Chapter 11: Pirate Scum
A mixture of berries and nuts dropped between the gaps and hit the dirt at Emerson's feet, rolling around until it scattered the small floor of the pit. His hands were tied in front, fortunately, and picking up the berries was simple enough. He'd only managed a small handful before the rest of it was gobbled up by the pirate Strongman, and his mates. Tarrington eyed the meager meal with scorn and turned his face away; shunning what little sustenance they'd been allowed.
Emerson had tried to catch a glimpse of the woman that had been giving them food, but the most he saw were a pair of hands. She dropped the food quickly and left just as fast, as though she wasn't supposed to be there. He wanted to thank her, but always restrained himself. He didn't want her found out by the others.
"What do you suppose they'll do with us?" asked Strongman, munching on his berries.
"Kill us, o' course," answered his mate.
"We don't know that," Emerson pointed out. "We're being fed. They can't be completely heartless."
"Yes, I agree," said Tarrington. "Perhaps we can use that to our advantage."
Emerson didn't like the murderous glint in the old man's eyes. "She's probably risking her life. It won't do us any good if we get her caught. You're liable to get us killed sooner."
Tarrington smiled in a patronizing way. "You are not familiar with the practice, 'every man for himself'. I do not intend to allow savage women to control my life. As a former officer of the Royal Navy, diplomacy was an essential technique when dealing with miscreants."
"Is that how you intend to escape?"
"At first, but I'll make sacrifices along the way if necessary."
Emerson left it at that. There was nothing he could do at present. The girl was obviously risking her life, why, Emerson couldn't imagine, but it was appreciated. If it weren't for his cellmates, he'd attempt conversation and maybe find a sympathetic ear or learn what was happening with his sister.
Some hours ago, Evy had suddenly appeared. A foreboding feeling began creeping into his stomach. He'd told her not to do anything stupid, but he knew Evy well enough to be worried.
Evy yanked at the ropes that tied her hands behind her back, but merely burned sensitive skin with the effort. The knots were too tight and the gag covering her mouth stank of something rotten. She'd been dumped in a dark corridor inside the caves where the fabled treasure was supposedly hidden. Little light was available. Sconces were attached to the cave walls, but only one torch was lit some ways down the corridor. It seemed as though Marta wished to make Evy as uncomfortable or as frightened as possible.
She glanced forlornly at the now uneven length of her hair. Part of it had been crudely cut off and left as a message for Jack. Evy wasn't entirely convinced he'd fall for it. He wasn't stupid. Not entirely.
Although Marta had been tight-lipped about Jack's previous visit, Evy suspected that Jack had double-crossed her somehow. That was the only sensible explanation for the burning revenge.
It seemed as though she'd been trapped here for days, but it couldn't have been more than a few hours. The longer she waited in the darkness, the more she began to regret her hasty betrayal.
Betrayal.
That vicious word kept burrowing into her brain like a parasite. She was treacherously involved in Jack's capture and obsessing over the guilt. The more she tried to ignore it, the worse she felt. But how else could she save her brother's life? Marta's clan outnumbered them ten to one. There was no way to save Emerson without handing over Jack. Her brother was worth twice that pirate wretch. Yet she couldn't stop thinking about what would happen to Jack once she and her brother escaped. In all probability, it would be nothing less than execution, but not before they chopped off his appendages.
Evy briskly shook her head to throw out the gruesome images popping into her thoughts. No, she couldn't concern herself with Jack anymore. He'd trade her life to save his own skin. Mr. Gibbs had known Jack for years, but would probably find himself staring down the barrel of a pistol while Jack abandoned him to save his own life. That pirate cared for no one but himself. He certainly didn't care about her. In fact, if he found the treasure before Marta could hatch her game plan, he'd probably leave her and her brother to fend for themselves.
A taste of his own medicine served him right. She curtly nodded her head as if to affirm this decision. It was done. Turning back would mean the death of them all. Her only consolation was to keep reminding herself that Jack wouldn't hesitate to hand her over if it meant he'd escape without a scratch.
