Chapter 4 – Madame Renée Bertrand
On the far side of the lake, Jack and Angelica climbed out of the rowboat and waited on the shore while Gibbs settled the rowboat in a patch of cat tails and tied the rope to a tree trunk. Before the pirates stood the home of Madame Renée Bertrand, or so they had been told. There was a ladder leading from the ground up to the porch of the little house, and Jack, always one to jump in first, grabbed hold of the ladder and climbed hand over hand up to the porch, Angelica at his heels and Gibbs bringing up the rear. Once at the top, Jack found himself facing a wooden door surrounded by Spanish moss. With a deep breath, Jack knocked twice on the door and it opened by itself. Jack looked to Angelica and Gibbs, shrugged, and walked into the shack.
Inside, the pirates were greeted with the strong smell of incense mixed with the equally strong smell of tea. Tapestries hung on the walls along with maps of far-off lands and charts of the stars. There was a small coffee table in the middle of the room surrounded by high-backed chairs and a worn out chaise lounge. And there, sitting in one of the high-backed chairs next to a small fireplace, was a small woman dressed in an off-white peasant top, grey shawl, and burgundy skirt that almost covered her pale bare feet. Her honey colored hair hung down to her waist and her gold-green eyes peered out from behind her long bangs. She stared at the pirates who were standing in the midst of her living room for a moment, then, in a raspy voice, began to speak.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Her voice was laced with a strong French accent, but her English was flawless.
"Aren't you supposed to tell me that?" Jack countered.
"I'm a dream interpreter and necromancer, not a psychic," Madame Bertrand snapped. "Now, state your business or leave."
"We're sorry to bother you, Madame," Angelica said. "But we think you may be able to help with a dream." Madame Bertrand's eyes flicked to Angelica and she smiled.
"Well, I'll do my best. Now, tell me about this dream. And please take a seat." Jack, Angelica and Gibbs settled in on the chairs opposite the dream interpreter and Jack told her the dream, leaving no detail out. Madame Bertrand listened quietly, eyes closed in concentration, then remained silent for a few moments after.
"This girl, Cassandra. Do you know her?" Madame Bertrand asked, eyes still closed.
"No. Never heard that name before until my dream," Jack replied, studying Renée.
"But you know her father."
"I do?"
"Yes. You've known him for quite some time. He was your first mate for a time, then he marooned you and took your ship, if I'm not mistaken." Jack looked at Angelica and Gibbs, wide-eyed.
"You can't possibly mean..."
"Yes." Madame Bertrand opened her eyes and they landed on Jack.
"Her father is Hector Barbossa."