front window, the two men who had initiated the fight crashed through it onto the street. Jeff grabbed a broken table leg and cleared away some of the broken glass around the window’s edges before he and Jenny made their exit through it. The two big men were rolling around on the street smeared in their own blood flowing from the cuts from the window glass - still cursing each other and exchanging punches as Jeff and Jenny headed for more peaceful surroundings.
“Do you know of another gambling house?” Jeff asked once they were well clear of the fight.
“Yes, but perhaps it would be best to go back to the hotel. I’m still a bit dizzy from that punch,” she replied.
Other than the now familiar propositions from the prostitutes, the walk back to the hotel was uneventful. They walked in the door of the hotel and the obese man from earlier was now passed out at the front desk. They made their way upstairs. The hallway was now lit with several dim kerosene lamps that were hung on the doors. Jeff grabbed the lamp and brought it into the room before turning up the flame to inspect Jenny’s face. “Nice black eye!” he exclaimed, “From the swelling, it looks like you took a pretty good punch.”
“I’ve had much worse,” Jenny assured him.
“Anything I can do to make it better?” Jeff asked.
“You can start with a massage on my shoulders and I’ll see what else I can think of,” she replied seductively.
An hour or so later - after the shoulder massage and everything else Jenny was able to think of, the two fell asleep on the floor, still finding it more comfortable than the bed. Just before dawn they were awakened by a distant rooster crowing. “We need to get back to the ships,” Jenny said as Jeff stood up stiffly and tried to work out the kinks. They dressed quickly and Jenny walked down first to drop off the key. Jeff exited the hotel while the clerk was occupied with her and waited for her on the hotel’s porch.
The sky was just getting light when they arrived back at the docks. Most of the crew had not yet made it back and the few that had were still stinking drunk. Captain Jamison appeared on the deck of The Crow and called down to them, “Good morning, gentlemen. Come aboard and eat while we wait for the others. We shall be leaving the Grand Booty here with a few men until the repairs can be completed and we shall resume our business without her for the time being. We set sail in an hour, so come and fill your bellies and prepare to get to work!” Jeff and Jenny quickly made their way onboard The Crow, while the others gradually dragged themselves to their feet and stumbled their way onto the deck. As they ate, other hung over members of the crew staggered aboard here and there. By the time Jeff and Jenny were finished eating, everyone was back on the ship and Captain Jamison gave the order to cast off.
After a short sail out of the harbor, they met up with the Wandering Wench. Captain Jamison and a few of his men joined the members of Coxen’s crew in the longboat over to the Wench. While the Captains planned their next raid, Jeff checked up on his patients and Jenny went to work attending to the galley. While finishing up in the infirmary, Jeff could hear preparations on deck to make sail. Curious as to their destination, he made his way on deck. Captain Jamison had already boarded a longboat back to The Crow and Captain Coxen was standing on the navigation deck overseeing the preparations to sail.
Jeff climbed the steps to the navigation deck and Coxen greeted him warmly, “Ah, Mr. Greene, good to see you! Since we will need to return soon to Port Royal to retrieve the Grand Booty, we have decided to make a short sail to Cuba to raid a few villages on the Eastern Coast. The Spanish have their hands full with the French incursions into Hispaniola and have left Eastern Cuba relatively undefended. The villages are poor, but their governors live in relative luxury, so there is profit to be had with little risk.”
Jeff nodded, “Sounds like a good plan. Perhaps I can even join the raiding party this time?” Jeff asked hopefully.
“Perhaps. Getting a bit restless are you, Mr. Greene?” the Captain said with a knowing smile.
“A bit, yes, Captain. It’s just that I always seem to be stuck on the ship waiting to tend to any injuries. Just for a change, I’d like to get closer to the action.” “It is not a good policy to have the ship’s surgeon placed at risk, but I do see your point. I am not promising anything, but I will consider having you join us on at least one of the raids.”
“Thank you Captain.”
“Now, please excuse me Mr. Greene, it is time to get underway.