Usual disclaimers... despite my plots!
Last chapter for today...
***
Jack's mood was still dark when he eventually came to bed that night. Moses had insisted that he wanted to sleep with the crew in a hammock as Jedidiah was locked up in the brig. He also probably felt safer with so many eyes around him... although he knew now that what he had been forced to do would not happen to him again.
Catherine slid from the bunk and walked across to him as he entered the side cabin, gently putting her arms around him. "I love you," she smiled, kissing him gently on the lips.
"I should have kept him safe!" Jack muttered, still angry at the earlier events. "I knew there was something funny about Johns..."
"You couldn't have known," Catherine reasoned. "And his dirty little secret is out now... he cannot touch Moses again."
"What's th' wording?" Jack asked, slipping his boots off as he sat on the side of the bunk.
Catherine frowned. "What wording?" she asked, puzzled by his question as she climbed back into the bunk.
"Article twenty nine... I remember it refers t' sodomy but that is about all..." Jack admitted.
"In simplified terms it orders death as punishment of the unnatural and detestable sin of buggery or sodomy with man or beast," Catherine said quietly. "But Isaac was right - the Old Man would not accept us killing Jedidiah, especially before he delivers the emeralds. We cannot as we don't even know who they are for!"
"When we reach Penang I'll be kickin' him off - m' word t' th' Old Man was t' deliver th' emeralds. Didn't say anythin' about bringing his man back!"
"Jack!" Catherine gasped. "Won't Hallam be furious?"
Jack shrugged. "Don't care! But I won't have a child-touchin' shirt- liftin' faggot on m' boat - ever!" he spat with venom.
Catherine gently wrapped her arms around him, kissing him on his shoulder, surprised to feel the anger still within him. "What happened?" she asked quietly. "Will you tell me?" For a moment she feared it had happened to him, but a glance at his eyes assured her otherwise.
He shook his head, remembering. "There's nothin' much t' tell," he admitted. "When I ran away I was not th' only young boy onboard. But I wasn't blonde... an' th' bastard preferred blondes." He reached for a nearby bottle of rum, uncorking it with his teeth. He took a heavy swig before continuing. "Joseph took his own life... threw himself overboard even though he couldn't swim." Jack looked at her sadly. "Guess he'd rather have been dead than touched again... but th' Captain didn't care and wouldn't stop it..." He pulled his shirt over his head and slipped out of his trousers, joining her in the bunk.
"But you did care and did stop it," she smiled. "And Moses will be safe with the crew..."
"Aye," Jack slowly smiled. "Th' crew know I won't have women or children taken like that, against their will!" He took another swig of the rum, feeling that he needed it tonight. "I'm not a prude luv - seen a lot of things in m' time, an' done a few too," he snorted. "Men with men? Fair enough as long as they're of an age an' willin'... animals too if it tickles their fancy..."
"And what does tickle your fancy?" Catherine teased.
"Th' only things that tickles m' fancy is a good bottle of rum an' m' wife," he leered, rolling over to face her.
"Well, since you've already had the rum, it must be my turn!" Catherine smiled as he recorked the bottle of rum, dousing the candle before turning to her.
"Indeed it is," he muttered. "Indeed it is!"
***
The following morning, before Catherine was awake, Jack called Jean Claude to the cabin for a meeting.
"Captain?" Jean Claude asked quietly. "Why the early hour?"
"I want yer t' pass around th' crew that we won't be stoppin' at Penang..." Jack said.
Jean Claude looked at him sharply - the crew had been looking forward to the dubious delights of the town. "But..." he protested.
Jack held up his hand, forestalling any argument. "I won't have Johns onboard for a moment longer than necessary. He is delivered an' we leave!" he stressed.
"You are not taking him back to Tortuga?" Jean Claude frowned.
"I'll not have him on' m' ship," Jack declared. "An' m' promise t' th' Old Man was to deliver him an' th' emeralds... nothin' was said about takin' him home! We can take on water elsewhere an' th' crew can have their fun at Singapore instead!"
"Singapore?" Jean Claude smiled, his lips twitching in anticipation. Although he had never been there, even he had heard tales of the delights of Singapore.
"Aye," Jack grinned. "Singapore!"
Jean Claude rose, pushing the chair back. "I'll tell the crew," he said, matching Jack's grin.
***
When they reached Penang, Jack ordered Oran to fetch their guest from the brig. He dragged Jedidiah from below, forcing him none too gently up the stairs to the main deck.
"What?" Jedidiah frowned, realising that the Black Pearl had anchored in the harbour and had not tied up at the dock.
"Captain says you're leaving!" Oran grunted in reply, shoving him towards the ships rail. "Climb down!"
Jedidiah looked over the rail to see Jack waiting for him with two crew members in one of the ships boats. "Get in!" Jack ordered tersely. "Now!"
