Day 75: It took a few days to get the loot sorted out, and everything squared away on whatever world we were currently. Gus and Jenny seemed to be jockeying for Murphy’s right hand “man.” I didn’t want to take sides, but I’d know Gus a bit longer. Plus, he was the one who had kidnapped me, and I wanted to keep on his good side to get home like Murphy had promised.

So…when he sought me out in my berth, I pretended to be happy to see him. I set aside the book, which I had been reading through for lack of anything else to do.

“What can I do for you, Gus?”

“I’ve always treated you right, haven’t I? Had yer back when Murphy was in one of his moods?”

“Yes…”

“So, would you talk to Andrew? He’s muscling in on me turf…as it were. I’ve been Murphy’s second for almost half a decade now. Sure, I’d like me own ship—but that ain’t likely anytime soon. I’ve got a plan, but I have to play nice with Murphy until I can get my hands on one o’ those Fancies o’ his.”

I blinked. “You know about those?”

“Hell, boyo, the whole crew knows about th’ one. I’ve me suspicions on how he got t’other. Daltry’s device was no secret either, and no one seems to have found it in his things.” He waved the issue aside. “That’s beside the point anyhow. I’ve got to keep me job!”

I could sympathize. “I’ll talk to he—him.”

“Thank ye, Marc. I appreciate it. And if ye ever need anything I kin help with…”

I was touched. It was the offer of a pirate, but an honorable one.

We shook hands, and Gus left. I decided to finish packing. Surely we would be heading back to Earth soon.

—

I’ve managed to sneak a bit of pencil stub from the ship’s doctor, and a few scraps of paper from the cook. I’m recording my thoughts with them so I can reveal Black Jack Murphy’s infamy when I finally return to civilization.

There’s a universal truth about pirates. They hunt treasure, and they don’t care who they have to rob to get it.

There’s a universal truth about dragons. They hoard treasure, and they really don’t like for people to try and take it.

I was kidnapped by the infamous air pirate Black Jack Murphy and his crew of the airship The Lady Jean. They wanted me to chronicle their dragon hunts. Little did Murphy know where my sympathies lie! So, this journal — and the resulting CD, coming soon from Mage Records “Pirates vs. Dragons” — tell the true stories of Pirates vs. Dragons. The CD combines rousing sea shanties about pirates being pirates with songs about the majesty of dragons, and the journal details the privations I suffered. There’s a little something for both sides here–and I bet you find a new favorite or two.

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