⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵. . . "Tour of the Gulf of Aden". . . (cont.)
[Last time...]
Behind them, Andofzara and Att-Elvis were still making small talk in whispers as they followed the rest…
“Nae mucker, but seein' as ye hav gotten me in a bit ay bind oan a lang boat headin' fer a hostile palace wit nae way ay escaping... Ahh was tinkin' a wee bit ay gallows humur was in order.” Andofzara said.
“Sae ye ur, ur ye nae a French hen?!" At-Elvis whispered in confusion.
“Shush! Dae ye two loons want tae git us killed?!" Errislravenhill said as she whirled around and waved her dagger under their noses.
. . . . . . . . . . .
[On the Silverton…]
"Git me a buckit brigade goin’ an' doose 'att fire oot! Wee’s lit up like a Christmas cabre in London!" The Captain bellowed as he strode across the main deck and threw the first bucket of water on the blaze.
The men worked furiously on the fire, losing only the small jib sail and some rigging, while Officer Fisky ran the starboard gun line, firing at will upon the enemy on the cliff-sides.
“Ahh want aw guns oan 'att high groond eighteen poonder! Noo!" The Captain boomed.
The gunners adjusted their aim and fired as commanded, raining fire and hell down on the high ground east of Aden! In a moment another large explosion was seen, lighting up the high northern cliffs in bright yellows, orange and white!
“Haw! Haw! Braw shootin’ ‘att is! Ilversaver888, brings up mair powder an' water fur th' gunners!"
“Aye, Sairrr!” The young Lassie replied as she ran for the cargo bilge.
“Keptin Sairrr, th’ last thee guns oan shair hav stopped firin’!” Fisky yelled.
“Wussatt?! They’s stopped firin’?”
“Aye Sir, and there’s a line ay lit torches headin' fur th' palace in a coorie!"
“Lit torches?! HawHaw! Ahh think someone's knockin' oan they's back duir!"
[In the City of Aden…]
Commander Galligan quickened his pace as he sighted the palace doors not fifty yards ahead...
A long line of soldiers were standing guard just east of the palace walls, but only six guards standing in front of the north doors. All of the soldiers were mesmerized by the fiery battle scene to the east of the mountain.
Galligan motioned for the group to split into two, his team to the bushes just east of the guards and Ickied’s team to the west of them. In stealthy mode the eighteen warriors stalked their way silently through the trees and bushes surrounding the palace grounds. The booming of cannon and distant musket fire served as good cover however for their approach.
Finally, closing on the last twenty feet from the guards, Galligan shoved his dagger in his mouth and glanced across the open grounds. At that moment, a hail of cannon fire landed on the furthest northern gun position, igniting a powder explosion that lit up the night like day! It was that moment that Galligan gave the hand signal to Ickied and as soon as the flash of light was out, the eighteen men moved in fast like a swarm of wolves!
Galligan struck first at the two soldiers standing together in front of the palace door! With one deadly swing of his sword, he lobbed the head off of the soldier to the right and as the other turned, he buried his dagger in his left eye! Barely a sound was heard as the two men fell dead to the earth.
The fate of the other four was no better, Galligan’s men took down two more and Ickied and Errislravenhill ran the last two through with their swords as all eighteen then ran and crouched in front of the palace doors. As luck would have it, it was that moment that the palace attendant came out to pass a message on to the Commander. Seaman Upu slit his throat in a quick slash! Though the attendant tried to yell for help, his voice was garbled and he collapsed at their feet!
Galligan then rushed the door and his crew followed him into the great reception chamber. Torches were lit but no guards were present. Apparently the Jinn had ordered them all outside to form a defensive ring about the palace.
“Bar 'att duir mucker!" Galligan ordered in a low tone as he quickly eyed the room from right to left, “Come oan, let's move!"
Without losing a single man, the war party quickly raced across the reception chamber and huddled near the large archway leading to the interior of the palace.
⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
🗝 Sassenach Vocabulary fur 'lain lovers':
afair (before), Ahh (I), aiblins (perhaps), anyain (anyone), 'att (that), aw (all), ay (of),
bark (news), barnie (fight), baur (bare), bevvy (drink), boss (empty), brine (ocean),
caller (fresh), cannie (careful), ceilidh (party), cheil (man), clootie (cloth), crease (ass)
dae (do), dunnae (do not), dug (dog),
enaw (enough),
gang (go), gart (made), gezz (gives), gin (gun), glaikit (stupid), gob (mouth), guttin (hungry)
haur (here), heem (him), hen (girl)
jeekit (jacket)
kent (knew), kinn (know)
law (low)
mah (my), mair (more), min' (mind), mingin (filthy), mirk (dark), moggie (cat),
nae (no),
onie (any), oot (out), ootwith (outside)
poke (bag), pure (really),
quine (lady),
radge (mad, dangerous),
Sassenach (Highland English), scran (food), shair (shore), spick (speak), strang (strong), stoaner (hard, tough), swatch (look)
thes (this), toon (town),
ur (are, or),
wa' (why), wabbit (tired), waesucks (horror, pity, or sorrow), wee jimmy (young boy), whieest (quiet), wooldnae (wouldn't),
yak (eye)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - joshua.slane@aol.com
References
Pictures from: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps. Data loosely interpretted froms: www.wikipedia.org an' sometimes finely crafted reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.