Passage to St. Kitts
Chapter 9
The sound of the cannon woke Antonia. She could see nothing from the small porthole in her tiny cabin, so she dressed quickly and went up to the deck. "Captain Natalez, what is happening?" she called when she came closer.
"A British military ship, Senorita " replied the Captain. "She will be no match for us."
As Antonia watched in horror, the British ship shuddered and began to list over. From the frantic activity she could see, the crew was abandoning ship. "What will happen to them?"
The Captain shrugged. "The ones in the boats will most likely get away. It is not worth our while to chase them down. That man, however," he pointed to a the last man aboard, "is most likely the senior officer. He, we will try to pick up." As they watched, the man fell, then dove into the water and began to swim. As Antonia watched, a boat was lowered and the Spanish sailors rowed toward the swimming man, and dragged him aboard.
Several minutes later, the British man was brought aboard the Aldonza and ushered to the Captain, hands bound behind him. "Good day to you, sir," said Natalez in English. "I see from your uniform that you are a Commodore, are you not?"
"Commodore James Norrington, from Fort Charles in Port Royal, sir" Replied Norrington. "May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
"I am Captain Miguel Natalez, of the Aldonza," said Natalez. "Where were you headed?" He paused, waiting for Norrington to answer. He did not. "Are there other British ships in the area?" Again, Norrington said nothing. "What was the purpose of your voyage?" After another pause, Natalez continued. "If you do not talk to me voluntarily, Commodore, we will have to do it another way. Perhaps you may like to think about that for a while." He turned to the sailors holding Norrington's arms. "Take him to the brig."
As the men ushered Norrington away, he came abreast of Antonia, who stood watching. Checking his stride, he bowed slightly. "Senorita," he murmured politely.
--
A few days out from Port Royal, the wind had died down to a slight breeze, leaving the Black Pearl to slow to a lazy crawl. Taking advantage of the calmness of the sea, Will and Joseph were on the main deck having another fencing lesson, avidly watched by the rest of the Pearl's crew. All of them knew Will's reputation as a swordsman, and all were eager to see him in action. Before long, the private lesson between Will and Joseph had evolved into a large group lesson. Jack and Annamaria joined in, helping to instruct. Elizabeth and Gwen cheered as Will and Annamaria gave a showy demonstration of some of the finer points of fencing.
Joseph waited until Annamaria stepped away from the group for a moment to take a long swallow of water. "Miss Annamaria," he said. "Your skill is formidable. How did you learn?"
She splashed some water into her hand and rubbed in on the back of her neck. "I learned several years ago from the Captain of the pirate ship I found myself on. I was grateful he was willing to teach a woman."
"Tell me about it," Joseph requested.
Annamaria looked at him, frowning. "Why do you want to know?"
"I'm very curious about you," Joseph replied. "Master Will told me you were a slave as a child. How do you come to be here?"
Annamaria frowned again. "That is hardly idle conversation."
"Miss Annamaria, I am a slave," Joseph said simply. "I was brought to this land when I was a boy. This," he gestured at the ship and the sea, "is the closest thing to freedom I've seen in many years. Tell me about it. Tell me how you came to be here."
Annamaria studied him. The sun gleamed on his dark skin and highlighted the clean sharp lines of his face. His dark eyes showed an intelligence and curiosity not usually found in those who were resigned to their fates. "So you do not intend to be a slave all your days, do you?"
"No," said Joseph. "One day I will be free. Master Will said he would free me. If so, I will be grateful. If not, I will find my own way. I will not die a slave."
"What will you do?" she asked, curious in her turn.
"I don't know," he replied. "I must learn many things yet. Master Will has taught me some smithing. I have also learned some sailing since being aboard this ship. I must learn to fight like the white men so I may keep myself safe. For many years I have known nothing save planting and harvesting sugar cane. I need to know much more in order to be a free man." He looked steadily at Annamaria. "So you see, Miss Annamaria, I am most curious about a woman who has made her own way, found her own freedom and kept herself safe."
