Gary Beck, Pirate Spring: a Novel of Haiti
excerpt
Pirate Spring: a Novel of Haiti Publisher: P u r p l e U n i c o r n M e d i a Date: J u n e 1 1 , 2 0 2 5 Length: 3 3 2 p a g e s ISBN-1 0 : 1 9 1 7 4 5 0 3 5 4 ; ISBN-13: 9 7 8 - 1 9 1 7 4 5 0 3 5 5 |
Haitian Crisis
Big Jean looked at the unhappy faces of his fellow village councilors and nodded to Marie Ange. As she stood to speak he concealed a smile, thinking about how he couldn’t get her to admit that they once made love when they were both students at the school of the Dedicated Sisters. There were some impatient grumblings from some who did not want to hear more bad news, but he quelled them with a stern glance.
Marie Ange, short, petite, in her late forties, still maintained a youthful prettiness, despite years of suffering and privation that afflicted all the villagers.
“I know we are all tired of hearing more promises broken, but I must present the monthly report. Dr. Nyere, from Doctors Without Borders, apologized for the lack of penicillin. He says he will try again in the next requisition period.” This was an expected disappointment, but there were no complaints, since the doctor was well-liked for his fluent french, as well as respected for caring about his patients.
“Miss Chandra, from UNICEF, does not know why the allocated shipments of rice, peas, powdered milk, cereal and cooking oil have not been delivered for the children.” Marie Ange imitated Miss Chandra’s stilted English. “I do not understand the difficulty. The food arrived. It was packed for shipping. But no one seems to know where it is.”
The brief laughter gave a moment of relief from the anger and frustration that affected all of them.
“I will let you know if she finds the food before our children starve to death.”
Big Jean frowned at the bitter remark, but didn’t react since he felt the same way.
“The one good thing I can tell you is that Robert (she gave his name the french pronunciation), our American volunteer teacher from the Peace Corps, says the children are doing excellently in mathematics. If our country ever has jobs in the future, our children will be well qualified. He also said he will continue to request computers from American companies for use in the classroom. Questions?”
When no one responded, Big Jean thanked her for her report and she sat down. He suppressed his anger at the usual lack of sustenance and asked:
“Is there any more business for the council?”
He waited a minute and was about to conclude the meeting, when an invited guest stood up..
“I would like to speak, Big Jean.”
As Etienne Metelus faced the council, several members started to object, but Louis Arnout, a coarse, aggressive bully, only controlled by Big Jean, who he had feared since grade school, shouted:
“Only council members are permitted to speak. Sit down.”
Etienne, a slim, handsome, clean shaven young man in his early twenties, turned to Big Jean.
“I mean no disrespect to the council, but the same thing happens at every meeting. Our circumstances grow worse, the promised help never arrives and the reports are more depressing....”
“That is not your business,” Louis shouted.
“But it is. I am a member of this village. So is my family. We suffer along with everyone else.”
Big Jean liked the bright young man who had left college in America and returned to help his family when his father died in the great earthquake on January 12, 2010.
“Do you have something practical to suggest?”
“I do. Since no one else will help us and no one else seems to care if we live or die, I believe we must look out for ourselves....”
“What a surprise,” Louis said scornfully. “Look out for ourselves. Let’s not waste any more time on this prophet.”
“One moment,” Big Jean said. “No one else has any ideas. What do you propose, Etienne?”
“We should become pirates,” and he stared at the amazed council defiantly.
Louis laughed. “What foolishness. You want us to hoist the pirate flag and
hunt treasure ships?”
“No. You’ve all heard of the Somali pirates? We should learn from them, but do it our way.”
There was a long silence, then everyone shouted at once, deriding the idea, calling him crazy. Big Jean waited until some of the clamor died down, then raised his arms and called for quiet.
“It seems young Etienne has thought about our problems and has an idea. Perhaps even a plan. Is that possible, Etienne?”
“Yes. If you will permit me to explain....”
“This is nonsense,” Louis yelled. “I have better things to do with my time,” and he stood up to leave.
“Sit down, you windbag,” Yvette Mylove, a tall, brawny, jovial-looking woman in her late 40’s, said forcefully: “You’ve always been long on noise, short on sense. Give Etienne a chance to tell us his idea. No one else has anything to contribute. Let us listen.”
