“Well, go on, what else happened? How’d you end up on that island? I thought the guards were on to you.”

“We managed to escape during the whole mess. Henry and I helped Ben back to the ship and we sailed for a day before a storm overtook us and wrecked the ship. I was the only survivor, with Ben long-since dead and Henry drowned in the wreck. I woke up half drowned myself on a deserted island. You know the rest.”

“That I do, Casey, that I do. Well, I can’t say I’m not glad to see you again. It’s high time you rejoined us. When was the last time you joined me on a raid?”

I sighed and stood up slowly, still feeling a little weak. Where was Bertha with my supper?

“Dad, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

My father opened a window and leaned out of it. He gestured towards the blue horizon. “It’s all there for us, boy, all for the taking. So many riches yet to plunder.”

“Dad, listen. I’m not a pirate, not now or ever.”

I ducked just in time to avoid the whiskey bottle whizzing overhead.