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Previous Chapter Chapter 6
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.
Setting: Takes place right after Curse of the Black Pearl.
Characters: Norrington, Gillette, Groves, Anamaria, Murtogg, Mullroy, Marty, Will, Elizabeth, Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma.
Parings: Will/Elizabeth, Norrington/Anamaria
Gentleman Pirate
Chapter 7: Survivors
_
Peter Murtogg ran the old and damp cloth against the splintered surface of the dining table. It was chore he had grown accustomed to ever since both he and Robert Mullroy had signed up to join with Captain Norrington’s crew. Robert was given the role as the ship’s cook and Peter would clean up after him and bring the food to the captain.
“The last one is finished cleaning their last dish,” Robert stepped out of the galley, the stained apron he often donned when cooking was rolled up into a wad. “Do you need any help?”
“I’m just about done my self,” Peter dunked the rag into the bucket nod tried to ignore the few strings that came loose and fell of into the water.
“The boys sure have been full of gossip recently,” Robert placed his battered tricorn on top of his head. “Most of em, been talking about the prince of the sea.”
“Theseus?” Murtogg suggested the halfling son of Poseidon. “Unless we are talking about one of the others.”
Robert just stared at him. “Whom are you talking about?”
“The prince of the sea. The god of the sea had many children, most with sea nymphs and mortal women. He is like his brother, Zeus. The only brother who honored the state of marriage was the lord of the underworld.”
“You have been reading those myth books too many times,” he surveyed the state of the tables. “I’m talking about the pirate captain of Calypso’s Fury”. He placed his fists at his hips and strutted around. “Mr. ‘I am the Prince of the sea.’”
“That one,” Peter ran the cloth over the last corner. “We are going after that captain? Are we going to work together with his crew, or fight against him, or just talk?”
Robert shrugged. “I don’t know. They are just rumors. Although many said it was the order of the captain.”
“It could be a possibility.” He furrowed his brow. “Does the captain seem to be acting strange recently?”
Peter tilted his head to the side. “No,” he had seen the captain stand proudly at the helm, ordering his crew around, and speaking with both Anamaria and Andrew. The only thing off was a slight difference in the captain’s appearance. “He has been shaving and bathing daily, that is all.”
“He hasn’t been drinking much either.”
“He is too focused, probably saving the rum to reward himself later.” With one last swipe he had finished. “You know who has been acting strange? Theodore.”
“He has been avoiding the captain recently, won’t even have dinner in his cabin. It makes you wonder.”
“He isn’t planning a mutiny,” Peter closed his eyes. Theodore was one of the last people on the planet who would lead a mutiny against Captain Norrington, and after the captain’s recent sailing through the squall and away from the navy it would be a one-man mutiny against the rest of the crew.
“Naw, I just wondered if the captain slept with Theodore’s woman.”
“Which one?” Peter asked before he and Robert broke down into laughter.
-
“It no longer stings,” James stared at his injured hand as Anamaria slowly unwound the cloth covering it. “It doesn’t even itch.”
“That is because I am taking care of it.” Anamaria tilted the steaming teapot and poured hot water into the bowl that had already contained a small amount of cool water. “You know this may sting.”
“Of course.” James closed his eyes. It had become part of a daily ritual ever since Arrow bit his hand. Anamaria would clean it with warm water and a bit of soap before dabbing rum soaked cloth on the bite.
“He has only apologized once.” She said. “He still won’t get his mind around the fact your spirit belongs to another world, to another life, another wo…” She trailed off as she cleaned the wound.
“Another what?” James gritted his teeth from the heat of the cloth.
“It does not matter.”
“I never bothered to ask this,” James opened his eyes. “What is the other me like.”
“Very much the same as you,” She removed the cork from a bottle of rum. “He does not bath as often as you, but he bathes more than the rest of the crew, and insists on keeping his coat clean.” She pressed a cloth against the mouth of the bottle and tilted it over for a few seconds. “He speaks as eloquently as you, tries to keep his ship clean, and very respectful of his crew.”