Big Jean nodded approvingly. “Tell us what you are thinking, Etienne.”
“Please accept my apology if I have offended anyone. This is not my intent.... Since I returned from America, I have seen our children become weaker and weaker from lack of nutrition. At first I was angry with the council, thinking they did nothing to help us. Then I realized they couldn’t do anything, because they had neither money nor power. I tried talking to the aid agencies and whoever I could reach in the government. They either had nothing to give, or didn’t care....”
A murmur of agreement rose and they looked at Etienne more closely. They saw a fiery young man, burning with anger and listened more carefully.
“It became clear to me that since no one else will help us, we must do something ourselves, or watch everyone die of hunger. I considered all the fine ideas they taught me in America, where they have everything to help those in need. They wouldn’t work here, because we have nothing, except good people who have been abandoned....”
More voices uttered approval.
“I found myself thinking about Somalia, whose people are even worse off then we are, for at least we have the church, and how they survived by capturing the big ships of the wealthy and holding them for ransom.”
“But we are only poor fishermen, who have no more fish to catch because of those commercial fishing boats,” said Pierre, husband of Yvette Mylove, a tall, weather-beaten man with a big, white scar on his face. “How are we to capture giant ships?”
“Will you listen to my plan?”
Several voices yelled: “Yes.” “Yes.”
“We do not have government support, or deep harbors and if we hold a big ship for ransom the American Marines will come. I propose we capture small, luxury craft, take everything of value, including the food, while pretending to be Cubans, so no one will look for us here.”
A solemn hush fell over them, as the audacity of Etienne’s plan sank in.
“You are asking us to become thieves,” Big Jean said calmly.
“I say we should steal from the rich in order to survive,” Etienne replied.
“How will we steal from them?” Yvette Mylove asked.
“Jamaica is only 200 kilometers from here. They hate us almost as much as the Dominicans. It is one of the richest resorts in the Caribbean. There are thousands of expensive, small boats, all insured by their owners, so they will not lose.... I do not like to be a thief, but cannot think of any other solution. If someone has a better plan, I’ll support it.”
“We must consider this carefully,” Big Jean intoned. “This will affect the entire village. If anyone objects, let them say so now.”
He waited patiently for a full minute, then turned to Etienne. “This is not a simple robbery. How will we do this?”
The words poured out of Etienne. “We will sail on one of our fishing boats and late at night go into the marinas with two dinghys and rob as many boats as we can. This will give us enough money to prepare to capture boats at sea.”
“What if there are people aboard?” Pierre asked.
“We surprise them and tie them up, so we can get away.”
“We should kill them,” Louis said harshly, “so they cannot identify us.”
“There will be no killing,” Big Jean ordered. “It is bad enough that we must consider becoming thieves. We will not be murderers.... Let us start by voting to consider Etienne’s plan. If the executive council approves it, the council will consider all the details so we can decide if this might work.”
The vote was unanimous, except for Maurice the Nose, who was too drunk to raise his arm.
“How soon can you give us a detailed plan?” Big Jean asked.
“Less than a week,” Etienne replied. “I’ll work on it night and day.”
“Good. The Council thanks you for your concern for our village. I declare this meeting closed.”
Etienne was working on the plan for the second day and he was forced to accept that it was much more complicated then he first imagined. He brooded about it for most of the night, then in the morning went to see Big Jean, who invited him into his shabby, but immaculately clean cottage.
“I am embarrassed to come to you like this,” Etienne began.
Big Jean cut him off firmly. “You are a bright gift to our village. I am proud that you care so much about our people that you propose something I know you dislike. Tell me what troubles you.”
Slightly relieved, Etienne began slowly. “At first it seemed so simple. We would get in our boats and go take what we needed to survive. As long as we could rob the boats in the marina, we would have enough to begin. It should be easy to capture small boats, at least for a while, until the Jamaicans, or others, start sea patrols. That would take time and we should be able to take many boats before they begin to hunt us.”
“That sounds very sensible,” Big Jean said softly. “What is worrying you then?”
“Things I did not even think of when I was being so clever in front of the entire council.”
“Like what?”
