Raise The Jolly Roger: Somewhere In Time

by Tracy Kincaid

  “How do ye feel, love?” William steps up beside me.

  “The sun feels nice. I’m still buzzed from all the rum.” I lay my head on his shoulder. “It’s so peaceful out here after a storm.”

  “Aye, ‘tis one of me favorite times. The storm makes ye appreciate the ocean more.”

  Off in the distance, I see water shoot up from the surface of the sea. “Wow, did you see that?” I ask excitedly, looking at William.

  “They be amazing beasts.” We watch the whales as they breach the water, a mama and her baby playing.

  “I’ve been on whale watching boats, but I always seem to go when the whales are not out. They’re beautiful.” I reach up and play with the necklace William gave me. I find myself doing this a lot since he gave it to me. It’s like a talisman.

  “Do ye miss it?” William asks in a forlorn voice.

  I turn my head to look at him. “Miss what?”

  “Yer home.”

  I think about his question for a moment. Do I miss home? I have no family left and besides my job and Wendy, I really don’t have much else. “To be honest, no, I don’t. I lost my parents, and I have no siblings or other relatives left. I only have my job and Wendy, my best friend, and even she and I don’t see each other very much with my job and its crazy hours. I don’t have time for many friends.” I shrug, “This is like a vacation for me. A dangerous vacation, but this experience has opened my eyes to things that I never would have experienced back home.”

  Chapter 9

  Buried Treasure

  “Land ho.” We turn when we hear Demetrius call from the wheel and point out over the bow. Off in the distance, we see an island. “Is that it?”

  “Aye. Come, we must prepare.”

  William takes my hand and leads me back to his quarters where he shuts the door behind me before walking over to his desk. He finds the hidden drawer and pulls out the two maps and the doubloon I brought with me. He unrolls and lays both maps out on the desk, holding them open with candle holders. I lean over the desk with him and we look over both maps.

  “Why do they have holes in them?” I ask.

  “When I made the map, I took out that part and had it tattooed on me chest. When ye hold the map up, the tattoo finishes it.” He removes his coat and shirt to prove his point.

  He holds the map up to his chest so I can see it as a whole. We contemplate the maps for a few more minutes before Demetrius knocks and walks in. William rolls up the map before Demetrius can see what we’re looking at. “Are we close enough?”

  “Aye. Should we drop anchor?”

  “Aye. Prepare the dinghy. Cassy and I will go alone.”

  “Aye, Cap’n” Demetrius walks out to do his bidding.

  “Does he know about the treasure? I noticed you rolled the maps up fast.”

  “Aye, he is me most trusted on ship. I did not want him to see that two maps of the same treasure are here. Are ye feeling well enough to go?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. My arm just stings a bit, but I’ll live.” I smile.

  “Take yer cutlass and pistol just in case. I’ve not run into anyone while on the island, but I’d rather be safe. Meet me on deck.” He steps up to me and kisses me before he slips into his coat and stashes both maps and the doubloon in his coat pocket. William leaves the room as I strap on my weapons.

  * * *

  The dinghy ride over to the island seems to be taking forever. Since this time doesn’t have motors yet, William has to row us to land, with help only from the ocean waves.

  “No wonder you’re in such good shape. Aren’t you tired?”

  He lets out a laugh. “Ye want to take a turn and let me rest?”

  Absentmindedly, I rub at my sore arm. “My arms would fall off after a few strokes.”

  He bellows out another laugh as he keeps rowing. When we are close enough to land, he hops out and pulls the small dinghy close to the sand, where I jump out and help him pull it onto shore. We each grab a shovel and find the starting point on the map.

  The island is just as I would imagine a deserted island would look like, with palm trees and sandy beaches. I could see myself stringing up a hammock, finding a good book, and reading the time away. It’s so peaceful and the sound of the ocean waves are very calming. I scan the beach and see a sea turtle heading down the sand to return to the ocean. The storm that we suffered through seems to have added some damage to the small island; palm fronds and coconuts litter the beach.

  “Should we get started?” I ask.

  “Aye.” William finds the closest palm tree and goes about marking his paces as he follows the map. Once he gets to the section that is on his chest, he pulls his shirt off so we can read it. When we get to the spot where the ‘X’ is, he declares, “This is it.”

  “Now we dig?” I ask, looking at the ground. The sand here is not as soft as it is closer to the waves. I wish I had a bucket to bring some water over to make the sand softer.

  “Now we dig,” he announces as he brings his shovel down hard to break the more packed area of the sand. Between the two of us, we work up a sweat digging the hole. We shed our coats and continue to dig until his shovel comes down on something hard. We toss our shovels aside, get down on our knees, and begin to move the sand with our hands. We make short work of making the hole big enough so we can hoist the chest out.

  The chest looks just like the ones in my father’s attic back home. But I guess most chests from the era look similar. Dark brown planks held together with some iron. Once the chest is out of the hole, William opens it. My eyes widen when I see what’s inside. They’re medical supplies. Different instruments that I would use daily in any hospital; gloves, syringes, thermometers, and a blood pressure cuff. “I don’t understand?” I’m confused why things from the future would be here in the past.

