DEAD MAN'S TAVERN II

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Jack turned, still lost in his admiration of Honour's sublime form, and walked headlong into one of Ahmet's zealous recruits.  The young man laid sprawled out in the dust of the market.  Jack put his boot on the youngster's chest and stepped just hard enough to keep the boy from rising.

"You're in a hurry!" smiled Jack.  "And to what end I wonder, why?"

"I am an agent of Ahmet!  She is Honour Bright, yes?  You took out a bounty on her!  I must kill her!  Isn't that what is supposed to happen?" the young man gasped.

"On any other ordinary day, I might be inclined to agree with you." said Jack.  "But this it not an ordinary day.  You need to pick yourself up and walk away, if you've an ounce of sense in your head.  Do you catch my meaning?"  He reached down and pulled the boy to his feet.  But the youngster had been well versed in treachery.  He produced a long knife and pressed it against Jack's stomach.

"I'll kill you if I have to," the youngster said menacingly.

"And you will die the death of a coward," countered Jack.  The young man suddenly realized that a pistol was pressed against his temple.  "Twitch.  Flinch.  I really, REALLY want you to.  Make me happy.  I dare you," Jack taunted.  The young man considered his options. 

"And if I choose not to?" he asked sheepishly.

"Then you mission is to warn off the rest of Ahmet's men, and remind your overfed master that he'd best honour any bargain with me.  I'm quite happy with the figurehead I have gracing my ship's bow, but I'll nail his head up there as a substitute without reservation," Jack warned.  "Yours would suffice as an alternate.  What say you?"

The lad thought about his situation for a moment.  "I'll let Ahmet's men know right away.  And I will tell him your terms.  Just... please let me go."

"Compassion, lad.  You just got a lesson in it," smiled Jack.  "I hope you were paying attention."

"And you trust me?" asked the boy.

"Not as far as I can spit a rat," said Jack.  "But you'll do the right thing.  You do enjoy a drawing breath, don't you?"

"Yes," the boy said.

"Then we have a pact," laughed Jack.  "Don't disappoint me!"

The young man gave Jack a strange look, then ran back the way he came.  He gestured wildly, and nearly a dozen men stepped down from their positions to give up their chance at eliminating Honour Bright.  Jack gave a weary sigh.

"God save the man who tells you I did something this stupid, Honour," he swore aloud.  "I'll spill his blood on the spot."

[Hibernian]

"Holy Mother of God grant me strength," he didn't yell at the young boy but his tongue was in incredible pain from where he bit it just a moment ago to keep his exasperation in check, "Souris, my young friend, imagine if you will that someone arrives on the island today and has no knowledge, none, nothing, nada, of this church and any treasure, what could you tell them?"

"I could tell them a lot, like that everyone says there is a treasure at the church, and that while everyone has been looking for it, no one has found it yet. Which means it must be a great treasure because it's really well hidden."

Kate moved to the boy, taking his hand she took him over to the nearest shop and they sat down together on a bench. "Now Souris, why does everyone say there is a treasure, even when no has found it in all this time?"

Souris' mouth opened but the voice came from within the darkness of the shop. "Because when the prison was overthrown, the church was ransacked, but other than a few candlesticks nothing ever came from what everyone knows was a rich parish. Where did the priest hide their treasure? But some fool killed the clerics before they could talk." An old man walked slowly into the light. "Well if it isn't Souris, tell me my young man do your new friends here need shovels?"

Brother Timothy moved passed the boy in order to look at the old man from the shop. "Why shovels?"

"Since when do monks travel with pirates?"

"It's a long story, why shovels?"

"Why to dig for the treasure of St Dimas! You may travel with pirates but you don't think like one, the clue says the treasure is in the shadow."

"What is the clue?"

"You really are new here..."

"...would you please give us the clue!"

Well it ain't much, but the story goes...
The cross that brought Dimas to his side
Is the guide you'll need to find
Held aloft to honor the sun
In it's shadow you will find the one

[Welsh Wench]

"Honour?"
"Hmm?"  She looked up from holding up a pair of brown suede boots. She tapped the heel on the wooden bin to make sure the heel was securely fastened.
Duckie took the boots out of her hand and said, "I think you'd do better with the black ones."
"That's not what the 'Honour' was about, was it?"
"No."
"Spill it, Doctor Gander."
Duckie pretended to examine a pair of boots of smooth cowhide. "I just want to know how long you are going to play."
"Play? I'm not playing. This is called serious shopping."
"No. How long are you and Jack going to play your little games with each other."
"What games?"
"'What games?' The you-hurt-me-so-I-hurt-you-so-let's-kiss-and-make-up-whoa-not-so-fast-I'm-not-through-torturing-you-yet game."
"Oh. THAT game!"
"Yes. THAT game. For the love of God, just find your way into the same cabin at the same time, lock the door, blow the candle out and GET IT OVER WITH!"
"Not as easy as you think it is, Duckie."
"Oh, come one, Honour! I don't think I need to explain to you what goes where and why."
"DUCKIE!"
"All I am saying is that you two are wound up tighter than a hangman's noose and if you don't get rid of those knots, you two will explode. All that tension can't be good for your disposition. You will be happier, Jack will be happier, and believe me, it will save on the flying projectiles!"
"I'm not through, Duckie."
"What do you mean, you aren't through?"
"I'm not through making Jack pay for all he put me through."
"And that would be...?"
"Never mind. I don't want to go into it."
"One thing about you, Honour..."
"Yes?"
"You have the mind of a woman. No one understands you."
"You're right about that, Duckie. Now...shall we move on?"

