Chapter Three--Secrets and Lies
They love the sea/Men who ride on it/And they know they will die under the salt of it/Let only the young come, says the sea/Let them kiss my face and hear me/I am the last ford/And I tell where storms and stars come from--Carl Sandburg "Young Sea"
The stars! Oh, the multitude of stars! Back home, there were never so many stars. Evangeline stood at the rails, watching in wonder, forgetting for a moment the tragedy her life had become.
"Ah, young Adam," came a voice from beside her. She almost brought her hand to her throat in surprise, but stopped, realizing how unmasculine that gesture was and settled on adjusting her hat. Clearing her throat, she turned to find Captain Sparrow regarding her with much curiosity.
"Good evening, Captain Sparrow," she said as deeply as possible.
"Jack," he said, then after a pause "Captain Jack."
Evangeline smiled and almost relaxed until the little voice at the back of her head started chanting:
"Pirate, pirate, pirate!"
She immediately stiffened and turned her face back to the sea.
"If I were a bettin' man instead of a takin' man, I'd lay odds that yer dear ol' da's never taken you far from shore."
"Uh, no," Evangeline stuttered "No, he hasn't."
"And why would that be?"
Evangeline shifted her gaze back to Jack, uncomfortable where this line of questioning was headed, hoping he was just making small talk and was not at all interested in a real answer. Unfortunately, his gaze locked onto hers the moment she raised her eyes. She struggled for a moment with a way to change the topic.
"How, uh, how did you know I've never been long at sea?" she asked, finally.
"Do you always answer a question with a question?" he countered, taking a swig from the bottle she had noticed was never far from his side.
"Yes?" she said, making sure to phrase it as a question.
Jack let out a riotous laugh and took another drink.
"Fine," he slurred "Ye win fer now. I knew because of how yer looking' at the stars. No sailor after his first tour looks at the stars like tha'. They're maps, tis all. Beautiful maps, aye, but maps just the same."
Evangeline looked out at the stars, unbelievingly.
"Trust me," he said with a sideways grin "There are more earthly treasure to be had. Things to run between yer fingers. What do ye see out there?"
Evangeline considered him for a moment and decided to answer him as honestly as she could.
"It's like someone had a bowlful of jewels and just turned it upside down."
Jack stood stock still and she was afraid for one horrible moment that he might cry until the corners of his mouth twitched and he laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
"Is there a problem?" she asked indignantly, her voice veering precariously high.
"No, no," Jack said, waving his hands in the air "No, it's just I think yer da has ye figgered wrong. Yer not a sailor, yer a poet."
He paused and raised an eyebrow.
"Yer not a eunuch are you?"
"A eunuch," she sputtered.
"Never mind, tis no matter. Ye come to my cabin after noon mess a'morrow and I'll show ye a thing or two about stars."
Evangeline nodded in agreement.
"I'd like that, Captain."
"Jack," he said with a grin.
"Captain Jack," she said, smiling back.
He looked out at the sky and sighed.
"I'll leave ye to it, then," he said, gesturing to the stars and clapped her on the back hard enough to shuffle her forward a step.
He walked away, swaying with the movements of the ship. When he reached the door to his cabin, she heard him mutter:
"Bleedin' bowl of stars," under his breath and he disappeared behind the heavy ironwood doors with a chuckle.
Evangeline was mentally forcing her inner voice to regain it's previous cheer of "Pirate, pirate, pirate!" that she was annoyed to find had ceased at some point during her conversation with Jack, when Tanner sidled up next to her and grabbed her wrist so hard she heard bones creak.
"Let go of me!" she whispered through her tears.
"I don't think ye be in a position to be givin' out orders. You and the Cap'n have a nice little chat, did ye? What did ye talk about?"
He accentuated his last question with another squeeze and she went down to her knees.
"Nothing!" she squealed.
He squeezed again.
"Stars," she cried, nearly breathless from the pain "We talked about stars."
He let go of her with a grunt.
"Ye don't want to lie to me," he said, voice soft, but full of menace. "It wouldna be good for ye if ye did."
With that, he looked briefly at Jack's door and stalked off into the night. Evangeline sat on the deck, holding her battered wrist gently and trying to reign in her tears. The look on Tanner's face as he had glanced at Jack's door had her mind reeling more than the pain. It was fear. She had seen fear stamped on his cruel features as clear as day. If he was afraid of Jack, did that make the Captain a man for her to fear or a man for her to trust?