James nodded at the description. He was respectful to his own crew. “But he is a pirate.”
“Not like most pirates.” She brought the cloth against the injury. “He refuses to burn any of the ships we board and only kills out of defense.” Her smile grew larger. “When he steals jewelry from the women passengers he bows before them and praises them of their beauty. Those foolish girls always swoon after they have been robbed by you.”
“You mean him?” James felt himself getting warm and tried not to stir. Was his double that much of a charmer? “He has probably charmed his way into many beds of wenches on Tortuga.”
“No,” Anamaria wound a clean swath of cloth over James’s hand. “He is a one woman man.”
“Where is this lucky woman?”
Anamaria’s hands went limp. She stared at him; her brown eyes were unblinking before she looked away.
James inhaled deeply. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Her question of fitting in his other life had nothing to do with the navy. There was also the way she glared at both Tia Dalma and Rosemary, and here he thought it was because of their ties to witchcraft. James you are an idiot.
“Captain,” Marty’s knock at the door destroyed the awkward silence. “Andrew has spotted a longboat heading for us.”
“A longboat?” James rose from his chair. He would apologize properly to Anamaria later. “In which direction?”
“In front of us, sir,” Marty said. “It’s completely filled. Some of the people appear to be injured.”
“Grant permission to have them board,” James told him.
“You want to pressgang them, sir?” Marty asked.
“I want them for questioning.” He shouldn’t have phrased it like that. It sounded too much like what a naval officer would say. “They may know something of The Prince of the Sea and The Calypso’s Fury.”
“Aye captain,” Marty saluted him.
“You want to rescue them,” Anamaria said softly from behind.
“Even though I am trying to be like your Norrington I cannot deny my true nature.”
“My James would have also rescued them.”
“We are much alike,” James muttered. How was it that he and his pirate self were so similar while the two Rosemary’s were different? He would ponder that question later. “It would be best if we meet our guests.”
-
The longboat contained eleven people. Ten men and one young cabin boy of twelve years; all fit tightly into the small boat. All of them had minor cuts and bruises. Six had more serious injuries. One man’s arm was burned from the wrist to just past the elbow. One man was unconscious, another had broken their leg, two had serious stab wounds and another had a bullet wound.
“Everyone else is dead,” the burned man said as Norrington’s crew busied themselves with trying to heal the men. “Our captain went down with his ship.”
“Who attacked you?” James said before he turned to Murtogg and Mullroy. “I need a cloth soaked in cold water.”
“Pirates,” another man spat out the word.
“I see,” James placed his hands behind his back. “You are aware you are aboard a pirate ship?”
The other men sucked in their breath while the youth’s pale blue eyes widened.
“We have nothing left,” the burned man tried to hide the fear in his voice. “The others stole everything, and burned our ship down.”
“I will see that you will reach land,” James wished he hadn’t told them the truth about his ship. “We need more supplies and are nearing the Bahamas. We will let you off and even find an actual doctor. In the meantime we will treat your wounds with what we have.”
The rescued men stared at each other and mumbled to each other while Anamaria, Gillette, Marty and the few others treated the suffer of the bullet injury and the men with stab wounds.
“Who are you?” The man with the broken leg asked.
“My name is Captain James Norrington,” James placed his arms across his chest.
“Captain Norrington,” the young boy breathed out his name. “The Gentleman Pirate?”
“That would be me,” James tried not to smile at the nickname he had received.
“We have the cloth,” Murtogg and Mullroy carried the long wet cloth between them.
“Wrap it around Mr.” He stared at the burned man.
“Evans,” the burned man told him.
“Wrap it around Mr. Evan’s arm.” He stepped away from Evans, giving both Murtogg and Mullroy enough room to treat him before he addressed another man. “Do you know which ship attacked you?”
“We did not get their name,” a man with stringy gray hair said. “The ship’s sails were golden yellow in color.”
