Thank you to TL for pointing out my error in the last chapter. (smile) I swear I'm not usually that dense. It has been corrected, as well as a few redundancies in the letter from Sarah to Silver. Let's hope that that's all. (crosses her fingers).
Although Silver had spent as much time as possible in drawing up assumptions as to what Salvus and her people might be like, he soon realized as he stepped off the longboat and into the harbor that all of his ideas had fallen horrifically short of the appalling vision that plagued his sight at that very moment. The ship harbors were absolutely brimming with weeping men, women, and children as they sought desperately after the loved ones who had fallen in the disaster. Fires burned in tin barrels every few yards in hopes of keeping those who were outside warm. The scent of medicines and medicinal herbs could be identified from all over the docks while the bodies of the dead and dying were strewn about carelessly on makeshift cots and gurneys. The stench of death rose like a sickening cloud high into the air, accompanied only by smoke from the fires, and the pitiful wailing of the injured and the mourning.
A shudder creased its way up John Silver's spine. For all he could deduce of this havoc that lay before his wide eyes, he knew that if there was any hope if finding Jim, there was no way he would remain alive for very long. The thought of even such a possibility made him sick, but he forced himself to press onward. Certainly there was someone he could talk to who would know where to go in concerns of being updated on the whereabouts of those who were still missing. Boats were arriving with more recovered spacers and passengers even as Silver navigated his way through the masses. He was careful to keep his gaze upward while he walked. The thought of seeing one of these young lads, any of whom might possibly remind him of Jim, was enough to tear his heart out.
Their pain was so severe it went unknown even to him, who had lost much of his own body in a horrific accident long ago. Yet it seemed that as he weaved and wagged his way through the narrow paths made by their cots and coffins, there was no way to escape it. Their screams and pleadings crept to his ears even in his wake, and he could not help but feel swells of pity for the spacers and passengers alike, and their families.
What horrific ordeals had they faced before all of this? And now, as they lay dying of horrific pain, the only thing that would ever be done for them and their families would be an all expenses paid funeral, and a medal to remind them every day of the horror andanguish their loved ones had went through for a career that showed hardly any appreciation. Alas, that was how it went for everyone. The Etherium gave and the Etherium took away. That was the way of it. Fairness was not a factor oft considered, especially in dealings with fate and destiny.
As he traveled onward toward any specific someone who at least looked official, a vision came across Silver's semi-overactive imagination. He could see Mrs. Hawkins sitting at a fire, aged and careworn now, obviously retired from her duties as an innkeeper. Her small, thin, and now slightly frail frame was nestled cozily in an overstuffed, overlarge armchair. To whom it belonged did not matter, but what he did see was the tears forming in her eyes as she lovingly caressed a small wooden box. The very face of the box was sealed in a glass fixing that allowed her to see what was inside: a golden medal, well polished and hand carved, and upon it was written the name James Pleiades Hawkins, and beneath that, a date. July 25th, 1643.
The vision ended, leaving Silver in a state of awed silence at the concept his imagination had presented him. If Jim was gone, there would be no one to take care of Sarah. She would live on, alone and forever lonelyupon a forgotten mining planet, with no one but her memories and herself to ease her pain until her last days.
Silver shook his head, snorting furiously through his nose. Such thoughts could not be allowed to overcome him, or he would never be able to fulfill his duty. With a forced sigh and a sudden urge of will from a source he did not know, Silver trudged forward through the seas of death and the winds of decay, determined to do all within his power to find Jim Hawkins and put his nerves at ease, and those of his mother.
A few days later, Silver was surprised to be staring into the ashen face of Sarah Hawkins who had finally arrived at the harbors of Salvus. Her trip had been hectic, but to Silver's surprise she had made it alive and well, and swiftly. He hadn't expected her to arrivefor at least a week, but here she was now, staring himcarefullyin the eye as if searching for a hint of news that the old pirate may not have been willing to tell her out loud. However, after a few seconds of gazing, she seemed satisfied with her tacit deduction:Jim was not here.
Their greeting afterward was informal at best, since Sarah wasted no time at melting away into a fit of sobs under Silver's large arms. He comforted her as best he could, and was thankful that no one stared for too long. Although they certainly made an odd pairing, most understood and even expected people to suddenly break down here. Considering all that many of these people were going through, and what they were seeing in the streets, it was hard to keep ones nerves in tact.
"Now, Miss Sarah," Silver cooed gently. "Don't you be frettin' just yet. Yer wastin' yer tears."
She pulled away, sniffing slightly. "I don't know, John," she said with a sigh. Her sunken eyes peered out over the vast oceans of suffering spacers and space-going travelers who's bodies littered the streets of Salvus. "It seems so cruel to want him to be alive if this is what he's going through."
Although Silver could say nothing, he himself had thought the same thing.
"Everything's going to be okay," he told her with an arm around her shoulder.
Silver suddenly felt very odd, standing there so close to a woman. Even though Sarah did not seem to mind, he felt it necessary to question the propriety of such a stance. Sarah was not his wife, nor a friend really. In truth, all they really shared was their love for Jim. The thought of them sharing anything else was, to Silver, uncanny; even though his heart whispered to his mind that there was nothing wrong with it.
Clearing his throat, Silver retracted his arm and quickly shoved both hands in his pockets. "Have yeh eatin' anything?" he asked her, hoping that maybe she had.
"Not since yesterday," Sarah responded. She pressed her hand to her head and swiftly wiped away some stray locks of brown hair.
