Commandeering Commodore
Chapter 57
About half way over to the fire James began feeling the nausea he had been too numb to feel when he had first stumbled to his feet. His intention had been to secure a cup of tea, that intention was abruptly changed as he felt his stomach give a rather ominous lurch. As he headed towards the woods behind the fire, and a semi private place to do what his stomach was insisting he do he noticed the looks Elizabeth and the girl were giving him. Elizabeth had a broad smirk on her face, the girl an absolute look of terror as he approached. James interpreted them in a totally different way than what they really were, judging Elizabeth to be in such good humor over his no doubt wild appearance, and the hang over he was suffering with from the vile and dissolute rum he had drunk last night, the very thing she was always preaching against. The girl, by the look on her face, seemed to judge his appearance as just plain horrific. He knew he must be a sight. He heard Elizabeth call out something about breakfast to him as he approached and figured it was just her way of rubbing his present condition in to him. He staggered on by, his stomach having decided not to give him the common courtesy of stopping and politely asking what it may have been she had actually said. The second he was within the tree line he doubled over and began retching as quietly as he possibly could, he being the polite gentleman he was and not wanting the two females in his proximity to hear him in his distress. He fell to his knees bracing himself the best he could with his arm against a tree trunk, and stayed there until the heaving of his stomach finally subsided. He rested his forehead against the tree trunk as he struggled to catch his breath and allow his stomach to settle a bit before he tried to regain his feet. He heard rustling behind him and Elizabeth call out with concern, "James, are you all right?"
"I am fine Mrs. Turner," he answered hoarsely, "A moment please."
He didn't hear her moving and presumed she was standing there staring at him. He took a deep breath and said, "I shall be fine in a moment or two Mrs. Turner." He heard her turn and leave then.
When he was at last able to get to his feet he slowly made his way back to the fire, poured himself a cup of tea, found a barrel, slumped to the ground using it for a back rest, and took turns sipping and breathing in the steam from the tea.
"Are you sure you're all right James?" Elizabeth asked, still a bit concerned.
"Mrs. Turner, I'm sure it'd take a bit more 'n a bottle r two of rum ta bring down the likes of the Commodore there." Teague said as he walked over to the fire and poured himself a mug of tea. "So tell me, anyone seen Mr. Bergeron around this fine morning?"
"I think he is helping Mr. Gibbs and some of the crew fill some water casks over by the stream." Josette said pointing in the direction she had seen them leaving in earlier.
Teague tipped his hat at Josette, smiled and said with a wink, "Thankee kindly." And strode off in that direction.
Elizabeth walked over and sat down by James, she put her hand lightly on his arm and asked once again if he were all right.
"I assure you Mrs. Tur….Elizabeth, I shall be fine, although I feel it is a bit improper for you to have been gloating so over my poor and peaked condition."
"Gloating? When was I gloating James?" Elizabeth asked, taken aback by James' words.
"When I headed into the woods to...to…do what I had to do." James replied.
"I wasn't gloating silly, I was playing a little trick on Josette over something Jack told her." Elizabeth answered with a smile and a slap on James' arm.
"Trick? Over something Sparrow told her? Do I even want to know more?" James said shaking his head and then stopping as that movement was not doing his stomach any favors in the least.
"Well no you probably don't….." Elizabeth said.
"But I am sure you are going to tell me anyway." James said dryly.
"Jack evidently told her Stuffy British Commodores eat children that misbehave." Elizabeth said with a smile, "Don't you find that a bit amusing James?"
"Hardly." James said. No wonder the girl had looked at him as if he had two heads.
"Oh come come now James, surely you can see the humor there, Jack telling her it was Stuffy British Commodores instead of Pirates that eat children that misbehave." Elizabeth said with a laugh.
"I fail to see the humor Elizabeth, nor more than likely will I ever see the humor in that statement…….or anything else that brigand says." James snipped.
"Oh James, you take everything much too seriously. You really need to work on your sense of humor." Elizabeth said as she gave him a parting slap on the arm, rose, and went back to the fire.
"Indeed." James muttered as she left.
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Jack was supervising the crew in patching the side of the Pearl, every once and a while patting her and assuring her everything was going to be just fine, and she would be back skimming over the waves in no time, good as new.
"Oye there! You! Mr. Jensen! Watch how yer handling me Pearl! Gently man, gently." Jack shouted as he scurried towards the man.
"Sorry Cap'n." the man replied, not really knowing what he had done.
Jack's attention was diverted elsewhere and the man went back to his task casting his eyes about every little bit to be sure he hadn't caught the Captain's attention again. "Don't know why he's so protective, 's just a ship mate." Jensen said to the man beside him.
"You've not been aboard the Pearl long enough ta understand Jensen. Ta the Cap'n she's more 'n a ship. He talks to her, and I've heard people swear she answers him back."
Jensen looked at the man as if he were crazy, "That's one of the daftest things I've ever heard. Ya don't really believe that do ya?"
"Seen and heard dafter things since bein around the Cap'n and aboard the Pearl."
"Really? Like what mate?"
They both settled down in the sand, and the stories started flowing.
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"Mr. Bergeron," Teague said as he approached the man, "I've been lookin for ya."
"What can I do for you Captain Teague?" Alon said as he turned to face the man.
"Ah merely give me a moment of yer time if ya don't mind." Teague said with a winning grin.
"All right." Alon said a bit stumped. "I will do my best to help you in what ever way I can."
"Good man," Teague said, still smiling as he patted the man on the shoulder and then wrapped his arm around said shoulder, "What say you we go for a little walk?"
To Be Continued
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