“I told my grandfather it was the Calypso’s Fury,” the boy said.
“It was the self proclaimed Prince of the Sea, who attacked you.” James said. They were heading towards the right direction.
“That is what the crew called him,” the older man said. “We didn’t get to see the captain. He never left his
ship, but his crew spoke of him, saying there was enough pickings to satisfy their prince.”
“You have no idea of where they would be heading?” James asked doubtfully He had watched Anamaria’s careful ministrations as she removed the bullet from the one man. Gillette and Marty were both sewing up the stab wounds with cat gut.
“No captain,” the boy continued to stare at him in admiration.
“We were to busy trying to keep from being killed and trying to escape,” the boy’s grandfather snapped at him.
“I’m sorry,” James, continued to watch his crew. Two other men had used pieces of wood and binding to set the one man’s broken leg and keep it straight. The unconscious man had already been taken below deck. “Until we reach the island you will be my guests. There are plenty of spare hammocks for you to sleep on and you will dine with the rest of my crew.’
“You are not forcing us to join?”
“As I have said you are guests.”
“Don’t you know, grandfather?” The boy stared at the elderly man in disbelief. “He is the Gentleman pirate. He rescues people from other pirates.”
“You are correct,” James smiled at the boy. “May I know your name?”
“His name is Daniel Havers,” the boy’s grandfather said. “I am Arthur Havers.”
“Daniel, how would you like to have dinner with me, Mr. Gillette, Miss Anamaria and Mr. Small in my cabin tonight? Your grandfather is also invited.”
“May we?” Daniel turned to his grandfather.
Arthur shrugged. “We may.”
“Mr. Mullroy will be preparing roast pork for tonight. I am certain you will enjoy it.”
-
James had made certain to see that everyone of his guests had found a hammock to sleep for later that night, and paused by each injured man to see they are resting. He had asked Marty to wait by the unconscious man to watch over him, until he had awakened.
Seeing at how his injured guests were treated he checked on the others. For of them huddled together, maintaining their distances from the James’s crew while they used a crate as a makeshift table to play cards.
“Let me know if you need anything,” James said as he walked past them. “We can brew you a fresh pot of tea.”
“We are fine,” one man snapped before he placed a card down on the pile in the middle of the table.
“I cannot find fault in them,” James sighed. They were after all; attacked by another pirate ship and here they were living amongst a different crew of pirates. Why should they immediately lower their guard and trust him. He wouldn’t, if the circumstances were in reverse.
He found Arthur and Daniel Havers while the two were in the middle of a minor argument on the quarterdeck. The elderly man was holding one of the crew’s swords and waving his finger.
“I wasn’t going to play with it, honest.” Daniel folded his arms. “I just wanted to see how heavy it was.”
“They are not toys,” Arthur continued his lecture. “They belong to pirates. You are risking the anger of the captain by playing with them.”
“But I wasn’t playing with them.”
“However you are still a bit young to hold them,” James said. “Without supervision of course.”
Both grandfather and grandson turned to look at him.
“He shouldn’t be near them,” Arthur said. “He is too young.”
“I’m no longer a child,” Daniel protested.
“Of course you are not,” James pat the top of the boy’s head. “You are at the age where one can learn how to use a sword.”
“Are you going to teach him?” Arthur narrowed his eyes.
“I would,” James kept his own eyes on the older man’s. “But I see you wouldn’t want me to be his teacher.”
“I do not like the idea of him learning at all.”
“But I want to learn to fight. I want to be the best swordsman ever.” He curled his fingers into fists and
turned to his grandfather. “Then I will be able protect everyone from bad pirates.”
“I am certain you will find a good instructor where are headed.” James smiled before he left to take the wheel.
-
The sun was hanging low, most likely at three bells, when took he approached Gillette at the helm. James inhaled deeply when he saw both Groves and Arrow were next to him.
“I was unaware I had been given such a moniker,” James approached the wheel. “Gentleman Pirate. I actually like the name myself.”
