Usual disclaimers... but still plotting!
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Two days later Jack looked down to James Norrington who was sitting in the small fishing dory that Catherine had stolen from New Orleans. Louis Lact lay in the bottom of the boat, his hands and feet tied, a gag in his mouth and a sack firmly over his head. "This is as close as we can go," Jack drawled. "Don't lose him!" He glanced up, scanning the horizon in the brightening sky. He wanted to be well away from Port Royal before his black sails could be spotted by the troops in the fort.
"I won't Jack. He'll live to hang in Port Royal, I promise you that!" James Norrington nodded. "Safe journey!"
"Yer'll see Theo as soon as we've got Mary," Jack replied. "Shouldn't take us long t' get her an' the baby." He smiled, looking down at Louis. "Shame yer won't live long enough t' discover if yer've a son or daughter Lact!"
Louis tried to lash out, but he was too firmly tied to be able to react. He snarled beneath his gag, knowing what Jack had said was true. It would take them over a week to reach the delta and, allowing them time to snatch her and the child, it would be at least three weeks before the Black Pearl returned. Louis knew that his life expectancy could be measured in days if not hours. He listened dejectedly as he heard the small sail being raised and the dory rocked as it started to plough through the waves towards the town. Yes, he thought morosely, definitely hours. He shut his eyes beneath the sack, sighing heavily, wishing he could have seen Mary one more time... if only to say goodbye.
###
Thomas Spense stared in disbelief with the rest of the town as James Norrington walked slowly towards the fort, his sword ensuring Louis kept walking. He had removed the sack so that the Frenchman would not stumble, but he did not miss the fleeting look of recognition on the Governor's face.
"Commodore!" He pushed his way through the crowds towards James. "Commodore Norrington! What is going on? We had believed you kidnapped!"
"Alas I was Governor," James Norrington spoke clearly, ensuring that what he said was heard by others. "But my captors have set me free with a gift - the real pirate behind the fire here last year and the atrocity at Port au Prince. The Black Pearl was not responsible for that attack and has destroyed the rogue ship!" He smiled to himself as he heard those nearby muttering to themselves. The news of the Black Pearl's innocence would spread quickly. "Now if you will excuse me Governor - I must see that this prisoner is secured within the fort for his hanging."
For a moment he thought the Governor would protest, but he simply nodded. "Of course Commodore. Perhaps I could interest you in dinner tonight if you will be too busy today?"
"That would be delightful," James acknowledged. "I will come at seven if that is convenient?"
"Perfectly," Thomas Spense assured him, casting one last glance at Louis. He had recognised him immediately and for a panicked moment thought that James Norrington knew how far his own involvement went. But the Commodore was cordial and had agreed to his dinner invitation without pause - surely he would not have done so if he suspected anything... would he?
###
The Black Pearl sailed without stopping, past the Cayman Islands, through the Yucatan Channel and across the Gulf of Mexico. Jack spent the time with Jean Claude and Oran, teaching Isaac and Paul the rudimentaries of taking the helm. Although they were quick learners it would be months before he would trust them with control of the Black Pearl in anything but the open sea. Oran indicated on Jack's charts where they had anchored briefly when he and Catherine had first visited New Orleans in search of Jack and it was decided that the ship would wait there for them to return.
Catherine meanwhile had been ordered to rest. Apart from occasional gentle sparring with Jack she had been banned from all but galley duties. Her nights with Jack were filled with their usual love and laughter, even if less energetic than usual. He did not want to let her go, unwilling to let her out of his sight so soon after regaining her, but he knew he could not voice his fears and that he would have to give her the chance of vengeance that she desperately needed.
But the day came quickly, the winds were good, and all too soon for Jack he found himself lacing Catherine into the pale green cotton dress that he had last seen her wearing in Cape Town. He hoped it was not an omen. Her pearl necklace and pearl earrings were replaced by a simple pendant and plain silver earrings. He could hear the anchor being lowered and knew they had little time for he had delayed her as much as possible already that morning.
