Chapter 4: 1742 News from London

A few days after their return from Port Royal Jack sat with some of Patrick's uncountable, meanwhile well-thumbed books upon one of the sunlit rocks high above the sea. From that place he was able to watch what was going on within the bay as well as what happened in the open ocean. Beside him lay the magical sea chart and again and again he beheld the movable rings in it.

He and Caithleen had tried consistently within the bygone nights to define precisely the bearings of the wreck they had to find to be able to reach the Fountain of Youth.

They succeeded only vague, although the fitting rings were to assemble effortlessly. The exact position of the vanished ship was still only to presume.

So he used the time Caithleen spent with helping Elizabeth to make the little cottage upon the cliffs up and buried himself within the books.

He did not know wherefrom Patrick got all those copies of several unique writings, only that there were a lot amongst them which did not deal with seafaring and navigation. Within all the chests and the shelves he owned he even collected volumes of poetry, drama, theater and travel reports as well as a valuable imbedded notebook which he used as a diary.

With the "Stream" Patrick's whole sea charts and logbooks sank as well and for that this diary was a really worthwhile bond to his past, but at the moment Jack was much more interested in the travel reports and the old adventure stories he found, those in which the authors reported on ancient legends and the search for them.

The name Ponce de Leon appeared more than once in combination with his search for the Fountain of Youth but exact information about the bearing and the position were missing within here as well.

Therefor it was much less helpful, that – as often as they were moving the rings to find an answer about where to go to – the chart showed something different every morning.

"Something, you're in need of" stood there where "Fountain of Youth" or "Ponce de Leon" was supposed to stand – because it stood there the night before.

He and Caithleen did meanwhile agree about what this meant: Before they could search for the Fountain of Youth, they had to fulfill another mission – but there was no hint what this mission would be about or where it would lead them to.

With a sigh Jack stroke the hair from his face and blinked into the sun. He put the book aside and gazed out to the open sea for a while.

First he believed, that what he saw on the horizon must be a reflection due to the heat of the sun, but that Something, which appeared back there – still small and unimpressive – was without any doubt a ship.

Rapidly he bundled up the books and the chart and ran over to his cottage. Fortunately his little home did once belong to a farseeing pirate, who kept not only books safe within the attic and the stack but a lot of nautical instruments too. Because of that the loss of all his own nautical equipment, which vanished together with Barbossa and his "Pearl", had been to get over.

Quickly he searched for one of Patrick's spyglasses and hurried back to the cliffs.

No! He did not err!

It was a ship which steered a direct course to the isle and having a look through the spyglass made sure that his face lightened up immediately.

What held course to Patrick's Island was the "Stella Maris" and within only a few hours van Dyck would sail his spruce two-master to the bay.

Jack was in a very good temper when he sashayed back to the cottage. The same moment Caithleen came across him. She got directly aware that he looked much more confident than within the bygone days when he brooded over the books and the charts for hours.

"Don't ask me any questions, love! You will come to know what happened when you'll see it. Savvy!"

"Why should I want to ask you any questions, Captain? Maybe I should better send you back to Davy Jones' Locker, Jack Sparrow!"

"Oi! What's wrong, love? Can tell you, that is a very bad idea, because – you know – if I not already am, there is fear that I really will become mad if you will leave me there. So think about that, dear Missy, and tell me how long you would bear it to stay here without me, eh? Oh, by the way, may I ask what for you think I deserve that kind promise of another stay within this unique place? Don't tell me you thought it over because I'm in much better temper now! Don't you?"

Caithleen sighed. She had nearly forgotten what she wanted from him due to his disarming smile and his inimitable talent to talk: "Oh no, Jack Sparrow, not this time! What did you and your crew think about while having built this cottage up for Elizabeth? Did you think at all?"

"Why? Something wrong?"

"No way! Everything's fine! Except for one thing – we're trying to make this cottage livable for nearly a week now! Can you imagine what that means! Can you! You can't! You and your crew of rum drinking and foggy-brained pirates!"

With it she passed him, went into their cottage and slammed the door.

"One can only hope that she will accept the "Stella" as a kind of peace-offering!" Jack told himself with a shrug and hurried to follow her.

"Did you find out anything about what is meant with all the chart shows us?" Caithleen asked thoughtfully while she grasped for her goblet of wine and the last piece of spiced cake which lay on the tablet.

