Lord Fred warns the imperiled ship

Now a Haspan merchant ship was in the path of these dastardly pirates. Lord Fred bore the simple shopkeepers that manned the vessel no ill will and knew he must escape to warn them somehow. But how? A chain wrapped around his ankles was looped across the shower pole. So was the chain that held his wrists tight.

But hold. The shower pole, thick and tall, had an end, where buckets of water were upturned over dirty men to wash them clean. Also, the pirate men were not paying attention, preparing to raid the merchants.

Fred backed up. The chains gave for about a foot, preventing further progress. Fred slid the links through his hand until he grasped the chain a few scant inches from where it touched the pole. He rose his arms high, and tugged back against the wood. The pole held. Fred tugged back farther. He leapt up, planting the sides of his legs against the pole. Then keeping them pressed tight, he raised his hands, then pulled back against the wood. He heaved his lower body up and slammed his knees against the pole again. He was higher! Fred scurried upward and in seconds, came to the bend in the shower device. He simply looped his chains over them and pushed off with his feet. The ankle chain was flicked over the bends in the pole with centimeters to spare. Fred execetuted a mid-air flip and landed on his feet, now free.

Naturally, that was when he was spotted. An unshaven giant leapt off a higher deck, roaring, his sword out and swinging. Fred laid back on the hot smelly deck. An expression of confusion crossed the dullard's face, then he swung his sword down. Fred planted his hands on the deck and pushed himself backwards. As planned, the blade sliced through the chains and buried itself in the wood. Fred kicked sideways with his right foot. The man slammed to the ground.

Fred flung himself to his feet and drew the sword out of the deck. By now, many more men had spotted him and were charging his way.
But they charged down the stairwells. Lord Fred ran for the railing the original brigand had crossed and lept upwards. He caught a pole with one hand and drew himself up and over in an eyeblink. Now he faced the rest of the deck. The steering wheel up front, the entrance to below and just yards in front him, the mast, where the majority of sails unfurled.
A small man in black charged at him. Fred parried his blade, then lashed out with a chain. It whipped across his eyes, blinding him. He backed off, crying out. Fred spun, lashing out with a fist. It cracked agains the nose of a freckled red-hair. He stumbled back, dazed and bloody.
Fred considered leaping for the railing, but he was equal distance from both and men blocked each way. Two men charged from opposite directions. Fred rolled forward, planted both hands and swept his right foot back and out. The attacker stumbled over it, his weapon pointed straight out. Fred heard a muffled scream as he turned around. A smaller man had been run straight through by the one Fred tripped. The bloody blade glinted in the sun.
Fred ran around the main mast. He had to get to a better spot. The door to below swung open and a negroid man charged stepped forward. Fred stepped left, then slammed into the door with his right shoulder. The negroid bounced down the stairs, making no cries at all.
Fred headed down the middle of the ship then leapt a swinging blade that came out of nowhere. Fred hacked the swordsman's arms, causing him to drop the weapon.
Fred continued his mad dash down the length of the ship. He had a plan now, to steer the ship off course just a tad. Hopefully a smart merchant will understnad.
Blades swung at him as he ran. Gaffs jabbed at his feet and poles swung his way. Lord Fred was pushed to the limit as he dodged, rolled and parried.

Two men understood Fred's plan and ran to block the wheel. They swung in tandem as Fred stopped in front of them. He flicked his blade up and deflected both high. Then he barrled through, shoving the two aside. Fred spun as they swung at him. He crouched and sliced across four ankles. Then men howled in pain. Fred rose and landed a round house left on two chins. The men tipped backwards, out of the fight.

Fred grabbed the wheel and...it was locked. A chain had been looped through it, attached to a boulder so large Fred knew he could not move it. What was this?
Fred realized that it was a security system. Slaves must hold the rock while the ship was in motion. Or there was some other explanation. Fred did not have to time to ponder. He turned and flung his sword over the heads of the advancing men. The fake Haspan flag fluttered to the deck, it's supporting rope cleaved in two.

Now Fred faced a horde of angry pirates.

1. Fred leapt over the side, hoping not to be sucked under the wash of the ship.
2. Fred dove into battle, easily taking the sword out of the hands of the nearest man.
3. Fred prepared to dive into the hoard of pirates.

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