Evangeline was tumbled from her bunk sometime in the morning by Jack's first mate, Gibbs.
"What time is it?" she groaned.
"Tis bad luck to be sleepin' in," was his only reply.
Evangeline got up, hissing when she put weight on her wrist, noticing it was an angry purple. She splashed some cold water on her face and headed to the main deck. She had become so used to the darkness below deck, that the bright sun hit her like an assault.
"Sun," she stated, dumbly.
Jack was walking by and spun around to face her when she spoke.
"Sun?" he said "Aye, the bright thingy in the sky is indeed the sun. Have ye been into my rum?"
Evangeline shook her head and with a shrug he continued on. Gibbs grabbed Evangeline by the shoulder and guided her up some stairs.
"Ev'ry cabin boy worth his salt has scrubbed the poop deck. Guess what ye be doin' this fine morning'?"
He pushed a scrub brush with bristles worn down nearly to the wooden handle and a bucket of questionable water into her hands.
"Scrubbing the poop deck?" she answered.
The change in temperament was instant. One moment he was kind, but stern, the next he was a bellowing tempest.
"Don't talk smart at me ye scurvy cockroach! Get at scrubbin'!"
Evangeline scurried off in a panic while Gibbs chuckled quietly to himself.
After Evangeline was sure she could scrub no more, Gibbs announced that the quarter deck needed her attention. With a weary sigh she made sure Gibbs could not hear, she gathered her brush and bucket and stood to make her way to the quarter deck. When she thought she was steady on her feet, an unbelievably strong wing nearly knocked her to her knees. In her struggle to remain upright, she dropped her bucket of water. She stood, dumbfounded as the bucket rolled down the stairs and came to rest at Gibbs' feet.
Mr. Cotton's parrot squawked somewhere on the ship: "There's a storm a'brewin'." and Evangeline wasn't sure if he was referring to the rising winds or the color rising up Gibbs' neck. He opened his mouth to berate her, but before he could there was a sickening sound of ripping cloth. Evangeline looked up to see one of the sails had split down the middle. The lack of tension had caused on of the hawsers to come loose, lashing a heavy block and tackle dangerously across the deck. Men ducked for cover and Jack came down from the helm yelling ordered.
"Secure the line! Run up the storm canvas!"
The thick rope rushed towards Evangeline and without thinking, she latched onto it. Her cry of triumph quickly became on of terror as the rope pulled her forward off the stairs and flung her down towards the main deck. The rope ran through her hands, making her palms feel as if they had been set aflame. She instinctively let go and came crashing to the boards. Suddenly, the world was devoid of air. The people that were circled around, looking down at her seemed to be having no problems breathing, but she could get a single breath into her lungs. It seemed an eternity she sat there, opening and closing her mouth ineffectually when Gibbs, clutching the hawser in his massive left hand, hit her on the back with his equally massive right. She drew in a shuddering breath and bent over, clutching her middle. Someone from the crew helped her to her feet and laughed when he saw her raw and bleeding hands.
"No wonder ye couldn't hold onto the line," he declared with glee "Ye've got girlie hands!"
This caused everyone to laugh, diffusing a tense situation as they all gathered around to get a look at her hands.
"Yer in the wrong profession," someone cried "Ever tried lace-makin'!"
Evangeline tried to curl her hands towards her, but Jack came up beside her and uncurled them, surveying the damage.
"To my cabin," he said without emotion, but the look in his eyes said he was to be obeyed immediately.
Evangeline walked towards Jack's cabin, but not before catching Tanner's eyes among the bustling crew, shooting her a silent warning. She reached the cabin doors and waited for Jack to come open them.
"Sit down," he said, gesturing to a chair.
She sat and watched him as he went through cabinets, pulling out some linen strips and another bottle of rum. He pulled the cork and after a moments hesitation and a look of what she took to be regret, he poured the rum over her wounds. She yelped and tried to pull her hands back, but Jack stopped her and started to wrap the linen around her palms.
"Ye'll want to change this before ye go to bed and again in the morning', savvy?" he said brusquely.
"Thank you," she muttered, unable to shake the feeling that she was in trouble.
"Stevens' was right, ye know. You do have girlie hands. Yer not cut out fer hard labor. That block coulda taken yer head off. What were ye thinking makin' a grab fer it like tha'!"
