CBC - Origins

Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey  (by: B ©07/2005)

We played the Boccherini piece until Killick served the afternoon snack. I knew Mr. Mowett would take care of everything and if there were any problems he’d pass the word for me.

During the next few days the journey was uneventful. The wind was steady and we closed the gap to the Acheron with every day.

On the fourth or fifth day around 4 bells of the third watch, clouds darkened the sky, coming out of nowhere.

All of a sudden a fierce storm overtook the Surprise. Waves high as the Alps crushed over the vessel.
I felt a blow to my head and everything went dark.
       
I woke to the voices of my friend Dr. Stephen Maturin and Tom Pullings.

“Jack!”

“Captain, Sir!”

The two men looked like I felt, exhausted, confused.

“Tom?” I asked. “What are you doing here?”

The reports from Tom and Stephen corresponded exactly with what I remembered. A fierce storm, a blow to the head, darkness.

“Sail ho!” The call from the cuckoo’s nest brought me back to my ship.

“Where away” I asked.

“Starboard alongside,” said the voice shamefacedly. My sharp reply stuck in my throat.

A small boat with one mast and one sail approached faster than was possible due to the strength of the wind. “Shall we place a warning shot, Sir?” Mr. Pullings asked.

I shook my head. “No, no. Wait, let us see what they want.”

The small boat came closer with a strange noise accompanying it. There was only one person to be seen on the boat, though we looked thoroughly to find any sign of more people or armoury. Nothing. The boat was clean and the man did not look like he was in distress.

“Permission to come aboard, Captain?”

I nodded to Mr. Pullings who called out “Mr. Bonden, a ladder, if you please!” Immediately the ladder was unfolded and the small boat was tied up along side the Surprise. The young man climbed up the ladder. He looked very strange in his blue trousers and short sleeved shirt.

Given that the young man looked like a civilian, I reached out my hand “Welcome aboard, Sir. I’m Captain Aubrey.”

The man took my hand, “Thorne, Terrence Thorne” he nodded slightly and continued, “Captain Aubrey, Sir. Thank you for allowing me aboard.”

Something in the man’s face looked familiar. Somehow I felt there was more about this man and I led him down to my cabin.

“So, Mr. Thorne. What leads a man alone into these waters?” I asked after I offered my guest something to drink. I was still too confused to stick to small talk and friendly phrases.

“You, Sir.” Mr. Thorne put his glass down onto the table. I tried hard to keep my composure.

Mr. Thorne started to tell me an incredible story. We were brothers. And there are more brothers living together in a village called Central. Along with myself and others coming soon, there’d be 24 brothers.

“It’s only a one day journey from here, Captain. You can keep the ship and the crew, though they must stay aboard. If you don’t like it there, you can return to your time and place whenever you want.”

We needed to stock our supplies. So I thought we could do it there as well and meanwhile I could see what it is with this Village he was telling me about.

Over dinner he told me more about the place. For the barest of moments the thought of Sophia and my children crossed my mind when he mentioned that there’d be some young ladies expected to live with us. But I must admit these thoughts disappeared when Mr. Thorne told me that it was the year 2003. Almost 200 years ahead from where, when, I came from.

“Almost 200 years…” My head spun. Partly from the blow I had taken and partly from what Mr. Thorne had told me.

At the very moment my feet touched the firm ground of Central and my eyes saw the cottage that was built there for me I felt that this was the place where I would live from now on. Oddly enough I never doubted that Sophia and my three children would be alright.

I would learn everything about the modern techniques and machines the man who said he was my brother had told me about.

When the Creator of this world, Darrin, showed me around and introduced me to the Brothers who were already there it was a big relief that I found I was not the only one who had to learn all these things.