"Nothing! It's absolutely maddening! There is neither a hint within the books nor within the charts. I hoped I may find something within Patrick's notes but even he did not mention anyhing about this Spaniard and his wreck! If I only could be sure that my intuition and my compass could also lead us there. I would think to forget about the chart, but this would be much too easy I fear."

"First of all, who knows exactly if it's all about the wreck. The chalices we found upon the chart – isn't it possible that they will have a meaning as well?"

"I'm sure, there is a ritual, I would wonder if not, but I've no idea what it could be about. To get rid of the curse of the Aztec Gold it only needed some drops of blood. To become captain of the "Flying Dutchman" you have to carve out your heart and bury it within a hidden chest. So I fear, it can only get worse."

"So far as I know you, no one will for sure be able to keep you from that adventure, am I right, lad?"

The voice which came from the door within this moment was familiar and welcome.

Van Dyck got in without waiting for an invitation. When he got aware that Jack didn't stay alone he stopped midst his move: "Well, this is something I would call a surprise! So, tell me where you found this charming companion! Excuse me, Miss, if I did not introduce myself so far, but I'm always speechless when I see how this lad accomplishes to take the most beautiful girls by storm!"

Caithleen laughed!

For sure this must be the Dutch, Jack told her about several times during the bygone weeks. He had a friendly, round face with cheerful blue eyes, he regarded her with favor with right now. His accent made him out as a Dutch, and she was convinced he wouldn't be intended to change that. At least it was really charming! He was several years older than Jack, but he appeared to be youthful and adventurous.

"You're Captain van Dyck?" She asked.

"Aye!" Jack anticipated him and jumped up: "He is! And only he can imagine how glad I am to see him right here and right now!"

"Me or my ship..."

"Oh, that's fine! You'll leave me a choice? Aye?"

Van Dyck rolled his eyes than he pulled Jack into his arms, gave him a hug and said: "Obviously living ashore does you good, Jack Sparrow, but I suppose this pretty girl has also to do a lot with it!"

"This pretty girl, van Dyck, is Caithleen Stevens!"

Jack changed a rapid gaze with her and freed himself from the hug. He grinned when he saw the face of the Dutch who stared at Caithleen with wide open eyes, as if he had seen a ghost.

After a while a smile appeared on his lips and he meant: "Hope you will forgive me, Missy! I couldn't guess who you are! But as I see you here in front of me I can understand why Jack wanted to get you back at any rate!"

About an hour later the three of them sat together within the little parlor. Van Dyck was tired but the same he was curious about getting to know how Jack succeeded to find Caithleen and what his planned new adventure was about. He didn't want to wait till the next day.

Jack referred patiently about everything what happened throughout the past months until van Dyck interrupted him: "You're supposed to find what? The Fountain of Youth?"

"Caithleen's life depends on it!"

"Who claims that?"

"That's of no importance, van Dyck! Too many inexplicabilities crossed my way within the last years and it would be lightheaded to get over it and wait what will happen when the time's up. My ship is gone and as much as I love this island, I feel being trapped upon it at the moment . So it seems as if I'm in the need for your help once again, mate! She needs your help." He pointed towards Caithleen.

"We will set sail as soon as the "Stella" is provided again with supplies, fresh water and everything we need for our adventure. Three days to come if you agree. But while we are sitting within this cozy little chamber together right now, you should come to know of something else before you will start searching for that mysterious spring. Being in London we had some trouble. It did not miss much and they would have restrained us in the harbor."

"Why?" Caithleen gazed at him in astonishment: "What reason could they have to keep hold of you and your ship? You're not a pirate. You're a merchant sailor!"

"That's exactly what I thought up to now, lass, but obviously the mighty arm of the East India Trading Company still reaches much farther than we all know. Somebody must have had remembered my ship, what for ever, and they searched the "Stella" through down to the darkest corner of the bilge. Somewhen later we heard the rumor Jack Sparrow would be in London. I swear an oath, if I would not have been sure about having you dropped right here on your pretty little island – I would have doubted my brain, lad."

"A double?" Caithleen frowned.

"Can't say that this sounds very flattering, mate!" Jack remarked with a discontented impression on his face: "Imagine, what it means! If it's true, every random wannabe pirate could claim to be me and do things within my name I would not even think about. That's weird! Have you seen this impostor while staying in town?"

"Never, but the rumor followed us until we took our leave. Or shall I better call it a flight?"

"What for the world did you do you had to take flight for?" Caithleen could barely imagine how a respectable merchant could get into such mischief that he had head over heels to cast off and to set sail.

