As they board, Jamie tells Claire to touch the ships good-luck talisman, a horseshoe.
Women are bad luck on ships, Sassenach, he says.
Claire is dubious but obliges.
Credit: Aimee Spinks/Starz
Fergus has turned up for the journey with Marsali in tow.
Apparently the two have been secretly courting and partook in a marriage ceremony earlier that morning.
Jamie is none too pleased and asks Fergus if hes already bedded Jamies erstwhile stepdaughter.
Fergus replies in the negative, much to Jamies relief.
The marriage is not yet binding.
Jamie insists that Fergus bunk with him and Marsali bunk with Claire.
Weve been apart 20 years and you want me to room with her?
Im obliged to protect her virtue, replies Jamie.
Mine as well, it seems, Claire harrumphs.
Theyre not on the ship for long before Jamie begins to heave.
No matter, since its Claire the captain wants to speak to anyway.
(Apparently bare breasts calm the seas?
Ill agree thats one superstition that isnt a thing.)
(And even after he makes that admission, Jamie still refuses to recognize the union.
He tells Claire hes been writing his life story for years but cannot share it just yet.
A story told is a life lived.
They have lost the wind.
Weeks go by, and the search for a Jonah (i.e.
someone to throw overboard as a scapegoat) only intensifies.
One of Jamies men from Ardsmuir is singled out for the position and tormented relentlessly.
Drunk and out of sorts, the man climbs the ships mast, threatening to jump.
Jamie climbs after him and, like some Highland hostage negotiator, starts to talk him down.
Its then that Mr. Willoughby looks across the horizon and sees a bird sailing through the skies.
He knows something we dont know.
He loved women too much, so he fled.
Fled to an inhospitable country where not even a prostitute will sleep with him.
Yes, the wind.
Claire and Jamie celebrate by having sex below deck.
But bad luck continues to haunt the couple.
A British man-of-war soon engages the ship.
Jamie worries that theyre recruiting and hell be forced into service.
He makes Claire promise that shell continue the search for Young Ian on her own, if need be.
But the British arent in need of soldiers theyre in need of a surgeon.
Theyve had an outbreak.
Claire, of course, volunteers to help.
She boards the ship and begins to administer to the men.
The situation is grave, but one she can help with.
But as shes going about her business, the ship starts moving.
The captain needs to get to Jamaica fast, and hes taking Claire with him.
