Sailors In Silk, Chapter 8B free porn video

Sailors in Silk. Chapter 8B ? By: Beverly Taff Disclaimer - If you are under the legal age of consent and therefore deemed to be ?A Minor? within the terms of the jurisdiction under which you normally reside then the material in this story may be deemed unsuitable for you. The legal age of ?A Minor? may differ considerably from Country to Country or State to State or even city to city therefore you are advised to check it. The age of consent varies widely from place to place and for different circumstances. For Example, in some American states, you can own a gun at sixteen and possibly shoot someone in the bleachers. On the other hand, you cannot consume alcohol and get drunk until you are twenty-one. (George Bush?s daughters are reputed to have been charged for being drunk in their late teens.) In Britain you can consume alcohol with a meal in a restaurant at sixteen and in a bar at eighteen. This mean?s that British schoolchildren under eighteen can get legally pissed and miss morning lessons. On the other hand, they cannot own a handgun at all, so they find it more difficult to shoot their teachers or fellow pupils. (Although there are plenty of illegal guns now appearing on the streets.) (Tony Blair?s son was picked up in central London for being drunk and incapable at 16 but never got done for it because he had not technically broken the law. (He was not deemed disorderly for he was lying helpless on the pavement, abandoned by his ?friends?. Nobody could prove how he got access to the booze.) As for the age of sexual consent, this varies even more widely from country to country, so I suggest that you contact a lawyer if you are not sure about your personal situation. In some countries, this can be as low as 12 years of age. (Uugh!) If you don?t understand what?s being described in this story then you?re probably too young to read it. If in doubt about these stories, then leave this Fictionmania site and go and read a Superman comic or something. Sailors in Silk, Chapter 8B. List of Characters. Madeline Myself, a full-breasted, very pretty, she-male, entire and virile with the only fully functioning penis in the fleet. Elizabeth My Sapphic, (Lesbian) partner. Azure Our extremely intelligent Moorish Lady doctor/Herbalist. Tomasina A young boy castrated by an explosion and now feminised. Davinia Another wounded deck-boy similarly feminised by Azure?s drugs. Najanga. A beautiful rescued African Princess. Ongola & Obengi Two other beautiful, African princesses. Axetl A young bisexual Amazonian Shaman. Trysta A young lesbian Cornish bondswoman. Sally. Trysta?s companion, who escaped with her from slavery. The following morning Sally woke feeling stiff and cramped from the cold of the tiled floor. During the night exhaustion had finally overcome her and she had collapsed into an unconscious bundle on the unforgiving tiles. As she had slumped to the floor, she had bruised her unprotected elbows and knees and she desperately wanted to rub all the aching parts of her body. She could not for her hands were still firmly manacled by short chains attached to her slave collar. Instead she had to carefully squirm herself upright whilst ensuring she didn?t somehow trigger the urgency that was rising again in her clitoris. Unfortunately she had to lurch violently as she struggled to her feet and this sent a lancing stab of lust tingling through her loins. Once she had finally reached her feet she leant gasping against the cold narrow marble pillars. Then the eunuch arrived with the meagre breakfast and her hunger pangs destroyed her concentration. She lurched eagerly forward then forgetfully closed her thighs and squeezed her grotesquely enlarged clitoris. This sent unexpected paroxysms of lust surging through her clitty. She let out a demented wail of lustful frustration and sagged with defeat against the pillar. The other girls turned to stare sympathetically as they ate their own meagre portions. The eunuchs studied the tearful Sally then exchange knowing glances as they recognised Sally?s predicament. If she did not come for her food she would go hungry but if she moved right then, she would increase her sexual tension. They placed the meagre fruit portion on a small tray on the cushion and left it to tempt one of the other girls. Sally would soon discover whether she was liked or not. Fortunately the girls resisted the temptation and a sparkle of gratitude glistened in Sally?s tearful eyes. ?Eventually the newcomer would learn to move delicately without triggering off her exaggerated needs?. Later that day, Sally?s lusts eventually calmed down enough for her to sway cautiously forward and nibble at her portion of fruit. Then she swayed cautiously back to her pillar and leant delicately against its cold narrow hardness. There she stood quite still with her thighs spread wide, her breasts heaving