The water's are getting muddier by the second. Please review! All opinions welcome and appreciated :)
Chapter 8
Jim and Scarlett were washing and drying dishes in far from companionable silence, in fact it was downright stony silence. Every so often one would shoot a surreptitious glare at the other which would be met by an equally quailing glare and so on and so forth. Finally, when they were nearly done, Jim couldn't stand it anymore.
"Well are you going to apologize or not?" He asked directly then winced at the look of anger which sped across Carlotta's face.
"Certainly not! However I shall await yours eagerly." She retorted with an arrogant tilt of her chin.
"You shall be waiting a long time then." He told her and she looked t him with obvious disdain. Provoked, Jim moved towards her, putting one arm either side of her when she went to walk away,
"You think it's only you who can be stubborn?" He asked, his face close to hers. "Well then you're wrong, I'll not apologize for something I have not done."
Scarlett felt her heart beat faster as he talked, his eyes flashing.
"Well I have nothing to be sorry for. You do run around after Silver like a devoted dog and it is annoying and he's not a good man so all I did was speak the truth. If you can't handle it then that is no concern of mine." She said vehemently, he laughed scornfully – their faces were very close.
"You just have to be right don't you?"
"I am right."
"Ever contemplated the fact that you're ridiculous?"
"Coming from Silvers puppet?"
Jim let out a noise of frustration and grabbed her shoulders,
"You're unbearable! You insulted me without cause and you desire an apology? After all I've tried to help you and despite your repulses of any kindness I've shown you? You still want more from me?" He seethed, pushed to breaking point by this infuriating, beautiful girl.
Briefly he saw fire in her eyes and then their lips moved the short distance between them and met in a passionate kiss. Neither seemed to initiate the kiss, it was a joining and an impasse.
They seemed to sink into each other, Jim's hands on her shoulders were no longer detaining her but pulling her closer and her eyes were closed, her body pressed to his.
Then all at once Scarlett pulled away, her eyes flew open and Jim saw they held tears. She put a shaking hand to her mouth and ran from the galley, up the stairs and away from him and whatever the hell had just happened.
Jim stood where she had left him in absolute shock – had they just kissed?
He heard voices descending the stairs and gulped as he distinguished them – Israel, George and a few others.
"Quiet. Wait till we're safe away." He heard George growl. Something shady was going on – Jim looked around in panic for somewhere to hide, he knew he'd be the worse for wear if they found him. No obvious places caught his eye and the voices were getting closer...then Jim's flustered gaze fell upon the apple barrel and he climbed in without stopping to think just as the men reached the galley.
Jim tried to get into a more comfortable position without making a noise but really, he discovered, there is no comfortable way to sit in a large barrel half full of apples. A small hole in the side showed him four men, two of which were indeed Israel and George, sat around the table with their heads close together.
"So how long then, that's what I want to know? I'm sick and tired of all this." said George in a low voice. Jim gulped, George was formidable – the man the crew looked to next to Long John.
"Aye the captain and his bunch of half wits ain't matched with our skill and numbers." Israel growled urgently, leaning forward. "We should strike now."
Jim stifled his gasp as the other men seated round the table grunted their agreement and George began to play with the pistol strung at his side.
"I say we act. The ship's ours. The treasure's ours. We get off scot free! It's all just a matter of making a move." He said in his coarse voice, the low rumble of agreement from the other men made Jim's stomach sink. Mutiny, he thought, no doubt about it.
Suddenly the men stopped conversing and looked to the stairs, Jim heard the boot-crutch footfalls with relief – Long John would put them right. The man himself came into view, his face dark.
"I'm an easy man," He said in a low voice, the flash of his eyes giving his words a threatening underlay which affected the men visibly. Hidden in the apple barrel Jim smiled.
"A gentlemen of fortune says most..." Long John continued, stepping forward so his broad chest was just an inch away from George's; George had gone white as sea foam.
"But I'll not abide this treachery." Silver bellowed suddenly and the four men looked sickly as they backed away from him, Jim's smile grew wider.
"BUT IF A SOUL AMONGST YOU DARES MUTINY BEFORE I SAYS SO I'LL THROW YE OVERBOARD LIKE I DID THAT NO-GOOD MATE MR ARROW!" Silver yelled and seized Israel by his shirt, shaking him. In the apple barrel Jim's smile had frozen in place and the cook's words were chasing their tail round his head...he must have misheard...but Silver was sitting down with them now, speaking in a hushed tone.
