A Twist In Time

Chapter 21

The painter added the final touches to his art. The blonde haired man wore high, leather boots on his feet, baggy trousers and a baggy shirt with a sort of waist-coat thing around it and a belt. The girl, an uncommon sight on a ship full of men, wore a similar outfit. The man in the middle, sat on a chair, wore a tattered old outfit, similar to the younger ones. His wispy beard made him look like Father Christmas, except it was grey. "Ah! It is complete!" The artist said, grandly making a gesture with his hand to show he was pleased with the work. Jessie rushed to see what it looked like. "Wow! It's amazing!" She said, in awe at the detail. She looked at Chief who gave her a warning look. She sighed. This beautiful piece of art was going to be destroyed. It made her sad. Once the paint had dried, greybeard hung it above his chair in his room. He placed his arms around Jessie and Chief. "It's a masterpiece!" He said. Jessie nodded. Once they had left, Chief pulled Jessie to one side. "You know what we have to do!" He said. Jessie nodded. "Let me go and say goodbye to Greybeard!" She said, sighing. She returned and Chief told Cade to bring them forwards. Once they 'landed' they immediately splashed into the sea. "Oh I hope these are waterproof!" Jessie moaned. Chief nodded. "They probably are! Cade tends to do that with all her gadgets, just in case!" A large pirate ship came up alongside them and hauled them in. "First mate!" Jessie called. The elderly pirate turned and looked at Jessie. "Is that really you?" He asked. "My! You haven't aged a bit! I haven't seen ye fer 40 years!" He said. "Aren't those the rags ol' greybeard gave ye?" He said, pointing to the soaked clothes. Jessie nodded. "Is greybeard..." She started. "In Davy Jones' Locker." First mate replied. "Where's ye matey?" Jessie pointed to Chief, who was swimming about in the cool water. "Hoist 'im up!" First mate called. "How be ye?" He asked, after he had handed blankets to the two castaways to warm them up. "We are much better!" They replied. "Well ye is welcome to stay as long as ye like! Anyplace ye is particularly going?" He asked. Jessie shook her head. "Have you still got the painting?" She asked. First mate nodded. "It's in ol greybeard's room, I suppose ye want to see it!" He said. He led them to it. Jessie sighed. "This is such a sad memory!" She said, stroking the worn picture which was so beautifully painted. First mate left them to stay in the cabin. Chief took the photo off the wall. "Maybe we could just cast it overboard, then it wont be found, and if it is, then it's pure coincidence that we look like these two!" He said. Jessie nodded. "It's a shame to burn it!" They spent most of the night in the cabin then when it was dark and stormy; they took the picture from the cabin onto the deck, looked at it in the moonlight one last time, and then together, threw it overboard. "Captain First mate will assume we were thrown overboard." Jessie said, as they joined hands to go forwards in time. Chief nodded. "I'm afraid so." He said, just before they took off for Georgian Britain.