Aha! Bull's eye!
Oops. Bad pun. Sorry.
You can see everything from the helm. Of course, I'm not manning the helm at the moment. That's how we'd all crash and drown, you see. No, it's No-Tongue (his real name is Cotton, but I'm taking my revenge for the whole kelp thing) taking us into Tortuga, which will be the site of my heroic escape that relies largely upon Cotton's parrot and lots of really drunk pirates- and from what I've seen, the latter are in a constant abundance.
Until then? Don't work on the deck, because the sun and strain might give you a fit. Don't work in the kitchen, because Evangeline already works there a lot and the steam and stuffiness might give you a fit. Don't climb the rigging or work in the bird's nest, because you might have a fit and fall (or push someone, though no-one says it). In fact, the best thing for you to do is sit quietly in the First Mate's cabin and drink lots of water.
I tried that for a few days, really, I did. But God, it was boring. And I had at least one fit a day. It was the Third Star all over again. My insane roommate- that's Evangeline, by the way, she doesn't want me alone in a hammock with the rest of the crew- never knew about them. But she wasn't convinced that manual labour gives me something to think about and lessens the number of fits. So I found a slingshot amongst the flotsam and jetsam of the cabin and discovered other ways to keep myself entertained on deck.
Discovery of the day? A well-aimed piece of shrapnel can send One-Eye's wooden eyeball sailing from his skull and onto the deck. Pop! If he would just move a little closer to the edge, I'd send it straight into the sea.
Whoops! He's turning around! Hide the slingshot, quick, before he- Oh God. He's found me. On guard! Will he or won't he? Apparently not, because… What? Ah. I see. He didn't see me, because he's blind in one eye.
Silly me.
"Scurvy dogs, scurvy dogs!" No-Tongue's parrot shrieks, startling me. Scurvy dog is its affectionate name for Evangeline. So where is she? She'd be awfully unhappy if she caught me abusing crew members- God forbid, she might send me back to the cabin! Can't go there. Time to disappear, I think.
I've only just dived behind another greasy coil of fat rope when I hear One-Eye call out. "My eye! Has anybody seen my eye?"
Heh. Maybe I did send it over the side.
A heavy sigh. "Here, Ragetti."
Never mind. Saint Evangeline has found it, curse her.
"Ah- oh, thank you, m'lady."
"That's alright." Doesn't even bother correcting him on her name. Ha! Even I don't have to call Evangeline 'my lady' anymore. Sharing a cabin with a crazy lady has its benefits, my friend.
But be quiet now. Those formidably shiny boots wander into vision. "Cotton, have you seen Kalepi anywhere?"
There's a pause when she seems to remember that Cotton can't actually talk. "Cotton's Parrot, have you seen Kalepi anywhere?"
(No-one likes addressing the parrot. It's such a rude old thing, and it's awfully demeaning to talk to a parrot.)
"Kelp! Kelp!" Even the bird's caught on. You'll be happy to know that I have come up with a nickname for it, but it's too rude to repeat except to myself.
"Yes, Kelp," Evangeline sighs wearily. "Where-? Oh. Is he? Thank you, Cotton. You should get a new parrot."
Well then, looks like I'm safe. But- what? No! The blasted old man has betrayed me! He must have seen me duck behind here. Evangeline raises her eyebrows questioningly as she looks down on me, rope dangling in her hand.
"Oh. Um, hi. I was taking a nap-"
"It doesn't matter," she grins. "Just thought I'd let you know we'll be in Tortuga by nightfall. Just don't wander, OK? It's a crazy place, we don't want to lose you."
I'm sure you don't. "Nightfall? But I can't even see it on the horizon!"
Evangeline grins. "It's not the fastest ship on the sea for nothing. Look."
And I do. And it's not possible, but in the minutes since I dived behind the rope a shadow has appeared on the horizon and is beginning to take shape. Unbelievable! I'll never get over how quickly this ship moves.
"Will you be leaving the ship at all?" It'll be easier if I'm with Evangeline. People won't ask questions.
Evangeline frowns and blows a dark curl out of her face. "We're still meant to be captives, remember? Just stay in the cabin with me until I say. Sorry."
Ah. Shame, that. But this is great news! Thank you, Evangeline. I'll be out of here by sunrise, and then… What? What'll I do then? Tortuga is a pirate port, after all. All those loud noises and drunken pirates… I'm almost certain to have a fit. And if I do, it's more than likely that I'll be cut down on the spot, and my body parts will be sold to… I don't even want to think about it.
But I can't stay here. That much is certain. Because if I stay, I will die. One way or another. I can't trust anyone on board this cursed ship- not smiley Evangeline, not my good disabled friend Cotton, not even the stringy Ragetti. And especially not Jack. I barely see him on deck, but there's something about that guy you just don't trust. Maybe it's the overpowering stench of liquor. I don't know. But it's safer to hate him, that much I'm sure of.
Returning to my former perch to gaze out upon the ocean. Tortuga is indeed approaching as the sun sinks (have I mentioned the unbelievable speed of this ship?) and the crew are restless. Makes you wonder, really, how many will actually stay on board to help with repairs and how many will flee for a night of booze and women. And then how many will just cower in the First Mate's cabin, too busy with being a hostage to worry about much else.