"I told it to you when you went aboard the "Black Pearl" back then, van Dyck, if you want to sail with me you will get into danger to be treated like a pirate."

"That wouldn't rather be worse, lad, but it wasn't about me or the crew why they observed us. One of the uncountable patrols which searched within the lanes and the taverns for pirates and other so called criminals to imprison them arrested Gibbs."

"Joshamee Gibbs! You don't want to make me a fool, mate, don't you?" Jack gazed at him in disbelief: "He's a former mate of the Royal Fleet. Don't want to believe that anybody of his former comrades had a reason to sell him out. There is only one other reason I fear..."

"You mean one of us could have betrayed him? Other pirates?" Caithleen seemed to be skeptical.

"Yes, love, that's what I mean. Nowadays it depends only on the price which is offered to them if our honorable comrades will betray us or not. It's all about per capita quota, love, head money! If it's profitable enough they will betray even their father and mother. So what is it they blame Gibbs for?"

Van Dyck hesitated then he looked at Jack and answered: "That's easy, lad. They blame him for being you..."

"What? Who shall believe that, mate?"

"Oh Jack, the crowd is willing to believe everything they will tell them. The more egregious the better it is. Those who want to see Gibbs at the gallows are in the know that he is not Jack Sparrow. And they also know that you – supposedly – won't be willing to allow them to hang an innocent man instead of yours. So don't you see what this is all about?"

"For sure I'm aware what's going on, mate. It was wishful thinking to believe they would stop searching for us only because Beckett isn't still there to push them on. We vanquished them once but today they are warned and they know much better than us who still sails under the skull and crossbones and who ended up at Davy Jones' Locker meanwhile or had been bought. They're on the verge of hanging Gibbs to elicit me. In addition an unknown impostor sneaks through the lanes of London pretending to be me. I'm in the know that this is all about my head. Well, maybe it's time for giving them what they are searching for."

"It's a dangerous game you're willing to play, lad."

"Do you think I've a choice if I don't want Gibbs to die instead of me?"

"Supposedly not!"

"So, then we will leave everything like we planned it. We'll set sail within three days. Our first heading will be London where we'll try to save our brave friend Joshamee Gibbs and to find out who thinks who is allowed to play tricks on us, then we'll start searching for the Fountain of Youth and another try to find the eternal life and then – if we won't have been dispatched by a terrible beastie, scuttled by crazed English or killed by some other disagreeable figures I don't want to imagine right here and now – we will get back me ship! And remember me, if it's time, that I will maroon Barbossa on a godforsaken, nameless island of which I can be sure that no smugglers will appear there out of the nothing. Savvy!"

When Jack crawled under the blanket beside Caithleen this night, she wrapped her arms around him and pushed herself close to him.

"So it's true", she whispered within the dark: "we will sail together once again?"

"Yes, love, and as soon as I will get back the "Pearl" we will sail together on our own ship again."

He breathed a kiss upon her lips but the same moment he felt it wouldn't satisfy him tonight.

Her hair scented from wind and the sea and her skin felt warm and tender underneath his hands.

"Tell me, Caithleen Stevens, how are you doing it that I still desire you like I did the first day after all those years?"

"If I would tell it to you it wouldn't be a secret anymore. But believe me, I don't want to talk tonight..."

Her voice was hoarse when she whispered next to his ear and she smiled when she felt him shiver.

No, for sure, he wasn't interested in talking as well. He desired her and he wanted her – here, now and without a lot of words...

Somewhen later Caithleen had fallen asleep within his arms. Her head lay upon his breast and he held her as close as possible as if he feared somebody could abduct her out of their bed.

He himself wasn't able to sleep. His thoughts tumbled and she was all they were about.

Before he lost her, it never occurred to him to spend a night with another girl or to spend money within one of the uncountable brothels to take one of the girls for an hour full of relish. Since she was back he felt no desire to do it again.

His body longed for her, he reacted instinctively when ever she was close to him, even if the situation required some more sternness or concentration.

He still enjoyed it to seduce her...

To see her eyes getting dark, her slightly opened lips, to hear her silent sighs when he touched her, the scent and the taste of her skin – it all woke his desire for her again and again.

To feel how she reacted to his touch, to experience how she was able to surrender, to share her passion – he knew her feelings were true, neither bought nor paid.

To sense her body, her warmth and her soft skin underneath his hands, exploring her impatiently – he enjoyed it.

Finally to feel her, deep, heartfelt and passionate, was not to compare to anything else.

He loved her and he would not feel any remorse to seduce her once again tonight...