She repeated this over and over to her guilt-ridden mind until a slow anger began to burn. Anger at Jack and the injustice of the feelings he'd created.
The sudden appearance of Marta and two other women startled her out of her thoughts. The grin on the tall woman's face was nothing short of disturbing.
"Bring her," commanded Marta.
She was pulled to her feet and shunted along the dark cavernous passageways. Evy couldn't help but glance down each corridor they passed, wondering if their end was a pile of gold.
"No doubt you are wondering about the coming destination," began Marta, as though she was giving Evy a tour of her quaint little home.
Evy's eyes widened at the sight before her.
They'd entered a circular cave that was nearly twenty feet high and twice as wide. In the center of the cavern rested an unusual device, constructing mainly of thick bamboo reeds. Numerous holes formed a haphazard circle around the bamboo contraption. Matching this were smaller versions built above each hole with mounds of rope piles next to them. Seven of the women set to work, one assigned herself to the large contraption and the other six approached the holes, one for each of them, and began readying the devices for use.
The ropes were taken to the main apparatus in the center and securely tied. Each rope was then carried back to the other holes and attached to the smaller devices. The ropes, Evy noted, were rotted and old. In the air above them, the ropes were connected to what looked like a pulley system joined with the large contraption. Every single device was tested once to make sure they properly worked.
The bottom dropped from Evy's stomach as the pulleys lowered short, but undoubtedly sharp, sickles above the six holes. Their intended purpose was not difficult to understand. The blades rested a hair's breadth from the ropes. If the pulleys were activated, the blades would slice through the rotting ropes, dropping the victim down into something decidedly terrible. Marta grabbed Evy's arm and approached the closet of the holes. She dropped her torch down into the depths and when the clatter of its landing reverberated back, Evy dared to peak, noting the long razors protruding from the ground inside. Scattered bones were a grim reminder that her skeleton would probably be joining the ranks.
Yet she still wondered about the main apparatus in the center. It too had a construction all its own. Before she could consider it further, Marta began to speak.
"I've always had an interest in architecture," she was informed. "Treasure hunters find their way to my island and often meet their end here."
Suddenly, the glow from the torches caught the brilliance of a jewel hanging around Marta's neck. Evy couldn't help but gawk at such a large gemstone. Breathtaking blues sparkled richly as the torchlight caressed its perfect contours. It was as though the sky was contained within the confines of the stone, begging to be released with each radiant shimmer. In that agonizing second, Evy positively ached to have it.
Marta continued speaking, shaking Evy from her hypnotic state. "This is simply a device to change their minds about taking what doesn't belong to them."
Evy couldn't help but ask. "Did you build this before or after Jack paid you a visit?"
The tall woman's face hardened. "Before," she said curtly. "But he'll not fool me this time. I've made changes to it."
Though she knew she'd only make this angry woman even angrier, she just couldn't keep her burning curiosity at bay.
"Just what exactly did he do to you?"
"We've been on this island for a long time, Evelyn Dawes. We'd lost count of the days by the time Jack and his little ship found our humble dwelling."
Evy waited for the next part, figuring she knew what Marta would say.
"He promised to take us off the island. Obviously, the wretch lied," she hissed.
"Obviously," she agreed automatically. "Did he know about the treasure?"
"Of course. Only when he saw the size of the treasure did he promise to help us leave."
"Jack knows every hoard in the Caribbean and beyond," Evy commented, "but there's always something very specific he has in mind."
Marta lifted the pendant about her neck. "He wanted this, but I stopped him."
"How?"
She smiled enigmatically as though recalling a private memory she'd rather not share. "I'm rather curious myself, Evelyn Dawes. He's brought you all the way here, but he's told you nothing of his previous encounter?"
Evy remained quiet, annoyed by Marta's amusement.
"Hmm, seems he's taken us both for a fool, but with your help, we can avenge the honor he has stolen. This plan will, unfortunately, require some sacrifice on your part," she added.
"What?" she asked cautiously.
