AN (1/31)- Cold. My feet are cold. And I'm stalling. I have no clue what this chapter will be like-hopefully it's longer than the last one, though.
AN (2/4)- Man! That statistics test took me a lot less time to complete than I thought it would! Especially since I spent 3 hours doing homework for that class last night!
AN (2/7)- I am so lazy. Sorry my updates are only about once a week.
Chapter 10- Fever
Jack opened his eyes slowly for the first time in a week. His sluggish mind slowly registered surprise at being on a comfortable feather bed. His eyes looked around the cabin, struggling to adjust to the filtered sunlight. After processing the information for almost a minute, Jack was startled when he realized he was in the captain's quarters. Calico Jack kept the place really clean. A mahogany bookshelf surprised Jack, for there were several books on the worn shelves. Calico Jack just didn't seem like a big reader. Other small trinkets glittered in the muted sunlight, catching Jack's eyes. He lay staring at them for what seemed like forever, trying not to remember the conflict that had been raging in his head. He felt a curious sense of detachment and had a burning sensation behind his dark eyes.
Jack began waving his hands around in crazy little patterns, trying to avoid the inevitable psychological battle he would need to face. Going into his sanctuary was of no help, for seeing Rosalyn's condemning face wasn't what he wanted to see. Jack was afraid that his mother would disapprove of the murder he'd committed, forgetting that she'd probably killed someone herself. It seemed disrespectful to her memory because her life was stolen as well.
Jack couldn't keep himself distracted for long. He began talking out loud. His mother had always encouraged him to face his problems with words.
"I shouldn' 'ave killed 'im. I din't need to. I coulda jus' hurt 'im." Jack spoke barely above a whisper, his dry mouth and throat making his voice raspy.
"'E wanted t' kill me. T'was self defense." Jack's voice of reason countered. "He came a' me first."
"Still shouldn' 'ave done it." Jack coughed, his throat burning. Everything ached on his body. The healing cut on his arm felt like it was on fire. He pulled the worn blanket on top of him closer to his head, overcome in a fit of chills. This was odd, for the temperature was a balmy 85 degrees. Jack normally had no need for blankets at all. The cotton bandage on his arm began to make it itch, but Jack was too tired to scratch it.
"We should jus' forget abou' it." Jack tried convincing his more logical side.
"If I jus' forget abou' it, I'll 'ave similar fights wi' you later. Let's jus' get it over with."
Jack grimaced when he realized this wasn't something he could push away. "Very well. Le' me start. We decided to become a pirate, an' pirates kill people. It's part of the job. I don' see why you're 'aving such a hard time acceptin' it." Jack laughed weakly.
"I don' know why, either. It doesn' make any sense at all. Maybe I'm jus' relivin' mum's death again." Jack blinked, trying to sort through his hazy mind to figure the root of the problem.
"I thought y' were over that." Jack jumped, startled to hear someone else's voice respond to his statement. He hadn't noticed Bootstrap open the cabin door.
Jack plastered a look of nonchalance on his face. "Aye, I be. I 'as jus' keepin' meself company." He grinned his curious grin.
Bootstrap carefully sat down on the chair next to the feather bed. He grinned back response, but his eyes were full of concern. "Ye 'ad me really worried, boy. You've been out for abou' a week."
Jack laughed. "Only a week? Felt like an eternity, William." He looked wildly around and began moving his hands around again.
Bootstrap looked at Jack, pondering the odd conversation he'd caught the tail of. Jack seemed to be acting crazier than usual.
Jack yawned, but continued moving his hands. Bootstrap decided to voice a question that had been bugging him for quite some time. "Jack, how come yer hands are always movin' in such odd patterns?"
Jack looked up at Bootstrap, instantly serious, as though reliving a similar conversation. "I was distractin' Jodi once. Trying to keep 'er mind off o' 'er dog dyin'. Cheered her up, it did." Jack hastily regained his usual demeanor. "An' tis a lo' of fun t' do. Ye should try it." He grinned, struggling to drive back the issues he had been about to confront. His more logical side had let the bit about Jodi and being nice slip out.
