Articles de cette rubrique :

The two women, surrounded by six guards, got out of the building. The older was holding her chin high under the vast feathered hat and her back was straight under the heavy cloak. She looked like some fallen queen. She did not seem to care about the chains tightly clasped around her wrists. On her cheek, there was a large, fresh wound and her left hand clutched sometimes slightly. Some people on her way were whispering that she had been tortured by some guards. She sometimes turned at the younger, who was trembling and wheeping.

"Be brave, Beryl," she said. "Do not give them the pleasure of seeing us low."

The younger nodded and tried hard to straighten herself. But she was obviously not as strong as the older.  She was perhaps thirteen. Fourteen at most. She was afraid. She walked her head and her shoulders bent and her eyes hidden behind her hair. The chains seemed to hurt her wrists, and she was stepping on her long skirt. Once or twice, she almost fell. No one in the crowd was speaking. when they arrived at the gibbet, the guards helped them to get up. A soldier wanted to remove the older's hat and cloak, but she stopped him, and removed them herself. Her long, straight, black hair, fell down in her back.

"Which one ?"

The older stepped forward. The soldier nodded. As the hangman was making the knot, the older took her sister in her arms and hugged her. The younger was crying. The older took her face in her hands and whiped the tears off.

"See you soon, my lamb," she said with a smile.

She kissed the girl's forehead and walked calmly to the chord. The hangman made her put her head into the buckle. The judge began :

"Victoria Angela Mary Crow, you have been charged with piracy, plunder, kidnapping, robbery, blackmailing, attack of several ships of the Royal Navy, prostitution and many other deviant behaviours. As a consequence, you have been sentenced to be hung by the neck until Death comes. May the Lord have mercy on you.

_Amen," answered Cpt Crow with a smile.

"Have you something else to say, before dying ?"

The pirat laughed.

"No way, Judge, except that I hope that you and your pairs shall one day have the same end as mine."

The judge frowned and had a movement. The hangman pulled the handle. There was a sudden gunshot... and the soldier who was holding the young woman fell. Dead. The girl took his sword and cut the chord. Victoria, who was clutching the chord with all her strength not to get strangled, fell on the pavement. The girl threw the sword to her and jumped down the gibbet.

"Hey, soldiers !" Victoria shouted. "Look at me ! This ways, boys !"

The man who had fired was riding a horse. He gallopped through the crowd and grabbed the running girl, while Victoria Crow was fighting against half a dozen soldiers and the hangman.

"Cap' ! Let it go ! Come !"

But Victoria Crow grabbed the pistol of a soldier and shot, shouting :

"Out, stupid ! That's not for me that I called you, fucking bastard !"

The man raised a hand up, turned round, and finally spurred, leaving the place and his captain alone. She was eventually surrounded by armed soldiers. An officer came out and looked at her.

"You knew you would not manage."

She smiled and unarmed her gun, giving him the grip.

"You cannot blame me for trying, Captain Norrington."

Captain James Norrington nodded, took the gun and the sword.

"You could have chosen another means, less... violent. You killed two men of mine. This won't improve your case, you know."

She laughed.

"Oh, I don't care. Actually, my case was closed even before you caught me. But anyway, I am sorry about your men. I had told this stupid bastard I did not want any bloodshed, but you know what it is : you tell them something, they do exactly the contrary. Bloody idiots."

Norrington sighed but smiled, as against his own will.

"So, what did you do that for, Captain Crow ? You are again into our hands, and about to get hung in a short time.

_True. But my sister is away. And alive. Good day, anyway."

She had a short sigh. Norringtonput his hand upon her shoulder.

"You fulfilled your promise."

She nodded.

"Well, could we get it over, Captain Norrington ? I have never been very gifted about emotions. Action is more my moto."

Norrington nodded.

"I am afraid you will have to wait a bit longer. All this has disturbed quite a lot the ceremony.

_Oh Lord ! I am so sorry ! No really. So, may I go back to my cell ?"

Norrington had a movement, and the guards brought her back into the building. Norrington went to the gibbet and picked up the hat and the cloak, and then followed the group, thinking.

He was there, when the Royal Navy had come to arrest Captain Crow and her sister Beryl. They had received an anonymous message, informing them that the women would be at the Crowned Dolphin, one of the most famous bawdy-houses in Port-royal. And, indeed, there they were, in a small room, at the bedside of a woman who was obviously on the edge of dying. Norrington would always remember the scene : there they were, soldiers, armed and ready to fight, waiting to find at least one cruel and savage pirat. And they had found a mother watched by her two daughters.

