Chapter 11: Confrontations
"All I'm saying, Jack, is that anyone could break into yer cabin," Barbossa was leaning forward on Jack's big table.
"The door has a lock and I'm the only one with a key!" Jack shot back. He was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up sipping from a mug of rum. "If it makes you feel better I can post a guard."
"Who could we trust in this crew?" Barbossa growled with a roll of his eyes. "And yer lock is a joke. I could pick it with my eyes closed."
"We didn't tell anyone what was in the chest," Jack knew that was a lame argument before he voiced it.
"Ye know better, Jack!" Barbossa was losing his patience. "Even the ones that didn't see it will hear about the chest if they haven't heard about it already. And not one of them will think we came back empty handed from a raid on Alamgir's house."
"That reminds me. What are you going to do with the woman?" Jack was casual about the question but hoped it would distract Hector from the box.
"'Umniya hasn't decided what she wants to do yet." Barbossa answered with a dismissive wave. "She'll stay in my cabin until she does."
"Your cabin eh?" Jack gave the older pirate a lascivious leer.
"Yer changing the subject," Barbossa countered. "If we lock it in the brig no one can get to the chest. Only ye've got a key to that. Better yet. We can give the key to Aasim."
"Why the eunuch?" Jack demanded with an offended air. "You don't trust me?"
"My life's on the line too," Barbossa asserted. "I know ye well enough to know that ye'd risk yer own life for that much gold. But I won't."
"Someone could pick that lock too," Jack sulked.
Barbossa now assumed a more reasonable tone, "It's better than yers. We could rivet a chain around the bars for extra security."
Jack considered the argument for a moment then nodded. "All right. We'll have to lash the box to the deck so that it can't be drawn to the bars. Go and see to it that staples are hammered home. I'll keep an eye on the chest until you get it done."
"Ye'll keep an eye on the chest?" Barbossa objected. He was about to go on when someone pounded on the cabin door.
"Captain!" Leech's voice sounded from the other side. "A ship is coming fast!"
Their argument interrupted the two pirates looked at each other and sprang into action. Jack tore open the door and stormed onto the deck. Barbossa joined him a moment later. Off of the port bow near the horizon was a frigate under full sail. The Pearl was tacking and the frigate was running with the wind at its back. Jack scanned the sea to all sides but the frigate was the only ship in sight.
"Our friends the knights?" Barbossa inquired.
"Who else would it be?" Jack growled. "Clear the decks for action! Secure my cabin. Get the woman below the water line."
"Aye," Barbossa turned hurriedly to his duties. The alarm was raised and the men scrambled to their posts. All sail was set and the Pearl turned with the wind. The chase was on.
"Captain, we'll be heading back toward Tripoli," Barbossa warned.
"We'll stay ahead of them until night fall," Jack was checking the compass. "Then we'll turn north and get around them."
"We could turn and fight."
Jack smiled like a fox. "Why fight when we risk nothing by running, Hector?"
Over the Mediterranean the Pearl sped. Dolphins leaped in the white foam at the bow while the men stood to their stations. As the day drew on towards night the frigate was slowly out paced. The tension that had been growing among the crew abated as night crept closer. Near sunset the lookout called from the masthead. His shout drew the attention of all on deck and their eyes turned aft to where he pointed. Above the frigate two rockets rose and burst in bright flashes. After a moment a man at the bow called. There above the horizon two more rockets rose and burst.
"Signals, captain," Barossa said calmly.
"Aye," Jack was looking through his glass. "Signals."
Jack looked forward and aft. He gaged the distances and made his decision. He checked the compass heading again and gaged the wind. It was turning. Now coming from the south by south west.
"Bring her around. Turn us north, Hector."
Barbossa gave a nod and went to the wheel. The Pearl turned north as night crept over the horizon. Jack collected Leech the bosun and gave specific orders. He had Leech repeat them to be sure that he was understood. Once the bosun was about his task Jack went to his cabin. A few moments later he reappeared on deck with the chest held firmly in both hands. He gave a look to Barbossa who nodded in understanding. Jack carried the chest below and locked it away in the brig. The Pearl sailed on into the night like a shadow among shadows and hunted by unknown numbers of enemies.