Tangled Threads - A Story of Pirates
Clarity
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Chapter Thirty Three - Clarity
Their destination a sheltered cove, five ships were at anchor a sixth was
disappearing over the horizon. Will jumped out of the carriage, following
Roberto, looking for Bella hoping that she was unharmed, that she was here.
“she is with Martinez…ah that is good so we sail immediately” Roberto was
speaking to one of the other men, even as long boats were being made ready to
transport the hundreds of men back to their ships.
Will stood back just a little, listening to the conversations trying to
understand what was going on. He figured that the woman they were speaking of
must be Bella. He hoped so; his heart had leapt when he had those words, a
flood of relief rushing through him, the alternatives unbearable.
“Come” Roberto had left the others “we must leave it is dangerous. Follow me
William Turner.”
They had rowed out to one of the ships, sails had been raised and they had left
the bay, heading in the opposite direction from the vessel that had now slipped
from vanished. So that was it then. Bella was gone; to
he would find his way back to the Black Pearl. At least Jack had the compass,
he would know where Bella was going and would be able to find her. And she was
safe, about to find out all the things that she had wished for. And he felt
bloody miserable.
It was much later, when Will lay in bed in the cabin that they had provided
him, sleep evaded him instead his mind was racing going over all the events of
the past months. He realised that he could recall
word for word every conversation with Bella, how her face had looked when she
laughed, or when she was angry and how peacefully she slept when she was not
dreaming. The freckles on her nose, how her eyes changed from
blue to violet depending on her mood, and how they had softened when he had
kissed her. He had felt like this before, he sat up, thumping a fist
into the mattress, leaning to cradle his face in his hands, cursing softly
under his breath.
He had been caught up in what he had seen as duty, to Jack, to his Captain too
caught up in acting with honour to see what had been
right in front of his nose, and now it was too late. How many times had Jack
told he had missed a moment in the past and yet now when it was so important he
had done it again. Bugger, the word was uttered under
his breath, Jack would gut him if trifled with Bella, but this was not a casual
flirtation, this was a gut wrenching ache. His Captain had talked once or twice
about love, usually in the last hours of rum soaked revelry, when he would
become serious, almost pensive and what Will thought of as being the real Jack
Sparrow would show through. His words had always been the same, if you find it,
grab it, hold onto it mate, no treasure in the world is more valuable than
love, and he would look at his hands, take another gulp from the bottle and
then change the subject. Jack had known love, Will was certain of that, known
it and lost it.
Admittedly Jack probably had not been thinking of the present situation when he
had given his advice, Will thought about that for several more moments, turning
his feelings over in his head, imagining a conversation with Jack.
He breathed deeply, he would stand in front of Jack knowing that he spoke from
the heart and Jack was not a stupid man, he would know, and he knew William
Turner. Decided he lifted his head, there was only one answer, every other
alternative made him feel like sharp stakes were being driven into his chest.
He pushed the blanket aside, dressing in the darkness, he needed to speak with
Roberto, he had to be put ashore at the first port, so
that he could take ship for
Barefooted he ran up the stairs, looking for the man on watch, to ask him which
was Roberto’s cabin. This could not wait until morning. Too many times he had
waited or hesitated. But this time fortune was with him, Roberto was at the
wheel silhouetted against the night sky. Quietly he made his way up the stairs,
the Spaniard nodded to him.
“William you are up late.”
Will nodded standing so that he could see Roberto’s face “I need to get off
this ship.”
“Why would that be we can take you to a safe port, see that you get back to
your home.”
“I need to get to Bella, to
going.”
“Ahh well you will be pleased to hear that the port
we are bound for is the very same as what
have scattered to make pursuit more difficult but we will be regrouping. Soon
William you will see your Bella again.”
Shrewd eyes watched Will as he leaned against the railing, relief
making his knees sag.
“So that is how it is?”
`Will straightened seeking the other man’s eyes in the darkness, Roberto seemed
to be very intent, waiting for his answer
“Aye.”
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