"Who are these men, my love ?" had asked the dying woman.

Captain Crow had watched them and answered :

"Clients, Mama. I shall deal with them, do not worry.

_You are an angel, my love. I shall rest for a few minuts. Then, I promise, I will be fine.

_I know, Mama. I know you shall."

The dying woman had looked at them.

"So many men...

_That's 'cause you're the best, Mama. I'll keep them waiting.

_Thank you, my love."

Young Beryl was standing by the bed, silently wheeping. Her mother had seen her.

"What's wrong, my lamb ? Why are you crying ?"

The girl had not answered immediately, but had looked at her sister, who had nodded. Then, she had said :

"That's nothin', Mama. I've just hurt meself.

_Pobrecita ! Come, my lamb. Come to me."

The girl had obbeyed and had knelt before her mother, who had kissed her on the forehead.

"There. Better ?

_Yes Mama.

_Good."

During this short scene, Captain Crow had gotten up and had come to them - to him, for she had identified him as the chief.

"It is almost the end. Just a few minuts more. Pray."

He had looked at the room, at the woman. There was no way for them to escape, and they obviously had no intention to try anything of the sort. He had nodded. Right at this moment, the woman had called :

"Victoria !

_Coming, Mama !" had answered Captain Crow.

She had gone back and had sat on the edge of the bed, taking her mother's hand.

"Victoria, take care of Beryl until I wake up, will you ? I know you will make sure no harm will be done to her.

_Sure, Mama. Sure I will. Pray, rest in peace."

The woman had smiled and caressed her mother's cheek.

"You're a angel, my love..."

These words were the last uttered by the woman. With a sigh, Captain Crow had closed her mother's eyes, kissed her forehead and joined her hands. Then, her sister and her had pulled the sheets upon the body and had crossed themselves. Norrington had imitated them, and so had done the soldiers. Then only, Captain Crow and her sister had come to them.

"Now we can leave, gentlemen."

A soldier had clasped the handcuffs around their wrists, and, calmly, they had gone downstairs. Passing by the "madam" Captain Crow had thrown her a few golden coins.

"Mrs Meg, take care of my mother's funerals, will you ? I am afraid that Beryl and I will have obligations..."

The so-called Mrs Meg had picked the coins up and had nodded. Norrington had looked at her menacingly and, surprisingly enough - even for himself - had said :

"Hope you will do it, for I will check it myself."

Then, they had left the bawdy-house. Norrington, who had been walking just behind the prisonners, had been thinking all along the way to the jail. This episode had been the first time that he had seen pirats as human beeings. And this experience was quite disturbing...

"Leave us, Mr Donovan."

Private Donovan saluted and left. When Captain Norrington gave an order, it was wise to obbey promptly, for, behind his very British phlegm, the Captain was not really patient. Norrington was still holding the hat and cloak. He handed them to the prisonner.

"You forgot them."

Victoria Crow was sitting on the ground, her back against a wall, and her face turned towards the narrow barred window which gave a vague glow. She had a short movement, but did not get up, nor speak. Norrington took a seat and sat down before the cell.

"Something's wrong, isn't it ?

_Duh ! Who cares ?" she answered with a short snigger.

He sighed.

"I do."

She turned at him, and he could see, thanks to the two shiny traces in the dust that covered her face, that she had cried. She shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, I shall be dead in a few hours.

_In a few days would be more exact."

She sniggered.

"What luck !"

He crossed his legs.

"So, you don't want to tell me... ?

_Pointless. But thank you, anyway.

_Is it about your mother ?"

Her crooked smiles faded away.

"How... ?

_You did not cry after her death.

_Didn't want to get Beryl low.

_Very noble."

There was a short silence.

"What makes you think she'll be safe among pirats ?

_She'll be safer than if at the wrong end of a chord. And whatever you may thik, pirats are able of respect."

He gave her a sceptic look, but she shrugged.

"Are you afraid of death, Captain Crow ?" he suddenly asked.

She laughed softly.

"No, I'm not. Why should I ? Nothing or noone's waiting for me. No friend, no family, no lover. Not even my crew which, by virtue of the code, must already obbey to my successor.

_This sounds quite bitter...

_I've fulfilled my task. I have no reason to be bitter, nor afraid."

She got up and approached him, clutching the bars.

"And you, Commodore ?

_Pray, do not call me like that. I am not yet...

