Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!
Chapter 72 - Red Flags
Year 5 - Late August
Jack had decided to try to sneak through the Windward Passage at night, and not to stop at Tortuga with such a valuable map on board. But those that had watched their departure were there waiting for their return. The Winter's Heart sat silent and unseen with lanterns shuttered and allowed the Black Pearl to pass, before they quietly crept behind. The Black Boar was anchored at the southern end of the Windward Passage, the two captains unknowingly copying Jack's successful plan to sink the Santa Rosa. It was not until the first light of dawn that the Black Pearl spotted the first ship dangerously close behind.
Joshamee burst into the sickbay - without pause or ceremony. "Captain! The Winter's Heart is right up our arse an' flying red!"
Jack blinked once before scrambling to his feet, shaking Kitty urgently. "Get up quickly! Arm yourself!" He turned to his quartermaster. "Keep a watch elsewhere. Don't want t' be caught nappin' like!" He knew George Wolver was not the only one who had been sitting at their table that night, and feared Wolver was not alone in his greed.
"And?" Joshamee had the feeling that more orders were to follow.
"Load the cannons - we turn an' take them. Haul the red in reply! Bloody Wolver!" he cursed. Joshamee Gibbs flew out of the door, shouting orders at the top of his voice.
"The red?" Catherine queried, unsure what the term meant.
"No quarter luv, no quarter. Seems somebody wants our map…" He held her face between his hands. "It will be bloody - give no mercy for you'll receive none… savvy?" She paled, but nodded. "See your father is armed - we need every man!" He dashed out of the sick bay, calling out over his shoulder. "An' expect t' be boarded!"
Catherine ran along the gun deck, up the stairs to their cabin, flying through the doors. "Papa!" she cried. "Papa, you have to get up!"
"Catherine?" Her father clung to the bunk as Jack swung the wheel around to meet their attacker. "Catherine, what is going on?"
She handed him a brace of pistols, some shot and powder. "Somebody wants the map, Papa, and will kill everyone on this ship to get it!" She paused. "Stay in the cabin and shoot anyone who comes in who isn't' crew - understand?"
"How shall I know…" he flustered.
"If they aim at you then they aren't crew!" Catherine explained, turning quickly from the cabin.
The Black Pearl lurched as her cannons roared, determined to strike first at the Winter's Heart. Catherine dashed onto the deck, gasping in fear as Joshamee shouted in alarm. "Second ship Cap'n! Off port side!"
Jack swung the wheel wildly, completing the starboard turn and closing the gap with the first ship. "Prepare t' board!" he hollered, conscious of the same command being shouted a few yards away on the other ship. Jack fastened a tagline around the wheel then came to the main deck and stood next to Catherine. Zeke stood on her other side. "T' the death Zeke!" he ordered.
Suddenly the boarders were away, in both directions, and battle raged on both ships. Jack was determined to take the Winter's Heart before the second ship closed, but he had his doubts. Catherine fought beside him, her back to the main mast, blade already bloodied. He was relieved to see she was still unhurt, but then the fighting forced them apart.
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Theodore Groves looked in disbelief at the scene through his spyglass. Three pirate ships were fighting at close quarters, red flags flying. He scanned the ships, nearly dropping his precious spyglass in shock. The cornered ship was the Black Pearl and she was looking in a bad way. "Take us closer!" he ordered. "Ready the guns and prepare to assist the Black Pearl!"
"Captain? You mean to help a pirate?" His new junior officer, Alex Eccleston, queried incredulous. He had not been in the Caribbean for very long and was finding some things a great shock.
"Obey orders man!" Theodore shouted. "My sister is on that ship!"
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The Black Boar had closed, Captain Ormon not even bothering to use the cannons as his crew boarded the Black Pearl. Although the crew of the Winter's Heart were almost all killed, the men of the Black Pearl had taken heavy losses and were tired. Catherine paused, leaning on her sword, swaying in exhaustion with blood pouring down her right arm from a shot lodged in her shoulder. She looked around in despair as more pirates swung across from the Black Boar.
"Wha…" She could just make out another ship closing, from behind the Black Boar - the HMS Gauntlet! "Sail ho!" she shouted to Jack, "Gauntlet!" He grinned as he fought his way to her.
"Jesus, Kitty!" Although he himself was bleeding profusely from numerous cuts, he was shocked to see her hurt and clearly in agony.
She turned, fighting off another attack. "Still standing…" she hissed in pain.
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Theodore ordered his ship to close, trapping the Black Boar against the side of the Black Pearl and sending boarders across to take the ship before swinging across himself. He did not stop on the Black Boar though, but swung across to the Black Pearl and tried to fight his way through to his sister. He heard her scream.
