Chapter 26: The Apples
Summary: Bracero gets chatty with Athena
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I apologise for some of the things Bracero alludes to in his conversation with Athena, even though he scoffs at me for being embarrassed on his behalf. But allow me to say, I'm sorry. He's pretty earthy.
(there's no non-con or dub con, just... inappropriate Bracero being inappropriate)
I'd also like to advise that there is a brief (one line each) exchange in Spanish between Bracero and Benetez, which isn't necessary for understanding the rest of the chapter (it's rude); and where possible, any Spanish Bracero uses is generally one or two words only, and is explained within the context. Please also be advised that Bracero's English isn't as good as Officer Magda's and Capitán Salazar's; I have done my best to respectfully replicate the speech of someone learning English, so any words that have been dropped, or grammatical inconsistencies in Bracero's dialogue are deliberate.
Spanish Translations at the end of the chapter.
PREVIOUSLY...
Magda watched them leave, before saying, "Bracero, from now on you have my permission to bar every officer who is not me, or Lieutenant Lesaro, from entering this cabin."
He left without another look at me.
I was alone in the cabin with Bracero again.
After Officer Magda left, I pulled the cloak around me, fumbling to tie the cloak-strings together, my thoughts churning over everything I had just heard.
Bracero likewise stood in silence by the open door, apparently thinking; his eyes flicking between the walls of the cabin and the busy deck outside.
From everything I'd heard, I knew Capitán Salazar would still be talking with Barbossa – right now – trying to get answers about this Compass. One of the many compasses from the ones Santos had collected and put into the Capitán's cabin for him.
A Compass that Sparrow apparently wanted to be 'destroyed'.
I had a very strong suspicion that destroying the Compass had been the thing that Sparrow had asked for in exchange for his help. He must've bargained for it in exchange for giving Capitán Salazar advice about how to break his curse… and specifically – I paused for a moment, as the idea really sank in – about how to get me to care for him.
I could almost see how he would've done it too. I could see Sparrow, lounging over the table in Capitán Salazar's cabin, smirking away at him while Moss had been taking me away to change my clothes. Maybe even spreading his knees wide to swing his legs over the edge of the table. He would've loved every minute of it, telling the Capitán dubious anecdotes of his own past experiences with 'love', probably unable to resist dropping references about magnificent legs.
I pursed my lips in distaste. But it wasn't because I thought for a second that the pirate had any real interest in me or my legs. I'd seen the way his eyes often slid around to Capitán Salazar, the way his purposeful smile glinted when he teased him, and I was under no illusions: Jack Sparrow had no more real interest in me than he did in a wooden oar, but he would say anything on purpose just to get a rise out of the Capitán. And I could just see him – barely able to restrain himself from stabbing the annoying ghost. Even when he knew it made no difference.
But whatever he and Sparrow had talked about, whatever was the exact agreement they'd come to – there was no doubt. Capitán Salazar had tried. In his own way, he'd tried to care for me. But I wasn't any more than a means to an end. I was 'valuable' to him, but only for as long as I could either break his curse, or tell him things about the future.
And then the image of him casting me that one last look, before he'd slammed the cabin door, invaded my mind.
Be assured, Santos had told me seriously. He cares.
But it wasn't true. It couldn't be true.
He just wanted to break his curse.
Everything he did was so that he and his men could break their curse, and, as he'd said to me himself, 'have a future'.
I shoved any doubts about feelings away.
This would be a transaction, I decided, between him and me.
The Capitán needed help to break his curse, and though he didn't know it yet, I'd finally decided that I was going to help him break it. No matter what it took.
He may not be able to truly care for me, but I was sure there'd be other ways to break his Curse.
My fingers were cold against my collarbone as I finished tying my cloak-strings, and I shivered involuntarily.
No matter what happened, I was going to see Capitán Salazar again. I was going to say sorry for what I'd said – and I was going to find a way to break his curse with him.
My resolve to do this had only strengthened after seeing the thin and sick-looking prisoners who'd been working on the mast. It would take some negotiating, but I would do whatever it took to free them.
But first, I had to convince Lesaro and Magda to take me to see him.
I stayed standing there, ready and waiting, for as long as I could.