“Sorry we never told you sooner,” Gillette said.
“It isn’t your name,” Groves stepped back from the two. “It belongs to our captain.”
“You will get your captain soon,” James had decided it isn’t worth trying to argue with him.
“We are on the right path,” Gillette said. “Care to take the wheel?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“Pity we had to stop and pick up passengers,” Groves tickled the neck of his pet. “Isn’t it?”
“We couldn’t leave them in the water,” Gillette turned to him. “You know that.”
“Anamaria told him too. That was why.”
“She didn’t tell me anything until after I gave out the order.” James grabbed onto the wheel spokes. “I had no idea your captain would have done the same.”
“Can you not believe they are pretty much the same?” Gillette asked. “I nearly forgot he was not our James earlier today.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gillette. Mr. Groves, help Anamaria with the salves.”
“Aye, Captain,” Groves, said stiffly before he left.
“He still won’t accept you,” Gillette stared after Groves. “He can’t get his mind over the navy part.”
“You, Anamaria and Marty have.”
“We just see it as a different profession. That is the only part about you that is really different.”
“The only part,” James thought about the conversation he had with Anamaria. “I didn’t realize the other me is married to Anamaria.”
“Married?” Gillette sputtered.
“We are not properly wed?” James nearly lost control of the wheel. “The other me shares a bed with a woman and isn’t properly wed to her?”
“On this ship you two are considered a married couple,” Gillette said. “But only because you, or should I say the other you, performed the marriage yourself. It is still unofficial.”
“I see,” could he fall in love with someone like Anamaria? She was beautiful, there was no argument against that, and she was intelligent. She knew how to treat injuries and was a skilled sailor and bold. She wouldn’t back down from a fight. She almost was like Elizabeth.
“What is the destination after the Bahamas?”
James pulled out the odd compass. The arrow was pointing in the same direction before, despite the fact it was wavering slightly. “The arrow is pointing at the same direction as before.” He closed the lid.
-
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.
Setting: Takes place right after Curse of the Black Pearl.
Characters: Norrington, Gillette, Groves, Anamaria, Murtogg, Mullroy, Marty, Will, Elizabeth, Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma.
Parings: Will/Elizabeth, Norrington/Anamaria
Gentleman Pirate
Chapter 7: Survivors
_
Peter Murtogg ran the old and damp cloth against the splintered surface of the dining table. It was chore he had grown accustomed to ever since both he and Robert Mullroy had signed up to join with Captain Norrington’s crew. Robert was given the role as the ship’s cook and Peter would clean up after him and bring the food to the captain.
“The last one is finished cleaning their last dish,” Robert stepped out of the galley, the stained apron he often donned when cooking was rolled up into a wad. “Do you need any help?”
“I’m just about done my self,” Peter dunked the rag into the bucket nod tried to ignore the few strings that came loose and fell of into the water.
“The boys sure have been full of gossip recently,” Robert placed his battered tricorn on top of his head. “Most of em, been talking about the prince of the sea.”
“Theseus?” Murtogg suggested the halfling son of Poseidon. “Unless we are talking about one of the others.”
Robert just stared at him. “Whom are you talking about?”
“The prince of the sea. The god of the sea had many children, most with sea nymphs and mortal women. He is like his brother, Zeus. The only brother who honored the state of marriage was the lord of the underworld.”
“You have been reading those myth books too many times,” he surveyed the state of the tables. “I’m talking about the pirate captain of Calypso’s Fury”. He placed his fists at his hips and strutted around. “Mr. ‘I am the Prince of the sea.’”
“That one,” Peter ran the cloth over the last corner. “We are going after that captain? Are we going to work together with his crew, or fight against him, or just talk?”
Robert shrugged. “I don’t know. They are just rumors. Although many said it was the order of the captain.”
“It could be a possibility.” He furrowed his brow. “Does the captain seem to be acting strange recently?”
