Legends of the Cloud Sailors

"Look at the clouds today, a perfect day for sailing," Captain Arty Arbuckle stated.

They flowed past the ship as it sailed in the sun's setting.   Each day above the earth was the life of a cloud sailor.  Only the clear sky and balloon sails could fulfill such a dream. The sky was the new home and their own set of kingdoms.   Each day was another day amongst the clouds. The crew worked fervently on the ship.   The kingdom of High Britain had some clear weather as the bright horizon came.   Other ships passed as the trading routes were open to all, including the awful pirates.   When more ships were out, there was less chance of invasion.  This route has been traveled so many times without incident.  His cargo of his father's coffee was becoming rather popular.  Many pirates were now looking for his ship, but Arty avoided them.

The dock of Brenknock was ahead as the clouds cleared in the distance. His goods sold there rather well last season.  Arty put on his best suit as his crew released air from balloons as an opening appeared on the docks.  The weather was thick with clouds, and the cargo was ready for this place.   The old wooden deck was much worse as the captain disembarked his vessel.  The clouds had hidden so much from this kingdom's prosperous port.   It looked like the low kingdom sights that Arty wanted to leave so much.  The merchant was supposed to meet him that day, but the pub was almost empty as the town seemed to have worsened.   A man stepped out of the shadows as the city was vacant of all its inhabitants.  

"Who enters here after such an attack," the voice commanded.

"It is a merchant looking to sell my goods for sale," Arty Arbuckle replied.

"I am a pirate hunter from the government and looking for one the worst, Shamrock Sam O'Malley," the man answered.

"When was he here last that I might avoid such a fiend," Arty questioned the official.

"Since he was not where you came from, he must be out to the other ports that are very vulnerable," the official responded.

Both just looked at each other in dismay that so much was gone.  Most of the residents were either in hiding or left for another city.  The attack from the henchmen of Shamrock Sam was Danger Dack and Red-eyed Jack.  The shops were pillaged as the pirates would do when the ports were full of cargo.  Sam was a merchant pirate but was wanted in all the kingdoms of the clouds.  Skeptical of each other, they walked around what remained. 

"I missed him by very little time, but maybe you can help," the official asked.

"Help is another question, as many do not like us like you mislabeling our ships," Arty replied.

"A signal is all I need to stop this menace from destroying another place," The official reminded him.

Arty just walked off and looked at the pirate hunter as he returned to his ship.  A flare was handed to him at the dock as he was about to leave. 

"Just in case you are in trouble, I am a good ally on your side," the pirate hunter suggested.

Arty took the flare as he boarded his ship, with no sales profits.  His crew was ready to unload the coffee boxes as it was announced that the next port would have to do that.   All the young and old crew just stared as the clouds finally cleared and revealed the devastation.  Arty's first mate, Albert Rance, sauntered over to console the loss of such a lovely place.   This was one of his favorites for some leave, but now it must be rebuilt.    The other crew members were scrambling to place the boxes back in the cargo hold before the ship could depart from the port.  

"Keep an eye out, lads, for scallywags, especially that of Shamrock Sam O'Malley," Arty conveyed.

The journey to the next port was riddled with fear, and being killed and robbed weighed on the cloud sailors' heads.  The merchants just wanted to transport their products safely across the clouds.   The stories of when pirates had not discovered this route were rampant, but very few alive were to remember it.  The weather remained calm as the day continued with nowhere to go.    As the storms in the distance came, the crew was glad not to lose the ship to lightning or torrential rain pour, drowning anyone.  Falling off the boat would only mean certain death.  It was a long, difficult life but one of adventure for those who chose it.  The crew's eyes were waning as darkness came into the night sky.   A song came over the men as they retreated to below deck.   The watch sat in the crow's nest, watching closely for any danger on night clouds.  The song was sung into the night as some slept while others drank.

