Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady (47 page)

Dear Millie, why do you leap and bound about so? You've nothing in this world but your hair and hide and bone and your foolish doggie grin and yet you are full of joy and think it just the very best of things to be going down an unknown dusty road with one such as me. Go back now, Millie, you must know I am so
very
hard on my friends.

I open my seabag to pull out my serving-girl gear, as I think I'll cause less comment that way. Bad enough, a girl alone and on the road, let alone one dressed in a blue party dress. As I'm getting it out, I feel a pang as I spy the bright racing silks all folded up there. Was it only yesterday that I had that triumph on the Sheik and was looking forward to my first ball like any silly girl?

I'm starting to feel better.
Maybe I'll live, after all,
I thinks as I finish dressing. The weskit feels good cinched up tight against my ribs, my shiv and my whistle nestled in there all snug where they belong.

Millie, will you not go back? No? Ah well, then, stay and herd your one black lamb, as she certainly needs it. Shall we have a tune, then, to cheer us and speed us on our way?
What?
"The Boys Won't Leave the Girls Alone"? Why, that's one of my favorites, too. A perfect traveling song! What, and you dance, too? You foolish dog, of course you would! All right, here we go...

"
I'll tell me ma when I get home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
Jacky's fair and Millie's pretty
And they've both gone to New York City!
"

[Delivered to Dovecote on May 21, 1803]

James Emerson Fletcher
On board the
Essex
At Sea
April 18, 1804

Miss Jacky Faber, the Best Girl in the World!
Dovecote Farm
Quincy, Massachusetts, USA

Dearest Jacky,

JOY! Pure and absolute joy! The heavens open and pour forth their celestial light, the angelic choruses shout "Hosanna!" and my heart, which was at my feet, leaps to my throat in total joy!

In short, dear one, I got your letter.

Shall I tell you of the way I got it? Yes, I shall, for I have the time, the quill, the ink, and, oh yes! I do have the inclination! Joy!

Anyway, it was an ordinary day—watches, patrols, eat,
sleep, more watches, all unrelieved by any thought that you still cared for me—when word comes that Nelson, the great Nelson, himself, will come over today on the
Raleigh
to visit the
Essex!

Well, having spent your time before the mast (and how you were able to endure it, my poor frail creature, I do not know and scarce can think of it, even now), I know you can well imagine the mighty preparations that were made prior to the arrival of the very Hero of the Battle of the Nile. The ship did shine, I can tell you, with every piece of brass at its highest glint, every flag snapping, every man scrubbed pink and in his finest uniform.

The frigate
Raleigh,
forty-four guns, came by and heaved to, and the great man descended from it into a boat and came alongside, and in a moment was standing on our deck, followed by Captain Fishburne and the senior officers of the
Raleigh.
I, of course, was drawn up stiff as a ramrod on the quarterdeck, near the rail. Lord Nelson was bowing and shaking hands with our own Captain and I'm drinking in this historic moment when I hear a pssst! Shocked at this breach of etiquette, I look over the side and there, as a member of the boat crew, is our own Brother Davy! The boat's coxswain was looking at him most severely, a look that grew from severe to incredulous as Davy left his oar and scrambled up the ladder and thrust a letter into my hand and whispered, "She said no other hand but yours," and then retreated back down to the boat. The coxswain reached out and backhanded Davy a terrible blow across the face and then settled back down, but I knew that would not be the end of it
—
I knew he would be flogged when he returned to his ship.