Briggs was overloaded with packages. "For the love of me mother, are ye not done YET? Me arms are breaking off! I'm not a beast of burden, ya know, and--oh, for the love of God, put that stuff down!"
Wench looked up from looking over some chemises made of semi-sheer black silk with lace.
"You mean--THIS?"
She held it up for Briggs and his face turned a bright red.
She laughed. "Why, Briggs, I thought it would be a little present for..to myself!"
Duckie shook his head. "Really, Honour, I think that the delicacies could be shopped for when you are with Kate."
She put them down and sighed. "I guess you are right."

Just then a flash of pirate ran by. Honour barely got out of the way in time.
"Will you look at that? I have the same dress. And a hat to match. I didn't think two hats had the same combination of fea...HEY! THAT'S MY STUFF!"
Quick as a flash, Wench threw the gauzy chemise in Duckie's face and ran after the pirate. Which was hard because she had lost a boot heel about three stalls back. She stopped to throw her boots off and continued to run after him.

Everyone had always underestimated Wench's athletic ability. Well, maybe everyone but Jack. She ran through the market street and as she closed in on the thief who dared put her hat on his head, she took a flying leap.
And landed on his back.

Unfortunately the pirate continued to run. Wench wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
"*&^%$!!! GIVE ME BACK MY HAT OR I'LL TAKE YOUR HEAD WITH IT!" Her hand was smooshing his nose and she bit his ear.
"YOW!"
The pirate stumbled forward and Wench went with him, both rolling into the street. The wind was knocked out of the pirate and Wench jumped on his back. She took his head and slammed it into the lane.
Punctuating every slam with a word.
"WHO-slam-DO-slam-YOU-slam-THINK-slam-YOU-slam-ARE-slam-STEALING-slam-MY-slam-CLOTHES-slam!"
She sat backwards on the poor man's arse and started twisting her boots off his feet.
"YOU THIEVING IDIOT! THESE ARE ITALIAN!"
She grabbed him by the laces of the dress and sat him upright. Yanking the dress over his head, he raised his hands like a compliant three year old.
Finally she took the hat, jammed it over his nose and then brutally tore it off his head.

The dress was stretched out, the boots were missing their heels and the feathers were drooping as though they had been through a monsoon.
Wench delicately put her hat on her head with as much dignity as she could muster, tilting it ever so fashionably.  She kicked the pirate over and as he laid in a heap, she calmly said, "You are SO accessory-impaired!  Any fool knows that the red hat goes with this dress!"

She turned to Duckie and Briggs and said, "Some people just have no fashion sense at all. But what can you do?"

Briggs and Duckie looked at each other without saying a word.
Wench turned back to look at them.
"Well, what are you two waiting for? Let's take these packages back to the ship before my line of credit gets back there and makes me take them back."

As they walked off, Wench was heard to mutter, 'Honestly! Just because you are a cut-throat doesn't mean you have to be a cut-rate one, too....mixing a spring hat with an autumn dress...I swear, I'll never understand where they grew up..."

Briggs whispered to Duckie, "I don't know who t'be more afraid for....us or Jack?"
Duckie whispered back, "Let me tell you about the praying mantis...."
"Ya mean the one that bites the head off the male while mating?"
"The very same."
"And ye had t' encourage 'er t' give Ol' Jack a tumble!"
Duckie frowned. "I'm sure Jack would be alright...."
"Yeah. But if not, I sign on with the Knight Hammer!"

They both sighed as they followed the piratess with the spending habit back to the ship.

[Blackjack Roberts]

Jack half drug Malcolm's near limp form through the thick foliage, thankful for the deep shadows of early nightfall to help hide them. Every once in a while he stopped to let his cousin rest as he used the sleeve of his free arm to mop the blood from his eyes. He could count on at least another three to four hours before the overdose of the pain killer would most likely leave him helpless again. By then he should have Malcolm as safe and sound as he could be. Then they could do what ever they wished with Blackjack Roberts. He had done all he had planned to do in this life anyway. If Duckie did have any designs on making him pay for his part in Jenny's death, he was welcome to exact his revenge now.

Through the underbrush he could see the lights of the harbor. Now all that was left was to make it through the town itself in one piece. Considering Malcolm's, and his own condition, Blackjack knew this would be far easier said than done. The two of them may as well have been wearing signs that said "Easy Prey" and his cousin was growing weaker with each passing moment. To top it all there was no way he could use his Lin Qui skills dragging Malcolm.

"Isn't this a bloody pickle!" Roberts thought angrily. "Even if I get Malcolm through this gauntlet I still have to find a way to convince Mad Jack to allow the man who wrecked his ship on board!" Somehow Blackjack thought he would have an easier time trying to pull the teeth from a wide awake tiger in a closet.

Well he certainly wasn't going to abandon his cousin now. Despite all the misery the man had put him through in the name of his master he was still blood and Jack had forgiven him the moment he asked. For the umpteenth time in his life Blackjack Roberts cursed the part of him that was still soft enough to make him do such foolhardy things. At least the early night shadows would provide a little cover.

"Now there's a sight I thought I'd never live to see." A familiar voice chuckled from the shadows. "Blackjack Roberts aiding a man instead of trying to flay him alive? Surely the world is near it's end." Blackjack froze, wondering if Malcolm would survive dropping him to the street long enough for him to face this new danger.

Calico Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny stepped from the shadows. "I always knew ye had a bit of a soft spot in ye somewhere, Roberts." He chuckled.

"Care ta test that theory, Mate?" Blackjack said lowly.

"Not I, Jack." Calico grinned. "Looks like ye could use a friend, or two about now though, don't it?"

"Aye." Blackjack grinned grimly. "Ye always did have a firm grasp a the obvious, Calico."

Rackham stepped closer. "Well, Mate, considerin' the spot a trouble ye helped....." Suddenly he stopped as he recognized Blackjack's burden and pulled two of the six pistols he carried. "Hell's bells...that be Malcolm Dagget yer luggin around!!! Have ye taken leave a yer senses??!!"

