The Harvester (12 page)

T
he first time was when I was at the halfway point of my career as a Harvester. I already had quite the reputation as one to not be trifled with, and I must admit, I enjoyed it. Harvesters looked up to me, and Underworlders feared me. I thought I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to, and I believed it. The year was 1717 AD and I was on a Spanish trading ship with mostly humans and a crew of my Harvesters in the Caribbean Sea.

Our job was to hunt down and harvest one of the most, if not the most, notorious pirates in the history of piracy—Blackbeard and his crew. They all were code breakers for refusing to not cross over to the After. And let me explain, nobody in literature nor in the film industry got it right when it came to describing Blackbeard. In reality, he was much more heinous, sanguinary, and downright evil. He was so wicked, all thought of him as the devil incarnate. And I can attest to that.

The ocean was crystal blue beauty and eerily calm. The Spaniards were on their way to Port Royal, Jamaica, to trade, and they have no clue what our Harvesters’ true mission was. If they knew, they wouldn’t even allow us aboard.

Unfortunately, during this era of Harvesting, the Agency’s rule on using advanced weaponry was forbidden due to not wanting humans to know of our existence. So we could only use weapons of the time. Which was fine with me because I prefer the blade. I must admit, I don’t like being on the ocean. Too many things can go wrong, and you’re screwed because you’re out in the middle of an unforgiving ocean.

Where do you go to escape? Nowhere, I tell you. However, with that said, back to Blackbeard and his crew. There had been too many times when people thought they had got the upper hand on him and his crew and thought they injured and or killed them. But they survived? How? Like I stated before, only Dead Ones can kill Dead Ones, and with them being Underworlders, well, there’s the answer. That’s where my crew and I come in. When the Hunt papers came into the Agency and they wanted to know who’d take the mission, I jumped at the chance. The Harvester who brings in or kills Blackbeard, hell yeah, I want to be the one! What a name to add to my list of harvested ones.

The last I heard, Blackbeard was in Port Royal, dubbed the wickedest place in the world where brutality, thievery, rape, and murder were everyday occurrences and debauchery, sex for sale, and excessive drinking were expected. This was a pirate’s paradise and has been for many decades since the beginning of piracy. Even being a Harvester sent to apprehend the most feared person in the world would prove to be an intimidating hardship with all of our “lives” on the line. They knew we’re coming for them, and obviously, they knew we’re Harvesters who know they’re trespassing Dead Ones breaking the Agency’s law.

At the time, I wished Vega could be on this Hunt with me. It would make this Harvest not as difficult. But he was on the battlefield front in the siege of Belgrade for Prince Eugene of Savoy. He and several other Harvesters had some Harvesting of souls who were on the wrong side. It’s considered an Austro-Venetian-Ottoman War in which the Prince must win in order to restore the Balance. What most don’t know is Harvesters are personally responsible for reshaping world history for the good of Mankind.

For example, Sir Isaac Newton actually died from mercury poisoning years before his brilliant works and discoveries. But the Agency determined he should be allowed to stay in the Here for him to achieve all that he achieved. Louis Pasteur is another example. He was on the verge of discovering penicillin when he really died. We felt obligated to allow him to stay and do this. Hitler begged and pleaded to the six Heads to allow him to go back to the Here and retry world domination. I think you know their answer. And I have numerous more examples. Point is, Harvesters have always been necessary.

Suddenly, the Spanish ship took a cannonball blast across her stern. I looked across the way and saw a skull and bones black flag of Blackbeard’s ship. The Spanish captain raced for Port Royal, but with the size of his ship and weight of her cargo, Blackbeard’s fast, lighter weight warship gained on us. The Spanish crew weren’t fighters; they were just traders, and that’s the usual target for pirates. So obviously, the crew was terrified. Us Harvesters gripped our sword hilts and prepped for battle when they will eventually board us. Even though it is Blackbeard, I was excited to battle him. I haven’t had a challenging sword battle since I Harvested Genghis Khan in the thirteenth century. Now that was challenging, and when I lopped off his head, it was quite an adrenaline rush.

As I stood and watched Blackbeard’s ship,
Queen Anne’s Revenge
, gaining on us, I began to feel a surge of energy for the clash. However, I realized two of my crew appeared nervous. I sternly looked at them. “You two, listen. Stay focused and alert and remember what we are here to do and we must not fail.”

They nodded to assure me that they are on the same page, but I was not assured in the least. They’re fresh out of the Academy and only have two Hunts under their belts.

Queen Anne’s Revenge
was so close now we could hear the shouts, screams, and threats from the pirates. This is a typical tactic of a pirate in order to scare their opponents. It’s quite effective and usually works to the point of them not even putting up a fight. And sometimes, they’re not even killed. But not with the sadistic Blackbeard. He’ll slice your neck open for simply looking at him wrong.

Blackbeard himself couldn’t be seen and this worried me.

Is this some sort of a ruse? That would be disappointing. I could hear their warship’s black flag flapping in the rising wind. It’s time for battle! My fellow Harvesters and I can smell it in the air. Adventure on the High Sea? No doubt.

“Prepare to be boarded!” one of the pirates yelled at us in a grainy, hoarse tone. “If you don’t put up a fight, ye lives might be saved.”

Our plan was to wait for them to be in the middle of offloading the goods, then attack.
Queen Anne’s Revenge
, very impressive, pulled up abreast of the Spaniards’. The pirates easily leapt from their ship onto ours. They had their swords and daggers in hand and guns draped to their sides. They bullied us and forced us to our knees. They searched us for weapons but don’t find any because we thought ahead of time and knew that they would search us. We hid our swords nearby.

