Curse of the Mad Pirate (eBook)
104 Seiten
Pieter Haasbroek (Verlag)
978-1-7764915-6-8 (ISBN)
A legendary pirate hunter.
A madman's revenge.
A plague ship that could doom them all.
The Cape of Good Hope (1723) is a bustling port, lifeline of the sea routes, and Simon Verbeeck's home. As the settlement's protector, he has never lost a battle against the pirates who stalk the oceans. But his new enemy is unlike any he has faced before.
Lured into a deadly trap, Simon discovers the horrifying truth. John Rogers, a ghost from his past, has returned for vengeance. And he brings with him a ship filled with victims of a deadly plague. His ultimatum to the Governor is clear, surrender the Cape, or he will unleash the infected, condemning every man, woman, and child to a gruesome death.
With the woman he loves caught in the crossfire and the settlement teetering on the brink of annihilation, Simon must face an enemy who commands a fleet, fears nothing, and fights with madness in his heart. But as the plague spreads and the noose tightens, Simon must ask himself. How far can he go into the darkness before it consumes him too?
Brimming with swashbuckling action, romance, and nail-biting suspense, Curse of the Mad Pirate is perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean and timeless high-seas adventures.
Set sail on the seventh book of Meiring Fouche's unforgettable pirate saga today.
A legendary pirate hunter.A madman s revenge.A plague ship that could doom them all.The Cape of Good Hope (1723) is a bustling port, lifeline of the sea routes, and Simon Verbeeck s home. As the settlement s protector, he has never lost a battle against the pirates who stalk the oceans. But his new enemy is unlike any he has faced before.Lured into a deadly trap, Simon discovers the horrifying truth. John Rogers, a ghost from his past, has returned for vengeance. And he brings with him a ship filled with victims of a deadly plague. His ultimatum to the Governor is clear, surrender the Cape, or he will unleash the infected, condemning every man, woman, and child to a gruesome death.With the woman he loves caught in the crossfire and the settlement teetering on the brink of annihilation, Simon must face an enemy who commands a fleet, fears nothing, and fights with madness in his heart. But as the plague spreads and the noose tightens, Simon must ask himself. How far can he go into the darkness before it consumes him too?Brimming with swashbuckling action, romance, and nail-biting suspense, Curse of the Mad Pirate is perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean and timeless high-seas adventures.Set sail on the seventh book of Meiring Fouche s unforgettable pirate saga today.
7. CURSE OF THE MAD PIRATE
Chapter 1
When the secretary of the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope entered, the man was distraught and pale.
“Your Excellency,” he said, breathlessly, “there is a matter of urgent importance. There is one Jansen van Vuuren, a citizen of the settlement, who urgently wishes to speak with you.”
“Jansen van Vuuren?” asked the Governor. “Who and what is he?”
“He is a citizen, Your Excellency. Actually, a hunter, I believe. He supposedly observed something in Hout Bay that he wishes to convey to you.”
“What is it that the man wishes to convey?” asked the Governor, somewhat irritably.
“I regret, Your Excellency,” answered the secretary nervously, “but he will not tell me. He says it is something very dangerous, but he wishes to convey it to you personally.”
“Let him come in,” commanded the Governor.
A moment later, a smallish man stood before the Governor. He nervously held his tricorn hat in his hands. The man was clearly exhausted to the point of death and utterly terrified. His small eyes darted back and forth, and he bowed low when he appeared before the Governor.
“Are you Jansen van Vuuren?”
“It is I, Your Excellency. Gerbrandt Jansen van Vuuren.”
“What is it that you wish to convey to me, Van Vuuren? Why can you not tell it to the secretary?”
Jansen van Vuuren, in his worn clothes, took a step closer. “Your Excellency,” he said, “I have come to speak with you myself because I saw something that should not be.”
“What is it, man?” asked the Governor, out of sorts. “Do not beat around the bush. Tell me what you wish to say.”
“A pirate ship, Your Excellency.”
“What?”
“A pirate ship, Your Excellency. I saw it myself in Hout Bay. It lies there at anchor.”
The Governor leaned back in his magnificent chair and laughed lightly. “My dear Van Vuuren,” he said, “you are surely touched in the head.”
