Usual disclaimers... blah!
Firstly I must apologise for the lack of an update for so long. Firstly there was the decorating of my son's room, then when Mulberry and I arranged to meet online to edit these some moron cut their power for five hours, then it was my 8th wedding anniversary - I was beginning to think we were jinxed.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RATING OF THIS STORY HAS INCREASED TO AN "R".
The reasons for this will be obvious in a further two chapters, but I felt it was necessary for what I wanted to happen in the story.
Thanks as ever for all the reviews... you guys make my day!
***
Mid August
Jedidiah Johns lay quietly in the bunk that had been assigned to him. He had been dismayed to find that he would be sleeping in the sick bay, but at least he had a cabin to himself. Despite his plain appearance, Jedidiah liked the finer things in life and his family relationship with Jeremiah had brought him many. Few knew that he was second cousin to the Old Man and none of those would ever dare speak of it. Not even Joshua or Isaac knew who he truly was for their father had never explained the relationship to them. Jedidiah travelled quietly, here and there at Jeremiah's whim - his eyes and ears to bring him rumour and knowledge that he would not discover otherwise. He was also the only man that Jeremiah would trust with as delicate a mission as this.
Jedidiah patted the pouch about his neck, reassuringly feeling the emeralds within. Jack Sparrow was not the only pirate with high-powered connections he smirked. The English nobleman, Lord Rashman, wanted to buy into the ebony trade in the Far East, a trade currently controlled by the Dutch and these emeralds were his leverage. Emeralds were exceedingly rare there, especially since the best ones such as these came from South America and they were to be a gift from Lord Rashman to the local Maharajah. Time would tell if the bribe would work, but regardless of the outcome, Lord Rashman would owe Jeremiah Hallam a favour in return. Wheels within wheels he smiled to himself.
He had also been asked to find out all he could about as many members of the crew of the Black Pearl as possible, especially the Captain and his wife - no, First Mate as they insisted on calling her onboard. He snorted at the ridiculous situation where a woman gave orders to men, feeling it upset the natural balance that God intended. Jeremiah had been considering inviting Sparrow into the inner circle, something that Jedidiah would speak strongly against. Nothing that he had seen onboard had revealed the Captain to be anything else than a fool with more than his fair share of luck.
He sighed, pulling himself upright as he realised it must be nearly breakfast time. At least Sparrow made his wife cook and the food had been better than he had expected on this trip - even the cold rations when they had been unable to light the galley stove had been edible. He braced himself, schooling his features into bland politeness as he opened the narrow door, wondering what he would discover today. Wheels within wheels.
***
They were a few days from Cape Town when Jack called a meeting of his senior crew, Jeremiah's chart of the region spread out and weighted down on the table. Jean Claude, Ned Cotton and Oran circled the table, looking closely at the southern most tip of Africa. "Okay," he began, pointing to Cape Town on the map. "This is where we need t' get water. They will let us take on water, despite being English, but we'll be better served if they think we are French. Jean Claude, I want yer t' pretend t' be th' Captain... Kitty an' Oran can do any other talkin' needed." He wandered over to a large chest that sat against the bulkhead, rummaging through until he found what he needed - a French flag. He frowned as he realised that the lid now would not shut due to all the disarray within and decided to leave it. Catherine sighed, knowing she would have to take everything out, fold it, and put it back in again later.
"Okay, so we're French," Jean Claude confirmed. "What else?"
"Two can go ashore," Jack continued, "but I want one French speaker aboard at all times in case we are approached. Can't have us not answering them, can we?" he grinned. He paused, seeing the cabin door open to reveal Jedidiah. Jack's lip curled in distaste at the man's presence. He turned his back on him, rolling the chart back up and placing it safely to one side. "One last thing," he warned. "Th' waters here are full of sharks - big, mean an' they don't stop t' say please b'fore eating yer. Warn th' crew that they are not t' fall in at any cost - savvy?"
Jean Claude, Ned and Oran nodded as they left, shouldering their way past Jedidiah as they left. He frowned at them - never before had he been on such an untalkative ship. The newer, lower ranked crew were happy to spread tales about their ship and it's Captain, but those that knew the truth behind the exaggerations were surprisingly close lipped. Jedidiah shrugged to himself - there was still roughly a months journey to Penang as well as the return trip and who knew what could be discovered in that time. He was determined to have something to present to Jeremiah by the time they returned.
"I understand we will shortly be stopping in Cape Town," he began. "I need to go ashore."
Jack shook his head. "I'm not letting anyone off except fer Oran an' Jean Claude."
"Nevertheless, you will let me off. I will only be gone an hour..." he said determinedly.
"No!" Jack argued.
"I do not ask for myself," Jedidiah assured him. "I need to collect something for Mr Hallam."