What could be so important as to risk a flogging, I thought, and then I looked at the packet in my hand and saw that it was from you. I was almost unmanned on the spot, almost sinking
to my knees in joy and dread, but I did not. I stood there in a high state of agitation for a good twenty minutes while the captains and Lord Nelson exchanged compliments, and then, when it was time for Captain Fishburne and Lord Nelson to return to the
Raleigh,
I stepped out and said, "Begging your pardon, Sir, but I must have a word with you," thereby ending my naval career, "but Seaman Jones of your ship has just delivered to me a letter from one I hold most dear and I would prefer that he not be flogged for doing that, Sir. If you would be so good.
"

Captain Fishburne was transfixed in shock and my own Captain Warren was astounded that one of his junior officers could act in such a manner. I was fully convinced that my naval career was over, but, can you believe it, Nelson himself comes over to see what the matter is and says to me, "Explain yourself.
"

I am afraid I am going to faint dead away from even being spoken to by such an august person, but I manage to blurt out some gibberish the sense of which could barely be made out, but which was, essentially, "My lord, when Seaman Jones and I were boys together on the
Dolphin,
he and I and several others on the
Dolphin
came together and formed a Brotherhood, a club, if you will, such as young boys will do, and we swore great oaths of fraternal loyalty and promised ever to be watchful of each other and Seaman Jones here has brought me a letter from one of the group, one who was especially dear to me and from whom I have not heard since she ... er, the person was taken from ... and the person made Jones swear to deliver it to no hand but mine, so you see...
"

"
Ah," says Lord Nelson, and I say no more. "The
Dolphin...
Yes, I have heard of that incident. And so you are the young rogue who was involved with the girl, then?
"

My face betrays my answer before I could say, "Yes, my lord.
"

He considered this for a while while I died a thousand deaths over my temerity, my probable punishment, but mostly the pain of waiting, waiting to see what you had writ.

Lord Nelson turned to Captain Fishburne and says, "Do you mind terribly if we grant this young man his wish, John? It is entirely your decision, of course.
"

"
The sailor shall not be flogged, my lord," said good Captain Fishburne. What else could he say?

"
And Captain Warren," said Nelson, turning to my own Captain, "would you be so good as to assign this young man to my staff when I return to this area?" My captain nods and Lord Nelson continues, "Good. I like to have about me men who are bold in the defense of their friends and are handy with the ladies." He paused. "Then what shall be your punishment, Mr....ah, Mr. Fletcher, for some punishment you must surely get, having broken sacred naval tradition. Hmmm. I suppose it shall be the usual one: Up to the foretop, Mr. Fletcher, and do not come down till the bell rings for the second dog watch.
"

My heart leaped for joy and I saluted and said, "Thank you, Sir," and I was about to head for the ratlines when he said, "And leave the letter down here, Mr. Fletcher; there will be plenty of time to read it when again you return to the deck.
"

He could not have devised a more exquisite torture.

The bell had not ceased ringing when my feet hit the deck and I scooped up the letter and raced down to the stateroom I share with Elliot and leaped into my bunk and tore open the packet and the portrait of you fell out into my hand.

Again, I felt on the verge of shedding not very manly tears upon seeing your bright countenance shining out from the tiny disk. That open and trusting face, lips slightly parted as if to
speak, and, knowing you, capable of either declaring eternal love or challenging me to a race in the rigging. When I had read the letter and discovered that you had painted the picture, I could not believe it—that you had gained such a skill in such a short time. A short time!—listen to me—it's been an eternity, waiting for word of you!

I devoured your letter as a starving man devours bread. I care not a whit that you have been demoted, as I know that you were brought down by that same excess of high spirits that I find so endearing in you. You are a fine girl and never forget that, whether you are dressed as chambermaid or as lady. Rest assured, too, that whoever in my household has been keeping your letters from me shall be dealt with. I shall write to my mother directing her to look into it immediately.

When I was in the foretop, I watched the boat with Davy in it go back to his ship and I saluted the departing boat and held the salute till all aboard climbed up the
Raleigh's
ladder. That he would risk a certain flogging to deliver the letter ... I cannot even speak of it ... We have such good friends in this world, Jacky, and I am glad you have found good friends there, too.

I shall lie here in my bunk and gaze at the picture of you until it is time for me to go up on watch. I cannot tell you how happy you have made me.

