Chapter 10- Close Encounters

It was later that evening. The Robinson's were sitting in a rather extravagant sitting room, well fed by their gracious hosts. Conversation was quiet, with no one willing to interrupt the serene atmosphere. Lara sat next to her husband, half-listening to his and William's conversation, taking in the sight of her family happy and complete in front of her:

Sarah and Fritz were having a half-hearted discussion about some matter, which Sarah was losing for once. Lara smiled, putting her daughter's lack of enthusiasm down to fatigue. In the corner Ernst was reading, a different book this time, but equally thick and daunting in appearance. Her eyes drifted to the other two, showing a mixture of surprise and delight at the sight of Emily and Jacob deep in discussion, previous misgivings discarded after their adventure.

Lara's eyebrows creased in contemplation at the thought; none of the three had mentioned any details of their experiences, Sarah merely commenting that they stayed with some of Jake's friends. Whatever happened, they seemed a lot closer because of it.

She was distracted as Jake stood up with a smile at Emily. He saw his mother's confused look, and said quietly, "I think I'll go to sleep, I'm quite tired. Good night."

"Good night, Jake," Sarah replied, with a sympathetic look that only made Lara more mindful of how little she knew about her son. She was slightly hurt that he found it easier to confide in Sarah than her, painfully aware that the only conversation they had shared had been short and trivial.

She turned to her daughter as soon as Jacob's already quiet footsteps had died down. "He seems to be going to bed earlier and earlier," she commented, her words guarded. Sarah seemed more alert, her argument with Fritz suspended as she shifted uncomfortably under her mother's gaze. Nevertheless, she made no move to reply.

Fritz rose and took the vacated seat next to his fiancé, wrapping his arm around her as she leant into his side. Ernst eyed the door thoughtfully, then commented.

"I've noticed that, and he hasn't been sleeping well at all. He's always been asleep when I get to bed, but after an hour or so I hear him wake up again. I wonder why. Sarah?" He looked towards his sister, knowing that she was the only one Jacob would have told.

"He hasn't mentioned much to me." She answered as smoothly as she could.

"So what has he told you? About what happened on the ship?"

"Ernst! Whatever he told me, he told me in confidence. You can't ask me to break my promise. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go to bed too." And with that she practically fled from the room, eager to escape her family's questioning.

Slowly she made her way up the numerous staircases to her room, so immersed with trying not to get lost in the house that she nearly missed her brother sitting at a window seat overlooking the cliff. She suddenly came to a halt under his amused look, then chuckled at her self-absorption.

"Going to sleep, huh?" she asked, with a wry grin.

Jake laughed softly, remarking "I couldn't sleep."

Sarah nodded sympathetically. Although, as she had told Ernst, Jacob hadn't even told her what nightmares were keeping him awake, he had told her about his irregular sleeping patterns and midnight strolls. As he turned his gaze back to the misty harbour in front of him, she clambered onto the seat next to him, and pulled the curtain shut, giving them some privacy. Jake smiled at his sister, who never ceased to amaze him with her constant vigilance; he had always liked enclosed spaces, they gave him privacy and allowed him to lose himself in thought; Something he did often to escape the brutality of the ship.

Sarah seemed more pensive than normal, not as quick to ask questions. Jacob supplied the conversation instead, quietly pointing out places in the town spread out before them, each accompanied by a small tale of his exploits with Charlie, Amara and Rat. Eventually he stopped and sat in silence once more, contemplating his sister's current mood.

"What's on your mind?" he asked softly, drawing a guilty look from his sister. When she didn't answer, he pressed on, with a teasing grin. "A certain young man perhaps?"

Sarah rewarded his assumption with a soft kick, then joined in the affectionate banter. "And what about you? You haven't stopped smiling since we got here! I certain girl of Hispanic parentage, maybe?" She giggled at his shocked face, then added in an undertone, "mi cielo…"

"Eavesdropper!" Jake said with mock offence.