We could smell the rum-soaked, partially drunk pirates as they coral everyone to the stern. But still no Blackbeard. This wasn’t like him. He always made his presence known. They bound us with rope. This was expected.

But with our abnormal strength, this won’t be a problem.

The pirates started to unload all the rum bottle crates, bags of tobacco, various sorts of food, and they even took down our sails for themselves. The cabin’s door opened up, and I was incredibly shocked to see Blackbeard standing in the doorway. How did nobody know he was in there? The Spanish crew showed their fear and intimidation. He’s such an imposing, intimidating figure. The only explanation for him to be in the captain’s cabin was that he made a deal with Blackbeard, so he could make some money and be guaranteed to not be killed. Now for his crew, well, they might not be so lucky. This type of deal has happened many times in the past.

From his long, bushy black beard were little sticks which were lit and smoke emanated from them and surrounds his face. An intimidating factor, no doubt. He said nothing as he stared everyone down, and that’s enough. The mark had made himself present, and I was excited about the Harvest.

His crew was one thing, but the overall goal was Blackbeard.

And now that I finally saw him in person, I thought he would’ve been taller. All these stories and tales of him being taller than all men everywhere. But he made up for that with his wickedness and unquenchable, sanguinary mentality. Also, I noticed his beard was more brown than black. But I suppose that’s how terrifying myths and tales were started. Black is scarier than brown, right? Anyway, I was the leader of this Harvester crew, so it’s my responsibility to pick the right time to attack, and it must be 100 percent perfect timing or we’re dead. I haven’t lost a Harvester under my leadership in over fifty years.

Several pirates searched the whole vessel. This was when I begin to worry because they could find our swords. Waves lapped against both ships harder, and it made everyone rock back and forth. Seagulls now flew overhead, and I’ve always considered this to be an omen, a premonition of sorts, that blood is going to be spilt soon.

“Look what I found,” a pirate hollered.

He leaned over and grabbed a rope and pulled up a large net filled with our swords. I was worried then. Blackbeard took one look and the expression on his face told me that he knew.

“Harvesters! These are Harvester swords,” the pirate said.

“What’s a Harvester?” a Spaniard asked.

Blackbeard rifled him a glare. “Throw him overboard!”

Three pirates snatched him and hurled him off the ship. Then, Blackbeard immediately looked upon all of us. He honed in on me and sniffed. “You. I know you’re a Harvester. I can smell it on you. What’s your name?”

I knew not to tell him my real name because he’ll recognize it and definitely know then. “Jack,” I told him.

“Highly unlikely. Ye a Harvester. But I don’t blame you for lying. I’d do the same thing being in your position. Ye think like a pirate, aye!”

His crew laughed and made fun of me. This didn’t bother me in the least. I was focused on figuring out when’s the best time to make our move and more importantly how. Also what weighed on my mind was a way to prolong what I know Blackbeard did. He sliced your head off very slowly, so he could enjoy seeing you die a slow and painful death. I must think quickly.

“I must admit. I’m a wanted man by the English. Hence, my reason for deception.” Blackbeard smirked and took a stance that let everyone know he’s the one in charge.

“I’m Blackbeard. You being a fugitive wanted by from my own country doesn’t make me think less of you. In fact, it makes me like you a wee bit!”

His crew laughed even harder than before. I knew they were very loyal to him, and this posed a problem for all of us Harvesters. All attention was on me, and this wasn’t the way to prepare an attack on the most heinous person in the world. I must regroup, rethink how we’re going to accomplish this harvest. I only had moments to do so.

“All behold! All Harvesters are marked on the back of their necks. You see I’ve killed a few in me day, so I know,” he told his crew. “Check all of these scallywags’ necks.”

That was unexpected that he knows that. Now we would be discovered, and our plight will be done. The pirates check everyone’s necks.

“Here’s one, Captain,” a scraggily pirate yelled out.

“Gots me one here too, Captain.”

They eventually found all ten of us. Blackbeard scowled at me.

“Now certainly, not all ten of you are wanted by the King. State your business,
Jack
,” he says with a sarcastic tone.

I’ve never been at a loss for words or didn’t know what to do in my life until now. My silence prompted his next move.

“There’s no sense in tossing ’em overboard since Harvesters don’t need to breathe. So”—he draws his sword—“off with their heads! I’ll keep ’em as trophies, mates.”

His crew cheered and drew their swords.

“Now!” I shout to my crew. We simultaneously sprung to our feet and ripped out of our rope constraints. Blackbeard got the jump on me and swung his sword for my throat. I ducked, snatched his dagger from his side sheathe, and stabbed him in the leg. I gathered my wits, scanned my crew’s situation, and I’m angered when I see three of their heads are already rolling across the deck.

I was so filled with ire, I dashed over to the nearest pirate, snapped his neck with ease, and grabbed his sword from his hand before he drops to the deck dead. I moved on to the next pirate, battling one of my crew. I viciously swiped at his neck and lopped off his head. Before I knew it, through my rage-induced haze, I realized I’ve killed eleven pirates, and now, I and the remaining seven Harvesters stood abreast in front of Blackbeard and his thirteen remaining pirates. The Spaniards remained on their knees, watching us like it’s the latest epic action-packed Ridley Scott film.