Your most humble, obedient, faithful, and overjoyed servant,

Jaimy

Colonel John Trevelyne
Dovecote Farm
Quincy, Massachusetts
May 23, 1804

Beadle and Strunk, Private Investigations
30 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts

My dear Sirs:

I am writing herewith to engage your services in the pursuit and return of a young female, named Jacky Faher, formerly associated with members of my household.

This person was last seen at my house in Quincy three days ago and my daughter believes the girl will try to go to New York. She is penniless, so she will in all probability take some time in gaining her objective. She will probably play music and dance in various madhouses along the way and you would be well advised to inquire in such places.

You know my name and that I will pay you the going rate for such an undertaking.

Sirs, I relate to you that this is a matter of utmost importance as my daughter will not eat and my son has broken off his engagement to a fine girl and is trying to climb into a bottle.

Bring me that wretched girli

I am your most humble and obedient servant,

Colonel John Trevelyne

My hands are tied behind me and my ankles are bound. I am facedown on the floor of a coach. I can hear my kidnappers outside, bartering with someone over something. I guess that something would likely be me.

"Well, Sir, as long as we had the girl, we figured that we'd see who'd be payin' the most for her. I mean, Colonel Treve-lyne did hire us, but we figured you might pay a bit more, Sir, considering you had hired us to keep an eye on this one before he did, and who did we owe our loyalty to, Sir, I ask you?

I hear a low rumble of a voice and chills run up me spine.

"Aye, Sir, she's the one. Tattoo on her belly and all. We checked." He gives out a low chuckle, the bastard. "Oh no, Sir, we didn't do
that.
She's in exactly the condition in which we found her. We're not that sort, Sir, we are professionals!"

Professional thugs, I'd call 'em if I could call 'em anything, which I cannot, havin' a gag in me mouth. I've been spending my time chewing on the gag, it bein' a single piece of thin cloth put across my mouth, pullin' my lips back and tied tight in the back of me neck. I figures if I can chew through and free my voice and shout out at the right time,
well, I might yet be saved. I can see that darkness is falling outside and that's not good. As if reading my thoughts, a clock chimes out nine o'clock. It's spring and night comes late. That clock. Does it sound familiar?

"Yes, Sir, we caught her on the Post Road heading south. We found her the night before, playing her whistle and singing in a roadside tavern. Pretty good show it was, too. We all enjoyed it hugely. Anyway, we let her spend the night there and then took her when she was out and on the high road the next day. Aye, the Colonel's daughter told us where to look for her."

Amy? Oh no, not you, Amy ... You couldn't hate me so much as to betray me, could you?

"Now, as to the matter of money, Sir, it's like this. If it was just the apprehendin' of a wayward child, a helpless girl, like, then the price wouldn't be so much, but this is a different case altogether, yes it is, Sir."

I notice that the wind is really whipping up out there.

He's the leader of this bunch, the one called Strunk, I think. He clears his throat and goes on. "But, Sir, it warn't no helpless child, 'cause after we got in a circle around her there on the road and she saw there was no escape, the slut come at us with this wicked blade, yes, Sir, she did, and she cut poor Dick Beadle sore after he killed her dog. The vicious beast laid about very free with its teeth, it did, and then sunk them in poor Dick's leg, which is when he brained the cur..."

Poor Millie, you was the bravest and best of all of us, you was...
Tears roll down over the bridge of my nose and onto the floor of the coach.
You stood your ground, Millie, and you
tried to save me. And now you're dead for it. I am sorry, Millie, I am. I am so very hard on my friends.

"We would, Sir, have dearly wished that either you or the Colonel had warned us that she was armed with the knife and willing to use it. And it's not like we can bring charges against the female, 'cause we wasn't workin' in an official capacity, like, and we still ain't, so we would like compensation for poor Dick's wounds, we would, as we got added medical expenses, like. And his pain and sufferin', too, poor devil, only doin' his job like he was. Oh, like a serpent's tooth, Sir, the fury of a woman."