Just came back from the Ren. fair! It was GREAT! I was dressed as Jack Sparrow (Who didn't see that one coming. ) I had tons of pictures taken of me, got to save the Princess from a French prisoner, escaped being captured by the executioner, was chased by royal guards, wooed three ladies, beat a Frenchman in a wooing contest and got to dance with a few ladies. Also, I got to watch the human chess game. (Which is the best thing to watch! It's like live action wrestling but with swords.) It gave me an idea. ^_^ But I'm not telling you all the idea that was given.
While there I also go to meet a few pirates. Very cool guys I must say. All of them bowed to me when I came up to them. Two asked to be part of my crew. (I was playing Jack Sparrow at the time. All day I had to act, speak, and think like Jack! It's harder then it looks!)
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(_)-AN
"_"-Speaking
'_'-Thoughts
~_~-scene change
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A Pirate's Life for me
Part 15- Ship Ahoy
Jack left the Captain's cabin with slumped shoulders. Despite the Captain's reassurance that Bootstrap wouldn't harm him, Jack seriously doubted that. He didn't trust Bootstrap more then he could throw him.
"So, we'll be working together?" A questioned came from Jack's left. He turned to find Bootstrap leaning up against the wall of the Cabin.
"Aye." Jack said, wanting to cut the conversation down as much as he could.
"Don't look so down." Bootstrap said, pushing himself off the wall and he walked beside Jack, putting an arm over Jack's shoulder. "I best be showing you to your cabin."
Jack looked at the hand resting on his shoulder with distaste. Then glanced up at Bootstrap's face. "I'd like to be relieved of your presents quickly, if you wouldn't mind."
Bootstrap frowned at Jack. "If that's what you want lad, but remember, tomorrow weather you like it or not you'll be working with me."
Jack barely bit back a growl that threatened to find it's way to his throat. Jack settled for clenching his fists.
Bootstrap led Jack below deck and into the crew's cabins.
"Most of us share cabins. You will be sharing one with three of the crew members. But no worries. Usually they pass out because they drink too much." Bootstrap said, opening the door. A cramped room met Jack's eyes. Four bed cots were on the floor. Three of them torn near to ribbons. The other had stains of blood or rum stains in it. It seemed, to have been inhabited by ravened dogs because it was close to the disaster that was befallen the other three cots.
Bootstrap gave a hearty laugh when he saw Jack's completely confused and disgusted face. He patted Jack on the back. "Pleasant dreams and remember to bath often. I believe your cot has fleas."
Bootstrap gave another laugh as he closed the door behind him and continued down the hallway. Jack could throw up at the condition he found his cot in. It was also very small and Jack was a growing boy. He didn't truly fit in the cot at all. His feet broke through the holes at the bottom and his head was resting against the floor boards. Jack never felt more uncomfortable in his life.
Jack was barely able to find sleep, when the three crew mates walked in. They were clearly drunk. One of them stepped right on Jack's stomach. Jack gave a winded 'Oaf'.
"Whadda got 'ere? It's a wee cabban boo." Is what it sounded like.
Jack stared into the darkness and could make out three forms. Other then that, it was helpless to try to see anything other then that.
"Lads, I think it's a good time we got ourselves some sleep." Said another man. His voice was slurred, but Jack could make out what he said.
Jack grabbed his cot and dragged it further away from the drunks as they squeezed next to one another and tried to find their cots.
Jack crawled up in the corner, using the cot only to cushion his butt on the floor and to cover up what he could, slept in a sitting position with is head resting against his drawn knees.
Morning came with a shinning, annoying light. Jack moaned as his stiff muscles began to work again. He removed the cot from his body and got up. His stretched his arms up, trying to get his muscles to obey his commands.
He stifled a yawn and went to find out if he could get breakfast. Once he got out of the room, Bootstrap was right there. An evil smirk on his face.
"Did you have a pleasant night sleep?" He questioned.
Jack, not yet fully awake and drugged by the small amount of sleep replied smoothly "Slept like a rock."
Jack rolled his shoulders, hearing his bones crack satisfyingly, he moved past Bootstrap and into the Galley where he might receive something to eat.
