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THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST

Synopsis:  J, J & H have gotten away, but what now?  Plus a surprise.

"FORTUNE'S WIND" chapter 5

by Eric R. Umali

"Midnight"

Jonny left their hiding spot early the next morning to raid the galley.  
Hadji and Jessie sat across from each other, in an uncomfortable silence.

"It seems you're Jonny's best friend, after 'Black Dog', of course."

"Yes.  We have grown up on this ship together.  All that Captain Wildey 
did for him, he did for me."

"I never imagined a pirate could inspire such loyalty."

"I imagine Captain Wildey was not at all the kind of pirate you thought 
he was.  What we take doesn't belong to those who have it.  Most of the 
crew is already well off enough.  We do it to lighten Their Majesties' 
purses."  He paused, looking her straight in the eyes.  "Did you know 
that while under his command, the crew was under strict orders to kill 
only if necessary?  We left many crews in their lifeboats, or ashore.  
They often fought amongst themselves and blamed the deaths on us."

"Why should I believe that?"

"You may believe what you wish.  It is the truth."  More silence.  "May I 
ask you a question?"

"Ask.  I cannot promise an answer."

"You are a claustrophobe, are you not?"

"What makes you say that?"

"You acted most... uncomfortable when we hid ourselves here."

"I do not enjoy tight spaces, it's true."

"Yet now, you seem quite well.  How?"

Jessie paused before answering, wondering if she really believed what she 
was thinking of saying.  "Jonny," she said, gesturing towards the loose 
panel.  "I can't believe him.  His adopted father just died, he's lost 
his ship, and we're all on the verge of stretching at the end of Surd's 
noose.  Yet he has the strength inside to comfort a scared stranger who's 
just tried to kill him?  How?  Why?"

"Because," Hadji answered calmly, "that is his nature.  I have watched 
Jonny grow up into the finest man I have ever met, 'Black Dog' included.  
Though I have no doubt helping you is helping him.  He is most fond of you."

"Oh, I'm sure-- which is why he called me 'she-devil' and wanted my head."

"Ha!" laughed Hadji.  "You are too much the same."

"What does that mean?"

"Your words are almost the same as his last night, when I told him how 
much you liked him."

"I don't--" she started, but was cut off by the sudden pulling away of 
the panel.  Hadji immediately drew his dagger, then lowered it when 
Jonny's blonde head popped inside, a bright red apple sticking out of his 
mouth.  Jonny scrambled inside, then shut the panel.

**********

The *Talon* and the *Bandit Queen* docked side by side in Kingston Bay.  
Surd had what was left of Wildey's last booty off-loaded and placed into 
his own coffers.  Quest and Bannon, gagged and chained hand and foot, 
were marched up to the deck.  They blinked and squinted, having spent the 
intervening time in the darkness of the *Talon*'s brig.  Their faces were 
bruised and bloodied.

Surd stood by the top of the gangplank as they clanked their way towards 
him.  "Take these blackguards to the jail and make them ready.  They 
stretch at sunrise."  Bannon and Quest were shoved down the plank, nearly 
falling over each other doing it.

Lawrence came up beside him.  "Governor Surd-- don't they stand trial?"

"They stood trial at sea, Lawrence.  They were observed and caught in the 
treasonous act of conspiring with known pirates, plain and simple."

**********

Benton Quest and Roger Bannon were unceremoniously heaved into a small, 
musty space before their blindfolds and bindings were removed.  Bannon 
immediately assaulted the closest person, but was rewarded with a solid 
blow to the temple for his trouble.  The iron gate slammed shut.

Quest looked first to Bannon's head, determining he was merely 
unconcious, then took in his surroundings.  They were imprisoned in a 
tiny cell, no more than six feet square.  Slightly rotting hay lined the 
floor, and there was a dampness to the stone walls that said they were 
well underground.  Much of the hay showed signs of gnawing-- they'd have 
rats to deal with soon enough.  Benton arranged the long limbs of his 
first mate into a semblance of a comfortable position, then settled himself.

**********

In the bustle of the *Bandit Queen*'s unloading, no one noticed the three 
pairs of eyes staring furtively from belowdecks at the action on both 
that ship and the *Talon*.

