Peter The Great, of Orange. Usurper on the Throne. Sergey Soloviev

grabbed the boatswain by the hair, threw him to his knees, and chopped off his head. And he did it all in such a way that a stream of blood from the unfortunate man’s body drenched the rest of the Englishmen. They tried to jump up, frightened and stunned. But they fell on the deck, under the blows of the pirate’s terrible fists.

      – You wouldn’t dare!

      – Yes, I would!

      Then the next to lose his head was the junior officer of the “Seagull”. And Peter threw his head overboard in a rage. He stood in front of the three unfortunates, and the blood from the blade of the axe continued to drip onto the deck.

      – I’ll tell you everything if you let me go? – the cook cried out in despair, – will you really let me go? – the unfortunate man repeated again.

      Peter could promise anything now. This was not the first time this had happened.

      – Yes, I will let you go… – I saw where the gold is, I’ll show you the secret place. I spied it when the captain was having dinner. There’s a lot there, enough for you…

      – Well, let’s go, you’ll show me, – Peter answered kindly, and stuck the axe into the deck at the feet of the tied Englishmen.

      The cook, with his hands still tied, entered the cabin and pointed to the picture on the wall. Having broken a couple of souls there, Peter actually took possession of the heavy chest lying there, bound with iron. The key he had found on the captain Jacob Cooper, whom he had killed, came in handy here. He opened it and was simply stunned. It looked like no less than ten thousand Venetian ducats! Van Mush, in excitement, wiped his suddenly sweaty forehead with his bloody palm and smiled, showing his white, strong teeth.

      – Will you let me go? – the cook asked hopefully.

      – Of course I will, my friend. Right now.

      The captain locked the chest with a key, which he hung around his neck, and led the now happy Englishman to the side of the ship. It was noticeable how he cheered up, counting on a quick release. But then Peter grabbed him in his arms and threw him into the sea. All that was heard was the sea splashing under the weight of the unfortunate man’s body. Peter van Mush also dragged the remaining ones to the side.

      – Help! After all, we discovered where the gold is hidden! – the frightened merchant shouted.

      – What is it, captain? What gold? – one of the pirates, the sailor Heike Blum, immediately ran up.

      – They are lying, Heike, – and Peter gave the merchant a farewell slap, and threw him overboard.

      – No, Heike. It is your captain who is lying! – the English navigator laughed, – he has made a mountain of gold here!

      Here Peter threw both prisoners into the sea. He looked around, and there was no one nearby.

      – Heike, let’s go, I’ll show you. Maybe we’ll find gold there! – and the captain led the sailor into the cabin, – Here, look, – and pointed to the chest.

      Heike Blum smiled, tried to lift him up, nodded his head. But, to his misfortune, he turned his back to the captain, and the latter instantly drove his dagger under Blum’s left shoulder blade. The body began to sag, Peter looked almost affectionately into the pirate’s still living eyes, and almost tenderly said:

      – There’s not much here. This is just mine…

      ***

      Peter woke up with difficulty, the rum he had drunk in the evening was making itself felt. He moved away from the woman, the best lady of this tavern in Curacao, Mademoiselle Madeleine. She charged a ducat a night, but she was worth it, as Peter appreciated yesterday and today.

      And then, he dreamed that the cannons began to speak. The heavy carronals thundered, so much so that his brig shook from the volleys. He ran to the deck, to the gunner, but he only pushed him away and he fell.

      – Well, Peter van Mush! You will not be hanged here, but in Amsterdam! – the pirate heard a scream, and grabbed the key on his neck.

      In an instant he woke up in horror, and opened his eyes wide. In front of his bed stood the Herr Governor himself with his guards, and behind them peered the face of Christopher Plumel, his sailor. – Where is my chest, where is my chest! – the desperate pirate kept shouting, with his hands in shackles but no pants, – I am not guilty of anything!

      – You robbed the English ship “Seagull” and sent it to the bottom, killed the entire crew. You knew, you idiot, that you can’t hurt seagulls?

      And Christopher Plumel stood hugging Madeleine, and next to them was Peter’s treasured chest. They both looked happy.

      – Just let’s not ask in Amsterdam, my dear, – the woman whispered, – everyone there knows that I’m a whore. Now the New World is open to people like us. And we’ll go there with this gold.

      – It’s better to take a bill of exchange, my dear. There is a smart Jewish banker here, and his brother lives in New Amsterdam. We’ll do everything cleanly and safely.

      – You are so smart…

      ***

      A prison cell is not a very good place for a nobleman, even a pirate, as Van Mush thought, lying on a mattress stuffed with grass. A small window covered with thick iron bars let in a little light, and the shackles on his hands and feet contributed to the philosophical mood of the mind.

      – In the end, – the pirate said to himself, – every person is in prison. Of his own limitations, fears. I, however, was deprived of such moods. And, therefore, even in prison I am absolutely free! – he had already shouted.

      Which was good, he was the only one bristling in the cell, and there was no need to try to communicate with some stranger, probably absolutely unpleasant. But then, interrupting such thoughts, the iron door opened, and two very richly dressed men entered the cell.

      – Oh, gentlemen? Are you really put in this prison? – asked the pirate.

      – No, Peter van Mush. We are here of our own free will.

      – Oh, really? I don’t really understand such a lofty speech, I’ve forgotten everything… This is not an orchard with apple trees, but a prison.

      – It’s wonderful that you haven’t lost your sense of humor here. Do you know that you will be executed in a week? And not here, but in England, as a robber? Quartered, I think? Am I right? – asked one of them of the other.

      – Exactly so, – continued the other, – or, you will agree to difficult work and will be richly rewarded. And the matter is not very difficult. By the way, do you like the theater? – and for some reason the stranger laughed.

      – Return ten thousand Venetian ducats, they were stolen from me, – the captain recalled, – for starters. And then we’ll talk.

      – You’ll get it. And much more… You’ll have to play the Tsar of Muscovy at the shipyard for six months. It’s not an easy task, but the reward will be amazing. Well, actually, you have nothing more to lose, and you can gain a lot. In addition, you are an obvious adventurer, and if your talents are not overestimated, you can become the equal of Kar the Great.

      – What? – Van Mush laughed, – gentlemen, is this a carnival? And I participate in it as Pierrot? Or, perhaps, Harlequin? It’s good that it’s not Malvina!

      – Damn, damn witty, – the other agreed, and dabbed his eyes with a cambric handkerchief.

      Both guests laughed, or perhaps not the guest, but the true owner of this prison. One of them, in a fit of laughter, even slapped the other on the shoulder. But then he quickly adjusted the lace of his cuffs. Lovingly and attentively.

      – The main thing, Peter, is not to become