Chapter 173 - Poetry Book (1/2)

Zhang Heng returned to the captain’s quarters. He was drenched by the rain and got a towel to wipe himself down. Anne quickly got out of her wet clothes as well. As they were both s.h.i.+vering in the cold, Zhang Heng poured themselves a gla.s.s of rum to warm up. Rum was the signature drink of pirates. It didn’t have a decent taste, and though fermented from sugar cane, it was very bitter. As compared to wine and brandy, rum wasn’t as smooth. Its only upside was its low price. Not only was it cheap, but it could also be preserved longer than drinking water.

After a month, the drinking water on the s.h.i.+p would start tasting awful as various kinds of plankton would start growing in it. Rum, however, could be preserved for at least a year. That made it an essential item for every pirate s.h.i.+p. Zhang Heng could feel a warmness radiating in his belly after he bottomed a gla.s.s of rum. Suddenly, someone knocked at his door.

Billy had come for Zhang Heng with a group of youngsters with him.

“This is Mr. Vincent. I pa.s.sed the diaries that you gave me earlier to our crew, hoping that someone could read them. I think we are in luck. Mr. Vincent here knows how to read that language!”

Zhang Heng instantly recognized him. He was the Jackdaw’s doctor and had been personally recruited by Billy. Pa.s.sionate in the field of botany, he was supposed to carry out some research somewhere, but along the way, pirates had unfortunately plundered his s.h.i.+p. Thus, he was forced to become their doctor. A year later, the pirate group that he was in joined forces with another pirate group. Finally, Vincent regained his freedom. However, he feared that others would find out that he once worked for pirates, choosing to stay on the island in the end.

In Na.s.sau, he stayed right beside Billy. They were neighbors. He typically made a living by keeping accounts for the taverns and brothels. Greatly influenced by Billy, he eventually decided that he would join the Jackdaw.

“This is a list of goods on the s.h.i.+p. It’s written in Polish. It records everything they were supposed to transport. These are just everyday items—cotton, nylon, and wood.

This was the very first time Vincent spoke to the Jackdaw’s captain, and he seemed to be nervous. Naturally, he was worried that Zhang Heng might not believe him.

“My father is from Scotland, and my mother is from Poland. When I was young, I stayed in Poland for some time. That’s why I know how to read Polish.”

“How about these two books?”

Zhang Heng then handed the other two diaries to Vincent. Initially, Anne was about to leave but decided to stay. She, too, was curious about the sudden disappearance of sailors on that s.h.i.+p.

“I think… this is a poetry book,” replied Vincent after he opened up the book and glanced through its contents.

“A poetry book?”

“Yes. A book filled with romantic poems. Most of them were dedicated to a woman called Betty. I must say that the contents are mediocre at best. This is my first time seeing someone using a storm to describe someone he loved. His descriptions are pretty… sensual.”

Vincent blushed as he read through those poems.

“Can you read them aloud to us?”

“Okay. No… no problem.”

Immediately, Vincent glanced at Anne, quickly realizing that she was okay with it. He then started to look for a poem to read to them.

“Betty my love, I praise you, I adore you, You are my storm, I’m your master, Your b.r.e.a.s.t.s are like the fruits of a crooked branch, Your… erm… Your legs are like a river flowing with honey….”