I didn't think it would be long before Magda would be back with Lieutenant Lesaro. If I was being honest with myself, I was more than a little apprehensive of the Lieutenant. I didn't know what kind of questions he might ask me, but I decided I was not going to waste time worrying about it.
I firmly reminded myself of the prisoners aboard. I remembered the thin old man at the mast, struggling to wield his mallet. There'd be more prisoners like him, who needed to be cared for, and I was going to make sure they were.
Bolstered by my new determination, I figured that even if I didn't know how I was going to convince Lieutenant Lesaro to let me see his Capitán, I'd figure out a way.
Capitán Salazar hadn't seemed interested in telling his men any of the things he and I had spoken about in private, and honestly right now I was grateful to him for it. Even though he believed I was meant to be here in the past as some kind of chosen magical protector, he hadn't seemed to have told anyone else yet.
I had to come up with a story to satisfy Lesaro and Magda – but one that also kept the future as safe as possible. There would have to be secrets I kept to myself. Secrets like my real name. And where I was from. And when I was from. Maybe I could start to work out a feasible story that could satisfy the Lieutenant...
Minutes dragged by.
The storm clouds were lowering outside; the walls seemed to be slowly drawing in, closer and closer in the diminishing light of the cabin. The smell of sea-damp oak in the chill air added to the increasing sense of claustrophobia, and I closed my eyes and swallowed.
La María creaked softly, and Bracero seemed to nod slowly in response.
He then motioned to someone on the deck, who I couldn't see; I became immediately alert, thinking that Lesaro and Magda might finally be coming.
But it wasn't them.
"Benetez," I heard Bracero say. "Necesito un favor."
Benetez came to the doorway, curious to know what Bracero would be asking.
My slowly increasing grasp of Spanish helped me guess that Bracero had called him over for another favour, and La María seemed to respond warmly to the low instructions murmured to the other man. I heard both 'La María' and 'el Capitán' repeated between them, but I couldn't catch any other familiar-sounding words.
Benetez left and returned in a short time, followed by two pirates.
I could see that the pirates must have been ordered to carry supplies in, for one of them had a blanket and a small lantern, already lit; and the other pirate – the other pirate was the same muddy-faced young man from the deck.
He was managing a small bowl of apples, a flagon of water and a cup, and he shuffled awkwardly behind the other, head down, into the cabin.
While Benetez remained at the door next to Bracero, the young pirate lifted his head slightly, to glance at me once from under the brim of the old hat he wore, his expression still just as hostile as before.
I shifted anxiously back, making room for him as he went to Magda's desk with his armful of things.
The other pirate had already left the lantern and blanket on the floor by the bed, and all but sprinted out, apparently fearful of being too long in the same room as the cursed Spaniards.
"Run, run, run, you rat," Bracero mocked him as he passed. "Back to Officer Santos!"
Benetez chuckled, and I folded my arms uncomfortably at their mockery. I understood their reasons for hating pirates, but bullying someone who was clearly terrified brought back uneasy memories for me.
"Very pretty," Benetez shot a quick glance at me, his eyebrows raised pointedly.
I looked at them in surprise, realising he'd just spoken about – me.
Bracero's gold gaze held mine a moment, before sliding back to his friend, his tongue curling out between his teeth in a quick tease.
"Jealous?"
Benetez shrugged. "Depends."
"Sí?"
"On you." Benetez airily looked out through the door, as if studying the stormy skies. "I never know what mood you are in, niño bonito." His eyes flicked sideways at Bracero. "Or who you are in the mood for."
"I told you, this one belongs to La María." Bracero chuckled lightly, before adding, still smiling. "And el Capitán."
I didn't know what he meant by saying I belonged to the ship, but I felt my face heat a little at the idea of belonging to Capitán Salazar.
Benetez smiled, no longer even looking at me, and let the back of his hand drift lightly across Bracero's wrist.
It was a subtle gesture – almost subtle enough to mistake for an accident – and his voice dropped to a whisper as he said something only for Bracero to hear. It was visible, yet private; and extremely revealing of a deeper affection between them.
I felt instinctively I should look away and politely pretend I didn't see.
