***
John spent the night in the captain's quarters and slept in his hammock. The next morning he woke up early and helped Jack with breakfast. While the cook served the crew, John ran off to the Sultana to harass Captain Black Sam about becoming a pirate's apprentice. The answer was always no, but Black Sam seemed to welcome the distraction, which only encouraged him to try harder.
That was John's routine for the next week and a half. His days were spent his with Jack, and his evenings with his mother and Captain Savage playing cards and chess. And, of course, every day he'd sneak off to badger the pirate captain, hoping the man would eventually give in and let him become part of the Sultana's crew.