"Anne must have been shot in the battle against Dominique. The wound must have gotten infected. Oh Anne! Why didn't you tell me? Stubborn woman!"
"You two are perfect for each other," Christina said.
Edward saw Christina's expression change from a frown to a grin. He smiled back. "Yes, we are quite a pair." Edward rose. "I will tell your brother to make haste to Bodden Town. We need our friend the doctor."
…
"Nose: stuffed," Alexandre said aloud, making a mental note. While looking in a mirror, he wiggled his nose, wrinkles drawing creases around his eyes. Alexandre poked and massaged the area around his eyes and face. "Redness and pressure on the eyes and forehead." He then took a deep breath, as best he could. "Difficulty breathing."
He continued to breathe heavily in the silence until there was a knock at his door. "Entrer."
The door opened to reveal Edward Thatch and Henry Morgan. Upon entering, their jaws opened slightly and they frowned.
"What in God's name are you doing?" Edward asked.
Alexandre was hanging from the ceiling of his apartment by a rope tied to his legs. "I am performing a simple experiment." His body dangled slightly back and forth as Alexandre moved and gestured while he talked.
Edward sighed. "We don't have time for this. Henry, cut him down."
Henry nodded and went to find a chair to stand on. After procuring one he went about the task.
"We need you on the ship. Anne is sick."
"Well, it certainly took you long enough, messieurs. I was beginning to grow bored," Alexandre said, his stuffed nose mixing with his accent to cause his voice to take on an odd tone.
Henry shook his head as he sliced through the twined fibres. "And we wouldn't want that, now would we?" Henry made one last cut, and Alexandre's legs were free.
Alexandre fell to the floor of his apartment, rose slowly and shook his head. "Merci." He went to the back of the room and grabbed two small bags, and then walked to the door. "Come now, messieurs. We have a patient to help."
Alexandre couldn't suppress a small grin at the corner of his lips, which Edward and Henry noticed. The two also grinned, shrugged their shoulders, and took their friend back to the Freedom.
…
"Hmm." Alexandre examined the wound on Anne's bicep. After a thorough examination he said, "I believe she has an infection."
Edward rubbed his face in exasperation. "You observations are as astute as always, Alexandre."
"A simple blague mon Capitaine. I know how lesser minds sometimes enjoy humour to ease the seriousness of an issue."
"I appreciate the attempt."
"Well, we can cure Anne, this much is certain. She has been fighting the infection too long, and it has spread too much as a result. If we do not cure her soon she may die." Alexandre delivered the news as if he was reading the newspaper.
Edward's eyes bulged and his jaw dropped. Christina gasped and gripped Edward's hand, probably more for her own benefit than his. "You know of a cure, yes? We can save Anne, can we not, Alexandre?" Edward pleaded.
"Bring the Mayan, would you? I need his assistance." Edward asked a crewmate, who then ran off to find Pukuh. Alexandre pointed to John. "John, here." John jumped at the pointed finger, but stepped closer to the surgeon. After Alexandre wrote something on a piece of paper, he handed it to John. "I need you to return to my abode and retrieve a bottle of elixir with this name." John nodded and made his way up the stairs of the swaying ship.
Pukuh stepped into the crew quarters and to the foot of Anne's bed. "Yes, witchdoctor?" Pukuh questioned.
Alexandre sketched a picture of a leaf and seed and showed it to Pukuh. "Are you familiar with this plant?" Alexandre asked.
"Yes, this plant we use in my village for food and medicine."
"We need the plant, Mayan. Tell Herbert to take us to your village." Pukuh nodded, not insulted by Alexandre, and left to tell Herbert the course.
"So the plant will cure Anne?" Edward asked for reassurance.
"Yes, if we procure some soon. Anne is strong, Capitaine, she will not succumb to this so easily."
"I know. She's too stubborn for that."