We sail the sea of clouds beyond human reach

Forbade the solid land to the unknown seen

Live the adventure of sailing in the sky

Sail the clouds, and the sun goes bye

This is the frontier that we have chosen

Sailing in the sky above the sea below

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The sky was darker as they approached another open port that was less devastating than the last.  Each day was wearing on the cloud sailors' bodies. Arty took the last spot on the port before Captain Grause of High Germaine could take it.   Though those two have never gotten along, this time is no different.   This was a better trip as the merchant arrived on the dock.   Arty was much better received and was glad to unload the coffee in this port.   The pirates had not been there, so it was a safe place to dock as the men enjoyed some time off the ship.   Arty walked around as he found another merchant to buy the last coffee that was sold.   It was an excellent day to get out despite the storm threat.   Captain Puffington greeted Arty with a smile as when he had visited his lands.   Captain LaRouse, aka Frenchy, was also in port on the same day.  They all heard about Brenknock and Shamrock Sam being on the loose after escaping air prison.   All wanted him recaptured, but the pirate hunters had no luck.  Each had their own country but were friends in the sea of clouds.   It was a rather long day, but the ship was docked, and the pirates were nowhere to be seen.  This was a smaller place, but the crews were delighted to see the pubs and enjoy the time off.  The weather did stay off as the celebration began for many to have some pay for some fun. Arty, Puffington, and Frenchy enjoyed the drink as they settled for the night in town.  Their long journey could be a nice distraction. The red in the sky relieved the whole town with only a few fried buildings after the previous storm.  The next day, the crew was to sail to the next port and sell even more.  As the bright stars encircled the sky world and slowly put the beauty of such a place.

Half-drunken sailors returned to their ships the morning after for their travels across the clouds. The storms were clearing out as they embarked on the next port.   The sun was bright as the balloons pulled the ships north to the port of Gaulsmith.    The clouds were thick but kept the light colors as this dangerous trip. The pirate was still out there and was seen at times.  Arty calmed the men as it seemed too quiet on the trip.  The lack of ships around you signifies that the attack was much more imminent. This was the longest part of the journey, but the deliveries had to be made to this last port before returning to pick up more cargo.  It was the life of a cloud sailor, but all knew the risks.  

The men hurried on the deck despite the little sleep some had gotten. They released and added air as needed to gain and slow down.  The deck of wood was agile in such a humid environment.   All wore their jackets, as the heat was never going to last despite the heat being available that high in the sky.   It was creeping along as no one could see a thing.  A clear day would have been better, at least for this voyage.   The dead silence was necessary not to give yourself away from any noise. You want your enemies not to see you or hear you.  It was still a long trip as the compasses were leading the way.  The clouds were not letting up as they continued to their end place. 

 Phillip Granville yelled from the crow's nest, "A ship is coming out the east."

"Grab your weapons, boys; they might be pirates," Arty announced. 

Each stood at his battle station to defend their fellow sailors and cargo.  The hope of a friendly ship was wanted.  The boat came through the clouds with a shamrock on the flag.   They felt fear as they pulled out their pistols to defend the much smaller cargo ship.  The cannon blasted and ripped through the netting, and the pirate ship moved faster toward Arty's. 

"Fast as you can, boys. We may be able to outrun them," Arty declared. 

Both ships raced in the thick clouds, trying to avoid each other but seemed to fail.  Shamrock Sam was on his tail and had a second ship somewhere to entrap any fleeing boat.   Cannons were glaring on both vessels, and shots were exchanged.  The rumble in the clouds could have been mistaken for a storm.   The clouds were lighting up as the battle continued.    Arty held down his own as the more giant ship kept their distance. Suddenly, another boat came from the opposite end of the fight and boarded Arty's ship, The Wind Whisperer.    The merchant ship was surrounded by pirates and taken by them.  Arty stood with his men and the supple of Arbuckle coffee.   All the men were gathered in the ship's center with all the pirates.  Danger Dack and Red-Eyed Jack, scud-looking men with scares all over them, came on with their smirks as they looked at the coffee supply.