"As Jack is a man of unpredictable nature, the plan shall require a little...incentive." She grinned nastily. "You shall have the pleasure of being that incentive."
The bottom dropped from her stomach and she seriously thought about throwing up. She should have known Marta would somehow double-cross her. She probably never intended for anyone to walk off this island alive.
Evy peered down into the blackness of the pit, cringing when she saw sharp objects jutting up from the ground. The torch Marta had dropped still burned below and the flames bounced off the cruel steel.
"This was not part of the agreement!" Evy snapped, enraged.
Marta grinned nastily. "Our agreement was that you would help us to capture Jack. We never agreed on the manner in which you would capture him."
"Then you've gone back on your word! You intend to kill me too?" She stepped up to the intimidating woman, appearing much braver than she actually felt.
"I don't go back on my promises, Miss Dawes, unless forced to," she warned, eyes dark like a raging storm. "What of your promise? Do you intend to change your mind?"
Evy squared her jaw. "Not unless I'm forced to."
Her lips twitched amusingly. "Well spoken."
A woman entered the cave, spear in hand and announced, "Sparrow is near, and we've brought the rest."
"Excellent. The more the merrier," said Marta delightedly as though they were about to have a tea party. "Let the games begin." She motioned to a group of her women and they disappeared around a corner of a passageway. "We don't want you to get lonely while you wait for Sparrow."
Emerson and five other men, including Mr. Gibbs, were herded into the room, each of them with a pistols digging into their backs.
"I demand you release me!" yelled a burly man. "I am Colonel Tarrington of His Majesty's Navy! I will not allow savages to manhandle me!"
"I see no men, therefore, no manhandling is taking place," said Marta, approaching the crowd of prisoners.
"Evy! Are you all right?" Emerson cried in alarm.
"Never better. I think I'd like to build a home here," she said dryly.
"How dare a female of your ill-breeding address me as though you share the class of which I was born!" hollered Tarrington at Marta.
"You're not going to hurt me, are you?" whimpered a little man next to Tarrington, his pirates hat lopsided rather ridiculously.
"More women to curse the ground upon which we men stand," grumbled Mr. Gibbs, eying the women darkly.
"Show some spine, Captain Strongman. Live up to your name for heaven sakes!" blasted Tarrington.
"A home here might be acceptable to you, me and Dad, but I doubt Mum would agree with you," Emerson said lightly, while his hands were being tied together.
"Always a woman," Gibbs said grimly. "Always a woman what gets a pirate's throat cut."
"SHUT UP!" bellowed Marta. "The next person to open their mouth will die immediately."
Evy couldn't resist, as angry as she was. "Well, won't that be messy?"
"Evy shut up!" her brother hissed.
Marta strode over to her, grabbed her arm and pushed her backwards to the edge of the pit. "I could kill you right now and put an end to our charade," she said only loud enough for Evy to hear.
"You could," she agreed. "But it's Jack that you really want dead, and we both know he'd never let that happen."
Marta jerked Evy away from the edge. "There's a first time for everything."
Jack opened bleary eyes to find his loudmouthed companion had disappeared. He felt unusually concerned about this. Strange sensation, that. Not a pleasant one either. As upset as she had been last night, she'd probably wandered off on her own. Fortunate for him though, as he could travel in peaceful silence for a change. Just because it was fun to see her eyes turn red with fire didn't mean he didn't get tired of that mouth.
He stood, hips veering to the right as his fumbling feet attempted to find a steady step on the incline. From the corner of his eye, something flashed in the sunlight. Jack's mouth watered as he stared longingly at the half-full bottle of rum lying on the ground. He lunged for it, even though there was no one else around to steal it, and yanked out the cork. Swallowing another mouthful, he swirled it amongst his teeth, savoring the sweet nectar of life. Jack smacked his lips merrily and decided on another drink, however, some force greater than any he'd ever felt, stayed his hand, halting the rim short of his mouth.
As he studied the bottle, his stomach lurched uncomfortably.
