The Jellyfish Returns
Elise Boissonneau • Chapter 9
Captain Peanut Butter will tell this portion of the tale.
Upon hearing the news of The Jellyfish being captured by three pirate ships, I sank into momentary despair.
“You have to leave and go into hiding,” Scar Arm said.
“I cannot. I must rescue The Jellyfish and the crew.”
“But how?” Jonas asked.
“I will surrender to Jennings,” I replied.
“You can’t,” Jonas shouted.
“They will take you back to Port Royale and hang you,” Scar Arm added.
“I know Garra and Jennings. They are ruthless killers. And this Lock sounds like he is cut from the same cloth. None of you will fare well sailing under their cruelty. So I will trade myself for The Jellyfish and the crew.”
“I’m begging you, Cap’n. Don’t do it,” Jonas pleaded.
“I knew the risks when I took The Jellyfish and became a pirate. I’m no fool. I realized it would likely end at the end of a rope. What I did not imagine is that I would find a family onboard The Jellyfish. I will not see that family destroyed or harmed. Save your arguments; I won’t heed them. And we have work to do before they arrive.”
An hour after dawn, the four ships arrived. The entire crew of The Jellyfish was standing along The Jellyfish railing with knives to their throats. A rowboat was lowered. Henry James, an unknown pirate, and Pint boarded the boat. The unknown pirate held a pistol on Pint while he rowed to shore.
What Jennings didn’t know is I had switched clothing with Scar Arm. And that I was laying in a hole, under a blanket covered with a thin layer of sand, breathing through a hollowed-out crab leg.
Scar Arm kept his head down, my Captain’s hat hiding his features. He was writing in the sand with a stick. Jonas also stayed still.
The rowboat reached shore, and Jennings got out.
“What’s the matter, Peanut Butter? You look defeated.” Then he laughed.
He walked over to Scar Arm and said, “What are you writing?”
Jennings looked at the writing in the sand. Scar Arm raised his head and said, “Surprise.”
That was my cue. I threw off the blanket sending sand into the faces of Jenning and the other pirate. Scar Arm and Jonas also sprang into action. They grabbed the pirate and took his weapon away. I grabbed Jennings, putting a blade to this throat.
“Your bravado did you a great disservice,” I said to Jennings. “And now it seems we have terms of surrender to negotiate.”
“Your whole crew will die for this,” Jennings said.
“Only if you wish to join them,” I replied.
Jennings was furious, but he realized I had the upper hand.
“Here are my terms. You and I will walk to the top of the hill behind us. Your crew will release my crew and leave The Jellyfish. We will sit on the hill and watch The Jellyfish sail away. Once it is out of sight, I will drop my blade and surrender to you.”
“They are pirates, man. They will let you kill me before giving up The Jellyfish.”
“That is the Falcon. There is no way you could have gotten Garra to go along with your scheme had you not offered him a fortune in gold. I suspect the pirate Lock got the same deal. They will not allow you to die if they want to get paid.”
“What is to prevent you from killing me once The Jellyfish sails?”
“My word.”
“Ha! You must think me a fool.”
“Only if you refuse my terms.”
Jennings glared at me.
“I need assurance you won’t kill me and run away,” Jennings said.
“Very well. Your man can stay, holding a pistol on me.”
Jennings fumed for a few moments, then said, “I am going to enjoy watching you swing.”
“I have no doubt. Do we have an agreement?”
“We do.”
Jennings and I climbed the hill and sat down while the pistol-wielding pirate followed, keeping a close watch on me. Jonas and Scar Arm rowed back to The Jellyfish. There was a great commotion on the ship once the terms of the agreement were made known. I wasn’t sure if it would end in bloodshed. For a quarter-turn of the glass, there was nothing I could do but watch and hope.
Apparently, whatever Jennings had offered Garra and Lock was enough for them to go along with the agreement. The pirates left the ship. The crew of The Jellyfish got underway and sailed toward the horizon.
When The Jellyfish had vanished from view, I kept my word and dropped the knife. I half-expected Jennings to pick it up and stab me in the heart. Instead, he said, “You will regret this, Peanut Butter. Trust me.”
Once onboard Jenning’s ship, I was placed in irons. I was relieved that The Jellyfish was safely away, but I knew I was sailing to my death. I had roughly six weeks to plan my escape.
“Cheer up, Captain. You’re going home. To Gallows Point,” Jennings said with a smirk.
So we never find out what is written in the sand? ☹️