Ransom
The boy was dirty, wet and stank of dead fish. He was also scowling enough for a man twice his age and three times his stature. Insolently he leaned forward with one hand on the edge of the large table in the middle of the dimly lit captain's cabin and the other propped on the hilt of a small knife at his hip. With eyes narrowed he waited for a reply to his demand. Captain Barbossa had to admire the lad. Swimming across the harbor to climb aboard the Pearl and order the first crewman he'd seen to take him to the captain had been only the start of his audacity. The demand had followed as soon as he had been certain he was actually speaking to the captain.
Barbossa smiled thinly, his eyes narrowing the way a cat's might upon seeing a mouse. He blinked very slowly, counting to ten. It wasn't that he needed to calm himself. Hector did it for the impression it would make on the boy. Silence always spoke louder than yelling in a situation like this. Finally he breathed out and shifted his feet off the table so he could face the youngster more directly.
"And why is it I should give you two hundred doubloons instead of a kick in the arse, lad?" Barbossa purred.
"Cause we got yer monkey."
Barbossa froze at mention of his pet. His expression settled into a stony calm and the three crewmen in the cabin each edged a step back.
"We got 'im an' we'll be a killin' 'im lessen you pay us ransom," the boy went on. "Two hundred doubloons is fair. Lawyers go for three times that, Cap'n."
"Lad, I'm the first to admit Jack's smarter than any lawyer I've ever heard of, but two hundred doubloons is a might steep."
"Then the monkey's dead come dawn."
Shadows enveloped Barbossa's face as he leaned back and regarded the boy over steepled fingers.
"Well, we can't have that now, can we?" Barbossa mused. "What are your terms?"
The boy straightened, throwing his chest out and placing both hands on his narrow hips as if he were in command.
"I thought ye'd be sensible, Captain," the boy sneered. "Put the coins in a bag and deliver it to the alley behind the old cooper's shop off o' Bank Street. You can't miss it. The roof's gone. Caught fire last year. We'll give you the monkey when you give us the loot."
"I see." Barbossa had to work to keep the smile out of his voice. He liked this lad. Someday he might be a good pirate, provided his adventurous streak didn't get him into more trouble than he could stand. Tonight would be a good object lesson for him. Mayhap it would save him grief in times to come.
"So what do you say, Captain?" demanded the boy impatiently.
"I'll be there meself," Barbossa told him leaning forward to extend a hand. "Midnight?"
The boy pantomimed considering the proposal, going so far as to scratch his chin. Then he shot a narrow-eyed look at Hector. The Caspian Lord met the lad's eyes sedately, giving no hint to what was passing through his mind.
"Midnight," agreed the youngster taking Hector's hard, calloused hand and shaking.
"We have an accord." Hector smiled thinly. Glancing at Cotton he said, "Escort my guest to the rail and row him ashore."
Cotton nodded and motioned for the boy to follow him. As the two departed Barbossa turned to the other two crewmen. Pintel and Ragetti waited wonderingly.
"Follow him," Hector commanded.
The two knuckled their brows and swiftly trotted out of the cabin. Barbossa waited until they'd closed his door before allowing himself to chuckle. He felt certain the night would be amusing. At least, it would be for him.
Hours later, well after sundown, Captain Hector Barbossa, Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea, stood across a narrow dirt road from a fire-gutted old cooper's shop. There was no door, no glass in the windows and no roof. Glancing up he spotted the moon as it came from behind a cloud. Almost instantly screams rang out from the cooper's shop. Something within fell. Something else crunched. Jack's high screeches echoed off the walls. More screaming. Several boys, it sounded like. Something else fell heavily. That was followed by the sound of shattering glass. Jack screeched shrilly again and the boys poured out of the front windows of the shop, scrambling in all directions. Presently a small form emerged onto the street and watched the lads disappear into the night. Hector gave a whistle only loud enough for Jack to hear. As the monkey trotted to him Barbossa drew a handful of peanuts from his pocket, bringing one up to his shoulder as the little animal sprang and alighted there. Passing from moonlight to shadow Jack's features had resumed their normal, sweet countenance and he now took the proffered peanut happily.
"That's my good boy," murmured Hector as he turned his steps back towards the docks and scratched his pet behind the ear. "I reckon those boys will think twice afore kidnapping anyone again, don't you?"