Bootstrap was confused by the sudden mood change. "Ah. Tha' be interestin'." Bootstrap mived his arms around, imitating Jack. It wasn't as fun as it seemed, for Bootstrap accudently hit himself quite forcefully on the nose. He said several foul curses.
Jack laughed a bit delayed, for the haze in his mind was growing ever thicker. Bootstrap looked down at him quizzically. Jack weakly smiled. "Be' y' fancy me sister, eh?" Jack coughed and the haze and burning sensation behind his eyes became almost unbearable.
"No boy, I don'. Wha' made y' ask that?" Bootstrap raised his eyebrows in curiosity.
"Nothing, William. 'Ave y' seen me mum? She's supposed t' be on the Pearl." Jack's dark eyes appeared to have no sanity behind them.
Bootstrap didn't know how to answer that. "No, boy, I can' say that I 'ave." He reached over to feel Jack's forhead, instantly pulling his hand back in surprise. Jack's body seemed to burn his hand. "Le' me go an' see if the cap'n has seen 'er." Bootstrap carefully stood and exited the cabin, seeking out help for the sick young pirate.
"Tha' was intrestin', eh?" Jack began talking to himself again after the cabin door closed.
"Why'd y' mention mum?" Jack weakly replied. His eyes were incredibly heavy.
"Wasn' me, boy." Jack seemed a bit amused.
"Well, it wasn' me either. P'rahps I'm crazier than I thought." Jack tried moving to make himself more comfortable, but got too cold and resumed his position flat on his back.
"Quite possibly," Calico Jack said as he entered his cabin. He frowned when Jack didn't respond with a quirky quip. He sat down on the vacant chair beside his own bed.
Calico Jack reached over and put his calloused hand on Jack's forehead. "Y' seem t' have quite a fever, boy." He motioned Bootstrap inside. Bootstrap was carrying a small wooden bucket full of water in his left hand. His right hand was carrying a rag.
Jack smiled at Bootstrap. "Takes longer t' get water t' boil than t' heat it up." Jack laughed at the completely random advice he'd given Bootstrap.
Calico Jack and Bootstrap looked at each other quizzically as Bootstrap dipped the cloth into the bucket. Bootsap handed the wet cloth to Calico Jack, who placed it on Jack's burning head.
Jack smiled as the wet cloth brought a degree of comfort back to his aching body. "Why din' y' get me mum?" Although his head wasn't as hot, Jack was still not controlling his words, for the fever was the most severe Jack had ever received.
The silence in the small cabin hung like a wet blanket. Calico Jack looked over at Bootstrap. Bootstrap shrugged, as if to say, I don't know how to answer that. Calico Jack looked back down at Jack, who was lying patiently, waiting for some kind of response.
Calico Jack cleared his throat and began hesitantly answering. "Boy, I don' think tha' your mum 'as e're been aboard the Pearl." Calico Jack gauged Jack's reaction carefully, not wanting to upset the teen.
Jack laughed in response. "Oh yes she has." He slowly turned his head to look more directly at Calico Jack. "She was on this ship 'fore I 'as born."
Calico Jack coughed uncomfortably. "Jack, I ain' ne're 'ad a lass on board tha' married a Mr. Sparrow." Calico Jack looked awkwardly over at Bootstrap. Bootstrap was lost in his thoughts and didn't make any sort of reply.
Jack laughed a bit maniacally. "Wha' makes y' so certain I din' change me name? I took a leaf ou' o' 'er book, for I din' want ye t' realize who me mum was." Jack yawned, straining to keep his heavy eyelids open.
Calico Jack stared at Jack more intensely then ever before. Realization dawned on him like the sun coming out after a particularly stormy day. "Ye be Sandra's boy! Why din' I make the connection b'fore now? Y' look a lo' like 'er, y' do."
Jack mumbled something incoherent and yawned again. His mind was shutting down all conscious activity.
Bootstrap looked at Jack in amazement, startled to hear that the teen's mother had been the famous first mate Sandra. He'd wrongfully assumed Jack had changed his name to defy his horrid father.
