Birds Have Feathers So They Can Fly
(updated July 24, 2013)
The Jetty, blue night.
"Miss Safura, what are you doing here at this hour?".
"Taking fresh air. What about you Leftenant?"
"Me? Looking for stars. Practicing my navigation skill."
"You love seas, don't you?"
"Aye, I miss the voyages too."
"Typical Blue Coats. What were they call them? Blue Crabs of the Sea?"
"You are some kind of knowledgeable young lady. Impressing."
"Thanks. Tell me."
"Well, Blue Crabs of the Sea - - hmm, it refers to sea men who row a boat. Three men at each side with oars, make the boat looks like a walking crab on the water," explained Leftenant Jon Kaisan.
"That's funny. I never look it that way. Who invented the term?"
"Islanders. The natives of the sea. Our ship set anchor a distance from the shore. We have to reach those islands in boats. That's how they see us coming."
Leftenant Jon Kaisan was a brickman with brown beard. His blue uniform looks worn off. An old cutlass always by his side. He looked battered, shabby and tired like an old lion. Still,he had a deadly look in his eyes.
Miss Safura, the Governor's only daughter, was wearing light sky blue dress. She seldoms travel, spending her youth in a private school in Pearly Harbor.
"I never met an islander. Father told me they are cannibals."
Leftenant Jon Kaisan didn't answer her immediately. Instead, he lifted out a cigar from his pocket. But he didn't lit it.
Miss Safura smiled at his behavior. She was watching the brickman in front of her and waited patiently. He met Leftenant Jon Kaisan a year ago. From him, she listens of adventures and strange stories outside of her little world.
"They are a peaceful tribe of brickmen, Miss. The men are strong and good swimmers. Their women are beautiful . . . and strong too."
"You make me laugh, Jon. Tell me more," asked Miss Safura.
"How about you ask questions and I answer them?" suggest Leftenant Jon Kaisan.
"Okay. Have you encountered monsters before?"
"Monsters?"
"Yeap, big creatures with red eyes, sharp teeth, claws and fire breath," explained Miss Safura.
"Ahah. Fiction," replied Jon.
"That's whatI heard from sailors at the bar."
"Which sailors? Drunken ones? Ba haha ha ," Leftenant Jon Kaisan laughed.
"Maybe you didn't encounter one yet."
"Excuse me Miss,but I've been sailing the sea for nearly twenty years. Never such a creature exist."
"The oceans are big. You never fully exploring it, have you?"
"Trust me, they were just rumors and folktales, to scare away brickmen who are not bold enough to sail a ship."
"Why would someone create such a story?"
"Those were pirate's mind games. A propaganda to discourage young brickmen to join the Blue Coats or work on ships. They want to conquer the seas for themselves. Claims inhabitant islands to stash their loots, hiding themselves from Imperial Forces and build their own home," explained Leftenant Jon Kaisan.
"If that's true, try look at this drawing," Miss Safura showed a piece of paper to Leftenant Jon Kaisan.
"Where did you get this?"asked Jon after examined the picture.
"One of the sailors sold to me for two goldleons. Now you believe me right?"
There was a moment of silence when suddenly Leftenant Jon Kaisan burst with laughter. Miss Safura was shock to see him laughing so loud that tears came out from his eyes.
"What is it, Jon? What's so funny?" asked her.
"This is a parrot, Miss Safura. A tropical bird. Of course it has claws and sharp beak. And this, I believe, is its tounge, not a fire breath," Leftenant Jon Kaisan just couldn't stop laughing.
Miss Safura turned red.
"Oh, shut up."
"Ha ha ha haha ha."
"I'm leaving now."
"Hey Miss, give me two goldleons and I'll get you the real bird."
"Very funny, Jon. Good night."
Miss Safura was leaving without looking back, feeling embarrass for her own silliness. From a distant she heard Leftenant Jon Kaisan sang a song :
'Old parrot sing at the window . . . looking from the house is an old widow . . . la la la ... I don't know anymore."
Suddenly somebody was coughing.
Lt. Jon Kaisan stopped singing but he was as calm as a cat.
"You can come out now,corporal."
Corporal Jazman Kafil appeared with a standard-issue musket on his shoulder. He was a young and tall brickman. Maybe he looked taller as he was wearing a shako hat. He approached Lt. Jon Kaisan, laid down his brown musket and sat behind him.