He spotted Isaac lounging against the ships rail, watching as he walked across the deck. He pointedly turned his back and Jedidiah realised he would find no support of his actions there. He climbed down, sitting in the boat warily next to Jack. "Jeremiah will hear of this!" he warned.
"I most sincerely hope so," Jack grinned as the boat headed towards the docks. He remained silent until they reached the shore and nimbly climbed out. Jedidiah followed more slowly, stiff from his time in the brig. "Although yer might have a bit of difficulty over tellin' him that..." Jack added.
"What do you mean?" Jedidiah frowned, not liking the way Jack was smiling at him.
Jack stepped forwards, standing nose to nose with him. "I mean yer aren't welcome on m' ship - ever again!" he spat.
Jedidiah looked at him in shock. "But I need to get home!" he panicked, realising exactly what Jack was threatening. "You cannot leave me here! You have to take me back home!"
Jack shook his head, braids swishing. "Ah that's where yer wrong. I promised th' Old Man t' deliver yer an' yer emeralds... but I never said I'd take yer back!"
"Jeremiah will not stand for this!" he threatened, hoping the threat of retribution would help him bully his way out of this.
"I don't care," Jack shrugged. "I'm Captain of th' Pearl, not Jeremiah, an' yer not welcome!"
"If you leave me here you will earn the enmity of Jeremiah for eternity!" Jedidiah argued.
"How many times do I have t' tell yer - I don't care!" Jack turned, starting to climb down into the boat.
"You don't know who I am!" Jedidiah panicked. "You cannot leave me here!"
Jack frowned, climbing back up to stand before the smaller man. "Well then why don't yer enlighten me as t' why?" he sneered.
Jedidiah paused, swallowing. He knew that Jack had him, and if he wanted to return home on the Black Pearl he would have to reveal his secret.
"I am related to Jeremiah - his second cousin..." he admitted.
For a moment Jack stared at him and Jedidiah felt a twinge of hope that he would not be left. "And..." he prompted, but Jedidiah had nothing to barter with and Jack turned, climbing back into the boat.
Jedidiah stood on the dockside, staring at Jack in disbelief. He had revealed his innermost secret and he was still being left. "You'll never get into the inner circle!" Jedidiah threatened, shouting down to Jack. "Never!"
Jack looked up at him. "So what," he shrugged. "Push off gentlemen," he ordered to Lonan and Paul, smiling as Jedidiah exploded with rage.
"You won't get away with this Sparrow!" he ranted. "You'll pay! You'll pay!"
***
You know the routine... reviews make for rapid updates... hint hint!
Last chapter for today...
***
Jack's mood was still dark when he eventually came to bed that night. Moses had insisted that he wanted to sleep with the crew in a hammock as Jedidiah was locked up in the brig. He also probably felt safer with so many eyes around him... although he knew now that what he had been forced to do would not happen to him again.
Catherine slid from the bunk and walked across to him as he entered the side cabin, gently putting her arms around him. "I love you," she smiled, kissing him gently on the lips.
"I should have kept him safe!" Jack muttered, still angry at the earlier events. "I knew there was something funny about Johns..."
"You couldn't have known," Catherine reasoned. "And his dirty little secret is out now... he cannot touch Moses again."
"What's th' wording?" Jack asked, slipping his boots off as he sat on the side of the bunk.
Catherine frowned. "What wording?" she asked, puzzled by his question as she climbed back into the bunk.
"Article twenty nine... I remember it refers t' sodomy but that is about all..." Jack admitted.
"In simplified terms it orders death as punishment of the unnatural and detestable sin of buggery or sodomy with man or beast," Catherine said quietly. "But Isaac was right - the Old Man would not accept us killing Jedidiah, especially before he delivers the emeralds. We cannot as we don't even know who they are for!"
"When we reach Penang I'll be kickin' him off - m' word t' th' Old Man was t' deliver th' emeralds. Didn't say anythin' about bringing his man back!"
"Jack!" Catherine gasped. "Won't Hallam be furious?"
Jack shrugged. "Don't care! But I won't have a child-touchin' shirt- liftin' faggot on m' boat - ever!" he spat with venom.
Catherine gently wrapped her arms around him, kissing him on his shoulder, surprised to feel the anger still within him. "What happened?" she asked quietly. "Will you tell me?" For a moment she feared it had happened to him, but a glance at his eyes assured her otherwise.
He shook his head, remembering. "There's nothin' much t' tell," he admitted. "When I ran away I was not th' only young boy onboard. But I wasn't blonde... an' th' bastard preferred blondes." He reached for a nearby bottle of rum, uncorking it with his teeth. He took a heavy swig before continuing. "Joseph took his own life... threw himself overboard even though he couldn't swim." Jack looked at her sadly. "Guess he'd rather have been dead than touched again... but th' Captain didn't care and wouldn't stop it..." He pulled his shirt over his head and slipped out of his trousers, joining her in the bunk.
"But you did care and did stop it," she smiled. "And Moses will be safe with the crew..."
