Usual disclaimers. nevermind!
***
Mid-October
The port of Belem sat at the mouth of the great Amazon river, principal port of the Republic of Para (now Brazil). Brightly coloured fishing boats bobbed in the harbour, interspaced with larger European vessels. Jack anchored just off shore, scanning the ships for any sign of the Swallow. Sure enough, she was there - moored at a jetty on the eastern edge of the docks.
Jack sighed, carefully putting the spyglass away. The crew waited below, expectantly. "She's there," Jack said, "but we are not entering the harbour. I know a place just up the river - we'll head inland from there. Weigh anchor - nice an' quiet like!"
The Black Pearl slipped quietly from Belem, sailing up the Amazon river. Many of the crew stared in amazement at the gigantic trees and exotic wildlife as they sailed up the massive river. For over a day they sailed past a never ending wall of greenery before eventually Jack ordered the anchor lowered opposite a small native village, raised high on stilts. He called the entire crew on deck for a meeting.
"Okay. We know th' Swallow was in Belem an' will probably be lookin' for a guide, but we can take a shorter route from here, as I'm known by the tribe." He paused, watching as some native tribes people rowed out towards the Black Pearl. "One thing I will say - these people do not dress like we do. You will not stare or make comments. thanks to th' missionaries they speak English! I'd hate t' lose any of yer if they take offence - savvy? Keep yer hands an' any other part of yer to yerself!"
One of the younger marines stared at the people in the canoes. "Captain - the women have no shirts!" Most of the marines rushed over to the shoreward side of the ship, Jack's stare stopped his crew following.
"Hold!" Theodore shouted. They stopped, looking sheepish. "Captain Sparrow is known here and you will not offend through your ignorance. I am sure we all want to return to Port Royal safely!"
Reassured that Theodore had control of his marines, Jack leaned over the side of the Black Pearl, calling out to one of the lead canoes. "Caton!" He turned back to the crew. "We are honoured - Caton is one of the Chiefs!"
Everyone except Jack looked in amazement as the natives climbed aboard. Both men and women were heavily tattooed, topless and wore long skirts made of a woven reed, although the women wore numerous strings of ornate beads. Jack and the man they assumed to be Caton embraced warmly, more tribes people following. He ushered Theodore, Catherine and the Chief into his cabin. A few of the tribes people followed, but most just wandered around the ship, looking into everything. "Gibbs, bring some food to my cabin. fruit, whatever we've got."
"I didn't know you knew the Chief?" Catherine hissed as she slipped her hand in his. "Have you any further surprises for me?"
"Not with so much company around luv!" he smiled suggestively. "Although I'm a Chief too!" he winked.
"Wha."
He shut her mouth with a click.
***
When Gibbs and some of the crew had brought food, Jack sat on the floor of his cabin, indicating for the others to join him. Caton sat cross-legged opposite him, other elders seated around him as Jack explained why he was there, spreading the copy he had made of the map before him.
Caton studied the map carefully. "It is Boi territory - dangerous!" He spoke in hushed tones with the elder on his left. "We could take them as they pass here?" He pointed to a spot just inside the other tribe's territory, where the pirates would have to pass to get back to Belem. "Let the strangers fight their way in and fight their way out?"
Jack smiled. He liked Caton for the man was as devious as he was, liking the idea of allowing Lact to do all the hard work. "Why don't we go ashore then and drink to success?" He paused. "An' t' introduce my wife to th' tribe."
Caton stared at him in shock. "You? Married?" He looked to Catherine, Jack's nod confirming his guess. He turned to her. "You must be very brave."
"Some would say stupid."
Caton laughed, slapping Jack on the back. "Come! I feel a celebration is overdue!"
***
Jack rowed Catherine ashore, his boat laden with the boxes that he had purchased in Port Royal. As soon as they landed, the villagers crowed around him, calling their welcomes. Those crew that were coming ashore, carried the boxes into the village where Jack started calling out names. The scene reminded Catherine of Christmas - if an exotically chaotic one! Pots, pans, metal knives, rich fabrics were all given away to the men and women that clustered around, sweets to the children. Eventually the crowd cleared and the celebration to welcome their prodigal Chief home began.
