Chapter 5

Jim mopped with vigor, knowing that the sooner the deck was gleaming the sooner he could eat and rest, his arms ached with the exertion but the mere thought of food, drink and inactivity kept him going. The deck was deserted, the sailors were below, so Jim was completely relaxed – there was something off about the crew, he thought, Silver was the best of a bad lot.

A movement made him turn round to see Scarlett leaning against the starboard side eating an apple – how long had she been there? The apple was as red as her name and lips, Jim thought as he nodded at her.

"What are you doing up here?" He asked and Scarlett raised one sloping shoulder slightly,

"Needed a break." She replied loftily and Jim gritted his teeth, as far as he could see he did most of the work and therefore should be the one having a break.

"A break from what – laziness?" He goaded, resuming his task with force.

"No. A break from the men." She said scornfully, tossing her apple core over the side and watching as it arced and fell with a splash. Jim looked at her,

"They bothering you?" He asked awkwardly and Scarlett grinned.

"No! As much as it may be on their minds Silver would never allow it. Anyway I can look after myself." She said, meeting his skeptical gaze frankly. Jim appraised her and made a disbelieving noise.

"Well if you're so capable do you feel like taking over here?" He questioned, half serious as he held the mop out to her. Scarlett smiled,

"No. I wouldn't want to show you up." She smiled and they both laughed for a while before remembering they didn't particularly like each other, so they stopped.

Having gone over the deck for the last time Jim stood back and surveyed his handiwork with pride,

"Done!" He exclaimed and Scarlett raised an eyebrow,

"Uh...you missed a spot." She joked and he swung the mop at her. With nothing on his mind other than food, warmth and rest Jim began to head towards the steps but was stopped in his tracks by an authoritative voice.

"Jim."

"Captain Smollett!" Jim said and dropped the mop in his panic.

"I require your presence in my cabin," The captain ordered, narrowing his eyes when Jim looked longingly at the stairs to the galley.

"NOW lad." He thundered and Jim rushed to his side,

"Yes Captain. Sorry."

Scarlett watched as the pair made their way back to the cabin, the Captain walking with long, firm strides, his fists balls at his side, and Jim rubbing the back of his neck – head down, was a few paces behind and walking with weary steps; he'd been working all day. She sighed and pattered down the steps and into the kitchen where she was met with one lust-filled, bleary, wretched, drunk and menacing glare divided between the cretins that called themselves an honorable crew. Shuddering inaudibly she made her way over to Dick, the only half-way decent one, and smiled as he offered her a seat.

Meanwhile Jim was also wishing he was somewhere else, between the stern and frightening captain and the blustering, argumentative squire he was dangerously close to making a run for it.

"I will not stand for this, Sir!" The squire expostulated furiously, slamming his hand on the table top and turning an interesting shade of plum.

"Then you deny yourself the truth of it, squire." The Captain said flatly as he rose to the squire's eye level from his seat. "They are a bunch of scoundrels and cut-throats. That much was clear to me the moment I stepped onto this ship, no good will come of it – you mark me!"

"That's ridiculous. I have it on very good authority that -"
"And precisely which 'authority' recommended them to you? Surely not the ships cook?" The captain said scornfully and the squire spluttered, his face going a glistening mahogany.

"Silver? Come now Squire, whatever were you thinking?" Doctor Livesy asked reproachfully "I know he's a capital fellow but he's no...well he's not..."

"Good authority?" The Captain supplied dryly. Jim cleared his throat awkwardly and the Captain turned to face him, Jim stepped backwards subconsciously and loosened his collar,

"This brings me on to why you're here." The captain said, regarding Jim with raised eyebrows. "I would have the map in my possession, the crew are not to be trusted and you spend a fair amount of time with them – they'll have wind of what we're after already no doubt. Now hand me the map." He ordered, reaching for it with the air of a man not used to disobedience or even hesitation to obey his commands. Jim however did not move.

"If you don't mind sir, I'll keep it with me." He said slowly, wincing as the Captain's eyes widened and the Squire made an involuntary noise of disbelief.