I wasn't sure what the rules were in the 1700s for relations between crewmen aboard a ship, or what Capitán Salazar's rules were, or if he even had any; but in the end it was none of my business. After everything they'd suffered, these men had a right to happiness in any way they wanted, with whomever they wanted. I decided it wasn't something I'd ever bring up with the Capitán.
"When will you forget that woman?"
The words made me glance curiously at them.
Benetez was still standing close, but at that question Bracero looked away.
"Por favor." Benetez persisted. "Will you ever put what happened in Cádiz behind you?"
"No," Bracero paused, before answering him in soft Spanish.
I could have sworn I heard Magda's name, a surprise which I filed away to think about for later; but I decided to quietly turn away again and allow them space as they murmured to each other.
The muddy-faced pirate was still in the cabin.
He was standing by Magda' desk, dithering with a flagon of water. Glancing sideways at him, I saw him shakily pouring water over the apples. He pushed the cork back in its neck, and glanced over his shoulder - before realising I'd been watching him. He looked so frightened in that instant, that I almost asked him what he'd been doing... but then I decided it was better to bite my tongue.
Maybe he'd just been unsure of his orders. Or maybe he was just rinsing the apples for me to eat? And now had second thoughts, and was worried that taking any sort of initiative could get him into trouble...
After Lesaro's display of anger on the deck before, his fear would not be unfounded, and the last thing I wanted was for another pirate to be beaten for something as small and unimportant as not knowing whether to rinse a bowlful of apples or not.
La María creaked softly, an echoing sound that had just the faintest edge of warning to it, but it was all that was needed to break up the Spaniards' conversation with each other.
"Enough, pirata!" Benetez snapped, drawing back from Bracero. "Leave."
As he scuttled past them, his head firmly down, Benetez winked at Bracero. "Ah, bien. Time to go. Good times are for tomorrow!"
"And tomorrow never comes." Bracero pushed him affably towards the door. "Bien, bien, bien, now get out! Out!"
"Keep your clothes on," Benetez said cheekily as he went, with one last glance over his shoulder at me. "Ella se parece a una mujer que conocí una vez en un burdel -"
"Don't let the Capitán hear you say that!" Bracero scowled. "¡Si no quieres quedarte sin polla!"
Benetez made a rude gesture at hip level before walking out, which only made Bracero snort with laughter.
La María creaked again softly, and Bracero nodded to her as he watched Benetez walk away, then sighed and firmly wedged the door firmly shut.
He came and picked up the lantern, placing it on the desk so its light relieved the gloom of the cabin, and tossed the blanket onto Santos' pillow. I stayed where I was, against the wall, keeping out of his way just like I'd kept out of the pirates' way.
Bracero then turned and single-handedly started shoving Magda's heavy bed against the door. He was barricading me in. The sound of the wooden bed scraping against the floorboards matched my alarm.
It's okay, I told myself. La María won't let him hurt you, deep breaths, don't panic. He just doesn't want to take any chances that you won't try and escape again.
I knew he had to have heard Santos reassuring Magda that I was not intending to leave the ship, but still – Bracero clearly didn't trust me, no matter what deals I'd apparently made with his Capitán about not escaping.
He turned to me when he was finished, and said bluntly, "La María wants you safe. This way, no one out, and no one in."
No one in. I guessed Bracero meant no one human could come in - and silently, I couldn't help agreeing a little.
I was going to bargain with Capitán Salazar about the prisoners, but I wasn't stupid enough to think any of them would necessarily be safe for me to be around.
I took a deep breath in, let it out, and sat back down on Santos' bed.
The bowlful of apples on the desk perfumed the air, and their smell was so delicious, and so appetising, that I was very tempted to go take one.
But… I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea.
Those apples could be the last food I had for a while, and I knew that if I started eating one, I might eat them all, and then it could be ages before I was given any more. No, it would be better if I held off just a little longer. Still, their fragrance was tempting, and they looked – for apples that had been scavenged from off a ship – surprisingly fresh. They were smaller than the ones I was used to seeing in supermarkets back home, but they looked unbruised and rosy and they smelt perfect. I guessed that Barbossa must have had a secret store of them somewhere on the Queen Anne.
