Usual disclaimers. sadly!
Still cannot figure out why some of my dashes turn out as dots because they are not like that in my master document. I hope it does not confuse the story.
***
October
The note finally came. "The Church of the Blessed Mary, Santo Domingo". The date was for two days time. A red macaw tail feather was attached to the note.
"Bloody 'ell!" Jack cursed. "It'll take us that at top speed with good winds!" He strode out of the cabin. "Weigh anchor, I want every sail we've got!" He ran up the stairs to take the wheel. "Gibbs - run out the sweeps!" The Black Pearl sped from the harbour, every back onboard bent to getting maximum speed from her.
Theodore Groves watched quietly as the ship sliced through the waves, realising for the first time exactly how fast the Black Pearl was. It was little wonder that any naval ship had never been able to catch them. He saw Jack eyeing the sky southward anxiously. "Jack?"
"Storm is brewing. I don't like it!" He spotted Catherine below on the deck. "Kitty - cold dinner t' night!" With the speed they were going, and the storm brewing, he would not risk having the galley stove lit - it was too dangerous. Catherine threw him a lazy salute and disappeared below decks.
The nearer they got to Santo Domingo the more anxious Jack became about the weather. Although the hurricane season was passed, the tropical storms could still be very dangerous. They slipped into the harbour just as dawn broke on the second day - they had made it.
Theodore climbed into the ships boat, waiting for Jack who held Catherine firmly by the arm.
"Don't even ask Kitty!" he warned as he stopped her from following her brother.
"But."
"You stay here!" He dropped his voice to a whisper. "I may give the map for Jimmy, but I'd give th' Pearl for you!" Her eyes widened sharply at his admission, but she did not speak, silently nodding. He kissed her on the top of her head before climbing down to the boat. "We won't be long."
Jack noted every ship in the harbour, searching for any clues to who had snatched the boys - but there were at least six pirate vessels of assorted nationalities at anchor and he knew none of the captains. Ensuring that the map was secure, he picked up his oars and rowed to shore.
They were surprised to see an elderly grey robed nun waiting for them in the church. "You are from the ship the Black Pearl?" They nodded. "I have a letter for you, but I understand you need to give me something first?" Jack handed over the map to her, sighing dejectedly. From within her sleeves she produced a small piece of paper. "They told me this would mean something to you."
Jack took the paper, cautiously opening it. All it contained was a set of co-ordinates, but from the look of them they were in the Bahamas. He nodded to the Theodore. "Bahamas!"
"Thank you sister," Theodore placed a hand on her arm, stopping her momentarily from leaving. "Can you tell us anything about the people that gave you the note?"
"I only know that they were pirates, and that they wished the exchange done this way to avoid bloodshed."
"There'll be bloodshed when I catch 'em!" Jack snarled.
"Sir!" the nun gasped.
"Pass them a message with the map, sister. Four reds!" He turned and strode from the church, pausing only to cross himself as he passed the altar.
***
As soon as they got back to the Black Pearl, Jack hauled a large chart out, his fingers tracing the coordinates on the note. "Jesus!" he gasped.
"Jack?" Catherine looked at him in confusion.
"The boys are on a spit of land. here!" His finger jabbed a small sandy island in the south eastern Bahamas. "Storm's brewin' an' that spit will flood!" He looked at her, eyes frantic with worry. "It'll take us three days an' we have t' beat the storm!"
***
Part of me is tempted to leave it there today, to tease Starlight8 just a little more. but I do not feel that cruel! ;)
Still cannot figure out why some of my dashes turn out as dots because they are not like that in my master document. I hope it does not confuse the story.
***
October
The note finally came. "The Church of the Blessed Mary, Santo Domingo". The date was for two days time. A red macaw tail feather was attached to the note.
"Bloody 'ell!" Jack cursed. "It'll take us that at top speed with good winds!" He strode out of the cabin. "Weigh anchor, I want every sail we've got!" He ran up the stairs to take the wheel. "Gibbs - run out the sweeps!" The Black Pearl sped from the harbour, every back onboard bent to getting maximum speed from her.
Theodore Groves watched quietly as the ship sliced through the waves, realising for the first time exactly how fast the Black Pearl was. It was little wonder that any naval ship had never been able to catch them. He saw Jack eyeing the sky southward anxiously. "Jack?"
"Storm is brewing. I don't like it!" He spotted Catherine below on the deck. "Kitty - cold dinner t' night!" With the speed they were going, and the storm brewing, he would not risk having the galley stove lit - it was too dangerous. Catherine threw him a lazy salute and disappeared below decks.
The nearer they got to Santo Domingo the more anxious Jack became about the weather. Although the hurricane season was passed, the tropical storms could still be very dangerous. They slipped into the harbour just as dawn broke on the second day - they had made it.
Theodore climbed into the ships boat, waiting for Jack who held Catherine firmly by the arm.
"Don't even ask Kitty!" he warned as he stopped her from following her brother.
"But."
"You stay here!" He dropped his voice to a whisper. "I may give the map for Jimmy, but I'd give th' Pearl for you!" Her eyes widened sharply at his admission, but she did not speak, silently nodding. He kissed her on the top of her head before climbing down to the boat. "We won't be long."
Jack noted every ship in the harbour, searching for any clues to who had snatched the boys - but there were at least six pirate vessels of assorted nationalities at anchor and he knew none of the captains. Ensuring that the map was secure, he picked up his oars and rowed to shore.
They were surprised to see an elderly grey robed nun waiting for them in the church. "You are from the ship the Black Pearl?" They nodded. "I have a letter for you, but I understand you need to give me something first?" Jack handed over the map to her, sighing dejectedly. From within her sleeves she produced a small piece of paper. "They told me this would mean something to you."
Jack took the paper, cautiously opening it. All it contained was a set of co-ordinates, but from the look of them they were in the Bahamas. He nodded to the Theodore. "Bahamas!"
"Thank you sister," Theodore placed a hand on her arm, stopping her momentarily from leaving. "Can you tell us anything about the people that gave you the note?"
"I only know that they were pirates, and that they wished the exchange done this way to avoid bloodshed."
"There'll be bloodshed when I catch 'em!" Jack snarled.
"Sir!" the nun gasped.
"Pass them a message with the map, sister. Four reds!" He turned and strode from the church, pausing only to cross himself as he passed the altar.
***
As soon as they got back to the Black Pearl, Jack hauled a large chart out, his fingers tracing the coordinates on the note. "Jesus!" he gasped.
"Jack?" Catherine looked at him in confusion.
"The boys are on a spit of land. here!" His finger jabbed a small sandy island in the south eastern Bahamas. "Storm's brewin' an' that spit will flood!" He looked at her, eyes frantic with worry. "It'll take us three days an' we have t' beat the storm!"
***
Part of me is tempted to leave it there today, to tease Starlight8 just a little more. but I do not feel that cruel! ;)