In a flash Blackjack had the blade of the strange cutlass pressed against Calico's midsection. "Let's stop this foolishness afore one or both of us do something we'll regret" Roberts said lowly. "We've been friends too long for this and I've few enough friends as it is."

"Best make that the three of us, Blackjack." Anne Bonny spoke grimly as she leveled her own flintlock at Jack's skull.

"F-four!" Malcolm wheezed, having drawn one of Blackjack's pistols and aimed it shakily in Anne's general direction.

"Hold up there, Dogs!" Rackham exclaimed. "Let's get a hold a ourselves and parley. What say you Jack?"

Roberts lowered the wicked steel and breathed an inward sigh of relief when the rest of the group followed suit. He wasn't at all sure how far half dragging Dagget through the jungle had pushed the drug through his body, nor when it would push him far enough for the hallucinations to take over incapacitating him.

"That's better." Calico grinned. "I acted out of shock at seein' ye luggin' around a man what's tried ta kill ya more'n once. So what be the lay 'o things? Last I saw an encounter a'tween you and Dagget ye were dead set on sendin' either a ya ta Davy Jones!"

Blackjack chuckled grimly, using the back of his sleeve to once again clear his blood from his eyes. "It be a long story, Mate." He sighed. "But if'n ye'll help me lug this heavy bastard down ta the docks, I'll be happy ta tell ye the tale."

Calico thought long and hard for a moment, then his clean shaven face broke into a wide grin. "That's what I've always liked about ye, Blackjack. No matter how long we be mates, ya can still surprise me. We have an accord. Anne, fetch three a the crew ta help us get these two back ta their ship. Roberts......start talking."

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Elinor and Jack rounded a corner near the docks and caught site of Honour and her overburdened entourage drawing near the ship.  "Look!  It's Wench!" she said happily, and raised her hand to wave and shout to her captain.  Jack hushed her before she could.

"Ah, none of that, please!" he asked.  "She's have a fit if she knew we were tailing her."

"No," replied Elinor, "she'd throw a conniption if she knew YOU were tailing her"

Jack wrinkled his nose.  "Potato, potahto.  Either way, we should hang back.  Captain's prerogative."

"Whatever.  She's right.  You are impossible," she huffed.

The glimmer of gemstones caught Jack's eye.  They had stopped directly in front of a vendor of precious jewels.  Rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces were strewn haphazardly across the table.  Elinor stared in amazement as he began rifling through the arrayed wealth as casually as one would a basket of cheap produce.  He picked up a topaz necklace, then one of citrine, and tossed them aside.  The shopkeeper smiled and held up a spectacular necklace of emeralds and diamonds.

"What do ye think o' this beauty, gov'ner?" 

Elinor gasped.

Jack's eyes went wide, but not in appreciation of the baubles.  "No thank you, mate!  I'll not go down that road again!  Got anything in, say, rubies?"  The shopkeeper rummaged around and produced two necklaces, one understated comprised of solely rubies, and the other an eye-dazzling display of rubies and glittering diamonds.  He turned back to Elinor.  "Which do you think she'd like, love?"

She swallowed hard, and wordlessly pointed at the diamond and ruby piece.  "Couldn't have said it better myself!  I'll take it."

Less than an hour later, Honour, her escorts, and her considerable purchases were aboard the ship, along with Jack and Elinor.  Honour had changed into a spectacular burgundy dress she'd bought that day.  Jack admired her as she stepped onto the quarterdeck.  She turned around to show off her new purchase, and smiled broadly. 

"What do you think of how I spent your money?" she asked playfully.

Jack leaned on the binnacle and smiled appreciatively.  "I can only fear how much it cost.  But you look amazing in it, like it was made just for you," he flattered.

The compliment caught her off guard, and she blushed.  "Why, Captain Wolfe!  Do you have designs on me, good sir?" she asked flirtatiously.

"Perhaps, my lady," he replied in kind.  "Would you find it too forward of me if I did, Mrs. Wolfe?"

Honour and Jack looked tenderly at one another, and suddenly all the animosity and pain between the two of them seemed to evaporate like the mist on a lake at sunrise.  "No," she said softly.  "Not in the least..."

The shouts of crewmen near the gangway shattered the moment.  "Get the doctor!!"  one of the voices cried.  "We got hurt men!!  Cap'n!!  We got wounded!!  It's Roberts, and that Daggett fella!!"

The couple ran to the gunwale and looked down at the scene unfolding on the dock.  Daggett and Roberts, both bloodied and injured, were being helped aboard.  A garishly dressed fellow and his female companion appeared to have been the ones to deliver the wounded men to the ship.  The spoke with one of the crewmen, then turned to leave.  As they did, the two looked up and saw Jack and Honour looking back at them.  Both couples exchanged quizzical glances with their partners, and the pair on the docks disappeared into the crowd.

Jack turned toward the steps, with a murderous look in his eye.  "What are you going to do?" Honour asked.

"I'm going to have a chat with this Daggett fellow.  Then I'm going to kill him."

"Show me the mangy cur that dared attack my ship!" Jack roared.  The crew made a clear path as he stormed across the deck, his hand already on the hilt of his cutlass.  "I want to see the look in his eyes when I..."  His voice trailed off when he saw the wounded man's face, and his own expression changed from rage to confusion to disbelief.  "Squints? Squints Daggett, is that you?"

Malcolm looked at Jack for a moment, and then laughed weakly.  "Oh, my God!  Jack!" he coughed.  "You're Captain Wolfe?  What happened to you?  You look like hell!"

