Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 51 – Midnight Musings

The Black Pearl slid smoothly into the harbour at Tortuga, only a few other ships were there, but all were known to Jack. Before the crew went ashore they were warned not to speak about the men in the brig – or Captain Groves.

"Not going ashore Jack?" Catherine crept up beside him, slipping her hand into his.

"Not until I figure this out…" he frowned. "I feel like a pawn on the chessboard, but I don't know all th' moves." He turned, taking her in his arms as he leaned against the rail. "An' I don't like it."

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Jack and Theodore watched as Zeke rowed Catherine across to Tortuga. They needed fresh supplies, and it was always best to send those that worked in the galley. Seeing the small boat safely dock, they wandered back inside the cabin. Jack weighted out his large map of the Caribbean, standing there, staring.

"I'm missin' somethin', Theo… an' I don't know what!" he cursed as he reached for his rum. "Okay, let's start with all that's gone weird in the last few years…"

"There was Bailie – apart from Barbossa no pirate has dared attack Port Royal and even Barbossa had a specific reason."

"Mmmmnnn, but Bailie's dead so it can't be him…" Jack traced a lazy finger along the coast of Hispaniola. "An' us pirates don't work together unless it is somethin' real big like…"

"Yes, but what about DeWitt? He was working with Bailie, wasn't he? You always said there might be others…" Theodore prompted.

"You think these three might be the others? Or just some of them?" Jack frowned.

"Bailie, DeWitt, and these three new captains… but what could bring them together?" Theodore mused.

Jack suddenly smiled, his decision reached. "Theo, I think we've a long journey ahead of us. We need answers – answers that we won't find here!" Theodore just looked at him, confused, as he rummaged in his chart box. "'Ere, weight this down!"

Theodore looked stunned as the chart unrolled in front of him. "Africa?" he gasped.

"The only link we know, the only person we can track is DeWitt. He went to Africa an' bought slaves. Why? Most pirates hate slavery, so he must have been working for someone… an' that someone might be our missing link…"

"But Africa – I cannot just go sailing off to Africa!" Theodore protested.

"Why not – they probably think yer dead anyway." Jack rolled the map away. "And this ship is now sailing in the opposite direction ter Port Royal!"

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Catherine climbed tiredly onto the deck of the Black Pearl. Whilst shopping for supplies she had heard some interesting gossip – gossip that Jack ought to know and she hurried back to the ship. She could hear Jack and Theodore talking in the cabin. "But that is over six thousand miles!" her brother protested.

Opening the cabin door she walked in. "What is over six thousand miles?" she asked.

"Africa! Kitty, we need to re-trace DeWitt's journey an' find out who he was workin' for… this still doesn't make sense!" Jack explained.

"Well, this might help, or might not…" she frowned. "I've been hearing rumours that Port Royal has been hit again and the Governor killed."

"What!" Theodore went ashen in shock. "Jack! You have to get me back there!"

Jack could see that Catherine had not told all her news. "And?" he prompted.

"I heard the name of Sibley linked to the attack…" she said.

"Sibley… Alfred Sibley… Bahamas-based! Like Bailie…." Jack reasoned.

"I can't go to Africa!" Theodore argued.

"Yes you bloody are! If Port Royal has been hit again then it is th' last place I'm takin' the Pearl!" Jack countered.

"Whoa! Stop you two!" Catherine stood between them, hand on each of their chests. "Jack, will you please tell me what this is all about?"

"If Alfred Sibley is involved then the Bahamas connection is likely. Which means Francis Bailie. Which means Robert DeWitt… which means Africa!"

"Then I'll have to get more supplies in." She turned to her brother. "Theo, we have to know who is doing this and why, else we cannot stop them. What could you and your few men do for them anyway with no ship?"

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