Commandeering Commodore
Chapter 66
They had been on the hunt for the Pearl for six days now without so much as a glimpse of her topsails. James was beginning to think they were on a wild goose chase. As he stood looking out the window in his cabin pondering the idea of turning back towards Port Royal someone knocked on his door.
"Enter."
"Commodore, a word if you please." Jack said as he swayed into the cabin.
"Captain Sparrow, I was just about to send for you. I would like a word with you as well." James said as he turned to face the man, finding that even in that brief moment the man had already made himself comfortable, sitting in his chair with his feet up on his desk.
"Captain Sparrow, if you please!" James said with a frown, "Your filthy boots in no way what so ever belong on my desk." As Jack poutily removed his feet James walked over and inspected the area Jack's feet had occupied, brushing over it several times with his handkerchief, and still frowning at Jack.
Straightening up and assuming his Commodorely stance, spine and shoulders ramrod straight and hands clasp behind his back, he cleared his throat and began to speak, "As you know Captain, we have been on this mission for six days without any indication we are anywhere close to catching your ship. Therefore……." James was interrupted before he could finish.
"Need ta adjust yer bearins." Jack said around a bite of apple.
Distracted by the sight of the apple James asked, "Where did you get that Sparrow? I wasn't aware we had apples on board."
"Aye Commodore, ya didn't, leastwise till I brought a few aboard with me." Jack said with a smile and a flop of the hand presently holding the apple. "Would ya care for one Commodore? 'M sure I have another around here somewhere." Jack said as he started to rummage though his pockets.
"That is quite alright Captain." James replied. "Save them for yourself."
"Ya sure Commodore? It's no trouble mate, am more than willin ta share." Jack answered as he pulled another apple, a bit the worse for wear, out of one of his pockets and held it out towards James.
James stared at the apple and Jack with disdain, "I do not want your apple Captain."
"Suit yerself." Jack said with a shrug as he placed the apple back in his pocket.
James cleared his throat and began to speak again, "As I said Captain, we have been at sea for six days…"
"And for the last three of 'em ya been on the wrong headin Commodore." Jack said as he took another bite of apple.
"What are you talking about Sparrow?"
"Wrong headin Commodore, sounds pretty self explanatory ta me." Jack said with another shrug and bite from the apple.
"How do you know what heading we should be on? And if you did indeed know what heading we should have been on why would you wait three days before informing me?" James huffed out, his tone starting to fill with irritation.
"If I remember correctly Commodore, which in this case I'm pretty much if not very sure I have, yer exact words ta me were I was to make myself scarce during this voyage which I have in fact done Commodore in case you hadn't noticed. I figured that meant me personal presence in yer presence as well as the speakin to ya on matters that might come ta mind along the way. And if that was indeed the case in this case I find it improbable if not impossible ta be telling ya anything if I'm not present in yer presence ta be telling ya anything if ya get me meanin here."
James gritted his teeth and clasp his hands tightly behind his back as he fought down the urge to strangle the man. "The bearings Captain."
Jack allowed only a bit of the wide grin that was threatening to engulf his face as he said, "Oh aye, the bearings." He figured by the expression on the Commodore's face he had pushed about as far as he could without some manner of physical assault from the man. He stood up and watching the Commodore closely as he cautiously leaned over the desk and with a finger on the map lain out there traced the route they should be taking.
"That be it Commodore." Jack said as he straightened up.
"You are sure that's where your Pearl is headed." James said doing his best to dampen his irritation at the man.
"Aye that's where she's bound." Jack said with a nod. "We're not too far off course; just some bit of adjustments needed is all."
"Why would you allow us to deviate from the course we needed to be on at all Sparrow, if you are so anxious to reclaim your ship?"
"Because Commodore, it is the Pearl we're chasin, and not meanin ta disparage yer fine ship here or anything such as that, but the Pearl is the faster tween the two of us. Figured it wouldn't do to let her catch sight of us and be off ta parts unknown afore we could overtake her. Sides I knew where she was headed, and he don't know we're followin."
James remained impassive as he listened to what Jack was saying; he did grimace a bit to himself at the thought that what the man was saying was actually sounding logical to him. What was this world coming to, what was the state of his sanity coming to when Captain Jack Sparrow started to sound sensible? James was sure he really didn't want to know.
"So ya see Commodore, we just adjust our course a bit and surprise him." Jack finished with a wavey flop of his hands as if it were going to be the easiest thing on earth.
"And what happens if he decides to fire on us when we show up Captain? I will not hesitate to return fire, you do know that?"
"You'll not be blowin holes in me ship Commodore!" Jack snapped back.
"I will blow holes in your ship if your ship attempts to blow holes in mine Captain." James said haughtily.
They glared at each other for several heartbeats before Jack smiled, rocked back on his heels and said, "Well then I guess we'll just have ta make sure it don't come ta that Commodore."
"And how are you going to accomplish that Captain?"
"I'm still working on that part." Jack answered.
To Be Continued
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