Nightmares By The Sea

One more chapter to go. Whoo hoo!


Chapter 10- Decisions, Decisions

And every road I walked would take me down to the sea/With every broken promise in my sack/And every love would always send the ship of my heart/Over the rolling sea--Sting “Valparaiso”

Feeling came first, his chest was on fire and breathing was moderately difficult, but at least he was breathing. Next came sight. He was in a ship’s cabin, not his own, that was neat as a pin. His chest was bandaged and he had decided this was not heaven, there was no rum, but it was comfortable, so he ruled out hell as well. He sat up with some difficulty and saw Paul sitting in a wing chair, watching him intently.
“How are you?” Paul asked.
“Run through, and you?”
“Sorry,” was his answer,
There was a long, uncomfortable silence and finally, Paul spoke.
“You’re put me in a difficult position, Sparrow.”
“Ye look quite comfortable to me,” Jack said “What do ye mean?”
“I have to have something to show for this venture. I pulled strings attached to some very frightening men to arrange six ships and full crew in under two days. Tanner would have done, but you did that for me.
“Do these said ‘frightening men’ know about me and mine?” Jack asked.
Paul nodded.
“Aye, and here’s my problem. If I go back empty handed, they’ll throw me in debtor’s prison and put Amy and Evangeline out. No, Evangeline they’ll probably marry off.”
Jack’s jaw tensed. Paul noted this and continued.
“There’s your crew, but besides being pirates, I find them a likable bunch.”
“You have a plan,” Jack said, smiling.
“I have a plan,” Paul agreed “I hear you specialize in escapes.”
Jack inclined his head a fraction.
“I’ve had my share.”
“We’ll take you back to Montserrat. Someone from Port Royal will want to come and collect you to take you back to the gallows. If you happen to find a key to your cell before they arrive, that’s their loss isn’t it?”
“What do we tell Eva?” Jack asked.
“That you traded your life for your crews. Repairs are being made to the Pearl as we speak. She’ll make it to the next port and full repairs can be made there. Here’s where you prove to me what quality of man you are.
Jack raised an eyebrow.
“What are your intentions with Evangeline?” Paul asked.
“I plan to marry her, mate” Jack answered.
Paul bowed his head and sighed.
“That’s the wrong answer.”
“Excuse me,” Jack said indignantly.
“Evangeline isn’t cut out for your kind of life-”
“You’d be surprised,” Jack interrupted.
“You’re not making me like you any more,” Paul said “As I was saying, it’s not for her. Obviously, I can’t help you once you’ve escaped, you’ll be on your own, but you’re to leave Evangeline here. Alone.”
“Eva will hate me.”
“That’s the way it has to be. It’s that or the noose.”
“Can I at least see her?”
Paul shook his head.
“The less she knows, the better.”
“Will you tell her I love her, then?”
Paul looked at him sadly and stood up to leave.
“Why make it any harder than it’s already going to be?” he asked and opened the door without another word.
Behind him, Jack could see two armed guards and no Evangeline. The lock turned and Jack sunk back to the bed, the threat of tears stinging his eyes.
“Bugger.”

****

Evangeline was locked in her cabin. Her father had actually locked her in! HE had left out one of her favorite dresses for her, but she had only spent five minutes in it before she felt smothered and had changed back into the trousers and shirt. After that, she just sat there and seethed.
Paul walked in after a while and shook his head when Evangeline didn’t even mister up a smile to greet him.
“We’re moving,” she said, ice dripping from each word.
“Aye, I’ve ordered them to sail for home.”
“The Pearl?”
“Free to sail thanks to their Captain.”
Color rose in Evangeline’s cheeks.
“Where is Jack? How is he? What did you mean by that?”
“Jack is in my cabin, under lock and key,” Paul said.
“Sounds familiar….”
“You’re free to go as of now, but you’re not to see Sparrow, so don’t even try. He’s going to be fine, for now.”
“For now?” Evangeline asked, a dangerous edge creeping into her voice.
“He has decided to spare his ship and his men by turning himself in. He’ll remain in the fort jail until someone from Port Royal can come fetch him.”
“And then?”
“And then he’ll receive a fair trial and--”
“And they’ll hang him!” Evangeline cried, tears springing to her eyes.
Paul sighed.
“That’s generally the way of it with Pirates.”
Evangeline picked up a bottle of ink from the desk and hurled it against the wall of the cabin. It shattered and the dark liquid pooled on the floor, staining the wood.
“I’ll take this ship apart board by board,” she hissed “If that’s what it takes to save him.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Paul roared “And I will lock you in here if I have to.”
“Do it,” Evangeline said “It’s the only way you’ll keep me from him.”
Paul tried to hug her, but she pulled away.
“You’ll feel better when we get home,” he said sadly and locked the door behind him.

