Usual disclaimers. aren't you used to that by now?
Here is the first chapter of the continuation of the Further Adventures of Kitty Groves... hopefully it will keep you all happy for a few days!
***
July - six months after the end of the previous story
"Commander! Commander! This man is alive!" Francois Hullier called to the Commander Julien Laurent as he carefully turned over the body of the man, gasping in shock as he recognised him. "Commander! It is Monsieur Lact!"
Commander Laurent dashed over to him, relieved to see that whilst unconscious, the wound was not too serious. The raid on the Chickasaw village had gone better than he had thought and although a large number of the savages had escaped or been killed, they would still have enough workers for the mine when it reopened soon. It had been an unexpected surprise to see the people taken from the Lact house for he had not believed that they would still be alive. He knew he would be rewarded well for their recovery.
"Ensure Monsieur Lact is taken carefully to the fort," he ordered. "We must ensure his recovery at all costs."
He looked around at the village, ensuring that the wooden cabins were well alight before they left. This was one village that would not bother them again. "Move out the captives," he ordered, watching with satisfaction as the savages were led away, chains around their legs and necks.
***
Louis Lact regained consciousness several hours later, finding himself in a bed with crisp white sheets and knitted blankets. "Monsieur Lact?" A face came into his view - Cécile.
"Ah, Cécile! You are a most welcome face." He grimaced in pain as he tried to sit up.
"No Monsieur Lact! Commander Laurent left instructions that you are to rest until he returns from the savage's village." A gentle, but firm hand stopped him from rising.
His blurred recollections began to make some sense - he remembered French uniforms, fighting with a savage with a knife and little else. He had obviously he had been injured, touching his tender side gingerly.
Cécile noticed his movement. "You were stabbed Monsieur Lact. The Commander said that you were lucky for the blade was deflected by your ribs..."
"The others?"
"Most were rescued safely, praise the Lord!" He shut his eyes, listening to her babble away. "And the mine will soon re-open - I understand a number of savages were captured as well so there will be workers for the lower shaft. It should not be long, just a few more weeks before the last of the new supports are put in..." He drifted asleep listening to he believed something about new furniture arriving... but he could not be sure.
***
The following day he received a visit from the Fort Commander informing him of what had been happening in the time since he had been taken by the Chickasaw savages. "Unfortunately the pirate and his woman escaped. I sent twelve native scouts after them, but none have returned and I must presume they are all dead."
"Sparrow will pay for this!" Louis Lact threatened. "As soon as I am recovered I will be travelling to New Orleans to find my brother. He knows the pirate and his ways - he will know where to find him!"
"But what of the mine Monsieur Lact?"
He shrugged. "I will sell it... you are welcome to make me an offer..."
"But Monsieur Lact..." Commander Laurent could not believe his good fortune. The mine, although heavily in debt, would soon be able to produce coal again - and with the new captives there would be plenty of workers.
"This is all Sparrow's fault Commander Laurent, and I will see him pay for it!"
***
August
Jean Claude Lact limped into New Orleans with his latest new ship - a beautiful fast sloop that he had relieved a Dutch merchant of earlier that week. Although her lines were sleek she needed repairs following the battle, a general refit and a number of additional cannon before he would be happy with her, but she was a sweet thing was the Catalyntie.
"See to what we need Narbonne... I'll be at Le Coq if you need me!" He strode along the quayside, humming quietly to himself. It had been too long since he had returned to New Orleans and it felt good to be home. He pushed open the doors to the tavern, smiling at the warm welcome from Paul Fécamp - a large brandy thrust into his hand.
"Jean Claude! Where have you been? I have been so worried..." He sat down at the bar, Paul Fécamp leaning across to speak with him.
"Ah Paul, you would not believe the last seven months... you would just not believe!" He took a long drink from the goblet. "It all began with that nice little English woman you employed... okay, so not exactly with her, but things started to go wrong about then..."
Paul Fécamp listened in amazement to Jean Claude's tale, full of deceits, double-crosses and treachery. "Ah, now I know why I prefer my tavern to your life on the sea!" he smiled.
"It has its attractions Paul, and the sweet little Catalyntie anchored in the harbour is definitely one of them. As soon as she is refitted I'll be sailing up to Fort Assumption..."
"Catalyntie?"
"My latest new ship... sleek, smooth, deadly..." he grinned.
"No... I meant the name! Catalyntie - it is Dutch for Catherine!"
"Wha..." Jean Claude looked at Paul in disbelief, bursting out laughing at the irony of the name. "Sleek, smooth and deadly could also describe another Catherine we know!" he chuckled.
"Pirate or not, she was still the best worker I've ever had. Brought a whole new meaning to wielding a mop!" He smiled, remembering how beautifully she had floored Arnaud Lucon with it. He sighed, looking in despair at the girl currently mopping the floor. " Perhaps she could have taught the new girl the proper use of one too..."
They sat quietly talking, laughing occasionally at what had happened, watching as the bar filled up with regular patrons. Eventually Jean Claude rose, delightfully blurred, and made his way back to his ship.
