Chapter 9

We fell asleep afterwards and it was evening when we woke up. The sun had begun to settle and the shadows were long when we got dressed again. We were both quite giddy and it took us some time as we had to pause to kiss each other, over and over again. When we finally went out, Jean-Baptiste was a few step ahead of me. Just when he stepped out he turned his head back to say me something, but he never spoke..

Instead his smile turned into a scream and he was suddenly tugged to the right and disappeared from my view. I ran to the door and my heart stopped. There were pirates everywhere and there was Captain Hook. His claw was deeply embedded in Jean-Baptiste´s upper arm. Jean-Baptiste himself was kneeling in the grass, his face white from shock and pain. As I watched the Captain tored the claw out and Jean-Baptiste screamed again, his shirtsleeve quickly becoming red of blood. I darted towards him, but the Captain stepped between us. He was smiling, but I could see the red fire in his eyes and my knees went weak from fear. He took hold on my hair, twisting his hand into it and making it impossible for me to move my head.

"So", he said, his voice mocking me, "Here we all are. You don´t seem very happy to see me again, my beauty. But I guess that you were not expecting me. You see, I got some very useful information just this afternoon. Mr. Starkey here never appreciated living with those savages and has returned to me. I am very pleased to once more have him in my service" He glanced at Jean-Baptiste who was clutching his arm in an attempt to stop the blood. "Mr. Smee, do something about his arm, I don´t want him to die on me too soon."

I couldn´t speak. It was all so horrible. A minute ago I had been happy and now my happiness had shattered all around me. Pirates with torches approached the house Jean-Baptiste had built with such care, throwing them in through the open door. The Captain watched it, still smiling.

"Now, we are all going back to the ship. I think we will have several days of amusement when we will watch my pretty Frenchman die. But, Wendy, perhaps his life is worth something to you.. What would you do if I let him live? Anything?"

"Yes," I whispered, "Anything." The Captains smile broadened," Too bad then, that I don´t need him to make you do what I want. You will do it anyway in the end, trust me."

It was true, I knew. He would make me watch Jean-Baptiste die. He would break me, body and soul. Perhaps he would grow tired and kill me soon, but that was a faint hope. But as I stood there the memory of the Captain´s voice when he asked me to say his name, came back to me. His face when he was asleep. That he had removed his claw for me.

Very slowly I reached out my hand and for the first time I touched the claw, closing my fingers around it. It was cooler than I had expected and sticky from blood. It was repulsive, but I fought the impulse to let go of it, instead letting my grip grow stronger. I put my other hand to his face, caressing it.

"James," I said. "Let him go. If you do, I will know that there is something in you that will let me care for you. I´ll go with you and I´ll never try to run away again. I´ll give you all my smiles, all my tenderness, out of my own free will. You know that those are things you could never force out of me. Leave him, leave Neverland and I will let you have them"

While I speaked, the Captain let go of my hair. His eyes became blue again and when he spoke, there was no mockery left in his voice. "If I did, could you do more than just care for me?" Something in his voice made my heart ache. "I don´t know, " I said. " That´s all I can promise."

There was a pause. Nobody spoke. I could hear the flames crackle as they started to eat their way into the house. It would have been a relief to cry, but there was no place for tears now. I wanted to look at Jean- Baptiste, but I didn´t dare. Then the Captain freed his claw from my grip. He took my hand in his and kissed my fingers.

"Very well. I give you his life. We will leave now." Still holding my hand he started to walk away, the pirates following us. Jean-Baptiste was still kneeling on the ground. When we walked past him I stretched out my arm towards him, as he reached for me. For a moment our fingertips touched, but the Captain didn´t pause in his stride and I was forced to follow. Very soon we had left Jean-Baptiste and the burning house behind us.

End of Chapter 9