A change in the winds

Chapter thirty: Madagascar.

Malak stood by the rail, admiring the beautiful sunrise. The sky was coloured with dark purple clouds and streaked with red and orange tones rising up from the horizon.

Kenna came up to him and leaned on the rail beside him.

'' Do angels ever get sick?'' she asked as she admired the sunrise.

Malak looked at her surprised. '' Why do you ask?''

'' No reason…I was just wondering.''

'' I don't think we ever get sick. Being celestial beings we have a very strong immune system,'' he replied uneasy. '' Have you been feeling sick lately?''

Kenna looked at him startled. '' No…not really. Well, I did feel sort of nauseated the other day but I think it must be something I ate.''

Malak watched her fidget and grew concerned. '' If you did feel sick you would tell me wouldn't you?''

'' Absolutely. Not that it would be anything serious. Even though angels won't get sick it doesn't mean half angels can't. Right?'' she asked a bit worried.

'' I don't know. It is possible that you could get sick but your body should be able to prevent most of the bacteria and virus infections normal humans get.''

'' Yeah, I'm sure it was just something I ate. I promise to tell you if it returns,'' she said with an uneasy smile. '' Oh, Jack is calling me. I have to go.''

Malak looked up to the helm and saw Jack talking to Gibbs. There was no way he could have called her. He sighed worried. What was Kenna hiding from him?

Kenna walked over to the helm, taking a deep breath as she walked. The nausea was back. What could it mean? Her father had said it was nearly impossible for her to get sick.

Jack turned away from his conversation with Gibbs when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and smiled when he saw who it was.

'' How's my favourite angel doin' today?'' he asked as he gave her a kiss.

Kenna forced a smile. '' Just fine. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything.''

'' Nothin' that can't wait.'' He put his arm around her waist and pulled her over to the steering wheel. Gibbs, sensing that he wouldn't get any more of his Captain's attention for now, quietly slipped away.

Jack pressed his body up against hers on the wheel. His hand brushed her thigh as he whispered in her ear. '' I want ta ravish ye up against this wheel.''

Kenna felt a strong wave of nausea wash over her and frowned.

'' Are ye all right, luv?'' Jack asked concerned.

'' Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just a little nauseated.''

Jack put a hand on her forehead. '' Ye don't have a fever but ye look pretty pale. Ye've stayed on the ship for a long time so ye can't be seasick.''

'' It's nothing. Probably just something I ate. Don't worry about it.''

'' Come ta think of it ye've been pretty pale for the last few days. I think ye should go and talk ta Steven.''

Kenna moved away from him. '' I'm fine. I don't need to see a doctor.''

'' How about yer father, he must know what ta do in this situation.''

'' I've already spoken to him. He doesn't think this is anything to worry about.'' She put a hand on his shoulder. '' Don't worry. I'm fine.''

Jack nodded but wasn't fully convinced. To distract him from his worries, Kenna pointed out towards the horizon.

'' Don't you think the sunrise is amazing?''

---

In the distance a land could be seen. The crew members were moving around like crazy, gathering supplies, tying sails and making the ship ready for docking. Kenna felt her heart pounding, almost bouncing out of her chest with anxiety. This was it. They were almost there. On this island she would be reunited with her grandmother. Unfortunately on this island she would also face the most dangerous man she knew of and there was a chance - and a very big chance - that she and most of the crew would die.

Kenna ran over to the rail and threw up. When she was done she quickly wiped her mouth and checked if anyone saw her. Only a few crew members had noticed her and she didn't believe any of them would tell Jack or her father about it. The crew members were still a bit antsy around her since they found out about her angelic heritage.

She went down to her old cabin to find herself a new shirt. Jack had insisted that she would keep her stuff in his cabin - since they were spending every night together - but she still had some clothes in her old cabin as a resort if Jack needed to be punished by spending the night in the cabin alone. She hadn't used that resort yet but came close a few times.

She found a new shirt but as she stepped out of the cabin she saw that Christian's cabin was open. She hadn't talked to him since the whipping and felt the urge to check up on him. She walked over to the cabin and peered in. Inside Christian was changing his shirt. He had his back to the door so his marks were visible to her. She gasped at the angry pink wounds crisscrossing his back.

Christian turned when he heard her gasp. He pulled his shirt on and started buttoning it up.

'' What are ye doin' here?'' he asked surprised but with a hint of resentment in his voice.

'' I saw that your door was open. I'm sorry about your back.''

Christian snorted and turned away from her. '' Ye feel sorry? I'm not buyin' it.''

'' You know what you did was wrong and you knew there would be consequences. I thought this was the right thing to do. I realised it wasn't but then it was too late. I was angry at you, you've got to understand that.''