"You're one to talk, you old bug hound!  Oi!  Duckie!  You remember Squints, don't you?  Come quickly!" called Jack.  Duckie was hustling toward the wounded men, and broke into a smile of concerned recognition when he saw Daggett.

"Squints!  I'd forgotten your given name was Malcolm!  Dear lord, how did this happen to you?"  Daggett nodded in Roberts' direction.  "As I should have guessed," said Duckie acidly, his smile quickly fading.  "Lilaney?  Where are you, my dear... ah!  Lil, please attend to your friend's injuries.  I'm going to have my hands full with this fellow."  He directed two crewmen to lift Malcolm and carry him to the surgery.

Daggett reached out and took hold of Jack's sleeve.  "Jack, I'm sorry about the attack on your ship.  If I had known, I'd have never..."  He caught a glimpse of Honour standing behind Jack, away from the group.  His brow furrowed.  "I'm so sorry about everything."

"We'll talk about this later, Squints," said Jack, and he nodded to the crewmen.  As they carried Daggett away, Duckie paused to confer.  "How bad off is he, Ducks?"

"I won't lie to you, Jack.  He's in very bad shape.  The next few hours will tell."  Jack gave a nod of acknowledgement, and the doctor followed after his charge.  A gentle hand on his shoulder caused Jack to turn and find Honour beside him.

"Jack, where do you know that awful man from?  He's your friend?" she asked.

He chuckled softly.  "Squints Daggett is an old school chum of mine and Duckie's.  Nobody ever knew him as 'Malcolm', really.  He was studying to be a naturalist.  Absolutely fascinated with bugs and insects.  He'd spend endless hours running about looking at things under a magnifying glass or microscope.  That's how he got the name 'Squints', forever peering through lenses at the world.  Looks like he isn't the only one whose priorities in life changed."  Jack turned and looked at Honour.  She couldn't help but see the hurt in his eyes.  "I already know how you're acquainted with him" he said with painful sadness.  He searched her eyes for a moment, then turned and walked toward the quarterdeck.

Honour could feel the heat of shame in her cheeks.  "It was a long time ago," she said quietly as she watched her husband walk away.

[lilaney]

"My Dear?!"
Lil was surprised.
'Never knew a bleeding almost dead person could put another person in such a mood to use a sentiment.'
She filed it away in her mind to ponder later, right next to the thought about Ravel and what he was really about.
Physically, she shrugged and focused her attention onto the bleeding{again} Black Jack
"What the hell happened to you?"

[Hibernian]

"In its shadow you will find the one."
The words of the old man echoed through Timothy's mind as if he believed that if repeated often enough the meaning would suddenly become clear. It wasn't working.

A black shape suddenly moved quickly through his side vision followed by a loud swoosh. Jumping backward he beheld the vision of Kate swinging a shovel around as if it were a quarter staff.
"Kate! What in heaven's name are you doing?"

"What does it look like, I'm looking for a shovel, I want a good one, what do you think of this one?"
"I think it is not a weapon so please lower it before you manage to connect and damage something or worst yet someone. Besides, you don't find a good shovel by swinging it around your head like some naked berserker running into battle swinging a sword."
"Fine then how do you test a shovel?"
"Well, I would suppose that one must...wait a minute why are we testing shovels, I mean why do you need a shovel?"

"I'm going to find the treasure of St Dimas!"
"Interesting and how will this be accomplished?"
"Well by digging when the shadow of the cross on the steeple hits the right spot."
"Just like everyone else on the island? Kate look at all the holes, even the holes have holes in them, it's a whole clan of holes, why I'll bet there are at least three generations of holes here, there are Pappa Holes, Momma Holes and even Baby Holes, you don't need a shovel just look around you are sure to find a hole that just right! Take the hole back to the ship with you, no one will miss it!"
"But Brother..."

Brother Timothy grabbed the shovel from Kate's hand, turned and handed it to the old shop keeper. "Thank you kind sir, we have wasted enough of your time, I'm sorry but we didn't come after the treasure, I just need to see the inside of the church. Once again you have our thanks."

"Did I mention the shovels were half off today only?"
"No, you did not, but should I find anyone needing shovels I will certainly point them your way."
Taking Kate by the elbow the two headed toward the front entrance of the church.

[Blackjack Roberts]

Blackjack winked at Lil as he shrugged off her attentions for the moment. "It's a tale best left for later, Luv." He grinned through the mask of blood that coated the entire side of his face. "I've one last task to perform, and if I don't perform it soon the Lobo may have need of another scribe. D'ye still have the herbs we purchased?"

"Aye." Lil frowned as she slipped the package to him. "But, damn it Roberts you need medical attention now! You could die from this much blood loss!"

The former highwayman simply grinned. "No big loss there, Luv. I've accomplished all I ever intended to in this life and there are few enough to morn my passing. Listen. Soon the overdose of a special pain killing drug that I had to use to get Malcolm back here will leave me helpless, if not kill me anyway. I'd never used such an amount before, so I've no way of telling what the final effect will be."

"Drug?!!" The shapely piratess burst out. "What have you done, you big lummox??!"

"Shhhhhhhhh!" Blackjack hissed. "Now that I'm not dragging Dagget halfway across this bloody island I can use the remainder of my time to slip unseen into the scribe's quarters and free him from the effects of the zombie powder, but I can't do it if you keep drawing attention to us."

As he spoke Roberts backed toward the crowded crew who were watching Duckie take the man who had nearly sunk them to the surgery. "I never intended to kill the scribe, only keep him in check until this business with Mad Jack was over. I won't have another innocent death on my conscience. No matter the cost, I will set him free and save his life."