***
Louis Lact stared at the ships in the harbour, searching in vain for the Swallow but it was not in sight. Disappointed he wandered along the dockside towards the tavern owned by Paul Fécamp. If anyone knew when the Swallow would next be in New Orleans, it would be him.
He pushed open the door to the tavern, shocked to see his brother sitting quietly at the bar. "Jean Claude?"
Jean Claude's head whipped round on hearing his brother's voice. "Louis!" he gasped in disbelief. "How did you..." He dashed across the tavern, embracing his brother warmly. "I have been so worried since I heard what happened to you! How did you escape? I was just having the Catalyntie refitted and was coming to find you..."
"The Catalyntie?" Louis frowned, perplexed. "What happened to the Swallow?"
"Ah, Sparrow blew her to pieces," he shrugged. "But tell me how you escaped..."
Louis frowned, wondering how his brother knew what had happened to him. "How did you know I was captured?"
"Jack Sparrow told me..." he admitted cautiously.
"I take it you know about his wife then? That woman you sent to work for me? Sparrow's bloody wife!"
Jean Claude shrugged. "Well, she had all of us fooled. The feud is over now, and the past is the past little brother - no point getting upset about it!"
"Upset! I haven't begun to get upset! I've spent a year as a prisoner to those savages and you say don't get upset!" Louis spat, unable to believe his nonchalance.
"You are alive Louis. Thank the Lord for that and get on with your life!"
"I want Sparrow dead!"
"No." Jean Claude shook his head emphatically.
"What?" Louis looked at his brother in disbelief.
"I said no! I will not raise my hand against Sparrow or his ship. I owe the man my life, the life of my crew and I will not break our accord! Go back to the mine Louis where you belong," he said firmly, the tone of dismissal clear in his voice.
Louis sighed heavily. "I cannot... I sold it."
"You what?" Jean Claude gasped. "Why?"
"I sold it to pay the debts following the flooding of the mine. All the money that I had remaining I spent getting here!"
Jean Claude Lact looked at his little brother in disbelief. "Well, I can offer you a place on my crew if you wish - but you will have to start from the bottom... learn the ropes so to speak..."
"But I am your brother!" he protested.
"The crew will not obey a landsman Louis... you have no experience, but I am sure you will quickly learn, you are my brother after all!"
Louis was astonished that his family connection would not secure him a better position aboard the Catalyntie. This was his only chance though, if he wanted his revenge on the Sparrows. He forced himself to smile. "Thank you Jean Claude..."
Jean Claude clapped him on the back warmly. "Welcome to my crew!" he grinned.
Louis smiled, but he was deep in thought - let his brother think he was being humble... he'd get Sparrow one way or another!
***
Here is the first chapter of the continuation of the Further Adventures of Kitty Groves... hopefully it will keep you all happy for a few days!
***
July - six months after the end of the previous story
"Commander! Commander! This man is alive!" Francois Hullier called to the Commander Julien Laurent as he carefully turned over the body of the man, gasping in shock as he recognised him. "Commander! It is Monsieur Lact!"
Commander Laurent dashed over to him, relieved to see that whilst unconscious, the wound was not too serious. The raid on the Chickasaw village had gone better than he had thought and although a large number of the savages had escaped or been killed, they would still have enough workers for the mine when it reopened soon. It had been an unexpected surprise to see the people taken from the Lact house for he had not believed that they would still be alive. He knew he would be rewarded well for their recovery.
"Ensure Monsieur Lact is taken carefully to the fort," he ordered. "We must ensure his recovery at all costs."
He looked around at the village, ensuring that the wooden cabins were well alight before they left. This was one village that would not bother them again. "Move out the captives," he ordered, watching with satisfaction as the savages were led away, chains around their legs and necks.
***
Louis Lact regained consciousness several hours later, finding himself in a bed with crisp white sheets and knitted blankets. "Monsieur Lact?" A face came into his view - Cécile.
"Ah, Cécile! You are a most welcome face." He grimaced in pain as he tried to sit up.
"No Monsieur Lact! Commander Laurent left instructions that you are to rest until he returns from the savage's village." A gentle, but firm hand stopped him from rising.
His blurred recollections began to make some sense - he remembered French uniforms, fighting with a savage with a knife and little else. He had obviously he had been injured, touching his tender side gingerly.
Cécile noticed his movement. "You were stabbed Monsieur Lact. The Commander said that you were lucky for the blade was deflected by your ribs..."
"The others?"
"Most were rescued safely, praise the Lord!" He shut his eyes, listening to her babble away. "And the mine will soon re-open - I understand a number of savages were captured as well so there will be workers for the lower shaft. It should not be long, just a few more weeks before the last of the new supports are put in..." He drifted asleep listening to he believed something about new furniture arriving... but he could not be sure.
***
The following day he received a visit from the Fort Commander informing him of what had been happening in the time since he had been taken by the Chickasaw savages. "Unfortunately the pirate and his woman escaped. I sent twelve native scouts after them, but none have returned and I must presume they are all dead."
"Sparrow will pay for this!" Louis Lact threatened. "As soon as I am recovered I will be travelling to New Orleans to find my brother. He knows the pirate and his ways - he will know where to find him!"