"I guess there is no point I'm turning you in, Leftenant. By tomorrow morning you'll be outside the lock-up. Again," said the young corporal. He took off his shako hat and comb his rummaged hair with his right hand.
"Thanks, corporal."
"For what?" Corporal Jazman asked.
"For letting us having a brief conversation. Cigar?"offered Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"Uh, Miss Safura? What was she doing out here at this late hour?" Corporal Jazman was hesitate to take the cigar from the leftenant.
"Take it. Have some smoke. You looked stressed. It's not a bribe. Go on." Lt. Jon Kaisan smiled when the young brickman took the cigar.
The corporal smelled the cigar.
"Are you sure about this, Leftenant. It looks expensive. Might burn your pocket," said Corporal Jazman.
"Nah, it's nothing much. I saved it for you from the Captain."
The corporal took out a matchbox from his upper pocket. Lt. Jon Kaisan was watching as Corporal Jazman lit up a match and burn the cigar. He was smoking a few times before coughing. The leftenant slap the corporal's back.
"Sir, I think the Governor might want to see you tomorrow," Corporal Jazman spoke.
Lt. Jon Kaisan took a sip from a bottle before he replied.
"What made you say that?"
"Well, Miss Safura. Parrot. Most probably she will tell her father. Knowing for her eagerness, she might ask the Governor to get her a parrot. A real one. Alive," explained Corporal Jazman.
"So,you overheard us, eh?"
"My apology, sir. But you spoke loudly and I wasn't far away from both of you."
"Hmm. You've got a point there, corporal. But what it has to do with the Governor wanting to see me?"
"You said you can find one only with two goldleons. There is no such tropical bird in this harbor, Leftenant," said the corporal.
"You are right. They can only be found in tropical islands. Do you by any chance know the nearest islander tribe in these waters corporal?' asked Lt. Jon.
"The Sing Song Island. Kahiti tribe lives there. It is the far south of four islands in our region."
"Kahiti tribe? I thought no one live in that island. Have you ever met them before?"
"No. Never been there.They are small band of islanders. Not more than ten people. A fishermen party discovered them while taking shelter from a storm not a long time ago," explained Corporal Jazman as he smoking.
"Hostile? I mean are they friends or foe?"
"So far there is no report on any attack or missing brickman linked to that tribe. They helped the fishermen. Friendly type, but not so welcoming any outsiders. I mean, to them, we are the strangers. Why are you so interested in them? Forgive me, sir for asking. To me, they are savage people, living in palm leaves huts and still using spears and arrows. They don't even wear proper clothing," said the corporal.
"Respect, corporal. They are living souls like us. Everybody has its own way of life. Let me share with you my little experience. Primitive and traditional weapons are powerful, sailor. You can't rely solely on musket and flintlock. At distance, they are effective. But at close quarter battle, this flesh and iron will make you a different of dead or alive brickman," explained Lt. Jon Kaisan while raising his right arm and his left hand patting the cutlass hanging in its scabbard.
"Is it true sir, that the guards in Imperial City are using ancient weapons? Even His Majesty Bodyguards? You've been there, haven't you?" asked the young corporal.
"Aye. These ancient weapons you called - swords, lance and halberd, together with shields, crossbows and body armors. I was told that no firearms are allowed in the city. They only using their strength and muscles when engaging in combats. The city itself is protected with thick walls. I don't think our cannon balls could penetrate them."
"Woa, I surely want to be there to see them myself one day," Corporal Jazman looked excited.
"With you still wearing this blue uniform, I doubt about it."
"That's not fair, Leftenant. I am an Imperial Guard. They wouldn't put the word 'Royal' before 'Blue Coats' just for fun. I, we serve the Kingdoms," protest the corporal.
"Fair my flintlock butt. It wasn't me who made the rules. The city is full with nobles, wizurais and governors, rich merchants and only top brass can be inside the walls, and that is with invitations or with official duties. Soldiers and sailors like us, well we can go as far as the Market Garden located outside the city walls. That's already a wonderful place to be and beyond our pocketful of goldleons to spend with," said the leftenant.
"I could see them now. Colorful tents and shops. "
"Corporal?"
