Show Me the Horizon
Chapter 5
Hands bound, Jack was escorted through the doorway into the Captain's cabin. Once inside, he raised his brows. "Captain LeSerre! To what do I owe the honor of such a forceful invitation?"
LeSerre noded to one of the sailors, who cut Jack's bonds. "Have a seat, Jack. It's good to see you. Can I offer you a drink?"
Jack sat down at the Captain's table, completely at ease. "I wouldn't say no to a spot of rum. The only thing they seemed to have at that wedding was champagne. All well and good, of course, but not really my favorite."
LeSerre poured rum into a tankard and pushed it across the table. "So you saw me at the wedding, did you?"
Jack grinned. "I did. And since I'm here, I assume you saw me as well."
LeSerre grinned as well. "Why yes! And when I did, I knew that you were just the person to help me out of my difficulties."
"Difficulties?" Jack inquired.
"A few days ago I took the Jamaica Star," said LeSerre. "They didn't put up a great deal of resistance, so we held the crew on deck while we helped ourselves to whatever valuables they had. Unfortunately, the Captain recognized me."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "So it is you. I thought it might be," he said flatly. "The Jamaica Star is, after all, and English ship. And being a privateer sailing under English letters, you had no business attacking her. Is that why all the ships that have disappeared without a trace, and the coastal villages that have been sacked with no survivors have all been English?"
"Aye, right enough," said LeSerre. "I can attack Spanish, French or Dutch ships or villages whenever I wish with impunity. But English? No, no! I'm a deputized officer of the English Crown after all."
"You're a swine," said Jack matter-of-factly. "If you're going to be a pirate, be a pirate. Instead you pretend to be a privateer and use that fact to wallow up to your neck in blood. And what for? The Spanish ships carry the most booty anyway."
"For the game of it," said LeSerre with a gleam in his eye. "I can attend the wedding of the Governor of Jamaica and chat politely with the Commodore of Fort Charles while the loot from English ships and coastal towns sits in my hold. Ah, Jack, you have no idea how much fun that is."
"Aye," Jack replied. "I have no idea." He shifted in his chair took a swallow of rum. "So why am I here?"
"Well," continued LeSerre. "As I said, the Captain of the Jamaica Star recognized me. Before I knew what was happening he had a knife to my throat. He had no hope of escape and he knew it. He just wanted to extract a promise from me before I killed him."
Jack looked surprised. "He knew you were a rogue privateer and he expected you to keep a promise?"
"I've kept it thus far," said LeSerre genially. "You see, the old goat had his daughter aboard the ship. He made me give my word that she would not be harmed in any way by me or my crew, and that I would not maroon her alone on an island. So you see me in a quandary, Jack! I can scarcely set her free to tell the world I attacked an English ship."
At that moment a knock sounded at the door. It opened and a burley sailor entered, holding Gwen by the arm. "Ah, Miss Tracy!" said LeSerre. "Please allow me to introduce Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl. Jack, Miss Gwendolyn Tracy."
Jack jumped to his feet and bowed to Gwen. "Miss Tracy, I'm honored to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise, Captain Sparrow." replied Gwen faintly.
"I still wonder," said Jack, "what this has to do with me."
--
The crew of the Banshee was assembled on deck. Two sailors were loading some boxes into a small boat that was waiting to be lowered. Jack, though his hands were free, was being guarded by a pair of burly seamen. Gwen Tracy stood opposite, her arm held by another sailor. Captain LeSerre addressed the crowd.
"Gentlemen, you are all aware that I gave my word that no harm would come to Miss Tracy from myself or any of my crew, are you not? I also promised not to maroon her alone on an island. So, thought I, the only thing to do is to maroon her with some company!" The assembled crew jeered. "Most of you have heard of Captain Jack Sparrow, haven't you?" More jeers. "Captain Sparrow has not once, but TWICE before been marooned. Once alone, and once with the delectable Elizabeth Swann - or should I say Elizabeth TURNER now that she's married!" Turning to Jack he sneered, "I guess you didn't make a big enough impression, mate!"
