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In the blind night, James woke to soft cries
of distress.
Elizabeth! He caught at her, where she flailed beside
him, in the grip of some nightmare. For a moment she struggled,
but then his voice seemed to reach her. She stilled, then allowed
him to gather her into his arms. It was only a dream,
he murmured against her hair.
Yes. She shuddered, and clung to him. He soothed
her with hands and lips, and after a little while was rewarded
with a deep sigh, and a kiss. Then she whispered, Im
sorry.
Dont be. What was it? Can you tell me?
She hesitated, and he brushed another kiss against her forehead,
and did not press her. But at last she told him. It was
the dog.
He knew what she meant. Taking a walk after supper, the thing
had lunged at them from where it was chained in the yard of one
Thomas Greeley, reputed miser. Elizabeth had been uncharacteristically
shaken by the encounter.
Shall I confront Greeley? The thing is dangerousor
would be, if not chained.
No
I mean
you will do as you think best. But
in my dream
He kissed her cheek, then prompted, Yes?
Oh, James. It became
Barbossa. That second night,
when he revealed to me what he was. What they all were.
She shuddered again, and he held her close.
But she went on. He was chained, too. By the curse.
Yes. He stroked her hair. It was so long ago.
Not long enough.
They were silent then, for a time, until finally she drew back,
and he knew she was trying to see him in the blackness. Her hands
moved over him, in a pattern that was becoming deliciously familiar.
She asked him, Will you help me forget?
He replied, Of course, sweetheart. I am, as always, entirely
at your service. His tone was light, and he felt her smile.
But God knew the words were the unvarnished truth.
~.~
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