"Zeke!" Catherine watched in disbelief as her friend fell to the deck. Frantically she fought to be with him, smashing her way across the crowded deck, killing two more pirates on her way. Theodore looked at her in amazement - she had certainly learned to fight dirty.
"Zeke!" Frantically she crouched down beside him, tearing his shirt and trying to stem the gushing blood with her bare hands. "Zeke… no!" But she could do no more as she was threatened again, forced to defend herself against yet another attacker.
A red coated marine came to her rescue. "Mistress Sparrow," he smiled, "allow me!" She staggered backwards, grateful for the respite, as more marines boarded the Black Pearl. Swords clattered to the deck when the crew of the Winter's Heart realised that they were outnumbered and they surrendered, praying that the Navy might view the attack on the Black Pearl, the most wanted pirate ship in the Caribbean, as being worthy of clemency. Catherine immediately scrambled back to Zeke, cradling him in her arms as tears streamed down her face.
"Kitty?" A hand shook her shoulder - luckily the uninjured one. "Kitty?" Jack crouched down beside her. "He's gone Kitty, let him go…" He gently prised her fingers away. "Kitty, come on - we need t' get your shoulder seen to…" Dazed and weeping, she allowed him to lead her away.
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Theodore ordered the captured pirates taken to the brig of his ship, uncaring how many were badly hurt. They would be healed in Port Royal before they were hanged. His own ship's doctor, Michael Garratt, was already aboard the Black Pearl, assisting Ned Cotton with the injured. Theodore rushed over to his sister who was sobbing in Jack's arms.
"Cat?" he worried.
"She's all right mate," Jack assured him. "But we lost Zeke…"
Theodore glanced across at the still form of the tall pirate, knowing how close Catherine had been to him. "Let's get the two of you into the cabin for some privacy…"
Jack nodded and followed, but Catherine held out a bloody hand, stopping them. She knocked on the door. "Papa, it's us…" she announced before entering.
"Papa?" Theodore frowned. "Father is here?"
Edmund Groves stared at the sight in front of him. Catherine was badly hurt and Jack was only marginally better, but his eyes were drawn to the tall naval officer standing next to them. "Theodore!"
Theodore Groves gulped on seeing his father in the cabin. He looked at Jack in disbelief. "Jack?"
"Long story mate, long story…" Jack sighed.
"Sir?" Theodore turned to see his ship's doctor standing at the doors. "I was told that Mistress Sparrow needed attention?" He nodded and Michael Garratt entered. "Let's get you sat down and have a look at that shoulder, shall we?" His hands paused as he realised he would have to remove her shirt. "Er…"
"Sod modesty!" Jack unbuttoned her shirt to reveal her undershift, peeling the shirt away from her right shoulder. He winced at the mess, handing her a bottle of rum. "Believe me luv, you don't want t' do this sober."
"I hate rum!" She complained, but she drank.
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Theodore Groves sat quietly in the master cabin, his father and Jack seated around the table. Catherine lay in the bunk, tied in so that she would not fall out in her drunken state.
"Looks like I owe yer again, Theo…" Jack smiled ruefully.
"I wasn't counting," he smiled in return. "And I had no choice once I saw the reds… You must have really annoyed someone to have two reds, Jack?"
"Nah, just some greedy buggers after a map…" He looked up as Joshamee Gibbs stood in the doorway.
"Cap'n, crew want t' know what to do with the ships…" he said.
Jack thought for a moment. "Take what we can an' blow them once we're clear," he ordered. "An' don't forget to take the reds!" He turned back to Theodore. "You'd better take your father with you though, it could get interesting aboard…"
"I'm not leaving until our deal is witnessed!" Edmund argued.
"Deal?" Theodore frowned.
"Yer father won't accept Kitty an' I as being married 'til he sees it with his own eyes… in a church!" Jack explained.
"But…" Theodore began.
Jack sighed. "We can limp to Port au Prince an' get some repairs there. They've a number of pretty little churches that should suit…"
Theodore sighed. "I can escort you there if you wish and then take father on to Port Royal…" He glanced across at his sister. "And he can stay on my ship now - give Cat a chance to sleep in her own bunk for a while… I think she needs it."
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The following day Theodore held his ship a respectful distance away whilst the Black Pearl gave their dead to the sea. Jack had to hold Catherine to him as she cried herself hoarse, unable even to watch as Zeke's body was laid to rest. They had lost twenty-three men, and the forty-two that remained were still stunned at their losses. Jack was surprised to see that Paul Fearnan had survived, although he was heavily bandaged. The entire crew watched in grim satisfaction as the powder magazines of the Black Boar and Winter's Heart exploded. No other pirate ship had ever survived a double red attack - even if they did have a little help, and it made them more determined to carry on. The HMS Gauntlet shadowed the Black Pearl as she limped towards Port au Prince, enjoying, for once, being the faster ship.