Catherine smiled at him. "Will you stop fussing Jack," she smiled, standing on tiptoe to kiss him yet again. "I will be fine. Jean Claude, Oran, and most definitely Theo will see that I am safe!"
"Doesn't stop m' worrying," he admitted.
"I promise I'll be careful!" She hugged him tightly. "Please trust me?"
"I trust yer," Jack said ruefully, "but it's th' others I don't trust - especially th' French!"
She shook her head, smiling affectionately at him. She knew he would not stop worrying until she was back aboard the Black Pearl. She kissed him again, their embrace interrupted by a knock at the cabin doors.
"Are you coming with us Kitty?" Jean Claude stood in the doorway, laughing at them. "Or is the Captain still trying to persuade you to stay?"
Jack broke the kiss reluctantly, twirling her about and slapping her bottom, sending her out of the door. "Th' quicker yer go, th' quicker yer'll be back!" he slurred, watching as she climbed down into the ships boat that was waiting. Oran moved to one side, making space for her between himself and the small mast that had been rigged. Jean Claude started to follow but Jack placed his hand on his arm. ""If th' worst should happen, yer bring her back... understand?"
"Oui Captain." Jean Claude assured him, climbing down quickly. He looked up, nodding to Jack. "Push us off!" he ordered to Theodore and Oran who rowed a short distance before raising the sail. Jean Claude was known in New Orleans and it had been decided that he would explain that he had escaped from where Louis had marooned him and the three of them were the start of his crew. Catherine had assumed her role as Madame Duras again, although she wore a pistol strapped to her leg. A small bundle of clothes and her sword were already in the boat just in case she needed to fight... she would never go ashore unarmed again after Cape Town.
Jack watched until the small boat was out of sight before turning back to those aboard the ship. "We might be sittin' in this bay but it doesn't mean yer can sit on yer arses until they return!" He looked around the ship, noticing every tiny cleaning or repair job that could be done. However long it was until Catherine returned, the crew would be busy.
###
Okay - you know the routine... ta!
###
Two days later Jack looked down to James Norrington who was sitting in the small fishing dory that Catherine had stolen from New Orleans. Louis Lact lay in the bottom of the boat, his hands and feet tied, a gag in his mouth and a sack firmly over his head. "This is as close as we can go," Jack drawled. "Don't lose him!" He glanced up, scanning the horizon in the brightening sky. He wanted to be well away from Port Royal before his black sails could be spotted by the troops in the fort.
"I won't Jack. He'll live to hang in Port Royal, I promise you that!" James Norrington nodded. "Safe journey!"
"Yer'll see Theo as soon as we've got Mary," Jack replied. "Shouldn't take us long t' get her an' the baby." He smiled, looking down at Louis. "Shame yer won't live long enough t' discover if yer've a son or daughter Lact!"
Louis tried to lash out, but he was too firmly tied to be able to react. He snarled beneath his gag, knowing what Jack had said was true. It would take them over a week to reach the delta and, allowing them time to snatch her and the child, it would be at least three weeks before the Black Pearl returned. Louis knew that his life expectancy could be measured in days if not hours. He listened dejectedly as he heard the small sail being raised and the dory rocked as it started to plough through the waves towards the town. Yes, he thought morosely, definitely hours. He shut his eyes beneath the sack, sighing heavily, wishing he could have seen Mary one more time... if only to say goodbye.
###
Thomas Spense stared in disbelief with the rest of the town as James Norrington walked slowly towards the fort, his sword ensuring Louis kept walking. He had removed the sack so that the Frenchman would not stumble, but he did not miss the fleeting look of recognition on the Governor's face.
"Commodore!" He pushed his way through the crowds towards James. "Commodore Norrington! What is going on? We had believed you kidnapped!"
"Alas I was Governor," James Norrington spoke clearly, ensuring that what he said was heard by others. "But my captors have set me free with a gift - the real pirate behind the fire here last year and the atrocity at Port au Prince. The Black Pearl was not responsible for that attack and has destroyed the rogue ship!" He smiled to himself as he heard those nearby muttering to themselves. The news of the Black Pearl's innocence would spread quickly. "Now if you will excuse me Governor - I must see that this prisoner is secured within the fort for his hanging."
For a moment he thought the Governor would protest, but he simply nodded. "Of course Commodore. Perhaps I could interest you in dinner tonight if you will be too busy today?"
"That would be delightful," James acknowledged. "I will come at seven if that is convenient?"
"Perfectly," Thomas Spense assured him, casting one last glance at Louis. He had recognised him immediately and for a panicked moment thought that James Norrington knew how far his own involvement went. But the Commodore was cordial and had agreed to his dinner invitation without pause - surely he would not have done so if he suspected anything... would he?
###
The Black Pearl sailed without stopping, past the Cayman Islands, through the Yucatan Channel and across the Gulf of Mexico. Jack spent the time with Jean Claude and Oran, teaching Isaac and Paul the rudimentaries of taking the helm. Although they were quick learners it would be months before he would trust them with control of the Black Pearl in anything but the open sea. Oran indicated on Jack's charts where they had anchored briefly when he and Catherine had first visited New Orleans in search of Jack and it was decided that the ship would wait there for them to return.
Catherine meanwhile had been ordered to rest. Apart from occasional gentle sparring with Jack she had been banned from all but galley duties. Her nights with Jack were filled with their usual love and laughter, even if less energetic than usual. He did not want to let her go, unwilling to let her out of his sight so soon after regaining her, but he knew he could not voice his fears and that he would have to give her the chance of vengeance that she desperately needed.
But the day came quickly, the winds were good, and all too soon for Jack he found himself lacing Catherine into the pale green cotton dress that he had last seen her wearing in Cape Town. He hoped it was not an omen. Her pearl necklace and pearl earrings were replaced by a simple pendant and plain silver earrings. He could hear the anchor being lowered and knew they had little time for he had delayed her as much as possible already that morning.
Catherine smiled at him. "Will you stop fussing Jack," she smiled, standing on tiptoe to kiss him yet again. "I will be fine. Jean Claude, Oran, and most definitely Theo will see that I am safe!"
"Doesn't stop m' worrying," he admitted.
"I promise I'll be careful!" She hugged him tightly. "Please trust me?"
"I trust yer," Jack said ruefully, "but it's th' others I don't trust - especially th' French!"
She shook her head, smiling affectionately at him. She knew he would not stop worrying until she was back aboard the Black Pearl. She kissed him again, their embrace interrupted by a knock at the cabin doors.
"Are you coming with us Kitty?" Jean Claude stood in the doorway, laughing at them. "Or is the Captain still trying to persuade you to stay?"
Jack broke the kiss reluctantly, twirling her about and slapping her bottom, sending her out of the door. "Th' quicker yer go, th' quicker yer'll be back!" he slurred, watching as she climbed down into the ships boat that was waiting. Oran moved to one side, making space for her between himself and the small mast that had been rigged. Jean Claude started to follow but Jack placed his hand on his arm. ""If th' worst should happen, yer bring her back... understand?"
"Oui Captain." Jean Claude assured him, climbing down quickly. He looked up, nodding to Jack. "Push us off!" he ordered to Theodore and Oran who rowed a short distance before raising the sail. Jean Claude was known in New Orleans and it had been decided that he would explain that he had escaped from where Louis had marooned him and the three of them were the start of his crew. Catherine had assumed her role as Madame Duras again, although she wore a pistol strapped to her leg. A small bundle of clothes and her sword were already in the boat just in case she needed to fight... she would never go ashore unarmed again after Cape Town.
Jack watched until the small boat was out of sight before turning back to those aboard the ship. "We might be sittin' in this bay but it doesn't mean yer can sit on yer arses until they return!" He looked around the ship, noticing every tiny cleaning or repair job that could be done. However long it was until Catherine returned, the crew would be busy.
###
Okay - you know the routine... ta!