"I don't believe a choice was included." The Captain said, still with his hand poised and pondering his decision to bring the boy along; much as he admired his guts this was wasting time. Jim stepped backwards again,

"I'd really rather not Sir, at least for now." he said and, though his lips tightened, the captain lowered his hand.

"Very well, but if it were to go amiss it'll be your head boy." He warned and Jim nodded, relieved.

"Can I...go then?" He asked haltingly and the good Doctor came towards him,

"Are you quite well Jim? You're very pale." A cool hand descended on Jim's forehead.

"I'm fine sir, just tired." Jim told him and the Doctor nodded slowly – the boy looked very tired.

"He should rest." He told the captain firmly and the captain waved a hand dismissively, already studying the charts spread over the table. Jim knuckled his forehead and left with a grateful smile for Doctor Livesy.

Jim almost ran down the galley steps in his eagerness for rest and food but when he got there he was greeted instead by the boisterous singing of an old sea shanty and the sight of Scarlett dancing on the table to a cacophony of cheers, claps and stamps from all quarters. Her dark blue dress flared and swung as she spun with her arms above her head, her right hand grazing her left wrist as her feet flew. The men sang still faster and Jim leaned against the wall, exhaustion making him see 10 of everything; ten Long John's leaning on their crutches and looking none too pleased, ten Israel Hands's leering as they sang and ten Carlotta's spinning with reckless abandon, her arms flung out as if to catch a cloud and a beautiful smile playing about her full lips.

Jim sank into a chair as the song finished and Scarlett swished her skirt as she stamped and jumped down from the table whilst the men cheered. Scarlett bowed jokingly and took her leave, the complaints of the men drowning out the uneven footsteps behind her, the first thing she knew of the man behind her was his steely grip on her upper arm.

"And are you a common whore then?" Silver hissed, his face uncomfortably close to hers and his eyes glinting dangerously. Lottie struggled against his hold angrily,

"Let me go! I was only dancing." She protested, straining away from him but he shook her angrily.
"This voyage is no fun trip girl, the men don't need you distracting 'em, if anything it's the boy you need to be distracting – and the captain! Mark me, any more of your nonsense and you'll be over the side faster than you can spin." He growled and let her go abruptly making her stumble back, the glare she gave him would have made a lesser man crumble but Long John simply let his hand slip towards his pistol and she shuddered, turning on her heel and walking away as swiftly as her pride allowed.

Left alone Long John leaned heavily on his crutch, she was terrified of him – that he knew – but what she didn't understand was why he had to terrify her, she was his responsibility even though she didn't know it, Long John hoped she never would know...

Remembering the look's in the eyes of his crew made Silver grit his teeth, she didn't fully know the effect she had...

"Long John?" Silver turned around to see Jim looking at him,

"Yes lad?" He replied with as much jollity as he could muster.

"Can I turn in?" The boy asked, Silver examined him sharply – he did look exhausted, guess life on a ship is different to waiting tables at your mother's inn then sonny, he thought grimly.

"Aye, get to bed then Jimbo." He said with a smile as he clapped him on the shoulders and left.

Jim made his way to his hammock with relief, his legs seemed to drag under him as he walked and his head was already drooping. With a sigh he swung himself onto his hammock and removed his boots then turned on his side, his eyes blurring with sleep.

A noise made his eyes snap open and he raised his head blearily to see a vision or a person – he couldn't figure it out. Scarlett in a white dress – her nightgown? - , her curls cascading down her back and her feet bare, her pale arms and neck luminescent in the darkness. She walked slowly towards the water barrel in the corner and cupped some water in her hands before dipping her slender neck to wet her face, the skirt of her nightgown served her as a cloth, revealing her ankles and just above – pale slips in the night. Twisting a ringlet round her finger she turned and, before Jim could close his eyes, saw him. She started and one hand flew to her heart but Jim didn't move, just lowered his eyes and she seemed to smile before darting back the way she'd come leaving Jim to wonder if he'd really seen her at all.