Captain Hook Untold (English Version)

4. The beginning of a pirate life

After a few days aboard Blackbeard's ship, James began to get used to the pace of work with the crew. Sometimes he cleaned the deck, sometimes he was entrusted with humbler jobs, such as moving heavy barrels from one side of the ship to the other. In the evening he was destroyed, he fell asleep immediately as soon as he touched his hammock. He no longer had aunt Emily's pink handkerchief with him, he feared he had lost it and with it all hope. He did everything he could not to forget anything, his past and the people he loved in order to go home, even though Blackbeard had stolen his stash of fairy dust from him, so he couldn't even fly out of there. As long as they were near the Neverland, James could risk forgetting his memories and this he couldn't allow.

One day, while he was cleaning the deck for the umpteenth time, there was a fight on board. Two pirates, one younger and thinner and the other older and squat, were fighting. The older one was accusing the other of having found him sleeping instead of working and wanted to throw him into the sea himself. The other begged for mercy while he tried to defend himself in vain. Before getting more blows, James stepped in and yelled: "Stop, leave him alone!". The older pirate got nervous and growled: "Step aside, brat! Don't get involved!", and he punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. James stood motionless for a few seconds, half passed out, then felt relieved. It was Drake who had grabbed him by the arms, saying: "What's going on here?". James' attacker replied: "I was teaching Morgan a lesson, sir, when this brat got in the way! He still doesn't know the rules of the ship!". James tried to speak: "He wanted to kill him!". Drake slapped him, telling him to be quiet. Immediately afterwards the captain arrived, asking for explanations. When he finished explaining, he said: "The boy, after all, is new. From today he will learn what happens to interfere in the affairs of others on my vessel. Tie him to the ship pole and give him twenty!". James didn't understand. Twenty what? Meanwhile, Drake and another pirate tied him by the arms to the pole, tearing off his jacket and exposing his back. Then another pirate arrived with a whip in his hand. James, very frightened, tried to free himself, but in vain. Meanwhile, the pirate gave him the first blow on his back. James screamed in pain as he continued to hit him. It was a truly terrible and agonizing feeling. After twenty hits, they untied him and James lay on his stomach on the ground. He heard two of them laugh, while another said to him: "It went well for you, brat!", and they left him there for a while. It took James several minutes to recover from the pain and shock. It had been much worse than getting beaten by his father. He walked with difficulty, then resumed cleaning the deck.

In the evening, before going to sleep, the captain ordered him to be found in his cabin. James entered, closed the door and walked over to him. "My dear boy", Blackbeard told him, "You disappointed me a lot today. Do you know that I could have thrown you into the sea?", "But I...", "Be quiet, before I really do it!". James said nothing more, looking down. "Now sit down", the captain then told him, "Let's talk a bit...". James sat down and listened to him. "You have to know that the rules exist for a reason. If they aren't respected on my ship, the punishments are very severe. By now you should know. You started a few days ago to be part of my crew, all right, but try to learn quickly. I certainly cannot be your nanny, or you make yourself useful or you die". James shivered. He didn't know how long he would last. After all those lashes he was still shaken and he feared it could get worse and worse. Tears of fear and despair began to fall on his face. He tried not to be seen by the captain, but the latter noticed it and said: "Do you need this, by any chance?". He pulled his pink handkerchief out of his pocket. James's eyes widened. That was where it ended up! He was ashamed, however, to ask it at Blackbeard. "Curious as to color", the captain told him, "Whose was it? Of an old love of yours?". James sniffed and replied: "It was my aunt Emily's", "Oh, your auntie. But what tenderness. I guess you want it back, don't you?", "Yes, sir", "Well, I really think I'll keep it for myself instead. In fact, I need it right now". He was about to blow his nose, when James jumped up and exclaimed: "No, please!". Blackbeard laughed: "You care a lot about it, it seems. Let's do like this: I'll keep it immaculate if you do what I tell you. In addition to washing the deck and everything else, you'll come to me every evening and I'll give you something else to do, are you understood?". James nodded. He cared too much about his handkerchief, it was the only thing he had left of Emily and he didn't want to lose it. "Very well", Blackbeard continued, "Now you can go". James got out of the cabin and went to his hammock. Before sleep, he cried desperately. He had gotten himself into trouble by himself thinking he was doing the right thing and had to suffer Blackbeard's blackmails as well. From that day on, he would mind his business. If anyone was in trouble, he would let it go. He had already suffered enough without having to take on the problems of others as well.