Author's note: Thank u so much, guys! And thank u, walsh28! We move on with the story and see what awaits on board the Goodsight! I've just read the last volume of Long John Silver by Xavier Dorison and Mathieu Laufray, and boy sure it gives you great ideas!
Let's go!
12. The Sea Witch
"But equally with all I share
Whate'er the wealth we take supplies;
I only seek the matchless fair,
My portion of the prize."
Jim had seen many ships during his life but none as big as the one before them. The Sea Witch, despite looking heavy and slow, was a powerful vessel and quite a beauty with its dragon head figure. On deck, a big lot of pirates were expecting them with their swords ready and roaring like a pack of dark-mattered beasts. Eluten was the first one to come aboard to give the orders around and keep his dogs at bay. Gold and a large sailor called Edward carried Silver to the ship's infirmary while Jim, BEN (who had joined them in the last minute) and Sarah were escorted to see the captain. Morph was tasked with watching over the Ursid.
Francis Foreman, the Second-in-Command Officer and Eluten's right hand man, was a tall dark-skinned man. He could easily give orders around and keep the crew busy while they visited Goodsight's room. Much to the boy's surprise, Ricardo J. Goodsight was a young man about his twenties and was respected by his men like God himself. He smiled at them when they came in.
'Mss Hawkins, Mr. Hawkins. Please do sit down' he pointed at some nice chairs. 'And so can the robot, please' Ricardo saw BEN's uneasy moves. 'Am glad that you made it here in one piece' he had a very correct English and his blue clothes were clean and well kept. 'And I want to thank u for bringing John aboard. He means a lot to us and I really want him to go safe through this loop'
'What about the attacks in town?' Sarah looked at the window with concern.
'As soon as we sail away, the riot will stop. Don't worry' the captain sat down. 'May I offer you anything? Water, wine, grape-juice, rum?'
'Uh, water!' both Hawkins said.
'Oil will do' BEN added and Foreman served them.
'Can you cure Silver?' Jim asked.
'Yes and no, we need to get to Dandelion, our Organic Mechas expert but he'll be safe here'
'Nice to hear that'
'You don't seem much of a pirate yourself' said Sarah trying to be polite.
'I studied in the Navy Academy and was trained to be a gentleman but, family calls. Still, I know just the button to keep those scurvy dogs in line' Ricardo leaned his elbows on the table. 'As soon as we are done with the trial, you will all go home'
'But...' the woman remembered the explosions.
'Me men will see to your inn, Mss Hawkins' that relieved her.
'Say, weren't there other pirates after Silver?' Jim was still on edge.
'Yeah, like Grimmy, Devilfish, oh! And the guy of the patch, and oh, and the...' BEN rattled on and the boy had to hush him. 'Ye knew, lot of people. They just can't live without a cyborg'
'I'm well aware of this, Mr. Hawkins. All Brothers of Piracy are meeting in the Spyglass and many captains want John hanged but that's not going to happen while I'm here'
'You seem to know Silver well'
'I do, trust me' he winked. 'More than what you think'
'What about Amelia and well, all the...'
'I haven't been just sitting here, lad. I have gathered all the information about the Empire and their moves. And I have written to them to make a deal'
'What deal?' Jim feared the worst.
'We pirates will stay away from cities and take our business to the Etherium as long as the Empire ceases their assaults on us. They accepted but put one condition'
'What condition?'
'That Long John Silver stays with us or in the worst case, faces gallows'
'WHAT?'
'Oh Mamma!' the android went pale. 'Jimmy, that means...'
'Why?'
'They say he's far too dangerous to be let roaming around' Ricardo sighed. 'I was surprised, just like you, and outraged but I had no choice. It was that or a universe-scaled hunt. If John makes it through the trial, he will have to live in exile'
'They can't do this' Jim gritted his teeth.
'James' Sarah tried to calm him down.
'They just can't! Silver saved me! Saved us!'
'I will do anything in my power to help John. But now, we must all rest our heads a little and set sail for the Spyglass. You can stay in a cabin near the infirmary. No one will disturb you there. But stay away from the crew for now. We don't want them going angrier'
'Thank u, captain' they were escorted by the man to the room where Silver was resting. When the Ursid saw Ricardo, his face beamed.
'Ricky! So good to see ye again, lad!'
'So good to see you too, Papa Bear. Edmund and Dandelion will have a look at you once we get to the place. Although, you already look pretty worn out to me'
'Good o'Ricky! Ye haven't changed a bit'
'You know him?' Jim sat down.
'Know'im, Jimbo? Why, he was me cabin boy for some years and I taught'im to be capt'n. I've known this old salt since he was a wee babby'
'Wow!' Jim was impressed.
'You should all rest now. I'll come and see you later, Jol. We have a lot to talk about'
'Aye, capt'n' the Ursid nodded and went back to sleep while James, Sarah and BEN were taken to their cabin. Jim began to ponder. What was Silver's real relationship with the Goodsight, anyway?
Ricardo is one of my most beloved characters and here, he would have Martin Freeman's voice.
More to come real soon, people!
Next stop: The Golden Rose