For a moment Lil stood there open mouthed. In the literal blink of an eye Roberts had vanished into the crew. Had she not known better she would have sworn he became invisible. Now what to do? All her training told her that without medical attention himself, Blackjack Roberts was as good as dead. Why would he risk his own life to save a man who had nearly killed them all trying to kill him? Why take an even larger risk once he was where he could be helped to save the life of a man that was an even bigger threat to him?

Lil thought for a moment. There was only one way to find out. Shoving the Lobo's crew out of her way she raced for the door that led into the Lobo del Mar's innards. Blackjack had to be headed toward the place he had hidden the scribe. Suddenly she stopped short, realizing he had never revealed the location to her. The man could be anywhere below decks now. For the first time in her life Lilaney wrung her hands in frustration. How could she find him in time?

As soon as the two crewmen passed Blackjack detached himself from the shadows in the claustrophobic hallway outside the scribe's door. He had led Elinor and Lil to believe Julian was safe, but the truth was that if he didn't get the mind numbing antidote to the man soon he would die for real. The body could only remain in the living death state for so long before it would succumb to the poisons coursing slowly through it. It was the reason the Voodoo priests would dig the victim up before three days had passed.

Quickly he opened the door and grabbed the nearest empty tankard. Carefully he measured out the amounts of each of the normally deadly herbs onto the small square of cheesecloth he had lifted from the galley. Tying the end into a makeshift tea bag he half filled the tankard with rum and tossed it in to steep.

Pulling the key to Julian's trunk like chest from his pocket he unlocked it and lifted the scribe from within. Laying Julian prone he began to stimulate the blood flow by rubbing the pulse points in the man's wrists, ankles, and neck. This was the tricky part. If he increased the blood flow too much the puffer fish poison that made up a large part of the zombie powder would rush through him and kill him as surely as a blade to the heart.

Julian moaned softly and Jack grabbed the tankard. Pulling the bag out he squeezed it as hard as he could to release even more of the nightshade, and henbane into the alcohol. Then he lifted the scribe's head and all but poured it down the dieing man's throat.

The scribe coughed violently for a few moments, then recognition came to his eyes. "Blackjack Roberts isn't it?" He asked, confused. "You shouldn't be here! You were just shot, man! Does Duckie know your out of your cot?! Is something wrong with Elinor?!!"

Blackjack smiled with relief. The waking drug had done the trick. Julian would live with no memory of the last three days. A small price to pay for his silence. "She's fine, Mate." Roberts grinned. "Ye got a hold of some bad rum and have been passed out in here for the last three days. We had a spot of trouble ashore and she sent me at check on ya. Ye'll be fine now I'd wager."

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'd better find Lil at sew me back up." Roberts stood just as the last of the buffer between him and the Black Lotus burned itself out. Suddenly his head felt as if it had been cracked wide open and the room spun like a deranged kaleidoscope.  Perhaps it was better this way. He had finished his tasks and there was little he cared to see of this world anyway.

"Elinor!" Lil made her way over to her best friend. "Blackjack has slipped off to resurrect Julian! Did you find anything out about where he may have hid him?!"

Elinor thought long and hard. "Not a hair, or a sign. Why"

"If I don't tend to that stubborn oaf soon it's likely as we'll be burying him on this isle before we sail!" Lilaney all but shouted. "Think! Was there any clue as to where he could have hidden Julian's body?!

"The chest!!" Elinor exclaimed. "The chest in Julian's room! When I sat on it, it moved!"

Lil shot for the lower deck with Elinor running as fast as she could in her wake. Arriving at the Lobo's scribe's quarters they threw the door open to find a thoroughly confused Julian sitting on the floor beside Blackjack's barely breathing body. The color drained from Lil's face, almost matching the pallor of Roberts skin.

[Martin Montgomery]

