| Coker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Officer |
| Gender | Male |
| Status | Alive (incarcerated) |
| Ships | Unknown |
| Relationships | Jack Rackham (subordinate/enemy)
Pursy (friend) |
| Appearances | Only: Rackham's Razor |
| Portrayed by | N/A |
Mr. Coker was a mean-spirited officer of the Royal Navy in the early 1700s. He was briefly the superior of Jack Rackham, whom he butted heads with.
Biography[]
Background[]
Jack Rackham was transferred to Coker's ship after a series of transfers and demotions. He quickly came into conflict with Coker, humiliating him after thoroughly beating him in a game of gin rummy, which Coker believes was rigged.
Rackham's Razor[]
Jack sits in James Bonny's Inn with his colleague, Neville, and the two discuss Jack's previous postings and his upcoming one aboard the Carcass. They are interrupted by Coker, who arrives with his friend, a British Army officer named Pursy. He says that when a man is a coward, he loses all officer status, and when that happens, he is forced to salute his superiors. Jack cooly wishes him a good evening, but Coker reminds him to address him as sir. Coker proceeds to order Jack to pull out his sword, which he refuses to do. Coker then pulls it out of his sheath and calls it the blade of a coward who has never killed. Coker proceeds to snap the blade over his knee, and draws his own sword and taunts Jack by sticking the point in front of his face.
Jack taunts Coker, asking if he wants to win back his losses. Coker warns Pursy that Jack is a thief, but Jack denies this and says he is merely lucky. Coker agrees, and tells Neville to make room for him while Pursy and Jack introduce themselves. Coker tells Jack that Pursy is a friend and that's all he needs to know. Neville attempts to extricate himself from the uncomfortable situation but is ordered to stay put by Coker. Coker insists they play with his cards, while Jack asks what game they will be playing. Coker says Find the Jack, which Jack deems "apropos."
As they continue playing, Jack asks Pursy what the news around town is, jokingly asking who they aren't at war with at this point, but Coker, fearing that Jack is trying to play mind games, orders him to be quiet. Jack complains that the game is boring if they can't chat. Coker says that you can always spot a cheat because they are good at dice, to which Jack replies that there are many things a man can shave that aren't dice. Pursy then launches into a story about a prostitute he once knew that could spit dice from several places and land numbers on request. Coker calls this story "utter bloody tripe." Coker then insists Jack show them his cards and Jack folds, Coker then orders Jack to keep his hands where he can see them. Jack then departs to relieve himself.
When Jack returns, he poses a question to the table. He says they all know Queen Anne’s government has more spies than taxes. He says it is likely that said spy could be found at the docks to meet a returning naval ship. Said spy could usually be found hanging around the brighter officers in alehouses. Coker tells him to shut up and even Neville tells Jack to move the game along. Jack then says it is a mystery how spies get away with looking like spies, and asks if they are so great in number they have stopped trying to be clandestine. Jack then notices that Pursy’s cup is empty and tries to poor him another drink but Coker slaps the cup out of his hands. Jack continues to speak, saying that when a spy spends more time abroad, throwing out the example of Amsterdam, under the employ of the British government, does there come a day when he when there is no possibility that he is even slightly aligned with the British Empire. Pursy then departs with a curt “good evening.”
The remaining three men agree to continue the game. Jack goes all in and Neville declares himself broke. Coker then says that Jack does not have a jack. Jack agrees, then folds, allowing Coker to win the game. Later that night, Jack sneaks into Coker's room and plants the razor he used to murder James Bonny in his hand, and pins a jack of hearts to the wall with the sword that Coker had broken earlier. Coker is then arrested by the authorities for Bonny's murder.
Quotes[]
"When a man is a coward, he loses all officer status. When a coward loses all officer status, he is required to salute his superiors."
- Coker in Rackham's Razor.