"Pirate!" Sarah replied, then stopped, chiding herself for the inappropriate comment. She let out a sigh of relief as Jacob laughed at her horrified expression, then relaxed and joined in, at peace once more.

The brother and sister sat in comfortable silence as the rest of the house gradually retired. Sarah briefly remembered looking sleepily across at Jacob hours later, pleased to see him sleeping soundly for once. The next thing she recalled was waking up in her own bed with sunlight pouring through the open curtains.

***

Montrose stepped off of the coach with Jacob, waving goodbye to his parents and Ernst as they headed off to explore Port William. He hadn't seen Sarah since dawn, when he had awoken after a thankfully dreamless sleep, and carried her back to her bedroom. Apparently her predictions were correct; their parents had forbidden her from leaving the house for the rest of the stay, so she had been left, fuming, with Fritz and Emily. He had more pressing matters to worry about now, though, as he set off into the navy building, speeding up to walk next to Captain Montrose, just in case the men got any more ideas about payback.

"So, Jacob, where would Pickles go? We didn't see the Albatross in the harbour, but I recall you saying that they wouldn't land here anyway." Captain asked as they made their way into the navy office, and Montrose led the way to a table with a map spread out on it.

"No, my guess is they'll use the same place as Blunt did," Jacob replied, studying the map of Port William and the surrounding area, and finally pointing at a small port some miles down the coast. "Here. They'll have landed here then make their way up this road, coming into Port William from the south west."

"Where will they go after that?" Montrose asked.

"I don't know…I normally went with Blunt or with…some friends I know here. I never knew where Pickles and the other men went while they stayed here."

Captain Montrose sighed, feeling that the young man in front of him may not be telling the complete truth, through a feeling of loyalty perhaps?

Instead of pressing him for more answers, he relayed the information gained to some other officers in the building, then left with Jake and a few of his own crew. They split up near the same market square where Jake had been attacked, Jacob intent on spending as much time with the Orphans as possible. Despite Sarah's protests and Lara's coaxing, David had announced that this would be their last day in Port William before returning. Jake nodded shortly to Captain Montrose before heading off up a side alley leading off of the main road. He didn't get far, however, before an all too familiar figure appeared some way ahead of him.

Jake began backing off, praying his presence would go unnoticed and cursing himself for unconsciously using the familiar root from his piracy days. His prayers were cut short as the man let out a loud cry. The boy turned abruptly and pelted back out of the alley as the pounding boots got louder behind him, wrapping his arm around his side with a grimace as his ribs protested at the movement. He broke out into the busy street, not caring where he was heading. He shrank back as his escape was halted by an outthrust arm, jarring his already throbbing ribs, and looked up with trepidation into the face above him.

"Jacob!" Captain Montrose exclaimed, as Jacob relaxed somewhat. "What's wrong?"

"Pickles!" Jacob answered breathlessly, trying to break the man's hold, not-so-irrational fear gripping him. "He was right behind me!"

The Captain looked up sharply, immediately catching sight of the man they were hunting. He let go of the boy, drawing his pistol and charging after the offender, with a warning cry to his men.

Jacob watched as the chase drew away from him, then turned and headed off towards the orphanage once more, this time making sure to stay on the main roads.

***

The Robinson's were gathered around the dining table enjoying an evening meal provided by their hosts. Lara looked around the table, noting that conversation was sparse: Captain Montrose and David were talking quietly about something or other; Ernst seemed more concerned with the food than with conversation; Fritz and Emily were immersed with each other; Sarah was still fuming at her house arrest punishment. And as for Jacob…well, thought Lara, he's being his usual untalkative self.

"Those friends you stayed with the other night, Jacob," she began, gaining a confused look from her son. "I would like to meet them; maybe you could invite them over tomorrow for lunch."

"You…want to meet them?" Jacob asked in astonishment. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it would be nice to meet them seeing as they mean so much to you." Lara smiled at Jacob's reaction, not realising what she was getting herself into…