Ch.33 De ja vou
The next couple days passed quickly for Josephine, then they couldn't go slow enough.
The third morning after leaving Tortuga, Josephine awoke and rose to find the ship surrounded by a thick fog in which the remains of ships appeared like ghosts and then disappeared just as quickly. Her uneasiness about the whole voyage increased dramatically.
She jumped as Barbosa walked up beside her.
He chuckled low in his throat. "Scared, Miss Turner?"
Josephine glanced over at Barbosa. "Startled, more, Captain Barbosa," she replied.
Josephine glanced to the front of the ship. She looked strangely at the front. She walked to the stern of the ship.
"Something wrong?" he asked as he accompanied her.
Josephine peered around the figurehead into the fog. "I thought I saw something."
"Ah, that would be the Isla de Muerta, Miss Turner," Barbosa said. As he spoke, the fog parted and revealed an oddly shaped island.
Josephine withheld a gasp. She heard of that island...many times...from her father. Somehow, she kept a straight face.
"Welcome, to your destiny Miss Turner," Barbosa whispered, smiling. He then imperceptibly walked away.
Josephine turned as he went. "You knew my father?" Though phrased as a question, it was more like a statement.
Barbosa turned. "Now where would you get that idea Miss Turner?" He smiled.
Josephine remained silent.
Barbosa turned and walked down to his cabin.
"You did know him," Josephine whispered as she turned back to the stern. "I know you did."
The ship drew into a cove and Josephine heard as the crew weighed anchor so as to stop the ship.
As the size of the island increased, Josephine felt her anxiety increase. She stood still in the stern, watching and waiting. She glanced around before heading below, once more, to her cabin.
What she didn't know was that a pair of knowing eyes watched her as she went down.
"Jack, can't this thing go any faster?" Will asked for the thousandth time, peering through the fog surrounding the Pearl.
Jack sighed. "For the LAST BLOODY TIME, it's a SHIP! And no, we're at maximum speed."
Will obviously didn't hear the irritation in Jack's voice. "There probably already there."
"Well, we will be soon," Jack said. "I pray," he added under his breath.
"Captain! Come look!" Holmes yelled from up in the crow's nest.
Jack looked up. He walked over to the net ladder and climbed up to Holmes.
"What is it?" he asked.
"There. What is that?" Holmes asked.
Jack took out his telescope and took a long look. He closed it, looking grim.
"What is it?" Holmes repeated.
"A ship," Jack replied. "With a pirate flag." He climbed down to Will, who was waiting below.
"Well?" Will asked.
Jack smiled grimly. "It's de ja vu, Will, de ja vu."
Jack walked away. Then he added so only he could hear, "But this time, I have no leverage...but myself."