Bracero noticed me looking. "Hungry, Señorita?"
I shook my head immediately.
He came to the desk, and picked up the bowl of apples.
La María suddenly spoke, a sharp cracking sound.
Bracero looked up, surprised.
"What is she saying?" I asked, afraid she was going to get the pirate into trouble for washing the apples with the water.
"She says… she is not ready for you to eat." Bracero frowned, but then shrugged. "But it is alright. You can take some. Save them for later." He held the bowl out. "No need to starve yourself."
The fragrance of the apples were even stronger as he held it out to me, but still I didn't know if I should.
La María was strangely silent, but I could feel her complete attention on me now, and it was unnerving.
"Do you think the apples are bad?"
"No..."
"You think," Bracero tilted his head at me. "We will not feed you again."
Yes, I thought; but I didn't say that.
"I – I can wait."
"Take some." He insisted. "La María says you should wait to eat, but I'm sure they are tasty."
I could see he was not going to put the bowl back down until I gave in, so, reluctantly, I slid to my feet, and came slowly towards him.
"I promise," he said when I reached out for one, "I will not bite."
I watched him, hesitating, and then took one in my hand.
La María sighed, and I felt her attention suddenly withdraw back out of the cabin; but in her place was a heavy, creeping presence, that made my chest ache a little and the air feel thick.
Bracero didn't seem to notice the change in the atmosphere.
"More." He said, shaking the bowl a little. "Take more."
Slowly, I took two more, watching him the whole time.
"See." He grinned. "No biting. Yet."
I backed away, uncomfortable that the same glint from before had crept back in his eye, and huddled onto Santos' bed again.
I tried to pretend not to notice as he stood there, still casually holding the bowl of apples, watching me while I made myself comfortable against the bedhead.
I was hungry, but – La María was right. I really had to keep the apples for later. Just in case. I thought about tucking them in the top of my trousers, under my belt, but as I fumbled to pull the cloak aside to do so, I noticed for the first time there was a buttoned-up pocket sewn on the inside of my cloak. It wasn't very big, perhaps only sewn for the size of a large compass or a pocket watch, but with a little squeeze I was able to fit the three small apples in and button the pocket closed again.
My stomach rumbled in hunger, but I ignored it; choosing to wrap my cloak firmly around me as I settled back against the bedhead, and watch the glowing wick of the lantern instead.
I tried not to think about the sinking levels of oil in the lantern, or the fact that sooner or later, it would go out and by that time it would be dark and I would be alone with Bracero. Who I still didn't entirely trust.
"Benetez thinks you tempt me." Bracero said out of the blue.
I looked at him in surprise.
He turned and casually placed the bowl of apples back on the desk.
"But… I made my mind up," he went on, conversationally. "Long time ago. No more women."
He gave me a slow, speculative look over his shoulder.
"This body you have. This – Lady Stanhope. She is very pretty." He turned around to face me. "But, hard to tell sometimes. Because sometimes I see you. But when el Capitán first brought you aboard, you were asleep, and I saw her. Makes me wonder where she is. Maybe, she will come, get her body back." His eyes glinted. "Put you back into your body. I would like that. Then I could see you both. Then, I know, which one is better."
"Uh huh," I could feel my eyebrows shooting upwards. "Right. Because a woman's face is the only way you can measure her value, huh."
"No, not her face..." He shifted on his feet as he looked me over, with that same heated glint in his eyes.
I tensed, ready to defend myself if I needed to, watching every movement of his for the slightest indication he was going to come for me.
He saw me tense, and smiled slowly.
"Do you know," he said, "Before La María, I was used to many lovers. Men. Women. Men who dressed like women. Women who dressed like men. Many times, I look after them. Make them happy. Give them what they want. Sometimes, they only want lesson. Want me to tell them, show them, how to be good like me. How to make their lovers happy." Bracero paused to lean against the desk, folding his arms with pride. "I was the best. They knew me only at night, by – a false name. I built ships in daytime, I built pleasure at night. And there was no one like me. No one good, like me. Except… one. There was one man, whose name I kept hearing. One man, and everyone said he was good, maybe better than me. Everyone wanted him in their bed…" His eyes lit in amusement. "Do you know who it was?"