Jack, face impassive, spoke softly. "LeSerre, what did or did not happen on that island is no one's concern save mine, Mrs. Turner's and her husband's. And if you'd said that when I had a sword in my hand, you'd be saying nothing else, ever again."
LeSerre laughed. "Well, my friend. As I understand it, you were marooned for three days the first time, and only one day the second. Therefore I've taken the liberty of putting eight days worth of food and water by for you. That'll give you twice as much time to come up with another miraculous escape. And if you can't, then it's not MY fault that Miss Tracy will end up starving to death. She'll ride to the island in the longboat as well. I must make sure no harm comes to her while she's still in my care, eh? You get to swim, however."
Jack folded his arms and looked at LeSerre squarely. "Am I allowed to keep my affects? Including my pistol?"
LeSerre nodded. "With one shot as is traditional. You'll carry the pistol with you. The powder and shot will go with Miss Tracy." At his nod, the sailor holding Gwen lifted her into the boat, which was lowered into the water. Another sailor tossed in Jack's sword, hat and coat. "We'll give them time to row out, shall we?"
Jack shrugged. "You're calling the shots, mate. At least at the moment." He stepped up to the plank, and bounced experimentally, testing the give. "How long are you expecting to get away with this anyway? You think they won't figure out it's you sinking the English ships?"
LeSerre shrugged. "Nothing lasts forever, Jack. However, I intend to see to it that it lasts as long as possible. You were starting to ask some awkward questions in Tortuga. Getting rid of you will ensure that it lasts a while longer."
"Norrington is no fool, mate." Jack replied. "He has his own suspicions."
"Aye, maybe. But he has no proof." LeSerre looked toward the shore. "Ah, it looks like they've dropped Miss Tracy off and are on their way back. Time for your swim, Jack!"
Jack stood and faced LeSerre, seemingly unconscious of the sword point now at his throat. "Well, Captain, I can't say I'm overwhelmed by the hospitality of your ship."
LeSerre smirked. "Good-bye Jack."
Jack smiled silkily. "Oh no, mate. Au revoir. Ye'll be seeing me again. And when ye do, I'm going to kill you, savvy?" He bowed mockingly, turned and dove off the plank.
Chapter 5
Hands bound, Jack was escorted through the doorway into the Captain's cabin. Once inside, he raised his brows. "Captain LeSerre! To what do I owe the honor of such a forceful invitation?"
LeSerre noded to one of the sailors, who cut Jack's bonds. "Have a seat, Jack. It's good to see you. Can I offer you a drink?"
Jack sat down at the Captain's table, completely at ease. "I wouldn't say no to a spot of rum. The only thing they seemed to have at that wedding was champagne. All well and good, of course, but not really my favorite."
LeSerre poured rum into a tankard and pushed it across the table. "So you saw me at the wedding, did you?"
Jack grinned. "I did. And since I'm here, I assume you saw me as well."
LeSerre grinned as well. "Why yes! And when I did, I knew that you were just the person to help me out of my difficulties."
"Difficulties?" Jack inquired.
"A few days ago I took the Jamaica Star," said LeSerre. "They didn't put up a great deal of resistance, so we held the crew on deck while we helped ourselves to whatever valuables they had. Unfortunately, the Captain recognized me."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "So it is you. I thought it might be," he said flatly. "The Jamaica Star is, after all, and English ship. And being a privateer sailing under English letters, you had no business attacking her. Is that why all the ships that have disappeared without a trace, and the coastal villages that have been sacked with no survivors have all been English?"
"Aye, right enough," said LeSerre. "I can attack Spanish, French or Dutch ships or villages whenever I wish with impunity. But English? No, no! I'm a deputized officer of the English Crown after all."
"You're a swine," said Jack matter-of-factly. "If you're going to be a pirate, be a pirate. Instead you pretend to be a privateer and use that fact to wallow up to your neck in blood. And what for? The Spanish ships carry the most booty anyway."
"For the game of it," said LeSerre with a gleam in his eye. "I can attend the wedding of the Governor of Jamaica and chat politely with the Commodore of Fort Charles while the loot from English ships and coastal towns sits in my hold. Ah, Jack, you have no idea how much fun that is."
"Aye," Jack replied. "I have no idea." He shifted in his chair took a swallow of rum. "So why am I here?"