Peter tilted his head to the side. “No,” he had seen the captain stand proudly at the helm, ordering his crew around, and speaking with both Anamaria and Andrew. The only thing off was a slight difference in the captain’s appearance. “He has been shaving and bathing daily, that is all.”
“He hasn’t been drinking much either.”
“He is too focused, probably saving the rum to reward himself later.” With one last swipe he had finished. “You know who has been acting strange? Theodore.”
“He has been avoiding the captain recently, won’t even have dinner in his cabin. It makes you wonder.”
“He isn’t planning a mutiny,” Peter closed his eyes. Theodore was one of the last people on the planet who would lead a mutiny against Captain Norrington, and after the captain’s recent sailing through the squall and away from the navy it would be a one-man mutiny against the rest of the crew.
“Naw, I just wondered if the captain slept with Theodore’s woman.”
“Which one?” Peter asked before he and Robert broke down into laughter.
-
“It no longer stings,” James stared at his injured hand as Anamaria slowly unwound the cloth covering it. “It doesn’t even itch.”
“That is because I am taking care of it.” Anamaria tilted the steaming teapot and poured hot water into the bowl that had already contained a small amount of cool water. “You know this may sting.”
“Of course.” James closed his eyes. It had become part of a daily ritual ever since Arrow bit his hand. Anamaria would clean it with warm water and a bit of soap before dabbing rum soaked cloth on the bite.
“He has only apologized once.” She said. “He still won’t get his mind around the fact your spirit belongs to another world, to another life, another wo…” She trailed off as she cleaned the wound.
“Another what?” James gritted his teeth from the heat of the cloth.
“It does not matter.”
“I never bothered to ask this,” James opened his eyes. “What is the other me like.”
“Very much the same as you,” She removed the cork from a bottle of rum. “He does not bath as often as you, but he bathes more than the rest of the crew, and insists on keeping his coat clean.” She pressed a cloth against the mouth of the bottle and tilted it over for a few seconds. “He speaks as eloquently as you, tries to keep his ship clean, and very respectful of his crew.”
James nodded at the description. He was respectful to his own crew. “But he is a pirate.”
“Not like most pirates.” She brought the cloth against the injury. “He refuses to burn any of the ships we board and only kills out of defense.” Her smile grew larger. “When he steals jewelry from the women passengers he bows before them and praises them of their beauty. Those foolish girls always swoon after they have been robbed by you.”
“You mean him?” James felt himself getting warm and tried not to stir. Was his double that much of a charmer? “He has probably charmed his way into many beds of wenches on Tortuga.”
“No,” Anamaria wound a clean swath of cloth over James’s hand. “He is a one woman man.”
“Where is this lucky woman?”
Anamaria’s hands went limp. She stared at him; her brown eyes were unblinking before she looked away.
James inhaled deeply. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Her question of fitting in his other life had nothing to do with the navy. There was also the way she glared at both Tia Dalma and Rosemary, and here he thought it was because of their ties to witchcraft. James you are an idiot.
“Captain,” Marty’s knock at the door destroyed the awkward silence. “Andrew has spotted a longboat heading for us.”
“A longboat?” James rose from his chair. He would apologize properly to Anamaria later. “In which direction?”
“In front of us, sir,” Marty said. “It’s completely filled. Some of the people appear to be injured.”
“Grant permission to have them board,” James told him.
“You want to pressgang them, sir?” Marty asked.
“I want them for questioning.” He shouldn’t have phrased it like that. It sounded too much like what a naval officer would say. “They may know something of The Prince of the Sea and The Calypso’s Fury.”
“Aye captain,” Marty saluted him.
“You want to rescue them,” Anamaria said softly from behind.
“Even though I am trying to be like your Norrington I cannot deny my true nature.”
“My James would have also rescued them.”
“We are much alike,” James muttered. How was it that he and his pirate self were so similar while the two Rosemary’s were different? He would ponder that question later. “It would be best if we meet our guests.”