urgently and panting with the frustrated urges that now controlled her every minute. Her eyes pleaded pitifully to the others for relief but every girl was terrified of somehow cross infecting her fingers or her tongue by touching Sally?s infected parts. Sally simply had to endure her constant hypertensive condition until the Sultan selected her again. If he delayed his attentions for too long, Sally knew she would be reduced to a demented, servile nymphomaniac. She shut her eyes and tried to think of a means of escape but her efforts failed. The demands of her clitoris invaded every thought and she knew she would be utterly incapable of any sudden or violent activity. Escape demanded action and her grossly sensitive organ would shake or vibrate thus preventing any sudden movement. She could now only sway provocatively with her legs parted when she walked or sit quietly and wait in hope of rescue. Sally?s hopes were not in vain. Our secret insurgencies into the Zanzibar citadel had garnished much information and we had formed a plan from the reports of our spies. Sally?s lesbian lover Trysta was already hatching a plot to rescue her partner and the first part had already been completed. Immediately after Sally?s capture, the very next slave-trading dhow to depart from Zanzibar for Arabia was swiftly intercepted. From the captured crew and released prisoners, we garnished much information. Two of the prisoners were only young girls but they had already had their clitorises cruelly enlarged by the evil old crone. From these innocent, tormented young girls we learned much about the Sultan?s sick perversions. With this information we were developing our plot. Our next step was to attack and intercept every dhow that was sailing to or from Zanzibar. Our heavy guns invariably defeated the lightly armed dhows and we then set the crews ashore on remote deserted beaches on uninhabited islands. The male prisoners were released and set ashore at a suitable place near native villages on the East African coast. From there they had a good chance of making their way back to their old villages. We lesbian sailors did not want men as shipmates for they would soon try to domineer us. The freed eunuchs were offered the choice of being ?feminised? and joining us or alternatively put ashore with the other male prisoners. All females were offered the choice to join the freed men or stay with us and become traders. Many of the women chose our companionship even though they were heterosexual. They knew only too well that if they were liberated with the men their predicament would change little. Many of these freed men were from the same culture as the Sultan and would have treated the women little better than he had. For the freed women, the chance to explore an alternative lifestyle and choose their fate was a heady taste of true freedom. Thus grew our company grew. When capturing the dhows we avoided bloodshed wherever possible except in the heat of battle. After the fate of the captives was decided, we commandeered the dhows to strengthen our fleet. The balmy, equatorial Indian Ocean demanded little of its travelers. The winds were gentle and there were no tropical storms. This gave the freed women sufficient time to learn seafaring skills. Sultan of Zanzibar quickly realised that his trading links with Arabia had been cut. Our spies reported that he was preparing a naval expedition to destroy us. This was exactly what we had hoped. From listening to the gossip in the markets, our spies had determined that the existence of the Damsels and her powerful guns was still unknown to the Sultan. None of his loyal seamen had survived an encounter with her mighty guns thus nobody returned with information about her. There were wild rumours about her in the marketplace but the Sultan was an arrogant individual and he paid no heed to ?gossip?. He dismissed the notion of a mighty ship as the stuff of fantasy and hysteria. We set a trap to hit the Sultan?s fleet at night. Our telescopes gave us a huge advantage and we quickly defeated his forces. The massive guns of the Damsel quickly subdued the Sultan?s lighter cannonades and we captured him with little trouble. Once he was captured, his forces lost their will to continue fighting and the remaining dhows scattered to all points of the compass. We did not pursue them for we had the main prize. It now remained to get our shipmates back from the Sultan?s palace. As we interrogated the manacled Sultan, Trysta arrived alongside us in the Cornish Maid and produced a further prize. She was prodding an old crone with her sword whom Azure immediately recognised as the Sultan?s sinister mother. She enlightened me. ?That old hag is the greater prize. I?ve seen her in the markets of Zanzibar and everybody is terrified of her. Apparently they consider her to be a powerful sorceress and she totally controls her effete son.? I gaped