Chapter 4
After struggling to pull the unconscious captain to shore and up on the sand, the boy worked hard to revive him. When he failed to respond, Rafe put Jack's head back and opened his mouth. Relying on previously learned instruction, he covered the captain's nose and immediately leaned down to blow air into his lungs. After a few more attempts, Jack slowly opened his eyes. Confused not knowing what was happening and not understanding why Rafe had his mouth on his, the captain instinctively pushed the boy back and rolled to the side. Suddenly he began to cough up water and afterward wiped his mouth with his shirtsleeve. When he was able, Jack slowly sat up and turned to look at his rescuer.
"Are ye bloody daft?" he asked then leaned over to cough up more water. "What d' ye think ye were doin', boy?"
Frustrated and hurt by Jack's stinging remark and lack of appreciation, Rafe rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"What was I doing? I was trying to save your life... again!" he responded harshly. "Don't you remember the water, the chains? What else could I possibly be doing? Do you even think I wanted to experience the feel and taste of your lips, or... or better yet... maybe I just found a sneaky way to extract those gold teeth!"
Stunned by the boy's sudden outburst, Jack furrowed his brow and stared at him in silence. Without waiting for the captain to respond, Rafe quickly got up and stormed away from him, his eyes stinging as tears formed in them. Walking fast and looking around he realized he was actually not very far from where they had been earlier that morning. He was thirsty and needed to rinse out his mouth, as he could still taste salt water and feel small grains of sand from when his mouth brushed against the captain's mustache. He was glad to be alone and went to find the small pool of water. After a short walk down the beach, he finally found it and immediately went to the narrow path leading up to the ridge and upon taking a quick glance around, once again laid down by the stream to drink. The water was cool against his skin as it lapped against the side of his face and neck. When finished he sat up to wipe away the excess water and felt the flush of anger subside from within him.
"And he called me daft?" Rafe murmured to himself, still pouting over the captain's rude response to his efforts to save him. He shook his head and decided to check his pouch again. As he took each item out for inspection, he stared at the hook and twine and realized he was a little hungry. It was already past midday, he figured, and without anything else to do while waiting to be rescued by the crew, he decided to do a little fishing. There was really no way of knowing if and when Gibbs and the crew would find them so being prepared and having food would be a necessity. He quickly got up and looked around the immediate area for a strong, sturdy stick. During his search he found some small, edible mushrooms near a clump of ferns and scooped up a handful of them for later. After setting them down by the stream and cleaning them, he continued to look for a suitable stick and upon finding one spent time diligently fashioning a strong and efficient fishing pole with his knife and using his twine and hook to complete it.
Rafe finally finished with the fishing rod and from his viewpoint on top of the ridge, looked out over the water as the tide broke onto shore. He watched the waves as they gently rolled up on the beach then back again, each time with the same rhythmic motion. For a few moments he searched the horizon yet found no ships and was grateful the Raven had left the area. Seagulls suddenly caught his attention as they flew above the beach in search of food dipping low to the water then up again to soar high above the surf. The air was heated by the midday sun, yet a gentle breeze blew in from the ocean and cooled his face. Still wet and sticky from the salt water in his clothes, Rafe stood up and pulled the fabric away from his skin as best he could. Finally taking his new fishing pole and mushrooms, he walked down the path toward the pool.
Rafe set the pole and mushrooms down near the water's edge and looked around to ensure he was still alone. He then took off his boots and pouch and waded into the pool where the water was warm and refreshing. When he had waded far enough for the water to be waist deep, he took off his bandana, took in a deep breath, and slowly went under the water. He rose up again after a few moments and leaned back to float allowing the water to flow freely through his hair and rinse out any salt and sand. He closed his eyes and could hear the splashing sounds of water falling off the rocks and into the pool. Shortly afterward he waded back to where he had left his boots, scooping up a handful of water along the way to rinse off his face and smooth out his mustache and beard.
Refreshed, Rafe came out of the pool and found a large rock to sit on where he stretched out his legs and wrung out his wet hair with his hands. He looked up and the hot sun immediately warmed his face and began to dry his hair and clothes. He took the small metal box from his pouch, dabbed his finger slightly over the waxy substance and applied it to his mustache and beard. He thought about the captain and was sorry for what he had said, for he had begun to feel a small bond between them and hoped he had not ruined it by his brash behavior. It had been a while since he left Jack on the beach and wondered if he was alright, yet decided to leave him be for the moment. He thought about the feel of the captain's lips touching his own and was puzzled that he found the whole experience not totally unpleasant. Not wanting to pursue that thought any further, Rafe quickly decided to look for fishing bait. He wandered farther away from the beach and soon located some more rocks. He slowly turned a few of them over and with luck on his side, found a few worms and other crawling bugs. He scooped them into his bandana and walked back to where he had left the fishing pole, carefully dumping the bait on the ground. With his hair now almost dry, he shook out the cloth, quickly wrapped it around his hair once again, and secured it.
