The Rose Chronicals: No Time for Pirates.
An ongoing romantic webnovel featuring Disney's Captain Jack Sparrow.
Chapter One: The Black Pearl
New Orleans; November, 2009.
She
watched with shining eyes as the great ship swayed ever so slightly
in the water. This was the day she had been waiting for, and now it
had arrived. The Black Pearl was docked in its harbor, just waiting
to
be boarded, its riches ready to be plundered. She jumped as a jolly
voice woke her from her reverie.
"Ah,
Doctor O'Brian! So sorry to keep you waiting. The meeting of the
Docents took a little longer than expected."
Rose
O'Brian turned to the speaker with a bright smile, "Wasn't long
at
all. I was just admiring her from afar. Are you ready to be piped on
board, Mr. Blackart?" she asked with a small bow to the head patron
of
the LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM HISTORICAL CENTER .
Mr.
Blackart laughed and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "I
think I've been ready for this moment since the day you proposed
building 'The Pirates of the Seven Seas' wing. Lead on, my dear Dr.
O'Brian!" Mr. Blackart offered his arm gallantly.
With
excitement dancing in her eyes, Doctor Rose O'Brian led Arthur Blackart
up the gangplank and onto "her" baby: an almost perfect recreation
of the pirate ship, "The Black Pearl". It had been her obsession
for the past 5 years, since it's discovery in a long forgotten cave
on an small
island off the Florida Keys. Once she had discovered it, her purpose
in
life had been clear: to create the penultimate museum exhibit
honoring those swashbuckling scoundrels, "The Pirates of the Seven
Seas".
unveiled her team's discovery of the Pearl, and her proposal to create
an entire wing dedicated to the history of Pirates, he had been behind
her "100 and 10 percent!" (as he liked to say. Constantly). He was
like a kid in a candy store, and Rose was completely in her element,
giving him the grand tour of a ship she had come to know most
intimately at one time, even if she wasn't entirely sure that the time
wasn't all just a wonderful a dream.
Rose
chuckled as Mr. Blackart (Arthur! please, he reminded her) took
control of the helm. "You cut quite the romantic figure Mr. Bla--I
mean, Arthur." she told him, admiringly. 'Of course,' she thought
to
herself, 'not nearly as romantic as Jack'. But, he was a donor. A BIG
ONE. And it was her duty to keep him flattered and happy.
Arthur
grinned at her like a boy whose every christmas wish had been
granted. "It's an amazing recreation of the ship, Dr. O'Brian.
How
did you accomplish it all?"
Rose
explained that the ship itself was found in remarkably fine
condition. The wood used to build the ship originally had been
cypress, and so was resistent to water and weather. What hadn't
survived the centuries, such as the sails, linen and other items
subject to time, termites and rot, had been recreated from descriptions
they discovered in diaries and ships logs from the people who boarded
and sailed with The Black Pearl.
Arthur
stepped down from the wheel. "I cannot convey the excitement I
feel about this ship, about the whole exhibit! You've done a fantastic
job Dr.-," he took her hand, "..Rose".
Rose felt the hairs on her neck stand up, something that only happened
when she was angered. 'I cannot believe he feels he can be so informal
with me! I haven't given him permission to call me by my first name!'
she thought, darkly. She took a deep breath and smiled widely.
'Careful, old girl, he's got the money. He can fund way more marine
digs. Don't blow it now...', she thought.
"Thank
you, Arthur." she moved to a doorway, cleverly removing his hand
as well. "And now, here's something I think you'll really like,"
she
led him down a short, dark stairwell. "The Captain's Quarters!"
With
a flourish, she flung open the door, proudly displaying the cabin.
Her triumphant smile froze in place as she caught sight of the
familiar figure sitting at the Captain's table.
"Rose,
me luv! What's all this, then?! And why are ye dressed like
that!?"
TO BE CONTINUED....