"Well," continued LeSerre. "As I said, the Captain of the Jamaica Star recognized me. Before I knew what was happening he had a knife to my throat. He had no hope of escape and he knew it. He just wanted to extract a promise from me before I killed him."
Jack looked surprised. "He knew you were a rogue privateer and he expected you to keep a promise?"
"I've kept it thus far," said LeSerre genially. "You see, the old goat had his daughter aboard the ship. He made me give my word that she would not be harmed in any way by me or my crew, and that I would not maroon her alone on an island. So you see me in a quandary, Jack! I can scarcely set her free to tell the world I attacked an English ship."
At that moment a knock sounded at the door. It opened and a burley sailor entered, holding Gwen by the arm. "Ah, Miss Tracy!" said LeSerre. "Please allow me to introduce Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl. Jack, Miss Gwendolyn Tracy."
Jack jumped to his feet and bowed to Gwen. "Miss Tracy, I'm honored to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise, Captain Sparrow." replied Gwen faintly.
"I still wonder," said Jack, "what this has to do with me."
--
The crew of the Banshee was assembled on deck. Two sailors were loading some boxes into a small boat that was waiting to be lowered. Jack, though his hands were free, was being guarded by a pair of burly seamen. Gwen Tracy stood opposite, her arm held by another sailor. Captain LeSerre addressed the crowd.
"Gentlemen, you are all aware that I gave my word that no harm would come to Miss Tracy from myself or any of my crew, are you not? I also promised not to maroon her alone on an island. So, thought I, the only thing to do is to maroon her with some company!" The assembled crew jeered. "Most of you have heard of Captain Jack Sparrow, haven't you?" More jeers. "Captain Sparrow has not once, but TWICE before been marooned. Once alone, and once with the delectable Elizabeth Swann - or should I say Elizabeth TURNER now that she's married!" Turning to Jack he sneered, "I guess you didn't make a big enough impression, mate!"
Jack, face impassive, spoke softly. "LeSerre, what did or did not happen on that island is no one's concern save mine, Mrs. Turner's and her husband's. And if you'd said that when I had a sword in my hand, you'd be saying nothing else, ever again."
LeSerre laughed. "Well, my friend. As I understand it, you were marooned for three days the first time, and only one day the second. Therefore I've taken the liberty of putting eight days worth of food and water by for you. That'll give you twice as much time to come up with another miraculous escape. And if you can't, then it's not MY fault that Miss Tracy will end up starving to death. She'll ride to the island in the longboat as well. I must make sure no harm comes to her while she's still in my care, eh? You get to swim, however."
Jack folded his arms and looked at LeSerre squarely. "Am I allowed to keep my affects? Including my pistol?"
LeSerre nodded. "With one shot as is traditional. You'll carry the pistol with you. The powder and shot will go with Miss Tracy." At his nod, the sailor holding Gwen lifted her into the boat, which was lowered into the water. Another sailor tossed in Jack's sword, hat and coat. "We'll give them time to row out, shall we?"
Jack shrugged. "You're calling the shots, mate. At least at the moment." He stepped up to the plank, and bounced experimentally, testing the give. "How long are you expecting to get away with this anyway? You think they won't figure out it's you sinking the English ships?"
LeSerre shrugged. "Nothing lasts forever, Jack. However, I intend to see to it that it lasts as long as possible. You were starting to ask some awkward questions in Tortuga. Getting rid of you will ensure that it lasts a while longer."
"Norrington is no fool, mate." Jack replied. "He has his own suspicions."
"Aye, maybe. But he has no proof." LeSerre looked toward the shore. "Ah, it looks like they've dropped Miss Tracy off and are on their way back. Time for your swim, Jack!"
Jack stood and faced LeSerre, seemingly unconscious of the sword point now at his throat. "Well, Captain, I can't say I'm overwhelmed by the hospitality of your ship."
LeSerre smirked. "Good-bye Jack."
Jack smiled silkily. "Oh no, mate. Au revoir. Ye'll be seeing me again. And when ye do, I'm going to kill you, savvy?" He bowed mockingly, turned and dove off the plank.