Hidden from view, Oliver witnessed the greed of the pirates and the impact it had on the peaceful village of Verynice
Chapter 2 Excerpt: Oliver Oddsocks Pirates Treasure
When the boat was safely on the beach, the crew took shovels out and then a wooden chest. All of them walked toward the tree line just off the beach, all except the two scrawny men doing their best to drag the obviously heavy chest after them. The whole time the big man called the two with the heavy burden lazy and good-for-nothing louts.
Polti whispered, “That big guy is Captain William Francis Pennyweather Fitzgerald the 3rd. We call him Silly Willy Penny, but only behind his back. He is a mean fellow. He punishes his men by setting the dinner table and eating all their food, only leaving them with one piece of bread with butter and jam, and one sausage if they weren’t too bad. Oh, I shudder at the cruelty. I myself am quite content with one piece of bread with butter and jam, well, and maybe a few seeds and nuts if I can get them. There are lovely fruit and nuts on this island…”
“Polti? Can we stay focused?” Oliver again had to interrupt. “Are they your problem?”
“Oh dear, no! What those two unfortunate men are hauling is my problem.” Polti stopped talking. Captain Silly Willy Penny was calling loudly for Polti. “Polti. My sweet, where are you? Come to poppa.”
“He seems to like you.” Oliver smiled.
“That he does. He calls me his pretty girl. Very annoying because I am a boy. Don’t let these pretty feathers fool you. Parrot boys have bright colorful feathers and parrot girls have gray feathers with a bit of blue, very attractive in its simplicity. It keeps the ladies safe and hidden in the jungle. We boys, on the other hand are attractive but a colorful target for a lot of toothy types. Not me, I live on a ship. Anyway, it’s what’s in the chest that is my problem. These pirates are called privateers. Their Queen gives them a commission, an order to rob other ships at sea, splitting the loot with the Queen. Nasty business. But ole Captain Willy Penny broke the rules when he robbed the peaceful fishing village of Verynice, right across the straight here. It was wrong. He bullied and scared all the people to give them all their money and treasure.”
“That’s why I’m here.” A voice from behind them startled Oliver and Polti. They both turned around. There stood a brown-skinned girl, wearing leather clothing, a big belt with a sword attached, and a red scarf tied around her head.