Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 30

James awoke as the first light of the morning shimmered through the small window and danced across his unopened eyelids. He turned his face a bit before opening his eyes, not wanting the shock of the invading illumination to worsen the dull headache throbbing in his head. He lay there for a bit taking a mental inventory of his physical state, and judging the headache to be the main remnant of the night before threw his legs over the side of the bed and gratefully noting no nausea or increase in said headache stood and walked over to the washbasin and began preparing for the day ahead. He finished a short time later and with stomach growling headed for the galley to find something to put that particular malady to rest. He found Jack seated in his normal fashion, kicked back in his chair, ankles crossed atop the table, with the almost ever-present rum bottle in his hand. He was a bit surprised to find Captain Teague there, figuring the man had most likely left the ship after what ever it was he had to discuss with Jack the night before had been concluded. He was not surprised however to see the man was occupying his chair in a similar manner as Jack. James smirked to himself as he walked past the two men on his way to the teapot. Jack inhaled deeply as James walked by and with an audible sigh said, "Commodore really, there are enough hindrances to ya trying to be piratey without ya going out of yer way ta make things more difficult than they already are."

James paused in his steps trying to figure out what in the blazes the man was talking about. He had put the "pirate" outfit on this morning. He had to admit the earring getting tangled unmercifully in his hair and the bandanna taking him numerous times of trying to get it to lay properly and then tied had vexed him a bit, and it may not look as if he did it every day but on the whole he looked the same as he had the day before. He had even entered the galley, in his opinion, in an extremely proficient mode of piratey ambulation.

He turned half way around and replied a bit irritated, "What are you on about now Sparrow?"

"To be downright honest Commodore…..ya smell funny." Jack said with a wave of his hands towards James.

"In the category of smells Captain, it would seem you have no place talking about others." James said haughtily, straightening himself to his full height, his shoulders and back squared as he turned to fully face Jack.

Teague, who's attention had not been on the goings on around him suddenly found this very interesting, he eyed the two men as they stared at each other, not even trying to stop the grin taking over his face.

Flopping his hands about Jack said, "Naw Commodore your sufferin from a most severe lack of understandin of me words here. You smell funny……..as in good…….you smell good as it were." Jack's feet came off the table in preparation for a hasty exit and he hurried on with his statement as he saw the look on James' face go from irritated to just a bit this side of hostile and the man take a step towards him, his hand going to the sword at his side. "The point I'm tryin to make to ya Commodore is this," Jack said his hands together in front of him, "Yer not smellin like a true pirate here….yer smellin like a Commodore, tryin pretty much unsuccessfully I might add, to imitate a pirate." He finished with a flourish of his hands and a glittering smile towards James.

"He is right Commodore, ya do smell a bit…. fresh for a pirate." Teague added with his own smile towards James.

With a snort and an "Indeed!" James turned back and resumed his mission to get something in his still growling stomach, doing his best to ignore the men seated at the table behind him.

Jack and Teague smiled at each other as James turned his back to them. "I'm beginnin ta see what ya mean about bein a bit touchy bout hisself." Teague said, "He is a bit of a stick isn't he."

"You have no idea!" Jack said with a roll of his eyes.

James had no problem hearing the exchange between the men, but with the strong will he had developed over the years and just a bit of clenching of his hands, and in the process crushing the biscuit that happened to be in one of them at the time, he refused to give in to the baiting of the men. He closed his eyes, repeating over and over in his head, "This is for the good of England." he managed not to turn on the two and further escalate the situation.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Someone shaking her rather strenuously by the shoulder startled Elizabeth awake. She opened her eyes to see Monsieur Bergeron leaning over her. "What are you doing here?" she gasped out in shock, drawing away from the man.

"I beg your pardon Madame Turner but we must leave immediately!" he replied in an urgent tone.

"What? What are you talking about?" Elizabeth replied his words not making much sense in her still sleep fogged head.

Josette entered the room and hurrying to the bedside said in a panicked tone, "Madame Turner we must get out of here now! The guards could be here any minute. You are in danger. Please we need to leave."

"What is this all about? Why would the guards be coming after me?" Elizabeth said in confusion, nothing making sense.

"A dispatch arrived an hour or so ago. Something about several French ships being attacked by a couple of English ships a few days ago. The Governor called a meeting and they are deciding whether to hold you in custody for the act of aggression by your English navy. They were still discussing it when I snuck away but we don't have much time! We must leave!" Monsieur Bergeron replied in an urgent tone as he began physically pulling Elizabeth from the bed. Josette stepped in to help saying as she did, "Go watch the corridor, I will help Madame Turner get ready."

"We can't leave the island, the Pearl hasn't arrived yet." Elizabeth said as she began dressing.

"We shall have to take one of the boats and hope your Husband and friends find us before the Governor realizes that you are gone and comes looking for us. Hopefully he will search the island before deciding you were foolhardy enough to try escaping by boat." Josette said in a trembling voice.

Elizabeth had gained some of her composure by now, and having finished throwing her clothes on grabbing Josette by the arm and heading for the door said, "Well let's just see how foolhardy we can be then."

The trio, having made it out of the Governor's mansion without being detected, approached the dock cautiously. Their luck held though as the guard there was leaned up against a post snoring. They creeped around him and Elizabeth headed for a sloop berthed about half way down the pier. As Alon and Josette joined her Alon asked in an uncertain whisper, "Are you sure we can handle this?"

"No worries Monsieur Bergeron, now let's get aboard while we still have the chance."

With Elizabeth's whispered instructions and hands on help, the co operation of both her companions, and the favorable wind that accompanied them they were soon leaving the dock behind and headed out into open water. Elizabeth stood looking at the horizon for a moment and with a wistful tone said, "William if ever I needed you this would surely be the most opportune time for you to show up."

To Be Continued

Reviews are welcome

5