Chapter 5
The clouds had cleared and a full moon lit the night sky revealing the black sails that meant freedom for Jack. He’d decided shortly after joining His Majesty’s Navy that it was nothing more than an elegant prison sentence and not something he wanted for the rest of his life. It was simply a means to an end and that end was finding his father. Unfortunately, that freedom would mean losing Katrina.
Scooping up a bloody sword, Jack crept to a point where he could watch what was happening. The fight had been quick, the pirates having surprised the Challenger, and now the soldiers were being held at bay.
"Seize all the valuables!" ordered the pirate captain.
The men scurried off to carry out the orders and Jack continued to watch. He spotted Governor Norrington who looked extremely nervous. Obviously he was worried about Katrina. Maybe this would work in his favor…having hidden her from the pirates. Where was the young lieutenant? There he was, near the helm being held by two men. Jack didn’t like Kat’s brother and it was clear that the feeling was mutual. If the lieutenant were to be killed tonight, Jack wouldn’t stop it or be upset about it at all.
Jack’s attention was drawn back to the pirate captain. The last time he had seen his father, he’d been seven years old but he’d never forgotten him. On the lapel of his jacket was the gold broach Jack remembered belonging to his mother and his mind drifted to the memories he held of her. She had loved his father without question and would spend hours on end at the docks waiting and watching for his ship to dock. He remembered too how she would cry for days when he’d leave her. Jack had vowed to never do that to the woman he loved.
Freedom or love? His decision was about to be made for him. From the hold, one of his father’s men returned holding Katrina by the waist as she tried to fight to get free. Jack’s first instinct as to rescue her but he held fast waiting to see what was going to happen.
"LET ME GO!" screamed Katrina as she tried to kick her captor.
"I found this morsel hiding in the hold of the ship."
"Let her go!" demanded Lt. Norrington as he struggled to get free only to be hit hard enough to knock him unconscious.
"What do we have here?" The pirate captain reached out to finger Katrina’s hair. "A pretty little strumpet. I bet ye have all the laddies after ye like the dogs they are."
Katrina quickly recognized the captain as possibly being Jack’s father but she didn’t let on as she growled, "I’m NOT a strumpet. NOW LET ME GO!"
"A fiesty little thing, aren’t ye?" smirked the pirate captain as he touched her cheek. Katrina tried to smack him but he easily stopped her and growled, "Don’t be making that mistake again, missy."
"What do ye want to be doin’ with her?"
The captain looked her over carefully, then said, "Hold her with the others. I’ll decide what to do with her after I see what bounty we have."
Jack relaxed a bit. She was safe for the moment. Now he could wait for the opportune moment, when he would benefit the most. If things worked according to his plan, he’d leave the Challenger to be with his father and he’d be able to take Katrina with him.
The pirate crew made quick work of searching for valuables and returned to the deck with their meager booty. Their grumbling loud and their desire to kill the British crew obvious.
"What did ye find, Barbosa?"
"Not a bloody thing save these few trinkets that belong to the girl! I say we kill them all and burn the ship!"
"AYE!" cheered the pirate crew.
The captain surveyed the British crew and his eyes fell on Katrina. In a blink of an eye, he spun on his heels barking, "BURN IT!"
"NO!" screamed Katrina as she broke free from the men holding her. Running to get in front of the pirate, she said, "Take me."
The captain stopped to look at her. "What purpose would it serve me to take you?"
"I’m the governor’s daughter. They’d leave you alone as long as you have me aboard. You’d be able to go and come as you please."
"True enough."
"All I ask is that you don’t harm anyone aboard this ship."
The captain mulled over the offered, then said, "Say ye good-byes."
Quickly, Katrina went to her father and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I love you."
"Katrina, don’t! I’d rather die than have you with the likes of these pirates."
"I’ll be okay." Moving to her brother who still lay unconscious, she placed a light kiss on his forehead. Rejoining the captain, she said, "I’m ready."
Once more, the pirate captain started to leave the ship with Katrina in front of him. Behind him, his crew cut lines and sails disabling the ship even further before following the captain to the Black Pearl.
Katrina stood on the deck as the Challenger disappeared into the night. Her heart ached wondering what had happened to Jack. He had promised to protect her and he’d tried. What had happened to him? Had he lost his life trying to protect her?