"But what of the mine Monsieur Lact?"
He shrugged. "I will sell it... you are welcome to make me an offer..."
"But Monsieur Lact..." Commander Laurent could not believe his good fortune. The mine, although heavily in debt, would soon be able to produce coal again - and with the new captives there would be plenty of workers.
"This is all Sparrow's fault Commander Laurent, and I will see him pay for it!"
***
August
Jean Claude Lact limped into New Orleans with his latest new ship - a beautiful fast sloop that he had relieved a Dutch merchant of earlier that week. Although her lines were sleek she needed repairs following the battle, a general refit and a number of additional cannon before he would be happy with her, but she was a sweet thing was the Catalyntie.
"See to what we need Narbonne... I'll be at Le Coq if you need me!" He strode along the quayside, humming quietly to himself. It had been too long since he had returned to New Orleans and it felt good to be home. He pushed open the doors to the tavern, smiling at the warm welcome from Paul Fécamp - a large brandy thrust into his hand.
"Jean Claude! Where have you been? I have been so worried..." He sat down at the bar, Paul Fécamp leaning across to speak with him.
"Ah Paul, you would not believe the last seven months... you would just not believe!" He took a long drink from the goblet. "It all began with that nice little English woman you employed... okay, so not exactly with her, but things started to go wrong about then..."
Paul Fécamp listened in amazement to Jean Claude's tale, full of deceits, double-crosses and treachery. "Ah, now I know why I prefer my tavern to your life on the sea!" he smiled.
"It has its attractions Paul, and the sweet little Catalyntie anchored in the harbour is definitely one of them. As soon as she is refitted I'll be sailing up to Fort Assumption..."
"Catalyntie?"
"My latest new ship... sleek, smooth, deadly..." he grinned.
"No... I meant the name! Catalyntie - it is Dutch for Catherine!"
"Wha..." Jean Claude looked at Paul in disbelief, bursting out laughing at the irony of the name. "Sleek, smooth and deadly could also describe another Catherine we know!" he chuckled.
"Pirate or not, she was still the best worker I've ever had. Brought a whole new meaning to wielding a mop!" He smiled, remembering how beautifully she had floored Arnaud Lucon with it. He sighed, looking in despair at the girl currently mopping the floor. " Perhaps she could have taught the new girl the proper use of one too..."
They sat quietly talking, laughing occasionally at what had happened, watching as the bar filled up with regular patrons. Eventually Jean Claude rose, delightfully blurred, and made his way back to his ship.
***
Louis Lact stared at the ships in the harbour, searching in vain for the Swallow but it was not in sight. Disappointed he wandered along the dockside towards the tavern owned by Paul Fécamp. If anyone knew when the Swallow would next be in New Orleans, it would be him.
He pushed open the door to the tavern, shocked to see his brother sitting quietly at the bar. "Jean Claude?"
Jean Claude's head whipped round on hearing his brother's voice. "Louis!" he gasped in disbelief. "How did you..." He dashed across the tavern, embracing his brother warmly. "I have been so worried since I heard what happened to you! How did you escape? I was just having the Catalyntie refitted and was coming to find you..."
"The Catalyntie?" Louis frowned, perplexed. "What happened to the Swallow?"
"Ah, Sparrow blew her to pieces," he shrugged. "But tell me how you escaped..."
Louis frowned, wondering how his brother knew what had happened to him. "How did you know I was captured?"
"Jack Sparrow told me..." he admitted cautiously.
"I take it you know about his wife then? That woman you sent to work for me? Sparrow's bloody wife!"
Jean Claude shrugged. "Well, she had all of us fooled. The feud is over now, and the past is the past little brother - no point getting upset about it!"
"Upset! I haven't begun to get upset! I've spent a year as a prisoner to those savages and you say don't get upset!" Louis spat, unable to believe his nonchalance.
"You are alive Louis. Thank the Lord for that and get on with your life!"
"I want Sparrow dead!"
"No." Jean Claude shook his head emphatically.
"What?" Louis looked at his brother in disbelief.
"I said no! I will not raise my hand against Sparrow or his ship. I owe the man my life, the life of my crew and I will not break our accord! Go back to the mine Louis where you belong," he said firmly, the tone of dismissal clear in his voice.
Louis sighed heavily. "I cannot... I sold it."
"You what?" Jean Claude gasped. "Why?"
"I sold it to pay the debts following the flooding of the mine. All the money that I had remaining I spent getting here!"
Jean Claude Lact looked at his little brother in disbelief. "Well, I can offer you a place on my crew if you wish - but you will have to start from the bottom... learn the ropes so to speak..."
"But I am your brother!" he protested.
"The crew will not obey a landsman Louis... you have no experience, but I am sure you will quickly learn, you are my brother after all!"
Louis was astonished that his family connection would not secure him a better position aboard the Catalyntie. This was his only chance though, if he wanted his revenge on the Sparrows. He forced himself to smile. "Thank you Jean Claude..."
Jean Claude clapped him on the back warmly. "Welcome to my crew!" he grinned.
Louis smiled, but he was deep in thought - let his brother think he was being humble... he'd get Sparrow one way or another!
***
