John Locke - Now & Then

Charlie Fine’s face went white. He approached Pim and whispered, “What the hell’re you doin’ here?”

“Back off, Charlie,” Pim said. “I ain’t in the business no more, so I’m free to be here.” To the auctioneer, Pim said, “I’ll give you a solid gold Spanish doubloon.”

The crowd jumped to their feet as one, oohing and aahing. Hester searched Pim’s face for guile and his eyes for sanity.

Philip Winter said, “That’s very funny, Mister…what’s your name?”

“My surname’s Pim, and that’s how I’m called. I’ll buy this beautiful woman and treat her like the lady I know she be.”

“Well now, no offense intended, Pim, but you appear to be a common drunk, with no resources, other than a pocket pistol you had no legal right to discharge. Someone haul him out of here.”

Pim held a doubloon high over his head and walked to the edge of the auction block. He held it where Philip could get a good look at the coin. The doubloon was a staggering sum of money, worth sixteen pieces of eight, or sixteen months’ wages for a working man.

“Sold!” Philip said, grabbing the doubloon. “I’d stay and have a drink to celebrate your purchase, but I’ve pressing business back at my house.” He walked behind Hester and pushed her fanny so hard she fairly flew off the platform and into Pim’s arms.

Somewhere above the crowd a girl screamed “No!”

Chapter 13

Jack and Abby Winter had ridden into town on his horse so she could watch her mother be sold. While Jack spoke to Pim, Abby made her way to the lodging house. Now they watched the humiliating spectacle while standing at an open window on the second floor there. When Pim bought Hester, Abby screamed again. Jack tried to calm her down before someone decided to summon the authorities.

“She’s been bought by a homeless drunk!” Abby wailed. “Now what will become of my Mum?”

“She’ll be fine,” Jack said.

“What? Fine? Can you possibly be this stupid? Just look at him down there, trying to talk to her. She must be terrified. See how she turns her face away from his rancid breath.”

Jack was far more concerned about why Charlie Fine was in town. As Abby watched her mother, Jack’s eyes tracked Charlie walking through the crowd, saw him grab the arm of Mayor Shrewsbury’s aide, Barton Pike. When Jack saw Charlie pointing at Pim, he started running.

“Where are you going? Come back!” Abby yelled.

“Don’t move! I’ll be right back,” Jack called over his shoulder.

He hit the stairs running, and made it to the courtyard in seconds. As he passed Pim, he pretended to wave at someone in the square, but said, “Pim, Hester, go to the lodging house. Second Floor. Run!”

Pim grabbed Hester by the arm and said, “Sorry, darlin’, but trouble’s afoot. Run!” They ran across the courtyard with Hester still in the halter with her hands tied. As the gawkers in the crowd watched them run, Jack doubled around the town square and came up behind Charlie and Barton Pike. He followed them as they went around the corner and approached the alley Jack knew would take them to the back entrance of Commander Dowling’s quarters.

Jack followed the men into the alley and called their names. By the time they turned, he was upon them. He plunged a knife into Pike’s rib and raked it sideways. Pike went down quietly, and when he hit the street, he was there to stay. One-Eyed Charlie Fine, by nature a nervous man, began shaking with fear. He fell to his knees and begged for mercy. Jack pulled him behind an empty water barrel.

“I’ll have some information from you,” Jack said, “and quickly.”

“Anything!”

“What are you doing in town? Wait—don’t lie to me.”

Charlie had been about to do just that. Now it didn’t seem sensible.

“The garrison up at Amelia has snuck down and surrounded the pirates.”

“How could pirates get surrounded?”

“They’re drunk and drugged.”

“By the whores?”

Charlie nodded. “The pirates, once gathered, will be held.”

“Where?”

“Top floor of my pub, the Blue Lagoon.”

“Can’t they jump out the window?”

“Window’s too small. Even if they could get out, it’s pretty high. And anyway, they’re guardin’ the back.”

“By how many men?”

“I don’t know.”

“To what purpose are they being held there?”

“They’re going to be hung in my tavern one by one.”

“On the first floor?”

Charlie nodded again.

“When?”

“It’s already started. The rounding up part anyway.”

“What about the pirate ship?”

“They’re sending The Viceroy to attack her.”

“When?”

“At dawn.”

As far as last words go, Charlie could have done worse. Jack made his way to the lodging house and found Abby and her mother whispering to each other. Both seemed dazed and distraught. Pim had gotten the halter off Hester and was working at the binding on her wrists.

Abby said, “Where did you go?”

Catching Pim’s eye, Jack said, “I saw a man I know, and he meant to harm me and Mr. Pim, and some of our friends.”

“Who’s Mr. Pim?”

Pim smiled and gave a half bow.

Abby backed up a step and shuddered. She looked at Jack.

“You actually know this…this person?”

“I do. And he’s a close friend of mine.”

“A friend? How can this be possible?”

Hester abruptly stopped crying and looked at Jack.

“Who are you ?” she said. To Abby she said, “And how do you know him?”

“He’s the father of my child,” Abby said.

“He’s what ?” Hester’s eyes dropped to Abby’s chest a long moment, then she slapped Jack full force across the cheek. Then she turned and slapped Abby nearly as hard.

When Pim said, “Jack’s a good man,” Hester slapped him as well.

Then Abby said, “Who the hell is Jack?”

Pim looked at Jack and shrugged his shoulders as if apologizing for blowing his cover.

“Look,” Jack said. “There’ll be plenty of time for explanations later on. Right now all you need to know is our lives are in danger, as are the lives of our friends. Hester, Mr. Pim is a bit raggedy now, but he cleans up right proper and he’s wealthy and will make you a fine husband.”

She looked at Pim and said, “I’m sorry I slapped you. It’s been a vexing day.”

“And getting worse by the moment,” Jack said. He took Pim far enough aside that the women couldn’t hear, and hurriedly repeated what Charlie had said. “I won’t ask you to give up your land legs, but our mates are ambushed and need our help. Are you with me?”

“Aye, a course I am.”

“Good. Now listen. I’ve only got the one horse, so I’ve got to warn the ship. You’ll have to walk to Sinner’s Row and scout things out.”

“What about the ladies? Leave ’em here?”

Jack looked at the women a moment, and sighed. “They’ll slow us down, but you better take them.”

“We could get ’em a room here.”

Jack shook his head. “If her father comes, it won’t go well for her and the baby.”

“You truly be the one got her with child?”

“Let’s just move along with our planning.”

Pim smiled. “How much should I tell them?”

“Tell them everything.”

“Hester might not want me if she knows my past.”

Jack took a moment to survey his friend’s appearance. “You think you could sink lower in her eyes?”

Pim shrugged.

Jack said, “Tell them what you like. But make sure they’re safe.”

“You got a plan?”

Jack nodded. “I’m working on it.”

Pim nodded and said, “Okay then. I guess we’ll go together and listen for your whistle.”