Usual disclaimers... but it is a sunny day in the UK, so I guess you cannot
have everything!
Just two chapters today... or maybe three. I've been quite poorly the last week and my housework was suffering so badly that I had to cut back on my typing. It was either that or not sleep... and although I weighed the options carefully eventually decided that sleep was a narrow winner.
In answer to a few questions (alphabetical to avoid favoritism): Aelimir - don't blame Jack for he did warn the Commodore to move his troops. Ani - Patience my precioussss. Read on! Linnie - don't fall behind again... alright Missy? Redmond - Spense ain't getting a shovel as he is digging quite nicely already... although you can never tell with a slippery character like that!
And thank to all the other reviewers. I notice that I am on some peoples "favourites" lists and on "author update" lists but that they never review? I know that the pirate code might be take what you can, give nothing back... but some feedback is nice!
***
The Black Pearl slid quietly from the cove, heading eastwards towards Port Royal. Jack knew that the HMS Gauntlet would still be unable to give chase following the pounding they had given it, but he wanted to be clear of the harbour before dawn. Like a sliver of darkness they sailed quietly into the harbour, the cannons primed and ready for firing.
Boom!
The ten starboard cannons fired at the Fort, aiming primarily at the area that housed the cells. The outer wall of the fort was destroyed with the first volley and Jack smiled content in the knowledge that it would be many months before the Commodore could place anyone in them again. The crew used the sweeps to turn the Black Pearl in a tight arc, bringing her port cannons to bear on the fort.
Jack sighed regretfully as he saw marines running in panic along what remained of the wall. The Commodore had not heeded his warning and kept them from harm. A few cannons fired from the Fort at the Black Pearl, but such was the sharpness of her turn that they missed the ship completely. Briefly Jack wished he could see the Commodore's face as his Fort was destroyed... but then he admitted that he was glad he could not. He quite liked the man, even if he was Naval.
Another ten cannon balls found their mark, slamming into the fort and bringing down yet more of the outer wall, sending large boulders of rock tumbling down the steep cliff into the water. Satisfied that the message had been suitably delivered Jack turned to Oran. "Take us to Tortuga Booth," he ordered. "I'll be with Kitty if yer need me..."
"Aye Captain," Oran smiled in delight at going home for it meant he would see Sanchia again.
Jack bounded down the stairs, pausing outside of the cabin door on hearing voices. Elizabeth was within and the women were talking. Curious to hear what they were saying, he stood a while, listening.
***
"No, I'll be fine..." Catherine assured Elizabeth, wishing she would not fuss so. "There is nothing that Jack cannot help me with... it is just a broken leg!"
"But what about your toilet needs... your menses?"
"Never had a bleed in my life," Catherine admitted. "Guess it must come from not having the necessary..." She sighed. "And Jack has helped me through worse than this when I was not even conscious..."
"But surely..." Elizabeth frowned, unable to fathom her resistance to a simple offer of help.
"Look, if you want then you can help me out of this dress and over to my bunk... I think I can hobble that far."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Catherine nearly screamed with frustration. "Now, please just undo my laces and I can get out of this bloody dress..."
Elizabeth shook her head. It appeared that being on a ship full of men had caused Catherine to lose some of her femininity and Elizabeth felt that she was too independent for her own good. "It doesn't hurt to have help..." she began again before stopping in shock. "Your back!" she gasped.
"Eh?" Catherine swivelled round to try to see what Elizabeth was talking about. "Oh, that? It's nothing, just an old scar."
"But..." she stuttered.
"Jack nursed me through that, he will nurse me through this..."
"How many times have you been hurt..." Elizabeth worried as she saw a small round scar on her right shoulder, not having realised that Catherine had been injured before.
"Well, the scar on my shoulder was from a shot when we were red flagged and lost Zeke..." She shrugged off her top, figuring that a brief inspection of her scars would, perhaps, stop Elizabeth fussing so. "The knife scar there is a memento from Arnaud Lucon... and these two are thanks to a French long rifle in the Americas." She held her arm up so that Elizabeth could see the bullet hole near to her heart and where Jack had cut the shot out. "The little white scars are courtesy of DeWitt's blade and the one on my cheek is thanks to a French frigate... and of course there is the one on my stomach from when I was a child."