****

The sun rose red on Montserrat. Paul stood next to Jack on the deck of the Atlas, which was empty except for them. There was no wind, no sound except the occasional creak of the ship as she rocked with the sea. The calm didn’t seem to suit the feelings Jack was struggling with. Never before had he been forced to choose between his neck and his heart.
“Not a good sign,” Jack said, nodding towards the horizon “A red dawn.”
“Do you see anything good coming out of this situation?” Paul asked as he fastened the shackles on Jacks wrists.
“Honestly, no. How’s Eva?”
“Spitting mad,” Paul answered, the corners of his mouth turning up into a wry smile “I’m half tempted to have someone guard my door tonight. I wouldn’t put it past her to try and kill me in my bed.
Jack chuckled.
“Tha’s my girl.”
Paul looked at him sharply and tugged the chains, causing Jack to walk forward.
“She’s not your girl any longer and you’d do well to remember that. The official from Port Royal will be here in two days time. Seems their eager to come and get you. He will dine with my family before coming to the jail and all but one of the guards, who will be at the north east entrance, will be invited. There’s a door three cells down from yours. The key is a master and will open it. Take the right passage as far down as it will go. Then left until you come out on a beach. It’s in a cove protected from the view of the fort until you’re in open sea. I’ll keep everyone looking for you until you’ve had time to clear. There’s a skiff there on the beach. It’s not my fault whatever happens to you after that.”
Paul pressed a key into Jack’s palm and Jack immediately secreted it from sight.
“You lose that,” Paul said “And there won’t be another.”
Jack nodded that he understood.
“Just curious ‘bout something.” Jack said.
“Yes?”
“Earlier, when they brought that bloke up from the brig, was that Gillette?”
Paul nodded.
“He was the one who shot the cannon. He’ll be court marshaled for insubordination and whatever else I can get to stick. He’s under house arrest, so you won’t see him at the jail. He seemed rather worried you two might have to share a cell.”
“Trust a git like him to cause all this trouble,” Jack said and let himself be led away.”


****

Evangeline entered her room, her mother two steps behind her. She found it disturbing that everything that should be so familiar was now so strange. She looked over to the bed in the corner, and finding it empty, turned to her mother.
“Where’s Sarah?” she asked.
Amy sighed and sat Evangeline down.
“She passed away, my love.”
“What?!”
“She was old….and the shock of your being kidnapped just….took it out of her. She was ill for about a week and passed in her sleep.”
Evangeline began to cry, this new information too much for her already strained nerves.
“She’s buried in the family plot it you want to visit,” Amy said, her voice cracking “We buried her in silk. A king’s ransom. She’d be happy.”
Evangeline smiled slightly and leaned on her mother.
“Are you alright,” Amy asked “Truly?”
Evangeline shook her head.
“Anything you want to talk about?”
She shook her head again.
“In time, then,” Amy said and kissed Evangeline on the forehead. “You rest tonight, tomorrow I’m sure people will be dropping by all day to see you.”
“To gawk, you mean,” Evangeline said crossly.
“Evangeline, there are people here who love you and missed you very much, no matter what you think.”
Evangeline wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.
“I’ll have your meals sent up, give you time to settle in.”

****

Night had fallen and Evangeline was pacing in her room, torn between duty and love. Her father had returned several hours before and had made no attempt to come speak to her. Not that she would have let him, but--
Evangeline let out a loud sigh and looked out the window. The village was dark except for the fort up on the cliffs. Jack was there. Her mind played back every moment she’d spent with him since he’d welcomed her aboard the Pearl, still thinking she was a boy and she made a decision. She threw open her wardrobe and dug through it until she found a bodice she’d outgrown several years earlier. She unbuttoned Jack’s shirt nearly to her navel and pulled the bodice over it. She tightened the laces until she heard them creaking and still there was an inch of flesh showing between the two pieces of fabric. Her breasts were spilling out of the top and she pulled them out just a little more. She tied a sash from on of her dresses around the top of the pants and opened the window.
“It’s not that far down,” she whispered to herself.
There was a little voice inside her head going: Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! She used to scale this wall all the time as a child. Granted she was smaller, lighter and braver then….She took a deep breath, grabbed a cloak, and began to climb.