Annamaria regarded him. Maybe she could tell him, maybe he would understand.
"Captain! Small boats ahead on the port side!" called the lookout. The moment passed, and Annamaria went to the helm.
"Turn to port!" Jack ordered Gibbs who was at the helm. "Pick them up."
Will leaned out. "Jack, it looks like British military."
"Of course it is," replied Jack. "No one else wears that ghastly shade of red."
As the boats drew nearer, Elizabeth gasped. "Captain Gillette!"
Indeed it was. Gillette and the 23 other crewmen who had been in the two lifeboats climbed aboard the Pearl. "Captain Sparrow," said Gillette, bowing slightly. "Thank you for rescuing myself and my men. We've been adrift for two days, since the Defender went down."
"The Defender went down?" asked Elizabeth incredulously. "What happened?"
"We encountered a Spanish ship, the Aldonza," replied Gillette. "We were unfortunately, not a match for it."
"Wasn't Commodore Norrington aboard that ship?" asked Will anxiously.
"Yes, Mr. Turner, he was. We saw the Spanish pluck him out of the water. He is now in their hands."
"Captain Gillette," interrupted Jack. "It seems we have much to talk about. Gibbs, please see to the disposition of the Captain's men, string hammocks in the hold if you need to. Cotton, please escort Captain Gillette to my cabin. I will join him there directly. Annamaria, take the helm. Will, come with me."
"What are you going to do?" asked Will.
"Not sure yet," Jack replied. "Though it is a bit of a lark having Gillette in my debt. It's the first time I've ever spoken to the man without him making some damned sarcastic remark."
--
Norrington raised his head as footsteps sounded on the stairs nearby. To his astonishment, it was the girl he'd seen on deck before they'd brought him here. She carried a bowl of some sort of soup and a large hunk of bread. "You must be hungry, sir," she said in accented English. "I have brought you some supper."
Norrington rose and bowed. "Thank you, Senorita. That is most kind of you." He felt at a distinct disadvantage. For a man who prided himself on his neat and precise appearance, his present state of dishevelment was disconcerting. His hat and wig were both lost during his swim, and his own close-cropped dark hair was disordered. The spotless white breeches and stockings were now a dingy greenish tan from the seawater, as was the linen shirt that now hung open around his throat. His cravat was gone, his waistcoat stained, and his coat torn. His sword had, of course, been taken from him.
Antonia looked down. "I am sorry, sir, for the way you have been treated. I wish it were in my power to aid you more than this," she said offering the bowl.
Norrington took it. "Do not trouble yourself, Senorita. Do you perhaps know where this ship is headed?"
"Hispaniola. First to Port-au-Prince, I believe, then to San Domingo. My future husband awaits me there," she replied with a touch of bitterness.
"Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials then, miss," he said.
"Do not congratulate me, sir," she replied. "I have never met my fiancé, and have no idea if congratulations or condolences are in order."
"Never met him?" asked Norrington disbelievingly.
Antonia shrugged. "My father and I do not enjoy a loving relationship. It seems he wanted to be rid of me."
"Your father..." prompted Norrington.
"Don Bartolome de Salazar," said Antonia promptly. "My name is Antonia."
"Commodore James Norrington, ma'am, at your service," he introduced himself. "You are not traveling alone, are you?"
"No, my future brother-in-law and his wife came to Portobello to fetch me," Antonia said. She went on, a slight smile on her face. "Unfortunately, Senora Lucia finds sea travel very taxing. She has been most unwell. And Senor Tomas spends most of his time with the Captain."
"The younger brother is married before the elder?" asked Norrington.
"No, my future husband is a widower, I understand. And since Senor Tomas is forty at least, I fear Senor Valera is not a young man."
Norrington frowned. "How old are you, Miss de Salazar, if I may be so bold?"
Antonia smiled. "I am twenty, sir. I must return to my duenna, so I beg you excuse me."
Norrington bowed. "It was a pleasure to speak with you, Senorita. I hope you will be able to visit me again."
