From geek to chic

Chapter 1

A Holiday

Again Mrs. Green was persuading her husband to come out of the cabin.

"Dear, it's a cruise. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the water is warm. Why're sitting here and reading the same book once more? It's a Caribbean, we are here to have a rest. Soon the stop-off will be finished and you haven't swum yet."

Her husband, Jack, drawled lazily:

"Well, if it can make you stop gazing at handsome captain…By the way, this book is very interesting, and it says that many years ago there was a battle between pirates and East India Trading Company, exactly at this place. Ashley, don't be so narrow-minded, stop thinking only about sunbath and discotheque."

The woman pouted offendedly and went to the deck. "Ok, I'll please her. At least in her company I don't look like the worst geek." – The man put on terrible pink shirt, enormous sunglasses and followed his wife.

As always, sun was blinding, music was too loud, waitresses were too offhand, and everybody joked at his look. And that captain…"Brainless dummy! And he tries to flirt with my wife, nevertheless." – Jack even didn't notice that was saying it aloud.

"Sir, hold your tongue or I'll teach you a lesson despite your wife has a high opinion of me. Don't disgrace her and yourself." – Tall good-looking captain was pretty annoyed by Mr. Green's discontent. – "If you are not in a good mood, then don't spoil her rest."

That made Mr. Green see red. He gripped a sunshade and tried to strike insolent fellow, but slipped and fell overboard. Suddenly he went to the bottom: he could only see dark water behind his eyes and some strange luminescence that looked like a silhouette of a man. Jack tried to come up, but that ghost was drawing him in the bottom. He couldn't hold his breath longer and was just waiting for death. Before he lost consciousness, he heard man's voice:

"At last!"

Captain Richardson sighed hardly:

"Ma'am, excuse me, but your husband is an idiot. If I rushed to rescue him a few moments later, you would become a widow. And what's now? Passengers are frightened; they even don't want to be at the deck, not to mention sightseeing. But sure, your husband is happy – not only he is in a bad mood now."

Jack jumped out of bed. His eyes were shining madly.

"How do you dare to insult me, small insect? Who are you? King George or maybe a regent? Guards, arrest him!"

Captain looked at him agape.

"Oh, ma'am, he's…just a bit sick. Tomorrow it'll be…"

"Tomorrow you'll be hanged! And I, Lord Cutler Beckett, promise you it. "Endeavour" is founder, but I'm still the Chairman or EITC! I know this ship, it's "Almighty". Call the captain and I'll spare you."

Richardson went away without any words. Mrs. Green looked at her husband anxiously:

"Dear, are you all right? Who's Beckett? Is he your friend? Do you have a headache? Are you delirious?" – Questions were raining down. The man wanted to say something, but then he asked her softly:

"Swann? What are you doing here? And why do you wear man's clothes?" – He pointed at shirt and trousers. – "And why do I wear that pink floor-cloth? Where's my wig and uniform? Where's Mercer?"

"Don't worry, honey, just fall asleep." – whispered she, while Richardson came into the cabin and gave Jack (or Beckett?) an injection.

When Beckett woke up, it was broad afternoon. He couldn't find normal clothes, and turned upside down Ashley's suitcase. He took out of there white shawl, green silk dressing-gown, black tights, shorts and nice low-heeled shoes. He also found blond curly wig and gold necklace. Then he wanted to shave and went to the bathroom. There were strange levers in the sink and bath. He pulled one and stepped back in frighten: water was streaming out of it and hissing like a snake. He decided to shave later and put on those clothes he'd found. "Well, at least I don't look as dread as yesterday. It's time to have dinner, I think. Maybe Swann had ordered to serve before."

He came out to the deck. There Beckett saw couple of people in underwear eating and laughing indecently. He wanted to be outraged, but a fat man pointed at him and grinned:

"Utter fool! Yesterday he wanted to commit suicide, now he put on his wife's clothes. Hey, pervert, are you completely mad? Or have you lost your brains in the sea?" – The whole company roared with laughter. Beckett narrowed his eyes and whispered clearly:

"Fleshy pig, repeat what you've said." – And again, he seized long-suffering sunshade and began to fence in a centimeter from man's face.

"Stop that, idiot! You can put out my eye!"

"I'll better knock the nonsense out of your obtuse blockhead!" – Beckett was hitting accurately and ruthlessly. When two robust men tried to fasten his hands, he knocked them out easily, and they were lying helplessly. Nobody dared to stop Beckett; other passengers were looking at him in fright and mumbling:

"It can't be true. Is this weirdo a professional fencer?"

Beckett threw a glance at them and shouted with smugness:

"Who else wants? Who is silly enough to insult me? Nobody? Remember, commoners, I'm the only person who gives orders here. The Chairman of East India Trading Company, Lord Cutler Beckett. Clear, noodles?"