_But you'll be soon. Sure. And I may not live long enough to give you that title officially. You're worthy man, James Norrington."

He was feeling more confused and flattered than he would have thought it reasonnable. He coughed a bit. She smiled and took the hat and the cloak, that she threw on the straw-mattress. Then she stepped back and sat down near by them, loosening her vast shirt. Sartled, he uttered :

"What... what on earth are you doing ?"

She held still for a few seconds, and answered on the tone of evidence :

"Getting at ease... I don't have to look like anything anymore, the execution has been procrastinated..."

The shirt was now quite widely open, and one could almost see her breasts - at least, her right shoulder was fully visible. Norrington blushed and forced him self to look elsewhere. She laughed.

"Oh, come on, Commodore, you're a sailor ! That's not the first time you see the skin of a woman !"

He did not answer, but blushed even more. She stopped laughing at once and looked at him.

"Don't tell me... Good Lord of the Seven Seas ! Does it mean that you're still a...

_Quiet, for Christ's Sake !" he hurriedly cut her off. "I do not want the whole Navy to know it !"

She did not answer, but took the string and shut her shirt, covering her shoulder.

"Thank you," he said.

She smiled. There was a short silence. Suddenly she asked :

"Is she pretty ?

_I beg your pardon ?" he asked, caught off-guard.

"The woman you love, is she pretty ?"

He blushed violently, suffocated. She had a short laugh.

"Apparently she is."

He coughed to give himself an air of assurance, but finally articulated.

"What makes you think that I... I mean...

_Oh please, Commodore ! I am a woman, under my masculine clothes. Women feel that kind of things. And your reaction is the best evidence ever."

After a few seconds, he finally answered :

"She is to die for. A perfect woman.

_Of great quality, eh ?

_Greater than mine, I must say."

Crow had a short admirative whistle.

"An aristocrat... Hope you've known her for a long time, Commodore.

_Years."

She nodded and got up, stretching her arms out.

"Well, she is lucky, whoever she is.

_Lucky ?" he asked.

This woman definitely surprised and disconcerted him. Her words were always rather enigmatic, and he had the bad feeling of missing an important part of it. She yawned a bit, and, crossing her ams, answered :

"Yep, lucky. She is loved by a worthy, straight-minded man. Every woman dreams of it. Very few get it."

He remained silent for a short while.

"Have you ever be in love, Captain Crow ? I mean, really in love ?"

Actually, it was her turn to get startled. She took the time to think, and finally answered :

"Twice. First time, years ago. Got killed. second time, recently. Hopeless.

_Why ?

_'Cause he loves another one. I don't even think he considers me as a woman. Anyway."

She had a shrug. Again, a short silence.

"Will you propose her ?"

Embarassed again, he turned his eyes to the wall.

"You would always ask the uneasiest question...

_That's what people like with me," she answered with her subtile crooked smirk.

He sighed. She came to the gate and patted his arm.

"Don't be ashamed, Commodore. I shall be hung in a few days, whatever you tell me shall die with me. And even if I was not to die, I would not talk. Believe me."

He was hesitating. But he finally confessed :

"I do not dare.

_Sweet Neptune, why ?

_I told you she was of a far higher rank than mine. I am but a sailor, and she far younger than I am... I am not sure I'd be able to make her happy...

_In the name of the Flying Dutchman !" she exploded. "Why are men always stupid when in love ? You love her, eh ? And truely, it seems ! So why wouldn't you make her happy, this little princess ? Come on, Commodore, be brave ! And promise me one thing before I die : as soon as your promotion is officialised, go and propose her !"

She looked so serious and so determined to get that from him, that he nodded. She insisted :

"Promise ! I want to hear it from your mouth."

She was giving him her hand.

"If you don't give me your word of honour that you"ll do it, you won't ever."

He was still unsure. She sighed.

"Consider it as the last will of a dying woman. You wouldn't have the heart to refuse it, would you ?"

He hesitated once again, but finally took her hand.

"Alright. I promise."

She smiled.

"Thank you.

_But why are you so concerned about...

_Got my reasons," she answered with a vague waving.

Norrington nodded. He had the clear feeling she wuld not explain herself any further. He checked his watch.

"It's getting late. I must leave. But I will be back on tomorrow."

She had sat down again on her mattres and shrugged.

"You know, you don't have to... There's no obligation.

_I know. I just want to."

He got up and put the seat back in place.

"See you tomorrow, Captain Crow.

_Have a good day, Commodore Norrington."