The youth with eyes of green grinned and sketched a low bow towards Lil,finishing it with a flourish " Just doin' a bit 'o business Pretty Lady ,it wern't personal! " The lad disappeared into the throng of onlookers like a puff of smoke on a windy day! Lil,her fists filled with steel shrieked a single word, "YOU!"  Martin stopped his charge after Ravel knowing that it would be futile,so he turned his attention to where he could do some good! Forsaking his compliment of weapons in his anger the big cook turned and grabbed the nearest of the looters by the neck.relieving him of the chest in his hands and pitched him bodily off the wharf into the brackish waters fifteen feet below! He rushed up the gangplank and leaped onto a knot of men,knocking half of them overboard and leaving the rest stunned on the deck! A hand tapped Martin on his left shoulder and without thinking he grabbed it with his right hand and JERKED! "Martin!" Lilaney choked out between laughter "That was one of OURS!" He leaned over the rail and waved at the "El Lobo's" sailor,who was swimming towards a rickety appearing ladder attached to the wharfs sturdy pilings "Sorry!" Men were dropping things and leaping from the deckrails to the unforgiving woodplanks of the repair wharf! Some tried to retain their treasures as they fled down the gangplank,most just fled .......Quickly! The slower ones were helped along with the toe of Martin's boot,applied none too gently to the seat of the their pants! Once the deck was relatively clear,the cook stopped his rampage long enough to find Lil,who was lithely spinning, cuffing ears and kicking the backsides of men who were still searching among the spoils strewn across the planks,her laughter was contagious and Martin chuckled to himself watching her petite form dance about "Lil!" He called out  "Go see where the crew is, so we can start getting all these things back on the boat!" She found a group tied to the new mast and cut them free with a swipe of her dagger. Meanwhile,the now panting  cook was organizing other crewmembers to begin the task of gathering the remnants left behind by the looters. "WW is goin'ta' ab-so-loot-ly FREAK!!" he chuckled to a young crewman as he redfacedly stuffed some frilly "unmentionables" back into one of the Co-Captain's many chests that lay about. Once he had caught his breath,Martin tapped three "Lobo" crewmen,one of them still dripping from his unintentional dunking, and led them over towards a knot of tough looking men who were coming up the narrow street, several pushing handcarts loaded with the food,supplies and sundries he had contracted from Rubin,the proprietor of the "Ship's Stores" warehouse. "What in the bloody HELL is goin' on here!?!" Martin paused and his mind reached back to the time,"Was it only hours ago?" he thought******* Taking the scrap of parchment from Blackjack,with it's distinctive skull,whip and dagger motif, Martin tucked it into his beltpouch for safe keeping. Then with a single nod of his shaggy head repeated "Deal only with Rubin!" Winking at Lil the big man stated "I'm off! Take care you two!" Heading towards a huge structure that had a plain handpainted sign reading only "Ship's Stores"  The look of concentration on his face as he studied a list of needed items,his size and the fact that slung from his belt were enough weapons to supply a squad of marines, made one man's face blanch pale under his striped watchcap as he tread upon the toes of the man behind him to allow the large man plenty of room to pass. Were someone watching it would appear that Martin's gut cut through the crowd like a ship under full sail! The cleared pathway led straight  back to where Blackjack and Lil, still conversing in low tones ,waited. Mounting the rough cut boards that served as a walkway in front of the building,the preoccupied cook bumped into a man who was exiting the wide front opening,his arms full of supplies "Excuse m......" Martin started to say as he reached out to steady the man,then realizing his error shoved the man clear of the door and onto a bench set just outside of the doorway. "Outta my way!" He boomed loudly,noticing that the man was not injured as he sat heavily on the sturdy seat,packages wavering crazily but none falling. crossing the threshold and entering the darker recesses of the stores interior,he stopped to let his eyes get used to the murky gloom, then searched for someone to help fill his rather large order. Seeing no one he filled his lungs and boomed " I am lookin' for a no account who goes by the name of "Ruby!!" he heard hushed snickers further back in the store and chuckled to himself "I don't know why Blackjack worried about me! I can handle a pencil pushing store clerk!"  "Thas' "RUBIN" midget!!" a surprisingly deep voice from behind Martin's left ear whispered! Whirling around the "Knight Hammer/Lobo's" cook  was surprised to be looking at the apron covered chest of an,Extremely Tall, dark skinned man! He stepped back one step and could just see the crown of the man's shaven head, six inches above his own six foot three inch stature! "Oh my stars and garters!" Martin whispered aloud "Blackjack said nothing about Rubin be'in Quite............ So..........BIG!"   The ebony face split into a wide grin as the man started "ROBERTS?! You were sent by that miserable malcontent?!" The cook fished the parchment from his belt and steadied his voice,holding the scrap out between two sausagelike fingers "Aye, he did! He stated that you would cheat me less than any other landbound merchant on this forsaken island! Did he lie?" Surprisingly long and delicate fingers plucked the scrap from his hand and opened it to reveal the insignia representing Blackjack Roberts. "S'truth this IS his mark!" Martin had the unusual feeling of being smothered by the strength of the dark man's quick embrace,and he knew now how others had felt when he loomed over THEM! "So Roberts is on the Island of Traitors! You are here to get supplies? Come! Sit for a time and tell me of my friend! He has told you how he saved my life,and that of my son?!" Martin shook his head, smiled and promised himself to repay Blackjack Roberts for the just now settling flutter of his heart,as he listened to the exited rumbling voice relate his story........ And here it is just a few hours later Rubin himself leading the parade!" The two large men came together and shook hands warmly,as men who respected each other. Looking over his shoulder the cook spoke to the "Lobo's" crewmen "Boys, show these good men to the "Lobo" and start stowing the goods! Something tells me that we are going to need to make another "Quick and Quiet" getaway when WW and the others make it back! Loud cries were heared from a different street,Martin frowned and tried to make out the words  "Get the doctor!!"  one of the voices cried.  "We got hurt men!!  Cap'n!!  We got wounded!!  It's Roberts, and that Daggett fella!!" The two giants raced the length of the ship and arrived at the same second, boots sliding on the streets damp cobblestones! "Get them aboard" One sailor called "I saw the Doctor and the Lady Lil arrive earlier!" Martin assessed the situation then turned to his crewers "We can't all be here in the way, we need to get our supplies loaded and be ready to weigh anchor and set sail as soon as we can find our Co-Captains!"   
         
 

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Duckie dried his hands as he watched the sleeping Malcolm 'Squints' Daggett.  The injuries to his old classmate were worse than he'd originally feared.  The next hours would tell if the man would live or die.  He wondered what had happened over the intervening years to change Squints' fortunes so.  Then again, Duckie wasn't where he imagined he would be all those years ago.  There was a soft knock at the door.  He turned to find Jack standing there.

"Jack!  I was just about to come find you.  Seems our good friend Squints has quite the will to live.  Unfortunately, he's going to need every bit of it.  Whatever arcane potions Roberts used on him, it has severely limited what I can do.  Even Bonita was never so reckless.  Honestly, Jack, if this is how a cousin ends up, I'd hate to be that man's brother.  Provided he makes it through the night, he should be strong enough in a few days time to return to his ship.  Barring any complications, of course.  We should send word and have them follow us to the next port so he can rejoin them."  Duckie paused and cocked his head.  "I don't believe I care for that look in your eyes."

"Can he be moved sooner, Duckie?  Stronger or not," asked Jack quietly.

The doctor rolled his eyes in exasperation and motioned for the two of them to step into the companionway.  He closed the surgery door behind them.  "This is about Honour, isn't it?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you're putting your emotions ahead of the well being of a friend.  It's not Squints' fault, Jack.  He couldn't have known.  You wouldn't have known about any of it if Fate hadn't brought all the players together like this."