  “Do ye know what it is?”

  “I do, but I don’t understand how they got here.” I look up at William, confused. As William opens his mouth to say something, I hear gun fire. William looks up at me stunned when we see blood oozing from his chest. William collapses on the sand. I look to where the shot was fired from. Without thinking, I grab my pistol and shoot a rogue pirate who was hiding not far from where we are standing. I have never shot a weapon before except at carnival games. It must have paid off, because I hit the pirate between the eyes.

  I scramble over to William and strip his shirt off. “Look at me?” William looks up at me. His eyes tell me he is in pain. I look out to sea and see that our ship has lowered another dingy and is on its way toward us. I’m guessing that they heard the shot. “Demetrius, is on his way. I can see another dingy in the water. I’m going to use some of the stuff in the chest to fix you up. I know you don’t understand any of this, but please trust me. I love you, William. Just stay with me, okay.”

  “Aye, Love. I be staying here with ye and I trust ye with me life.”

  I open the lid to the treasure chest and grab the medical supplies I need to save William. I shoot him with some anesthesia so he won’t feel as much pain. I clean his wound with the Iodine solution. It looks as if the bullet is just under the first few layers of skin and the way he is bleeding makes me think that nothing major was hit. Thank God, I won’t have to do major surgery to get the bullet out. I gather the other items I need to dig the bullet out and stitch him up. Once done, I help him sit against the chest.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I be fine now, Love. You work fast. Looks as if Demetrius will be here soon.”

  I am glad that he’s coming to help. I don’t think I could get William back to the ship on my own.

  I lean into the trunk to see what else is inside. The necklace that William gave me snags on the lip of the trunk and snaps off. As I look up, I feel a strange pulling sensation. I call for William as I start to feel as if I’m falling. He grabs for my hand but everything turns black before I can get hold of him.

  When I open my eyes again, I’m standing in the antique shop. Mr. Wells tur
ns when he hears me. “Did you see something else that you may like to look at?” He smiles.

  “What the hell?” I say on a breath.

  “Excuse me?” Mr. Wells asks, baffled.

  “Sorry.” I’m so confused. “Have I been here the whole time?” I rub my head and feel a bump on the back then rub my arm and feel the bandage. This could not have all been a dream. I look down at my clothes and notice I’m wearing what I had worn the day I came into the shop. How is this possible?

  “Yes. Are you all right? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “I think I need to sit down.” Turning, I find the chair with the tartan on it.

  “Of course. Can I get you some water?” he asks.

  “Please.” I feel an anxiety attack coming. It feels like I’ve not had one of these in ages. I manage to fight it off.

  Mr. Wells returns with the bottled water. I take it and drink. I feel so dehydrated. “Are you well now?”

  “Yes, thank you.” I reach up for the necklace that William had given me but it’s gone. Maybe William was just a dream after all. I wish I could remember why I have a bump on my head and why my arm hurts.

  “Take as much time as you need.”

  “Thank you.” I sit for a few minutes longer, just breathing and enjoying the bottled water. When I feel like myself again, I stand and go back to the counter to retrieve my purse. As I lift my purse, I see a small treasure chest. It looks similar to one that my father gave me as a child.

  “Your color has returned,” he says. “Can I help you with anything else?”

  “May I see that small treasure chest, please?”

  “Of course, good choice.” Mr. Wells gently takes the chest out of the glass case and places it on the counter. I pick it up and examine it. The one that my father had given me was lost years ago, after a move from one house to another. “How much for this?” He gives me the price. I pull out my wallet and pay for the chest.

  I take the chest and head for my car. It feels like weeks have passed since I’ve seen my car. I shake my head and start the car. As I begin to back out of the parking space, not paying attention to what I’m doing, I hear a horn blare. I slam on my brakes, narrowly missing a pick-up truck. The truck pulls into the stall next to me, a man gets out, and slams his door. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” he yells at me.

  I watch as he storms into the laundromat. I shake my head in annoyance. As I get ready to back out again, I look out my front window and notice that the antique shop is gone. I throw my car into drive and re-park. I get out of the car and look at the place I could have sworn I had just come from. “What the hell?” I say to myself. The pawn shop and the laundromat are side-by-side with nothing in between them. I must have hit my head harder than I thought. This doesn’t make any sense.

  Chapter 10

  Find A Way Back

  I find myself driving back to my parent’s house. I feel so out of it since I left the shop. I feel a loss and I don’t think it’s from my parents’ death. I still can’t believe that everything I thought I went through was some sort of dream.

  Pulling into the driveway, I park, gather the chest and my purse, and head for the house. I take the chest into the living room and sit on the couch. I set the chest on my lap and lift the lid. The inside looks much like the outside; wood and metal. As I tilt the box to take a different look at it, I hear something slide inside. When I look inside the box, it’s empty. I tilt it back the other way and hear the slide again. I reach my hand inside and feel a small lip at the bottom. I push on it and the opposite side pops up. I remove the false bottom and find a charm. I lift it out and can’t believe my eyes. It’s the same one from my so-called dream. The one that William gave me. How?