"Now to the matter at hand," Rafe said to himself and sat back down on his rock to bait his hook. Once done he took the fishing rod and walked toward the beach and into the surf. There he stopped and cast out his line as far as the twine would go. Patiently waiting for a tug on the line, he paced back and forth to keep his bare feet from sinking too deeply into the wet sand. After several minutes he pulled the line in to check the bait then cast the line out again. Time passed slowly as he worked the line, determined to catch a fish one way or the other for him and the captain.
Jack, meanwhile, lay on the sand taking a short nap amid the sound of waves crashing on the shore and cries of seagulls overhead. He suddenly felt a wet splat on his cheek and abruptly awoke from a dream, slowly opening his eyes and seeing gulls flying directly over him. He wiped his face with his hand and recognized the goop with an immediate look of disgust. He hurried to the water to clean his face and hands and when finished, returned to his place in the sand and sat down once again. He recalled being on the Raven with Hawk and Joe Hooper, and Rafe pulling him to shore, yet as he warily looked around he found himself alone. With a despairing look he gazed out over the water wondering about the Pearl, and soon memories came to mind of a similar incident some time ago when he was left behind looking out over the water.
"Curses to be marooned… again!" Jack mumbled to himself scooping up some sand and letting it fall through his fingers, then loudly while glancing up at the sky, "Only last time ye blessed me with a beautiful, young woman and some rum to soothe the suffering situation." Moments later he sullenly mumbled again to himself looking down at the sand. "New rule fer the pirate codebook. Pirates are forbidden to be marooned without a good stash of rum!"
A swooping seagull caught his attention, and with a curse and scowl he quickly got up, picked up a small piece of driftwood and threw it at the bird only to miss it. He then looked around again in the hopes of seeing where Rafe had disappeared. From a distance down the beach, he saw someone moving about in the waves. He narrowed his eyes to get a better look and assuming it was the boy, began to walk in the direction of the lonely figure. As he got nearer he saw that Rafe was doing what appeared to be fishing. Not surprised by the sight, Jack smiled and sat down on the dry sand to observe as Rafe continued to alternately pull the line in, check the bait, and then cast it out again. Not aware of the captain sitting on the beach behind him, Rafe decided to take a few more steps farther out into deeper water.
Jack was amused and intrigued by his young friend's determination to catch a fish and by the fact that while he was sleeping, the boy had made a fishing pole with twine and a hook. Rafe was indeed a resourceful young man and finding food would certainly be on top of his list of survival priorities. He thought how the boy had saved his life and was still trying to do so. It had been a long time since he felt really close to anyone, man or woman, but the idea made him feel uncomfortable and vulnerable, and he quickly dismissed it from his mind. But what he could not dismiss was what he saw Rafe do on the Raven. Being a marksman with the knife was one thing, but where does an orphan learn to fight and flip in the air like that, he wondered. The boy was indeed a mystery, and Jack was beginning to think there was more to him than his simple explanation of being an orphan and a stowaway. He also thought the sooner he could get a look at the items in his pouch, the sooner the mystery would be solved.
Suddenly Jack's thoughts were interrupted when he saw Rafe struggling with the line. The boy fought to pull back on the pole, but it arched under the strain of whatever was caught on the hook, and with the resistance of the fish and the strong undertow, he was forced to move deeper into the water. Determined not to let go and with both hands firmly secured around the fishing pole, Rafe dug his heels squarely and deeply into the sand in the hopes of standing his ground. As he watched the line race from side to side in the surf, he happened to notice in the distance a large, incoming wave and immediately braced himself for the inevitable impact.
The wave quickly rose up high and crashed against him with a great force causing him to lose his balance. As his feet gave way under him, he began to fall backward. Suddenly he felt a strong hand grab his arm tightly, and with a quick glance over his shoulder, he saw Jack struggling to keep him steady. Finally with some strength and a lot of effort, the captain pulled both Rafe and the fishing rod back to shore where the men fell to the sand exhausted and out of breath. Still grasping the pole Rafe quickly sat up and pulled hard on the line, and within moments a large fish thrashed about in the shallow water. Though surprised at first, both men soon laughed at the sight, and Jack leaned over to pat the young man on the back.
"When do we eat?" he asked still chuckling over the fish.