"But it did," replied Jack.  "Duckie, I know about Honour's... indiscretions.  She's never made an attempt to hide them from me.  It's easier to deal with when it's an abstraction, you know?  Like it's just some ugly notion.  But this time- there it is, in flesh and blood."  He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  "You said you wanted to see Honour and I back together again.  I do, too.  But how can I possibly put the past behind us when it's strolling the decks?"

"I wouldn't concern myself overmuch of that happening," Duckie interjected.  "I can't guarantee he'll make it through the night.  No, the only way Squints will leave this surgery is if he's carried.  Hopefully breathing."

Jack would not be dissuaded.  "Nonetheless, every time I see him, I'll remember.  Every time he and Honour talk, I'll wonder.  No, Duckie.  I can't swallow this one.  Friend or not, I want him off my ship before we sail morning after next."

Duckie shook his head slowly.  "I know you love her.  I know how her leaving affected you.  I can only imagine how painful this all must be.  But please, Jack, be reasonable!  Are you willing to jeopardize a man's life, Squints Daggett's life, because of a simple twist of Fate?"

"I've done it before with less at stake," Jack said with unsettlingly cool detachment.  "You said it yourself; he's got a strong will to live.  Is putting him off the ship a death sentence, or isn't it?"

"Have you heard a word I've said?!   You can't possibly expect—"

"I'll have Briggs send a runner to his ship tomorrow morning.  They can collect him in the afternoon, to give him a bit more time to rest.  That's the extent of my generosity in this matter."  He turned to leave, but Duckie wasn't finished.

"Damn you, Jack!  I've held my tongue on such matters in the past, but not this time!  Quit playing the jealous husband and think!  This is wrong, and you know it!  You owe him better!"

Jack shook his head.  "I don't owe him a damned thing except my hospitality while he's aboard and to make sure he gets back to his ship, Doctor.  If this is all Fate's doing as you say, then Fate can square it with him."

Duckie stared at his captain.  "I won't have it!  Sangraal is only four days journey, and you have plans to stop there for information on Jennings.  I spoke to Briggs already, so don't deny it.  Four days, Jack!  That will make the difference if he lives or dies.  And consider this; either Squints stays aboard, or he and I both leave.  I'm his attending physician, and I'll not forsake my patient."

"This is blackmail."

"So you have been listening after all."

Jack worked his jaw in frustration.  "Damn you.  Fine.  You have your four days.  No more."  He turned and walked toward the weather deck.  "Call me when he's awake!  We have some catching up to do."

Duckie understood Jack's position, but to allow one friend's battered ego to trump another's life was unconscionable to him.  He returned to the surgery where Daggett still slumbered, where he leaned wearily on his desk and regarded the sleeping man.

"Squints, my friend, it appears we'll have time to get caught up.  You're now a guest on El Lobo del Mar." 

[lilaney]

"What did you do to him!?"
Elinor sank to her knees next to the unconcious BlackJack.
Julian looked incredulious at the accusation she had thrown at him.
"Me!? What are you talking about Elinor? He came in and just fell over.
How is our course to make it to port?"
Lilaney listened to the ramblings of the man sitting on the chest as she watched Elinor gently turn Blackjack less face-down and more face-up.
"Lil? How far out of port are we? A day? Day and a half?"
Julian's insistent questioning got Lil to respond.
"What? Julian," she stated distractedly as she knelt down to help Elinor turn BlackJack's head, the blood was fresh and it made her stomach turn.
"We have been in port for a full day now. Where have you been?"
"WHAT!?"
He jumped to his feet, swayed, and sank to the floor in agony as all the pins and needles of fresh blood-flow cramped his unused leg muscles.
He rolled on the floor as a rather nasty charlie horse cramped his left calf muscle.
Spasmodically, his foot shot out and soundly kicked Elinor in the bum as she quatted on her heels helping Lil assess the extent of the damage to BlackJack.

In one swift motion Elinor went sprawling across Blackjack with an yelp of surprise, BlackJack's eyes flew open, he sat straight up, and he bellowed something in his deep voice that was a mix between a curse, an order, a charge and a plea.
His eyes rolled back up into his head and he flopped back onto the deck.
The thud of his head on the wood was deafening.

Elinor was in a right state.
She pushed up of the now-prone BlackJack with a fury Lil had not seen in a long while, and headed towards Julian.
Who was still on the floor massaging his lower limbs into submission.
Standing over him with arms akimbo Elinor glared at him.

Lil knew when to make an exit.
Somehow she found the strength to gather the top half of BlackJack against her shoulder and hoist him up using her own body to keep his upright. His legs dragged uselessly across the wooden boards.
"Someone's gotta lay off the Rum" She muttered as she began to drag him forcibly towards the surgery.
He was all one big bleeding dead weight.

Captain Wolfe passed by Lil and Blackjack as she was taking a pause in her path to catch her breath and readjust Blackjack against her shoulder.
'He's got what my Mam always called 'the thousand mile stare' on his face. Wonder what's eating him?'
She spoke to Blackjack's unconcious self, his non-reply, but steady beating heart and still bleeding wounds got Lil moving again.
"C'mon, you. Let's go patch you up again. Think I'll leave a coupled of scars for you to brag about in your greying years."

Lil made it to the surgery door and kicked it open with her foot. Duckie's non-plussed face made the effort worth it. Silently, he assisted her in getting BlackJack to the other bed and together they made quick work of him.

"Think he'll stay put this time?"
Lil asked wryly as the two stood over their sleeping paitents.
"Oh, he's not going anywhere for some time, I am certain."
Duckie stated firmly.
"Go change, we both smell."
Lil nodded at his advice and headed to her bunk.
Her thoughts kept her keen company as she changed.
"I think I better go check on Elinor and Julian. Make sure she hasn't killed him, or worse."

