Pirates of Savannah Trilogy: Book One, Sold in Savannah - Young Adult Action Adventure Historical Fiction by Tarrin P. Lupo
The captain continued anyway, “Isaac Swartz is a large, hulking man with a very strong back and could do the lifting of two men. He was trained to collect bad debts and is a trained pugilist who is very handy with his large fists. He would be excellent in security or as a sentry. On my ship he was trained as a gunner. I enthusiastically open this bid at twenty pounds.”
The crowd was silent as awkward stares fell upon the captain.
Gibbons went on, “Anyone? Anyone at all? Very well. I will keep him as my gunner. Going once, going twice...”
A shout came for a frail, tall gray haired man wearing a yarmucle, “Wait, I bid twenty pounds!”
“Very good. Going once, going twice... SOLD!” the Robin’s captain shouted.
The three men came together to examine the contract. “Shalom. I am the town Doctor, Dr. Daniel Nunis. Glad to meet you,” the doctor offered politely.
Isaac replied, “I have no training in treating aliments, sir. I have no idea why you would bid on me.”
The doctor grinned, “Anyone brave enough to refuse to remove his yarmulke to these Christians is a man I wish to call friend.” Both Jewish men then smiled and quickly signed the contract with Captain Gibbons.
Next up on the block was Sam Scurvy. Although his legs were bowed, he was very able now. Once the crowd found out he was a master fisherman a furious bidding war started and ended at 23 pounds. Purchased by a local fisherman, Sam was happy to get hired for a job he already knew and loved.
The last man was Jessup, who even still, nobody knew anything about. He refused to talk of his past so Captain Gibbons embellished his sailing experience. Jessup had the weathered look of a seasoned sailor so the tale seemed believable. When the bidding opened, not one soul in the crowd placed a bid. As Gibbons was about to close the auction and walk away, a colored man approached him.
“Captain, I will buy him for fifteen pounds,” the black man said. Some of the crowd jeered and stayed to watch.
“You want me to sell you a white man? What possibly for?” Gibbons was befuddled.
The colored man answered flatly, “I own a whaling ship and need men. Does my money spend?”
The Captain looked at Jessup, “It is up to you, Jessup.”
“Well, if I go back with you I will be swimming back to London, so what choice do I have?” Jessup offered sarcastically.
“Fine. Let's do a contract, your money spends with me,” the Captain snipped. The crowd watching was outraged but could do nothing about the sale but grumble.
Patrick and Archibald observed this sale and Patrick asked, “Is an African savage really allowed to be a ship captain in these colonies?”
“The colored folks are not slaves here," Archibald answered. "At least for a little longer, but rumors be that is changing. Yes, a black man can be a captain, but only in whaling. Whaling is the only profession where a man is not judged by the color of his skin, but his performance." Archibald continued, "It is so dangerous, that most of his crew will be dead within just two years. When a job is that grave, every day a flirtation between life and death, a man’s skin doesn't seem so important." He then instructed Patrick to say his “goodbyes", then the two left to go to the shop.
Patrick shook his friends’ hands and exchanged partings, agreeing to get together in their free time if they could. He also reminded Isaac, Sam and Jessup of their promised meeting years from now at the inn. Patrick could not help but smile as he walked away and saw Captain Gibbons fade off in the distance into the crowded streets.
Archibald led Patrick through some winding alleys and then stopped in front of a house. In the yard were a covered fire pit and a large anvil. The house looked like all the others around it. It was a small, humble building with a pitched roof and two windows on each side of the door. A small building used as a workshop was in the back yard. Opening the front door of the little house and smiling warmly, Archibald offered, "Come in and meet the family. I bet you’re ready to rest a spell and eat some fresh vittles.”
The crowd was silent as awkward stares fell upon the captain.
Gibbons went on, “Anyone? Anyone at all? Very well. I will keep him as my gunner. Going once, going twice...”
A shout came for a frail, tall gray haired man wearing a yarmucle, “Wait, I bid twenty pounds!”
“Very good. Going once, going twice... SOLD!” the Robin’s captain shouted.
The three men came together to examine the contract. “Shalom. I am the town Doctor, Dr. Daniel Nunis. Glad to meet you,” the doctor offered politely.
Isaac replied, “I have no training in treating aliments, sir. I have no idea why you would bid on me.”
The doctor grinned, “Anyone brave enough to refuse to remove his yarmulke to these Christians is a man I wish to call friend.” Both Jewish men then smiled and quickly signed the contract with Captain Gibbons.
Next up on the block was Sam Scurvy. Although his legs were bowed, he was very able now. Once the crowd found out he was a master fisherman a furious bidding war started and ended at 23 pounds. Purchased by a local fisherman, Sam was happy to get hired for a job he already knew and loved.
The last man was Jessup, who even still, nobody knew anything about. He refused to talk of his past so Captain Gibbons embellished his sailing experience. Jessup had the weathered look of a seasoned sailor so the tale seemed believable. When the bidding opened, not one soul in the crowd placed a bid. As Gibbons was about to close the auction and walk away, a colored man approached him.
“Captain, I will buy him for fifteen pounds,” the black man said. Some of the crowd jeered and stayed to watch.
“You want me to sell you a white man? What possibly for?” Gibbons was befuddled.
The colored man answered flatly, “I own a whaling ship and need men. Does my money spend?”
The Captain looked at Jessup, “It is up to you, Jessup.”
“Well, if I go back with you I will be swimming back to London, so what choice do I have?” Jessup offered sarcastically.
“Fine. Let's do a contract, your money spends with me,” the Captain snipped. The crowd watching was outraged but could do nothing about the sale but grumble.
Patrick and Archibald observed this sale and Patrick asked, “Is an African savage really allowed to be a ship captain in these colonies?”
“The colored folks are not slaves here," Archibald answered. "At least for a little longer, but rumors be that is changing. Yes, a black man can be a captain, but only in whaling. Whaling is the only profession where a man is not judged by the color of his skin, but his performance." Archibald continued, "It is so dangerous, that most of his crew will be dead within just two years. When a job is that grave, every day a flirtation between life and death, a man’s skin doesn't seem so important." He then instructed Patrick to say his “goodbyes", then the two left to go to the shop.
Patrick shook his friends’ hands and exchanged partings, agreeing to get together in their free time if they could. He also reminded Isaac, Sam and Jessup of their promised meeting years from now at the inn. Patrick could not help but smile as he walked away and saw Captain Gibbons fade off in the distance into the crowded streets.
Archibald led Patrick through some winding alleys and then stopped in front of a house. In the yard were a covered fire pit and a large anvil. The house looked like all the others around it. It was a small, humble building with a pitched roof and two windows on each side of the door. A small building used as a workshop was in the back yard. Opening the front door of the little house and smiling warmly, Archibald offered, "Come in and meet the family. I bet you’re ready to rest a spell and eat some fresh vittles.”