Jack ate a piece of bread, an apple and a mug of water, before going topside. He walked the lengths of the deck, running his hand against the rail.
'Fine wood, carved by a professional and hand made. Probably over ten years in age. Still holding together with the best. Though, it's not as smooth as Miss. Sparrow's ship, or as fast. The Wood is more splintered. And a little rough to the touch.' Jack thought. It's not like he disliked this ship, just that he didn't think it matched up to the ship he designed.
"Fine ship isn't she?" Captain David asked. He had been watching Jack for a bit.
"Aye sir." Jack said, still marveling over the way the keel would push through the water in a cutting fashion.
"Have you ever seen a ship as grand as this one." The Captain asked.
Jack truthfully didn't know how to answer. He had designed one as grand or even more so then this one. It was built by the time Jack had left, but he hadn't seen the finished product as of yet.
"Only one other." Jack answered. When the Captain gave him a questioning look, Jack added. "And she is Captained by Miss. Sparrow."
"Aye. The one that I've heard about her building." Captain David said with a smirk. Jack stared at him, dumfounded. "I have my ways of knowing what's going on everywhere in these seas."
Jack nodded, not questioning it any further. Bootstrap walked to them. "I believe it's time I took him around to give him his work."
"Aye that it is Bootstrap. Now, explain to him how I run my ship and the rules that are to be followed." The Captain said, walking away. Then he glanced over his shoulder to add. "Oh and Bootstrap. Give the lad a weapon."
Bootstrap nodded. He turned to Jack. "Then only thing I can give you as of now is a Knife. Hide it in your boot." Bootstrap pulled out a slightly damaged knife. It had a three inched blade with a silver handle that looked like it belonged on a dagger. Bootstrap then bent down and grabbed Jack's boot.
Jack tried to take his foot away from Bootstrap, when Bootstrap grabbed hold with a tighter grip. "Stop struggling. I'm going to put a holder in your boot."
Jack stopped and let Bootstrap take control. Bootstrap tied a leather bond around Jack's ankle, with a loop in it. The bottom of the loop didn't have a hole, but was dipped to hold the tip of the blade in it. Then, a strap with another loop in it to hold the blade away from the skin, but still attached to Jack's leg.
Jack slipped the blade in and put his boot back on.
"Now that wasn't so hard, now was it?" Bootstrap questioned with a smirk. His swollen cheek was pronounced even more now. His cheek, near his lip was swollen and purple with hints of blue in the middle. His lip was also split.
"Yes it was." Jack said, turning on his heel and walking off.
"And just where are you going?" Bootstrap questioned.
"To take a look around the ship and to stay as far from you as possible." Jack answered, going below deck. He walked around below deck, checking out every possible nook and cranny. He wanted to know this ship like he livid on it forever. Jack traced his hand over the fine wood and watched as a few crew members stacked cannonballs into a pile.
Jack walked over and started helping them out, stacking them the same as the other crew members were. During the duration of this, Jack fully noted how heavy cannon balls really were!
His arms were sore after the sixth stack! He stood up, stretching his back and arms, before helping stack the last pile of cannonballs.
"Thanks fer yer help lad." Said one of the crew members.
"Welcome." Jack said, turning and going above deck. He figured he could help tie a line or something. Jack shaded his eyes from the peering eyes of the sun. They were clearly leaving the Caribbean waters, as the sun beat down on them, even harder as they went across the sea and into the ocean, where the water reflected the sun right into your eyes.
Jack looked around deck, finding a few of the crew mates tying down a few lines for the sails to be deployed. Jack joined them, only after that did he spot Bootstrap. Bootstrap was holding onto a line, which seemed to be pulling him right off his feet. If he didn't watch it, Bootstrap would be in trouble of being thrown across the deck.
Jack nearly snickered as Bootstrap had to let the line get some slack because he was about to be pulled up. Jack went over and helped a few crewmates to tie the lines down. All the sails were full, and caught the wind quickly. The ship took a sudden lunge forward in her step. All the crew mates who weren't ready for it, fell right to the ground. Which included only Jack.