"Everything's in place, I know the boy's got the treasure map and Scarlett'll have him buttered up in no time, why he'll be handing the treasure to us with a smile and a bow no doubt. We just have to bide our time and the loot's ours." Long John whispered urgently and Jim clamped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from yelling obscenities at the traitor, and Scarlett! That kiss had been a lie, she'd been using him with the intention of leaking information to what he now knew as a crew of pirates. Jim's whole body shook with anger and fear, he had to tell the captain – if only they'd leave!
George and Israel exchanged a glance then Israel spoke,
"You've been doing your fair share of buttering yourself Barbecue, we thought you were going soft on us." He hissed and Silver laughed contemptuously.
"Well I had to keep the boy sweet didn't I? He's one to meddle, honest and all that so you can stow it Mr Hands – I've not gone soft by any stretch."
"Land ho!"
At the bosuns cry the men jumped up and walked briskly from the galley and Jim, after waiting a safe amount of time, climbed shakily out of his hiding place, his head spinning with all he had heard. One thing was clear to him: he had to warn the captain. With this thought in his mind he dashed up the stairs and blinked in the sunlight as he emerged onto deck.
The excitement of land was tangible as the crew strained for a glimpse of the Island, though it was harmless enough Jim couldn't help but see greed and avarice in each excited look and mutiny and treachery in every sideways glance. And Scarlett...she was standing next to Tom, gripping his arm in excitement, her hair streaming out behind her and her face flushed with the breeze, her pale red dress billowing. She looked innocent enough but Jim knew better and hated her for it – hated himself for being fooled by her tricks and lies and guile's. He caught the captains eye and moved as casually as he could to stand beside him,
"Sir I must speak with you." He muttered, barely moving his lips.
"Not now Jim, I'm busy." The Captain brushed him aside and moved to stand at the helm.
"Mr Arrow if you could – Mr Arrow?" He said upon realizing his trust first mate was not there. Bewildered the crew looked round and Jim felt a dreadful sinking in his stomach as he recalled Silver's villainous words...'I'll cast you overboard like I did that no-good first mate Mr Arrow.'...
"Begging your pardon Cap'n but..." It was Silver himself speaking! Jim shook with anger at the man's gall. "No-one's seen Mr Arrow since yesterday, we didn't like to say...thought he might be took ill."
"He's not below deck Cap'n, just come from there." George put in and the crew mumbled various pledges that they'd not seen the first mate since the night before. The Captain's face, usually so composed and stern, was sombre and he seemed to have aged.
"Might he have...gone overboard?" He said with tight lips. Silver stepped forward with what looked – if you didn't know better – to be kindness on his haggard face.
"He did say he was planning on giving the lifeboats the once over...with respect sir." He said, casting his eyes at the floor and removing the scarf from his head. A muscle jumped in the Captain's temple and he took a deep breath in.
"He will be missed." He said in as quiet a voice that anyone had ever heard him use then he turned smartly on his heel and withdrew to his cabin.
Jim ran a hand through his hair – his situation seemed impossible! Then his gaze fell on Doctor Livesy and he moved towards him quickly.
"Doctor I've something to say." He said firmly and the good Doctor spread his hands looking worried.
"Well by all means go ahead – what's troubling you Jim?" He asked concernedly.
"The crew are planning mutiny Sir. Sorry to be blunt but it's urgent. Silver's leading it – they know about the treasure and I believe them to be pirates, I overheard them just now. If the Island is close then they'll make their move soon." He said under his breath but clearly, putting across the truth of his words with his eyes. The doctor paled.
"Thank you Jim, you've done us a great service. Now get below, if they find out you've been spying your life is in danger." He said hurriedly and walked into the Captain's cabin.
Jim turned to go below and was met by Silver's piercing stare that stopped him in his tracks. After a second, though, the cook's smile was back in place and he waved Jim over, he went reluctantly and Silver clasped his shoulder.
"Land then Jimbo! All over soon." He said in his usual jolly tone and Jim forced himself to smile.
"Aye it will." He agreed and went to go but found Silver's crutch stopping him.
"Will ye be exploring the Island with us lad? Up for an adventure?" He asked with a grin and Jim shook his head, feigning sorrow.
"I've duties. Enjoy yourself." he said and left before the cook could stop him again.
Silver stood there long after the boy had disappeared down the steps, he had seen him come up from the galley before and something about him had changed. He knew the boy must have heard them talking, it was a matter of what to do about it.