"Yep, the smell of smoke perfume. Roasted lambs, chicken pies, and the girls carrying yellow flowers in her basket."
"Corporal, you alright, sailor?"
"I'm in the Inn's room now. Wow, the bed looks comfy and warm. Feel like I haven't sleep well for ages since I joined the Blue Coats."
Lt. Jon Kaisan grabbed the corporal by his collar, shaking him like a sack of potatoes. Yet Corporal Jazman smiled like an idiot with his eyes rolling up aimlessly.
"You greenhorn. Is this your first time of smoking? Heaven's Lord! Was it the cigar?" Lt. Jon Kaisan picked up the cigar dropped on the jetty's wood floor.
He smelled the cigar stick that was still lighted up with puffy smoke came out from it tip.
"Belladonna," he muttered to himself.
"You cunning bastard! I should have you handcuffed and let you sleep in the cell!" yelled the corporal.
"Wait, it wasn't me. I didn't know the cigar was drugged," the leftenant tried to explain.
But Corporal Jazman was to weak to retaliate, and a moment later he dozed off, snoring.
By that time, Lt. Jon Kaisan realized what was happening. Slowly he let the young brickman lie on the floor. He made a hasten moves to reach the corporal's musket when suddenly a couples of dashing footsteps charged in like running buffaloes.
"Halt!" Roared a voice. "Stepped aside from it and don't try something stupid," said the voice again.
The leftenant turned to see the attackers.
"Sergeant Major?" Lt. Jon Kaisan just couldn't believe his eyes. Before he spoke another words, he felt something hard knocked the back of his left knee. He was forced kneeling before his capturers.
"Shut up and put your hands behind your head!" another voice commanded him. This time it's from a younger brickman.
"Fart off, I'm not a banana tree," Lt. Jon Kaisan turned against the young brickman. There stood a Red Jacket Guard, holding a musket. The leftenant felt a sudden rage within him. His face turned as red as boiled lobster. He smacked the musket pointed at him with his left hand. The guard off balanced as the leftenant attacked him with the burnt cigar in his right hand. The guard screamed in agony when his neck was pressed with the hot cigar.
"Stop it, Leftenant!" Sergeant Major Sabir Miler shouted.
"I'm not done with you yet," Lt. Jon Kaisan went berserk as if he was a wounded lion. He pulled out his cutlass and tried to swing it at the fallen guard but it was blocked by another cutlass.
"So it is you," said Lt. Jon Kaisan. "What happen to the fishing plan?" he asked.
"Trip is cancelled, mate."
"So, what now? Fencing lesson? Like old times?"
"You know I always beat you. Stop this childish game. Just surrender, Jon," Captain Sadat demanded. He looked serious.
"I don't understand," said Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"Intelligent business. The convoy was a decoy. We are here for you, mate," told Captain Sadat Zabir.
"Should I shoot him, Captain?" Sergeant Sabir Miler was already withdrew his flintlock pistol.
"No! This suppose to be covert operation. We don't need to wake up the whole harbor with the gunshot noise. You there, on your feet and get the handcuffs from that sailor," the captain command the fallen Red Jacket Guard.
"What do you want from me, Sadat?"
"Shut up. Drop your weapon, and address him as Captain, sir!" warned the Sergeant Major.
"It's not me. It was the King. In the name of The King, drop your weapon and give yourself in. Forsake Jon, I'm not going to hurt you. Just let me do my job here, mate," Captain Sadat tried to persuade his friend.
"Very well then," Lt. Jon Kaisan threw his cutlass on the floor.
"It's not because I'm not fighting. Just you mentioned His Majesty," added him.
The Red Jacket Guard handcuffed the leftenant quite rashly. He seemed mad about the burnt mark on his neck.
"What about Jazman?" asked Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"He will be alright in the morning. I know he's a good sailor. Let just leave this behind so that he will not be blamed by his superior. Sergeant Major, take his musket too. We'll make this looks like fugitive scene," as he spoke, Captain Sadat dropped the drugged cigar at the lying corporal.
"Poor block. He must be hating me forever after he wakes up in the morning."
"I don't think you will be meeting him again after this," said the captain.
"What's this? Is it necessary?" asked Lt. jon Kaisan when the guard wanted to blindfold and gag him.
"Sorry mate, standard procedure. Now lets move out!" the captain ordered his brickmen.
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