The next few days on the Pearl passed without incident. I traded The Dress for a lighter (though far less pretty) cotton one from AnaMaria. I didn't really have anything to do, just some odd chores to do from time to time whenever I bothered the wrong crewmember at the wrong time. Mostly, I would shadow Mr. Gibbs, who was easily the most talkative member of the crew, and from him I learned many useful things about pirate life, such as how to tie sailors' knots (knots are very important on ships, as it were), and thirty- seven new ways to insult someone (insults are also very important on ships). He was also very fond of telling lengthy tales about Jack's and his adventures on the Pearl, and he swore that every word was the living truth. I had my doubts, but they were still exciting to hear nonetheless.
On occasion I'd follow Jack about the ship. He would mostly just listen to my incessant chatter, but the best times were when he would chatter back. He could be quite hilarious without even trying, and there was something about him that made me want to spend all my time with him. There were also times when it was best to avoid him, however. I learned the hard way that bothering Jack at the wrong time resulted in him bellowing (or muttering, depending on his mood) a multitude of curses.
But before long I found that it wasn't nearly as exciting to be on a pirate's ship as I had imagined it to be. There was no more pilfering or pirating, no searching for buried treasure. In fact, it was almost like being on the Oro Bello, only the company on the Pearl was much better, and I never had to dust anything that clearly did not need to be dusted. I found myself wishing that something exciting would happen, but when I voiced this to Mr. Gibbs he scolded me and told me to knock on wood.
"Frightful bad luck to make a wish like that, Miss Elden! Ye never know when something like that might come true..."
Little did any of us know, it would. The very next morning, in fact.
I awoke that morning to the sound of cannon fire. I sprang out of bed and hurried to the top deck, where I could see a smaller ship a little ways off, firing at the Pearl. Jack was yelling orders to return fire, and the crew was scrambling to follow them as quickly as possible. I hurried over to Jack.
"Captain, what's going on?!" I demanded.
"What does it bloody look like?!" He shouted back, "We're being bloody fired on!! Now make yerself useful or get out of the way!"
I ran below deck to help Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Cotton load the cannons to return fire. The attacking ship was drawing closer. Soon, it was close enough to see the people aboard, even through the smoke of the cannons, and it wasn't long before they were close enough to board. The cannon fire stopped, as firing this close-range on the enemy wasn't helpful to either side.
"ALL HANDS TO THE MAIN DECK!" Mr. Gibbs ordered.
"AYE SIR!" I shouted back with the crew, and hurried up to the deck to join the fight that was already taking place above.
I rushed up the stairs, full of adrenaline, but froze when I reached the top. I had seen battle and bloodshed before (on the Oro, of course), but that wasn't as brutal as this. Watching people I had thought were quite friendly fiercely impaling the other pirates with swords was most shocking. I could not move, but only stared in horror as one of the sailors of the Pearl shove his sword into someone else's chest, then move on mercilessly to the next victim as the first pirate fell to the ground in a pool of blood. I felt dizzy and kind of sick, but I knew I had to join battle or find somewhere to hide, both very unappealing options. But my choice was made for me as one of the other pirates stepped in front of me, with a sickening grin on his face.
"'Ello, m'lady!" He snarled as he swaggered forward. "And what might a pretty lass like you be doing aboard such a ship?"
He was now so close I could smell his foul breath. I looked around frantically for help, but all I saw was a wounded guy with a sword. That would have to work. In one swift movement I picked up his sword and swung it wildly in front of me. The surprised pirate ducked and backed away. Still carrying the sword, I stepped into battle. No more deliberating for me.
Almost immediately another pirate attacked, expecting an easy fight, no doubt. I proved him wrong by blocking his first few swings and ducking from another. I attempted a lunge but he knocked the sword out of my hand and grinned. What was with these bastards and smiling?! I pulled out my gun and squeezed the trigger, then moved on, a little disturbed by how easy it was to end a life. I reminded myself that I had no choice. It was either him or me.
Soon I came across Jack, who was sword-fighting another pirate. I stood transfixed by the fight. Jack's sword skills were amazing. He fought with flourishing movements, yet at the same time was deadly swift. It was clear who was the better fighter in this match, and it wasn't long before Jack had knocked the sword from the pirate's hand and knocked him to the ground. He stood above the pirate and pointed his sword at his throat.
"Call off yer men, ye scurvy bastard," Jack snarled.
Nerveously, the fallen pirate called, "SURRENDER! We surrender men!" Instantly all of his men dropped their swords, and there were a few cheers from our side.
"Who sent ye, Basingstoke? Yer too cowardly to ever come after the Pearl on yer own."
The pirate called Basingstoke shifted uncomfortably, then said, "'Twas Sir Dunnmore, Cappin Sparrah! Hired us to sink yer ship, sir! 'E offered us a boatload of wealth, 'twas no way we could resist!" He looked up anxiously. "Yer not gonna kill us, are ye?"
Jack smiled mirthlessly. "No, I'm not gonna kill ye. Yer not worth me time. But if I ever see you or yer crew or that termite-bitten hunk of wood ye call a ship again, I swear to the depths of Davy Jones' locker I will. And you can pass that message on to Dunnmore."
Jack stepped aside so Basingstoke could get up. He and the rest of the invading pirates rushed off the ship faster than I have ever seen anyone move before. Jack then turned around to address the crew of the Pearl, but stopped as he saw me.
"What are you doing up here, Miss Elden?" He stared at the sword I was still carrying. "Ye didn't do any fighting, did you?" He asked, sounding a bit anxious.
I nodded, suddenly feeling quite shaken by everything that had happened.
"Are you hurt?" He asked, stepping closer and gently touching my arm.
The kindness in this gesture among all the carnage of the battle made me want to cry, but I swallowed any tears and said firmly, "No, I'm alright."
He still looked worried. "Go lie down in me cabin, love. You don't look well."
He guided me into his captain's quarters with a protective arm around me. I lied down on a couch as he poured me a glass of brandy to calm my nerves. Then he left, and I was alone with my thoughts. Eventually, with help from the brandy, of course, I fell into a fitful sleep, but instead of the nightmares of battle I expected, all I saw was Jack.
Later that night I woke up. The cabin was pitch black, and I could hear Jack faintly snoring in the background. I knew there was no use in getting up, as there was nowhere to go, but I also knew I couldn't get back to sleep. So I lay awake, and let my mind wander to places it didn't normally go. Like the attack from Basingstoke. Something didn't seem right about that whole affair. Why would Dunnmore want to sink the Pearl instead of just getting back his treasure? And why would he hire pirates to do the job? There was something very odd about that, to be sure. I just couldn't place what it was.