Rafe grinned and nodded his head. This was indeed a large fish and would certainly satisfy their appetites. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he stood up and stuck his arm out to help Jack up as well. At last he began to pull the line in. He dragged the fish up on the sand and looked around to see the best place to set up a fire. With some help from Jack, they labored to carry the fish over near the pool.
"Captain, can you move some of those large rocks over here?" Rafe asked pointing to a pile of rocks on the other side of the pool. "I'll need them to build a fire pit."
Jack complied and as he brought the rocks over, Rafe put his boots back on and began to form the pit. Soon it was ready, and after filling it with sticks, twigs, and dried grass, he took the piece of flint from his pouch and struck it repeatedly against a rock. Jack watched as sparks from the rock fell against the kindling, and soon a small wisp of smoke formed around some of the dried grass. Rafe quickly leaned down to gently blow on the smoke, and a small flame suddenly appeared and started to burn the grass and a few of the smaller twigs. The grass sizzled within the flame and quickly spread to the other twigs and sticks. Rafe stood up and smiled at the captain who now reached over to place more kindling on the fire. Satisfied that the fire was strong, Rafe put the flint back in his pouch while Jack watched from the corner of his eye and again wondered what else the boy carried in there.
"So, Rafe, what's all in that pouch of yours?" he asked nonchalantly. "I mean, besides the piece of flint."
Still tending the fire, Rafe considered his request and agreed to show him. He took out the coins, the remaining ball of twine, the shiny metal box, and the carefully folded cloth protecting the golden medallion. Jack looked at the items closely.
"Great treasures to be sure," he said jokingly, "but still I'm curious, my friend, what d' ye got hidden in the cloth?" Rafe hesitated a moment debating whether to reveal the medallion or not. Though tempted to show him, he finally decided it best not to do so at that time and put the items back in his pouch.
"A small keepsake. Nothing more."
Jack smiled and gave a nod, but Rafe's simple description could not abate his curiosity regarding it. He was anxious to find out more about the boy and the secret of his strength and abilities, and though he was certain the keepsake had something to do with it, he allowed Rafe his privacy for the time being. After all, Jack had his own little treasures he always carried around with him, although, he remembered, he had given them to Gibbs for protection.
While the fire burned, Rafe busily prepared the meal. Earlier he had seen wild herbs growing near the stream and now used them to dress the fish along with the small mushrooms he had previously found. Once prepared, he skewered the fish on a wooden stick along with the mushrooms and placed it over the fire on top of some tall rocks. With a good fire burning, both men watched hungrily as the flames rose to lap at the fish then sizzled as drops from the fish hit the burning sticks. After a few minutes Rafe turned the fish over to allow the fire to cook the other side.
"Where did ye learn to cook that way?" Jack asked with curiosity then mockingly, "Did they also teach ye that in the shipyard?" Rafe glanced at him with a little grin but continued to watch the fish.
"No, just other things," he finally admitted. "You see, it didn't take long for the crew to find me hiding on the cargo ship. The captain didn't care much for stowaways and made me pay my way by catching rats in the bilge. For hours each day I wallowed in the watery muck and darkness listening and hunting them by candlelight with my knife. I collected the bodies for the cook. He had a way of enhancing their taste by adding spices and herbs as they boiled and their skin fell off." Jack grimaced at the thought. "The men didn't seem to mind, though I doubt they knew what they were eating. As for myself, I personally prefer fish. How about you, Captain?"
Repulsed by the very thought of rats much less eating one, Jack stared at him with a ghastly look on his face. For fear of losing his appetite, Jack shook his head and body while sticking out his tongue. Rafe tried not to laugh and began to skewer the remaining mushrooms with another stick, then finally placed them across the flame.
Having composed himself, Jack gazed into the fire, but his eyes soon wandered off toward the western horizon where he watched the sun set lower in the sky. Funny, he thought to himself, it was just a few hours ago that he was at this very same spot looking forward to some fun and relaxation in Gilley's Rock. He again thought about his men and the Black Pearl even the Raven, wondering now where she had gone. As long as Hawk was in the area, he knew his ship and crew were in danger. Hoping against hope that Gibbs would come back to look for them, he let out a small sigh and turned back again to watch the fire. Soon the smell of food caught his hungry attention, and closing his eyes he eagerly sniffed the air.
"Smells good, but sure would love to have a bit of rum to go with it," Jack remarked with a half grin. "Ye like rum now, don't ye?"
"Don't know. Never had any," Rafe responded still gazing at the fire.