***
Catherine leaned contentedly against Jack's shoulder, watching the tribes folk - and some crew - dancing and singing in the firelight. She dozed, waking to find herself within one of the high huts lying on a pile of blankets. Jack stood in the doorway, outlined by the moon as he watched the continuing celebrations below.
"So now we are alone will you tell me about it?" He turned to face her. "How you came to be a Chief?"
He jumped on hearing her speak, having been lost in his thoughts. "Eh?" He came and lay beside her.
"How did you become a Chief?"
He smiled, playing with her hair. "It was a long time ago, before I got th' Pearl back. I was workin' on a Portuguese trader who had business in Belem an' did a lot of trading up river. He was tradin' here when a neighbouring tribe, the Boi, attacked. He just upped an' fled, an' I got left behind. so fought. The Achaili are peaceful people an' lost a lot of men, as well as th' women that were carried off. I stayed a while an' we got most of th' women back. But I missed the Caribbean an' made my way back to Belem, takin' work on a ship heading north." He leaned across, kissing her. "Don't worry, you'll be safe in th' village."
Catherine sat up sharply. "What? You are leaving me behind again? No way, Jack!"
"Kitty, you cannot go. Th' elders wouldn't allow it."
"But."
"No Kitty! Here women cook an' have babies."
"So I should just stay and cook - is that what you mean?" She hated being unable to bear him children and was always overly sensitive about it, wishing it could be different.
"Yes! No! Dammit!" He pulled her back down beside him, hugging her. "Look, I know you are better than most of th' crew, but rules here are different luv." He held her to him tightly. "An' yer know I don't think less of you because you cannot have babes." He kissed the top of her head. "You are m' wife, that's all that matters!" He paused. "You will be safe - Caton will leave some men to defend the village, an' some of our men will stay to defend you, the Pearl an' the boys." He nuzzled her neck. "Will yer be my Quartermaster whilst we're away?"
"Trying to sweet-talk me Jack Sparrow?" She smiled, knowing the honour such trust implied, the offer knocking any argument from her mind. She turned to kiss him. "Okay, you win this time," she sighed, "but don't you ever try to leave me behind again!"
***
I've got to leave it there as I haven't got any more chapters split ready for uploading. please review!
***
Mid-October
The port of Belem sat at the mouth of the great Amazon river, principal port of the Republic of Para (now Brazil). Brightly coloured fishing boats bobbed in the harbour, interspaced with larger European vessels. Jack anchored just off shore, scanning the ships for any sign of the Swallow. Sure enough, she was there - moored at a jetty on the eastern edge of the docks.
Jack sighed, carefully putting the spyglass away. The crew waited below, expectantly. "She's there," Jack said, "but we are not entering the harbour. I know a place just up the river - we'll head inland from there. Weigh anchor - nice an' quiet like!"
The Black Pearl slipped quietly from Belem, sailing up the Amazon river. Many of the crew stared in amazement at the gigantic trees and exotic wildlife as they sailed up the massive river. For over a day they sailed past a never ending wall of greenery before eventually Jack ordered the anchor lowered opposite a small native village, raised high on stilts. He called the entire crew on deck for a meeting.
"Okay. We know th' Swallow was in Belem an' will probably be lookin' for a guide, but we can take a shorter route from here, as I'm known by the tribe." He paused, watching as some native tribes people rowed out towards the Black Pearl. "One thing I will say - these people do not dress like we do. You will not stare or make comments. thanks to th' missionaries they speak English! I'd hate t' lose any of yer if they take offence - savvy? Keep yer hands an' any other part of yer to yerself!"
One of the younger marines stared at the people in the canoes. "Captain - the women have no shirts!" Most of the marines rushed over to the shoreward side of the ship, Jack's stare stopped his crew following.
"Hold!" Theodore shouted. They stopped, looking sheepish. "Captain Sparrow is known here and you will not offend through your ignorance. I am sure we all want to return to Port Royal safely!"
Reassured that Theodore had control of his marines, Jack leaned over the side of the Black Pearl, calling out to one of the lead canoes. "Caton!" He turned back to the crew. "We are honoured - Caton is one of the Chiefs!"
