The decoy crew, led by Jiayi and Claudio, peeled off from the main group and took a sharp right down a small cobble road there on the outskirts of Havana.
"Good luck and Godspeed!" yelled Jiayi.
"We'll see you on the other side," echoed back Kingsley.
The two groups shared a final, knowing look before going their separate ways.
The larger group, replete with all manner of daggers, cutlasses, swords, pistols, and rifles, entered the city of Havana proper. They marched down the main throughway like they owned the place.
"We keep moving and we don't let anyone stop us," pronounced Amelia, "We don't have time to waste."
Jackson tensed his fists at his sides. His heart pounded out within his chest. He gulped and tried to keep his fears from becoming apparent to those around him. Jackson glanced over at Thomas. His brother seemed to be doing much the same thing.
"What's the plan if someone tries to stop us?" whispered Thomas.
"We try to escape. But if that's not an option, we stand and fight," replied Jackson.
Thomas nodded, but his creased brow and clenched jaw betrayed uncertainty.
The pirates continued to stride through the streets of Havana, heading north towards the harbor. The sun was low in the sky now. Golden light turned slowly into orange shadows cast themselves off the sharp edges of buildings. The people of Havana, correctly diagnosing the group as pirates, began to retreat back inside their homes. If they didn't have homes to retreat into, they yelled, screamed, and pushed their way into bars, churches, and hotels. The streets cleared before them, drawing a clear path back to the Marauder's Mistress.
"Finally, some respect," remarked Amelia.
The sun caressed the western horizon, lighting up the distant jungle canopy a brilliant red. Evermore intense shadows filled the streets. The first outlines of a full moon appeared in the sky to the east.
Thomas turned once more to Jackson. "After this is done, I want to talk to you-"
He was cut off.
A hush fell over the pirates. There was another mass of people assembled just down the hill from them. Jackson could see the outline of muskets held in their arms.
Both groups stopped in their tracks.
A man at the front of the opposing party approached. In alternating rays of dim light, Jackson could make out his features. He had thick mutton chops on the sides of his head and was sporting a blue tricorn hat above his gray cotton clothes. His face opened up into a wide smile. He spoke in a thick Scottish brogue when he said, "Right, lads, seems t'be the pack of hounds we been looking fer."
There were ten in total.
The British soldiers all leveled their rifles at the group.
The Scot put his hands on his hips and announced, "Now would be the time t' surrender, unless you particularly like a ball o' lead 'tween the eyes!"
"Do not worry, mes amis," said Jean-Luc, turning to Kingsley and Jackson, "I will take care of them. You all go on ahead."
"You really think you can take them alone?" asked Kingsley incredulously.
"He won't be alone," said Amelia, not averting her gaze from the enemy soldiers, "I'll stay back too."
Kingsley and shifted his jaw to the side. Jackson could almost see the machinery churning inside his brain.
YOU ARE READING
Chéri
RomanceA story of Pirates, Romance, and Adventure on the High Seas: The year is 1826. Pirates have long disappeared from the Caribbean, or so Jackson had thought. After he and his brother both lose their jobs, Jackson falls in with a group of smugglers ope...
