The Cry of Liberty

Chapter Fifteen: Hope

Sasha leaned over her desk and ran a finger along the route they were currently sailing. They hadn't had a decent score in months and barely had enough food for this voyage, let alone to share with the villages in Cuba. There were no leads on the next big fleet to cross to the Americas, the Company must have finally discovered that a few of their men weren't as committed to Queen and Country as they liked. Too many people depended on her for supplies and she was letting them down.

"Captain?" Davu knocked on the door and leaned in the doorway. "No luck, I take it."

"I have nothing to go on. I'll have to sell the ship and retire at this rate." She looked up and noticed he had a bowl in his hand.

"You need to eat." He crossed the room and set the bowl of rice and fish on the desk. "I know you have been skipping meals." Sasha sat down and ran a hand through her hair.

"There are more important mouths to feed." She ate a bite and her stomach sent up a happy rumbling noise at being fed. "Thank you, Davu."

"Might I suggest an idea on bettering our money situation?" Davu pointed to a map underneath the rest. "We take from European ships because they deserve it. Why don't we try the mystical side of being pirates?"

It was a map she hadn't really thought about in years. Before he set sail with his new crew, Jack had shown her the map that he swore would lead him to the gold of Cortés and as soon as she got back to the Liberty she drew it the best she could from memory. She often wondered if he ever found it, having not heard from or seen him though, she might never know.

"We're tight on food as it is, you think this would be the wisest course to take?" Davu nodded.

"If this treasure map came from Tia Dalma, even a copy of that map, that is where we will find the answer to our problems."

"I suppose it's worth a shot. Tia Dalma's never been wrong before." Sasha agreed, looking over the map. "It won't just be me that'll have to skip meals this time."

"You were not the only one, Captain." Davu winked and left. She watched the African man go, grateful he had stopped by.

Sasha set to getting the ship on the right course to find the Isle de Muerta. Elias didn't argue when she had informed him of their change in destination. He was quick to bark orders while she set the wheel in the correct direction. Some of the men questioned the sudden change in their captain's demeanor but when promised a wealthy share of actual gold and glory, they quickly set to their assigned tasks.

She worried that perhaps Jack had found it and there would be none left but dismissed the thought when she remembered that she had heard no rumors of him doing so. This brought a new worry to mind though, if he set out to find it two years ago, why hadn't he found it yet? He wasn't dead, she would have definitely heard if he was, so where was he?

"This is the right decision." Davu stood at her side as she turned the wheel. She looked out over the endless sea and hoped he was right.