stupidly at Azure. ?You mean she?s the Sultan?s mother?? ?That?s exactly what I mean. You?ll have to watch her though. She?s the power behind the throne and she?s cunning with it. I?ve watched her buying various herbs and stuff in the market. Believe me she?s well versed in poisons and medicines.? I had extra reason to be thankful to have Azure on my side. Her Moorish roots and fluent Arabic had served us well in her shore spying visits. Azure spoke again. ?Do you remember those two prisoners we captured from the first northbound dhow?? ?Yes,? I replied, ?those two poor little girls with the swollen clitties. They were no more than eleven or twelve.? ?The very same. Well they told me all about this evil bitch?s tricks. She deformed them with some sort of poison or medicine. I?ve got my suspicions what it was, but now I can double check by interrogating the old crone herself.? ?By all means go ahead,? I agreed. ?Tell Trysta to leave the crone?s medical pots exactly as she found them.? We motioned to Trysta as she and her crew were manacling the old crone to a ringbolt at the foot of the mainmast. Trysta nodded as we explained the situation then she described the crone?s capture. ?You?m roight! She was troyin? to destroy her potions but we?me saved most of ?em. T?was obvious that she was troyin? to destroy the evidence. She managed to destroy some o? ?er stuff but we kept most of it. She didn? ?urt no-one?.? ?No cuts or scratches,? inquired Azure. ?No. She?m was ?it on the ?ead wi? a club and knew no more of it. She ?m unconscious ?til a few moments before we brought her aboard t?Damsel.? ?Good!? sighed a relieved Azure. ?Even her scratch is dangerous, she has poisons under her finger nails. We?ll have to force our drugs down her throat but it shouldn?t be difficult. Once she?s drugged, it should be easier to get what we want from her. Just keep her hands well secured and immobilised.? Trysta and I shuddered as we watched the crone being doubly secured. Trysta was taking no chances. We were thankful that the evil old hag was still dopey and disorientated from the blow to the head. Nevertheless, we warned all our crew about the dangers of the evil old witch. Fortunately all our shipmates were familiar with our own deadly Amazonian poisons so it was a small step to accept that this old witch?s poisons could be equally dangerous. As further proof, we had the two poor girls with their deformed clitorises who had been destined for some obscene brothel in Araby. Azure was still trying to develop some sort of antidote but had not yet been successful. Every one of us knew we would have to treat the witch like a deadly cobra! The Sultan however, was an easy task. His own perverted imagination was already reducing him to a groveling wreck. His mind had already conjured up a million terrible fates. It simply remained for us to manacle him, isolate him in an unlit cabin and let his own fevered perversions run their course. Two days in isolated darkness soon had him completely pliant. He drank the submission drug without a murmur and was then permanently in our thrall. We decided to let the harem girls choose his fate, once we had organised their release. With the Sultan?s fleet scattered to the four winds, it was a simple matter for the Damsel to fire a few heavy broadsides into the citadel and reduce the residents to total surrender. Our spies had already confirmed that the bulk of the people were secretly glad to be free of the oppressor so we quickly recovered our comrades. It was only then that we discovered the true plight of Sally and the harem girls. That night we held a ?Court Martial? for the Sultan and left him to the harem girl?s devices. The girls and the eunuchs were more concerned with some sort of recovery from their circumstance but we could promise them nothing. It would take all of Azure?s skills and a full revelation by the crone before Azure could make any progress. We had no wish to occupy Zanzibar but simply leave it to it?s own devices. Once free of the Sultan?s evil grip, we felt that it was entirely up to the citizens to decide their own fate. We wanted no part in it. The harem girls including Sally finally decided to infect the sultan with the crone?s evil potions but to their surprise he proved resistant to the effects. Sally knew that he was somehow made immune by his evil mother?s potions but she was hard put to discern which ones. After starving the wicked old crone for several days she eventually succumbed to hunger and she swallowed some food that was drugged by Azure. At last she was finally under our control. We knew now that she could be controlled and this gave us the essential lever we needed. Whilst under the soporific effects of our Amazonian cocaine derivatives she revealed enough of her secrets to help Azure make progress with some antidotes. Once Azure had got a grip on the crone?s knowledge we were finally