"And the big one?" Elizabeth asked, almost afraid to ask.
"Oh, that one was Jack's fault," Catherine smiled as she remembered waking to Jack's concerned face.
"Jack did that!" Elizabeth gasped, totally stunned.
"Well, not exactly. I was on a ship that the Black Pearl attacked, the Gallian, and a cannon ball hit near me. I got hit by a large splinter of wood..." She wriggled back into her top, smiling at Elizabeth's stunned expression - perhaps it had worked. "I'm alive... it is all I ever ask."
Elizabeth stared at her in shock, thankful that she had never followed her desire to go to sea for it appeared to be far more hazardous than she had thought. She had felt that her hand was too painful from the cut made by Barbossa but... she shuddered. "I never realised," she said quietly.
Catherine smiled, placing her hand on Elizabeth's arm. "Few people do, but I could never leave Jack and the Pearl, whatever might happen. But right now I intend going to bed for I've had a long day and I intend to sleep until first dog watch! Jack will be down soon..."
***
Jack took her words as his cue, quietly opening the cabin doors. "Kitty?" he called. "Ah, there you are... morning Elizabeth!" Even though it was still dark he knew dawn was not far off.
"Jack," she smiled, turning back to Catherine. "Well, if you do need me, just ask," she offered as she made her way out of the cabin. "Good night."
Jack clicked the door locked behind her, returning quickly to his bunk.
"And just how long were you eavesdropping?" Catherine frowned.
"Me?" Jack tried his best to look innocent.
"You could have rescued me ages ago... don't deny it Jack - I saw your shadow!"
"Ah now Kitty, you were havin' such a nice woman t' woman chat I didn't like t' interfere..." Catherine raised one eyebrow. "Err... what was it yer were saying about first dog watch?" he grinned as he slid his shirt off and climbed into the bunk beside her. She winced as the mattress moved, hurting her leg.
"Don't you go getting any ideas Jack!" Catherine warned.
"Just a cuddle then..." he offered, opening his arms.
Catherine snuggled against him, smiling contentedly. "A cuddle is just fine," she sighed, "at least until my leg stops hurting so much..." But if he made any further reply she did not hear him - she was already asleep.
***
Just two chapters today... or maybe three. I've been quite poorly the last week and my housework was suffering so badly that I had to cut back on my typing. It was either that or not sleep... and although I weighed the options carefully eventually decided that sleep was a narrow winner.
In answer to a few questions (alphabetical to avoid favoritism): Aelimir - don't blame Jack for he did warn the Commodore to move his troops. Ani - Patience my precioussss. Read on! Linnie - don't fall behind again... alright Missy? Redmond - Spense ain't getting a shovel as he is digging quite nicely already... although you can never tell with a slippery character like that!
And thank to all the other reviewers. I notice that I am on some peoples "favourites" lists and on "author update" lists but that they never review? I know that the pirate code might be take what you can, give nothing back... but some feedback is nice!
***
The Black Pearl slid quietly from the cove, heading eastwards towards Port Royal. Jack knew that the HMS Gauntlet would still be unable to give chase following the pounding they had given it, but he wanted to be clear of the harbour before dawn. Like a sliver of darkness they sailed quietly into the harbour, the cannons primed and ready for firing.
Boom!
The ten starboard cannons fired at the Fort, aiming primarily at the area that housed the cells. The outer wall of the fort was destroyed with the first volley and Jack smiled content in the knowledge that it would be many months before the Commodore could place anyone in them again. The crew used the sweeps to turn the Black Pearl in a tight arc, bringing her port cannons to bear on the fort.
Jack sighed regretfully as he saw marines running in panic along what remained of the wall. The Commodore had not heeded his warning and kept them from harm. A few cannons fired from the Fort at the Black Pearl, but such was the sharpness of her turn that they missed the ship completely. Briefly Jack wished he could see the Commodore's face as his Fort was destroyed... but then he admitted that he was glad he could not. He quite liked the man, even if he was Naval.
Another ten cannon balls found their mark, slamming into the fort and bringing down yet more of the outer wall, sending large boulders of rock tumbling down the steep cliff into the water. Satisfied that the message had been suitably delivered Jack turned to Oran. "Take us to Tortuga Booth," he ordered. "I'll be with Kitty if yer need me..."
