[ WP ] The Boston Tea Party was not an act of rebellion , it was to hide a dark secret . What was it ?

Arthur and the lads were crouched in the alley, looking out at the wharf. They were nervous, sweating, but their eyes were steady, keeping close watch to the ships. Sam Adams and his boys were going to be ready in just a moment and we needed to be ready. Timing would be everything. I looked at the boys again. They were so damned *young*. About a dozen total, and not one among them deserved to be involved in any of this. I took a deep breath, and addressed them one final time. 
 
 `` Boys... no. No, today you are n't boys any longer. Men, I know you're scared. Hell, I've been in actual wars, charging damned savages and I was n't as scared as this. It's been a long time coming and the moment of truth is here. We, good loyal British subjects, are about to commit a treasonous act of terrorism.'' 
 
 Some of them shivered visibly at that. Spot on, lads. Spot on. 
 
 `` We've come too far to back out now. It's been months of planning to spark this event. First, Arthur used his connections at the Philadelphia Inquirer and we all know how that turned out. Seems like overnight people were mad about the `` Stamp Tax''. 
 
 Arthur spoke up on that, incredulous, `` Ca n't believe that worked. Stamp Tax is the first new tax in decades, and England's never collected from the American Colonies anyway. We pay less than any colony in the Empire.'' 
 
 I allowed myself a wry smirk. Never bet against man's distaste for taxes. 
 
 `` But it did work. Then we used that Mistress friend of Luke's to place the idea in ol'Sam Adams' head that a monopoly on Tea was just like a tax, by a different name. Boy, Adams could n't wait to bite at that one.'' 
 
 Luke grin took a decided mischievous look. `` He's lucky he did n't just sign over the deed to his house. When Sally hooks a man, he's practically under witchcraft, that damned Jezebel.'' 
 
 I decided to power through that one. I ca n't say I approved of Luke's affiliations. 
 
 `` And then I used my connections at the Governor's office to have the *Darmouth* held up in the harbour. Which took some doing, let me tell you. But things are finally coming together. Fitz is out there, right now, rallying up the Sons of Liberty. He'll work them up into a damned lather, and then before you know, they'll be aboard the ships rioting, burning, looting and generally creating all sorts of havoc.'' 
 
 Arthur fidgeted and said, `` Apparently there's more tea on the *Eleanor* too. Should be a hell of a mess.'' 
 
 `` That'll work fine for our purposes. But remember, we're after the *Beaver*. She's on that wharf. That's where they're keeping the drug.'' The men visibly steeled themselves. That's what this was all about. The abomination that was the drug. 
 
 The drug, I believe, was actually called *Decreacies* by the monsters who made it. It's terrible purpose, originally, was the subjugate negros more easily. It turned a man's mind to mush. Made him suggestible, placid, docile. It was made from a tree flower found in the heart of the Dark Continent. It was goddamn crime against God's creation and those heartless bastards, those `` natural philosophers'' meant to use it for profit. We meant to destroy their entire supply, under the chaos of the riot tonight. 
 
 That's when we saw the first signs of the mob. 
 
 `` Act quick boys. And remember, what we do now may yet have us hung, but we do it for the honor and respect of God and Country.'' 
 
 We snuck aboard the *Beaver* easily enough. All around us the riot raged. Sam Adams and his boys knew how to carry on, and Fitz seemed to have enraged them to an incredible degree. Since learning of the damnable drug and it's journey from Africa, the boys and I had had ample time to plan. In the months since, it seemed we'd all become masters of the Great Game. Manipulation, deceit and provocation were our weapons, and anonymity our calling cards. We'd become monsters to fight monsters, but I had long resolved that if any of us we're going to stop this terrible `` science'', it would not be with our souls intact. 
 
 There'd been many objections of course. A great deal of fear. Some others questioned the practicality of it. Surely, the Empire could just get more? But I knew better. Only one trade company had a route to the flowers, and they'd risked no insurance on this boat. Burn their stock, cost them everything, and let the damned secrets of the drugs and flowers rot in the hell of Africa. 
 
 Things were going well. We subdued the guards quietly, distracted as they were by the rioting. We worked our way through the mobs, though some were already on the *Beaver*. We reached the stock. It was a massive crate, far larger than I'd expected, of dark purple leaves. I lit a torch, and prepared to commit a criminal act in favour of a greater good. And that's when it all went wrong. 
 
 `` Hey Boys! Howabout a little Tea Party eh?'' Screamed one of the rioters. A cheer went up! The men had seized on the idea. They began dumping whole crates of tea directly into the harbour, brewing all of Boston into a murky, sweet-smelling swamp. 
 
 I tried to stop it, I really did. 
 
 But the rioters were too incensed, and there were too many. The crate dumped into the Boston Harbour, drug and all. 
 
 There was a chilled silence as we trudged home that night. Several of the boys were pale as ghosts. 
 
 `` How could we have let this happen...'' mumbled Arthur. 
 
 `` We destroyed the stock, at least.'' said Luke. 
 
 `` Aye,'' I said, `` But at what cost? That stuff's in the harbour now. Could affect the whole city.'' 
 
 We all looked down at our feet. 
 
 Arthur got a hopeful glint. It was heartbreaking, really. 
 
 `` But, it's diluted, it's mixed with tons of tea. Perhaps it will be ineffective?'' 
 
 I shook my head. 
 
 `` Perhaps. We do n't know what a proper dose was supposed to be. We'll have to be cautious men. We'll have to watch closely. For signs of Colonists being affected. It might be subtle, but they'' ll be signs. Look for men who are easily led astray, to anger and faulty reason. Look for people who will believe anything, buy anything, commit to anything without proof or justification. Look for men who seem reasonable one moment and act as though they've been struck dumb the next. `` 
 
 Arthur smiled, reassured. 
 
 `` Well, we'll be fine then. No way that could ever happen in America.'' 
 
 
 
 

