“Hey what is taking so long?” yelled the head slaver. Hearing no response he walked out of the back door. As soon as he turned the corner, he was grabbed in a tight choke-hold. Coconut and three pirates held five of the slavers at gun point. Coconut pressed a knife to the neck of the head slaver, and walked him back to the dungeon door.
The other slavers turned to run out of the front doors and were met by Black Caesar and the rest of his pirates.
“You jungle…!” the slaver spat.
His words were cut short by a flintlock pistol ball in the head.
Black Caesar blew smoke out of the barrel of his pistol. “I have heard enough from white men outside of Africa; I will not hear them speak when I’m in my homeland!”
Who are you?
I be Black Caesar, an African War Chief, turned 18th-century pirate. For nearly a decade, I raided ships from the Florida Keys. I was one of the surviving members of Blackbeard’s crew following his death at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard in 1718. Caesar’s Rock, one of three islands located north of Key Largo, is named in my honor and is the present-day site of his original headquarters. Alas, I’m retired now, though.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
A man should have immense size, immense, strength and immense intelligence.
Like you?
Exactly like me!
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A woman should have immense…I’d better not say, children might read this! Seriously, a woman should possess as much intelligence as a man; as much heart, too. She should be able to hold her own in a fight, while remaining as sweet as honey, I say.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Africa is my greatest love. The Sea often competes with her for my attentions and Adventure is a fine mistress I visit from time-to-time.
What is your most treasured possession?
My freedom. After that, my ship.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
There is nothing lower than a man or woman deprived of their freedom; deprived of their culture, their gods and their land.
Who are your favorite writers?
I am partial to the scribe Jeff Carroll. He is writing my memoirs. There are many great writers. My favorites are all in the Rococoa anthology, a great book about my adventures.
Not just your adventures, there are 13 other heroes’ stories in the Rococoa anthology, too.
What?! Jeff Carroll told me different. I’ll have to pay him a visit after this interview.
What is your greatest regret?
That the Rococoa anthology isn’t all about me.
It is still a great anthology, though.
Aye. I have heard much about its magnificence.
What is your motto?
Be hearty, be hardy, rest hardly.
Check out Jeff Carroll’s story The Adventures of the Black Star in the Rococoa anthology. Available now!
Chronicles of Harriet 