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Didn’t really happen. Nothing really happened. Everything is in your head. In fact, even money is a myth, a fantasy, an illusion created by those who would destroy your will and compel you to serve their own selfish interests. And that’s why I don’t get any money for this. It’s tainted, by definition.
Promises
Anamaria kept a close eye on the Interceptor II at all times. She did not trust Commodore Norrington as far as she could throw him. And while that would undoubtedly be further than the Commodore could throw her, it wasn’t a considerable distance.
“Bad luck to be cooperating with the navy, Captain,” Gibbs hissed in her ear.
“I’m not cooperating, Mr. Gibbs. We’re taking advantage of a situation.”
“How’s that, ma’am? We don’t need to make deals with His Majesty’s Navy to help Jack. Jack can take care of himself.”
“I well know that, Mr. Gibbs. But my dear brother cannot.”
Gibbs frowned. “Brother? You don’t think Jack will take care of him too?”
Anamaria smiled grimly. “Wrong brother.”
Commodore Norrington stood on the deck, scanning the horizon for a sign, any sign. If nothing else, if all else failed, at least he would have the opportunity to sink the Black Pearl and rid the Caribbean of the last real pirate threat.
Anamaria frowned as she checked the navigational instruments again. They were definitely headed in a dangerous direction now. A supply ship had passed within an arrow’s distance of the Interceptor II a few hours earlier, and Mr. Cotton had indeed seen an arrow fly across, probably with a message attached. That’s what Mr. Cotton had said. Or at least his parrot had said. Or at least, that’s what the rest of the crew agreed that Mr. Cotton’s parrot had said. So the change in direction likely had something to do with the message. She hoped the parrot was wrong.
Norrington sat in the captain’s cabin, eating his dinner alone, as he felt was proper for the captain of the ship. He knew Gillette stood on the other side of the door, at attention, waiting for his orders. As he always did. No matter what happened, he knew Gillette would remain loyal. As to how his wife would react when she learned of his actions, he was not so certain . Elizabeth would be furious if she knew there was any treachery on his part. He would have to be careful.
Anamaria was reluctant to give up the wheel, no matter that she was close to asleep on her feet.
“Come on, luv. Mr. Gibbs is more than capable of tending to the Pearl while you sleep. It’s only a few hours left to sun-up, please ‘ave a rest!”
She let herself be guided to the cabin by her lover, and lay on top of the covers, fully clothed, in case she had to rise in a hurry. Charlotte climbed over and nestled behind her. “Shh, luv, I’ll take care of ye.” She hummed a tune and stroked Anamaria’s thick hair. As much as she loved being the lover of the woman in charge, Charlotte couldn’t help hoping the Black Pearl would some day rendezvous with her former captain. All this responsibility was wreaking havoc with Charlotte’s sex life.
“It’s dawn, sir. You asked to be woken.”
Gillette looked stiff and overly formal in the bright morning light. He always looked like that when he was asked to rouse the commodore. He stood to the side of the bed, careful to not actually touch any of the bedding with anything but his pointed finger, which poked Norrington’s shoulder pragmatically.
Norrington blinked his eyes, groggy. He’d been having a fantastical dream, in which he was on a sandy beach, standing in the sunlight, naked except for a pair of leather boots. There was no ship in sight, no village or house. Just him, and one other. Someone who sat on a rock, near the shore. It was a man, and he was also naked, but he couldn’t see who it was because a mass of thick, black hair obscured his face. He was tanned brown all over, and he toyed with a sword, shining in the sun, swinging it this way and that so it flashed bright. Such a strange dream.
He looked up at Gillette. Stiff white wig in place, red coat buttoned to the neck, hands folded behind his back deferentially.
“Very well, I’ll be on deck in ten minutes. Have we made progress?”
“Yes sir, we are almost upon them.”
Alphonse DeMaurier loaded the last crate of supplies onto his little ship and stowed it in the little hold. He stood upright and faced his young brother-in-law.
“Don’t know how I can thank you,” Will’s soft voice came to him.
The boy stood tall, shoulders broad and clad in a too-large shirt that billowed in the breeze. The new boots fit him much better, and he stood solidly in them. If it weren’t for that scallywag Sparrow, Alphonse might be willing to throw all propriety to the wind. Sparrow, that is, and the fact that his mother was married to the boy’s father. Bad luck, that was.
“Be happy and enjoy all you can in this life.”
“I would wish you the same happiness, but Kay… she seems to think you lost it.”
“Long ago, but it wasn’t lost. It was taken from me.” Alphonse said after a long pause. “And it may be too late now, but let us not dwell on the past. The present is enough. You have a home now, a family. And a lover.”
Will blushed.
“If Jack would have me, I would follow him. But I won’t deny leaving this place will be difficult. I haven’t had a family for a long time. And I won’t deny seeing you leave makes me sad. I shall miss you. I never had a brother before.”