Jack picked himself back up, pushing himself up with his arms, when a sudden jolt of pain was sent through his arm. Jack fell to the deck again with an undignified 'Oof!'
Bootstrap was the first to Jack's side. He placed a hand on Jack's back. "You alright Lad?"
Jack could almost be fooled into thinking Bootstrap cared about him. Jack pushed him away, sitting up, clutching his left arm. "I'm fine." He said through clenched teeth.
"You don't look so well." Bootstrap commented.
"I'm FINE." Jack insisted. He stood up, only to feel a little dizzy and light headed. He fell right on his rear. His arm made another jolt of pain course through his body.
"I think I should have a look at your arm." Said Bootstrap.
"I don't need your help!" Jack said, refusing to give into any help Bootstrap had to offer. For probably the first time in Jack's life, he was acting exactly like a spoiled brat. Being stubborn and all.
"Don't be stupid. Let me see." Bootstrap said.
"NO!" Jack said, moving back, still holding onto his arm.
"It might be infected." He said.
Jack stuck out his tongue to bootstrap. "Go piss yourself you git! I'm NOT letting YOU look at my arm, let alone TOUCH it!"
Bootstrap, for the first time in his life, became truly mad. "Stop being a damned fool and let me see your arm!"
"NO!!" Jack shouted, standing up and dashing across the deck. Bootstrap stood up and gave chase after the boy.
The crew members all stopped to watch the little show play out before them. Even the captain at the helm, watched it with great amusement.
Jack dodged another lunge from Bootstrap, running around the mast and going below deck. Jack ran below the galley, and into the bulkhead. The bottom of the ship. The water down there came up to Jack's knees, making it hard as hell for him to run. He ducked down behind a crate and waited to see if Bootstrap followed him.
Bootstrap had about enough of this and pulled out his pistol. "That does it lad! You'd better come out or I'll randomly shoot until I hit you."
Jack made a small gulping sound. He wouldn't put it past Bootstrap to do such a bold move. Then again, he barely knew the man.
That's when he felt a hand grip onto the scruff of his neck. Bootstrap aimed the pistol right at Jack's head.
"How did you find me?" Jack questioned.
"When you gulped, it echoed." Bootstrap said. "And to pin point you, you had to move when you felt uncomfortable after hearing I might shoot you, and created a ripple."
Jack stared at Bootstrap. 'How did a low life like him become so smart?' Jack questioned to himself. He guessed it must have been personal experience.
"Now. Show me your arm." Bootstrap demanded.
Jack had no choice but to comply. He rolled up his sleeve and slowly started to unravel the bandages that were surrounding the wound so it would not bleed.
Bootstrap winced as he saw the cut. It wasn't exactly something anyone wanted to see. The wound was fresh with blood and was an angry red surrounding the wound. It was infected. Bootstrap could curse himself for allowing his pride and ego to get in the way of his decision last night. He shouldn't have let Jack in that room with a chance he could become infected from his wound.
"We have to get you to the captain. He'll know what to do about that wound." Bootstrap said. "Come on."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Jack said definitely. "I HATE you!"
Bootstrap pushed Jack up against the crate. "Why? Why do you hate me?"
"Because you insulted George! He was like a father to me and just DIED! You insulted his judgment and his honor yesterday! Then, you dared to laugh in my face when I told you otherwise! Not ONLY that, but you seem to make it a life mission to make my life HELL!" Jack finished, angry tears streaming down his face. "I've had it with EVERYONE!"
"Who's everyone?" Bootstrap questioned. His Pistol was already lowered. He wanted to hear everything Jack had to say. It was like a trance. Jack was very powerful when he was speaking. He demanded your attention and he would never let it waver when he was speaking.
'He had fantastic leadership skills and doesn't even know it.' Bootstrap thought to himself.
"Everyone! You, for being a bastard to me from day one! The damned King for making it law for all boys who sign up for school HAVE to go! Most of all, oh most of all indeed is my father." Jack said, seething at the end. His fists gripped so tight Bootstrap was sure Jack's nails were cutting into his palms.