**Thanks Eledhwen & Yessina - glad to know someone's out there!
Chapter 9
The sound of the cannon woke Antonia. She could see nothing from the small porthole in her tiny cabin, so she dressed quickly and went up to the deck. "Captain Natalez, what is happening?" she called when she came closer.
"A British military ship, Senorita " replied the Captain. "She will be no match for us."
As Antonia watched in horror, the British ship shuddered and began to list over. From the frantic activity she could see, the crew was abandoning ship. "What will happen to them?"
The Captain shrugged. "The ones in the boats will most likely get away. It is not worth our while to chase them down. That man, however," he pointed to a the last man aboard, "is most likely the senior officer. He, we will try to pick up." As they watched, the man fell, then dove into the water and began to swim. As Antonia watched, a boat was lowered and the Spanish sailors rowed toward the swimming man, and dragged him aboard.
Several minutes later, the British man was brought aboard the Aldonza and ushered to the Captain, hands bound behind him. "Good day to you, sir," said Natalez in English. "I see from your uniform that you are a Commodore, are you not?"
"Commodore James Norrington, from Fort Charles in Port Royal, sir" Replied Norrington. "May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
"I am Captain Miguel Natalez, of the Aldonza," said Natalez. "Where were you headed?" He paused, waiting for Norrington to answer. He did not. "Are there other British ships in the area?" Again, Norrington said nothing. "What was the purpose of your voyage?" After another pause, Natalez continued. "If you do not talk to me voluntarily, Commodore, we will have to do it another way. Perhaps you may like to think about that for a while." He turned to the sailors holding Norrington's arms. "Take him to the brig."
As the men ushered Norrington away, he came abreast of Antonia, who stood watching. Checking his stride, he bowed slightly. "Senorita," he murmured politely.
--
A few days out from Port Royal, the wind had died down to a slight breeze, leaving the Black Pearl to slow to a lazy crawl. Taking advantage of the calmness of the sea, Will and Joseph were on the main deck having another fencing lesson, avidly watched by the rest of the Pearl's crew. All of them knew Will's reputation as a swordsman, and all were eager to see him in action. Before long, the private lesson between Will and Joseph had evolved into a large group lesson. Jack and Annamaria joined in, helping to instruct. Elizabeth and Gwen cheered as Will and Annamaria gave a showy demonstration of some of the finer points of fencing.
Joseph waited until Annamaria stepped away from the group for a moment to take a long swallow of water. "Miss Annamaria," he said. "Your skill is formidable. How did you learn?"
She splashed some water into her hand and rubbed in on the back of her neck. "I learned several years ago from the Captain of the pirate ship I found myself on. I was grateful he was willing to teach a woman."
"Tell me about it," Joseph requested.
Annamaria looked at him, frowning. "Why do you want to know?"
"I'm very curious about you," Joseph replied. "Master Will told me you were a slave as a child. How do you come to be here?"
Annamaria frowned again. "That is hardly idle conversation."
"Miss Annamaria, I am a slave," Joseph said simply. "I was brought to this land when I was a boy. This," he gestured at the ship and the sea, "is the closest thing to freedom I've seen in many years. Tell me about it. Tell me how you came to be here."
Annamaria studied him. The sun gleamed on his dark skin and highlighted the clean sharp lines of his face. His dark eyes showed an intelligence and curiosity not usually found in those who were resigned to their fates. "So you do not intend to be a slave all your days, do you?"
"No," said Joseph. "One day I will be free. Master Will said he would free me. If so, I will be grateful. If not, I will find my own way. I will not die a slave."
"What will you do?" she asked, curious in her turn.
"I don't know," he replied. "I must learn many things yet. Master Will has taught me some smithing. I have also learned some sailing since being aboard this ship. I must learn to fight like the white men so I may keep myself safe. For many years I have known nothing save planting and harvesting sugar cane. I need to know much more in order to be a free man." He looked steadily at Annamaria. "So you see, Miss Annamaria, I am most curious about a woman who has made her own way, found her own freedom and kept herself safe."
Annamaria regarded him. Maybe she could tell him, maybe he would understand.