"Are yeh hungry?"
Sarah's brow furrowed. "Not hungry," she answered. "Although I wouldn't mind finding somewhere that serves good tea." Her gaze fluttered up to Silver. "You wouldn't know of one, would you?"
Eager to take a break from the constant screams and weeping that were plaguing the streets, he shook his head. "No, but I wouldn' mind a cup of tea myself." And without thinking he took her arm in his and lead her down the street.
"How long did it take you to get here?" he asked after they had found a quaint little restaurant, had been seated, and now waited to be served.
"A few days," Sarah admitted, sliding her coat off and tossing it over the back of her chair. "The ride was horrid, but I didn't think to complain."
"You look tired."
Sarah smiled, obviously touched by Silver's concern. "As you can imagine, I haven't been sleeping well since."
Silver nodded. Yes, he could imagine quite well.
"I can't tell you how much this means to me, Mr. Silver," said Sarah. Her voice had lowered almost to a whisper, and the sudden formality at her addressing him made Silver slightly uncomfortable.
"You can still call me John," he interjected quietly.
Sarah smiled and nodded her appreciation. "John. I wouldn't have asked, but the thought of him possibly being here, like this, like them...alone...well, I thought that if you could at least reach him...in case he were..." she paused, wiping away a tear. "Thank you, John."
A frown had suddenly crept over John Silver's face. So she had wanted him here to be with Jim in case he was dying? So that he wouldn't be alone? Silver wasn't certain how to respond to that. Although it was comforting to know that she trusted Silver so deeply with her son, even in a situation as detrimental as this, he was not certain how he would have been able to handle it. Sarah seemed to sense this and almost immediately reached across the table and took his one flesh hand in both of hers.
"I'm sorry, John. I should have been more forward with you."
Silver cleared his throat.
"It's all right, Miss Sarah," he stated. There was really nothing to forgive, but the idea in general still made him sick. Just the thought of Jim dying...
"You're sure?"
Nodding, Silver pulled away his hand. The tea came a few moments later, and they both were able to enjoy a warm drink in each other's company.
After a few minutes of conversation, Silver found himself warmed at heart for the oddly weclome company he had suddenly found himself in. Much to his initial surprise, he discovered that Morph had accompanied Sarah in her journey. B.E.N. had stayed behind to make sure that the Benbow remained safe, and Silver was slightly humored to hear that she had promised to write a robot at least once a week to make sure that he was kept up to date on Jim and her own well being.
"He's a very good worker," said Sarah in an attempt to disband the cyborg's dubious smile. "And Jim is very dear to him."
Silver's smile only widened. However, this information did not surprise him. Jim was dear to many. Even his teachers it seemed, as Sarah told him the many tales of his school adventures. The ones, apparently, that Jim had forgotten to tell his old friend himself.
"His teachers all have the highest respect for him," she said wistfully. Her cheek rested lazily upon her left palm while her eyes gazed listlessly into her tea cup. "Highest marks in his class. First recommendations ever since Amelia enlisted him. He didn't disappoint."
For the first time in many days, Silver laughed.
"That's not surprising."
Sarah looked up at him, grinning slightly.
"Of course, I have you to thank for it."
Having not expected this comment, Silver inhaled half of his drink and suddenly began to cough and sputter "What?" he asked after regaining his senses. "What's that?"
"I have you to thank, John."
"For what?"
"For Jim. For what you did, whatever you did. It really...it helped him."
Silver felt the heat rise in his face. He turned his gaze away shyly. "I didn't do nothing," he admitted with a wave of his hand. "He was my cabin boy. I was only keeping him out of trouble."
"Which was what I failed to do for fifteen years," Sarah stated with a sly grin. Silver sighed and willingly accepted his defeat, but he refused to take credit for Jim, regardless of what his mother had to say about it.
"I'm sure it wasn't anything --"
"Give it up, John," she commented. He looked at her, slightly taken aback by the sudden sharpness of her voice. "You made a difference in his life. You can't argue that."
Silver sighed. He thought on the matter, taking a few swigs of his coffee before finally replying; "Maybe I did."
"I know you did." Sarah crossed her arms and leaned forward. A sly smile was creeping over her face, and a glimmer was birthed in her eyes. "You were more of a father to him than any other man in his life. You gave him what I couldn't John. You gave him what he needed."
Silver could feel the heat rising in his face once more. "And what was that?"
"A male role model. He needed that to look up to, and you were it. Thank you, John. You made my son a man."
"Nah," Argued Silver. "He was already a man. He just needed a good kick in the seat of the pants."
Sarah chuckled. "Well, he needed that too."
Silver soon joined in her laughter. When they had settled, the conversation turned suddenly much more serious.
"I hope he's all right."
Frowning, Silver leaned forward. This time he took her hands in his. A confident smile creased his face as he said; "He will be. You'll see."
The words were foolish. Their hopes was certainly wasted, but for all it was worth, they couldn't afford to give up on Jim yet. He meant too much to both of them. They silently enjoyed each other 's company from that point on, sipping tea and tuning out the cries of heartbreak that came from the docks to the east.
Okay. Well, since I've never actually read Treasure Island, I have no idea what year it took place so I just kind of guessed. And then there's the question about Treasure Planet being more of a futuristic kind of setting, or if this is just a completely different, you know, universe. So I just slapped a year in there and added the day in which I had started this chapter. So...yeah. No confusion, just a simple lack of knowledge. My apologies.