Ransom

^ Had a chance to do that once, through college, but my first husband wouldn't go for it. < I used to be able to read a French magazine, or newpaper article. Don't think I could manage it these days. V Ever tried to translate a book, magazine, etc. with just a dictionary?

Doesn't really bother me to have them speaking Spanish. Especially now that I have a crew member who's going to be speaking some Italian. Also, Aurore and Sterling speak French. I don't have a problem with any of it, but if subtitles are needed, I can also do that. Don't want anyone feeling left out.

^ Didn't they used to have those tapes you played at night, so you could learn a language? Would be nice if it worked. If I could learn something over night, I'd pick computer mastery. I am still a computer challenged person. < I admire people who can speak multiple languages. V Would you go to a different country to learn a language, or stay home with CD's?

^ Took two sememsters of French once, when I went back to college. Don't think that qualifies as knowing. < Actually, I am thinking of getting a French language tape or CD, and refresh my memory. Maybe also get one for Italian. v Got a language you'd like to learn?

^ A thick pen. Which I use to write an illegible scrawl that at times even I can't read. < Have longed to have good handwriting. I tried caligraphy, but got too frustrated with it. V Like to handwrite things, or use your computer and a script font to fake it! (That would be me.)

With her hold lightened of several tons of gunpowder, the Rakehell rocked gently at her moorings. I lay in my cot, tired after almost four and twenty hours awake, but found sleep elusive. Even Ludo's fine meal of grilled fish and rice, accompanied by several glasses of celebratory port, couldn't drive away the unease which gripped me. I let my gaze wander aroud the small cabin, lit by an oil lamp hanging from the center beam. This small, relatively private place, had been my home for five years. And for those five years, I possessed a ship, a small trunk of clothes, a few books, and a fine china tea set. I also possessed a certain amount of freedom, but I was also responsible for a crew of men who had, over the years, become my friends. My family. They trusted me to look out for them, and honor their opinions if they didn't agree with mine. We had money. Tomorrow we would have provisions. Then what? It was clear to me the crew wanted to leave Port Royal, especially after the ship had been searched. No ship of "free enterprise" felt comfortable being searched by the local authorities. We could head back to Boston, or Charles Town, picking off a few ships as we went along. But how long would our luck hold? I knew only too well that the law would catch up with us eventually. Someone would talk, someone would point a finger at the Rakehell and whisper, "Pirates." I rolled over and stared out the stern window. The cold, glittering stars gave no answers to my many questions. There was only one reason I could think of to stay in Port Royal, and at this moment, I had no idea where he was.

The Rakehell had returned to Port Royal without incident. Around noon the ship was searched, and questions asked, but as there was nothing to find, and "gifts" were exchanged, the guardsmen left without a fuss. Tunny and Jimmy went ashore to look for possible crewmen. Since Ioan had jumped ship, we were a man short, and could actually use two extra for replacement. But one good seaman would do nicely. Late in the afternoon Jimmy came back on deck with a stocky, dark-haired young man I guessed to be around twenty-five or so. His grinning smile showed teeth healthy and white as a child's, while his dark-eyed gaze swept over the deck, appraising everything. Who's this?" I asked. "From what I could get outta him, beings as how I don't speak 'Taliano, his name is Ludo somethin' er other. Wants to join the crew." The man straighened to his full height of maybe five foot seven inches. "Ludovico Baglione! Buon giorno, Madame. Sono il vostra uomo. Potete contare su me." I smiled. "Vedremo se siete il nostro uomo - oppure no." then turned to Jimmy. "Where did you find him?" "Came off some ship that sank in the harbor during the hurricane. Said the captain is a drunkard." "How do you know all of that if you don't speak 'Taliano?" "One of his crew mates translated for me." I regarded the Italian. "Cucinate?" He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "Posso cucinare!" He thumped his barrel chest. "Sono Italiano, o corso che posse cucinare." He then cast his eyes heavenward and kissed his pinched fingers. "Alimento por i san!" With a wide grin, I answered, "Siete assunti!" then looked at Jimmy. "Show him to the galley. And keep Goose out of his way."

Be glad ya got boobs to squash, Rumba. For me, it's kinda pitiful watching them attempt to find something to squish. One nurse once told me that, "We can make anyone look bigger on film." Then she looked at my "pictures" and said, "Well, it doesn't always work."

Reese's Peanutbutter Cups M&M's - Loved the white chocolate POTC ones!

^ I don't go in cold water. If I have to jump ship, I hope it's near land. < I have a love/hate relationship with the ocean. I love being on it, but it's not very forgiving if you screw up, so it's a bit scary as well. V Any natural force of nature scare you?

With a sigh of relief that the job was finally done, I locked the money away and went up on deck. The smugglers vanished, melting into the darkness on shore. Africa came to stand next to me. "Day good at their work. Quick." "Yes, and we've finally got enough coin to provision the ship properly. Let's get back to Port Royal — same way we left her, casual, as if we've no care in the world." "Den what?" "Then, my nosey friend, we look for one, maybe two, new crewman." "Den we go?" I thought suddenly of Sebastian. "Then we decide," I prevaricated.

^ Eeewww, been there, done that. Not fun. < I've had such bad/scary dreams that it wacks my whole day. V Had a dream that affected you for a long time?