"Never had any!" Jack reacted with great surprise. "Ye worked in a shipyard and n'er had any rum? Hmmm, I'm thinkin' there be a lot of things ye've n'er had." He eyed the young man closely with a mischievous grin and remarked, "Aye, I would even wager ye've never had ... uh, a girlfriend. Right?"
Jack narrowed his eyes and waited for Rafe to answer, but when the boy finally looked over at him, he just stared, visibly embarrassed by the question. Sensing the boy's discomfort over the topic of conversation, Jack wisely decided to leave it alone.
"Oops," he said under his breath and casually looked in the other direction.
Rafe stared back into the fire feeling a bit awkward with the captain for he truly respected him as a man and knew he meant well. Now feeling the need to unburden some of what he held inside, he decided to tell Jack a little about himself.
"Before I went to sea, I was once in love, Captain Sparrow, and actually betrothed. But one night my beloved was brutally murdered by a pirate, and that ended my dream and my will to live." He stared into the fire then looked at Jack as he continued. "My goal, sir, is to find that… man, that pirate pig, and avenge the senseless death of the one I loved and cherished. For me, there's nothing else, and I won't be stopped for I have long prepared for that purpose. I am bound by it, and need be, I will die for it. Believe me, Captain, I will have justice."
Just as Jack was about to respond, Rafe suddenly rose to his feet and turned away, but not before Jack noticed the glistening reflection of tears in the young man's eyes. Not quite expecting this, he did not know what to say, however just as he suspected, it was now apparent that Rafe's story of wanting to become a pirate was not exactly true. This Jack could understand, but he was really more affected by Rafe's personal tragedy. Of course, at some point in his own life Jack had felt some heartache and disappointment in love, but he had never cared for someone only to have that person taken away so brutally. Sensing some of Rafe's pain and having concern for him, Jack tried to offer some comfort in the only way he knew how.
"Who's the wretched scum that did this dastardly thing, for I'll gladly send 'm down and feed him to the sharks m' self!"
Having regained his composure Rafe took a few deep breaths, wiped tears away from his face, and slowly turned back to look at him, appreciative of the captain's caring remark. After a short pause he answered him.
"Joe Hooper."
Jack's mouth dropped open in shock and disbelief as he tried to grasp what Rafe had just said. Joe Hooper! He was indeed a murderous devil, feared by most people and for good reason. Other pirates even knew of his reputation and tried to stay clear of him. Joe Hooper. The name echoed in his mind. So this was why Rafe wanted to find him, and he thought back to the previous night and the wager.
By now Rafe had resumed looking after the fish and not really knowing what else to say to each other, the two men sat by the fire in total silence. After a few more minutes Rafe checked the fish again. Finding it done, he took the skewer and carefully laid the fish on a large, flat rock he had found and cleaned earlier. With his knife he cut into the fish, extracting as many bones as he could and pushed the fish meat to the side. He next picked up several large, green leaves he had collected, put them together, and very carefully laid some pieces of fish and mushrooms on them. Folding the leaves so the fish would not fall out, he handed it over to Jack. By this time the captain was famished and welcomed the savory fish by licking his lips. Rafe smiled and prepared another portion for himself. Jack ate like he had never eaten before and when he had finished, he put out his hand for more. Rafe was happy to oblige and quickly handed him another helping.
While Jack sat and ate, he thought this was the best he had eaten in some time. There was something about those strange, little leaves Rafe had ground up with stones and rubbed into the fish that really made it delicious, and the cooked mushrooms were also a tasty treat. Suddenly, a brilliant thought came to his mind. Why make the boy a pirate when he can be the ship's cook? Not that Gabe was a bad cook. He did his best, but, well yes, he was definitely lacking skill when it came to cooking. With Rafe as cook, life aboard the Black Pearl would certainly be a lot more bearable. Bored with the silence and feeling a bit restless, Jack finally stood up and went over to thank him for the food.
"That was very good eatin', young fella, aye, mighty good. I only wish we had some..."
"I know," Rafe interjected, "Rum! Uh, maybe you better get some water from the pool."
"Ah, good idea, mate," he replied with a toothy grin and turned to walk toward it.
While Rafe attended to the fish and fire, he heard a loud splash. Turning around he saw Jack floating around in the water. As he watched the captain, he laughed to himself musing over whether the captain had gotten enough water for one day. Curious, Rafe stood up and casually walked in the direction of the pool where to his surprise, he saw all of Jack's clothes lying on the ground in a nice little pile. With a sudden gasp, he looked at Jack in the water then quickly turned away, hopelessly shaking his head.
"Oh, this is just great," he murmured to himself.
