Chéri

Ch.13: The Seamen

Jackson Alexander Pretter was on a warpath.

"How do you know she's even still alive?" asked Claudio.

"She has to be," Jackson replied.

Jackson led with fierce determination as they wound their way through the increasingly choked and mazelike streets of the city.

"And you still have not told me your plan here, amigo."

"First thing we need to do is find the rest of the crew," said Jackson, not taking his eyes off the road ahead.

"Si, but if they are smart, they're likely already in the wind," said Claudio, "How do we know where they're hiding?"

"That's the thing," said Jackson, "We don't have to find them. We just have to find the people looking for them."

Jackson and Claudio climbed up a hill in a particularly busy section of Havana's downtown. A large, coral stone cathedral stood dauntingly ahead. It was intricate, built with alternating colors of off-white, and had two towering pillars on either side. A large square was laid out in front of it, cordoned off by two-story restaurants and hostels. Once they were at the top, Jackson pulled Claudio into an alleyway near the church.

"Look out for any Britishers," whispered Jackson, "If we follow them, they can lead us all the way to Kingsley and the others."

"Not a terrible idea," said Claudio, "Except for the very high risk of us getting caught."

"Well, that's what these are for," said Jackson, holding up his pistol and pointing over to Claudio's rifle.

Claudio huffed but said nothing more. The two held themselves against the walls of the alley and peered out over the crowd passing them by.

It wasn't long before two obvious Brits strolled by. They were openly speaking English and were wearing the same, seemingly inconspicuous, brown and gray cotton clothes as the soldiers back on the Marauder's Mistress. They didn't seem to notice Claudio or Jackson in the alley as they passed.

Jackson motioned with his head to follow. Claudio and Jackson then quietly slinked out of the alleyway and melted into the crowd behind the Brits.

Up ahead, Jackson could make out snippets of their conversation as they walked.

"I'm telling you; I've never purchased the services of a prostitute!" said one of the guards.

"Ah, Corbin, ev'ron knows youse a fookin liar. We heard it straight from the lips uv the lady, we did."

"She must've been lying herself!"

"Nah mate, mentioned you by name."

"Well, Corbin's a bloody common name now, innit?"

"Hmm dunno. Seems mighty a coincidence, y'know? Smoke n' fire n' all that."

"Ughh."

Claudio and Jackson looked at each other skeptically. Maybe these weren't the most professional British soldiers in the world.
Regardless, they followed the soldiers all the way to the edge of the city. Tufts of leaves and twisting creepers could be seen beyond the tops of the buildings to the north. Claudio glared over at Jackson.

"What?" asked Jackson, cowering a little under his gaze.

"We have no idea if they're leading us to the right place at all!" Claudio whispered angrily.

"Don't worry. I've got a good feeling about this," replied Jackson.

The soldiers rounded another corner. Claudio and Jackson turned in after them and were immediately presented with two muskets pointing at their faces.

"Right mates, what biz'ness d'ya have following us?" asked one of the guards.

"Yeah, spill it," echoed the second one.

Jackson froze. This wasn't the plan.

"Now, now, gentlemen," started Claudio, "There is a simple explanation for all of this."

"And what might that be?"

Claudio looked over at Jackson.

"Run," he said.

The two pirates sprinted away, their feet bounding off the tightly packed cobble of the street. Jackson's shirt held tight against his body as he ran. He dared not look back.

"Oi, stop!" shouted one of the guards.

Claudio stared sternly over at Jackson as if to say keep going.

The two continued dashing towards the edge of the city. For a while, Jackson could hear the pattering of footsteps behind him and the soldiers yelling. Eventually though, their cries dissipated. Claudio and Jackson kept running, leaving the Brits long behind. The sun-bleached limestone of the city transitioned slowly around them into dirt paths and deciduous greenery. Rows of short cork palm trees lined the path, broken only for the occasional fig tree or patch of chalicevine flowers.

It was another few hills before Jackson could run no longer. He collapsed forward onto the trail in a huge cloud of dirt. He started coughing.

Claudio stopped in his tracks.

"That was a close one, but we've got to keep going," he said.

Jackson wheezed, "Surely, we should be good by now."
Claudio scanned their increasingly lush surroundings.

"Quizás," he admitted, "But what now? What do we do?"

Jackson hobbled to his feet and dusted himself off. He coughed a few more times for good measure.

"That was the extent of my plan," said Jackson, "Do you have any ideas?"

Claudio scratched his beard. "Hmm, I don't know. There are a few good hiding spots across Havana, but I doubt your crew knows about them. They've likely holed up somewhere in the jungle if I had to guess."

"Then we're gonna search the jungle till we find them," said a beleaguered Jackson.

Claudio sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"What?" asked Jackson.

"It's just that, well, we may have to think about cutting our losses and running," said Claudio, his face somber.

"Don't even joke about that," said Jackson angrily, "I will not abandon my friends."

"The city is overrun with British soldiers posing as mercenaries. Governor Vives no doubt has many of his own guards searching for us as well. If your friends are found, it won't be by us."

"That's not true!" barked Jackson, balling his hands up into fists, "We'll find them, we'll fight back, and we'll get Leigh!"

Claudio crossed his arms and stared at Jackson. Jackson's face was red with anger.

Jackson slowly untensed his fists and breathed in deeply.

"Leigh mentioned that you and Jiayi were a couple. Is that true?"

Claudio looked a little taken aback. "Si, but I don't know how that applies."

"You'd be willing to give up on her and leave her out there in danger?" asked Jackson, motioning emphatically off towards the jungle.

Claudio paused for a few moments.

"No, I suppose not," he sighed.

"Then we have to do this," said Jackson, "Even if it's a million-to-one shot, we have to do this."

Claudio rubbed his face in frustration. "I suppose there's a few places I know where they might be hiding. We can start there."

"Good," said Jackson, "You lead the way."

Claudio begrudgingly started off into the forest, trampling over a bed of lilies as he did so. Jackson followed closely behind.