I hesitated before guessing. "Um… Capitán Salazar?"
"No," Bracero chuckled. "Not your Capitán. He was too busy, trying to –" he stopped, and his glance flicked away towards the cabin walls for a moment, before he lowered his voice. "Wash his family's name clean."
"What do you mean?"
"His father…" He shook his head. "Capitán Salazar's father did bad things, shamed his family name, and for a while… el Capitán had bad time. He had much to fix. I do not think he took anyone to bed, not for long time." Bracero shifted against the desk, before speaking at a more normal volume. "No, the name I heard all the time, the name on everyone's lips… was Señor Magda."
"What!"
Bracero grinned at my incredulous expression.
"That is what I thought, too, when I first saw him."
Bracero broke into an outright chuckle, and it surprised me. I'd never seen him so relaxed or keen to talk before, and it made me wonder if this change had a little to do with Benetez, and the secret conversation they'd had. I'd guessed they'd been speaking about the old days, before they'd sailed together; it had certainly seemed to stir up Bracero's memories.
"Men and women, they all wanted him. Wanted to… impress him." Bracero's tongue touched his bottom lip as his eyes flared at me. "Wanted to be something special for him, so they came to me. Wanted to catch Señor Magda's attention. 'I must have him!' They would tell me. 'Teach me so he never leaves me!'"
Bracero chuckled again when I made a face of disbelief; but I couldn't help myself.
Officer Magda? Haughty and austere and impassive Officer Magda, being the kind of man to actually have multiple lovers? Lovers who were so wild for him that they'd come to Bracero to get lessons on how to please him? Well… alright. That part I could imagine: Magda definitely seemed like someone who was hard to please. But the thought of him being in bed with multiple lovers…? I couldn't believe it.
"I didn't know what to think, either. Who was this man, who had all the noble families of Spain by the ears?" Bracero shook his head at the memory. "He must be a god. He must be magic. He must look like an angel, and have more tricks in bed than the devil. And then I meet him. I was called to Cádiz, to start work on La María, and I meet the famous Señor Magda for the first time." Bracero chuckled. "I will never forget. He was on the dock, waiting for me when I arrived, with his papers from the King, and when I saw him… I thought – que? This man?" He shook his head. "But there's something different about him. He has no need for people. Nothing touches him. That is why so many, they go mad for him. Because he has no heart. So, to get Señor Magda's heart… éxito!" He grinned. "What a triumph!"
I listened and absorbed all this, trying to work through Bracero's meaning between his words. "So... did… did you become his lover?"
"Me?" He laughed. "No. He… is very choosy about who he takes to bed."
This was such a weird conversation. I stared at him, trying to understand what he was really trying to tell me.
"Then why –? Why are you –?"
"Why am I telling you this?" His eyes flared. "You are a wide-eyed innocent, Señorita. I see it. La María tells me this too. You do not even understand what you do. Señor Magda knew what he was doing, when he drove people wild, but you." He shook his head. "An innocent."
I blinked. "Um."
Bracero rolled his eyes. "You need to know about love, Señorita. You must understand."
"What – why?"
Bracero straightened and stepped forward, suddenly impatient. "Señor Magda was a lesson to me. And he should be for you, too. The most unexpected people can have the most power. It is not how someone looks, on the outside – it is how they are on the inside. Who they are. Who they believe themselves to be. That is what makes someone powerful. That is what makes others want them. Señor Magda knows who he is. He knows his value. It shows, in everything he does. But I have question, Señorita. Do you know your value?"
"I –" I shook my head, confused. "Look, I know I told you I'm valuable to the Capitán." I swallowed, before deciding just to tell him the whole truth. "But… I'm not. I think it's just because... because he thinks I'm useful."
For now. I added mentally.
I resolutely refused to think about his eyes, and the way he looked at me, and the way his voice sounded when he'd said: admit that I care for you.
Bracero looked speculative again, but then when I expected him to say something else, he only nodded at me.
"Those apples in your cloak. You should eat now. They will not last long."
"Uh, I'm – I'm okay to wait."
He eyed me a moment longer.