Over the next week, Edward spent the majority of his time with Anne. He was either trying to keep her cool during the day, warm during the night, or still when fever dreams gripped her. In the rare moments when Anne was awake and lucid, Edward talked with her about where the Freedom was headed. At first, Anne was able to reply with relative lucidity, but after a few days she was in a constant haze.
The crew visited to check on Anne and on how the Captain was holding up from time to time. Edward didn't eat, and drank only when he was helping Anne to drink. Twice a day Alexandre applied the salve John retrieved from his house in Bodden Town, cleaned the wound, and replaced the bandages. Pukuh prayed daily for Anne. John read the news from Bodden Town from the past weeks. Herbert told of the weather and condition of the Freedom, as well as some bad fishing jokes he said Anne always laughed at. "She was probably humouring me more than I her," he told Edward. Henry brought food and drink, and forced Edward to eat as best as he could force Edward to do anything.
The crew took shifts to keep sailing through the night instead of dropping anchor. Christina and Herbert took shifts commanding the helm, with Herbert taking the night and Christina taking the morning. Christina fought Herbert for the night shift, but he insisted on the night due to it being more difficult, and she eventually complied.
The night before Freedom arrived at Pukuh's village, Anne was asleep soundly for once, and Edward was ready to join her. He was kneeling down, his hand holding hers, resting his upper body on the bed.
"You can't leave me, Anne, not now. As your captain I order you not to die." Edward closed his eyes, and he could have sworn he heard Anne say, "Aye, aye" before he dozed off, exhausted.
Christina happened upon Edward when he started talking with Anne. Christina watched the scene and delivered the "Aye, aye," posing as Anne. After Edward lay asleep, Christina draped a spare blanket over him.
The next morning, Edward awoke with the blanket lying on the floor of the ship, the cold air hitting him. He took the blanket, trying to remember when he had gotten it, and covered Anne's sleeping body. Edward kissed Anne's forehead, told her he would be back, and walked up the stairs to the top deck where the night crew was still busy, wearily furling the sails.
The ship landed on the familiar shore Edward once descended on to retrieve the gun deck's key. The last time, Edward had met with Pukuh's family and the village he called home, quite possibly one of the last Mayan settlements still in existence. Pukuh had joined Edward to learn about the world and return a better warrior, and a better king, so he could follow in his father's footsteps.
Pukuh was on the waist and had a few bags packed with supplies. Pukuh and Edward had earlier agreed that only the two of them would need to go. Too many would slow them down and they weren't there for pleasure. Alexandre recommended not taking Anne along as stress could agitate her condition.
Edward noticed one more bag than there should have been. "What's in the third bag?" he asked Pukuh.
"That is for the little girl. She claimed you allowed her to join us," Pukuh replied.
Little girl? "Do you mean Christina?" Pukuh nodded his head. "Well, she was lying, I said no such thing."
Pukuh smiled. "Hmm, interesting."
Christina sauntered up to the waist and joined Edward and Pukuh. "Good morning, Captain."
"You can't join us," Edward asserted flatly before Christina could even ask.
"What? Why?"
"You'll slow us down," Edward replied, slinging a pack of supplies over his back.
"I promise I won't. Or at least, I won't slow you down as much as you will."
Edward raised his brow. "What was that?"
"We've been a few months at sea, but you're nowhere near the strength you were before being imprisoned. I know I could keep up with you in your state."
Edwar
d laughed. "I see what you're trying to do. You can't goad me into letting you come to satisfy my pride." Edward threw a rope ladder over the port side.
"I want to help, Edward. I care for Anne too." Christina pleaded softly, all eyes on the pair.
Edward gazed at those sky-blue eyes, then to the crew, then back. He let out a sigh, then turned to Herbert. "Herbert?" he asked.
Herbert shrugged. "If she wants to join you, I don't see the harm. You are just collecting a plant, after all."
Edward folded his arms, internally debating some more while eyeing Christina. "Alright, hurry up," he ordered at last, waving his hand. Christina gathered her pack and joined them at the starboard railing. Edward pointed his finger at Christina sternly. "You had better not slow us down," he warned.