Calico Jack sat, still reeling in the connection he'd made. The implications of this were staggering. "Jack, where be your mother? I'd like t' talk to 'er again." He peered anxiously down at Jack.
Jack frowned, desperately trying to stay awake and answer the question. "She's been dead fer almos' three years, cap'n," Jack managed to mumble. He fell asleep, too exhausted to speak any further.
Calico Jack frowned, for he wished to speak to the youth some more about what had happened to Sandra. He said a quick prayer for Sandra's soul.
Bootstrap moved right next to Jack. He carefully pulled the sheets back and took hold of the injured arm. Bootstrap carefully peeled Jack's bandage off to examine the wound that had caused the rampant fever. He was shocked to see the wound was nearly healed, and there was no sign of infection anywhere. "Cap'n, take a look a' this." Bootstrap's voice was fraught with worry and amazement.
Calico Jack was pulled out of his reverie. He stood and peered at the wound. "Great Mary, mot'er o' God. Jack's been poisoned. Tha' good fer nothin' French swab poisoned 'is blade." Calico Jack looked at Bootstrap, his dark brown eyes full of apprehension. "No wonder Jack's been so sick. Tis a miracle 'e 'asn't died yet."
Bootstrap carefully re-bandaged Jack's arm and reverently placed it back on the bed. Jack stirred slightly, but remained asleep. Bootstrap stared at Calico Jack "Is there anythin' we can do?"
Calico Jack thought for a moment. He blinked and his eyes filled with hope. "Aye, I 'appen t' know a specialist in these matters. We need t' set sail fer Tortuga." Calico Jack grinned.
"There's a poison specialist in Tortuga?" Bootstrap's voice was full of doubt. His various trips there seemed to show only strumpets and sailors ever went there.
"No, bu' 'e lives next t' Tortuga. I don' want t' get the other crew involved." Calico Jack smiled.
"Aye sir." Bootstrap looked apprehensively at his captain. "I hope 'e can 'elp the boy."
Calico Jack nodded in acquiescence. "I do too. Now, I mus' get the Pearl 'eaded towards Tortuga. Y' can stay wi' the boy a bit longer." Calico Jack left his cabin after patting Bootstrap on the back.
Bootstrap stared at Jack, mentally berating himself for not checking the wound earlier. The time it would have saved could mean whether Jack would live or die.
Jack slowly became conscious again. The burning behind his eyes was gone. Jack instantly noted that the familiar feel of the ocean moving underneath was gone. He opened his eyes immediately, and was confused to see crude walls around him. He carefully sat up in alarm. The small room was full of various floras. A pig was visible off the side of uncomfortable straw mattress Jack was sitting on. Sunlight filtered eerily through the various planks that were hammered haphazardly to form the room. Smoke from the fireplace directly across from him assaulted his nose. A curious smell emanated from the pot handing on top of the fire. Jack was thoroughly confused. His last memory had been aboard the Pearl.
Jack carefully stood, desperately trying not to fall down. He walked uneasily towards the door, swaying more than usual. He almost tripped over the contentedly grunting pig, but managed to reach the door without falling. He placed a hand on the hut, surprised at how strong the wall actually was. He gingerly opened the door.
The pig behind him squealed. It stood up and ran out of the newly opened door, almost knocking the weakened Jack over. It took Jack several moments to find his shaky equilibrium once more. Once he found it, he walked out into the balmy sunlight, noting the dense green colors of a jungle. He swayed around, for the lack of food over the past few weeks had caught up to him.
"Jack! Y're awake!" Jack soon found himself enveloped in a big hug from the anxious Bootstrap. His eyes widened in disgust and surprise. Bootstrap began knocking him hardily on the back.
"Of course I'm awake. I'm jus' a bit curious, 'ow did I ge' 'ere? Where are we? An' 'ow long 'as I out?" Jack stepped away from Bootstrap as soon as the hug was over, rubbing his shirt and scowling at the man for showing his emotions.
"We be on St. Kitts island, abou' a mile away from Tortuga. You've been asleep since tha' memorable conversation on the Pearl for abou' three weeks. Though' y' were dead."