"I-I-," she stuttered.
He grabbed her hands and turned them palm up, his thumb grazing her bruised wrist.
"Rope to this, too?" he asked.
"It must have wrapped around, somehow," she said, nodding her head.
"Hmm..," was his only reply as he took a swig of rum, recorked it, and set it on the table.
"Ye hit the boards pretty hard, take off yer shirt so I can see the damage."
"I'll do that for ye, Cap'n," came a voice. They both turned to see Tanner standing in the doorway.
"I don't believe I gave ye permission to enter, Barty."
"Beggin' yer pardon," Tanner said with the air of a repentant sinner "I was just worried about the boy."
"Hmm…," Jack said again "Alrigh'. Go with yer da, Adam. If nothing's amiss, ask Gibbs fer some light chores and don't be fergettin' our appointment after lunch."
"I won't, Captain," Evangeline said as Tanner all but dragged her from the room.
"Appointment!" Tanner bellowed and cuffed her ear when they were a ways from the cabin doors. "What bloody appointment!"
"He said he'd show me a thing or two about the stars," she said, struggling in his grip.
"Yer not ta go."
"I think it was Captain's orders," she said haughtily, then added "Da." for the benefit of any crew that might have heard.
Not waiting for his reply, and feeling more than a little brave, she walked off to find Gibbs and face whatever new tortures he'd devised for her.
After lunch, Evangeline knocked nervously on Jack's cabin door. There was no answer, so she knocked again. On the second knock, Jack flung open the door with a look of confusion on his face. He looked up, left and right before letting his eyes settle on Evangeline.
"Thought a wee mite of a birdie was tap tappin' at me door," she said, ushering her in "Ye even knock like a girl. Are you sure yer not a eunuch?"
"I-" she started, but he waved her answer away again.
"Never mind, tis no matter. Have a seat."
Evangeline sat in the same chair that she had earlier, watching Jack as he scurried about his cabin, piling parchments on his desk.
"Given this mornin's happening's, I thought we'd discuss yer place on this ship," Jack said, giving her a serious look.
Evangeline gulped, imagining walking the plank to a watery death.
"I, I thought you said you'd show me about stars," she stuttered.
"Seems to me, they might be one and the same."
"Beg pardon?" she asked and he motioned for her to come over to the desk.
"Do ye know what this is?"
She looked on the table and nodded in recognition.
"It's a map," she said. It reminded her of the antiquated maps that hung on her father's study wall. The one with fantastical creatures drawn in the margins with the caption "Here there be monsters." that always sent a shiver down her spine and sent her imagination to running. This one was more utilitarian than those, but seemed to serve the same purpose.
"Tha's right," Jack said "And what abou' this?"
He rolled back the map, uncovering another document that, to her, looked like child's drawings. Large points connected by small lines forming a myriad of odd shapes.
"I don't know," she admitted, intrigued, tracing her fingers over the lines.
"Tis a map as well," he said "It's a map of the stars."
He help up a queer looking instrument and twirled it around.
"This is a sextant. It helps you use the on wi' the other."
He unrolled the first map and passed his hand over it.
"Now, it seems to me yer da is in a hurry to get somewhere, but I don't think a day or two will cause him any grief. I'll show ye about how to use these maps and then let ye plot a course within this area."
He drew a wide circle on the map with his finger.
"Then tonight, weather allowin', ye'll take the helm and we'll see if we end up where ya said we would. We'll make a sailor out of ye yet. That or yer da'll have to resign himself to yer wearin' frills and troddin' the stage."
Evangeline scanned the area of the map he had indicated and pointed to a small island.
"What's there?"
"Nothin' really. Lot o' jungle, bit o' beach. Rumrunner's used to use it fer a stop, but they've moved on to more hospitable waters. Pity," he said raising his bottle in salute. "Honorable trade."
Evangeline snorted.
"So it's deserted, then?"
"After a fashion," he replied "There's fresh water inland and all manner a' fruits. Passing ships will stop from time to time to freshen their stores."
Evangeline placed her finger firmly over the island on the map, a plan forming in her mind.
"That's where I want to go," she declared.
"Alrigh'," he said "Let's get to it. Hand me the sextant."