Norrington's promotion was officialised two days later. Victoria Crow was still alive and was looking at the celebration through the little window of her cell. She had given her word to Norrington that she would, in order to check if he fulfilled his promise. Indeed, during the ceremony, she was there, standing on her litter  and grabbing the bars not to fall. The other pirats, two cells up the hall, where mocking her, but she didn't care. She was waiting for the moment when James Norrington would eventually propose Miss Elizabeth Swann, the governor's daughter.

"So, that's her..." she had said when, the day before, he had shown her to her from the window. "Well, she is pretty. She seems absolutely improper according to her origins, but I suppose that's part of her charm. But she is damn young !"

Norrington had seemed so puzzled and sad of this last remark that she had added very quickly :

"But don't worry, Commodore : when I got married, I was sixteen, and my husband (God have his soul !) was thirty-one. And I swear that, until his death, we got along very well. If there is love, age is no problem."

He had nodded and had left her. And now, she was there, waiting for him to tell the woman he loved that he wanted to marry her. Great. When Miss Swann fell into the water, Captain Crow dropped herself on the ground of her cell with a deep sigh. she knew the girl would be saved, in a way or another. She was the governor's daughter, the whole Navy would jump in the water in order to get her dry. Duh. If it had been her or Beryl, they would have let them drown. Norrington had told her that, if she hadn't been a pirat, they might have become friends. No, she had answered. 'Cause if she hadn't been a pirat, she'd have been a whore. 'Cause she was a woman, and, where she came from, women had almost no other choice. If she'd been a boy, and not a pirat, then, maybe, she'd've been under his authority. Who knows ?

That's what she was thinking of, when the jailor stopped in front of her cell. He had been acting in a strange way for the last two days. Captain Crow felt like something bad was going to happen to her. She didn't know what exactly, even if she had a slight idea of it, but she thought she knew why. She didn't move. Neither did the jailor. Until the door opened and six soldiers entered, carrying a senseless man. Mr Gillett, Norrington's aide-de-camp, was ending the procession. The jailor went to the next cell, between Captain Crow's and the others', and opened its door. The soldiers threw the man into the cell and stepped back. Mr Gillett was explaining :

"Mr Sparrow has an appointment with the gibbet on tomorrow morning, and the Commodore expects him to be on time.

_ He sure will be, Sir. Absolutely.

_We do hope so, Mr Dove."

Captain Crow had gotten up when hearing the name of Sparrow and had silently walked to the gate separating the two cells. She knelt down. Was it really...

"Jack Sparrow ?"

She had whispered but the man, who was waking up, had heard her, for he answered :

"CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow ! Who wants to know ?"

He sat up on the floor, shaking his head. He then turned at her. Obviously, he knew that he knew her... but he couldn't put a name on her face.

"Hey ! You... You're... You're... Dammit, I know who you are ! You're... Edward Crow's... Black Eddy's daughter ! Agh, what's the name ? Victory ! That's it ! Victory Crow !

_Vic-to-ri-a !

_Whatever. Same meaning !"

She frowned. She had not seen Jack for years, but he hadn't changed a lot, contrary to her. He picked his three-cornered hat up and put it on.

"So me sweet, what's up ? 'T's been a long time...

_A few years. As you can see, I've been caught and I shall be hung on tomorrow morning.

_Oh, great ! We'll be two !

_Wonderful... What about you ?

_Actually, I came in Port-Royal to commandeer a ship. But... Well... One golden rule, Victory : never save damsels in danger ; they never are grateful."

She smiled. But as they were talking, she was looking at the soldiers, from the corner of her eyes. The six men and the jailor were chatting together, throwing her short, dark glances. Whatever they were planning, it would certainly take place on that very night...

It came earlier than she thought. Just after the sunset, they came in the prison. Unarmed, but determined. Some of them were quite young. The jailor opened the gate. She was sitting on the mattress, looking at them. She knew what they were there for. She was not afraid. In the next cell, Sparrow had gotte up, puzzled. They ehtered the cell, and the jailor closed the door behind them. She stood up and crossed her arms. The oldest came  to her, grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into the middle of the group. And then, the first punches and kicks began to fall upon her. she answered without a sound, biting, scratching, punching. But they were six. She fell on the ground. A foot hurt her head. Somewhere, over the sounds of tramps and the grunts of the men, she thought she could hear a voice calling for help, telling them to stop. And then nothing. A red veil was covering her eyes. She closed them. She had the strange impression to be thrown from foot to foot, like some ball the soldiers would exchange. She did not cry, not even shrieked. The only sound that got out of her lips was the unvolontary humming of air going out of her hurt lungs.