^ Vivid color. < I have all kinds of dreams. Some very kewl, some scary. V Pass the question - color or B&W

I'd raise a toast to your generosity, then hide the bottle before it was empty, so ya'd have a chance to share it when ya had the time.

Mr. Spindlethorpe lurked behind his counter, watching the Spaniards. Spaniards! In his inn! He couldn't imagine more nerve-wracking situation. It was obvious the men disliked the drink and the food, even though it was the best he had on offer that evening. The sneering looks he'd been given hadn't helped. Even his serving woman, usually so jovial and friendly to the inhabitants of the common room, had dropped a tray, she was so on edge. No, it wouldn't do. It wouldn't do at all. Wringing his hands, he fervently hoped that a company of the governor's guardsmen would come in for a drink. As if he could conjure them out of thin air, Mr. Spindlethorpe kept looking at the door to the street. "Naturally," he muttered, "a guardsman is never around when you need one."

Yeah, when POTC first came out, there was some fun, cool pirate things in the stores. But now, sheesh, tons of cheap junk - put a skull and CB's on anything, and sell it as "pirate" gear/game/toy, etc. That's what is going to kill the pirate craze eventually. **I have a visual of land fills everywhere piled high with grinning skulls on tons of dead toys **

It might not be lack of self-confidence, but lack of knowledge. There are many situations in which I would not trust myself, because I would be totally out of my element. Under those circumstances, I could actally be a danger to others, not just myself. I would have to trust someone else with greater knowlege, and learn from the experiece.

As the morning progressed, the storm seemed to abate a little. The wind, while still strong, was not fierce. The waves still crashed over the bow, but didn't slam into us. To the east, the sky showed thin strips of blue sky through the cloud layer. Unforetunatly, the lightening sky also showed me that the Relentless was gone. But I couldn't worry about her at the moment. If the wind kept dying, we could make the repairs to sails and mast while at sea. We could also finally eat a hot meal, which would cheer the crew, even if Goose did the cooking. I turned to Africa. "Let's give it another hour, and if the wind continues to back off, we'll make repairs. I'm going below to check on things. Keep on this same heading." As I traversed the deck, I called to Tunny. "Get aloft and tell me if you can see the Relentless." Quick as a cat, he was up the rat lines again, then through cupped hands called down, "No, Mam, no sign of her."

"No, there is no further want." I debated whether to send a message to Sebastian through this man, but decided against it. Our affairs I wished to keep as private as was possible. Besides, I felt sure the evening's proceedings would be reported in great detail to someone. I just wasn't sure that someone would be Sebastian. I would leave it for him to decide how much of our relationship he would admit to his clansmen. As to said clansmen, they had been inspecting me all night as if I were some horse they might buy. With a slight chuckle, I wondered if I had measured up to whatever standards I had been judged against. With a smile, I addressed the departing man. "This has been a good night's work. May hap, at some future date, the Rakehell can be of further service to your clan."

With a grin, I showed the man to my cabin. "I thought the offer of brandy might coax you on board." I poured two glasses, and, with a wink, handed one to him. "It's fine stuff, but don't be asking where it came from." I found myself wanting to impress this man, only because I knew he would report back to Sebastian how the night's events had gone. I wanted that report to be a good one. Without thought, I reached into my pocket and touched the key he had given me. A good luck charm, indeed. I raised my glass and toasted my guest, and the conclusion of our agreement. "Godspeed, to you and yours."

His manner was polite, but there was some hint...some underlying assesment still going on. I smiled in return. "Permission granted. Are you in need of assistance, for I feel sure that the payment for such a fine cargo would be a heavy burden, and might impede your safety. It has been a long night, and all are weary. I offer you a glass of brandy, to seal our bargain, and toast a fine night's business."

^ Talk, cajole, cuss at, shake a finger at, stick my tongue out at,...well, I could go on, but it gets even uglier. < I have a love/hate relationship with my computer. Mostly love, but there are days.... V Love or hate that 'puter on your desk?

The laugter died on his lips at the remark. His first inclination was to strike out at her, but he reined himself in. No point in causing a ruckus and getting himself slammed into the brig. But the barb had struck home, no matter how much he chose to think otherwise. "Wouldn't be talking too much about whipping, missy, what with that great ugly bruise on your face. Seems neither one of us is too welcome back aboard our previous vessels. As for the captain of the Rakehell, well, she and I have a bit of unfinished business to take care of. No one puts marks on my back without paying a price. I just haven't decided what that price is going to be. So, once you're done being a hazzard on deck, maybe you'll think twice before you try and cut me low again...Missy." He sauntered away, as if he had no care in the world, when within, he was seething.

I had read the note handed to me and nodded. With quick efficiency, a few small boats approched the Rakehell. In silence the hold was quickly unloaded. Though disappointed that Sebastian was not among the men taking possesion of the powder and arms, I understood. In all honesty, I was grateful to have the hold empty, no matter who Sebastian had appointed to perform the task. I knew the crew were also relieved. It wanted only the receipt of payment for the transaction to be complete. I addressed the man waiting, who seemed to be judging me by some private standard of his own. "You have your cargo, sir. Our agreement has been fullfilled. It is time you made good on your side of the bargain, and paid us for such."