"Come in, Rafe!" Jack yelled from the water. "Cool yourself down. After all, you've been cookin' by a hot fire."
"No thanks, Captain," he called back. "I already took a nice swim earlier this afternoon."
Rafe turned to look at the captain again and found him standing waist deep in the pool. He could not resist gazing at his chest and arms. Just then Jack shook his head like a wet dog, and water flew out of his hair in all directions. Rafe started to laugh hard, but when he saw Jack move to come out of the water, he quickly turned and hastened back to the fire.
While there was still light, Rafe searched the area for some more wood for the fire. He found some old branches and pieces of bark and laid them in a small pile near the flames. Now fully dressed Jack finally came back to the camp and after scanning the area, sat down and gazed at the fire. It was going to be a long night for sure, he thought, but he was even more concerned whether the fire and smoke would attract any unsavory sorts who might see it from afar. He frowned at that thought then changing his mood, looked up at Rafe.
"Well now, ain't this some excitin' evening?" he said sarcastically. "Not like an evening I remember many years ago in a place called Singapore. What a wild night that was! I had so much to drink, I couldn't tell if I was with one woman or three, but I didn't care. The more I drank, the better lookin' they got. Look! I got these from there." He pointed to some odd shaped baubles hanging in his hair.
Rafe looked at him from across the fire and saw the fire's light reflect off Jack's gold teeth. With his hair and his teeth, Rafe found it all very amusing and could not help but laugh to himself. Still he smiled and nodded his head in acknowledgement, wondering all the more about this strange man and his adventures.
"Say, Captain," he inquired with a grin as he sat down again. "How exactly did you get those gold teeth?"
"Well, my good man, that's a long, but interesting story. Let's just say I got m' self in a bit of trouble with the ladies on several occasions and got some teeth knocked out."
"What? You got punched in the mouth by some women?" Rafe could scarcely believe his ears and started to laugh. Jack rolled his eyes.
"No! Well, one actually did, but I deserved it. On another occasion, I kinda accidentally started a brawl over a woman, and in the middle of a bloody good fight, I got hit in the mouth with an elbow. And on another wild occasion, I was drinkin' at a table surrounded by Turkish dancin' girls and passed out hittin' m' face on the table."
"Sir, I think you need a nurse maid to watch over you and make sure you don't get into trouble or lose any more teeth," said Rafe shaking his head.
"Sure, as long as she fits certain specifications, which we… uh… won't go into at this time," Jack replied devilishly.
"Captain, I also noticed while you were in the water, you have a drawing of sorts on your right arm. What is that?"
"Aye, mate, ye've heard of a tattoo now, haven't ye?" Jack asked. "It's a picture of a bird, see?" He rolled up his sleeve to give Rafe a better look. "It's a bloody sparrow, like me. Say, I got another tattoo on m' lower backside. I got it one night in Madagascar. It's a picture of a snake. Here, I'll show ye." And he quickly jumped up to unbuckle his belt.
"No, Captain!" Rafe quickly cried. "That's not necessary! I believe you! Really, sir, please sit down! Please!"
With a puzzled look, Jack shrugged his shoulders and sat down again. After a few moments Rafe got up and walked over to sit closer to him where Jack had a chance to study the young man more seriously.
"You're quite an odd, little fellow, Rafe, but I like ye anyway. Sure would like to know 'bout that keepsake ye keep wrapped up in that wee pouch of yours. So, how 'bout a little peek… what d' ye say?"
Looking intently into the captain's dark eyes, then glancing downward to think for a moment, Rafe decided to show him the medallion. He liked Jack, and though he was a pirate of some sort, Rafe still felt the need to trust him at this time. Without saying a word, Rafe opened his pouch and carefully took out the cloth-covered treasure. Jack waited patiently with excited expectation while Rafe held the mysterious item in his hand and slowly removed the cloth. Jack's eyes suddenly widened when he saw the first glimpse of gold as it caught the light of the flickering fire. He stared at the beautiful medallion and became mesmerized by its imposing shape in the form of a dragon's head. What further caught his immediate attention was the fiery, green glow of the large emerald that was set as the dragon's eye. As he continued to stare at the emerald, sparkles of green light reflected the glow of the fire, and Jack longed to hold the treasure in his hands.
"This sure beats the last medallion I got involved with," he quietly said, remembering the doomed medallion made from Aztec gold. Moments later he frowned and with slight hesitation quietly asked, "It ain't cursed none, is it?"