“Your Excellency, I swear. I swear it is a pirate ship. I went hunting in Hout Bay and saw it. The pirate flag flutters on its mast. A warship, Your Excellency. I saw its cannon ports with my own eyes.”
The Governor stopped laughing. His eyes were now serious, and he looked attentively at the weathered man before him.
“Van Vuuren,” he said, “do you wish to tell me that a pirate dared to anchor in Hout Bay? A pirate here at the Cape of Storms? Here, close to the fire mouths of our castle? No, man, no, I do not believe it.”
Van Vuuren fell to his knees and frantically pressed his hat between his fists. “I beg you, Your Excellency. You must believe me. It is a pirate ship. If you do not wish to believe me, send someone to go and look. I am your servant, I am your subject. Why would I deceive you? I beg you, in the name of heaven, believe me, Your Excellency.”
The Governor leaned forward on his large writing desk. Was this man possessed, or was he merely a nuisance? Or could it be that he was speaking the truth? But a pirate ship here at the Cape of Good Hope? It sounded so impossible. What would its intention be?
“Very well, Van Vuuren,” said the Governor, “I thank you for your information. I will find out what is going on here.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency,” said Van Vuuren, rising and bowing submissively again. “I beg you, you must investigate yourself if you do not believe me. I ran from Hout Bay all the way here. Over the mountain.”
In the small eyes of the citizen, the Governor saw sincerity and earnestness. Therefore, he summoned his secretary immediately after Van Vuuren had left.
“Send for the commandant of the fort,” commanded the Governor. After a quarter of an hour, the commandant stood before his desk.
“I have received a peculiar report,” said the Governor. “A man was here who says that there is a pirate ship at anchor in Hout Bay. I can hardly believe it. What do you think of it?”
The commandant stood stiffly at attention, but he allowed himself a smile. “A pirate ship, Your Excellency? Here at the Peninsula in Hout Bay? Forgive me, Your Excellency, but I do not believe it. No pirate would dare to come here. They have never dared to do so. They are well aware of the fort of the Castle.”
“Be that as it may, I want to know if it is the truth,” said the Governor. “And because you do not believe it, I am now sending you on horseback to go and find out. If what the man Jansen van Vuuren said is true, then give him a reward. If it is untrue, give him thirty-nine lashes.”
“As you command, Your Excellency.” The commandant bowed charmingly, turned, and walked out.
The Governor of the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope rose and went to stand before the window. He looked out over the harbor, which was empty and still. He looked away towards the black smudge of Robben Island, and he wondered what was behind Van Vuuren’s story. He could hardly believe that a man would come and mislead him so openly. Few people would dare to do so. He tugged at his moustache and then stroked his fine hand over his chin beard.
Could it be that there was a pirate who was bold enough to defy the military might of this settlement? Was there perhaps a mad adventurer who wished to attack the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope?
He sat down again in his chair, and he was full of apprehension.
It was scarcely two hours later when the Governor heard a clatter and quick footsteps outside his door. There was a loud knock, and almost immediately afterwards, the door swung open. The commandant of the Castle burst in. He behaved somewhat unorthodoxically, for the Governor had not even ordered him to enter.
The man trotted up to the Governor. “Your Excellency,” he said, “it is true. What the man Van Vuuren said is true. There is a pirate ship in the vicinity.”
“Do you wish to tell me that you have already been to Hout Bay and back? That is a bunch of nonsense, man. You have been gone barely two hours.”
“Your Excellency,” said the commandant, “I rode past the Twelve Apostles. Then I saw the vessel approaching. It is no longer in Hout Bay. It is on its way to Table Bay.”
“What?” screamed the Governor, jumping up. “Do you wish to tell me that a pirate is on his way to Table Bay?”
“As surely as I live, Your Excellency. I hid myself there and looked through the telescope. It is a pirate, short and simple. Its flag is clearly there for all to see.”
The Governor slammed his fist on his writing desk. “Get everything ready,” he commanded, “set up your cannons and warn the garrison to be ready. I will come immediately to take command myself. I do not want to see anything amiss when I arrive. Is the pirate under full sail?”
“Under full sail, Your Excellency.”
The commandant turned to go and carry out his orders, but before he reached the door, the Governor called him back. “Commandant,” he said. “Are there any ships in Table Bay?”
“Only one, Your Excellency.”
“Ah, of course,” said the Governor. “The Red Ruby, is it not?”
