Chapter 4
The Code...
How do you deal with such a storm? I wonder as I throw a rotten fish overboard. I have to scrub again and again don't I? I look about the ship, nothing but seaweed and washed on fish. Actually i think someone found a boot at one stage. "How did we survive that?" William asks walking beside me on port side.
"I don't know. Maybe Calypso is working in our favour." I suggest throwing a bunch of seaweed back into the water.
"Calypso?" Are you kidding me?
"Calypso, the goddess. Have you not heard of her?" William shakes his head. I look at the deck and shake my head then to my sword. "Think you can dance and talk at the same time?" William's brow furrows and I step back unsheathing my sword.
"Oh..." He sighs and receives one from a crew member watching.
"So how is your sword play William?" I ask twirling the sword along my fingers.
"I could have beaten Jack if he hadn't cheated." We both look at Jack.
"Pirate." I shrug as he lurches at me. I side-step and slam my fist down on his sword. These are French swords, yes the wielders are British but the swords are like the ones Musketeers used. Thin blade to poke your enemy full of holes...if you're quick.
"So, Calypso?" I somersault in the air after running up the wooden beam.
"Calypso is the goddess nymph on the island, Ogygia. Rumour is it that her father is Atlas, the Titan said to be holding up the world." I explain dodging blows and beating away strikes.
"So why is she so important to pirates?" He asks as I take his sword with the little tweak of my wrist.
"Gives us someone to believe in. Would you prefer to worship a male sea god or a beautiful female?" William shrugged taking the sword off me and handing it to the other crewman. "You could say she's a sort of witch, all the things people say she's done for them."
"Wait isn't she supposed to be...in many forms...?" William wondered unsure.
"You'll learn more about it later, William, for now...let's get Elizabeth back for you."
The passage was full of ship, crushed against rocks, some had marine life swimming about them. The air was of mist and the mood about the crew was chilling to the bone. "Dead men tell no tales." Mr. Cotton's parrot sung from the sails.
"Puts a chill in the bones, the amount of ships claimed by this passage." Mr. Gibbs says as we all look over the side at the water.
"How is it Jack came by that compass?" William asked Gibbs as they walked off. I walked up to Jack near the wheel.
"Who's going?" I asked Jack. "Captain?" I added quickly.
"Mr. Turner and I will go ashore." I shook my head.
"I should go too." I insist but he's out of earshot walking over to where Mr. Gibbs and Will are settled.
"Let go of the anchor!" Jack ordered a few seconds later.
"Aye, Captain, aye!" The crew replied in unison.
"Young Mr. Turner and I are to go ashore." Jack added tilting his head back to me only the slightest.
"Captain, what if the worst should happen?" Mr. Gibbs asks stumbling over to Jack.
"Keep to the Code." I hear Jack say as I walk with them about the ship.
"Aye, the Code." Mr. Gibbs replies thick with the pirate tongue. Jack and William paddle into the caves disappearing into the mist.
"Who gets to be Captain if Jack doesn't return?" I ask Mr. Gibbs with a wry smile.
"Aye, I not willing to fight you for this ship." Mr. Gibbs replies walking off.
"Boat!" Mr. Cotton's parrot croaked. I stumbled over to the side in time to help...a woman in a red dress and William.
"Not more pirates." She says with the face of an angel.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Elizabeth." Mr. Gibbs says.
"Mr. Gibbs?" So this must be Elizabeth...not a pirate or wench...maybe a lady.
"Hey, boy, where be Jack?" Mr. Gibbs asks William as he climbs on.
"Jack?... Jack Sparrow?" This girl was going to annoy me, I could tell already.
"He fell behind..." William said taking Elizabeth below deck. Everyone else was stunned into silence...the famous Jack Sparrow...fell behind.
"Keep to the Code!" Mr. Gibbs commands.
"Weigh anchor! Hoist the sails! Make quick!" The ebony woman orders. So she's the new Captain?