Why would this bottle of rum just be lying on the ground in the middle of the path? Evy would never leave it for him purposely. Jack glanced over one shoulder and then the other. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but the jungle was strangely quiet. There was no wind to rustle the greenery. There were no eyes staring at him from between the trees. Evy was gone. Nothing remained but the rum.
"Something is amiss," he said suspiciously.
The amber liquid swished enticingly, catching the warm light from the sky. Jack charged up the path, swallowing a big mouthful for good measure, put the cork back and shoved it in his coat pocket. Just as quickly as he'd gone up the incline, he slipped on something. Arms frantically wind-milling, Jack struggled for balance, but fell anyway. He rolled onto his stomach and braced his arms to push himself up, spitting out a mouthful of hair. Hair that was not his.
It was a long strand, brown and very fuzzy, held together with a plain leather strap. One end was crudely shaped, as though it had been cut with a knife. Evy had occasionally worn her hair back with this strap. Obviously, this lock of hair was left as a message for him.
The ferocious lady tribe was holding Evy hostage and were using her as bait to get his attention. Could they be any more obvious? He traced his thumb over the bluntly cut ends of her hair. Hopefully, he wouldn't find anything else that had been cut off. Jack stowed the strands inside his coat next to the rum for safekeeping.
Another hour of steady climbing and Jack was there. The summit that housed the lady clan and their enormous golden horde was but two feet away. It wasn't just the gold, either, there was the rare blue diamond. Jack salivated just thinking about it. He'd been unlucky in finding it the first time and he was banking on Evy having acquired her father's pick-pocketing skills by way of the gene pool. Though his theory hadn't actually been tested yet, Jack believed it to be true. That girl was half-pirate, therefore, half-liar and half-thief.
He'd have that diamond in his hands before dessert.
"Speak of the devil," Marta said gleefully when Jack stumbled into the room, two spears forcing him inside.
"Mind where you point those things, girls." He on turned a roguish smile. "Ah, Marta! Long time no see, luv. 'ow've you been?"
"Splendid," she answered amiably. "Now that our guest of honor has arrived."
Jack held out his arms for a hug, but she made a grab for Evy, pressing a dagger to her throat. He froze, narrowing his eyes. She wondered what he could be thinking. Fear for her life or his own?
"No, thank you. I prefer blades to hugs." She made a jerking motion with her chin and his weapons were snatched from his belt.
He gazed sadly at the missing cutlass and pistol. "Why must they always confiscate me beloved effects?"
"Can you guess as to the nature of this little gathering, Sparrow?"
His eyes swept over his two crewmembers, the other pirates and rested lastly on Evy's face, but she could not hold his gaze for another wave of guilt shot into the pit of her stomach.
"A surprise party for yours truly? Excellent! Drinks all around!"
"Wrong!" she hissed, pressing the blade just under her ear. The point nicked the sensitive skin and Evy winced, but to her credit, didn't cry out. She was too scared to make any noise.
Jack shrugged his shoulders as though bored already. "Marta, darling, it's with me that you 'ave an everlasting quarrel. Just let this bonnie lass and 'er brother go. I can even tie meself up if you like. I'm quite good at things like that."
"Tempting," she agreed, "but that would be too easy. I could kill you right now with just one word to my comrades, but then we couldn't play my game."
"You're in luck, I 'appen to like games."
"Good." She lowered the dagger away from Evy's neck, who breathed a much needed sigh of relief. "You recall this machine, do you not?"
"Aye," he answered in the affirmative, "Though it does look a bit more fancy the second time around."
"You forced me to make modifications."
"Glad to be of service," he said smugly.
"Not exactly something to be proud of, Jack," Evy said quietly.
"You should listen to her."
Marta spread out her arms and one by one, Emerson, Mr. Gibbs and the others were jerked upward by their arms, the pulleys raising the ropes until their bodies were dangling over the holes in the cave floor.
"Same song different tune, luv," he said. "What exactly do you require of my valuable services?"
"Rescue them."
"Easy enough," he said nonchalantly.
"But you haven't seen the best part," she reminded him with a tsk of her tongue. "The part I added after you abandoned me here."