able to use it to our own ends. The Sultan was castrated then his useless penis and nipples were infected with one of Azure?s derivatives of the old crone?s poison. His penis grew so large and cumbersome that he was unable to move around unaided. Meanwhile his nipples grew obscenely and became hypersensitive. He was now pinned to wherever he was placed by his own grotesque natural anchor. With his supersensitive penis pinning him down, he was compelled to sit passively and work at his appointed task until he was required elsewhere. When we needed to move him to another job, a couple of crewmembers would lift his monstrous appendage in a sheet while he was compelled to support his enlarged nipples and follow his captors to the next location. Thus he was put to work at menial repair tasks like repairing sails or picking oakum. Now forced to sit with his huge penis spread out before him the Sultan had become a prisoner of his own bizarre anchor. He could not even roll over in bed without help to lift the obscenely inflated sausage that now resembled a bloated third leg. The crone was also punished with the same derivative and quickly sprouted a similarly grotesquely oversized clitoris. She too was now rendered inactive by her encumbrance and compelled to move slowly in the familiar swaying motion with the disabling degree of caution just as her victims once had. As for those same poor victims of the crone?s evil activities, Azure was finally able to reduce the size of their infected parts. However, their increased sensitivities persisted and the poor harem girls would forever be slaves to their supersensitive clitties. Fortunately, with their organs now returned to their natural form and size, the harem girls could move about naturally without shaking or bouncing any enlarged organs. Their urges thus become manageable. All importantly they were no longer infectious and they could assuage each other?s needs. Nights aboard our fleet were becoming bacchanalian. Trysta found Sally?s need insatiable and was compelled to invite a third girl to form a lesbian m?nage-a-trois in accommodating Sally?s needs. Many of the harem girls also took advantage of our pretty young Portuguese boy who had joined us in Cape-town. With Azure?s help he had grown into an extremely feminine young ?she-male? with beautiful breasts. Fortunately, he was a virile bisexual and fully capable of pleasuring the heterosexual harem girls. Beside myself, he had the only other active penis in the fleet and Azure had plenty of drugs to keep him vigorous. The harem girls loved him. Having recovered our comrades we now planned our foray across the Indian Ocean to far Cathay. The problem was that we had no navigator with knowledge of the Orient and only a few unreliable charts that we had traded in Cape-town. On the basis of these charts we all gathered together and held a committee meeting. Every member of our band had an equal vote. The decision to attempt the venture was decided by everybody but if that voyage was embarked upon, then command of the expedition was firmly structured. Some of our band chose to stay in Zanzibar but most chose to set off eastwards into the unknown. We chose a route just far enough north of the equator to avoid the oldrums that the Arab slaving captains had described. We knew about the doldrums in the Atlantic so we had no reason not to believe that things were any different in this new and unknown (to us anyway) Indian Ocean. The same captains also warned us about terrible storms that occurred further north. From their descriptions we realised that these were the same sort of storms that plagued our own home waters of the Caribbean every summer. From their advice and our own knowledge, we realised there was a narrow band of safe water between the Doldrums and the storms. With this knowledge and little else, we boldly set forth with our flotilla that now comprised The Damsel, The Cornish Maid, the two cutters and the best twelve of the captured dhows we had intercepted during our battles. Our plan was simple. The nimble dhows would fan out ahead and report the route for dangers whilst the Damsel and the Maid formed the core of our enterprise. We also had many small boats for investigating any islands or newfound lands. For a month we ploughed our way eastwards until early one evening one of our patrolling dhows came sweeping back to inform us that they had made landfall. We launched a green rocket as a signal to all the dhows and by nightfall or fleet had mustered to await the dawn. The sky had clouded over and arriving upon an unknown shore in a black tropical night moonless night was not a sound idea. Dawn found us eagerly anticipating the landfall and after a brief meeting of all the captains our prearranged strategy was commenced. From our meagre charts we carefully worked our way around the north of the island and found ourselves going east and