"Well, Sam is going to like this one, boys; he loves coffee," Danger Dack announced.

"These sell very well in other markets, and you boys would make great pirates," Red-Eyed Jack replied.

"Or else fall straight to earth, going overboard," replied Danger Dack.

"Who is the captain of this vessel, lads?" Shamrock Sam asked, entering the ship with a scar across his face. 

"I am Captain Arthur Arbuckle and the captain of this vessel," Arty announced, stepping before his men.

Shamrock Sam just laughed at the clean-shaven captain and kept dressed.  His eyes shifted towards the ship, and he admired its agility to sail through the clouds the way it did.  His smile rose, and he just chuckled.

"You know a pirate named Archie Arbuckle, maybe a relative perhaps," Shamrock Sam replied.

"Well, he is my uncle, sir, and well cut off from the family," Arty replied. 

"Well, he owes me something, and I will collect with you, lad," Shamrock Sam announced. 

"Keep the cargo on the ship, and we will add another to our pirate fleet," Shamrock Sam said.

All the men could do was watch as the uncivilized thieves walked around, looking for the right time to kill them. The pirates were in control, and Arty simply held face but tried to outsmart the ruffians of the sky. Arty was moved to the ship's side, away from his crew, as they were to determine their own fate.   Arty remembered one thing and with a drop of the flare to the floor. The pirates hustled both men and cargo to the bottom of the ship, except for Arty.    When Shamrock Sam looked away, he stomped, and the flare flew.   Arty was hoping the pirate hunter would be around to see it.  No guarantees to his survival.    Sam turned around and just stared with his blackened teeth.   

"What was that, coward," Sam sneered.

"Nothing, sir, just some loose gunpowder," Arty replied.

"It better be, or else I will kill you and your entire crew, then steal your ship," Sam snarled worse.

The ship was done, and Arty was away from his men.  Arty started to play with ropes, but nothing would bring down this awful pirate and his vengeful schemes.  Fear was left, but even death was not the worst, as many were willing to go overboard. Arty could only wish he had just turned around, but it was too late now.  A faint shadow appeared near the ship, but Arty kept that to himself. 

"Hey, you drafty scallywag of a being, come and prove yourself to be the worst," Arty screamed at Shamrock Sam.

Sam just slowly turned around as he was ready for the kill.

"Maybe I will not leave you alive for a trade with Angry Archie," Sam replied and held Arty near the end of the ship.  The laughs of the pirates became evil as Arty knew it was over and his life was done.    The clouds were still dense, and seeing even on the deck was impossible.   Arty slowly moved his foot, tipping Sam over the edges with him.  The silence of such a stunt could be seen.  Suddenly, the rope was moving from the ship, and a large clunk was heard under the boat.   Danger Dack ran over to see a pirate hunter's ship, and Sam was injured on its deck.   

"Hello, Samuel O'Malley, I have been searching for you for quite some time," the pirate hunter gleefully stated.

Arty was just hanging in the air as the rope stopped any fall. The pirates started scrambling back to their ships, but it was too late; the crew of pirate hunters was waiting for them. Arty's crew quickly pulled him back to the boat. The clouds started to clear as the overboard Sam lay on the deck chained and dragged down to the hull.  

"Ah, I will make you pay for this Arbuckle," Sam screamed as he was taken away.

Arty was limping on a bench, but he was alive and free.  He just smiled and was glad the pirate hunter came through this time.  The pirates' ships were sailed with the pirate catcher.

"I owe you one, Arbuckle, not with your uncle either," the pirate hunter waved as they sailed off.

The quest continued, and the sky was safe, at least for now.  This time, Arty could just lean back and enjoy the trip sitting down. All Arty could see as they traveled was that Danger Dack took off and jumped overboard, only to be roped from going too far off the ship.