-
The longboat contained eleven people. Ten men and one young cabin boy of twelve years; all fit tightly into the small boat. All of them had minor cuts and bruises. Six had more serious injuries. One man’s arm was burned from the wrist to just past the elbow. One man was unconscious, another had broken their leg, two had serious stab wounds and another had a bullet wound.
“Everyone else is dead,” the burned man said as Norrington’s crew busied themselves with trying to heal the men. “Our captain went down with his ship.”
“Who attacked you?” James said before he turned to Murtogg and Mullroy. “I need a cloth soaked in cold water.”
“Pirates,” another man spat out the word.
“I see,” James placed his hands behind his back. “You are aware you are aboard a pirate ship?”
The other men sucked in their breath while the youth’s pale blue eyes widened.
“We have nothing left,” the burned man tried to hide the fear in his voice. “The others stole everything, and burned our ship down.”
“I will see that you will reach land,” James wished he hadn’t told them the truth about his ship. “We need more supplies and are nearing the Bahamas. We will let you off and even find an actual doctor. In the meantime we will treat your wounds with what we have.”
The rescued men stared at each other and mumbled to each other while Anamaria, Gillette, Marty and the few others treated the suffer of the bullet injury and the men with stab wounds.
“Who are you?” The man with the broken leg asked.
“My name is Captain James Norrington,” James placed his arms across his chest.
“Captain Norrington,” the young boy breathed out his name. “The Gentleman Pirate?”
“That would be me,” James tried not to smile at the nickname he had received.
“We have the cloth,” Murtogg and Mullroy carried the long wet cloth between them.
“Wrap it around Mr.” He stared at the burned man.
“Evans,” the burned man told him.
“Wrap it around Mr. Evan’s arm.” He stepped away from Evans, giving both Murtogg and Mullroy enough room to treat him before he addressed another man. “Do you know which ship attacked you?”
“We did not get their name,” a man with stringy gray hair said. “The ship’s sails were golden yellow in color.”
“I told my grandfather it was the Calypso’s Fury,” the boy said.
“It was the self proclaimed Prince of the Sea, who attacked you.” James said. They were heading towards the right direction.
“That is what the crew called him,” the older man said. “We didn’t get to see the captain. He never left his
ship, but his crew spoke of him, saying there was enough pickings to satisfy their prince.”
“You have no idea of where they would be heading?” James asked doubtfully He had watched Anamaria’s careful ministrations as she removed the bullet from the one man. Gillette and Marty were both sewing up the stab wounds with cat gut.
“No captain,” the boy continued to stare at him in admiration.
“We were to busy trying to keep from being killed and trying to escape,” the boy’s grandfather snapped at him.
“I’m sorry,” James, continued to watch his crew. Two other men had used pieces of wood and binding to set the one man’s broken leg and keep it straight. The unconscious man had already been taken below deck. “Until we reach the island you will be my guests. There are plenty of spare hammocks for you to sleep on and you will dine with the rest of my crew.’
“You are not forcing us to join?”
“As I have said you are guests.”
“Don’t you know, grandfather?” The boy stared at the elderly man in disbelief. “He is the Gentleman pirate. He rescues people from other pirates.”
“You are correct,” James smiled at the boy. “May I know your name?”
“His name is Daniel Havers,” the boy’s grandfather said. “I am Arthur Havers.”
“Daniel, how would you like to have dinner with me, Mr. Gillette, Miss Anamaria and Mr. Small in my cabin tonight? Your grandfather is also invited.”
“May we?” Daniel turned to his grandfather.
Arthur shrugged. “We may.”
“Mr. Mullroy will be preparing roast pork for tonight. I am certain you will enjoy it.”
-
James had made certain to see that everyone of his guests had found a hammock to sleep for later that night, and paused by each injured man to see they are resting. He had asked Marty to wait by the unconscious man to watch over him, until he had awakened.