Hopefully, only one.
And there she is now, gazing out across the sea… No, staring intently at her hand, looking annoyed. She seems to do that a lot when she thinks I'm not looking. All smiles and cheer when she's talking to me, but frowns and sarcasm to everyone else. I know why, though. It's supposed to make me like her, make me trust her. Ha! I see through that ruse. As if I'm going to fall for it.
Still. I am awfully curious about why her hand could be bothering her so much.
I've always been told that children should be seen and not heard, but in my case I often think it's best to be neither seen nor heard. Creeping up silently behind my prey, peering over her shoulder… A compass. Oh, how boring. Why does it bother… Oh. I see. It doesn't point north. Just wheels around wildly before jabbing backwards, stubbornly refusing to move. What a stupid device! Wonder how she came by it…
"It's Jack's," she says, and I nearly jump out of my skin. It's like she read my mind! How did she even know I was here? No- wait. She's not a mindreading gypsy. My big stupid hat (another treasure from the cabin) is casting a shadow over her arm.
Should've seen that coming. Note to self, Kalepi.
"What's wrong with it?" I ask, daring to come closer. It hasn't moved from its post.
"No idea." Evangeline turns and holds her fist up high. What's she doing? She's waving it in her Daddy's face, that's what. Where did he come from? "Hoi! Dad! Your stupid compass is broken!"
She tosses it once in the air and catches it again, wiggling it in Jack's direction. He looks confused for a moment- checks his belt- confirms the truth- and storms towards us with an annoyed tsch. Evangeline giggles as he snatches it from her palm, checking it anxiously like he's worried Evangeline's broken it.
Ho hum! What's this? It swings around as soon as it touches Jack' hand, stopping to point in another direction.
Evangeline notices this too, and cranes her neck to see. "How come it doesn't point north?"
Jack snaps it shut and glances up, then grins, flashing his mismatched teeth. "What is it you desire most?" he asks cryptically, tossing it back into Evangeline's hands.
"Dunno," she says slowly, giving Jack a suspicious look. "Why?"
He just gestures at her to open it. Giving him another calculating glance, she opens it and-
Snap! Immediately closes it. I only saw it for a second, but I could swear the needle was pointing directly at Jack.
"As if," Evangeline snorts, tossing it to me. Whoops! Careful now, Kalepi. Don't drop this here magical compass. "Some cheap gimmick you got from a gypsy?"
"It has never failed me and it never will," Jack declares superiorly, holding a dirty hand out for the compass. Won't even look at me! I bet he's done disgraceful things with being even more low-life than me.
Hang on a minute! I want to have a look. I already know what I want most- to get off this stupid ship- but still… I open it carefully (don't break it) and look.
It doesn't point to Tortuga. It doesn't even point at Evangeline. It points out somewhere across the great blue sea. Home? Port Royal? I don't know. I want to find out, though.
Which I can only do if I stay on this ship…
Oh dear. What have I gotten myself into?
xXx
Well. It hardly matters what I've gotten myself into, because as of right now I'm getting out of it.
Tortuga truly is a terrifying place. The lights are all dim, but you can hear the shouting and the shrieks of laughter and the gunshots and the shattering of heavy bottles from the ship. Almost every pirate has deserted the Pearl in search of 'supplies' (yeah, right) and all that remain are Marty the Midget (the only person on this ship who is shorter than me) and the foul-mouthed parrot. Oh, and Evangeline, but she's holed up safely in her cabin.
I, on the other hand, am sneaking around without permission. Oh, the horror! It's a good opportunity to learn, though. There'll be a lot of sneaking around for the next few months, because I can't stay here. I'll have to stow away, I've decided, and get off at the first nice-looking port we come into. Yes, good plan. The only one I've got.
Creeping along the deck, quietly. Staying low to the ground. Marty and the parrot are having a swearing contest, or so it would seem (a true wealth of new vocabulary in that conversation) and no-one is paying me any attention. Thankful, for the first time, that I have skin the colour of night. Harder to pick out that way. I even had the precaution to leave my stupid hat behind! I should go into the business for this, because I'm awfully good at it.
Now, where's that rope… Aha. A little slimy, yes, but that will only make my disembarkation easier. And if I fall off… Well, there are plenty of people slipping and sliding around here. No-one will notice one little slave boy.
Euchh… Oh, God, this is disgusting. What does Jack do with these ropes when he's not using them? Maybe this is what Rocky's 'salads' are made of. No use whinging about it now, though. Hands first… Now just shinny on a little bit-
"Kalepi?"
Who, me? Nope. No Kalepi here. Just keep going, she hasn't seen you… Almost there…
Ah! Help! Someone's trying to take my pants! I can't go to a pirate port without my pants! Back, you cretin! Let me- Oh.
Looks like she did see me. And she has the waist of my pants gathered in one fist, eyebrows raised.
"So… Taking a stroll?" she asks.
Oh God. She's going to kill me. "Um, well. You see, Evangeline…"