Revenge of the Fox

Chapter 23

The small boat reached the dock and Jack, Will, Joseph and Norrington climbed out. Cotton and Davy stayed on the dock. "Stay by the boat, lads," Jack said. "I don't know how long we'll be." He nodded to his three companions. "Gentlemen, let's be off." He spied a likely tavern and headed in that direction, followed by the others.

Soon they were ensconced at a table in a small and dilapidated drinking establishment, waiting for the serving girl to bring them their drinks. As Jack leaned forward to begin speaking, another voice was heard. "Captain Sparrow?"

The four men turned to see a lad of about 17 standing nervously near their table. "Aye," Jack answered. "What can I do for ye?"

The lad glanced nervously at the men, all of whom were staring at him intensely. "Ah, sir, I wanted to talk to you. I, ah, was a sailor on the Vixen..."

"The Vixen!" Will exclaimed, and was silenced by a quick glare from Jack.

Joseph snatched a nearby chair and pulled it toward them. "Sit down, lad," he said quietly. Nervously the boy did so. Joseph hitched his chair closer to the boy's and laid his hand on its back.

Ralf threw a nervous sideways glance at the powerful looking black man, who had, for all intents and purposes, trapped him at this table. "Aye, sir, the Vixen."

Norrington spoke up. "What do you know about the four ladies that were aboard that ship?"

Jack interrupted. "Why don't you start from the beginning, lad. What's your name?"

"Ralf," he replied.

"And you took ship with the Vixen, when?"

Ralf flushed and looked down. "I took ship on her back in England, sir. She was the Lady Fortuna then, and was to be a merchant ship, I suppose." He looked at Jack pleadingly. "I don't think Lord Marlby knew what he was doing with her, but I thought it would be a grand adventure to come to the West Indies, sir, so I signed on."

"And then there was the mutiny, aye?"

"Aye, sir. I wasn't at all sure about that, sir, honest I wasn't, but I didn't know what else to do. All the other hands were going along, and I was afraid not to." He flushed again. "I didn't know Cap'n Reynard would kill Lord Marlby, honest I didn't sir!"

"I'm sure you didn't," soothed Jack. "Then what?"

"Well, Cap'n Reynard changed the name of the ship to the Vixen, and we came here. He was talking about taking revenge on you, sir, and told us all kinds of tales about you. He said you'd shot down his brother in cold blood and that he'd see to it that you got what was coming to you."

Jack spoke calmly. "Well that depends on your point of view, lad, but we'll let that pass. You spent some time in the Bahamas, eh?"

"Aye, sir. We went to several of the different islands, but we didn't stay long at any of them. I think he buried Lord Marlby on one of them, sir, but I'm not sure."

"We found his body on Crooked Island," confirmed Norrington. "Along with the log book from the Lady Fortuna."

Ralf swallowed and nodded. "He said we were pirates now. I didn't start out to be a pirate, sir, I didn't mean to...." He broke off and stared aghast at Jack. "I mean...uh, sir."

"Don't let it worry you, lad," said Jack with amusement. "It's not the life for everyone."

"Well, then we went to Jamaica, sir, and put in at a cove near Port Antonio. Cap'n Reynard and several of the men went off for several days." Ralf went on to explain how the women had arrived at three different times and three different methods. When he spoke of how three of the women had been lodged in the brig, but that Gwen had been given the freedom of the ship, Jack continued to listen with no change of expression. Joseph, however, noted how Jack had gripped his tankard so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Why was Mrs. Sparrow not locked in the brig with the others?" Joseph asked, almost casually.

Ralf looked at him in confusion. "I'm not sure. I think the Captain might have been sweet on her, though." He looked apprehensively at Jack. "He was always trying to touch her, but she usually pulled away, at least when I saw." He swallowed hard and started again. "She spoke of you to me, sir, when she sewed up my arm," he pushed up his sleeve and showed the neat line of stitches. "She was very kind to me, sir."

"Aye, Mrs. Sparrow is a very kind lady," said Joseph quietly. "Why did you leave the Vixen?"

Ralf shrugged helplessly. "I couldn't stand the thought of what we were doing, sir. I didn't want to be a pirate, and I didn't want to do anything that might hurt some innocent women. I never really saw the other three, but Mrs. Sparrow was so kind – I just didn't want to be involved with anything that might hurt her." He looked at Jack. "I was afraid to let anyone know I wanted to leave, sir, so I just slipped overboard while we were at anchor here and swam ashore. The ship wasn't even here a full day. I hope no one missed me for a while."

Norrington frowned. "Why did the Vixen come here if she wasn't going to remain for even a day?"

Ralf hesitated again. "Three of the women were brought ashore, sir. I found out that he sold them to a brothel."

Will started to his feet, and Norrington clapped a hand on his shoulder and forced him back into his seat. "Which brothel?" Norrington asked, his voice as sharp as a sword.

Ralf looked at Norrington. "I don't know, sir, but I do know that they aren't there anymore."

"How do you know that?" Will asked tensely.

"Earlier today I overheard some men talking. Three women, who had been purchased this morning, overpowered one of them and left him bound and gagged in the room. They disappeared."

Jack leaned over. "Which three women?"

"Not Mrs. Sparrow," Ralf replied. "The other three. Mrs. Sparrow stayed aboard the Vixen."

"Where did the Vixen go next, Ralf?" Jack's eyes glittered like obsidian. "Do you know?"

"Aye, sir," Ralf said nervously, looking around. Joseph transferred his hand from the chair to the boy's shoulder.

"Good." Jack leaned back. "Will and Joseph, you take Ralf here to the boat and ask Cotton and Davy to take him to the Pearl. Tell them to put him in the Captain's cabin and keep him company until we get back. Then start scouring the waterfront. If I know Annamaria, she stole a boat and cleared out of here. Find out if any boats are missing." He turned to Norrington. "James, you and I will be visiting a few brothels. I believe I know which one Reynard would have sold the women to. We'll see if we can find out more."

Ralf stood up sputtering, "But, sir, I.. uh.... but!"

Jack smiled silkily. "Not to worry lad. You'll come to no harm aboard the Pearl."

He tried again, desperately. "I could draw you a map or something, sir!"

"Nay, lad, you'll come with us. I insist."

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