"You are not hungry yet?"
"I'll manage."
"So you say." He turned and casually sauntered away to lean against the opposite wall. "La María told me you should not eat, but she wants you to rest," Bracero gestured to the walls of the cabin. "She says you need sleep."
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
I glanced away, struggling not to appear tired. I really couldn't risk it. I needed to stay awake.
"Lieutenant Lesaro will be late." He shrugged. "Storm is bad. Will want to be with his French maid." He smirked a little. "Comfort her."
I frowned.
Bracero's smirk widened, and he shifted his legs. "Even the good Lieutenant has needs, Señorita."
"Wow." I muttered under my breath. I really didn't want to think about Lieutenant Lesaro's 'needs'. It was almost as bad as thinking about Officer Magda having multiple lovers.
I honestly didn't know if the cursed men of La María Silenciosa even felt … needs, but it was really not something I felt comfortable thinking about. I definitely didn't want to discuss Lesaro's needs in any way, shape or form with Bracero. It was like thinking about someone's parents having… 'needs'.
"You think the maid will object?"
"I don't think she's exactly – interested." I studied the threads of my cloak, anything rather than look at the way he was smirking about it.
"Why?" He asked. "You think he isn't good enough for her?"
"No, it's nothing like that."
"You think she wants someone else? When Lieutenant Guillermo Lesaro is there? Lieutenant Lesaro, protecting her like –" Bracero's tongue flicked over his lips again, "A beacon of honour and strength?"
"Yes, I think she wants - I mean, yes, because... she's –" I halted.
For some reason, I found myself reluctant to reveal Eleni's crush on Scarfield. Maybe it had been the way she'd rubbed at her wet eyes after he'd so publicly put her down. Maybe it was the way she'd tried so hard to cover up her hurt all the time. Maybe it was just because I felt sorry for her - and yet Bracero's insinuations were just a little too ridiculous to let stand.
"She's just in love with someone else," I finally finished.
Bracero made a disparaging sound. "I know what a woman in love looks like, and she is not in love. Not with the man you are thinking."
I glanced up at him, and he returned my curiosity with a knowing look. "She makes eyes at Guillermo. Like girls used to make eyes at me."
"She what."
"Lieutenant Lesaro." Bracero said patiently. "That French woman has…" he paused, his lips already twitching in amusement as he watched me, "Feelings. For him."
I gaped at him.
"You do not think she wants the Lieutenant?"
"Look…" I could feel my forehead creasing in confusion, "I think… I think you've got the wrong Lieutenant!"
"Is there any other?" Bracero said. "I only know of one man who deserves that title."
"No, no way!"
I suppressed a dry laugh at the idea of Eleni, love spell casting Eleni, willing-to-kill-Lady-Stanhope-for-love Eleni, having eyes for anyone else except Scarfield.
"You think he looks at that naughty maid and wants to make her good? Because I do." He lowered his voice to a sultry purr. "I think Gui has wicked thoughts about her. I think he'd like to bend her over his knee and spank her – spank her until she promises to be good forever." He leaned towards me conspiratorially. "I think she would like that too."
"She – what!" I blurted, "I – what – oh my god –"
"What a woman wants," Bracero interrupted my speechlessness. "And what she thinks she wants, are two different things." He stretched back against the wall behind him, musing out loud. "She wants nobleman. Maybe she thought it came with a title, with gold coins and good uniform. But what she really wants is a noble man, like Guillermo Lesaro." He looked away, through the door, as if able to see through it. "She didn't know the difference before, I think. She begins to understand now. She should. If she is clever."
I didn't want to agree with him, but… now that he'd said it... there had been looks between Eleni and Lesaro.
I remembered the way she'd watched Lesaro duelling Scarfield, and her wordless cry of warning when Scarfield had attempted to injure Lesaro's good eye. And then the unforgettably cruel words Scarfield had said to her, during his attempt to force Salazar to let me go… she'd been absolutely crushed. And the tenderness with which Lesaro had gone to her afterwards, the way he'd touched her as he'd helped her away towards his cabin…
"You think…" I started to say slowly. "Do you really think they like each other?"
"Why not?"
