Ch.34 Take her Place
Barbosa leaned against the great mound of treasure in the middle of the cave and smiled smugly at Josephine.
Perturbed, Josephine scowled. "There's no need to get cocky, Barbosa. You're too confident; our plan could fall through in a heartbeat."
"Oh, but, unlike you, Miss Cynical, I prefer to be positive."
"There's nothing to be positive about, Captain. Nothing has happened; we don't even know if he's comi..."
"Captain Barbosa!" A pirate ran into the cave. "He's here, Captain. And arming himself from the look of it."
"Good! Good! Very good." Barbosa replied. He turned to Josephine. "So. He's coming. Are YOU ready?"
Josephine looked at him nonchalantly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Barbosa shrugged and then stood up. "Shall we position ourselves?"
Josephine rolled her eyes and climbed to the top of the treasure mound up to the chest. Barbosa followed her.
He took Josephine's hand and placed it on the gold medallions.
"Take one," he whispered in her ear.
"Why?" she replied.
"Call it a gift," he said.
She reached down and let her fingers drift across the pile. She grasped one and picked it up.
Barbosa took the knife out of the chest and placed the flat of the blade against her hand, next to the coin.
Josephine looked at him. "And what are you doing?"
"Preparing myself."
"Ah, well, could your preparations not include me?"
Barbosa smiled. "Of course...Miss Turner."
Cambury sneaked into the Captain's cabin. He looked around to make sure no one was coming. He walked over to the wall, and knocked on it. Hearing a hollow spot, Cambury picked out the wooden board with his knife. He then reached inside and pulled out a small box. He opened it and then took out the medallion inside and placed it in his pocket. He then replaced the box and wooden board and then placed some dust in the cracks between the board and the wall.
He stood back, satisfied. You wouldn't even know it was there, much less that someone had opened it. He sneaked out of the cabin and up onto deck.
He smiled briefly growing darkness. Barbosa would be pleased.
Jack climbed out of the boat onto the solid rock of the cave. Will climbed out after him, followed by Cambury and the other pirates who had come ashore.
Jack quietly walked into the cave and peeked inside.
He turned back at once with a pale face. "(exclamation of frustration)"
Will looked at him. "What? What is it?"
"He's going to kill her."
"WHAT?!"
"Will, just trust me. Stay here. I can handle this."
Barbosa lifted the knife about his head. "Long have I waited for this day."
Josephine turned. "What day?"
"Revenge-on-Jack day."
"Oh."
With a sudden boom Barbosa began the blood ritual. "9 years ago, we came upon this chest. And for those 9 years, we suffered from starvation and yet couldn't dye. But now it is time to end our pain...so we will wait till all those who took the coins are present. But in the meantime, let's have some sport. I have a fair, young maiden here, fresh, whose legs have not yet been spread..."
"That's enough, Barbosa."
"Oh. Jack. How kind of you to drop in. Well, if you won't let us have our fun, we could end her pain now wouldn't you say?" Barbosa made an aggressive movement and abruptly lifted the knife to Josephine's throat. He pressed the flat of his blade against it.
"I feel the life, flowing here. I assume you could see it. Wouldn't be a shame waste that life?"
Jack moved towards the mound and Barbosa prepared to slice.
Jack froze. "What do you want, Barbosa?" He swallowed.
Will appeared behind Jack. "Gods," he whispered.
Barbosa smiled. "Why ask, Jack... because you know what I want," Barbosa finished. He lifted his arm as if to cut Josephine's throat.
Not for the first time on this trip, Josephine felt uncertain; she also felt fear.
She tightened her throat and her body, and felt Barbosa tighten his grip on her in return.
"Jack!" Will said.
"NO!" Jack cried and moved as if to stop him.
Pistols from the enemy pirates turned towards him as a response.
He raised his hands. "Don't kill her, Barbosa."
"Why?"
"Jack do something," Will whispered urgently.
"I'll take her place," Jack said loudly.
Barbosa lowered his knife. "Really now."
"On one condition."
"What?"
"Josephine goes free."
Barbosa looked at Jack. "Agreed."
The enemy pirates surrounded Jack and Will and the other pirates.
"Take Jack and Will to separate cells. Put the others somewhere else," Barbosa ordered.
"But I thought..."Jack started.
"You thought nothing, Jack. We'll save you for tomorrow so we can have some fun tonight."
Jack stopped and looked at Josephine.
"Josephine...I'm.." Jack started.
"Sorry?" she responded. "I appreciate the sincerity, however late it was. But tell me Jack, are you just slow or is your name short for jackass?"
"What?" he asked incrediously. "I just gave my life for you."
"A bit late also. You never would have had to, I remind you, if you hadn't stranded me in the first place."
"But.." Jack started.
Barbosa signaled his men to move the prisoners on.
Once Will and Jack were out of sight, Barbosa released Josephine.
He threw the knife into the chest and closed the lid.
"Everything goes according to plan."
"You could have warned me, Barbosa."
"Why? Then Jack wouldn't have bought it."
"He still probably didn't anyway."
"Ms. Cynical again, I see."
"There are worse things than cynics."
Barbosa nodded. "Maybe your right." He bowed and then walked out of the cave with a smirk growing on his face.