south as we entered shallower waters. Eventually we found land on our port side and we anchored to discuss this development. Our charts told us that there was a narrow congested passage between these two pieces of land but we had no hard proof of this. The charts were largely hypothesis and hope with only a few clear headlands positioned with any certainty. We were forced to feel our way slowly as the smallest dhows swept back and forth carefully charting a safe course for the larger Damsel and the rest of the fleet. Each night of course, we stopped and dropped anchor. The anchored Damsel and the other anchored ships each displayed a green light at their mastheads whilst each patrolling dhow showed a red light to identify themselves. This was the only way we could be sure of avoiding any unwelcome visits. We had no idea of what fierce peoples lived on the strange lands that lay each side of our course. Day by day we worked our way down the straight until eventually we reached the narrowest part of the straight and noticed a largish settlement on the north shore. Anchored close by was a distinctly European ship with several smaller strange craft with square sails and high blunt hulls. After much discussion, Trysta, (always the boldest,) declared that she would pay a visit inshore. As she approached, the European ship made obvious preparations to defend herself but Trysta decided to hoist a white flag. Her efforts worked until eventually, she anchored under the European?s guns and lowered a boat. The Cornish maid was only a topsail schooner so she posed no threat in the eyes of the European. Trysta visited the larger ship and asked to talk with the captain. She found the ship to be Dutch and discovered to her surprise that the settlement ashore was primarily Chinese with a smattering of the local Indians. The strange ships with the square sails turned out also to be Chinese and, like the Dutchman, they were exchanging goods as the captains bargained and traded. The settlement was essentially a peaceful trading post and Trysta was hugely relieved to learn of this. She accompanied the Dutch Captain ashore and was introduced to the trading houses operated by a dozen different nationalities. When she returned it was to tell us that we had some wonderful trading opportunities. All the other ships had been startled by the sudden arrival of the dhows and made preparations to defend themselves. Apparently the Arab captains had done themselves no favours with their evangelical determinations. Most visitors were content to indulge in trading in these waters. It was a shock and a relief to later see two distinctly European ships appear in company with the dhows. Upon establishing our credentials, our fleet and our cargoes were made welcome. Strangely, the Chinese were not unduly concerned to learn that the whole crew appeared to be female but their visits ashore were most welcome. The settlement was primarily a remote trading post and female company was scarce. Nearly all of our heterosexual sisters seized the opportunity to pleasure themselves but all were cautious to see that they were safe from kidnap. Any exotic foreign female would have been eagerly snatched from the streets to end up in some Chinese brothel as a valuable addition to the usual fare. Our girls always moved in groups for protectiin. After a week of trade and pleasure we decided to set sail for China it?s very self. We exchanged chart information with the Chinese and Dutch captains and eventually felt happy enough to set course for far Cathay. Additionally, a highly educated Chinese eunuch was lent to us as a navigator by one of the Chinese traders. It was a shock for us to learn that all the Chinese craft had eunuchs as commanders and navigators but it was apparently to ensure that their minds didn?t wander from their job. All the emperor?s navigational secrets were kept by these poor creatures who were condemned to a life of nothing but navigation and trading. However, they were intrigued and fascinated to learn of a fleet of Amazons roaming the great seas and they were keen to share our navigational knowledge. With his help our fleet reached the great ports of China and we completed our trading. Our timber, spices, herbs and ivory fetched excellent prices and the exchanges in wonderful silks and satins were a transvestite dream come true. The Chinese were fascinated to learn about this strange Amazonian fleet of women and many great scribes and scholars came to visit us. What pleased us most though was the courtesy and respect accorded to us as we were introduced to the great and the good. Our femininity was deemed to be no threat and opened many doors that would normally be closed to a western man. Behind these closed doors we were revolted to learn of a dark side to the Chinese nature. The feet of their highborn girls were bound at birth and the poor women were forever after