They finally let her drop on the floor, half-dead. The oldest said :

"That's enough, boys. She must be alive for tomorrow."

He punched at the gate to get it opened. Three others followed him, among whom was the youngest. But two remained.

"That's not enough. She killed two of us. She must pay for it, more dearly !"

The one who had talked teared her shirt off. She had not enough strength in her to resist anymore. the other untied her pants. She knew what they were to do. And there was nothing she could do against that. Soon, she could feel the eight of these men on her stomach, she could hear their growls nearby her ear, she could smell their sweat, she had them deeply inside her intimacy. Still, absent, she just waited for them to finish, to release her... or kill her.

"Donell ! Tucker ! Stop it right now !"

But they took the time to finish what they were doing before leaving.They had no look for the half conscious woman who was lying on the ground, hurt, bleeding. The jailor closed the gate and left the prison at the same time as the six soldiers. Silence fell upon the cells. The four pirats that were imprisonned together looked at each other with embarassment. They wished they had not seen what had just happened. Sparrow, who had been knocked out by one of the soldiers, was slowly recovering his senses. He had seen what the soldiers had done, but the punch had deprived him of understanding for a few minuts. He now was trying to reach Victoria's hand through the gate. She was motionless, silently wheeping.  He grabbed the tip of her fingers.

"There... there..."

She turned her eyes at him, saw his shiner.

"Did they... hurt you... too ?"

He nodded.

"That's nothing. You ? How do you feel ?"

She whispered :

"It only hurts... when I breathe..."

She had a short chuckle that died at once and clutched his hand.

"No place on my body that is not aching. I know it. I know how it works, it's not the first time. I shall be fine soon, I swear. Just... don't leave me for the moment... Please."

He nodded.

"I'm here, Victory. I'll be here."

She sighed.

"Thank you, Jack."

She closed her eyes again, rolled on her side and brought her knees towards her chest. Jack lay down along the gate, still holding her hand. They stayed that way for a few minuts, when the door opened. Commodore Norrington came in. He saw the four prisonners, slnt and ill-at-ease, and he spotted Sparrow. He frowned, get downstairs, and wlaked towards the third cell...

"Good Lord of Mercy !"

The sight of the naked, bleeding, prostrated woman was a shock. Norrington grabbed the gate and shouted :

"Jailor ! Jailor, open that door !"

The Jailor rushed out of his place and came to obbey the Commodore. Norrington threw himself into the cell and knelt by her. He turned her on her back, whispering :

"Christ Almighty... Who can possibly have done this ?"

Without looking at the jailor, he snapped :

"What happened ?

_Oh ! I don't know, Sir. For sure, I don't !

_Sure, he doesn't."

Norrington turned his head at Sparrow. The pirat was still holding Captain Crow's hand, but had sat up and was looking at the Commodore. He repeated :

"Sure, he can't know."

Something in his tone sounded fishy to Norrington's ear.

"What do you mean ?"

Sparrow sniggered.

"He just can't know, Commodore, for he wasn't here... He just opened to them, and closed behind them. God, Commodore, how could he possibly know ?"

There was venom in the voice of this drunken pirat. There was rage, anger. There was the truth. Norrington lowered his voice andasked sharply :

"Who ?

_Soldiers.

_How many ?

_Six

_Names ?

_Only two of them. Donell and Tucker. They did the worst part."

Norrington winced.

"What could be worse than that ?"

Sparrow had a long, significant glance to her. Norrington took a short time to understand, and began to blemish.

"You... You don't mean that...

_Hey, officer ! Why did you think she is naked ?"

Norrington remained voiceless. Behind him, the jailor was still. He had the feeling that things had just gone too far. He didn't dare to run away, but he knew that if he did not, he would get into serious troubles... The Commodore stood up, picked up the colak on the bed, and wrapped it around Captain Crow. Then, he goty out of the cells, took the keys from the jailor's hands, closed the gate and went to the door. There, he shouted :

"Gillett !!!"

Mr Gillett appeared.

"Aye, aye Sir ?

_Put this man under arrest. Then, find Privates Tucker and Donell, and bring them here. I demand to know who were the other four. And call for a surgeant. At once.

_Sir, yes Sir !" Gillett answered, clacking his heels.

The aide-de-camp snapped his fingers and four soldiers came in to arrest the jailor, under the frost-cold eyes of Commodore Norrington...