Everyone except Jack looked in amazement as the natives climbed aboard. Both men and women were heavily tattooed, topless and wore long skirts made of a woven reed, although the women wore numerous strings of ornate beads. Jack and the man they assumed to be Caton embraced warmly, more tribes people following. He ushered Theodore, Catherine and the Chief into his cabin. A few of the tribes people followed, but most just wandered around the ship, looking into everything. "Gibbs, bring some food to my cabin. fruit, whatever we've got."
"I didn't know you knew the Chief?" Catherine hissed as she slipped her hand in his. "Have you any further surprises for me?"
"Not with so much company around luv!" he smiled suggestively. "Although I'm a Chief too!" he winked.
"Wha."
He shut her mouth with a click.
***
When Gibbs and some of the crew had brought food, Jack sat on the floor of his cabin, indicating for the others to join him. Caton sat cross-legged opposite him, other elders seated around him as Jack explained why he was there, spreading the copy he had made of the map before him.
Caton studied the map carefully. "It is Boi territory - dangerous!" He spoke in hushed tones with the elder on his left. "We could take them as they pass here?" He pointed to a spot just inside the other tribe's territory, where the pirates would have to pass to get back to Belem. "Let the strangers fight their way in and fight their way out?"
Jack smiled. He liked Caton for the man was as devious as he was, liking the idea of allowing Lact to do all the hard work. "Why don't we go ashore then and drink to success?" He paused. "An' t' introduce my wife to th' tribe."
Caton stared at him in shock. "You? Married?" He looked to Catherine, Jack's nod confirming his guess. He turned to her. "You must be very brave."
"Some would say stupid."
Caton laughed, slapping Jack on the back. "Come! I feel a celebration is overdue!"
***
Jack rowed Catherine ashore, his boat laden with the boxes that he had purchased in Port Royal. As soon as they landed, the villagers crowed around him, calling their welcomes. Those crew that were coming ashore, carried the boxes into the village where Jack started calling out names. The scene reminded Catherine of Christmas - if an exotically chaotic one! Pots, pans, metal knives, rich fabrics were all given away to the men and women that clustered around, sweets to the children. Eventually the crowd cleared and the celebration to welcome their prodigal Chief home began.
***
Catherine leaned contentedly against Jack's shoulder, watching the tribes folk - and some crew - dancing and singing in the firelight. She dozed, waking to find herself within one of the high huts lying on a pile of blankets. Jack stood in the doorway, outlined by the moon as he watched the continuing celebrations below.
"So now we are alone will you tell me about it?" He turned to face her. "How you came to be a Chief?"
He jumped on hearing her speak, having been lost in his thoughts. "Eh?" He came and lay beside her.
"How did you become a Chief?"
He smiled, playing with her hair. "It was a long time ago, before I got th' Pearl back. I was workin' on a Portuguese trader who had business in Belem an' did a lot of trading up river. He was tradin' here when a neighbouring tribe, the Boi, attacked. He just upped an' fled, an' I got left behind. so fought. The Achaili are peaceful people an' lost a lot of men, as well as th' women that were carried off. I stayed a while an' we got most of th' women back. But I missed the Caribbean an' made my way back to Belem, takin' work on a ship heading north." He leaned across, kissing her. "Don't worry, you'll be safe in th' village."
Catherine sat up sharply. "What? You are leaving me behind again? No way, Jack!"
"Kitty, you cannot go. Th' elders wouldn't allow it."
"But."
"No Kitty! Here women cook an' have babies."
"So I should just stay and cook - is that what you mean?" She hated being unable to bear him children and was always overly sensitive about it, wishing it could be different.
"Yes! No! Dammit!" He pulled her back down beside him, hugging her. "Look, I know you are better than most of th' crew, but rules here are different luv." He held her to him tightly. "An' yer know I don't think less of you because you cannot have babes." He kissed the top of her head. "You are m' wife, that's all that matters!" He paused. "You will be safe - Caton will leave some men to defend the village, an' some of our men will stay to defend you, the Pearl an' the boys." He nuzzled her neck. "Will yer be my Quartermaster whilst we're away?"
"Trying to sweet-talk me Jack Sparrow?" She smiled, knowing the honour such trust implied, the offer knocking any argument from her mind. She turned to kiss him. "Okay, you win this time," she sighed, "but don't you ever try to leave me behind again!"
***
I've got to leave it there as I haven't got any more chapters split ready for uploading. please review!