condemned to mince and hobble through their pampered lives. This made them utterly dependent upon their servants and helpless to escape the advances of their rich highborn husbands. Most of the time they used slaves to carry them about to avoid the tortures of trying to walk upon their cruelly deformed little stumps. Ruefully, we concluded that the lot of women seemed always to be blighted by men, no matter where in the world we went. Our love for our liberty and independence was only to be further reinforced by these discoveries in China. Eventually Elizabeth, Azure, Thomasina, Davinia, Najanga, Axetl and myself were introduced to the great emperor and treated as guests for several days. The strange mixtures of race and colour to be found amongst our party fascinated the great ruler. The depth and intensity of the emperor?s interest was proven nine months later. As we swept homewards with our holds full of exotic cargoes, Najanga the stunning ebony skinned African princess, gave birth of a beautiful golden baby girl who was blessed of delicate features and distinctly almond shaped eyes. As we all nursed and gentled the beautiful infant we mused about this latest rare and exotic addition to the ship?s crew. We stayed in China for a further three months until their great navigators advised us that the prevailing winds would change and we should take advantage of this development. The Chinese called these winds ?Monsoons? and described how they changed with the seasons unlike our own constant ?Trade Winds? of the Atlantic. These regular changes in the winds made trading between their own country and the trading settlement in The Malacca?s a slow but easy affair. It called for little seamanship to drive their fat bellied trading junks before the following winds every six months. We anticipated little trouble on our return journey. As the North East Monsoon season approached we began to notice certain unease amongst our Chinese hosts. After some discreet inquiries, Azure learned that another European expedition had recently arrived on the Chinese shores and was endeavouring to set up a trading agreement. The emperor was not very keen to meet this new expedition?s leaders because there had been some hostility from them at the Malaccan trading settlement we had visited when we picked up our Chinese navigator. Reluctantly, we paid our last respects to the emperor then took our leave. We had no idea that this new expedition was a British affair but it would have made little difference to our plans. Our ships were full with exotic Oriental goods and we had not wish to meet this new expedition. Our only plan was to return to our own Caribbean base and trade our new and exciting discoveries. As the European expedition appeared over the horizon, our own sails were dipping below it. As we studied their approach, we cared not whether they saw us or not. They would never be able to pursue us. Their supplies would be low after a long ocean passage and their ships were slow fat-bellied trading vessels. By contrast we were fully equipped for our return journey and our ships were all fleet-footed ocean racers. As we watched the expedition drop anchor, I felt the first light airs of the forthcoming Monsoon blow cool upon my cheek and the zephyrs began to swell our sails. Ever quick to snatch the opportunity, the dhows? single or double triangular sails filled quickly and they raced ahead. By contrast the Cornish Maid and the Damsel had to set their whole suite of sails before their jaws began chew the growing bones in their teeth. By sunset we had caught our smaller sisters up and the whole convoy was speeding South West again to the Malaccan straights. A week later after a splendid following wind, we reached the Mallacan Island and conveyed our respects to the Trading Settlement. To our dismay we saw a familiar flag now flying over the settlement and realised that the rumours were true. The British had occupied the Island and in their usual domineering arrogant manner claimed a perfectly harmless and neutral trading post as their own territory. Elizabeth and I exchanged weary familiar glances as we silently considered the seemingly endless capacity for greed and arrogance that our countrymen consistently portrayed. There was even the typically ugly shape of a British Man of War anchored in the Harbour. Cautiously we tested the waters by sending a single dhow into the anchorage whilst the rest of us stood off. Azure and Trysta returned to ruefully report that the Typically arrogant British occupying force expected us to enter the anchorage and declare our business before proceeding on our way. The very fact that the single dhow had a wholly female crew had cast a suspicion in the minds of the military powers that called themselves the keepers of the peace. We reflected on the friendly welcome we had received on our first visit by the polyglot multinational