****

Paul sat in his study for several hours pondering what to do about Evangeline. He’d cry peace with her, but he had a feeling she’d have none of it. Still, he had to try. He walked up the stairs and knocked on her door.
“Evangeline?” he called when he got no answer.
No answer again. He tried the door and found it locked. Pulling a key out of his pocket, he opened the door and it took him all of two second to deduce what had happened. Open window. No Evangeline.
“Damned Sparrow,” me muttered and headed for the fort.

****

Evangeline entered the fort and headed to where she knew they were keeping Jack. She turned the corner and ran into two guards, both of them drunk. They pulled their pistols out and she pushed the cloak away from her face. The lowered the guns and tried to hid the bottles they each were holding.
“Miss Bryan,” one of them said “We have orders not to-”
“Damn your orders,” she spat “And damn the man who gave them to you.”
Both men paled under her fury.
“Unlock the cell,” she ordered.
“We can’t” said the other “We’d be in there with him if we did.”
“Unless you want my father to know you’re both in your cups while on duty, I’d suggest you open the blasted door.”
“Miss Evangeline….”
Evangeline pulled her cloak off and let it drop to the floor. The two guard gaped at her appearance and she smiled seductively.
“A woman learns a few thing among pirates, gentleman,” she said walking towards them “He’s to be hanged in two days and I’d like to say goodbye. Properly.”
The guards blushed, but Evangeline continued.
“You unlock that door and give us some privacy and after I’ll find you two and we’ll have a….drink.”
One took his keys out and unlocked the door.
“You go to the northeast entrance,” she said to the one who unlocked the door “You go to the other. I’ll come find you in a while.”
They both scurried off and Evangeline opened the door. She stepped down into a dank , windowless room. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark and she made out Jack’s form, asleep in the corner. She walked over to him and nudged him with her toe.
“You know,” she said “They say only guilty men sleep when they’re in jail.”
“Evangeline?”
He leapt up and gathered her to him, smothering her in kisses.
“I may end up in here with you,” she said “I didn’t plan anything after this part.”
“Where are the guards?” he asked.
“I sent them away.”
“How the bloody hell did you manage that?”
She gestured down at herself and he laughed.
“Oh, I like this,” he said, hooking his finger into the bodice and pulling her towards him.
She smacked his hand away.
“We’ll have time for that later. Right now we need an idea.”
Jack held the key up with a smile.
“The door’s already open, Jack,” she said, exasperated.
He walked out of the cell and made a follow me gesture. Jack counted down three cells and unlocked the fourth door. They looked into a tunnel. It had been carved out of the cliffs. The walls were dripping with moisture and it was dark. Jack shuffled his feet and the sound echoed. He pulled Evangeline in, closing the door, and the darkness became complete. Feeling his way along the wall, he took what he hoped was the right corridor and they began their descent into the darkness.

****

Jack and Evangeline emerged onto the beach and it was all Jack could do to keep from cheering.
“Yer da said there’d be a skiff round here somewhere,” he said pulling her towards the waterline.
“My father?” she asked, struggling to keep up.”
“Who do you think gave me the key, luv?”
Paul stepped out of the darkness, pistol raised.
“Let her go,” he ordered.
Jack released Evangeline’s wrist.
“It was her idea, mate.”
Paul lowered his pistol and looked at Evangeline who nodded. He sighed and sat down on an outcropping of rock, putting his head in his hands. Anger fled Evangeline then, seeing her father look so defeated.
“Father,” she said “Do you remember when I was eight and you told me you’d get me the moon if I only asked?”
Paul looked up and nodded.
“I’m asking.”
Paul sighed and stood up, turning to Jack.
“How far are you willing to go for her?” he asked.
“As far as it takes,” Jack answered.
Paul reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather satchel, which he threw at Jack. Jack caught it and unwrapped the thong that held it closed. Inside was a thick stack of pound notes in several denominations. Jack looked up in surprise.
“There’s enough there for food and clothing,” Paul said “And passage, and a wedding, and some left to set up a household if you spent it wisely.
“Passage,” Evangeline asked.
“I must be crazy,” Paul answered. “But I have an idea.”