strange calm fell over the scene. The fog curled around the rigid players, entwining its way around legs and torsos, while below, more mist curled in toward the three ships, lapping against each hull and clambering up the sides.

   "What did you say?" snapped Johnson finally, staring at Hartwell's impassive face.

   Hartwell lifted his eyes and for the first time, Johnson was aware of the deep emotions flashing down beneath the calm exterior.

   "I will not permit any such thing, Admiral," replied Hartwell. "I suspected something was wrong when you ordered us out here, but, fool that I am, I did nothing, instead trusting to the chain of command. No doubt the majority of each crew is with you as you chose them over other, more experienced men, but I will stand against any behaviour that is so repellent and against all codes of honour."

   "I suspected you would take this attitude and I have prepared for it," snapped Johnson. "Both crews are mine and will obey me. Out here, I am the admiralty and can decide your fate as I see fit. That fate is execution as a traitor."

   "You do not have the right or authority to execute anyone without due process," replied Hartwell, his tone as precise and even as when he had ordered coffee that morning.

   "I have the authority here and now and that is all that matters," replied Johnson. "Flavell, Bennet, hold him." Johnson's lackeys moved forward and took Hartwell's arms. They held him tightly despite the fact the arrested captain made no movement of any kind. Instead, he continued to gaze levelly at the admiral.

   "This is illegal, second to the pirate curse we came here to eradicate," he said. "You are an officer of the crown and you owe allegiance not just to the crown but also to the mission that brought us here—the freedom of all peoples from tyranny and oppression."

   "Hurrah!" cried a few voices, including Sporrit and O'Rourke.

   "Disgrace," replied many other voices in dispute, led by Fleetwood.

   "It is all God's Will," opined Pastor White nervously.

   "And God would be ashamed of your actions, Admiral Johnson," snapped a young female voice. Everyone turned and saw Hartwell's sister and ward, Susanna, standing on the deck behind them. Her features were very similar to those of her brother, though rather softer in outline. The big difference lay in her eyes, which flashed with the fire and emotion, which her brother always kept ruthlessly suppressed.

   "Miss Hartwell, it is your brother who is shamed, for he brings destruction upon you and the few fools stupid enough to follow him," shouted Johnson, who felt safer in bullying a young girl of eighteen than he did with any of the crew.

   "Everything my brother has said has filled me with admiration," replied Susanna. "The esteem I hold him in has only grown with his actions today."

   "His actions today have condemned him and you, too, if you are not careful," leered Johnson. Hartwell's head snapped up.

   "My sister has nothing to do with this," he replied, his voice still quiet but now with a tremor hidden deep beneath.

   "She and any of your crew who stand with you will be treated as they deserve," shouted Johnson. "And you deserve execution as treacherous dogs! But first," he added, his voice dropping low as he panted in excitement and lust, "but first, I shall taste of her. Oh yes, she shall be my sweet fruit!"

   Bennett and Flavell looked away, seeing and hearing nothing. Behind, some in the crew leered in delight, while others looked in panic or disgust at the admiral and his lackeys. Hartwell stiffened, but he held his emotions in an iron grip.

   "Repent!" cried Pastor White, shouting at the crowd in general. "All must repent!"

   "All must choose," said Hartwell in a louder voice. "All must choose to die in honour or to live like dogs."

   "I choose honour," shouted Susanna.

   "Then you'll die," leered Fleetwood, licking his reptilian lips. He, like Admiral Johnson, had lusted secretly for the captain's sister since meeting her and had dreamed of the time when he could do to her exactly as he wished. That time had now come.

   "And the rest of the crew must decide for themselves how they are to live," continued Hartwell. "But know that I hold no man in obligation, no man is to be forced down a path except by his own conscience."

   Hartwell turned and looked up at his sister, who gazed back down. Not many could bear to look at the faces of two siblings silently saying how much they loved each other as they faced certain death. Susanna nodded slightly, giving her brother the strength to do what had to be done and stood proud, waiting for her fate.

   "Then this day wears a dark mark, when justice was denied and good people slain by vanity and power," said Susanna. "Bear witness to these deeds, good people."

   "Any who stand against me will die like dogs," screamed Johnson hoarsely. "Today is the last day you will breathe God's pure air! Any who defies me, marks himself traitor and fool!" He turned to the crew. "To arms! Kill them all!"