A Pirates Tale

“Scarlet is in the forest,”  William told his soldiers. Twenty of his men stood around the large table while he loomed over the map, clutching the edges with sweaty hands. He pointed to the patch of woods to the southeast of the cellar. “She will be in this area here.” He drew a cone in the suspected direction Scarlet may have gone. He was certain. She had to be there. Without looking at anyone he called for the dogs to be rallied and handed over a cloth kept in his breast pocked. “Use this.” One of his men took it.

“William?” Jeff’s voice bubbled into the King’s ears.

“Dismissed.” Williams’ voice cracked. Jeff ordered the rest of the men to begin searching the forest and then turned to his king.

“Ready?”

Slowly looking up from the map William patted Jeff on the shoulder, retrieved his sword, guns, and grenades. “As I’ll ever be.”

“You wanted to see me, Captain?”  Jack entered the cabin closing the door behind him.

“Please,” George motioned to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit.”

With a nod, Jack made for the chair but stopped upon seeing a girl sitting across the room.

“Who is she?” he asked with shifty eyes.

George answered plainly, “She's the rightful heir to the Azarian throne.”

Jack's eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped. Still pointing at her he said, “Why is she here?” his whisper was low and harsh. “Have you lost your head, man?”

George held Jack’s eyes for a long time. Finally, he shook his head. “I made a mistake.”

Jack mimicked his Captain’s antics. He was sure this was a dream. This could not be happening. “Does -” Jack searched the cabin and made for the door, assuring its security. Lowering his voice he continued, “Does Rusty know about this?”

George nodded. “He’s my first mate.” George shrugged, “He was the first to know.”

Jack was having a hard time wrapping his head around the situation. ‘What is George doing with a child in his cabin? There’s no reason for it. Nothing logical anyway. And the heir to the throne! What’s going on?’  “I - I don’t - why would - how can - …” he stammered, trying to make sense of it all.

“There’s nothing to make sense of.” George strolled around the desk, almost too calm for Jack’s liking. “I need you to take care of this.” he nodded toward the girl.

“Take care of what?” George was beginning to frighten him. Jack knew that his friend was a pirate: a ruthless force to be reckoned with. He had watched George give a man nine lashes for allowing a lifeboat to drift out to sea due to a miss-tied knot. Jack had thought the punishment severe, but George assured him he’d gone easy on the boy. But this was a child. It was different. Wasn’t it?

“Don’t play dumb, Jack!” George raved. Reaching around him to retrieve a dagger. He shoved it into Jack’s chest. “I won’t tell you again.”

Jack stumbled and took the dagger with a shaky hand. The girl had begun to cry small whimpering sobs that were progressively getting louder. He allowed a sideways glance at the girl and winced.

Suddenly filled with rage, George charged at Jack! Grabbing a fistful of Jack’s shirt he slammed him against the wall with all his strength. George made his face so close to Jack’s their noses touched. “Take care of it,” he growled, “or don’t come back.” His stare hard and unyielding.

Jack began to shake his head, tears welling.

“Do it, or don’t come back!” George screamed and shoved Jack toward the door, causing Jack to stumble and fall. “If you come back, and it’s not done, I’ll off you myself.” His chest heaved as he towered over Jack’s crumpled frame.

Jack cowered in shock, staring up at his friend. They had been mates since childhood and shared so much over the years. Memories began to play behind his eyes in a haze. Getting into trouble together, meals shared, games played. As the memories blurred back to the present as he watched George stomp to his desk and pour mindlessly over maps and charts. Like a flash of lightning, he realized the man he knew was not standing before him. He was gone.

Jack stammered to his feet and walked to the sobbing five-year-old, hoisting her to his hip. Oddly, she didn’t resist, rather she wrapped her arms around his neck and held with all her tiny strength. Patting her back he opened the door to leave but didn’t walk through. He stood there, holding the crying child with one arm and clenching the door latch with the other, hoping his friend might suddenly come to his senses. Realize what he was asking. Tell him to stop. Wait. Come back. But he didn’t. As he left his captain’s cabin he could hear a pen scratching on parchment.

George listened as Jack’s footfalls became faint and let his head fall into his hands; tears pooled on the maps before him. ‘You’re a better man than I, Jack. I know you’ll do the right thing.’