Commandeering Commodore
Chapter 58
"That was quite an adventure ya had with our fine Mrs. Turner if I be a proper judge of such things Mr. Bergeron." Teague said with a smile as he walked along with the man. "Be ya a drinkin man Mr. Bergeron?" Teague added as he pulled a bottle out of one of his pockets and offered it to the man.
"It was more of an adventure than I have ever had in my life Captain Teague, and I am a bit surprised I made it through intact." He paused as he eyed the bottle being offered to him, and then deciding he had been through enough in the past few days he deserved a drink even though he wasn't normally a drinking man. He took the bottle, took a drink, coughed a little as the rum made its way down his throat to warm his stomach. He started to hand the bottle back to Teague who smiled and said, "Ah that one be yours Mr. Bergeron, I got me own." and promptly pulled a bottle out of another pocket.
Teague guided them over to a fallen tree trunk where the two of them sat down. He kept the banter light and friendly between them, talking of such mundane things as where Mr. Bergeron came from, his family, the weather, and such things that would not put the man in a suspicious mood. When Mr. Bergeron had consumed about half the bottle of rum and appeared to be well under the influence of it Teague became a little more probing with his questions.
"I suspect Mrs. Turner had good reason to be leavin that island afore her beloved returned for her as planned." Teague said in a even tone, just in case the man was not as far in his cups as Teague thought.
"Oh she did have to leave in a hurry that's for sure." Alon answered in a drunken slur. "Would have been bad for all of us if we hadn't."
Teague smiled a sly smile, the man was prime for the picking. "Aye, I would suppose the Governor didn't take too kindly to what she was up to."
Alon looked at him through bleary eyes, "Do you know the Governor?"
"Only by reputation, never had the pleasure of meetin the man in person. I have had the occasion and the pleasure as well of runnin across a few of his ships out and about, always made it a point ta send a cheery greetin back to him when me business with 'em was concluded." Teague said with a wave of his hand.
"That was gentlemanly of you." Alon answered, too intoxicated to decipher the meaning of what Teague had said.
"Aye, that was my feelin as well, although from what I heard the Governor never quite looked at it in that particular light." Teague answered with a flop of his hand.
"The Governor would have hung us if he'd had the chance." Alon said, and then looked at the almost empty bottle and took a drink.
"Aye Governors have the tendency ta do such things when they've had traitorous events take place under their snooty noses." Teague said with a nod.
"Josette and I could surly be judged traitors no doubt," Alon said sadly, "Mrs. Turner will be a hero when she returns home with the documents." He paused as tears filled his eyes, "Josette and I will never be able to go home."
"A highly over rated place in me own opinion Mr. Bergeron." Teague said with a grimace as he finished off his bottle.
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Jack looked around furtively as he came around the Pearl. Not seeing Lizzie anywhere in sight he began to sashay over to the crate of rum sitting by the fire. He reached in and was about to acquire a bottle when he heard what was definitely the last thing he was wanting to hear at that moment, or any other moment for that matter.
"Jack! I want to talk to you." The tone of Elizabeth's voice grated across his ears. He straightened up, not loosing his grip on the bottle, somehow he figured he was going to need it, and plastering a smile on his face turned in the direction the voice was coming from. "Bugger!" he mumbled to himself when he saw not only Lizzie glaring at him, but the Commodore as well.
"Sorry luv, have ta talk at a later (or never he added under his breath) time. Busy makin sure me Pearl is bein taken care of in the manner she should be taken care of in." He flopped his hand about wiggling his fingers and turned on his heels as he said this, fully prepared to make his escape. He cringed when he felt her hand on his arm. "How'd she move so quickly?" he said to himself in surprise as she grabbed his arm.
"We are going to talk now Jack." She said with determination.
"Well if ya insist luv." Jack said a bit too brightly as he turned to face her.
"I do insist." Elizabeth said meeting his eyes with a stern look.
"So what is the subject of this unwanted, and I might add, highly intrusive monology going to entail?" Jack said with a bit of a pout.
"Josette." Elizabeth replied.
"Ah, a fine young lass, lovely girl really." Jack said as he flittered his hands about.
"She told me what you said Jack."
"Evidently she is also a telltale." Jack said with a sour look.
Elizabeth guided him over to where James and she had been sitting. James had managed to move enough to sit on the barrel instead of on the ground beside it without his stomach causing him more problems and watched their approach. He probably would have ignored Jack's little joke if he hadn't felt so much like death warmed over from the rum Jack had provided last night.
"So Captain Sparrow, amongst your other numerous and egregious crimes shall we add disparagement of an officer in the Royal Navy in the eyes of a child?"
"Ya have such a list Commodore?" Jack asked with interest.
James rolled his eyes, "Sparrow, I assure you someone has a list, quite a long and detailed list no doubt, somewhere to which this could be added." James said snarkily.
"I'd be interested in perusing it Commodore, if ya could obtain it sometime. Refresh me memory bout just what all I have done in me past. Might be able ta mark off a few things that weren't me doin as well." Jack said as he tapped his finger on his chin in thought.
"Oh please Sparrow, why did you say that to that child." James snapped.
"Seemed like a humorous idea at the time Commodore." Jack said with a shrug. "If I'd known it was gonna cause such a pettifog I assure you I wouldn't a done it."
"I doubt that Captain, I think that is the very reason you did do it. You will explain to her it was said in jest." James stated rather than asked.
"Aye Commodore, the first chance I get I will set all to rights by the two of you. Although that may not make any difference in the way she views ya." Jack said with another shrug.
"Jack! Why would you say that?" Elizabeth interjected.
"It's his own fault Lizzie, not everyone warms up to stuffy, overblown, and entirely too rigidly stiff n self-important British Commodores." Jack said as he waved his arms about. He was expecting some sort of dissent from James but the man returned no retort. Jack looked over at him expecting to see those green eyes glaring at him. Instead when he looked the Commodore was looking down at the ground in front of him, apparently lost in thought.
To Be Continued
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