"I won't," she promised.
The three descended to the sandy beach below, moved up an incline, and into a forest of Caribbean pines. Once in the forest, a natural path with little vegetation could be followed most of the way. The tall pines rose around them and created a canopy blocking the sun. The sounds of animals created ambiance for their trip.
"Ready?" Pukuh asked.
After securing their belongings, Pukuh and Edward went into a quick jog, with Christina following closely behind. For the first half of the day, Christina was able to keep up and didn't tire, but come midday she was sweating and slowed down. To her credit, Edward slowed down as well, and despite what he claimed earlier, they were having a competition of pride.
Edward refused to take a breather, and Christina refused to ask for one. By the time the two had slowed to near walking, sweat pouring down their faces, and glaring at each other, Pukuh decided to end the rivalry before one of them collapsed. He suggested taking a break to rehydrate and eat.
Edward stared daggers at Christina, and she at him. "Tired yet?" he asked.
"I could do this all day," she replied.
Pukuh chuckled as he watched them bickering. "You act as siblings."
"Perhaps in another life," Edward postulated with a laugh.
After Edward and Christina were rested as could be, Pukuh started again and set a slow pace. The three travelled at a good pace, despite having to slow down. Normally, the trip to reach Pukuh's village would take a full day and a half, with rest overnight. At the rate they were travelling they would reach the village before nightfall.
The group soon reached a large flat area with a smooth rock and slight hill. On top of the ten-foot-high rock the roots of a tree were snaking down, searching for nourishment which was not present.
"This brings back memories," Edward said between short breaths.
"Yes, this was where you flailed about against the beasts of the forest."
"What happened?" Christina inquired.
"I fought a pack of wolves the first time I arrived."
Pukuh grinned. "Strange, does 'fought' mean 'flailing about' in your language? Ah, the mysteries of you people never end."
"Did you win?"
"Barely. I was heavily injured and fainted."
"I carried Edward to the village because he was too weak. He is still weak, but I will not carry him this time."
After taking another short break, the journey continued. They were not far from the village now, and daylight was dwindling. When they reached the edge of the forest that night, Pukuh stopped suddenly, motioning for the other two to be quiet and duck down.
"Something is not right," Pukuh muttered as he handed his pack to Edward before heading to the village.
Edward and Christina backtracked and hid behind a large pine tree. Edward tried his best to watch Pukuh, but he was like a shadow in the dark. Dressed as he was in his original warrior outfit of eagle feathers and well-fitted leather armour, he was in his element as War Chief.
Pukuh dashed to the closest home, a hut made of mud and clay with a straw roof, similar to most others in the village. He sneaked into the village and sought out the cause of his unusual feeling. In a half hour he was back to where Edward and Christina hid themselves.
"What's wrong?"
"My village has been taken by white men. Before we can retrieve the medicine we will need to free the villagers."
"Where is the plant located?" Edward asked.
"The fields are on the other side of the village, behind the pyramid." Pukuh gestured to the pyramid in the centre of the village, where the Mayans held rituals. The huge structure, along with a few other large stone buildings, marked specific points of religious significance.
"Christina, you should head back to the ship. This is too dangerous.
Christina's mouth made a line. "No, I will not leave. I am not some useless child."
Edward sighed. We don't have time for this. "Fine, harvest the plant we need and head back to the ship as fast as you can. Do not stay here, you could be hurt and Anne needs the medicine as soon as possible." Edward took out Alexandre's drawing of the plant from his pack and handed it to Christina.
She nodded as she accepted the drawing, confidence evident on her face. "You can count on me, Edward, I won't let you down."
"Pukuh, I need you to howl like a wolf. I think we'll need some help with this."
Pukuh nodded, knowing full well Edward's stream of thought. Pukuh let out a great howl which sounded like a real wolf. He kept calling until he heard a return call off in the forest.
"Christina, whatever happens, do not be afraid."