Evy was pushed to the center device. They tied her arms and legs to the bamboo reeds and to her horror, fitted a very long, very deadly spear into slots on the opposite side of the device, restrained only by rusted springs. Ten feet was what stood between her and a pierced heart.
Only now did she see how much danger she'd put herself in to hand over Jack. Marta truly was genius, except for the tiny part about her being insane. As she stared at the spear in horrified wonder, she began to understand how it worked. All of the ropes holding up the dangling people were in some way connected to the reeds holding her captive.
"As you can see," Marta said, pointing to the ropes restraining the spear, "This weapon is pulled taut by these springs. The only way to free her is cut these men down first. There is a small hitch, however."
"Wouldn't be any fun if there weren't, darling," he grinned.
"Time is your enemy, Jack. Save these men from falling to their deaths—if you can beat the sickles slicing their ropes, but each time a rope is cut, one of the springs will release the spear. Your little woman is closer to death as each spring falls away."
Evy gulped, unable to stop staring at the spear level with her stomach.
"I don't possibly see how you can save all these people in time. Such a dilemma," Marta said with mock concern.
Jack grinned. "What you call a dilemma, luv, I call a challenge worthy of Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Five minutes," she snapped, sneering as he said Captain, "That's all that stands between your bonnie lass and a very painful death."
"Yes, yes, yes," Jack said impatiently, "Dire situation, death imminent... what else is new?"
"You don't fully grasp the matter at hand, Jack. This is not the last dire situation you'll encounter and death will remain imminent to the end."
He still didn't seem too concerned when he glanced over his shoulder at Evy. "Don't worry, luv. Dear old Jack will save you."
"We're all going to die," she moaned under her breath.
Jack made a face.
With a sweeping motion of her arm, she motioned to her companions. Eerie combinations of clicking and winding sounds sent waves of fear rocketing through her chest. The long sickle blades began hacking at the ropes. Their movement shook the reeds around her and the spear quivered. She feared the springs wouldn't hold. They were as rusty as the ropes were rotten.
"Five minutes," she reminded him.
One of Strongman's crew suddenly fell. The sickle above him had neatly cut the rope in two. Gibbs, who'd been hanging closest to the man, watched him fall, mouth open in horror.
"I said it, didn't I? 'Twas bad luck to bring women on the Pearl. Now our entrails will be all that's left!"
"Oh, dear, I guess his rope was just too old," said Marta over her shoulder as she and her comrades left Jack to his own devices.
As soon as the rope was cut, one spring fell and the spear loosed, shooting forward. Evy shrieked, her breath coming in hitches as the five remaining springs caught the spear, stopping it's death run.
"Jack, whatever you're going to do, do it fast!" Emerson yelled.
"What's the magic word?" he asked cheekily.
"RUM!" Evy barked.
Jack blinked in surprise. "I was looking for please, but rum will do nicely, darling."
He went to work, but the blades had a large gain on him already. Cutting them down would be quickest, but to do so left a great margin for error. If his timing were but a second too late, Evy would die.
"All right gents, let's get to it."
"What's your plan?" asked Emerson.
"Ain't got one," he answered.
"Then think of one!" cried Strongman hysterically.
"Jack do this. Jack do that," he grumbled. "Who in blazes are you anyway?"
"Captain Strongman, if you please, and we've—"
"Save introductions for later, I'm rather busy at the moment," Jack interrupted.
Evy's eyes darted from the spear to Jack and then to the spear again. It shuttered with each twist of the pulleys, the ropes making it shake.
Jack clapped his hands together. "All right! I've got it. Said I would didn't I?" He reached under his jacket and produced another pistol. "I've taken to carrying two on me person. People seem to want me dead more and more these days. Can't imagine why. I'm really quite loveable."
For support, he grabbed onto the reeds from which Emerson hung, stretched out over the pit, pushed him in the back and he began to swing.
"Uh...what exactly are you doing?" he asked, peering under his arm, trying to look at Jack.
"Formulating my plan of incredible ingenuity. Now, Mr. Dawes, swing yourself back and forth."