When Bannon and Quest had emerged from the darkness of the other ship, it 
required both Jonny and Hadji to restrain their new friend.  Jonny 
clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Quiet!  Damn you, girl-- be quiet or they'll swing for sure with us 
alongside!"  Her struggling ceased.  "Finished?"  She nodded.  Jonny 
relaxed and she bit his hand.

"Aaagghh!" he cried, and his hand flew back.  Jessie glared at him 
without so much as flinching.  His hand dropped.  "That was a warning.  
Cross me again and my hand flies on its own."

They sat in silence for a few more minutes to wait out the last of Surd's 
men.

"All right, let's go."

The three young people crept silently from their hiding place.  The 
*Bandit Queen* had just taken a heavy Spanish galleon, so by the time she 
was fully unloaded and sitting high in the water, the sun was setting 
once more.

**********

Benton Quest shifted his weight.  His eyes closed, his mind went back to 
the deck of the *Bandi Queen*.  He saw and remembered vividly the last 
moments of Doug Wildey, and recalled as vividly his past.

Young Lieutenant Commander Benton Quest was one of the most promising 
officers in Her Majesty's Navy.  He was on every admiral's short list for 
fast promotion.  It was a surprise to all of society, of course, the 
banns were annouced of his impending nuptials to one Rachel Wildey, a 
woman of no station and little dowry.

He met Doug Wildey right after they moved into a small cottage 
overlooking a quiet bay.  The man disapproved of the marriage, and Benton 
disapproved of him.  It was only after his departure that the house knew 
peace.

**********

Jonny led the way through the dark alleys near the docks of Kingston 
Bay.  Jessie bit her lip to keep from constantly inquiring about their 
situation.  Jonny's threat of reprisal earlier had given her a glimpse of 
the young man's character she did not trust, and so she kept her mouth 
shut and her hand on the pommel of her sword.  Hadji followed a short 
distance behind, eyes constantly searching for signs of trouble.

They wound their way through the alleys to a hole-in-the-wall marked with 
a simple wooden sign overhead reading "The Porthole Tavern."  Jonny 
stopped before the entrance and gave a quick look around.  He nodded to 
the others and disappeared inside.  Jessie hesitated until a gentle nudge 
in the back from Hadji bade her follow.  She entered, Hadji right behind 
her, into the dimly-lit tavern.

Jessie was greeted by the sight of Jonny caught in the arms of a woman.  
She patted him on the back and cooed like a mother bird.  Hadji smiled 
and cleared his throat.  The woman released Jonny.

"Ahh, Jonny my boy, it's so wonderful to see you again!  And you, Hadji-- 
you're both so handsome.  And who," she said warily, "is this?"

"A, uh, new member of the crew," Jonny answered.  "Patti, this is Jessie 
Bannon.  Jessie, Patti, proprietress of the Porthole."

"I see.  'Black Dog's crew, or your own?"  asked slyly.  She succeeded in 
bringing a slight flush to Jonny's skin with that.   Began to smile at 
him until his face turned dark.  "Why what's wrong, Jonny?"

"Haven't you heard, Patti?  'Black Dog' Wildey is dead."

Instantly, she flew into a rage.  "By whose hand?"

"Surd," he responded coldly.

"What do you need from me?"  asked.

"The Governor holds two good men in his jail.  We mean to break them 
out.  Can we talk in back?"

"Of course,"  replied, and put her arm around his shoulder, leading him 
to the back rooms.  Jonny motioned for them to follow.  "So, who's the girl?"

"I told you: she's a new member of the crew.  And yes, it's _my_ crew 
now.  One of the men Surd holds is her father."

"Wait, Jonny--" she said.  "Those wouldn't be those two British tars that 
were seen in the jail, would they?"

"Aye, that's them."

"So, you're a pirate who's going to bust free a pair of British 
officers-- one of whom's daughter you've taken up with?  You make a very 
interesting captain, Jonny."

"Will you help me, Patti?"

"Of course.  Let's talk about what you'll need."

They sat in the small storage room and readied their plan.

TO BE CONTINUED...