Jack folded his arms. "Jeremiah told me nothing about this," he frowned.
"It came up just before we sailed," Jedidiah evaded. "There was not time."
"Well likewise there may not be time fer yer little side trip," Jack threatened. "I don't like having surprises sprung on me like this - yer've had over three weeks t' tell me an' haven't." He walked closer to Jedidiah. "I don't like yer Johns an' if it wasn't fer m' word t' Jeremiah yer'd be swimming already - savvy?" He turned suddenly, causing Jedidiah to step back sharply to avoid being hit in the face with his braids. "We will be taking on water an' fer th' duration of our stay th' Black Pearl will be a French ship... you understand?"
"A wise choice Captain," Jedidiah flattered.
"Cut th' crap!" Jack snarled. "Yer'll be back b'fore we sail else we'll sail without yer!" he warned.
Jedidiah Johns did not say anything, but nodded and quietly walked from the cabin. He had the horrible feeling that he had badly misjudged Captain Sparrow and that despite his closeness to Jeremiah he would have to tread far more carefully for the remainder of the trip.
***
The Black Pearl slid quietly into Table Bay, the town and fort of Cape Town spread before them. Jack had ordered Catherine to wear a dress so that she could be seen from the shore easier, having decided on the cover story that they were escorting a French lady to her husband in Mauritius. They anchored whilst Jean Claude negotiated a berth for them before sailing closer to docks. Jack set a guard at the gang plank and watched as Jean Claude and Oran, closely followed by Jedidiah, left the ship. What was it about that man he so disliked he wondered. He did not know but he had every intention of watching him closely.
He glanced across at Catherine as she emerged from the cabin wearing her green silk dress, grinning to himself at the many double-takes she received from the crew. He could see her looking around, frowning before she spotted him. Climbing the stairs to the quarterdeck, she walked towards him where he lounged near the wheel.
"So this is Cape Town?" she asked, looking at the busy port and eyeing the two forts on the hill above the town warily.
"Aye," Jack smiled, regretfully aware he could not hold her for fear of being seen. "But we'll be gone by dusk with any luck. I don't want t' be here any longer than necessary..."
Catherine watched the town silently with him, picking up his mood. "What do you fear?" she asked quietly, watching him as he scanned the docks for the first signs of water barrels arriving.
"What that Johns is up to... I don't trust him Kitty an' I don't like him," he muttered.
"He's been asking questions onboard... a lot of questions about us and the Pearl," Catherine replied quietly. Jack looked at her sharply. "Oh, don't worry. The crew have been feeding him the normal tavern tales, but nothing that is new... nothing private." She smiled reassuringly. "You should trust your crew a bit more Jack..."
"They're pirates luv... trust don't come into it. Yer still trust too easily," he warned.
"Same as I trusted you all those years ago," Catherine smiled warmly. "As I always trust you," she added quietly.
Jack grinned at her words, although his eyes did not leave the dockside. He was relieved to see Jean Claude return.
"Water will be here shortly Captain," he assured Jack. "Oran has stayed to ensure we are not cheated at all..."
"We can sail by dusk?" Jack worried.
"Oui, we should be finished by then. The extra gold will help speed the delivery..." He smiled at Catherine. "That dress always looks delightful on you Kitty... I must thank the seamstress when I'm next in New Orleans!" he grinned.
Catherine twirled in the dress and dropped him a curtsey. "Merci Jean Claude," she laughed.
"Perhaps she could make some more?" Jack suggested, his fingers itching to touch her shoulders. He gripped the rail tightly.
"Honestly Jack! What do I need another dress for? I've already got more than I need!" she smiled. "I don't need anything - not clothes, weapons, jewels..."
"Pah! Yer can always do with some more jewellery!" Jack declared. "An' rubies suit yer, don't yer think so Jean Claude?"
Jean Claude grinned, remembering the party at Jeremiah Hallam's house when she had last worn the ruby jewellery that Jack had given her. "Oui, as do pearls... you should get her more pearls too!"
"Will you two stop trying to drown me in jewellery!" Catherine protested, sighing in exasperation at them. "Look, Oran is back," she cried in relief, seeing him leading a convoy of wagons laden with barrels of water.
"See t' th' loading Jean Claude. An' warn th' crew to keep silent!" Jack ordered. Jean Claude nodded and strode quickly down the gangplank to oversee the loading whilst Jack remained on the quarterdeck, scanning the docks for any possible trouble. The crew worked quickly and for a moment Jack hoped that they would sail before Jedidiah returned, but he finally spotted him hurrying along the dockside as the final ten barrels were loading.
***
Jedidiah walked briskly up the gangplank, relieved to see that the crew had not finished loading the water barrels. He nodded to Jack who was watching him from the quarterdeck before slipping to his cabin. What the Captain of the Black Pearl did not know could not hurt him he reasoned.