Emerson began to twist and turn until he got a respectable speed going. "Now what?"
"I'll shoot the rope. You jump."
"Jump where exactly?"
"Well, not straight down would be me choice, mate, unless you prefer to be a human shish kabob."
Gibbs' rope didn't slice in half, but it did unravel, dropping him closer to a grim fate. A second later, the spear shook madly. The springs' shrill whine nearly sent her into hysterics.
"Jack, please hurry," she begged, eyes wide with panic.
"Swing faster, kid," he urged, eying the spear dubiously. He waved his arms. "Everyone start swinging please."
Emerson's speed weighed down the reeds. They began to crack. Jack raised his pistol, closed one eye and aimed. Emerson swung forward again. With barely a second passing, Jack fired. The rope severed, and Emerson caught himself on the edge, managing to push himself up with his foot. The second spring fell and Evy braced herself for the worst, just in case Marta's invention wasn't as sturdy as she claimed. But it was caught by the remaining four restraints.
She wriggled her feet and hands, hoping to free herself and with luck, her right foot wasn't as tight as her left. Yanking and twisting, she managed to free one leg and now concentrated on the other. With surprising stoicism, she ignored the spear as it lunged closer, for Gibbs was now free and ridding himself of the restraints on his wrists.
"Cheers, mates!" Jack saluted Captains Tarrington and Strongman. He strutted confidently over to Evy and began untying the rope around her ankle.
"You can't just leave us here to die!" yelled Tarrington in frightened outrage.
"Says who?" he countered, pulling a long knife from his boot. "Dear old Marta didn't know about this one. Ha!" He sliced the rope away.
"Jack, he's right," Emerson said.
Jack looked at her brother as though he'd expressed a desire to have tea with a kraken. "Where were you when I was giving me 'It's every pirate for 'imself speech?"
"These crazy women outnumber us by a lot more than we can handle," he pointed out.
"Aye, Cap'n," said Gibbs grudgingly. "We might need all the help we can get."
"But you do realize, Mr. Dawes, that they're 'alfway across the room, and Evy will be all the way over 'ere getting 'er innards some fresh air?"
"Then we can just free her now," he said, grabbing Jack's knife.
"But if we do that," Gibbs said, "The ropes holding up the others will break and there goes our extra help."
"He's right," Emerson added. "The ropes are all connected. We do one thing, they die—"
"Which is acceptable," Jack threw in.
"But we do another, then Evy dies."
Gibbs had already gone across the cave. "Jack, we can shoot their ropes with your pistol, three men to three men, but not all at once. That might give you some extra time to get back to Evy."
"There's a big margin for error, but I'm willing to take that risk," she said firmly.
"I'm not!" he yelled with astonishing force.
"You don't have a choice," she said quietly. "You can kill them later if you want," she added helpfully.
Jack looked as though he wanted to argue some more, but apparently thought the better of it. He stalked away to the other end of the cave, Emerson in tow. His tall figure got smaller by the second and she wondered if there really was enough time. She began working on the ropes still binding her wrists, hoping to loosen them.
"On the count of three mates. Evy, luv? Are you ready?"
She mumbled a squeaky yes.
"Start swinging, mates!"
The remaining three pirates complied. Jack shot through the rope holding Strongman and he fell. The little man barely caught himself on the edge by his fingertips. Jack tossed his pistol to Emerson, who set to work on reloading.
Another spring fell and the spear was now just two feet from her middle. Jack was sprinting across the cave floor, leaping over the pits in his way. A further shot and Tarrington dropped neatly just at the edge.
Her heart pounded wildly and yet it seemed as though time had formed a languid pace. Jack still seemed so far away. One wrist was free. She fought to release the other, but it was too tight.
The final shot rang out and the last spring wasted no time. Jack made a dive for Evy, catching her about the waist and twisting her away. Her conscious registered another gunshot, but from where she was unsure and seconds later she landed hard on the stone floor, hitting her head.