Christian turned to face her. '' What's there ta understand? That ye shouldn't tell the truth if it offends the Capt'n? That I should have shut me mouth about it?''

'' No. That's not what I was saying. You are entitled to your own opinions but you must be careful how you present them. Fighting Jack is not a way for you to get your opinions across.''

'' So now ye come ta apologize? Please. Save it for someone who cares,'' he retorted. '' Ye'll never see sense as long as he has ye so tightly wrapped around his finger.''

'' I know you're angry. I understand that. Just don't forget that this is your own fault.''

Christian opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.

'' We've almost reached the coast of Madagascar. Once we leave this ship there will be no knowing what will happen. I can't have you and your problem with Jack hassling me. You need to sort this out with him or at least put it aside until we are safely aboard the Pearl again. Can you do that?''

Christian shook his head and frowned.

'' I need your full concentration on the task ahead. I need you to help me get my grandmother back. Please.'' she begged.

He was torn between decisions but after a short time of consideration he sighed and nodded his head. '' Of course I'll help ye. I guess I can try and ignore Jack for a short while.''

Kenna smiled grateful. '' Thank you.''

He waved it off but she saw a small smile form on his lips.

---

The Pearl neared the coast of Madagascar, revealing its vast forests and sandy beaches. Birds could be seen flying up from the trees, soaring over the treetops before plunging down into the unknown.

'' Where did ye say he was hidin'?'' Jack asked Malak as he watched the exotic land before him.

'' He's residing on the northern part of the island. There's a cove there where we can anchor,'' Malak replied.

'' How come ye know all this? Do ye sense him or…?'' Jack asked puzzled.

'' My knowledge is only based on stories and rumours. As long as he hasn't moved his supposed hiding place we will find him. We'll just have to hope he doesn't know that we know where he is.''

'' And if he does?'' Jack asked a little worried.

'' Then he will either be waiting for us -which is highly likely -or he has found himself a new hideout.''

The cove was in sight and the crew made the last preparations for the ship to dock. Kenna felt her stomach revolting but refused to let it get the best of her. There was no time to be scared, she was on a mission. She had to save her grandmother. Nothing else mattered.

'' Are ye feelin' better, luv?'' Jack asked as he came up to her.

'' Yes. I'm much better,'' she lied.

He examined her closely and shook his head. '' No, ye're lyin' ta me. Ye look even paler than ye did this mornin'.''

'' I'm just nervous. We are going on a suicide mission,'' Kenna replied with an uneasy sigh.

He embraced her. '' There's nothin' wrong with bein' nervous. I'm scared ta death meself. This be somethin' none of us has ever encountered before so it's only natural that we feel uneasy.''

'' I don't want anyone to die. What if…''

Jack cut her off. '' Don't think about it. We'll get through this together, I promise ye that.'' He gave her a kiss on the lips.

Kenna leaned her head against his chest. He was right. There was no need to think about what might happen. They would deal with any complications as they came.

The anchor was released and the rowing boats lowered to the water. Jack had selected his best fighters to join him on their mission and ordered the rest to stay alert and have the ship ready to sail when they came back. The men filled the boats and soon they were all heading towards the island.

A ship lay up against the beach. It was a bit smaller than the Pearl and the Jamaican flag could be seen moving in the slight breeze. They drew the boats up on the sand and secured the oars.

Crabs scurried around the sand where the ocean calmly licked the shore. A slight rustling of leaves in the breeze and the soft sound of the waves on the shore created a soothing melody. Kenna took a deep breath and smelled some exotic flowers and the familiar scent of the sea. This place seemed so peaceful. Could something this calming and beautiful really be keeping something as dangerous as Tobo?

The group headed towards the trees at the edge of the beach. Going through the jungle would be the only way to find Tobo's hiding place.

'' Where exactly is he hidin'?'' Jack asked as they hatched their way through the dense trees. The heat was suffocating and the air was damp, making it hard for them to breathe as they made their way through the jungle. Jack - along with most of the men - had removed his shirt and had it draped over his shoulder, occasionally wiping off his forehead and face with one of the sleeves.

'' There's a mountain called Maromokotro on the northern side of the island. According to my resources he'll be residing there. Being so high up above the ground gives him an advantage where he'll see anyone who approaches,'' Malak answered. He was not bothered with the heat at all and wasn't even sweating.

'' How far is it from here?'' Jack asked as he slapped a mosquito on his arm.

'' I don't know exactly but I would guess it takes at least a day to get there,'' Malak replied, brushing a bug off his shoulder.

