Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business' (58/60 + Epilogue)

[dwgm]

A very angsty 550 words, with many thanks to hereswith for beta reading, editing, and suggestions.

Previous bits...

1. Tortuga 2. Happiness 3. Festive 4. Last Minute 5. Calm 6. Truth 7. Bargain 8. Spook 9. Down 10. Wounds 11. Moon 12. Monsters 13. Beauty 14. Name 15. History

16. Service 17. Advice 18. Captain 19. Awe 20. Cross 21. Mistake 22. Heroism 23. Gold 24. Echo 25. Greed 26. Advance 27. Challenge 28. Adventure 29. Sentence 30. Treasure

31. North 32. Coat 33. Good and Evil 34. Sickness & Health 35. Lost 36. Court 37. What if? 38. Island 39. That can't be 40. Prophesy 41. Ten Years Later 42. French 43. Deed 44. Tea 45. Scarlett & Giselle

46. Link 47. Comedy 48. Mothers 49. Fathers 50. Rib 51. Music 52. Magic 53. Pirate King 54. Freedom 55. Sea Shanties 56. Isla de Muerta 57. Tragedy

And here's today's...

58. Sickness


~ An Execrable Business, continued...


Only one fatality, but there were eight men wounded, and there'd be ten down in the sick bay after the agreed sentence was carried out on each of the lookouts, whose failure to take the job as seriously as needed had so lamentably coincided with the remarkable stealth and speed of the Corsairs' attack. Barbossa wanted the two keelhauled, but Jack overruled him, reckoning one death was enough this round. Sharks had been seen following the Pearl since first light and the young miscreants wouldn't have a chance in Hades.

"A hundred lashes, then, if you're so squeamish," said Barbossa. "They'll live."

"Forty," Jack said, adamant, "and they're off the Pearl at Shelmerston."

The crew agreed, all except Barbossa and his particular mates, and the sentence was carried out immediately, before all hands, save those who were too badly wounded. And Nell.

Jack hated flogging with a passion, but there was no choice here, not with culpability clear and Barbossa dogging his heels. And there was his own guilt, too. In some ways the failure was his. He'd hired those men. He should have been on deck, this close to land, instead of taking his ease with Nell.

Nell.

He set his face like stone and the crew took their lead from him. The only sounds were those of the sea and ship, the thud of his heart loud in his ears, and the cat being applied with vicious force by Bo'sun.

*

He saw Nell in passing a few times that day, and she'd seemed all right, somewhat pale and unsmiling, but who wasn't? The general mood began to lighten as repairs were affected, and in the afternoon the wind veered propitiously and began to carry the Pearl north at a great rate. If it kept up (and Jack's weather-sense told him it might) they could be in England within the fortnight.

It was late when Jack retired to his cabin for a few hours shuteye, but Nell was awake, huddled by the gallery windows with Giselle beside her. The cat jumped down as he approached, and Nell stood, facing him squarely. Her eyes were red, she'd been crying. But she was not crying now.

Brave Nell. Foolish Nell.

He said nothing, just sat down on the window seat, pulled her close, and set her on his lap. She gave a small sigh and put her arms about him, and for a long time they were silent together.

Eventually, however, she did speak. "I'm sorry, Jack." And she looked up, and lifted a hand to caress his cheek.

"I'm sorry, too," he said, his voice rough with emotion.

That night they lay close and warm and, above all, chaste in each others' arms, as they did for each of the next seven.

On the afternoon of the eighth day, Jack came to Nell where she stood by the rail, looking out over the sea. She said, quietly, "I've started my courses." The edge of her mouth quivered, and she brushed something from her eye before catching hold of the rail again.

He set his own hand next to hers, so close their fingers touched, and found it deeply unsettling that his relief, the only logical reaction to her words, was accompanied by a vague but perceptible sense of loss.




TBC...

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

"He set his face like stone..." Fair but firm.
Oh,and Nell! But how could they not!
Wonderful chapter. Can't wait till tomorrow!

Josette

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting, and so quickly! It gets less lighter in tone from here on out, but it has been an execrable business, as advertised. I'm glad you thought the characters right in this.

[mindyracal.livejournal.com]

I have finally caught up once again......man.....

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Not good, eh?

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Well, when you set your mind to it you can really write the sad stuff, can't ya? The mood's been deepening the past few days, leaning on towards bittersweet, and here we have it brought into flower. I believe Jack's heart would break knowing he was less watchful of his duties due to his distractions with Nell, and I can see it weighing on him. It's rare we see the weight of captaincy settle on Jack, and here you've done it justice. He feels for his men, the one that died and the ones he needs to punish and the ones who have to watch.

And, poor Nell. They've tasted forbidden fruit and find themselves regretful: for all the things it was before and will never be again, and for what might have been and will not be.

You're killing me here, you know this, right? *wipes tear*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Certainly don't want to kill you, and things will lighten up a bit after this. I appreciate you giving me such detailed feedback, it seems as though all the points I wanted to hit came through here. Thank you for reading and commenting!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Jack prefers to just throw someone off his ship when there is a problem

Exactly.

I'm glad you've been enjoying the story. The rest of it is somewhat lighter in tone. :)

[jillianfish.livejournal.com]

I go away for two days and this is what happens? You take away the chance of even playtime for them before England? *sigh*. Well, I'll forgive you because it was beautifully written and so realistic. I'll be sad to see Nell go, although I hope there is some chance for reunion. I'll also be sad to see the story end. Having said that I am looking forward to seeing what happens. Hopefully we can keep Barbossa far away from a mutiny or a fight of some kind.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Things lighten up more after this, so I don't think you'll be disappointed. I hope not, at least.

Thank you so much for continuing to read and comment. I really appreciate it. :)

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

That was so devastating, seeing them worried, after all those brief moments of sparkling happiness... and the last lines were so beautiful, so subtle, and yet so heart-wrenching. Beautiful installement.

I loved Jack's adamancy. The entire portrait of the clash between his and Barbossa's personalities that you paint in this story is fantastic.

*waiting impatiently, as always* :]

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Things lighten up after this, but I'm glad all the elements worked.

[cbtreks.livejournal.com]

Poor Nell! So much to happen to her. I'm glad you didn't have her end up pregnant; she's young and a young woman in her class would have her life ruined in those circumstances. Hate to see that happen to her. (Though I suppose she could've invented a dead husband - who'd know?) And poor Jack! I suspect he's developed more feelings for Nell that he meant to allow himself.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I suppose she could've invented a dead husband - who'd know?

True, there are all kinds of possibilities I suppose. But certainly it's better this way, for her and for Jack. Thank you so much for commenting!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

"He set his own hand next to hers, so close their fingers touched, and found it deeply unsettling that his relief, the only logical reaction to her words, was accompanied by a vague but perceptible sense of loss."

That is the sweetest line, in Brother where art Thou? Clooney says "It's a foolish man who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart". Poor Jack, he's going to miss her so, but there's naught else to do for it.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, Clooney has it right. Logic doesn't have much to do with it. Thank you for reminding me of that. I need to watch that movie again! And thank you, as always, for reading and commenting.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

I can see why Barbossa is not happy. Bloodthirsty old man. But he'll get his. That we know. Also, such is life on sea. *shrug* Nell is learning much, I must say. And I think will be the better for it.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Barbossa will get his, but there's a lot of suffering before that happens. Thank you for commenting!