Chapter Three
Jack Sparrow stood at the wheel of the ship with his sister sitting on a wooden crate behind him. Jack checked his compass, made sure they were headed south, then returned it to his belt. Catalina shuffled her boots and gave a long sigh. Jack turned to look at her.
"What's the problem?" he asked, hand still on the wheel.
"oh nothing, just bored is all," she said putting her head in her hands.
"I see. You could play a bit of poker with the men below deck," Jack suggested.
"I don't know, they all seem so strange" she said, getting up and going to the side of the ship. "Especially your Mr. Thompson friend,"
"I did notice he seemed a bit……peculiar this afternoon, but then again, he has always been one to surprise you," Jack said going over to her.
"Jack, I didn't think you'd ever come back home. It really is good to see you. You look so much older and stronger than before," Catalina said smiling at him.
"I just wish I could've come back sooner, to see uncle Tom again. But things just got turned around too much, and took longer than I expected," Jack said.
Jack stared out across the ocean, watching each wave roll by. The water was a beautiful Caribbean blue that glinted in the sunlight. A gentle wind blew and Jack turned his face towards the breeze. He took in a deep breath of salty air and smiled. It were the moments like these in which Jack loved to be a captain, free to go wherever he pleased. Jack thought to himself, once again, the Black Pearl really is freedom.
A few hours passed as Jack and Catalina reminisced their childhood together.
"Marlon, go and tell mister Thompson to take the wheel, I must retire for a little catnap,"
"Aye Cap'n," said Marlon. He skipped down the stairs to go get Louis Thompson.
"I shall see you later Catalina," said Jack to his sister.
"Sweet dreams Jack," she said.
Jack turned and went to his cabin. As soon as the door had shut behind Jack, Louis Thompson appeared from below deck. Catalina adjusted herself on the crate she was sitting on. Louis came over to her and grinned.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked.
"I don't mind," said Catalina.
"So what do you think of the Pearl?" he asked sitting on the crate next to her.
"It's everything I've heard about and more. I think it's brilliant," said Catalina, relaxing a little.
"yes yes. Jack wasn't lying when he said the Pearl was a beauty. You're rather striking yourself," said Louis, smiling.
Catalina blushed and smiling said, "Now mister Thompson, you mustn't flatter me so,".
Catalina was surprised at how ladylike her voice had become. She hadn't recalled speaking like that since she was a child, when proper etiquette would be useful finding a husband later in life.
"oh and why not. The other men are too prideful to talk to any woman aboard a ship because they believe you are bad luck,". Catalina scoffed at this and smiling, Louis continued, "I however think you are very interesting,". He moved a little closer to Catalina.
She had nothing to say. She was too tense and too nervous.
Louis raised his hand up to Catalina's face and touched her cheek. Catalina looked at him with curious eyes and swallowed.
Louis traced his thumb around Catalina's lips, making her part them and close her eyes. Louis leaned in and kissed Catalina softly.
Catalina pulled back and froze as she saw Jack's cabin door opening. She got up and went over to the side of the ship, and Louis went to the wheel.
Jack staggered out, squinting at the sunlight.
"I can't sleep on such a beautiful day. Maybe later," Jack said to himself.
Jack greeted Louis and Louis nervously wove back at him.
"So, what've I missed?" he asked, glancing from Louis to Catalina, and back to Louis.
"Oh, nothing much," said Louis, exchanging glances with Catalina.
"Mr. Thompson and I were just talking about how wonderful the ship is, Jack," said Catalina, coming over to them.
"Aye, that's why she's called the Pearl," Jack said. He went over and sort of caressed the wheel, in the same way he had when he'd gotten the ship back from Barbossa. Jack noticed Catalina and Louis looking at him with puzzled expressions, and he grinned and leaned on the side rail.
"Alright then. We are near 3 days away from Pantanula. What say you to some dinner?" said Jack to Catalina.
"I could use a bite to eat," she said following Jack. Catalina side glanced at Louis and walked past him.
"Young Mr. Thompson, shall you join us as well?" Jack asked Louis.
"Oh, no, you go on without me. I've got to keep the lads below away from the liquor cabinet," Louis said smiling and nodding to the floorboards.
"Alright then. See you in a bit," said Jack, starting to move to his cabin again.
"Goodnight Mr. Thompson," said Catalina, following Jack to his cabin. As much as she wanted to get away from Louis, a part of her wanted to stay and discover more about him, perhaps feel the gentle brush of soft lips against hers once again.
Enter Louis...
Louis skipped down the steps to the hold as soon as Jack and Catalina were out of sight. He pushed open the door to the men's cabins to be welcomed by a noisy bunch in the middle of a card game.
"no cheating, Mullroy!"
"I'm not cheatin' Magillacutty! You think I'd quit the British navy to come here and cheat at a little game of poker?"
"Well actually--" Magillacutty stopped to notice that Louis was back.
"How ya doin' mates?" Louis asked.
"RAAAAWK! PITCHED IN THE BRIG!" squawked Mr. Cotton's parrot.
"oh so it's that bad, eh?" Louis laughed and came to sit by the men at the table.
"no, I've just caught Mullroy cheatin' here at poker!" complained Magillacutty. Mr. Magillacutty was a very stubborn old man with a peg leg. His wife had died a few years back and his three sons were all grown and off across the ocean like him.
"okay, okay, I admit I was cheatin', but at least we're not playin' for keeps right?" said Mullroy. He still had a bit of the British accent but he hid it well.
"no, we are playing keepsies, so, you loose, I win," said Magillacutty, snatching the few shillings off the table, leaving Mullroy silent and gaping at the table.
"That's quite a shame Mullroy, I guess that's what you get for cheatin' eh?" said Louis.