Tarrington lowered the smoking pistol, which he'd pulled from his boot. He'd shot through the rope. The spear wavered back and forth in the cave wall, having struck the reeds and leaving a splintered hole in its wake.
Evy groaned. Her head was aching where she'd hit it. A little bump was already forming. Jack groaned too.
"Not as young as I used to be," he said. "You all right, luv?"
She was looking up at him in shock. "You did it."
He grinned and seeing an opportunity in front of him, planted a kiss right on her mouth.
"'ow could you ever doubt me?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?" she asked, rubbing her head.
"Let me see," he said, checking her injury. "No blood. No guts. You'll live to see tomorrow."
"Glad to hear it."
Emerson was brushing the dust off his breeches. Strongman still clung to the ledge, stubby little legs unable to make any headway. His pirate friend grabbed Strongman's arms and hoisted him up and out of danger.
"How did you do that?" Evy asked Tarrington. "I thought they'd taken all your weapons too."
"They didn't find this one," he said, tucking the now unloaded pistol back into his boot.
"But if you've been carrying a loaded pistol all this time, then why in blazes didn't you shoot those crazy women who'd captured us?" spat Strongman.
"My dear Captain, I've learned through many years of experience and a few close shaves with death, that sometimes one shot is all it takes to save your life. I always carry one shot with me for insurance."
"Why save mine?" Evy asked suspiciously.
"It was an opportunity. I wasted no time, and a lovely lady such as yourself needed rescuing. I was only doing what a gentleman should."
"Bloody crazy that is," Jack commented. "Wasting a perfectly good shot for a pretty face never helped a man."
Evy shot him a look.
"I—I mean, of course it wasn't a waste. It's just that I 'ad everything under control. 'e butted 'is big nose in. Did I mention that you indeed are beautiful? Ravishing in fact," he finished lamely.
"Pirate scum," spat Tarrington with a mean chuckle.
"I know you are but what am I?" Jack retorted childishly.
"Thanks, Jack. That means a lot," she said, unable to hide the hurt.
"Now, darling, you know I didn't mean—"
"Let's just try to find a way out of here," she cut in, grabbing her brother's arm.
They headed for the nearest exit, which turned out to be another long corridor. Evy didn't know what else Marta had planned, but she was eager to get this over with. Just when she thought Jack might be showing her an ounce of caring, he went and made a comment like that. Handing him over to Marta in pieces might not be such a bad idea after all. Tarrington fell into step beside them.
"Thank you," she said cautiously, still wary of the man.
"Think nothing of it, my dear. As I said, a gentleman's duty is to protect the fragile female."
"My sister is anything but fragile," Emerson snapped. "And don't pretend to be a friend. This whole thing is your fault."
"Mine?"
"That was our father you had thrown in jail and nearly hanged!"
He studied their faces closely. "Ah, yes. I do see a resemblance. Same eyes, I think."
"You leave us alone, do you hear me?"
"Same half-cocked spirit, as well, I should wager. Tell me young lady, do you also share your brother's wild streak?"
Emerson had dragged her ahead of the others before she could answer. "Stay away from him. We can't trust him."
"We can't trust anyone but each other," she agreed.
"That's not entirely true," he corrected. "We can trust Jack and Gibbs."
"I will not put my faith in that blasted pirate," she hissed and lowered her voice so they wouldn't hear. "He's our ticket out of here."
Emerson looked at her sharply. "What are you talking about?"
"Marta said she'd let us go if I give her Jack."
A vein pulsed at his temple. "You didn't…agree—yes, you did!"
"Shh!" She glanced over her shoulder, but they had a good enough lead on everyone else.
"You're just going to leave him here?" he asked in astonishment. "I won't let you do that. You'd never forgive yourself."
"And I won't let you stop me."
"Evy, you're just angry. When you've calmed down—"
"He'd do it to me, or you. He'd do it to our father, even though he claims to be a friend. I'm just beating him to the punch."
"How can you be so cold about this?" he asked in shock.
"I was listening to Jack's speech about every pirate for himself," she said cruelly. "I'm following that bloody code if it's the last thing I do."