"But –" I stuttered. "Eleni. She –"
I fumbled for the words, but Bracero leapt in impatiently.
"Si, Señorita. She has needs too. I'm sure, she has been studying his ceiling on her back." He smirked again. "Or will be soon. Intimately."
A rush of heat swept up my neck. "Um, okay, I really don't want to talk about this anymore –"
"Too innocent." He cocked an eyebrow. "It's so clear, in your face. You have no experience."
I frowned, annoyed. "You know, that's actually none of your business –"
"But the maid," Bracero looked at me from under his lashes, "I can see. She is not innocent. She knows her way around a man. She could show our Lieutenant some things –"
"Um, could we not –"
"And maybe, he won't be so sour and angry all the time –"
"I really don't want to think about –"
"Maybe," he said with a wolfish grin, "If you talked with her, she could give you lesson, so you know your way around a man too, and then you can help Capitán Salazar remember what it is like to be alive and a man again and to have a very big –"
"Okay, wow, just stop!" I nearly shouted at him.
He looked at me and the provocative grin dropped and he spoke to me for the first time in complete seriousness.
"I heard what Sparrow said. La María told me. That the Capitán has to love, and become human again, and then our curse can be broken." His eyes became a dull red. "When I heard, I thought, no, no, no, and I did not want." His eyebrows drew in pensively for a second. "But La María tells me, is alright. She tells me she will – survive. She says, sí, Bracero, she will take my Mando to bed."
"To bed?" My jaw dropped. "That is not – that is not what Sparrow meant!"
"But you have to make him care, no?"
I gritted my teeth, not wanting to agree with him. "Yes, care, but with – with feelings! Not – not… care, in the other way!"
"In the way that makes a man very happy?"
"Yes!" I said, before seeing him grin. "I mean no! No, not that way!"
"Are you sure? Maybe Sparrow meant you should visit Capitán Salazar in his cabin at night, slip in and show him just how much you care about that sword of his… the one that makes your face turn pink..."
He paused and grinned, as if offering me a chance to answer, but I was too shocked by his suggestion to do more than just stare with my mouth open.
"... A man like Capitán Salazar needs to be taken care of very often. Maybe, if you lay down on his bed and offer to study his ceiling, he might very quickly –"
I was horrified. "Oh my G- no!"
Just at that moment, Lieutenant Lesaro passed through the wall into the cabin.
Bracero straightened to a respectful stance at once.
"Señorita," Lesaro said urgently. "You must come with me, quickly."
"Lieutenant? What's wrong?" I asked, startled. "Wh-what's happened?"
"Por favor, I need you to follow me at once!"
He looked so worried, and so upset, I was already hitching my cloak up so I could scramble onto my feet.
He turned abruptly. "Bracero, move that bed, and allow the Señorita through the door."
Bracero frowned, but quickly shifted Magda's bed aside from the door, casting him a single questioning glance while he did, but Lesaro had already turned back to me.
"What's the matter?" I hesitated. "Is – is it the Capitán?"
"It is," he looked more distressed than ever. "He has asked for you to come."
"Is he –"
"Come, come, vite," he urged, before I could ask more questions. "You will see."
Bracero opened the cabin door for me, and Lesaro was already gesturing for me to follow him.
"¡Ven rápido! Come!"
I obeyed and followed him, smoothing down my cloak around me as I went, feeling the weight of the apples, still secure in my inner cloak pocket.
"Remember what I said," Bracero murmured to me as I passed him. "About the Capitán."
I risked a glance back at him, and saw he wasn't smirking, but serious. I wanted to tell him again he was wrong, but Lesaro was already striding out the door, and I had no choice but to follow.
"Hasta pronto, Athena." I heard Bracero say, right before Lesaro shut the cabin door behind us.
SPANISH TRANSLATIONS:
Necesito un favor – I need a favour
Niño bonito – pretty boy
Ella se parece a una mujer que conocí una vez en un burdel – She looks like a woman I met once in a brothel
Si no quieres quedarte sin polla – Unless you want to lose your prick
Éxito – Triumph/Victory
Vite – Quick
¡Ven rápido! – Hurry up/come quickly
Hasta pronto – see you soon