CHAPTER 40 “Dead as a fried oyster.”
The new view from his pew pleased Renato greatly. L’Intrepide had been a fine mistress, and served him well. But the great gun stretching nearly half the length of Medusa filled him with a sense of power beyond that of the world’s most dangerous buccaneer. It made him feel like a god.
Beside him, Princess shared the view, and the scratchy gargle that passed for purring indicated she, too, was content.
Renato glowered as a plump form suddenly blocked his view.
“Beggin’ your pardon, Cap’n Renato, sir.”
“What is it now, Quayle?”
“The men wished to thank you, Cap’n, for takin’ the slaves aboard.”
From where he sat, Renato could see two of the lanky Haitians in the bow, goggling at their new surroundings. One of the blacks swung about, returning his g