Puzzled by the question Rafe looked at him and slowly shook his head. Jack gave a big sigh of relief just as Rafe closed his eyes and quietly chanted a few words. He was surprised by the boy's strange behavior and watched as Rafe began to gently rock back and forth. Soon Rafe lowered his head and raised his hands slowly out in front of him. As he did, the emerald's glow pulsated brighter. Confused and not quite knowing what was happening to the boy or the medallion, Jack remained still and waited patiently till Rafe slowly opened his eyes again then furtively looked around the area.
"Whoa, mate, are ye feelin' alright?" asked Jack a little nervously. "You were actin' a little woozy, and I know ye hadn't been hittin' the bottle, so what were ye doin' there?" He narrowed his eyes as he leaned closer to Rafe's face and sniffed. When finished, Jack looked at him with a small grin.
"Sorry, boy, just wanted to make sure."
"That's alright, Captain. I understand. I suppose what you saw me doing did look rather strange and suspicious, but I was actually concentrating on the Black Pearl and trying hard to focus mental energy to Mr. Gibbs so he would know where to come look for us." Rafe gave him a concerned look. "I sure hope it worked, sir, for we could really use some rescuing about now."
Jack leaned back trying to understand the boy's curious explanation about mental energy and watched as Rafe took in a deep breath and nervously looked around again.
"And we should be on alert as well," Rafe warned. "I sense we just might not be alone on this island."
Gibbs suddenly jerked his head and woke up from his little nap after having a strange dream about Jack and Rafe. He sat for a moment deep in thought and finally got up to go over and cool his face with a wet cloth, for though a slight breeze blew through the open windows, the room was still warm. The sun was already setting when he came out of Jack's quarters to gather the special team that would go in search of the captain and the boy. As the four men loaded up their weapons, ropes, water, and lanterns, Gibbs gave them their final instructions.
"Remember to stay sharp, men, stay together, and especially watch out for any uninvited guests. And don't get yerselves lost! Mind ye, I don't wanna have to send another group out to look fer you too!"
The men nodded their heads in agreement and confidently shook the first mate's hand. While the crew looked on, they quickly disembarked and climbed up a small hill. When they reached the top, they looked down on the Black Pearl once more and with a final wave turned to go into the woods.
"Good fortune, men, and God speed," Gibbs whispered to himself as he watched the last man disappear over the hill, wondering if they would indeed find Jack and Rafe.
The sails had been furled for the day and from where he stood at the near side of the ship, Gibbs could see the other crewmates finishing their daily duties. They were a good lot, these men. Hardly pirates at all, rather simple seamen. A group of misfits they were, young and old with no real family, coming together for one real purpose, to sail the seas in search of adventure and treasure, and even though they had been together for some time, Jack had treated them well and even became somewhat like a father to them. They were loyal, like family, and no one was going to break them up if they could help it, not even the likes of Hawk and his murderous band of cutthroats. With a swelling feeling of pride for the men, a small smile came to his face, and he turned to glance up at the hill once more.
"I pray ye be safe, Jack... and with the boy."
The marooned men continued to focus their attention on the golden medallion. Jack slowly reached out to touch it and though hesitant at first, Rafe finally allowed the captain to run his fingers along the golden edge of the dragon's shape but then pulled it away. Jack was still curious about it and could not understand how someone like Rafe, supposedly an orphan and just barely a man, came to have possession of such a treasure.
"Where did ye get that?" he inquired with a low voice. Rafe watched as Jack longingly stared at the medallion. After a moment he finally relented and let Jack hold it then turned to look into the crackling fire. Gathering his thoughts Rafe began to tell him about it.
"There's a place in a far off land where a small group of monks are known as the Order of the Dragon. For, as the dragon is a mystical and magical creature of great power and strength, it is their belief that in the heart of a righteous warrior dwells the spirit of this fiery and noble beast. So, as a man, or woman, strives to become one of the dragon's chosen warriors, he must prove himself worthy to receive the dragon's spirit, which can only be summoned by one who knows how and with this golden medallion. The individual must master certain skills in fighting, and more importantly, master his own spirit and self-awareness. He must know his purpose and endure endless hours of strenuous training and meditation, for without the strength of the mind and spirit, the body is a useless shell." Jack narrowed his eyes and listened as Rafe continued.
"Those who successfully pass special tests of skill and valor receive this medallion not only as confirmation of their achievement, but also of commitment to their eternal oneness with the dragon. As they go out into the world and confront evil, only with the medallion can the warrior hope to evoke the dragon's spirit and be empowered with its strength. The warrior will become one with the dragon, and evil will bow down at his feet and be vanquished."
