This is a fictional story based on real life events.

The Somalia pirates have not gone away, it's just that the news story has been run too many times. People have lost interest. Yet another pirate attack on a huge ship by kids armed to the teeth in a tiny boat. Nothing new.

The attacks still happen on a regular basis. The pirates are less likely to succeed and far more likely to die.

The risks are high but the stories of riches and fame are too tempting and so still they try. The successful ones have it all and live the good life like lottery jackpot winners. Comparably vastly wealthy in their poor country. While the money lasts, they drive through town in flash cars, full of friends, new and old, all in party mood. Like a lot of people who get money too quick, they loose it all just as quick.

Now near broke again, with just enough money to buy a fast boat and guns they get back on the water with a fresh crew. They were successful before so it is easy to convince gullible young minds that it will be easy. No one will get hurt and riches will come. The leader knows he might loose a couple of his crew in the fight, but no matter.

The ships have ramped up their defences with preventative boarding measures like barbed wire and metal spikes. But it is the ships with professional security teams on board that make it impossible to board. They give a couple of warning shots but if the pirate boat doesn't immediately change its course, they shoot to kill, without fear of any law courts.

Using fixed machine guns with accurate scopes and large high calibre rounds to devastating effect.

Boats catch fire, one or all crew are shot to pieces, the boat engine is damaged beyond repair or the boat takes on water. Miles from land, all or one of these outcomes mean certain death. The boat and the people lost to the sea, their fate forever unknown to their families.

If the boat is still mobile, it will limp away. Dead pirates will be tipped overboard for the fishes. Saves any difficult questions from authorities or families when or if they get back to land with dead bodies. No one will ever know who was on board.

These sad stories will not be told as often as the stories of success and so there will always be brave new recruits willing to risk their lives for a fast route to the top.

Young and unwise, for some it will be their first and last crime. An exciting adventure, a gamble that could get them out of poverty.

Some survive but for others, regret will be their final emotion as they lie dying on a sinking boat, coughing from engine fire smoke. Bleeding out before they drown. Thinking of their mother, father, younger siblings who look up to them and that girl they were hoping to impress. None of them will ever know where or why their loved one disappeared. For the rest of their lives hoping in vain that their child or big brother will one day walk back through the door.

In his absence the girl will forget about him, perhaps only popping up in her memory every so often. When she is old she may look back on her life and wonder what ever happened to that nice young guy that used to smile and stare. She may think that he travelled to another country, "Perhaps he got a good job there, married and had a family."

His life would have been very different if he'd made better choices.

About The Author
Pablo Manente
Chewells Contributor

Pablo writes about Africa, oil, politics, human rights and many other subjects. He is a full time... »

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