Jack smiled. "It takes a lo' to kill me, Bootstrap. Some li'le infection can' do it."
"Jack, it weren't an infection. Ye were poisoned by tha' Frenchie. An' you really did almos' die." Bootstrap smiled affectionately. "Y' would've, if'n Calico Jack 'adn't known a specialist for the poison."
Jack smiled uneasily. He hadn't realized how sick he really was. His dreams had been torturing, to be sure, but that was a usual occurrence. "Well, where be the person who saved me life? I'd like to thank them."
Bootstrap looked around. "I don' know. Only cap'n got to see 'im. Very mysterious." He laughed. "Bu', tha's okay. As long as we leave a presen', the man considers the debt repaid."
"Tha' is mighty strange." Jack stretched and almost fell down. Bootstrap reached out and grabbed the pale teenager before he fell.
"Don' over exert yeself. You 'aven' been able to eat for mos' o' the time. Actually, y' aven' 'ad a thing to eat since the twenty second of June." Bootstrap paused in thought. "I think it's July ninth, t'day." He still held Jack up.
"Really? Then tis me eighteenth birthday, t'day. Don' feel much older." Jack tried batting Bootstrap's hand away.
Bootstrap laughed at the feeble attempt. "Come on, boy. Le's get y' somethin' to eat." Bootstrap led him to the log he'd been sitting on a moment ago. He reached inside a bag and pulled out several hardtack biscuits. He handed them to Jack, who was struggling to stay sitting up.
Jack took the proffered hardtack and began the slow process of eating. It was hard to get his mouth to move the way it had moved all of his life, but Jack managed to choke down the wooden-like hardtack. Bootstrap anxiously watched him the entire time.
After Jack finished his small meal, he looked at Bootstrap warily. "How much did I tell y'?" His voice was full of embarrassment.
Bootstrap smiled mischievously. "I don' remember all tha' y' said, bu' y' told Calico Jack who y're mum was."
Jack swore. "Din' mean t' e're tell anyone tha' bi' o' information." Jack began moving his hands in little circles. "Especially no' Calico Jack. Stupid git, pokin' me wi' a poisoned blade. Tha's cheatin'."
Bootstrap laughed. "Aye, it be cheatin', bu' 'e was a pirate! Pirates don' follow rules, boy."
Jack grinned half-heartedly. He was so tired. "Tha's true. I'll 'ave t' remember tha' tidbit o' information. D' y' 'ave any rum? I need somethin' t' drink."
Bootstrap became serious. "Sorry. The man who saved y' is some sort of witch doctor. Wouldn' le' us drink any rum. Tole Cap'n tha' it pollutes the body."
Jack swore. "Grea'. Tha's just great. I really could use a drink. Wanna go t' Tortuga wi' me, William?" He looked anxiously into Bootstrap's brown eyes.
"If y' think y' can make it all the way." Bootstrap smiled. "I need some rum as well. I've been worryin' abou' you for so long, mate." Bootstrap thrust his hand to the recovering Jack.
Jack smiled and took grabbed Bootstrap's firm hand. Bootstrap pulled him to his feet, and they proceeded to walk towards the marvelous town of Tortuga.
meggumscat- Thanks. Have a cookie.
starwarsfreakford- I know they did, mate. I never specified if the were wearing men's ir women's clothes. It's just fun to say that they are women. Thanks for the review, and don't worry, I won't forget.
Diedre2- Cool! A new reviewer! I'm glad you liked it so much. Have a cookie. I'll try to update more often.
aaserene- Thanks! It's totally random how it develops. Have a cookie.
Daisy- Thanks for the help and the cool grade! I like getting A's. Have a cookie.
Chaoslightning13- A thousand apologies, mate. My fingers often have a mind of their own. Have your pick of a donut, cookie, and/or parfait as an apology. And thanks for the review.
Polishing-Stars- Thanks for leaving a review in return! And your story is really good!
Ms. Baldwin- Lovely! Another new reviewer! Have a cookie. Hope you like this chapter.