Rafe turned to look at the captain who was still examining the medallion in his hand. After a few moments and realizing that Rafe had finished with his story, Jack looked at him and suddenly saw what he thought were lights sparkling in the boy's eyes. Startled and quickly blinking his own eyes a few times, Jack handed the medallion back, slapped his hands on his knees, and stood up to stretch his weary legs. Not knowing what to make of the story and after taking a quick look around the area, he looked down at the boy.
"Becoming one with a dragon. That's an amazing story, Rafe. Not bad fer an orphan from Brighton," he replied, though not sure what to believe. After a few moments, Rafe confessed.
"Sorry, Captain, I thought being a stowaway from Brighton to be more believable than what I just told you." Jack was relieved as things about the boy now began to make sense.
"Hmmmm. And women do this too?"
"It's not widely known in the outside world," he explained. "In fact, only one woman has ever attempted to achieve such a medallion, but after receiving it she left the Order rather quickly, and no one has heard from her."
"Aye, I betcha she's probably workin' in a sleazy, low-down tavern somewhere, cookin' and kickin' the butts of bloody rats, real ones or otherwise, eh," Jack replied with a laugh. "Probably using some of them… grassy things."
"Herbs, Captain," the boy nodded carefully putting the medallion away and standing up. "Everyone had to work for the benefit of all there, so it's quite possible her duties were in the kitchen; cooking and cleaning."
"Just like you today," Jack laughed and pointed a finger at him. "Say, Rafe, you and she rather got a lot in common."
"So it would seem, sir," he replied with a little smile.
"She must be some kind of woman, though," said Jack thoughtfully. "Be able to knock men out while servin' them up a great meal. Might just be worth the trouble, ye know, but even with all that, she's definitely my kind of woman!"
Rafe sat back down, and after putting his hand on the boy's shoulder Jack leaned down with a little smirk.
"Though she probably looks like a dog, too...right? And a large one at that!"
Rafe rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"No, Captain," he responded, "From what I heard she was no dog rather had long, dark hair and flashing, green eyes much like the dragon. A real lady I'm told, but also very powerful and deadly. A true warrior. Not someone to be messing with."
"Well, she wouldn't have taken much of a fancy to me, I reckon," Jack remarked jokingly as he straightened up again, "but I think I'll just dream of her anyway tonight. Aye…my very own…Dragon Lady."
"As you wish, Captain," Rafe chuckled, amused by the captain's foolish banter regarding the mysterious woman.
Jack sat down again, and the two men quietly looked into the fire. Rafe picked up a long stick from the pile of branches lying to the side and stoked the fire causing sparks to rise up in the air. The men watched as the small flickers of light quickly disappeared in the night air. After a few minutes of silence, Rafe turned to look at Jack.
"Why do men become pirates?" he inquired in a serious tone.
Still gazing at the fire, Jack thought a moment and slowly shook his head.
"Fer the same reasons that drive men to do anything, I reckon. Greed and…women."
"Women, sir?"
"Of course. Women can't help but be attracted to dark and dangerous men. We're a special breed of men, ye know, and give a woman the notion we need," Jack began to snicker, "redemption. Aye, they love that." He nudged Rafe with his elbow, and the boy gave him a dubious look. "Mark m' word!" Jack asserted. "If ye wanna attract a woman, be a bloody pirate! Now, if you were a woman, wouldn't ye be attracted to me? Honestly." Sticking out his chest, Jack gave him his best smile and waited as Rafe looked him over.
"Honestly, captain… no," the boy answered. Disappointed, Jack's smile turned into a frown. "So, what's the real reason?" Rafe asked again.
"Well, that was my reason," Jack replied. "Anyway, tis a fair question. I'd venture t' say most pirates are… disillusioned with life. Desperate men, indeed. They yearn fer treasure and freedom." Jack paused and thought for a moment, then added, "Ye know, boy, most pirates were once noble sailors of sorts. Aye, tis true. Mostly on them merchant ships or warships, like Gibbs. I guess fer a while that was fine but trust me, mate... there's no real wages or rewards, and it be a hard life to boot. At least piracy gives seafarin' men some hope fer a better life and, more importantly, a chance t' live on 'is own terms, savvy?"
"So, Captain, you're saying life as a pirate is rewarding?" Rafe concluded.
"Aye, tis fair t' say, 'specially with luck on yer side," Jack replied. "But make no doubt. As with anythin' else, it ain't always good. Life can be brutal and short fer the likes of us. There be always the risk of capture by the British and a short, quick, neck-snappin' drop from the gallows." Jack made a hand gesture of himself hanging from a rope.
Rafe nodded his head as Jack continued.