"Aye Captain," Oran smiled in delight at going home for it meant he would see Sanchia again.
Jack bounded down the stairs, pausing outside of the cabin door on hearing voices. Elizabeth was within and the women were talking. Curious to hear what they were saying, he stood a while, listening.
***
"No, I'll be fine..." Catherine assured Elizabeth, wishing she would not fuss so. "There is nothing that Jack cannot help me with... it is just a broken leg!"
"But what about your toilet needs... your menses?"
"Never had a bleed in my life," Catherine admitted. "Guess it must come from not having the necessary..." She sighed. "And Jack has helped me through worse than this when I was not even conscious..."
"But surely..." Elizabeth frowned, unable to fathom her resistance to a simple offer of help.
"Look, if you want then you can help me out of this dress and over to my bunk... I think I can hobble that far."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Catherine nearly screamed with frustration. "Now, please just undo my laces and I can get out of this bloody dress..."
Elizabeth shook her head. It appeared that being on a ship full of men had caused Catherine to lose some of her femininity and Elizabeth felt that she was too independent for her own good. "It doesn't hurt to have help..." she began again before stopping in shock. "Your back!" she gasped.
"Eh?" Catherine swivelled round to try to see what Elizabeth was talking about. "Oh, that? It's nothing, just an old scar."
"But..." she stuttered.
"Jack nursed me through that, he will nurse me through this..."
"How many times have you been hurt..." Elizabeth worried as she saw a small round scar on her right shoulder, not having realised that Catherine had been injured before.
"Well, the scar on my shoulder was from a shot when we were red flagged and lost Zeke..." She shrugged off her top, figuring that a brief inspection of her scars would, perhaps, stop Elizabeth fussing so. "The knife scar there is a memento from Arnaud Lucon... and these two are thanks to a French long rifle in the Americas." She held her arm up so that Elizabeth could see the bullet hole near to her heart and where Jack had cut the shot out. "The little white scars are courtesy of DeWitt's blade and the one on my cheek is thanks to a French frigate... and of course there is the one on my stomach from when I was a child."
"And the big one?" Elizabeth asked, almost afraid to ask.
"Oh, that one was Jack's fault," Catherine smiled as she remembered waking to Jack's concerned face.
"Jack did that!" Elizabeth gasped, totally stunned.
"Well, not exactly. I was on a ship that the Black Pearl attacked, the Gallian, and a cannon ball hit near me. I got hit by a large splinter of wood..." She wriggled back into her top, smiling at Elizabeth's stunned expression - perhaps it had worked. "I'm alive... it is all I ever ask."
Elizabeth stared at her in shock, thankful that she had never followed her desire to go to sea for it appeared to be far more hazardous than she had thought. She had felt that her hand was too painful from the cut made by Barbossa but... she shuddered. "I never realised," she said quietly.
Catherine smiled, placing her hand on Elizabeth's arm. "Few people do, but I could never leave Jack and the Pearl, whatever might happen. But right now I intend going to bed for I've had a long day and I intend to sleep until first dog watch! Jack will be down soon..."
***
Jack took her words as his cue, quietly opening the cabin doors. "Kitty?" he called. "Ah, there you are... morning Elizabeth!" Even though it was still dark he knew dawn was not far off.
"Jack," she smiled, turning back to Catherine. "Well, if you do need me, just ask," she offered as she made her way out of the cabin. "Good night."
Jack clicked the door locked behind her, returning quickly to his bunk.
"And just how long were you eavesdropping?" Catherine frowned.
"Me?" Jack tried his best to look innocent.
"You could have rescued me ages ago... don't deny it Jack - I saw your shadow!"
"Ah now Kitty, you were havin' such a nice woman t' woman chat I didn't like t' interfere..." Catherine raised one eyebrow. "Err... what was it yer were saying about first dog watch?" he grinned as he slid his shirt off and climbed into the bunk beside her. She winced as the mattress moved, hurting her leg.
"Don't you go getting any ideas Jack!" Catherine warned.
"Just a cuddle then..." he offered, opening his arms.
Catherine snuggled against him, smiling contentedly. "A cuddle is just fine," she sighed, "at least until my leg stops hurting so much..." But if he made any further reply she did not hear him - she was already asleep.
***