Chapter 3 – The Monkey Shines
Rebecca cried as she walked along the gangplank that seemed to be the bridge to her fate. The men of the ship were all surly and brusque. Already, she felt uncomfortable.
"Miss, this ain't a private cruise!" a fat man barked at her.
"Jagger, leave the girl be. Pardon the men, Miss de Cristao, it was not my intention to scare you."
"I assume you're Captain Remington?"
"That I am," he said softly. "I understand your mother has passed. I do extend my sincerest condolences to you and your sister."
"Thank you, sir."
"Please, there's no need to call me 'sir.' I get enough of that all day. Please, call me Alan."
"Alright, then. And you may call me Rebecca henceforth. Do you speak Portuguese?"
"Somente bastante para começar-me perto com os vendedores da fruta…"
"Oh, você é completamente bom! Sua pronunciação está ponto-em!"
"Obrigado. Je parle français bien mieux que le Portugais, cependant. Vous avérez-vous justement savoir le français ?"
"L'ampèreheure, mais moi. Ma mère s'est assurée ma soeur et I bien-versés dans beaucoup de langues."
"What other languages have you learned so far?"
"Just the Romance languages. And Latin, of course."
"Always a good language to study. Those who have a good grasp of it are the most intellectual people, I've found."
"Alan, where are you from?"
"I'm from England, originally. My family is from Wales."
"Is it lovely there?"
"Yes, very."
"Then what are you doing on a ship?"
"I was a sailor in the King's Navy for several years, and when my service time had expired, I wanted to remain on the seas."
"That's beautiful."
"It's my life. Welcome aboard the Monkey Shines, Miss Rebecca, and welcome home."
For the next three months, they made the harrowing journey from Portugal to Tortuga through both stormy weather and clear skies. Rebecca pulled her weight around the ship, cooking for the men on occasion and entertaining them with song and dance. Captain Remington made sure that Rebecca did not fall behind on her studies. He tutored her in arithmetic, grammar, history, and helped her work on her English in between stops to pillage and plunder. Rebecca enjoyed the aggressive lifestyle, and Alan enjoyed her company.
Captain Alan Remington was a former sailor in the King's Navy in his prime. Now, at the age of forty-six, he was nowhere near ready to resign to a life as a land-lubber. He enjoyed Rebecca's presence and developed a filial relationship with her over the months they spent on board. However, his intentions with the girl were all but respectable. His motto in life was "A sharp mind is the key to greatness." In tutoring Rebecca, he also taught her how to be a cunning, conniving pirate, and how to remain undetected while stealing. It was a double-edged sword: teach her well, but teach her to follow the wrong path.
Rebecca had nearly forgotten the little envelope Drusilla had handed her before leaving the mansion. Time to open it, she thought.
"My Dearest Rebecca Dulcea,
For several years I withheld information from you that you have every right to know. For this, I apologize. It was very hard for me to muster the courage to tell you this, and I hope that by the time you read this and I am laid in Earth that you will be able to forgive me. Know that I did this only to protect you, never to hurt you.
I am so sorry to tell you this, but Julian de Cristao is not your father. Your father is a man of little wealth and little morals. He is a pirate by the name of Hector Barbossa. He sails upon a ship known as the Black Pearl. I advise you not to become involved with this man. He will tarnish your immaculate reputation as it stands, and you will be helpless to stop him.
Hector knows he is your father, and has seen you only once when you were three years old. If you choose to find him, be careful, meu caro. Be careful, and be strong.
Love,
Your dear mother,
Aurelia de Cristao
P.S. – The necklace you wear was a gift from Hector. If you are wearing it and you meet him, he will remember you."
Rebecca gave a bleak smile and laughed to herself. This explained why Drusilla and she looked nothing alike. Drusilla had frizzy, untamed black hair, sunken brown eyes, and a very square face. Rebecca had sleek brown hair, lighter skin than Drusilla, and had a heart-shaped face. This explained it all. She touched the chain around her neck. It was a small silver chain that had a silver charm in the shape of a ship. She had had it ever since she was little. Now she knew where it came from.
Finally, in November, the Monkey Shines pulled into port on Tortuga. Rebecca didn't want to leave, but she knew she must find Drusilla.
"Alan, thank you for everything."
"Anytime, Miss Rebecca. Come home anytime you like. We are always out to sea, but we'll make port occasionally."
"Where can I find you?"
"Eh, out and about, normally. I hope we meet again, Miss Rebecca. You really did do wonders for the men; they can't quit babbling about you."
"I'm quite flattered, honestly."
"As well you should be."
"So this is goodbye?"
"Afraid so. Remember what I taught you?"
"A sharp mind is the key to greatness."
"Good girl. Carry that with you for the rest of your life, and I promise you will excel."
"Thank you."
"Adeus, Rebecca de Cristao!"
"Adeus, meu amigo! Eu vê-lo-ei logo! … Eu espero," Rebecca said wistfully, waving goodbye. She turned toward the town, wondering where Drusilla might be hiding. She stopped in a tavern to see if anyone had seen Drusilla.
"Excuse me, sir," she said to the man tending the bar," but have you seen my sister?"
"What she look like?"
"About my height, slightly taller, black hair, dark eyes. Speaks with a Portuguese accent, like me."
"Don't think I've seen her."
"Her name is Drusilla de Cristao. If you see her, please tell her Rebecca is looking for her."
"Right," the man said, hardly listening to Rebecca. She shifted her attention to the three women talking in a corner. They were all whispering, looking at Rebecca and then each other.