Seeing at how his injured guests were treated he checked on the others. For of them huddled together, maintaining their distances from the James’s crew while they used a crate as a makeshift table to play cards.
“Let me know if you need anything,” James said as he walked past them. “We can brew you a fresh pot of tea.”
“We are fine,” one man snapped before he placed a card down on the pile in the middle of the table.
“I cannot find fault in them,” James sighed. They were after all; attacked by another pirate ship and here they were living amongst a different crew of pirates. Why should they immediately lower their guard and trust him. He wouldn’t, if the circumstances were in reverse.
He found Arthur and Daniel Havers while the two were in the middle of a minor argument on the quarterdeck. The elderly man was holding one of the crew’s swords and waving his finger.
“I wasn’t going to play with it, honest.” Daniel folded his arms. “I just wanted to see how heavy it was.”
“They are not toys,” Arthur continued his lecture. “They belong to pirates. You are risking the anger of the captain by playing with them.”
“But I wasn’t playing with them.”
“However you are still a bit young to hold them,” James said. “Without supervision of course.”
Both grandfather and grandson turned to look at him.
“He shouldn’t be near them,” Arthur said. “He is too young.”
“I’m no longer a child,” Daniel protested.
“Of course you are not,” James pat the top of the boy’s head. “You are at the age where one can learn how to use a sword.”
“Are you going to teach him?” Arthur narrowed his eyes.
“I would,” James kept his own eyes on the older man’s. “But I see you wouldn’t want me to be his teacher.”
“I do not like the idea of him learning at all.”
“But I want to learn to fight. I want to be the best swordsman ever.” He curled his fingers into fists and
turned to his grandfather. “Then I will be able protect everyone from bad pirates.”
“I am certain you will find a good instructor where are headed.” James smiled before he left to take the wheel.
-
The sun was hanging low, most likely at three bells, when took he approached Gillette at the helm. James inhaled deeply when he saw both Groves and Arrow were next to him.
“I was unaware I had been given such a moniker,” James approached the wheel. “Gentleman Pirate. I actually like the name myself.”
“Sorry we never told you sooner,” Gillette said.
“It isn’t your name,” Groves stepped back from the two. “It belongs to our captain.”
“You will get your captain soon,” James had decided it isn’t worth trying to argue with him.
“We are on the right path,” Gillette said. “Care to take the wheel?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“Pity we had to stop and pick up passengers,” Groves tickled the neck of his pet. “Isn’t it?”
“We couldn’t leave them in the water,” Gillette turned to him. “You know that.”
“Anamaria told him too. That was why.”
“She didn’t tell me anything until after I gave out the order.” James grabbed onto the wheel spokes. “I had no idea your captain would have done the same.”
“Can you not believe they are pretty much the same?” Gillette asked. “I nearly forgot he was not our James earlier today.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gillette. Mr. Groves, help Anamaria with the salves.”
“Aye, Captain,” Groves, said stiffly before he left.
“He still won’t accept you,” Gillette stared after Groves. “He can’t get his mind over the navy part.”
“You, Anamaria and Marty have.”
“We just see it as a different profession. That is the only part about you that is really different.”
“The only part,” James thought about the conversation he had with Anamaria. “I didn’t realize the other me is married to Anamaria.”
“Married?” Gillette sputtered.
“We are not properly wed?” James nearly lost control of the wheel. “The other me shares a bed with a woman and isn’t properly wed to her?”
“On this ship you two are considered a married couple,” Gillette said. “But only because you, or should I say the other you, performed the marriage yourself. It is still unofficial.”
“I see,” could he fall in love with someone like Anamaria? She was beautiful, there was no argument against that, and she was intelligent. She knew how to treat injuries and was a skilled sailor and bold. She wouldn’t back down from a fight. She almost was like Elizabeth.
“What is the destination after the Bahamas?”
James pulled out the odd compass. The arrow was pointing in the same direction before, despite the fact it was wavering slightly. “The arrow is pointing at the same direction as before.” He closed the lid.
-
