Shipwreck or The chances a Commodore and a Pirate can survive a deserted spit of land and each other
Chapter 10
James was on his feet now, steadying himself one handed against the palm trunk. He was not enthused in the least at the thought of that animal touching his person dead or not. He hesitated before asking what was prominent in his thoughts, not wanting to insult Sparrow. After all he did put some work into this crutch, and it was a thoughtful thing for him to do. But the fact remained he was not fond of rodents, especially when they were apparently going to come into intimate contact with his person.
"Did you happen to do any manner of laundering of this….fur Captain?"
"It's a virulent and malignin misconception that over the years our little companions, the rats, have been flagrantly besmirched and viciously muddied as to the state of their personal aptitude and or disposition to cleanliness Commodore. It might surprise you, as well as many others not knowin of the knowin or havin the state of awareness to be aware of the factualities when it comes to such creatures as we speak of here. They are in fact quite intense in the tidyin and fastidiousness of their persons…….or little furry bodies so to speak. Much like yerself Commodore."
"Oh please!" James said as he shot Jack a dirty look, "Are you comparing me to a rat?"
"Not in the least or at least not so it would be that sententious." Jack replied with a smile and a flop of his hands, then before James could register a reaction, "Now Commodore, let's get on with the ambulatin, what say you to that?" He shoved the crutch under James arm and tugged him away from the palm.
James huffed a little and frowned at Jack, but his attention was almost immediately focused on staying upright. After a few moments he was able to stay just barely balanced on the crutch while holding his injured leg up off the ground, and was soon taking a few tentative, if unsteady steps. He knew he looked extremely awkward, then smiled as he likened it in his mind to the dance lessons he had been forced to take as a midshipman. Although he knew he was coordinated and could even be graceful at times, the proof of this clearly shown when he had sword in hand, the mastery of his limbs while dancing had eluded him, something this trying to walk with a crutch appeared to be doing to some extent as well. He decided he would do with this as he had done with the dancing, make up for the lack of proficiency with tenacity.
After a short while he was able to maintain a modicum of balance, although he was not so stable that the chance of falling was not constantly imminent.
Jack stood close enough to intervene in case James would loose his balance. Wouldn't do to have the Commodore fall and perhaps reopen that wound. He offered what he felt were words of encouragement through out the proceedings, although the looks the Commodore gave him from time to time put question to the fact the Commodore was interpreting them in as encouraging a way as Jack had meant them.
James tired quickly, and was soon headed back for the palm.
"No worries Commodore, no use over doin it, rest up a bit and we'll try it again later." Jack said as he helped James the few feet over to sit against the tree. "After all ya have been doin naught but sittin on yer bum for the past week or so and leavin the foragin and providin ta me as it were. Can't really expect yerself ta be scurryin bout the island like a….." Jack had been about to say rat but thought better of it and just let the word slowly die on his lips.
James gave him a sharp look but didn't comment, instead he said, "Perhaps you are right Captain. I shall try it again later."
Jack settled down beside James and the two sat there in silence for a short time. James looked at Jack and then at the ground in front of him as he spoke, "Have you thought about the fact that even though your sea goddess may be telling the truth about my destiny and getting off this island, there is no telling when that may happen. It could be years."
"She's no manner of concepts when it comes to time Commodore, ya be right on that score." Jack said with a wry smile.
"You do realize if it happens the Royal Navy finds us before your Pearl, if indeed either one of them does, you face the noose." James said solemnly.
"Ya surely wouldn't still be havin the intentions of hangin me after I saved your life…..twice… would ya Commodore? Was thinkin we might be past all that by now." Jack replied with a puppy dog look at James.
James allowed a brief, almost non existent smile to flutter across his lips before speaking, "I hardly think the one instance of 'saving' my life could, in any way, be included as it was your actions that caused my life to be endangered to begin with, ergo there is only the one to consider here." James met Jack's eyes as he continued, "I personally have no intention of hanging you Captain, I do owe you for saving my life and shall not forget that. There are others however that will not hesitate to do that very thing if you were to fall into their custody. Most regrettably there is nothing I can do for you in that eventuality Jack.
"I understand fully Commodore, though you be the one I'm most concerned about in dealin with matters such as that, seein as yer bout the only one ever came close ta apprehendin Captain Jack Sparrow, unless there was just bad luck involved, which I'd have ta admit a time or two there was just that." Jack said with a grimace, and then added with a glittering smile and flourish of his hands. "Now what say you old Jack fixes us a bite to eat and then we…or you …as it will indeed be you doin the doin of it… can get back ta improvin that hobblin about ya was doin such a poor and dissolute job of a little while ago, what say you to that?
"I would concur that is acceptable Captain." James said, his stomach grumbling a bit after all his exertion.
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Over the next several days James spent as much time as he could improving his use of the crutch. His strength began to return little by little and he was finally able to put the crutch aside for a cane Jack fashioned for him, sans the fur embellishment this time, something James was ever so thankful for, having not quite been able to get the feel of that 'fur' and the sense that he had acquired some sort of parasite or worse from his body no matter how many baths he took in the ocean. His leg still did not allow him to move entirely without protest but it was improving little by little. Within a week or so James was able to walk with only a slightly pronounced limp in his gait, his leg mostly troubling him when he went to get up from a sitting position or lower himself into a sitting position.
He had begun once again to scour the beach for anything that had washed up, it was surprising how much had continued to wash ashore even this long after the ship had gone down. He was unable to maneuver most of the items he felt would be of use back to their camp site himself, having to coerce a mostly unwilling Jack into hauling them back, and usually getting the same response of "What the bloody hell do we need this for Commodore?" or "Ya really think this is going to come in handy?" or a just plain "You're daft, you do know that don't you?" He usually did finally give in with much scowling and grumbling and relocate said items as James requested, which always caused James to smile a bit, though he was careful not to let Jack see him smiling.
During one of these little recovery excursions down the beach from where they had been finding most of the items Jack suddenly dropped the unwieldy chest he was wrestling with and snapped his attention to the ocean. As he stood there facing the sea he closed his eyes and cocked his head to the side as if he were listening to something.
"What is it Captain?" James said as he watched the unusual sight of Jack going perfectly still and silent.
"Too far away ta hear clearly Commodore. More of a sense of her 'm pickin up here." Jack answered, almost in a whisper.
James had to lean forward to even make out what Jack was saying, "What is it you are hearing?"
Jack spoke quietly, his eyes still closed and head still leaned to the side, "Pearl, she's out there though not very close. More n likely some days off. She's not reckonin just where we are, still castin about for me. An I'm not gettin to her yet, distance is too great."
James peered at Jack, off to the horizon, and then back at Jack, not really believing what the man was saying, but almost wishing he did.
To Be Continued
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