***
Firstly I must apologise for the lack of an update for so long. Firstly there was the decorating of my son's room, then when Mulberry and I arranged to meet online to edit these some moron cut their power for five hours, then it was my 8th wedding anniversary - I was beginning to think we were jinxed.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RATING OF THIS STORY HAS INCREASED TO AN "R".
The reasons for this will be obvious in a further two chapters, but I felt it was necessary for what I wanted to happen in the story.
Thanks as ever for all the reviews... you guys make my day!
***
Mid August
Jedidiah Johns lay quietly in the bunk that had been assigned to him. He had been dismayed to find that he would be sleeping in the sick bay, but at least he had a cabin to himself. Despite his plain appearance, Jedidiah liked the finer things in life and his family relationship with Jeremiah had brought him many. Few knew that he was second cousin to the Old Man and none of those would ever dare speak of it. Not even Joshua or Isaac knew who he truly was for their father had never explained the relationship to them. Jedidiah travelled quietly, here and there at Jeremiah's whim - his eyes and ears to bring him rumour and knowledge that he would not discover otherwise. He was also the only man that Jeremiah would trust with as delicate a mission as this.
Jedidiah patted the pouch about his neck, reassuringly feeling the emeralds within. Jack Sparrow was not the only pirate with high-powered connections he smirked. The English nobleman, Lord Rashman, wanted to buy into the ebony trade in the Far East, a trade currently controlled by the Dutch and these emeralds were his leverage. Emeralds were exceedingly rare there, especially since the best ones such as these came from South America and they were to be a gift from Lord Rashman to the local Maharajah. Time would tell if the bribe would work, but regardless of the outcome, Lord Rashman would owe Jeremiah Hallam a favour in return. Wheels within wheels he smiled to himself.
He had also been asked to find out all he could about as many members of the crew of the Black Pearl as possible, especially the Captain and his wife - no, First Mate as they insisted on calling her onboard. He snorted at the ridiculous situation where a woman gave orders to men, feeling it upset the natural balance that God intended. Jeremiah had been considering inviting Sparrow into the inner circle, something that Jedidiah would speak strongly against. Nothing that he had seen onboard had revealed the Captain to be anything else than a fool with more than his fair share of luck.
He sighed, pulling himself upright as he realised it must be nearly breakfast time. At least Sparrow made his wife cook and the food had been better than he had expected on this trip - even the cold rations when they had been unable to light the galley stove had been edible. He braced himself, schooling his features into bland politeness as he opened the narrow door, wondering what he would discover today. Wheels within wheels.
***
They were a few days from Cape Town when Jack called a meeting of his senior crew, Jeremiah's chart of the region spread out and weighted down on the table. Jean Claude, Ned Cotton and Oran circled the table, looking closely at the southern most tip of Africa. "Okay," he began, pointing to Cape Town on the map. "This is where we need t' get water. They will let us take on water, despite being English, but we'll be better served if they think we are French. Jean Claude, I want yer t' pretend t' be th' Captain... Kitty an' Oran can do any other talkin' needed." He wandered over to a large chest that sat against the bulkhead, rummaging through until he found what he needed - a French flag. He frowned as he realised that the lid now would not shut due to all the disarray within and decided to leave it. Catherine sighed, knowing she would have to take everything out, fold it, and put it back in again later.
"Okay, so we're French," Jean Claude confirmed. "What else?"
"Two can go ashore," Jack continued, "but I want one French speaker aboard at all times in case we are approached. Can't have us not answering them, can we?" he grinned. He paused, seeing the cabin door open to reveal Jedidiah. Jack's lip curled in distaste at the man's presence. He turned his back on him, rolling the chart back up and placing it safely to one side. "One last thing," he warned. "Th' waters here are full of sharks - big, mean an' they don't stop t' say please b'fore eating yer. Warn th' crew that they are not t' fall in at any cost - savvy?"
Jean Claude, Ned and Oran nodded as they left, shouldering their way past Jedidiah as they left. He frowned at them - never before had he been on such an untalkative ship. The newer, lower ranked crew were happy to spread tales about their ship and it's Captain, but those that knew the truth behind the exaggerations were surprisingly close lipped. Jedidiah shrugged to himself - there was still roughly a months journey to Penang as well as the return trip and who knew what could be discovered in that time. He was determined to have something to present to Jeremiah by the time they returned.
"I understand we will shortly be stopping in Cape Town," he began. "I need to go ashore."
Jack shook his head. "I'm not letting anyone off except fer Oran an' Jean Claude."
"Nevertheless, you will let me off. I will only be gone an hour..." he said determinedly.
"No!" Jack argued.
"I do not ask for myself," Jedidiah assured him. "I need to collect something for Mr Hallam."
Jack folded his arms. "Jeremiah told me nothing about this," he frowned.