"Captain! Small boats ahead on the port side!" called the lookout. The moment passed, and Annamaria went to the helm.
"Turn to port!" Jack ordered Gibbs who was at the helm. "Pick them up."
Will leaned out. "Jack, it looks like British military."
"Of course it is," replied Jack. "No one else wears that ghastly shade of red."
As the boats drew nearer, Elizabeth gasped. "Captain Gillette!"
Indeed it was. Gillette and the 23 other crewmen who had been in the two lifeboats climbed aboard the Pearl. "Captain Sparrow," said Gillette, bowing slightly. "Thank you for rescuing myself and my men. We've been adrift for two days, since the Defender went down."
"The Defender went down?" asked Elizabeth incredulously. "What happened?"
"We encountered a Spanish ship, the Aldonza," replied Gillette. "We were unfortunately, not a match for it."
"Wasn't Commodore Norrington aboard that ship?" asked Will anxiously.
"Yes, Mr. Turner, he was. We saw the Spanish pluck him out of the water. He is now in their hands."
"Captain Gillette," interrupted Jack. "It seems we have much to talk about. Gibbs, please see to the disposition of the Captain's men, string hammocks in the hold if you need to. Cotton, please escort Captain Gillette to my cabin. I will join him there directly. Annamaria, take the helm. Will, come with me."
"What are you going to do?" asked Will.
"Not sure yet," Jack replied. "Though it is a bit of a lark having Gillette in my debt. It's the first time I've ever spoken to the man without him making some damned sarcastic remark."
--
Norrington raised his head as footsteps sounded on the stairs nearby. To his astonishment, it was the girl he'd seen on deck before they'd brought him here. She carried a bowl of some sort of soup and a large hunk of bread. "You must be hungry, sir," she said in accented English. "I have brought you some supper."
Norrington rose and bowed. "Thank you, Senorita. That is most kind of you." He felt at a distinct disadvantage. For a man who prided himself on his neat and precise appearance, his present state of dishevelment was disconcerting. His hat and wig were both lost during his swim, and his own close-cropped dark hair was disordered. The spotless white breeches and stockings were now a dingy greenish tan from the seawater, as was the linen shirt that now hung open around his throat. His cravat was gone, his waistcoat stained, and his coat torn. His sword had, of course, been taken from him.
Antonia looked down. "I am sorry, sir, for the way you have been treated. I wish it were in my power to aid you more than this," she said offering the bowl.
Norrington took it. "Do not trouble yourself, Senorita. Do you perhaps know where this ship is headed?"
"Hispaniola. First to Port-au-Prince, I believe, then to San Domingo. My future husband awaits me there," she replied with a touch of bitterness.
"Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials then, miss," he said.
"Do not congratulate me, sir," she replied. "I have never met my fiancé, and have no idea if congratulations or condolences are in order."
"Never met him?" asked Norrington disbelievingly.
Antonia shrugged. "My father and I do not enjoy a loving relationship. It seems he wanted to be rid of me."
"Your father..." prompted Norrington.
"Don Bartolome de Salazar," said Antonia promptly. "My name is Antonia."
"Commodore James Norrington, ma'am, at your service," he introduced himself. "You are not traveling alone, are you?"
"No, my future brother-in-law and his wife came to Portobello to fetch me," Antonia said. She went on, a slight smile on her face. "Unfortunately, Senora Lucia finds sea travel very taxing. She has been most unwell. And Senor Tomas spends most of his time with the Captain."
"The younger brother is married before the elder?" asked Norrington.
"No, my future husband is a widower, I understand. And since Senor Tomas is forty at least, I fear Senor Valera is not a young man."
Norrington frowned. "How old are you, Miss de Salazar, if I may be so bold?"
Antonia smiled. "I am twenty, sir. I must return to my duenna, so I beg you excuse me."
Norrington bowed. "It was a pleasure to speak with you, Senorita. I hope you will be able to visit me again."
**Thanks Eledhwen & Yessina - glad to know someone's out there!