  Setting the chest aside, I examine the butterfly charm with three butterflies surrounding a flower with a shiny brown stone against a copper background. It looks exactly like the one William gave me. I can’t believe that the charm was real. I think over everything that happened since I stepped into Mr. Well’s shop, from feeling sucked out of time, to finding love, to being ripped away, only to return to the shop again. Maybe everything that I thought happened really did.

  I race up the stairs to the attic in search of a trunk I remember seeing when I was going through my dad’s things. In the corner of the attic is a chest that looks just like the one that William and I dug up. I drag it out and open the lid. Inside, it holds pirate clothing. I wonder if I put the necklace on if it will take me back to William. Will it work the same way the map and doubloon did? I have to try, but this time I will be prepared. I can’t believe this is all real.

  I could go back to William and live out my days on the sea as a pirate. I sit and think about the pros and cons for a moment. The pros would be the fact that I would be with William again. The cons would be my job and Wendy. And really, my job doesn’t count. I can do my job on the ship. “Think, Cassy.” What do you want to do with the rest of your life? Will I be able to live in the past?

  I think I can. And if this is all true, it looks as if I can come back to visit Wendy or get new medical supplies when needed.

  I’m going to do it.

  I jump back in my car to head for the hospital. I want to be up to date on all my shots and any shots I may need for traveling outside of the country. I just want to make sure I’m covered for anything. I’ll have my head and arm checked out just in case as well. And I’ll put my letter in requesting a longer leave while I’m at it. For the first time in weeks, I’m excited.

  * * *

  After my shots and exam, I’m told I’m in good shape. My head injury is just a bump and nothing worse. Thank goodness.

  Grabbing my cell phone, I call Wendy. “Hey, it’s me… I started to work on my parents’ house…Yes, I know you offered, but I wanted to do it on my own. Look, I’ve decided to keep the house after all…I’m not ready to give it all up just yet. Can you do me a favor? I want to take a break from life and travel for a while…Yes, I know it’s spur of the moment, but you were right, I need to take some time for myself. I’ve worked hard all my life with school and the hospital. It’s time I think about myself for a change. I want to see the world…I need you to keep an eye on the house for me. I’ll try to stay in contact as much as I can…I love you too and I promise to have fun…Thanks, Wendy, for being the best friend a woman can have…I plan on leaving tonight…I will take care and you do the same. Bye.”

  Back at my parents’ house, I go back up to the attic and change into something more appropriate for the 1700s. I find an outfit that I hope will not draw too much attention to me when I return; a long black dress with a black leather corset. The corset is tank style that will help support as well as pull the outfit together. I find a black belt that has pouches and sleeves that will hold a pistol and cutlass, along with other items I may need. I find a black pair of knee high boots and a black tricorn hat. I find a lace veil that I can use to hide my identity from unfriendly pirates. The boots have a sleeve where I can stash a dagger that I also found in the trunk. “That may come in handy someday.” Also in the trunk is a long coat like the one that William wears. It’s long and black, matching the rest of my ensemble. I find the cuff bracelet that my father gave to me on my sixteenth birthday and place it on my wrist. Once I have myself put together, I stand in front of the long mirror in the attic. “I hope this works.”

  Again, I have transformed into someone I could only dream of being. I guess that dream is about to come true. Growing up with parents who loved pirates rubbed off on me, I guess. I look the part. Now, I hope putting the necklace back on will make it so I can return to William. I can’t wait to start my life with William on the open sea.

  Before I slip the necklace on, I pack a black medical bag my mother had given me with all the medical supplies they had in the house. May as well go back as prepared as possible. I hold the bag over my arm as I slip the necklace back on…

  Chapter 11

  Sea Witch

/>   Captain’s Log 25th May

  Our return to Boston will be a short one as we are only here to pick up supplies before we are needed back in Port Royal. The men and I are eager to return to port for some much needed time off the ship. I am sure, with the bounty we receive from this shipment, the men will be most happy…

  Since Cassy disappeared from the island, I have felt lost. I had Demetrius rebury the chest Cassy and I dug up, and me men that came to help when they heard the shot took the dinghies back to the ship. Now we be back in Boston picking up supplies. Where could she have gone? Demetrius knocks. “Cap’n, the Sea Witch has been spotted on the docks.”

  Great, just what I need to deal with today. “I’ll be out in a moment. If she comes this way, do not let her on board without me permission.”

  “Aye,” Demetrius says as he leaves me. I know the crew has noticed me behavior since I lost Cassy, and I just do not care.

  I pour a black jack of rum and drain it quickly. I will need to be drunk to survive yet another day without Cassy. When I make it out on deck, I see that the Sea Witch is standing on the docks talking to Demetrius, who is standing on the deck.

  “What do ye want, Sea Witch? I do not have time to deal with yer doings this day,” I say with disgust.

  “You should hold your tongue. You know not who you talk with.” The Sea Witch is standing on the dock next to me ship. “I require passage.”