“Once we rob the marinas, how will we sell the loot? Will the village keep the secret? After we capture boats, how do we sell them? How do we explain our sudden prosperity?... I feel like such a fool for not thinking of these things earlier.”
“You are being too hard on yourself. The whole point of a plan is to tell us what we have to do. You are not perfect. You have done well. Now it is time for the executive council to discuss the plan with you. Perhaps we can answer some of these important questions.” When Etienne still looked shame-faced, Big Jean added: “What if you didn’t think of these things and we went ahead and discovered them the hard way?”
Big Jean called his eldest son, Little Michel, who was even bigger than his father.
“Go to Marie Ange and Pierre and Yvette Mylove. Tell them to come here at once, and try not to let anyone notice them.”
“Yes, Papa. If they ask why?”
“Tell them you do not know, but it is important.”
“Yes, Papa,” he said, smiling at his father, who always let him listen to the village business, grooming him for a place in the council.
Little Michel walked out purposefully, and Big Jean turned to Etienne.
“Sit down. We shall drink some coffee and wait for our friends, who will help us answer some of the questions that you have so wisely asked.”
Etienne felt much better and made casual conversation, mostly about the village fishermen, who despite long hours at sea barely caught enough fish to keep the village alive, because of the depletion of the Nassau groupers and snappers.
Marie Ange arrived first and Big Jean felt a surge of pleasure at seeing her.
“Good morning, Big Jean. Etienne. What is so important that Little Michel had me take a blood oath of secrecy?”
“We are waiting for Yvette and Pierre who will be here soon,” Big Jean replied. “Let me offer you some coffee and be patient, so I only have to explain once.”
As usual, Marie Ange had to have the last word.
“Oh. All right. If you insist on your mystery.”
Before he could respond, Yvette came in, followed a moment later by Pierre. Both asked why they were summoned.
“Michel. Give Yvette and Pierre coffee, while I tell them why I sent for them.” Big Jean took a deep breath, then said: “Etienne came to see me this morning with some important questions about the plan he is working on. I’ll let him tell you. Etienne.”
Etienne stood up and slowly repeated what he told Big Jean earlier, then apologized for letting the council think it would be so easy.
Marie Ange smiled broadly. “It is good that you thought of these questions before we started, so if we become pirates, we may escape disaster. If no one objects, I will answer some of the questions.” She waited a moment and when no one responded, continued. “As you know, my husband, Cangé, was a police officer in Port-au-Prince. He hurt his knee in the rescue effort after the great earthquake and they dismissed him, without a pension. He knows all the thieves markets in the city and will surely be able to sell anything we obtain. I do not know how to explain our sudden prosperity. Perhaps someone else will answer that. As to keeping the secret, Big Jean, you and Little Michel will have to attend to it.”
Big Jean nodded approvingly. “Thank you, Marie. I knew you would have good ideas. Anyone have any thoughts about sudden prosperity?”
“I do,” Yvette said. “If we really make enough money so it becomes noticeable, we should have some kind of local industry, a business that will appear to earn the money. This way our sudden wealth won’t be suspicious.”
“Excellent idea, Yvette,” Big Jean said. “We should be able to think of something. This will now become part of your plan, Etienne. See if you come up with a new business. We will think about it also.”
Etienne had been staring into space since Yvette mentioned a business. “You have just given us the answer to our problem, Yvette,” he blurted. “If the plan actually works and we get money from piracy, we should use it to start a new business that will secure our future.”
“Smart lad,” Pierre muttered. “After all, how long could we be pirates?”
“Hopefully only long enough to get what we need,” Etienne said enthusiastically. “I’m so happy I talked to you about this.”
“Good, Etienne,” Big Jean said. “Now you must go back to work on your plan. All of us should think about a new business. Perhaps we’ll think of something. Let me know as soon as you are ready to present the plan and we’ll sit down with Marie, Yvette and Pierre....”
“And me, Papa,” Little Michel added.
“And Michel,” Big Jean said with a smile. “Then we’ll decide who else should join us in reviewing it, before we tell the council yes or no. We might consider not telling the village, even if we go ahead with the plan.”
“Is it right to deceive them?” Marie asked.
“Only if it is in their best interest,” Big Jean replied. “We will decide that together.”
Copyright © 2025 by Gary Beck
