Emerald Seas

Chapter 22

That same evening they all got together in the big military tent in the middle of the camp. Surrounding the wide wooden table everyone's eyes were focused on the large map placed on top.

'How long exactly will it take for the Wicked Wench to be able to sail again?' as Cutler spoke he did not raise his eyes from the map.

'About a week, Milord' the admiral in front of him on the left spoke underneath his breath. Cutler nodded softly while still staring, he was in deep thought.

'It won't take long before we will be discovered if we haven't been already' Jack moved in between and bumped Cutler's shoulder so he could watch the large map as well. Cutler's eyes moved out of its stare and watched him in annoyance.

'Who will discover what?' Mr. Mercer watched Jack in question. Kate next to Cutler's right side looked up, away from the map as well. She reminded herself it were only she, Cutler and Jack that knew that the island was inhabited.

'It's the reason I summoned you all. We found some evidence of what could mean this island is not abandoned' Cutler spoke softly, almost like he was afraid of the panic that might follow.

'You mean like animals, Sir? As far as we know this island does not have a civilized city or village' one of the Lieutenants asked carefully.

'Not civilized indeed..' Cutler whispered. Kate moved her eyes back to the map where the island they were on, which was called Meadow Island, seemed marked as unknown territory. Suddenly her eyes shifted toward a very small line beneath the graceful letters spelling the name of the island. Kate was now bending her upper body over the large map and table, ignoring all men staring at her almost crawling onto the table as her small figure had to let go of the ground to reach. Cutler handed her a magnifying glass as he noticed her discovering something. Kate used it and after reading the very small line underneath, her index finger moved along the line, after that tapping on it softly.

'What is it you see?' Jack asked while all men stared at her. Kate seemed to be in deep thought before she answered.

'Some islands have side names, as to how they are called in other languages, most of the time foreign languages. They changed them to make it more pronounceable. Most of the time the original names are not present on maps, but this map is a very specific one and does show them' Kate explained while still staring at the letters, she seemed slightly distressed. The men around her were dead silent, probably surprised by her map knowledge.

'This is one of those islands..' Kate swallowed.

'What is its original name?' Cutler one of the few that wasn't surprised by his fiance's knowledge asked curiously.

'Isla de Pelegostos' Kate whispered. She heard Jack gasp, but he covered it up quickly.

'You know it?' Cutler looked at Jack from over his left shoulder. Jack nodded softly.

'I am afraid so..' Jack spoke while staring at Kate.

'I have read about it once. It is a Portuguese name for the island, pele means "skin" and gosto means "taste"..' Kate spoke beneath her breath like she was afraid to speak the words, Jack nodded agreeing with her.

'Cannibals' Cutler whispered immediately understanding what Kate was saying. They heard some gasping and oh's coming from some of the sailors. Kate noticed Cutler staring into her eyes, once again in deep thought. Kate saw fear in the eyes of the men once her sight moved along the room. She had always felt responsible for every single man on the ship and so she wanted to calm them down by telling it would be alright, but she wasn't sure how this was going to end. It seemed like Cutler noticed the concern in her eyes as Kate felt his warm hand take hers softly underneath the table where no one could see. Smiling at him weakly Cutler nodded at her slowly, she knew he was concerned too, but he was good at hiding it. Cutler always managed to say the right thing to ease everyone's minds.