"It came up just before we sailed," Jedidiah evaded. "There was not time."
"Well likewise there may not be time fer yer little side trip," Jack threatened. "I don't like having surprises sprung on me like this - yer've had over three weeks t' tell me an' haven't." He walked closer to Jedidiah. "I don't like yer Johns an' if it wasn't fer m' word t' Jeremiah yer'd be swimming already - savvy?" He turned suddenly, causing Jedidiah to step back sharply to avoid being hit in the face with his braids. "We will be taking on water an' fer th' duration of our stay th' Black Pearl will be a French ship... you understand?"
"A wise choice Captain," Jedidiah flattered.
"Cut th' crap!" Jack snarled. "Yer'll be back b'fore we sail else we'll sail without yer!" he warned.
Jedidiah Johns did not say anything, but nodded and quietly walked from the cabin. He had the horrible feeling that he had badly misjudged Captain Sparrow and that despite his closeness to Jeremiah he would have to tread far more carefully for the remainder of the trip.
***
The Black Pearl slid quietly into Table Bay, the town and fort of Cape Town spread before them. Jack had ordered Catherine to wear a dress so that she could be seen from the shore easier, having decided on the cover story that they were escorting a French lady to her husband in Mauritius. They anchored whilst Jean Claude negotiated a berth for them before sailing closer to docks. Jack set a guard at the gang plank and watched as Jean Claude and Oran, closely followed by Jedidiah, left the ship. What was it about that man he so disliked he wondered. He did not know but he had every intention of watching him closely.
He glanced across at Catherine as she emerged from the cabin wearing her green silk dress, grinning to himself at the many double-takes she received from the crew. He could see her looking around, frowning before she spotted him. Climbing the stairs to the quarterdeck, she walked towards him where he lounged near the wheel.
"So this is Cape Town?" she asked, looking at the busy port and eyeing the two forts on the hill above the town warily.
"Aye," Jack smiled, regretfully aware he could not hold her for fear of being seen. "But we'll be gone by dusk with any luck. I don't want t' be here any longer than necessary..."
Catherine watched the town silently with him, picking up his mood. "What do you fear?" she asked quietly, watching him as he scanned the docks for the first signs of water barrels arriving.
"What that Johns is up to... I don't trust him Kitty an' I don't like him," he muttered.
"He's been asking questions onboard... a lot of questions about us and the Pearl," Catherine replied quietly. Jack looked at her sharply. "Oh, don't worry. The crew have been feeding him the normal tavern tales, but nothing that is new... nothing private." She smiled reassuringly. "You should trust your crew a bit more Jack..."
"They're pirates luv... trust don't come into it. Yer still trust too easily," he warned.
"Same as I trusted you all those years ago," Catherine smiled warmly. "As I always trust you," she added quietly.
Jack grinned at her words, although his eyes did not leave the dockside. He was relieved to see Jean Claude return.
"Water will be here shortly Captain," he assured Jack. "Oran has stayed to ensure we are not cheated at all..."
"We can sail by dusk?" Jack worried.
"Oui, we should be finished by then. The extra gold will help speed the delivery..." He smiled at Catherine. "That dress always looks delightful on you Kitty... I must thank the seamstress when I'm next in New Orleans!" he grinned.
Catherine twirled in the dress and dropped him a curtsey. "Merci Jean Claude," she laughed.
"Perhaps she could make some more?" Jack suggested, his fingers itching to touch her shoulders. He gripped the rail tightly.
"Honestly Jack! What do I need another dress for? I've already got more than I need!" she smiled. "I don't need anything - not clothes, weapons, jewels..."
"Pah! Yer can always do with some more jewellery!" Jack declared. "An' rubies suit yer, don't yer think so Jean Claude?"
Jean Claude grinned, remembering the party at Jeremiah Hallam's house when she had last worn the ruby jewellery that Jack had given her. "Oui, as do pearls... you should get her more pearls too!"
"Will you two stop trying to drown me in jewellery!" Catherine protested, sighing in exasperation at them. "Look, Oran is back," she cried in relief, seeing him leading a convoy of wagons laden with barrels of water.
"See t' th' loading Jean Claude. An' warn th' crew to keep silent!" Jack ordered. Jean Claude nodded and strode quickly down the gangplank to oversee the loading whilst Jack remained on the quarterdeck, scanning the docks for any possible trouble. The crew worked quickly and for a moment Jack hoped that they would sail before Jedidiah returned, but he finally spotted him hurrying along the dockside as the final ten barrels were loading.
***
Jedidiah walked briskly up the gangplank, relieved to see that the crew had not finished loading the water barrels. He nodded to Jack who was watching him from the quarterdeck before slipping to his cabin. What the Captain of the Black Pearl did not know could not hurt him he reasoned.
***