Black Vulmea’s Vengeance (earliest known draft)

Introduction

The story ‘Black Vulmea’s Vengeance’ first appeared in the magazine Golden Fleece in 1938.

Terence Vulmea, aka Black Vulmea, who was born a 17th-century Irish peasant, and carried his vendetta with the English oppressors of his country to the waters of the Caribbean. He is one of Robert E. Howard’s lesser known characters; more of his exploits were later added by David C. Smith.  Robert E. Howard only wrote two tales about Vulmea. 

The earliest known draft of “Black Vulmea’s Vengeance” is a gripping and intense tale of swashbuckling adventure on the high seas and in the depths of a treacherous jungle. This early draft presents a raw and unpolished narrative, showcasing the ruthless nature of the pirate Black Terence Vulmea as he faces off against the equally cold and calculating Captain John Wentyard of His Majesty’s navy. The story explores themes of revenge, survival, and the brutal realities of life as a pirate and a naval officer in a lawless world.

The story

The story begins aboard the pirate ship Cockatoo, where Black Terence Vulmea is the only man standing after a night of heavy drinking by the entire crew. The ship is a scene of debauchery, with sailors passed out across the deck and the ship adrift under a light breeze. As Vulmea surveys the sea, he is shocked to see an English warship, Indomitable, rapidly closing in. Despite his efforts to rouse his crew, they remain unconscious, and the English ship, under the command of Captain John Wentyard, launches a devastating attack. Vulmea manages to fire a swivel gun, inflicting casualties on the English, but is soon overwhelmed by their counterattack. He is knocked unconscious as his ship is decimated.

Vulmea regains consciousness aboard the Indomitable, now a prisoner of Captain Wentyard. Despite his chains and the wounds from battle, Vulmea remains defiant, his fiery spirit unbroken. Wentyard, a stern and emotionless man, delights in the power he holds over the pirate. During their tense exchange, Vulmea reveals a personal vendetta against Wentyard, recalling how, years ago, Wentyard, then a lieutenant, had ordered the hanging of an Irish boy—Vulmea himself—during an uprising in Ireland. Vulmea’s survival, and his subsequent life as a pirate, was fueled by his desire for revenge against Wentyard.

Wentyard, eager for glory and treasure, presses Vulmea for information about the whereabouts of a notorious pirate, Van Raven, and his supposed hoard of treasure. Vulmea, sensing an opportunity, spins a tale of a vast treasure hidden in an ancient temple in the jungles of Ecuador. Wentyard, lured by the promise of riches, decides to take Vulmea on a dangerous expedition to retrieve the treasure, though he has no intention of letting Vulmea live once the treasure is secured.

The expedition arrives at a desolate bay, and Wentyard leads a landing party into the jungle, with Vulmea as their guide. The trail leads them into a ravine surrounded by dense jungle, where Vulmea reveals that the treasure is hidden in a temple at the end of the ravine. However, the group is ambushed by native warriors, whom Vulmea had intentionally led them into, knowing they would attack. During the confusion, Vulmea escapes into the jungle, taunting Wentyard as he flees.

Wentyard’s men are quickly overwhelmed by the natives, and Wentyard himself is forced to retreat into the ruins of the temple, where he takes refuge. Over the next two days, he suffers from hunger, thirst, and the psychological torment of being hunted by the natives and haunted by the spirits of the temple. He narrowly survives several attacks and encounters a bizarre scene involving a dead Cimaroon, an escaped slave turned savage, whose presence adds to the eerie atmosphere of the ruins.

Just as Wentyard’s sanity is on the brink, Vulmea reappears, having observed Wentyard’s suffering from the cliffs. Vulmea, now fully in control, disarms and humiliates Wentyard, but is surprised when the Englishman breaks down in tears over a miniature portrait of his wife and daughter. This unexpected display of emotion causes Vulmea to relent. He offers to help Wentyard escape, acknowledging that while he despises the man, he does not want to be responsible for his death.

Vulmea leads Wentyard through an ancient aqueduct beneath the temple, where they encounter numerous dangers, including a deadly encounter with a giant anaconda. After a harrowing journey, they emerge on the beach, where Vulmea points out his own ship anchored offshore. True to his nature, Vulmea turns away, leaving Wentyard to find his own way back, unwilling to trust the Englishman even after saving his life.

Characters

  • Black Terence Vulmea: The protagonist, a fierce and cunning Irish pirate with a personal vendetta against Wentyard. He is characterized by his physical strength, ruthless nature, and deep hatred for the English, stemming from his childhood trauma.
  • Captain John Wentyard: The antagonist, a cold and calculating English naval officer obsessed with capturing Vulmea and securing treasure. He is revealed to have a cruel streak, but also a hidden vulnerability linked to his family.
  • The Crew of the Cockatoo: Vulmea’s pirate crew, who are incapacitated by alcohol during the surprise attack by the English. They are ultimately killed in the battle with the Indomitable.
  • The Crew of the Indomitable: Wentyard’s men, who follow him into the jungle on the ill-fated treasure hunt. Most of them are killed by native warriors.
  • Native Warriors: Unnamed, hostile indigenous people who ambush and kill Wentyard’s men in the jungle. They are depicted as fierce and relentless.
  • The Cimaroon: A lone, savage man who attempts to kill Wentyard but is slain by Vulmea. His presence adds to the sense of danger and mystery in the jungle.

Published in: