We set sail that day, Jack would not tell us where, but he would look
secretly at his compass and give co-ordinates only as the mood took him.
The crew, some of then so green they had never sailed further than Jamaica
were bewitched by their Captain's mysterious ways. Fresh supplies of rum
gave the evenings an air of joviality that hadn't been seen on the ship
since the before the slave mutiny. It was impossible not to get drawn into
the atmosphere and I threw myself into work on the ship. Though I had
picked up some simple sailing knowledge, I was more helpful away from the
deck and after many sour looks for my tangled rigging and half-hearted
shifts at the bilge-pump I found myself the ship's cook, most of the new
crew having not known a meal away from their mother.
Our progress was slow, with many stops for raids. These were still dreadful for me, but thankfully there were over quick – no merchant Captain could hold his own against Jack for long, and within half an hour the whereabouts of any booty was easily known. The raids grew less frequent as the hold became full. We had even gained another surgeon, forced to sign the pirate articles after a raid on a large sloop. Food and drink was plentiful and Jack became generous with both
Even I started to relax; I began to join the crew below deck, and one night after a particularly successful rail on a merchant galleon my mutton stew had been rewarded with many drams of rum.
"Who'll dance wiv' me?" I was drunk, I was very drunk, it was the first time I had been drunk and I was not taking it well. "You'll dance wiv' me Jack!" I called, flinging my arms about his neck. "Come on, I'll teach you to dance like a gentleman."
"Bugger that luv'." He laughed and gripped my waist; a thrill went through me. "I'll teach you to dance like a pirate."
And he did, he whirled me round the narrow space, with wild steps unlike any dance I had learnt at home. I laughed like a jackal and clung to his strong body and he spun faster and faster to the tune of badly played panpipes and accordion.
But soon it seemed like the room, as well as me, was spinning and I held fast to Jack's body not out of fun, but for fear I would be dragged away in that blurred whirlwind of faces and noise.
"Jack," I whispered in his ear "I don't feel very good." He loosened his grip on me and took note of my white face and glazed eyes.
"Come on love follow ol' Capt'n Sparrow." He took my hand and guided me through the crowds of laughing sailors up the hatch and onto the deck.
My stomach gave a lurch and I climbed onto the wet deck and I ran for the rails, narrowly missing my dress as I vomited into the sea.
"There love let it all out, yer'll feel the better fer it." I took me a while to realise the soft voice and gentle stroking of my back was coming from Jack. I looked up and wiped my mouth.
The cold air and stillness of the night seemed to hit me suddenly as I looked into those dark eyes. I no longer felt ill, though my knees shook and my head seemed lighter than air. I could feel the rum, warm and rich in my stomach and all the while was the pull of those dark, deep eyes.
"Jack..." Was all I had time to say before his mouth came down hard on mine.
This time there was no confusion, as in the cabin. It was like the both of us were one person, our bodies clinging together under the crisp, sparkling stars. His breath and skin was deliciously warm against the chill of night and I felt every scratch of stubble, every brush of his tongue against mine, every touch of our noses with a sensitivity I could not have imagined.
Presently Jack pulled away and again I looked up into his eyes.
"Come on love'. He spoke huskily and led me towards his cabin. I followed through the dining room and down the dark stairs with a needle of fear piercing my giddy warmth.
As he laid me down on his bunk and began to kiss me, very gently and loosen my hair from its coils the needle of fear grew – many needles pricking away at me. My mouth felt dry and sour and my body froze.
"Jack, I want you to know I..." I stopped, unnerved by having the man's whole attention. "I've never, I'll try and... You mustn't mind if." I struggled on, my words coming out fast and slurred in my befuddled state. "I know you must be used to girls who... I'm not sure how... please don't be," Jack placed a finger over my mouth. I took a deep breath and started again.
"Does it hurt?" I stammered. I so badly did not want to disappoint him, but oh! I was so scared!
Jack looked at me, a frown of concern creasing his face. He took my hand and softly kissed it.
"Oh no love, it don't 'urt. But I reckon this dirty ol' man can wait a damn sight longer afore you 'ave to find that out." He turned to leave. "Get some sleep Cath." Was all I heard him say before he closed the door.
I awoke the next morning with a thumping pain in my head. I looked about me and realised I was in Jack's bunk, I froze and let out a groan as last nights event trickled back to me.
Oh no, surely I hadn't?
Did I really try to?
Had I truly said those things to Jack?
"Mornin' luv." The sound of my cabin door opening was painful to my ears and the rough voice sent me scrambling for cover under the eiderdown. The low laugh did little to improve my humours "Yer comfy there?"
"I am not coming out." I struggled to maintain my dignity as my voice came out muffled from under the covers. "Please leave me alone Sparrow."
But the infuriating man just laughed more! I felt his strong hand ruffle my hair through the covers as he sat beside me.
"No 'ard feelin's luv, I've seen many a gal in a worst state than you."
Oh, the vomiting overboard! I hadn't remembered than until he spoke. I felt my cheeks glow with embarrassment as Jack continued his easy rambling.
He spoke of Tortuga, and women who had fallen in the streets because they hadn't the barings to get to their lodgings that lay opposite the tavern. He spoke of a girl who had thought herself a cockerel and had climbed up onto a roof, vowing to crow in the morning. They had found her asleep against the weathercock.
"Come along my girl," Jack finished his story abruptly and tugged down the eiderdown, sending my hair into a crackling mass of frizz. "The boys want their breakfast." And, almost to quick to notice, he bent and kissed my cheek before sauntering out the door.
"Jack?" I called, he stopped at the foot of the stairs, not turning "Am I really your girl?" He snorted and turned, grinning wickedly
"Interesting, very interesting." .
Our progress was slow, with many stops for raids. These were still dreadful for me, but thankfully there were over quick – no merchant Captain could hold his own against Jack for long, and within half an hour the whereabouts of any booty was easily known. The raids grew less frequent as the hold became full. We had even gained another surgeon, forced to sign the pirate articles after a raid on a large sloop. Food and drink was plentiful and Jack became generous with both
Even I started to relax; I began to join the crew below deck, and one night after a particularly successful rail on a merchant galleon my mutton stew had been rewarded with many drams of rum.
"Who'll dance wiv' me?" I was drunk, I was very drunk, it was the first time I had been drunk and I was not taking it well. "You'll dance wiv' me Jack!" I called, flinging my arms about his neck. "Come on, I'll teach you to dance like a gentleman."
"Bugger that luv'." He laughed and gripped my waist; a thrill went through me. "I'll teach you to dance like a pirate."
And he did, he whirled me round the narrow space, with wild steps unlike any dance I had learnt at home. I laughed like a jackal and clung to his strong body and he spun faster and faster to the tune of badly played panpipes and accordion.
But soon it seemed like the room, as well as me, was spinning and I held fast to Jack's body not out of fun, but for fear I would be dragged away in that blurred whirlwind of faces and noise.
"Jack," I whispered in his ear "I don't feel very good." He loosened his grip on me and took note of my white face and glazed eyes.
"Come on love follow ol' Capt'n Sparrow." He took my hand and guided me through the crowds of laughing sailors up the hatch and onto the deck.
My stomach gave a lurch and I climbed onto the wet deck and I ran for the rails, narrowly missing my dress as I vomited into the sea.
"There love let it all out, yer'll feel the better fer it." I took me a while to realise the soft voice and gentle stroking of my back was coming from Jack. I looked up and wiped my mouth.
The cold air and stillness of the night seemed to hit me suddenly as I looked into those dark eyes. I no longer felt ill, though my knees shook and my head seemed lighter than air. I could feel the rum, warm and rich in my stomach and all the while was the pull of those dark, deep eyes.
"Jack..." Was all I had time to say before his mouth came down hard on mine.
This time there was no confusion, as in the cabin. It was like the both of us were one person, our bodies clinging together under the crisp, sparkling stars. His breath and skin was deliciously warm against the chill of night and I felt every scratch of stubble, every brush of his tongue against mine, every touch of our noses with a sensitivity I could not have imagined.
Presently Jack pulled away and again I looked up into his eyes.
"Come on love'. He spoke huskily and led me towards his cabin. I followed through the dining room and down the dark stairs with a needle of fear piercing my giddy warmth.
As he laid me down on his bunk and began to kiss me, very gently and loosen my hair from its coils the needle of fear grew – many needles pricking away at me. My mouth felt dry and sour and my body froze.
"Jack, I want you to know I..." I stopped, unnerved by having the man's whole attention. "I've never, I'll try and... You mustn't mind if." I struggled on, my words coming out fast and slurred in my befuddled state. "I know you must be used to girls who... I'm not sure how... please don't be," Jack placed a finger over my mouth. I took a deep breath and started again.
"Does it hurt?" I stammered. I so badly did not want to disappoint him, but oh! I was so scared!
Jack looked at me, a frown of concern creasing his face. He took my hand and softly kissed it.
"Oh no love, it don't 'urt. But I reckon this dirty ol' man can wait a damn sight longer afore you 'ave to find that out." He turned to leave. "Get some sleep Cath." Was all I heard him say before he closed the door.
I awoke the next morning with a thumping pain in my head. I looked about me and realised I was in Jack's bunk, I froze and let out a groan as last nights event trickled back to me.
Oh no, surely I hadn't?
Did I really try to?
Had I truly said those things to Jack?
"Mornin' luv." The sound of my cabin door opening was painful to my ears and the rough voice sent me scrambling for cover under the eiderdown. The low laugh did little to improve my humours "Yer comfy there?"
"I am not coming out." I struggled to maintain my dignity as my voice came out muffled from under the covers. "Please leave me alone Sparrow."
But the infuriating man just laughed more! I felt his strong hand ruffle my hair through the covers as he sat beside me.
"No 'ard feelin's luv, I've seen many a gal in a worst state than you."
Oh, the vomiting overboard! I hadn't remembered than until he spoke. I felt my cheeks glow with embarrassment as Jack continued his easy rambling.
He spoke of Tortuga, and women who had fallen in the streets because they hadn't the barings to get to their lodgings that lay opposite the tavern. He spoke of a girl who had thought herself a cockerel and had climbed up onto a roof, vowing to crow in the morning. They had found her asleep against the weathercock.
"Come along my girl," Jack finished his story abruptly and tugged down the eiderdown, sending my hair into a crackling mass of frizz. "The boys want their breakfast." And, almost to quick to notice, he bent and kissed my cheek before sauntering out the door.
"Jack?" I called, he stopped at the foot of the stairs, not turning "Am I really your girl?" He snorted and turned, grinning wickedly
"Interesting, very interesting." .