"Aye," Jack slowly smiled. "Th' crew know I won't have women or children taken like that, against their will!" He took another swig of the rum, feeling that he needed it tonight. "I'm not a prude luv - seen a lot of things in m' time, an' done a few too," he snorted. "Men with men? Fair enough as long as they're of an age an' willin'... animals too if it tickles their fancy..."
"And what does tickle your fancy?" Catherine teased.
"Th' only things that tickles m' fancy is a good bottle of rum an' m' wife," he leered, rolling over to face her.
"Well, since you've already had the rum, it must be my turn!" Catherine smiled as he recorked the bottle of rum, dousing the candle before turning to her.
"Indeed it is," he muttered. "Indeed it is!"
***
The following morning, before Catherine was awake, Jack called Jean Claude to the cabin for a meeting.
"Captain?" Jean Claude asked quietly. "Why the early hour?"
"I want yer t' pass around th' crew that we won't be stoppin' at Penang..." Jack said.
Jean Claude looked at him sharply - the crew had been looking forward to the dubious delights of the town. "But..." he protested.
Jack held up his hand, forestalling any argument. "I won't have Johns onboard for a moment longer than necessary. He is delivered an' we leave!" he stressed.
"You are not taking him back to Tortuga?" Jean Claude frowned.
"I'll not have him on' m' ship," Jack declared. "An' m' promise t' th' Old Man was to deliver him an' th' emeralds... nothin' was said about takin' him home! We can take on water elsewhere an' th' crew can have their fun at Singapore instead!"
"Singapore?" Jean Claude smiled, his lips twitching in anticipation. Although he had never been there, even he had heard tales of the delights of Singapore.
"Aye," Jack grinned. "Singapore!"
Jean Claude rose, pushing the chair back. "I'll tell the crew," he said, matching Jack's grin.
***
When they reached Penang, Jack ordered Oran to fetch their guest from the brig. He dragged Jedidiah from below, forcing him none too gently up the stairs to the main deck.
"What?" Jedidiah frowned, realising that the Black Pearl had anchored in the harbour and had not tied up at the dock.
"Captain says you're leaving!" Oran grunted in reply, shoving him towards the ships rail. "Climb down!"
Jedidiah looked over the rail to see Jack waiting for him with two crew members in one of the ships boats. "Get in!" Jack ordered tersely. "Now!"
He spotted Isaac lounging against the ships rail, watching as he walked across the deck. He pointedly turned his back and Jedidiah realised he would find no support of his actions there. He climbed down, sitting in the boat warily next to Jack. "Jeremiah will hear of this!" he warned.
"I most sincerely hope so," Jack grinned as the boat headed towards the docks. He remained silent until they reached the shore and nimbly climbed out. Jedidiah followed more slowly, stiff from his time in the brig. "Although yer might have a bit of difficulty over tellin' him that..." Jack added.
"What do you mean?" Jedidiah frowned, not liking the way Jack was smiling at him.
Jack stepped forwards, standing nose to nose with him. "I mean yer aren't welcome on m' ship - ever again!" he spat.
Jedidiah looked at him in shock. "But I need to get home!" he panicked, realising exactly what Jack was threatening. "You cannot leave me here! You have to take me back home!"
Jack shook his head, braids swishing. "Ah that's where yer wrong. I promised th' Old Man t' deliver yer an' yer emeralds... but I never said I'd take yer back!"
"Jeremiah will not stand for this!" he threatened, hoping the threat of retribution would help him bully his way out of this.
"I don't care," Jack shrugged. "I'm Captain of th' Pearl, not Jeremiah, an' yer not welcome!"
"If you leave me here you will earn the enmity of Jeremiah for eternity!" Jedidiah argued.
"How many times do I have t' tell yer - I don't care!" Jack turned, starting to climb down into the boat.
"You don't know who I am!" Jedidiah panicked. "You cannot leave me here!"
Jack frowned, climbing back up to stand before the smaller man. "Well then why don't yer enlighten me as t' why?" he sneered.
Jedidiah paused, swallowing. He knew that Jack had him, and if he wanted to return home on the Black Pearl he would have to reveal his secret.
"I am related to Jeremiah - his second cousin..." he admitted.
For a moment Jack stared at him and Jedidiah felt a twinge of hope that he would not be left. "And..." he prompted, but Jedidiah had nothing to barter with and Jack turned, climbing back into the boat.
Jedidiah stood on the dockside, staring at Jack in disbelief. He had revealed his innermost secret and he was still being left. "You'll never get into the inner circle!" Jedidiah threatened, shouting down to Jack. "Never!"
Jack looked up at him. "So what," he shrugged. "Push off gentlemen," he ordered to Lonan and Paul, smiling as Jedidiah exploded with rage.
"You won't get away with this Sparrow!" he ranted. "You'll pay! You'll pay!"
***
You know the routine... reviews make for rapid updates... hint hint!