Alphonse him a warm smile. “Ah, but young Mr. Turner, this is not just any family. We DeMauriers tend to travel. Wherever you go, one of us is sure to be nearby.”
Will laughed. He was half-dreading the return to the Black Pearl. He suspected that Anamaria would not be nearly so encouraging as her siblings. And he feared how the crew would react to the permanent presence of their captain’s inexperienced lover.
Jack climbed up on deck, ready to row with Will back to shore. He stood in front of Alphonse and the two men looked into each other’s eyes.
Jack saw a very proud and defiant man, but much kindness as well. Alphonse had plucked the two of them from the shore of that island and delivered them to safety asking nothing in return. He’d traveled to bring them supplies, clothes, even a small cask of rum for Jack. Jack had been suspicious of him at first, the questioning of motives added to his natural mistrust of the clergy. And he hadn’t liked the way Alphonse looked at Will. Hungry. But he’d grown to like him. And now he worried about the man sailing alone on the ocean on such a small ship.
Alphonse saw the swagger and pride and arrogance of the pirate, but could clearly see through it as well. He’d been suspicious of Jack’s behaviour toward Will at first, worried about his young stepbrother in the hands of such a rogue. But now, on this morning, he saw something more. He could see a new protectiveness, a new possessiveness on Jack’s part. He wondered what had been going on during the long nights, when the pirate and the blacksmith rowed out to the ship. Well, he had to admit, he knew very well what was going on. But today was different. And he liked what he saw.
“Farewell, Captain Sparrow. May your journeys bring you all you deserve,” Alphonse looked over at Will. “And all you desire.”
“Farewell, Captain DeMaurier. May you find what you desire as well.”
“Jack!” Will yelled and pointed into the distance.
White sails and the colours of a ship of His Majesty’s Navy hovered on the horizon.
The pride of His Majesty’s Navy sailed toward the bay, fierce and determined captain at the helm. A slightly smaller ship followed, with a less determined, more suspicious captain. Nothing was certain in these waters. And no one could be trusted.
“What are you going to do?”
“I can outrun them easily in these shallow waters. Lure them out to sea. We’ve got to get them away from the island, away from Kay and the children.”
Jack grabbed his arm. “You can’t do it alone, mate. They’ll catch you soon enough. I could help you.”
Alphonse turned to Jack. “Just how wanted are you?”
Jack grinned. “About as wanted as I suspect you are. Care to enlighten me with the specifics?”
Alphonse reached up and adjusted his white collar self-consciously. “There may have been a few incidents. I expect either one of us would be worth their efforts.”
The two captains eyed each other warily, then with glee.
“Will, go back to the house and gather Kay and all the children. There is a camp, deep in the bush, just for such emergencies. Franklin will know what to do, but you must warn them now!” Alphonse pushed Will to the ladder.
“Are you mad? You think you can outrun them? In this?” Will grabbed the railing, refusing to disembark.
Jack took Will’s hand in his. “Will, luv. If they catch us here, they’ll go ashore and find your family, living without king or country, and paying tribute to neither. The King doesn’t take well to being cheated of his taxes. If we draw them away the island, and everyone on it, will remain safe.”
“I want to stay with you!” Will’s eyes were afire with determination.
“No!” Jack shouted, furious. “We’re the wanted ones, we’ll go. You row ashore, warn your sister. If you are caught, you’ve done nothing wrong, savvy? All will be well. Please, do it for me. You’ll be safer.” He drew Will’s body against his for one, painful moment. “They won’t catch us, I promise.” A single kiss on a tearstained cheek. “We will return.”
Alphonse was rushing about the deck, preparing to make way. “Go, Will! They’ll know what to do on shore.”
Will squeezed Jack’s hand. “I’ll see you very soon. Promise.”
Jack busied himself with work, sparing only a few glances at the strong figure rowing away. Soon the little ship was heading out of the bay, and Jack frantically looked back at shore. But Will had already dragged the boat off the beach and disappeared into the trees. To the west, the sails of the navy ship ever grew.
Alphonse took the time to clap a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be surprised at how fast she can go, my friend. And don’t worry about the boy, Kay and Franklin will know what to do.”
Jack nodded numbly. That hadn’t been a proper goodbye. He hadn’t told Will how much he loved him. That he would gladly face death to save Will’s life. How much he regretted not saying that. And he hated himself for thinking that if he did face the hangman, his biggest regret might be that he’d stopped the night before. That he hadn’t pressed harder, hadn’t drawn Will to his side and told him then how much he loved him, and then given him a proper fucking, just like he knew Will would enjoy, if he’d only had the chance.
And that bugger Alphonse was reading his mind, with a sly glance and a resonant chuckle. Perverted, filthy clergy. “What are you smirking at, preacher?”
Alphonse laughed outright, loving the wind in his face and the sea rushing past beneath his feet. “I am looking at a pirate.” He sang over the wind. “A pirate who’s found his home. And I’ll get you back to him, I promise you that.”
Next: Chapter 37 Family Reunion
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