Post by darkman on May 6, 2010 17:27:56 GMT -6
THE CURSE OF THE PINK FLAMINGO
PART 1
Revelry:
PART 1
Revelry:
At first Marie thought it was her heart she was hearing in her head. Awakening from a deep sleep, she realized it was the steady thump, thump, thump of a wooden mallet driving iron nails into the side of her home, The Pink Flamingo. “What the hell?” she thought out loud. Donning her silk robe, a gift from the governor, she made her way to the front door. THOMP THOMP THOMP. She pulled back the iron door lock and swung the door open only to see the big round end of the wooden mallet coming straight at her nose! The man swinging the mallet stopped it just shy of her face exclaiming, “Good Lord Miss Marie! I almost knocked yer block clean off!” “And what manner of madness is this Mister Porter?”, she exclaimed. “Have ye lost all sensibility about ye?” Porter started to stammer an explanation when Miss Marie noticed the proclamation attached to her front door. It read:
By Order of Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Company
This brothel and its owner, Miss Marie Clairston are hereby notified that by order of The
East India Company as empowered by the King of England, His Majesty Charles III,
Hereby revoke the license to do business within the confines of the city limits of Porte Royale.
This establishment is closed from business forthwith and it’s practice of satiating the desires of men
Shall cease immediately due to the Surgeons declaration of unsanitary conditions and an apparent
Curse which causes a rather dis-tasteful rot. The business practices enacted within the walls of this
hostel and its clients are an abomination in the eyes of Our Lord and the Holy Church, and as
such this establishment shall be slated for burning at The earliest convenience of schedule per His
Majesty’s Representative, Lord Cutler Beckett of The East India Company.
This brothel and its owner, Miss Marie Clairston are hereby notified that by order of The
East India Company as empowered by the King of England, His Majesty Charles III,
Hereby revoke the license to do business within the confines of the city limits of Porte Royale.
This establishment is closed from business forthwith and it’s practice of satiating the desires of men
Shall cease immediately due to the Surgeons declaration of unsanitary conditions and an apparent
Curse which causes a rather dis-tasteful rot. The business practices enacted within the walls of this
hostel and its clients are an abomination in the eyes of Our Lord and the Holy Church, and as
such this establishment shall be slated for burning at The earliest convenience of schedule per His
Majesty’s Representative, Lord Cutler Beckett of The East India Company.
Marie’s jaw dropped like that of a man dead 3 weeks. “He’s gone way too far this time he has! I’ll not be standing’ by and letting this milksop run me out of my own home!! Away with ye Mr. Porter! And tell that overstuffed popinjay that I’ll not be run out of my own house nor left to beg on the streets of Porte Royale! I’ll see the governor about this I will! And for sure I’ll see to it that the Governor himself takes the scourge to his flat little bottom!”
Marie slammed the door shut and threw the bolt fast. “UP LADIES UP! We’ve much to do this day!” Elizabeth came out of the room closest to Miss Marie’s. Marie had practically raised Lizzie from the time she was a mere babe for the Governor when Lizzie’s mom was lost in childbirth. Miss Marie had lived in the Governor’s Mansion for nigh on twenty years raising her as if she were her own. When Lizzie became of age, Miss Marie had asked for her leave and in gratitude, the Governor gave Marie her own house on Grotto Street and a pension that would keep her till the end of her days most comfortably. Lizzie, with the Governor’s permission, often spent the night at Marie’s. After all, Marie was the only mom Lizzie had ever known.
“What’s wrong Miss Marie?” queried Elizabeth. “It’s that milksop Beckett at it again Lizzie, Think the governor will have time to see me this morn?” Elizabeth sighed, “It’s Elizabeth Miss Marie, and yes, You know daddy always has time for you, although I don’t think we need him. I could probably straighten that little twerp out all by myself!” Marie smiled and gave Elizabeth a great big hug, “My little champion…You’ll always be my little Lizzie to me.”
THE CURSE OF THE PINK FLAMINGO
Part 2
The Confrontation:
Part 2
The Confrontation:
The words and gibberish coming out of Porters mouth were beginning to grate on Beckett’s nerves. Blissfully enough, Porter’s ramblings ceased long enough for Beckett to get one word out. ‘STOP!” he shouted. “I’ve stood here and listened to you for over five minutes and STILL do not understand a thing you’ve said! I would ask you to start over but I fear it wouldn’t get us anywhere anyhow!” Just then outside the door, he could hear the voice of a lady determined to gain entry to his “office”.
Suddenly the door burst open. “MISTER BECKETT!!”, Elizabeth roared, “Would you tell these stuffed shirts of yours to let me in!” Beckett looked at her very sullenly with his chin in his hand. “Oh very well…GUARDS!” He shouted. His voice was so loud that Elizabeth stopped squirming and the two guards immediately released their hold on her. “Let Miss Swann in.” He turned to Porter and stated whimsically, “Well Mister Porter, I guess I have all the answers I need now… don’t I?” “Why yessir…indeed it seems that way sir!” Porter stammered. “Guess I’ll be takin’ me leave now if’n ‘is Lordship is in agreeance?” Beckett smiled to himself. Porter was standing there shaking and sweating like a man with the fever, wringing his hat so hard in his hands Beckett thought he might tear it in two. “Why yes….yes indeed Mister Porter. I believe our business is concluded. Good day to you sir.” Porter smiled and nodded. “Thank you sir.” He turned to leave and almost ran straight into Elizbeth. As he skidded to a stop his eyes drifted upwards meeting Elizabeth’s. He feigned a weak smile, ”G’day Miss ‘Lizabith.” He stammered. Elizabeth bared her teeth and hissed at him. He recoiled in fear and with a sharp “Oh MY!” scooted around Elizabeth and scurried straight for the door.
“Well, Miss Swann, What can The East India Company, or dare I say, what might I do for you this fine day? Hmmm?” “You know darn well what you can do for me Cutler,” As her eye narrowed upon him, she placed both hands firmly on his desk and said in a very low, threatening voice, “You can immediately release the order of quarantine from Miss Marie’s house, that’s what you can do!” Cutler rolled back in his chair smiling like the devil himself and laughed aloud saying, “Why I don’t THINK so Elizabeth.” His mood turned immediately somber. I care not for what the Governor’s, or your father as it were, concubine has to say. The surgeon was quite specific on the unsanitary conditions AND the fever’s place of origin! That house WILL be burnt to the ground as swiftly as I can order it! I’ll NOT HAVE this debauchery running amuck on MY island!” “Funny…I thought it was King Charles’s island..” muttered Elizabeth. Knowing the position of the church…and the power that Beckett actually had, Elizabeth changed her demeanor as only a woman could. “Is there not anything I could do to convince you to change your mind Mister Beckett?” she crooned. Beckett smiled “Why yes there is Miss Swann. I have a proposition for you… Care for some tea as we discuss it? Beckett proffered his hand to Elizabeth, and she smiled coyly and took it. Why of course Mister Beckett” she crooned. “But first, I am to be assured that this will be a business agreement, and nothing more?” “Indubitably Miss Swann.” Beckett smiled. “Of that you may be quite certain. This IS business. Find me what I seek and I remove the quarantine from Miss Marie’s house AND shall grant her a full license to do “business” within Port Royal city limits.”“And if I do not find what it is you are seeking?” queried Elizabeth.“In that case my dear…” Beckett looked directly into Elizabeth’s eyes, “We turn Miss Marie’s “home” into a smoking pile of ash and rubble..”
Coming soon! Part 3: The Outrage