Mullroy frowned and leaned his head on his hand and sighed, "yes I suppose so".
"hey Louis, did you get another look of that Catalina? Woohoo, now she's a beauty," said Luke.
"yes she's lovely," said Louis, replaying the day's events with Catalina in his head. He thought of her deep brown eyes, staring at him as he moved to kiss her, and the way her lips felt against his own.
"Louis……Louis……..hello, Louis!"
"What? Oh sorry mates," Louis said, shaking his daydream out of his head.
"Are you all right there mate?" asked Magillacutty
"Yes, I'm fine, I'm just a bit….hungry is all. Come on gents, let's have something to eat, and then I'll show you how you really play cards,".
Enter Catalina...
"That was an excellent dinner," said Jack, slouching back in his chair.
"yes, Jack, it was very good," Catalina said taking another sip of her wine.
Jack took a swig of rum from the tall bottle that rested on the edge of the table, and set it back down.
Catalina stared at the candle in front of her, watching the orange flame dance. Why had Louis kissed her? He barely knew who she was. He's so wonderful, she thought.
"well I think I'll turn in for bed now, Jack," Catalina said standing up.
Jack nodded and stood, holding the rum bottle. "g'night love," he said .
"goodnight Jack," Catalina said smiling.
When Catalina left Jack's cabin, she walked about the deck for awhile, breathing deeply the fresh air. Catalina took off her coat and set it on the railing. She leaned out over the side of the ship and looked at the gentle water below. Half an hour or so passed before Catalina righted herself and then shuffled back to her cabin. She opened the door and entered the dark room. The only source of light was the moon shining in through the 6 paned window. Catalina took off her clothes and put on a white nightgown with no sleeves. She'd be okay, no one would see her like this. Just like Louis said, the men were too prideful to talk to the "bad luck" aboard the Pearl. Catalina smiled at the thought of him.
Enter Louis...
"Gents I think I'll take a walk on the deck, so I'll see you later," Louis got up and left to go up on deck. The other men were too into their card game to notice his departure.
Louis walked around the deck, waving to Ronald up in the crow's nest. He leaned against the rail and thought about Catalina once again. He turned and rested his hand on the railing beside him. His fingers brushed against something soft, like suede. He looked and his hand was resting on a blue coat. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands, recognizing it as Catalina's.
Louis went down the stairs leading to Catalina's cabin. He stopped in front of her door, catching his breath, and calming himself. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.
Enter Catalina...
Catalina jumped at the sound of someone at the door. She lit a lantern and went to answer the door. Catalina slowly opened it to see Louis standing in front of her.
"Mr. Thompson, hello," Catalina said, looking at her coat in his hands.
"Good evening. I um, I found this up on deck and figured you might need it," said Louis, holding out the blue garment.
"thank you, Mr. Thompson," she said
"Louis," he said grinning
"Louis," she repeated looking at his face and smiling.
"Listen, Catalina, I uh, I'm sorry about earlier, I really shouldn't have--"
"no, it's okay, it was just spur of the moment is all," she said. "would you like to come in?"
"Louis nodded and Catalina stepped aside to let him pass.
When he was inside, she closed the door, and went over to the table.
"Please sit," she said, gesturing to a chair tucked under the small table.
Louis sat down, watching Catalina. She went to a desk, opened a drawer and brought out a candle and placed it in the center of the table. She leaned over and lit the candle, making her nightgown slip dangerously low from her chest. Louis quickly blinked, and Catalina sat down across from him and sighed.
"I'm sorry to come so late, I didn't think you'd be sleeping,"
"oh, me? Sleep? No, I wear this all the time," she said, plucking part of her nightgown. Louis looked embarrassed and Catalina said, "It's no problem, I was hoping I'd see you again soon anyways,". She looked at him with her dark brown eyes and smiled.
"really? Same for me," Louis said, grinning.
Catalina smiled, continuing her gaze upon him. The few candles lit in the room, gave his skin, a bronzy hue, softening his facial features. Her eyes slowly trailed over his jaw line, coming to find his lips, slightly parted. His hair, was pulled back into a ponytail, resting at the back of his neck. She watched his chest rise and fall with each breath, looking at his collarbone and neck.
"listen Catalina, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to, well of course I meant to, but, I didn't want you to feel, well, that is, I……I need to stop talking," Louis laughed nervously, and Catalina smiled again.
"It was okay, really," Catalina said reassuringly.
Louis nodded and took in Catalina's features. Her hair was up, and a few strands fell about her neck, which a gold chain was wrapped around. Her eyes appeared closed as she looked at the candle in front of her. Louis's eyes fell upon Catalina's hand, resting on the table. He reached his arm out and took it in his own. She looked up at him, but didn't pull away. Louis smiled at her and squeezed her hand. He stood and let go of her and said, "well, I should be going now,"
"are you sure? You can stay a bit longer," Catalina said, rushing over to him as he stood at the door.
"no, no. this evening has been wonderful, nothing could make it better,"
"there's one way," Catalina said. She reached up and grabbed his chin. She pulled him towards her and kissed him. She pulled back and opened her eyes. Louis was standing with his eyes closed still, caught in the moment.
Louis opened his eyes and swallowed, looking at Catalina. He sighed and held her hand.
"goodnight Catalina," he said.
"good night Louis," she said smiling up at him.
He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them. Louis took one last look at Catalina and then turned and left. Catalina closed the door behind him and leaned up against the wall. She closed her eyes and bit her lip, smiling uncontrollably. She blew out the few candles that were lit and crawled into bed. She laid her head down on the pillow and closed her eyes. The slow, rocking motion of the ship made Catalina fall into a deep sleep.