Lila shakes her head sadly. "It is folly to allow such objects of power into the hands of man - of any man. Ines speaks truly. Power corrupts. You see, Monsieur, how it has driven you to threats. Even you, Doctor North, cannot resist its lure. Do not open the chest."
"I have no desire for the pendant for myself," says Henry. "As dangerous as it is, it is another man's property, and I have no right to deprive him of it or destroy it without his consent. I also do not wish for our friend to fire his pistol, for then we shall all die." He turns to Guillaume. "For you the pendant is a means to an end, and that end is vast wealth. The pirates' chest must contain a fortune. Would you accept that in exchange for the pendant?"
The mighty Russian is easily able to break off the lock, which seems to be somewhat rusty and in need of some repair.
The chest is full of small coins and jewels in a chaotic heap. A quick glance does not appear to reveal anything of unusual value. As Guillaume rummages through them in search of the object he desires, the question remains; will anyone attempt to stop him?
"And what of the right of those who will be helpless against one armed with such power? Besides, if the pendant can be said to be any man's property it is that of the Baron de Hautomnes, not his wayward son. But as you say, he may take the pirates' ill-gotten treasure by all means." Lila joins Guillaume in searching through the chest, trying to spot the pendant before he does.
"I believe it is time to make a swift retreat," Lila observes, setting off back toward the boat. "Monsieur, you are welcome to that treasure if you can carry it," she adds over her shoulder.
Ines follows Miss Davenport. Should her swift feet bear her to the rowboat before the others [the Fast asset], she will set about untying or cutting it free from its moorings.
The party is able to make a quick retreat whilst Guillaume, in a state of excessive choler, is engaged in pitched battle with the pirates. Whatsoever may be the outcome of this conflict of arms, the adventurers will make haste to avoid it.
By this time the rosy fingers of dawn have made their first appearance. At some point in the short journey from one side of the isle to the other, the party encounters an aged man, his gray hair and beard long and tangled, his limbs lean and wiry, his skin tanned dark as a Saracen by many suns, his outfit no more than a crudely sewn goat skin.
"Who goes, a-hey," he croaks in a high-pitched voice. "None comes to poor Tom many and many a day, then comes tens, a-hey. Poor Tom's a-cold, a-hungry, hey. Hides from t'others Tom does, but not these, Tom thinks, a-hey. Wouldst not leave Tom a-dying, wouldst, hey?"
"No, I wouldn't leave you to die, sir," says Henry. "We do happen to have room in our boat, if you want to get off this island," he adds, thinking that Guillaume won't be going with them. He had saved the man's life once, but this time he was determined to throw it away, and there was nothing more he could do for him.
The fellow eagerly joins the party in their small craft, making swift work of whatsoever fresh water and provisions they may possess. He speaks little during the brief trip back to Ushant, although he mumbles to himself around crumbs and sips of water constantly.
"Tom's old, a-hey," he eventually remarks. "Tom's alone many and many a year, hey. Tom wonders, who wears crown, a-hey."
"In the British Empire, it's King George III," says Henry. "In France, King Louis XVI. Currently it's the Year of Our Lord 1789. In what year did you arrive on the island?"
OOC,I'm assuming that New Year's has come and gone with all the time we've spent in France, especially with all the travel.
"George as slew the serpent, hey? Tom knows him not, nor t'other two of name. Tom's Queen is Good Bess, a-hey. How long, how long? Tom knows not clocks nor stars, hey. Not his to say, no."
Upon reaching Ushant, the arrival of the party draws some small amount of attention from the fisherfolk setting out at dawn on their daily quest for sustenance. Not a little of this curiosity derives from the peculiar appearance of their unexpected guest, who shows no signs of wishing to depart their company.
"Well, we are likely returning to the mainland of France and thence back to Britain once we have arranged passage. There is little to see and do on Ushant but fishing. i am sure you are welcome to join us if it is your intention to travel."
This precaution seeming reasonable, it now only requires some negotiation with a willing party to obtain transportation to the mainland. There are a handful of fishermen more or less at leisure about who might not be amiss to earning coin. It is a notable fact, however, that the sight of the elderly fellow accompanying the party -- who shows no signs of wishing to leave their side -- causes these locals to display signs of consternation, not a few crossing themselves in the Papist manner.
"Their reluctance to let old Tom in their boats is nothing some extra money can't overcome," says Henry, "and I can certainly afford it. Some may refuse, but surely someone will accept. Human greed is a powerful motivator, as we just witnessed with Guillaume. He threw his life away for it, and he can't take any of that treasure with him."
Wondering at the locals' reaction to the odd stranger, while the others are engaged in seeking transport Lila moves out of the old man's earshot and discreetly inquires as to why they regard him with such evident consternation. Perhaps they fear he carries disease?
