Super Short Story called Merchant Ship Part 2

Merchant Ship Part 2: The Sailors Reconvene from circa 2020

Bravolier Shimo trekked through the swamp's wetlands, dense and green, the musty odor of the persistent dampness on fallen wood and diverse fungi reminded the insurgent to watch his step, lest his next footfall sink him a foot deep into the muck and slow his progress toward the rondevue with his cadets.

Summing up how the mission played out was easy. This was a great success and a victory to celebrate - when the time for celebration might be found again - the city of Orleans was as vulnerable to attack with fire as he had hoped while drawing up the plan to put the place aflame in an unstoppable blaze by seeding two dozen potent arsonsparks as quickly as possible.

Where there were fifteen fires found and being battled to extinguishment, nine other infernos grew. Overwhelming the cityfolk and their civil services was necessary to ensure his people's message be heard loud and clear: The tribe's surrender on the fifth moon of yesteryear was coerced and, therefore, invalid.

Shimo's claim to these lands was immutable. Trading was his people's preference, only, by the edge of their swords, the enemy had taken all the Carsiputian means of production outside of the very uteruses of his the Carsiputianas.

Shimo was only a few minutes' pace from the point designated for post-mission meeting. The Bravolier's trek was longest and he looked forward to seeing his twelve cadets, no doubt to be found grinning wide with the success of their "message" delivered. o----------o

Captain Edgewood and his second, Cofferall, stood in the warm oak panelled officer's quarters. The flickering light of the candelbras cast shadows on dark walls where in a fleeting moment of imagination there was the outline of the Orlean's Port and the city's buildings as seen on the horizon as a seafaring vessel, such as their own merchant ship the "Good Samaritan", seemed to cast their shadows against those oaken walls and be tickled by the flames.

Second Mate Cofferall knew his captain well enough to expect there was no good reason to panic. Besides, Andy Martin Cofferall kept a steady bearing at all times. He was practically the mirror image of his captain, excepting Edgewood's greater wit and full head of hair. Steady as the captain was, it was by his focus on the important aspects of things rather than by any lack of nervous energy. John W. Edgewood always had a well-developed plan. And a plan-of-plans. And a plan-for-when-there-was-no-way-to-plan-for-this. Second Mate Cofferall's confidence in his Captain Edgewood was only equalled by that he held for his own father, and in God himself.

Captain Edgewood began expounding the plan. The Good Samaritan's sailors were mostly ex-navy - soldiers in a previous life - and the goods on board useful to the citizens of Orleans' at a time like this. Hence, she was to stay the course with only a slight adjustment in order to dock at a small utility shoring by the port city's Ukelele Lighthouse. As previously scheduled, shorefall was in three days' time.

THE END