community and the oppressive reception we had received this second time and we concluded we were better to sail on. Trysta expressed our reservations and we told the British forces that it was thanks but no thanks. Unfortunately we could not get the whole flotilla past the British guns so we were forced to find an alternative route into the Indian Ocean. Our Chinese eunuch navigator told us of an alternative route to the South via a straight known only to him as the Sunda Straight and we turned short around to show a clean pair of heels. The British Man of war was a well -armed and powerful vessel but she was slow. By the time she had weighed her anchor and turned her mighty hull to chase us, we were hull down and racing clear. All the other frigates and smaller picket vessels had either gone north with the main expedition to China or busy about the Islands seeking to extend the British writ. We free women wanted no part of that stifling restrictive culture that so oppressed women like us. We raced south to the Sunda straights and hit the narrows just as dusk was falling. As we sliced through the water the luminescence of our wakes sparkled and flashed in the sea and we spilled out into the Indian Ocean like spilt milk from an upturned churn. Glad we were to be free and once again upon the wide and mighty ocean. Come the Dawn we were racing along the South Coast of Sumatra with the dhows once more fanned out ahead to anticipate any trouble. Our precautions were justified because at noon the sound of gunfire drifted out from one of the few bays to be found on that coast. The leading dhow immediately investigated whilst the rest of the dhows held back behind the headland of the bay. Thomasina returned to report that a pair of British ships were trying to fight off a large fleet of smaller Malaccan pirate craft. ?One of the British ships is a naval sloop though smaller than the Cornish Maid and with less powerful guns. The other ship is a merchantman, large but lightly armed for she is traveling in the company of a warship. It was obvious that the pair were not anticipating trouble for they have been attacked whilst at anchor in the bay. The two ships are making a tremendous fight of it with their heavier cannon but they are hopelessly outnumbered. ?The Malaccan pirates are slowly overwhelming the two ships like driver ants swarming over an elephant,? Thomasina paused to take breath then continued. ?I counted about fifty little boats in their fleet. They are continuing their attack and seem to be unaware of our approach. All our other dhows are standing off this side of the headland. The pirates only saw me and they must think I am a lonely dhow. What d?you want us to do?? asked Thomasina. We held a brief council and decided that we had more than enough girl power and gunpowder to tip the battle. ?We?ve got twelve well armed dhows and the two pinnaces plus The Maid and the Damsel. We easily out gun them and we have the element of surprise. I say lets go for it. It can?t do us any harm,? suggested Elizabeth. I shrugged and turned to Azure who nodded agreement with Elizabeth. ?The dhows are manoeuvrable and light whilst the pinnaces are not even affected by the wind. They can use their oars if necessary and they?ve got those handy little ?bow-chaser- cannons. Loaded with grapeshot and light chain, those bow chasers are just perfect to see off any massed attacks. We seem to have the military edge and the political benefits would be enormous.? Azure?s observations sealed it and we agreed to intervene. Thomasina smiled. Despite being gentled and feminised by her terrible battle wounds she was still a high-spirited and frisky filly. Eagerly she gathered up her petticoats and minced down the ladder to her own command. Immediately the dhow swept away as Thomasina signaled the orders to the other dhows to prepare to fight. Even before we had finished talking, the rumble of the Cornish Maid?s guns could be heard running out. Elizabeth, Azure and I smiled to each other. Trysta and Sally were always prepared for action and their beloved schooner was never far from any action. Finally we made the Damsel?s guns ready to deliver the coup-de- gras as we turned towards the gunfire. As we rounded one of the horns of the bay the two ships were in a desperate plight. The merchantman?s sails were in tatters and the crew struggling desperately to repel the boarders. The sloop was all but overwhelmed as swarms of Malaccans were already fighting hand to hand with the crew. For a moment there was a lull as the first six Dhows were sighted and both sides were surprised by their appearance. The British obviously wondered if they were more pirates whilst the Malaccans wondered if their hard-won prize was about to be snatched from them by a worse gang of Arab Pirates. Both sides paused in their fighting until the Cornish Maid appeared around the headland. A low