“That is correct, Your Excellency. The Red Ruby. The vessel of skipper Simon Verbeeck. They are busy cleaning and preparing it.”
“Excellent,” said the Governor. “Go and summon Verbeeck immediately.”
The Governor was utterly on edge. What a few hours ago had still sounded like a fantastic fairy tale had now so suddenly become reality. He knew these pirates. There were some of them who were completely reckless and totally fearless. There were some of them who were capable of coming to attack the settlement. This place was a desirable prize for them. Here was food, here was fresh water. Here were fruits and vegetables, and this settlement was so conveniently located along the shipping route to the East. It was indeed the halfway station. It was convenient not only for legitimate shipping, but also for the pirates.
The Governor was completely excited when they brought in the tall, powerful dark man with his bright eyes and his luxuriant beard.
“Ah, Verbeeck,” said the Governor, “I am glad you have come.” Seafarer Simon Verbeeck bowed low. “Your Excellency,” he said, “is there anything I can do for you?”
“Verbeeck,” said the Governor, “have you heard of the pirates?”
“I have heard something of the sort, Your Excellency.”
“What do you think of it?”
“I do not know whether I should believe it, Your Excellency.”
“But, my dear man,” the Governor burst out, “what must we do to convince you? The commandant of the fort himself saw the pirate opposite the Twelve Apostles. It is on its way to Table Bay. And you still do not believe it.”
Verbeeck’s dark eyes changed. The smile disappeared from them, and his whole face became tense. “I did not know that, Your Excellency.”
“What could the intention of this pirate be, Verbeeck? Do you think he will dare to attack the settlement? Surely all pirates are aware of our castle, our fire mouths.”
“There are some of them who are possessed, Your Excellency. Who knows, perhaps they are desperate. Perhaps a shortage of water and food.”
“In what condition is your vessel, Verbeeck?”
“We are almost finished with the renovations, Your Excellency. The new sails have already been hung.”
“Verbeeck,” said the Governor, “then I wish to entrust a task to you. You must engage this pirate in battle before he reaches the harbor. Shoot him out of the water, man. You enjoy hunting pirates, do you not, Verbeeck? And can you imagine what...
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 3.9.2025 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | Red Ruby |
| Illustrationen | Meiring Fouche |
| Mitarbeit |
Zusammenstellung: Meiring Fouche |
| Übersetzer | Meiring Fouche |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy |
| Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen | |
| Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Freizeit / Hobby ► Sammeln / Sammlerkataloge | |
| Kinder- / Jugendbuch | |
| Schlagworte | ebook pirates • english action and adventure books • historical romance and action • meiring fouche • pirates • pirate stories • red ruby • red ruby ebook series • red ruby series • sea adventure • sea pirate ebook • sea pirate stories • sea pirate story • Treasure Hunt |
| ISBN-10 | 1-7764915-6-4 / 1776491564 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-7764915-6-8 / 9781776491568 |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
EPUB (Ohne DRM)Digital Rights Management: ohne DRM
Dieses eBook enthält kein DRM oder Kopierschutz. Eine Weitergabe an Dritte ist jedoch rechtlich nicht zulässig, weil Sie beim Kauf nur die Rechte an der persönlichen Nutzung erwerben.
Dateiformat: EPUB (Electronic Publication)
EPUB ist ein offener Standard für eBooks und eignet sich besonders zur Darstellung von Belletristik und Sachbüchern. Der Fließtext wird dynamisch an die Display- und Schriftgröße angepasst. Auch für mobile Lesegeräte ist EPUB daher gut geeignet.
Systemvoraussetzungen:
PC/Mac: Mit einem PC oder Mac können Sie dieses eBook lesen. Sie benötigen dafür die kostenlose Software Adobe Digital Editions.
eReader: Dieses eBook kann mit (fast) allen eBook-Readern gelesen werden. Mit dem amazon-Kindle ist es aber nicht kompatibel.
Smartphone/Tablet: Egal ob Apple oder Android, dieses eBook können Sie lesen. Sie benötigen dafür eine kostenlose App.
Geräteliste und zusätzliche Hinweise
Buying eBooks from abroad
For tax law reasons we can sell eBooks just within Germany and Switzerland. Regrettably we cannot fulfill eBook-orders from other countries.
aus dem Bereich