"What about your father?" Bootstrap questioned gently.
"What isn't there about him?" Jack shouted. "I HATE HIM MORE THEN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD! For making me leave my home, leaving my only friend in the world there, Anamaria! My Teacher Miss. Sparrow, god how I miss her. For making me be presented like some sort of prized horse in front of high classed, stuck up gits! For making me feel like I was completely worthless ALL my life! For hitting me, while making me feel like I deserved it! For nearly killing me on quite a few occasions I might add."
Bootstrap tucked his pistol away. His eyes never left Jack's face. He could barely stand to see such a strong lad, brake down like this. It seems the world had been most cruel to him. Far worse to him then most.
"I hate him worst of all for this alone." Jack said, falling to his knees. Tears streaming down his face. "For never once telling me he was proud of me."
Jack choked back a fell sobs before saying, through the tears. "I tired! I tired so hard to make him love me! To even look at me ONCE without contempt in his eyes! I did everything I could think of for him to be proud of me. Just once, in my life, I would like to hear my father say, nice work or even a simple thank you would do. That's all I want! Yet, I can't even receive that from my father."
Bootstrap fell to his knees also and grabbed Jack by the shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Listen lad. LISTEN!"
Jack stared back with blank eyes. Tears still free falling from his eyes.
"Life has been cruel to you, as to all of us. You can not go around, blaming things on yourself that you had no control over! I had a father similar to that. He didn't care about me." Bootstrap said. Jack tilted his head up to look Bootstrap in the eyes at that. "I know how tough it is, but crying about it isn't going to do anything. Why do you think I was so hard on you when you were carrying on like that?"
Jack shrugged, not knowing what to say.
"I did it because you needed feel like you got some sort of revenge for it. You don't think I'd let you hit me for nothing, now do you?" Bootstrap questioned.
Suddenly, it made sense to Jack why he had been able to hit Bootstrap and why Bootstrap was being so hard on him. He was trying to make him stronger. Better. But that still didn't put Bootstrap on his good list.
"I still hate you, you know." Jack said, rubbing the back of his arm against his face, drying the tears and getting the bit of snot that fell from his nose.
"Of course." Bootstrap said, standing up.
"Bootstrap." Jack said, standing up also.
"Call me Bill." He replied.
"Bill." Jack said. The name sounded funny against Jack's lips. "Why did you tell me this?"
"Because, I can see you're going to need some help if you are to be a pirate." Bill replied. "You have a long ways to go if you're planning on becoming the next Sparrow."
"Next one? I'm not going to marry Miss. Sparrow!" Jack said with a dumfounded look on his face. With his puffy red eyes and his snot covered nose, Bill couldn't help but laugh heartily at Jack's appearance.
Jack scowled and tried to wipe his face better with his shirt.
"I mean to say, you honor Miss. Sparrow by taking up her last name. You know." Bill said. Both he and Jack walked up the steps to the top deck.
Jack then remembered why he had been chased by Bill. He looked down at his left arm. It was bleeding. Not profusely but enough to be concerned about.
He was also feeling winded and light headed. "I feel sick." He commented right before he fainted.
Bill opened his arms and caught Jack before he hit the deck. "Captain! I think we got a slight problem on our hands!"
The Captain ordered for another crew member to take over the helm as he went to the main deck to see what was going on.
"What's wrong with Jack?" He questioned.
"His wound Captain. I think it's infected and he's bleeding." Bill answered.
"Take the boy to my cabin and take care of him till he wakes up. I'll need your sword at my back when we reach the merchant vessel up ahead." The Captain said.
Bill glanced out to see and could spot a boat on the horizon. It was a good two or three hours before the two ships would be able to meet in combat. Bill picked Jack up and put him in the Captain's cabin.
"Guess it's time to put my first aid skills to the test." Bill mumbled, getting ready to des-infect Jack's wound.
Nothing much to this chapter. Just a bit of a tear jerker. Next chapter, Action as the pirate ship goes against the merchant ship! Who will win?!?! Oh and Please review!!!!!