confused roar erupted from the pirates as they recognised a western sail and tried to debate it?s meaning in the company of the dhows. A short sharp cannonade from Trysta?s vessel soon declared our intentions and this was quickly reinforced by the eventual appearance of the Damsel and the thunderous crash of her guns. The pirates returned to their own boats in desperate attempt to escape. Their hopes were dashed as the remainder of the dhow flotilla spread out from behind the headland and blocked off the mouth of the bay. Their only escape now lay in beaching their boats and disappearing into the jungle. This they duly did as our guns crashed amongst them. As we studied the situation Elizabeth turned to me with a dark expression in her eyes. ?I recognise that bloody merchantman.? ?How so?? I replied. ?She?s one of my bloody father?s ships. Look, she?s even flying his accursed house-flag.? The memories of my furious uncle when he had discovered me with his daughter sent a cold shiver down my spine. ?What d?you want to do?? I asked hesitantly. ?You deal with it. They?ll never recognise you now that you?re completely feminised. They needn?t know I?m here.? I shrugged and looked at Azure for advice. Hers was always a wise head. She nodded and smiled. ?Just look at you darling. You?re a beautiful woman in all respects but one.? As I pondered the idea Elizabeth peered again through her telescope then cursed softly. She put down her telescope and moved behind the raised quarterdeck rail to hide. ?It's that bloody blond head! I?d recognise it anywhere. It?s my older brother!? ?I remembered Elizabeth?s older brother. He was a powerful well-built boy who had always teased me for my slight and willowy build. Then he had beaten me and tormented me after Elizabeth and I had been caught ?in flagrant transvestis? (Yes it?s my own description,) on that fateful day so long ago. I shuddered nervously as I recalled the beating. ?I?m not sure about this my dearest. He might still recognise me. He?s a brute!? I squeaked nervously. ?We?ve got the whip hand here,? interjected Azure, ?even if he does recognise you, what can he do. The Damsel?s guns could blow her to kingdom come and that little naval sloop is just a fart in a bottle! Oh Allah! I do believe your brother has been wounded. That last pirate has just stabbed him in the lower belly before he leapt into the water.? Despite the hated memories, Elizabeth?s face paled with concern for her brother. Her head shot above the gunwale as she strove to see what was happening. We all knew that stomach wounds had almost invariably proved fatal, at least until Azure had appeared amongst us with her wonderful knowledge and compassion. ?So what?s the best tactic?? I wondered out aloud. ?Make them come aboard us. Elizabeth?s brother can get better treatment in my laboratory for I have every thing to hand. The other young Chinese eunuch who accompanied the navigator is also an excellent physician. He?s already getting things prepared for the injured anyway. Between us we might be able to save Elizabeth?s brother. It will also reinforce the obvious situation that the Damsel is where the real power lies. Ordering them to come to us just shows everybody who?s boss. That British king?s writ does not run here and our guns make that obvious. That schooner will obviously have only a very young officer of low rank and we all know from the pop of his guns that he?s not even as heavily armed as The Cornish Maid. He?ll just have to swallow his arrogant conceit and accept the reality. Let?s just fire off one full broad side at those beached pirate craft and give everybody a clear signal.? Azure?s suggestion was no sooner said than done. Elizabeth raised her arm and a deafening roar belched from every starboard gun port. A bellow of surprise howled from Trysta?s little schooner for she had just been about to come alongside when the crash assailed her ears. ?You?m stupid bloody varmints. Wh?d?you do that for? My blasted ears?m fuckin ringin!!? Trysta?s curse brought us to our senses. We had all become a little overcharged by the excitement of battle and we had behaved irresponsibly by firing our mighty guns almost through Trysta?s rigging. Fortunately she was just a little abaft our broad side and the aftermost cannonball of the broadside had flayed only one forestay. ?You stupid cunts!!? raged Trysta as she held her hands to her ears. We felt a little stupid as we signaled our apology. All of the Maid?s crew were deafened by the blast and we girls had always seemed more sensitive to loud sudden noises. Trysta clambered aboard looking ready to skewer the lot of us. It was several moments before we calmed her down and her hearing returned. By this time, Davinia had signaled orders to the Naval lieutenant and the merchantman to come aboard. The pinnaces set out with instructions to gather any wounded. End of Chpter 8B ? To Be Continued