Liberty,Equality,Fraternity - by Cunien
I'm sorry Frodo!
Please forgive obvious typos and mistakes - I'm not the most observant person.
Warnings: As a series - Mild swearing, not so mild racism and slavery. Also violence and torture, mostly aimed at Jack - Don't worry your pretty little head about it - Jack doesn't.
Chapter 11- The Beginning.
The next few days of work passed in a blur of aching muscles. The slaves sang and joked once more, and my mind kept a-ticking away.
I scanned the face of every man I saw: was he the Skeleton Man? What about him? Or him?
And a night I waited for a moment alone with Sarah. I needed to approach her first - she knew the slaves. If she could put me in touch with a few she knew were trustworthy and angry - angry enough to let it boil over and rise up against Gabriel - then we were in business.
So one night, Gabriel is out walking around the village, talking to the Africans and making sure they're well, and I'm alone with Sarah and her baby.
And here's the perfect chance, I think. So I get straight to the point.
Who's the Skeleton Man?
She blinked at me, once, twice, with no other movement. What Skeleton Man?In the Church, the other day.I saw no Skeleton Man. She picked up a poker and prodded at the fire.
I paused for a moment.
Alright. So...you didn't see him, but...right...if there was a man, who was dressed like a skeleton, yes? And he just happened to pop up in church, say, last sunday. Where could I find him? Now. Tonight.If there was a Skeleton Man - I couldn't tell you who it was. Because I wouldn't know - not for certain at least, she said, looking at me once more.
What...what do you mean?
Sarah sighed and sat down. There are rumours. Everyone knows, really, but we're not meant to talk about it. Why do you need to know, Jack?
So I explained everything to her. I told her everything I'd been planning for the past few days. Well. Almost everything. There's no sense in giving it all away, just in case.
Sarah sat and thought for a long time, until I began to worry that she'd close up completely and refuse to play her part.
I think it could work. I think, she said. And there are others that would think so too. You need to talk to them too. Tomorrow night, outside the church.Great! Fantastic! says I. I could kiss you!
Sarah looked at me blankly. And don't tell Nathan.About me wanting to kiss you?
She lifted one eyebrow, in a way that only women can.
I said, pouting a little. Tomorrow night, Church, no Nathan.
So after some time, Nathan comes back, and Sarah is as cool as can be. I marvelled at the female skill at deception.
Once they were asleep, I crawled outside to lie and look at the stars and the sea once more, before I slept. It was a nightly ritual now, and made me feel comfortable. And comforted. I knew my fate was up there somewhere, written in the stars, and soon it would float down and make itself known. For better or worse - but for better, I liked to think.
Now there I was, smiling a dreamy little smile to myself, and just beginning to feel warm and comfortable and sleepy, when the stars go dark.
What's this? A cloud? I think, for a split second.
And then I realise it's a person, a girl, most definitely - I can tell from all the womanly curves in my arms as she trips right over me in the dark.
Eh what's this? I say, letting her struggle about in my embrace. An angel descended from yon celestial...thingamies?...guh...
She kneed me in the crown jewels.
I let her go.
You are... incorrigible Mr Sparrow!Captain. And thankyou, I squeaked, clutching the most delicate part of my anatomy. I may never have children.And that is a bad thing? Megan mumbled.
Your concern is touching. And after all I've been through too, I wheezed, rolling around on the ground.
Megan sat down beside me quietly, and waited as I huffed and puffed and yes, cursed a little, feeling as though I might be sick at any moment.
That's cruel and unusual punishment, that is, I managed after a while.
No it's not: it's an ancient and well known method of freeing oneself from a lecherous embrace. Anyway, your hands were wandering, why shouldn't my knees do the same?Fair comment.I am sorry that I hurt you, though. I've never done that before - I suppose I may have used a bit too much force, Megan admitted.
I'm honoured I was your first.
Megan shifted around and arranged her skirts for a moment, while I studied her face, beautiful in the bright light and harsh shadows of the Caribbean moon.
What are you doing here, Megan?I came to see you, actually, I --No. Not that it isn't lovely to hear you say that - but what are you doing here? In this place? With him? And that? I said, touching her engagement ring.
She was silent for a moment, and I worried I'd gone too far.
It's all so complicated.I've got all night, my love.This is mine, she said, after a while. All this. The plantation. My father left it to me when he died. But Gabriel faked the will - I'm sure he did. I've been left with nothing: no land, no money, no title and no dowry. My only way out is to marry Gabriel. I said, a little bit dumbstruck.
Megan huffed a big sigh and looked out at the sea.
Gabriel was an old business partner of my father's - he ran this place for him when we were at home in Ireland. My father hated him - hated him. But he was weak and Gabriel walked all over him.You don't really have to marry him though? Do you? I mean, you could just up and leave.If I were a man, yes. For a woman with no money it's the whorehouse of the wedding bed. And both amount to the same thing in the end: a life spent pleasing a man just so you can feed and clothe yourself.You could run away to sea. There's plenty of women turned pirate. No, really, there are, I insisted as she laughed quietly.
No Jack. That's not for me. And I have a responsibility to this place now. I owe it to my father. says I. He'd understand - a bastard like Gabriel? He wouldn't want you marrying him, would he?
She shook her head, and I sat hypnotised by the way her curls bounced around her shoulders.
There's no hope.Course there is! says I. Just look at me! I'm not giving up, no sir! Already my plans are in motion. I'll be out of this place in a jiffy!Oh, you think so? she laughed, as I rubbed my hands together gleefully and put on a right good show for her.
Yes I do. And I'm bringing the slaves with me.
Her face fell. You're mad. You'll kill yourself and all of them.
I shook my head and smiled. Ah. You doubt me now, but soon you'll see. They all will. Meet me here tomorrow night, same time. I'll have something to tell you then, I'm sure of it.
I only hoped that was true.
TBC...