Chapter 12

Hidden in the hold of Black's ship, Aaron was quietly waiting until it was too late to turn around and get him out of there.

He had had no trouble escaping Uncle Jack's surveillance.

The latter was sleeping peacefully in his hammock between two palm trees when he had slipped away.

He had left him a message so that he would not worry too much and had gone straight to the dock where the boat was moored.

He had dressed as a sailor and therefore went unnoticed in front of the others who were preparing for the big departure.

All he needed was a bit of luck so he wouldn't end up face to face with Black.

He then opened the hold and went down inside until everything calmed down.

It was warm in there and since he was just below deck, he could feel the air passing just above him through the hatches.

Off Uncle Jack's Island, Black paced back and forth while the second captain who had taken the first watch navigated masterfully.

He missed Aaron.

He knew it was too dangerous for him to return to England but he couldn't help but regret not saying goodbye to him one last time before leaving.

-Captain! English soldiers' ship to port! What do we do?

Ah! He finally had the chance to let off steam and judging by the looks his men were giving him, they were ready for a fight too.

-Hoist the black flag and arm the cannons!

-Hurrah! Hurrah! the pirates shouted. Long live Captain Black the black!

Aaron wondered what was happening on deck. He had heard the sailors' cries of joy but didn't know why they were so happy.

Suddenly two sailors came to take ropes next to the hatch:

-This attack will put the captain back on his feet. He's not to be taken with a pinch of salt since we left.

-But that's normal, they laughed. He left his dear Aaron behind him.

-If he knew that the captain is Black the Black I wonder what he would think!

-Well! No need to worry about it. He'll never know anyway.

Pale as a sheet Aaron sat on a crate. No! It was impossible! Black was the great pirate Black the Black! Oh my god!

When he was at the Blacknight, he had noticed that some of Black's departures were not noted and when he had pointed this out to him, he had replied that he had a personal booklet where he recorded the departures of his own ship and therefore he did not have to worry about it.

So each time, he left to attack the ships of the English soldiers!

How could he have been so blind?

That he was a pirate did not shock him in itself. He also hated the English navy, which seized all ships under cover of the government and took advantage of the situation to ransack and steal what they could from the poor merchants who fell into their hands.

What shocked him most was that Black risked his life every time he fought for his ideals.

He didn't want to lose him but for now the only thing to do was to stay hidden and wait for the fighting to be over.

Then he would tell Black his way of thinking!

The attack on the English ship was brief and successful. After firing a cannon shot that hit the main mast, they tied up to it and fought like madmen until the soldiers surrendered.

Their captain, a coward of the worst kind, had locked himself in his cabin, leaving his men to fight in his place.

Black signaled two of his men to break down the door while the others recovered the precious fabrics, rare spices and other treasures in the ship's hold.

The captain dragged by his men struggled and shouted louder:

-I am a nobleman and lieutenant of the English navy! I forbid you to touch me!

He was thrown at Black's feet.

-I order you to tell me who you are?

Black and his men had always taken the precaution of hiding their faces under scarves which allowed them to live freely without being worried about being recognized one day.

Black's icy gaze fell on the lieutenant:

-And I wonder why soldiers of the English navy carry so much treasure?

The man blushed with humiliation:

-I will have your head, you dirty pirate, I swear!

Black laughed:

-A coward who hides like a little girl while abandoning his own men has no business threatening me.

Throw him into the water! That might make him a little braver!

The man began to protest with all his might while cursing them but the pirates threw him overboard.

The soldiers held at gunpoint by their muskets did not move.

They returned to their ship while a soldier threw a rope to the lieutenant.

The pirate set foot on the stern of his ship which was already moving away and shouted:

-I am Black The Black to serve me!!!

His men then began to laugh out loud and shout their joy leaving the soldiers to their downfall.

When the pirates began to put the treasures granted by force into the hold, Aaron hid as best he could and was not discovered.

The ship was now far away and everything seemed to have become calm again on the deck.

He had been so afraid for Black that he had almost gone out to see what was happening but when he had heard his men laughing, he had felt reassured.

Black was fine. He was out of danger.

But how long would his luck last?

Aaron had a bad night. He was still in pain from his injuries and the ground was so hard that it took him ages to fall asleep. It was decided.

Tomorrow he would go out. Black would probably be unhappy but it was better than staying in this hold for another two days.

-Hey! Hey! Who's that? The captain's going to be happy!

Aaron opened his eyes with difficulty. Damn! He had lain down right next to the food reserves.

The two pirates looked at each other:

-Do you think he knows something about us?

-Well, if he's been here since the beginning, he must have seen what we brought back into the hold yesterday.

Aaron looked at them ironically:

-What am I supposed to know? That your captain is Black the Black for example?

The two sailors turned pale:

-The captain is going to kill us. You're not going to tell him anything, are you, Mr. Aaron?

-I'm going to hold back! I'm going to tell him what I think of this brainless gorilla!

-Then we're sorry, Mr. Aaron, we have no choice, we have to take you back to him.

-No problem!

Each of the two pirates took an arm and brought him back to Black.

-We're sorry mister Aaron but we're pirates so we have to be a little rough you understand?

Aaron looked at them amused. He knew all these men and knew they wouldn't hurt him.

When the pirates saw them they all stopped and turned to their captain who was staring at Aaron, green with rage. How dare he disobey him?

-Captain, we found a stowaway rat in the hold. He knows everything about us.

Aaron stared at him impassively.

Glacial, Black asked him:

-What do you have to say in your defense?

Aaron's gaze changed. His eyes were now flashing:

-How could you do that, you big idiot!

He began to tremble:

-You could have been arrested or worse!

The pirates were silent. Their captain seemed ready to hit him.

A few stood in front of Aaron to protect him.

-Calm down captain, you might regret what you're going to do.

Black frowned. His men were protecting Aaron from him?

The young man struggled, wanting to confront Black:

-Move! Black won't do anything to me, come on!

Given the rage that infiltrated his gaze, they weren't so sure but they were at least relieved on one point, Aaron cared too much for their captain to betray them.

However, never stingy with bad jokes, they agreed to play a trick on their captain.

-Captain! You know the law of pirates! We appeal to the law of pirates for Mr. Aaron.

They began chanting the name of Flam the Red.

-Flam! Flam! Flam! Flam!

With a smile the sub-captain intervened as the pirates moved away from Aaron.

The latter, not understanding what they were getting at, waited.

-Mr. Aaron, for having clandestinely joined a pirate ship you will be thrown into the ocean.

-Take a plank! He will walk on it and jump!

Black was still staring at him without moving. He knew where this was going to lead.

They had planned everything, the buggers!

They chuckled under their breath as the two pirates holding him pulled him closer to the board.

Aaron finally understanding what they were going to do began to panic. They weren't going to throw him into the sea among the sharks, were they?

-Black! Help! You're not going to let them do it after saving my life?

The latter, dismayed, resigned himself:

-It's good, you've won!

They all started laughing:

-What captain? Didn't we hear clearly?

He gave Aaron a cold look:

-I demand the right of alliance as captain!

Those bastards were going to regret it! He was going to make them slave away until they got to England!

-Hooray!!Hooray!! the pirates shouted mockingly.

Aaron was placed next to Black while the second captain took a book and stood in front of them.

All the pirates took off their bandanas and hats and put their hands over their hearts.

But what was going on?

He looked at Black for an explanation but he was staring at an invisible point straight ahead.

The second captain began to speak:

-By the powers vested in me as second captain of this ship, I pronounce you united in the sacred bonds of matrimony!