Evangeline once again looked out at the night sky and wondered at the multitude of stars, only now her wonder had shades of annoyance. On the star map, it was easy to tell one constellation from another, east from west, but standing at the helm was an entirely different matter. Whoever drew Jack's maps must have been a greater lover of rum than he was, because nothing was making sense. She had all but begged Jack earlier in the day to let her use his compass, but he just looked at her like she was crazy and shoved it deep into a pocket. Her nervousness was not helped at all by the fact that Tanner had threatened her ever lone moment he had with her all day. Even now, she could see him pacing the boards like a caged tiger. She looked out at the sky again and sighed in exasperation.
"Goin' well?" Jack asked as he walked up to the helm.
"I wish I knew," she replied.
Jack looked out at the sky and studied the stars for a moment.
"Where was it ye wanted to go?" he asked.
"That little island."
Evangeline blushed as he grabbed the wheel and made a large correction.
"That star," he said, pointing "Is yer reference. Careful ye don't sail us off the end o' the world, now."
"There's no such thing," she said, scoffing.
"The hell there isn't," he said "I've seen it with me own two eyes."
Evangeline raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"Really, he protested "Great bloody waterfall as far as the eye can see. Nearly went over the edge, we did."
"You do know the world is round, right Captain?" she asked, speaking slowly, as if to a small child.
"Tell that to the whale we lashed onto to pull us back from the abyss," he said "Speculation, all o' it."
Evangeline watched in stunned silence as he raised a bottle to his lips to take a swig and almost missed the sly smile he tried to hide. When she realized he was joking, she gave him a shot to the arm and turned back to the helm in a huff.
"Hit like a girl, too," he said between drinks.
In that moment, Evangeline wanted nothing more than to grab Jack and cry "I am a girl!". Wanted nothing more than to beg for his help, but she knew Tanner was watching her very close from somewhere. He wouldn't hesitate to kill her, Jack, or every other person on this ship if he could and the thought panicked her. She had already decided, should her plan not work, she would provoke Tanner into killing her once he had her aboard his ship. Better death at his hands than whatever fate waited for her at the auction block. She was stunned to realize, however, that the thought of her own death saddened her less than the knowledge that she must soon part ways with Jack. She had become fond of the pirate captain. He was a handsome man, with his golden skin and magnificent eyes and she found herself attracted to him in a way she had never been to the scores of suitors back home.
"Adam?" Jack asked slowly.
Evangeline was shocked out of her reverie and completely mortified when she realized she had been staring at him.
"I, uh, sorry Captain. I was just thinking."
"About what, might I ask?"
Evangeline blushed such a deep shade of scarlet that she was sure it was visible in the dark. She had been thinking about his hands and how she wanted them to hold her face and--
"How old are ye, Adam?" Jack asked suddenly.
"Eighteen," she answered without thinking.
"And yer birthday?"
"April 4th, why?"
Jack shrugged off her question and checked her heading again.
"Good night and good sailing, Adam." Jack said with a curious tone in his voice "Remember to keep your eye on that star and we'll reach your island before a'morrow eve."
Then Jack left a very confused Evangeline at the helm.
Tanner watched all of this conspire from a nook he had found, wondering what had caused the captain's sudden change in demeanor. He was watching Evangeline so intently that he almost drew his pistol when Jack came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Evenin, Barty," Jack said "Not tired?"
"I was just watchin' the boy, Cap'n. Just makin' sure he brought no harm to yer Pearl."
"I think he's got it under his thumb. Remarkable presence for a boy so young. How old is he, then?"
"Seventeen," Tanner answered.
"Ah, what an age…..When's his birthday?"
"October tenth," Tanner said, supplying his own birthday.
"Goodnight, Barty."
Tanner watched the captain swagger away, alarm bells going off in his head. When Jack was out of sight, he ran up to the helm and growled in Evangeline's ear.
"The next port we come to, we're jumpin ship. The Cap'n knows. If I find ye told him--"
He stalked off without finishing his threat. When he was gone, Evangeline smile with relief and joy. Jack knew! Then she began to cry as she realized she still must leave. She wouldn't risk Jack's life to save her own.
Before retiring for the night, Jack sought out Gibbs and pulled him aside.
"Something's amiss between father and son," he said "Keep an eye on them both."
"Aye, Jack." Gibbs agreed and began his vigil as Jack retired with his thoughts and suspicions.