[Hibernian]

"Perhaps this isn't the best of times to mention this, but I haven't been through the doorway of a church in quite a while, in fact you might say God and I aren't exactly on speaking terms."

"Bread and butter," coming around another massive hole in the ground the monk joined Kate in looking up at the church. "Don't worry, lightning very rarely hits inside an actual church." The color drained from her face as Kate's eyes grew wider. "Hey, just kidding, lightning is so Old Testament, but just in case would you like to hold my rosary beads?"
"That's not helping!"
"Then how about this, I remember an old Irish tradition, first time into a new church you get three wishes. Just use one of your wishes to make yourself lightning proof."
"Great, I'm stuck with a monk who's trying to be funny by mixing superstition with religion."
"The Church is full of supersition mixed in with theology, but I didn't say that. Come on Kate you are way too tense about this, still stay close, it's getting late and we still need to find our way back to the ship."

The monk put his shoulder to the door and slowly it creaked open enough for the two to slid into the interior of the church. As he followed Kate through his right hand naturally went to the stoup standing next to the door. When his fingers remained dry he turned to examine it and saw the crack, no holy water here. Still he slowly blessed himself and followed Kate into the nave.

Kate moving as quietly as she could, walked into a rainbow. The nave of the church was flooded with light from the great stained glass windows. Turning slowly she studied each of the colored panels. "They're beautiful, who are they?"

"The windows of the church sometimes tell a story like a parable or an event from the Bible, sometimes we see a window into the next world or there are windows like these with men and women who we may use as guides on the way to heaven. Such as over there, see that's St. Michael the Archangel a very popular image."
"So I should be like Mike?"
"Perhaps not, I'm having a hard time imaging you in that armor with a flaming sword."
"Who are the others?"
"In a moment, first I need to check something. But if you take a close look, usually there are clues in the windows," Brother Timothy moved past Kate and toward the sanctuary.

The church was obviously long abandon yet he approached with care and reverence, even abandon this was still a holy place. Stepping past the iron altar screen the monk slowly genuflected and walked to the altar. Looking about there was nothing left intact, anything of possible value was long gone, even the tabernacle and red sanctuary light were missing. It amazed him that the windows were still intact, but one never knows.

"Brother, you need to see this..."
"Kate I'll be with you in a moment." Kate could wait.
"No really Brother it's looks..."
"Kate hush and hold your tongue just a moment." Brother Timothy stood in front of the altar, the marble surface smooth and unmarked. An untrained eye would have missed the latch, he did not and tripped open the sliding panel from the altar's middle. The space within was empty and his heart sank. "Damm I was sure this was it."

It was common knowledge that every church's sanctuary held relics of its patron saints, one of which who's honor the church was named. What was not generally known was these relics were set into the base of the main altar. "Well that's that then, whatever they had of St Dimas is gone. I guess that wasn't the treasure after all."

"Timothy get over here now, the light is fading and you need to see this!"

[Elinor Hakebourne]

"You have FAR too much stacked against you for me to believe that he just "fell over," Julian," Elinor responded through gritted teeth, once Lil had left, Blackjack in her arms, "least of which is you kicking me just now!" She glared at him once more.

"Kick you? I didn't mean--I couldn't help it! My leg acted of it's own free will!" Julian protested.

"Oh, you mean the "free will" that allowed the chest to become possessed earlier? I'll have NONE of it, Julian! I was--"she paused, rewriting her response from scared to something more courageous, "surprised when that happened, and I don't wish it to ever happen again! I have had my fill of zombies and moving chests and the like for ONE sea voyage, let alone my entire life!" She fumed, the last exclamation more a private utterance to herself than to her fellow scribe.

"Zombies?" Julian muttered. "Where have we encountered zom--"

"Never you mind," Elinor snapped. "You better have a good reason for doing whatever you did to Blackjack, and you better give it to me right now! I don't have violent tendencies, but with you, I just might start." With this, she leaned into him, giving him a long and hard stare.

"Honest, Elinor, I did nothing. And, my apologies if I hurt you," he added hastily.

"You did," Elinor said defensively rubbing her bottom with her right hand.

Just then, Lil appeared at the doorway once more. "I see you two are getting on nicely," she murmured, glancing from Julian to Elinor. Elinor blushed, then, and glared at her friend. "Lil! There's no call for that, none at all!"

[lilaney]

Lil leaned against the sill of the doorway and gave her friend her wide-eyed innocent stare.
"Who? Me? I was just coming by to check on you."

[Elinor Hakebourne]

Elinor raised her eyebrows, not believing her friend's innocent expression for a second. "Mmmhmmm," she replied.

"So, since you aren't taking revenge on the El Lobo's scribe, here," Lil responded, "I should probably get back to the infirmary--"

"--And I should go with you," Elinor quickly replied, giving a quick glance toward Julian. "After all, you should probably take a look at my wound, again...I'm sure it's not healed yet."

"I don't think there's much I can--"Lil said--

"I'm sure it needs your keen eye, Lil," Elinor interrupted once more, gritting her teeth together as she uttered the name of her friend urgently. She gave Lil a look that she hoped would seal the deal. She didn't want to be in the room with Julian any longer, and saw her chance for an easy escape. She wasn't going to let Lil weasel her out of it.

Lil glanced back at her, returning the look with a gaze of understanding. "On second thought, maybe I should have a look at your wound, make sure it's healing nicely," Lil responded, taking her good arm and whisking her out of the room with one last glance at Julian.

"Thank you," Elinor whispered as soon as they were out of Julian's range of hearing, "I can't STAND that man!"

"It didn't look that way to me," Lil muttered, smiling, and Elinor turned scarlet. "LIL!"