Kenna was going insane with all those mosquitoes flying around them. They kept flying into her face and she rarely opened her mouth in fear of swallowing one. Unlike her father she felt a little warm but the heat did not affect her as much as the men. They were glistening with sweat from head to toe, some even had their breeches clinging to their legs with sweat.

One of the crew members suddenly went crazy, running around in circles, shouting. Kenna pushed to the front and saw him on his knees, screaming his lungs out.

'' What happened?'' she asked as she kneeled down beside him.

'' Me eye! I got somethin' in me eye!'' the man shouted terrified.

'' Let me take a look,'' Kenna said as she raised his head up. She couldn't see anything in his eye but it was a little red.

'' It's eatin' me eye!'' the man yelled.

Steven came up to them and dropped a bag on the ground. '' I know what it is.'' He squatted down beside them and Kenna moved so that he could get better access. He fetched a bowl, salt and some water from the bag. He mixed it together in the bowl and turned to the man who was loosing his mind with pain.

'' Relax, I'll get it out. I need ya ta stay calm.'' He opened the eye with two fingers and poured the solution slowly into the eye. The man continued to scream but quickly after the saline was in his eye he stopped.

'' Is it gone?'' he asked as he blinked his eye rapidly.

'' Aye, the saltwater washed it out,'' Steven replied.

The man got to his feet. '' What was that? It can't be no ordinary bug.''

'' No, this insect only lives here in Madagascar. There be a lot of insects, plants and other animals that only exist here so be careful what ya touch, smell or eat,'' Steven warned.

'' I didn't take ye for a man of the world, doctor. I'm impressed,'' Jack said surprised.

'' There be a lot ya can learn when ya study medicine. Unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of visitin' all of these places mentioned durin' my years of trainin' but me teacher was a widely travelled man and had a lot ta tell.''

'' We be very fortunate ta have ye with us. Poor Mickey's eye would be lost if ye hadn't been here,'' Jack said as he patted him on the back.

The group continued their hiking through the jungle and after a few hours decided to stop and get something to eat. Their water supplies were almost drained because of the heat and only the rum remained.

'' We need to find more water. We can't continue in this heat without water,'' Kenna said worried.

'' Have ye seen any water here? If ye have then please show me 'cause I haven't found a drop,'' Jack said as he cooled himself down in the shade of a tree.

'' I'll try and find some water,'' Kenna said as she walked away.

'' I'll come with you,'' her father said and followed her.

'' Good luck!'' Jack called out but didn't move a limb to help.

Christian shook his head. '' Sendin' a girl ta get water. That's very heroic.''

'' Mind yer own business. She's a grown woman, and an angel. I can't believe there be anythin' out there she can't handle,'' Jack replied. Then after a short pause. '' Besides, she has her father with her.''

Christian cursed him under his breath. He had promised to leave Jack alone during their journey but he sure wasn't making it easy for him.

Kenna and her father walked a while but found no water. The daylight was slowly creeping away and the darkening sky could be seen through gaps in the thick group of trees. The heat had lowered and the air was getting less humid.

'' What about the leaves?'' Kenna suddenly said.

'' What about them?'' her father inquired.

'' Since it's so warm here the leaves must collect moisture during the day. Now that the heat has gone down the water should be cooling off on the leaves. We can gather the water from the leaves,'' Kenna said happy.

'' I'm not sure…Steven said we should be careful with the plants. What if they are poisoned?''

Kenna's smile faded. '' You're right. We wouldn't want to poison the whole crew. Then what should we do?''

'' We could try digging for water. It's probably safer than gathering water from the leaves,'' her father suggested.

'' Yeah, as long as the earth isn't poisoned too.'' Kenna rolled her eyes.

'' Not if we dig deep enough.''

---

A while later Kenna and Malak returned with water in bottles and flasks. Many of the men were already asleep but a few sat around a fire. They put the bottles away where they would stay in a shade when the morning came and joined the men by the fire.

Jack was sitting on a log by the fire, roasting some vegetable on a stick. Kenna sat down beside him and took the stick away from him. She pulled the vegetable off and ate it.

'' Hey! That was mine!'' Jack frowned and she laughed.

'' I've been trying to locate water for hours. I deserve some nourishment.'' She handed him the stick again but it was empty. '' I want more.''

Jack reluctantly took the stick and started threading more vegetables onto it. He then handed the stick to her.

'' Ye can roast it yerself.''

He stood up from the log and went in search for a new stick for him to use. Soon he joined her again and threaded his stick with some meat. He put it over the fire and waited. When it was done he pulled it out and prepared to eat it but Kenna was first and snatched the stick away from him. Jack looked at her dissatisfied and she chuckled. She gave him a kiss and continued eating the meat and the vegetable on her stick.

'' I will get ye back for this,'' Jack threatened.