The three waited in silence for ten minutes, watching the forest for any movement or sound. Suddenly, without warning, a wolf stepped out from behind a tree. He was a big one, the leader of the pack, with a scar down one of his eyes.
Christina hid behind Edward as Edward stepped forward and knelt down. He glared at the wolf with his fierce eyes as the wolf stepped closer, fangs bared. You remember me, don't you? I am your master. The wolf stopped growling and went up to Edward's legs, pushing his head into Edward's hand in deference. Yes, that's right.
More wolves, all different sizes and shades of grey or brown, emerged from hiding after the leader's display. Twenty wolves in all joined the three humans.
"Christina, I want you to take one of the wolves and make your way around the village to the field. We will start attacking the guards here, which will draw away anyone guarding the field. Wait until they leave, find the plant, and return to the ship."
As if able to understand Edward, a reddish-grey wolf moved beside Christina and let its fur touch her fingertips. Christina jumped at the sensation.
"Don't be afraid, the wolf won't hurt you." Edward took Christina's hand in his and caressed the wolf beside her. The animal panted, staring up at Christina with grey eyes. "See? Everything will be fine. This one will protect you," Edward reassured Christina while commanding the wolf.
"Whatever you say, Edward." Christina said without much confidence. She set out around the perimeter of the forest with the wolf following beside her.
Edward turned to Pukuh. "Now, let's free your village." Pukuh nodded and the two trekked into the village.
They ran to the nearest hut with the wolf leader sticking beside Edward. Some of the wolves followed or advanced into the village to hide on their own. Edward peered out from around a corner of the hut.
He could see down the main road of the village, a wide swath made between the houses leading all the way to the large pyramid in the centre. He noticed a fire at the base of the pyramid and people gathered around. He also noticed several sources of light moving slowly about the village.
"The white men at the pyramid are guards, they have all my people trapped there. I was not able to see inside, but my fa… the King is probably in the castle. I noticed a flickering light."
"We should free the villagers first so they can fight with us, then help your father," Edward suggested, to which Pukuh nodded in assent.
Edward passed the huts to the closest source of light. He could see a man walking between the huts. A shadow zipped by and then the man fell to the ground with a thud. Another man
close to Edward heard the thud and moved closer to inspect. Edward sneaked behind the second man, covered the man's mouth, and sliced his neck. The man squirmed and twitched, releasing a moan, then fell limp in Edward's arms. Edward pulled him back between the huts before moving forward.
The night was dark and the pines surrounding the village afforded no protection from the cool wind blowing through. The scents of the pine, similar to the Freedom, along with dust and stone, filtered through to Edward's senses. A faint smell of burnt gunpowder told Edward a battle had happened here a few days past.
Edward and Pukuh made their way silently forward to the centre of the village, quickly approaching a large fire with thirty-plus men guarding all the villagers. The wolves were nowhere to be seen save for the leader at Edward's side.
Edward and Pukuh reached the last hut before the bonfire. The hundred and fifty or so villagers were sitting in front of the pyramid. Some of the white men were napping, others were roasting food on the fire, and still others kept their guns pointed at the prisoners. Two other bonfires were alight along the front of the pyramid. All the men were talking loudly and jovially to let the villagers know they were still awake, and still in charge.
That would soon change.
"So what is the plan, brother?" Pukuh asked in a low voice.
"I don't see any other way than to charge in headfirst."
"I am liking this plan," Pukuh smiled.
"Just… let me…" Edward turned to the wolf, and pointed to the men at the bonfires.
"Are… are you communing with him?"
"Trying to tell him to attack," Edward replied, still gesturing with hand signals he believed the animal might understand. After a moment, the animal turned and strutted away between the huts again.
"What did he say?"
"What?"
"The wolf, what did it say back?"
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose. "Are you daft, man? The wolf isn't psychic."
Pukuh frowned. "I distinctly recall Benjamin stating he could speak with animals."
Blackbeard's Revenge (Voyages Of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 2) Page 16