Chapter 7 – It All Comes Out
My family sat in the family room as Jack paced the floor in front of them. I looked at my parents, seated on the loveseat opposite me. I sat on one side of the comfortable sofa, Nick's head in my lap as he lay there quietly, trying desperately to stay awake.
"Jack," my mother coaxed. I think she was afraid that Jack would soon wear a crevice in her beautiful hardwood floor. "Tell us what's happening. What is the matter?" Jack shook his head, as if rattling himself out of a daze.
"My apologies, love," he started. "I suppose you are curious about my unexpected arrival, then?" We all nodded. "Well then," he continued. "I mustn't wait. Danger's on it's way…" he paused, staring into space again, as if the danger he was speaking of was too difficult to explain.
"Go on, Jack," I urged. He looked at me, a tear in his eye.
"I'm sorry to do this to you, love…" He looked at my father. "You must leave Port Royale," he said. My father's eyes narrowed. Mother moved forward in her seat.
"Why, Jack?" he asked, confused. Jack shook his head. He didn't want to say.
"It's slipped," he said plainly. I was confused, as was Nick, but my parents understood perfectly.
"What happened?" Mother demanded. Father knew exactly what it was that had happened. He just needed to know one thing…
"Who?" Rising from his seat, Father strode to where Jack stood, grabbed his shoulders and stared deep into his eyes. "Who did it?" Jack looked away and fought to bring out the words
"The governor." Those words hit Father like a knife. He took a step back, stunned, eyes wide, mouth open in silent accusation. My mother shook head violently, unable to believe the words that still hung in the air like a deadly fume.
"No…no, it's not possible…he promised…" she fought the idea out of her head. Confused as I was, I decided it best to interject before things got out of hand.
"What the hell is going on here?" They all looked at me, realizing that I was indeed clueless. Jack seemed resolved to tell me, since he brought the news in the first place.
"The fact that your father was a pirate on one of the most well known crews in recent history is something that would have worked against him in many ways if it had not been kept a secret. Everyone who knew made a solemn pledge not to let that secret out. Nonetheless, we all can't be as trustworthy as the next person, now can we, love?" He stopped and looked at my parents. Mother was crying softly. Father was staring blankly at nothing in particular. He seemed like he was in a deep sleep with his eyes open.
"It seems that, whether he meant to or not, your granddad let our little secret slip. Everyone here in Port Royale respects your family, so those that have heard are ignoring it. Unfortunately, news travels fast. Found out in London, already, they have. Three royal British ships are right behind me, only by a day or so. They're filled with soldiers ready to storm the island, arrest Will and take him back to London. They're gonna hang him, love…hang him right in the center of London for all to see. See, they don't trust the people here to do it right…think the citizens here are softies that'll let him go. They can't trust anyone with the job but themselves. With all of the pirates that have escaped these shores…" He paused. I knew that he was included in the number in question.
"Well, they want to set an example for the fine, upstanding folk of Port Royale. Show them what's supposed to happen to pirates." He stopped again to let the news sink in. "What they didn't figure on, though, is that Cap'n Jack of the Black Pearl heard about it, too. And everyone knows that the Pearl is faster than any of their 'Royal' ships…" he added, mockingly. Father finally stood, the color back in his face.
"I am not leaving my family behind. Everyone pack." He turned to Jack. "You have room, don't you?" Jack nodded.
"Plenty, mate. Pack your things, all. You're sleepin' on the Pearl tonight!"