"And of course, there be much competition in these waters, as ye just found out. However, ne'er forget… we're all brothers under the same bloody banner, m' boy. Ye know, always lookin' fer ships with treasure. Any ship! Spanish ships loaded with silver and gold, or them large ships from France or England with all their rich, fancy goods. And, if ye're lucky, there be always the slight chance of chasin' down a ship from the Barbary Coast loaded with gold and ivory." Jack grinned and leaned over toward him with a gleam in his eye. "Aye, Rafe, but also remember this... it's all fer the takin'… fer those who know how to take."
Rafe thoughtfully stared at him for a few moments until Jack finally spoke up again.
"Ye seem to have something else on yer mind, boy, so go ahead and ask, while I'm still in an answerin' mood." Rafe swallowed hard in search of the right words.
"Have you or your men ever killed anyone?" he asked hesitantly yet boldly as he was determined to know the answer.
Not quite expecting that question, Jack looked at him for a long moment then turned to look at the fire perplexed and noticeably uncertain as to how to reply. He then remembered something from a previous conversation with the boy.
"I see where this is comin' from... Joe Hooper! Well, I can tell ye, as sure as the wind blows, by reputation pirates are a vicious and violent lot, and attacks on people frequently come with torture and killin'. So why would anyone think differently of me or m' crew?"
"I want to think differently about you and the crew!" Rafe said harshly. "So please answer the question! I really need to know." Surprised by his tone, Jack tried to be tactful.
"Well, then the answer is yes, but we don't kill fer the sport of it. And don't get me wrong either. I will and have killed to protect m' self, as have m' men. The Pearl's been in several battles at sea, and naturally we've taken lives, but we're not cutthroats that plunder towns and poor, innocent people. But havin' that reputation does help when goin' after treasure ships. We honor the illusion and fear it brings, but just don't be tellin' people that Captain Jack Sparrow is less than his legend."
"Legend? So, do whatever's necessary for the sake of your legend? Well, of course that would be important to you," the boy responded sarcastically.
"Aye, it is. Especially if we're goin' to be successful in our trade as pirates," Jack replied emphatically feeling a little agitated by Rafe's attitude. "Now, if ye don't mind, that's all I care to say 'bout the matter."
"Very well, Captain," Rafe replied and stood up. "Just know that I've come to respect you and the others because I felt you were good and honorable men." Jack gave him a dubious look. "Yes, good and honorable men!" Rafe continued. "And even though you call yourselves pirates and apparently have spent time raiding other ships, it would've been difficult for me being a part of this crew and caring about all of you just to find out I had misjudged you. Please understand, Captain, that in view of my present circumstances, I had to know the truth."
Jack furrowed his brow. The question itself did not bother him, only the fact that Rafe even thought to ask him such a thing. He did not care to have his integrity questioned, though he understood why the boy dared to inquire about such a thing. Rafe walked over to the small pile of branches and put a few more in the fire. A cool breeze had begun to blow in from the sea, and the warmth of the fire felt good on his face. Jack moved a little closer to the flames as well and stared into them. While doing so he idly felt around for some sticks and casually tossed them into the fire one at a time. The next stick he picked up was clammy and limp. He curiously looked at it and to his surprise, saw a small scaly, black lizard hanging from its tail with its head reared up and tongue sticking out of its large gaping mouth. Remembering his encounter with a giant-sized lizard in Morocco, Jack shrieked and quickly threw the hissing creature into the fire, where upon hitting the hot flames it immediately scampered into the nearby bushes. Startled by Jack's outburst, Rafe quietly chuckled when he saw the lizard run from the fire. With his hand on his heart, Jack regained his composure and concentrated his thoughts on returning to the Pearl for he always felt vulnerable on land and needed the feel of his ship and the motion of the sea.
Jack looked over at Rafe and was glad he was with him, and although he had been irritated with him earlier, the boy had a right to know where he stood on some issues. Jack thought how naive he too had been at that age about so many things, but that changed once he became a pirate, forever losing that innocence of youth and seeing the world in a whole, new perspective. The wood crackled loudly, and Jack's attention returned to the fire, gazing into it as sparks occasionally burst out from the flames.
"So tell me, Captain," Rafe finally spoke up after several silent moments. "Have you had any great adventures? What about the stories that made you a legend? Surely there's more to being a pirate than just drinking rum and being chased by the British."
Rafe walked back to where Jack sat to better hear his reply. Jack smiled and continued to look into the fire. Every day brought a new adventure to him. Wherever the sea and wind took him, unusual and exciting experiences were always waiting to embrace him. Some adventures were better than others; some more dangerous, some more thrilling, some more challenging, yet they all left him with some greater knowledge of life, some enlightenment of himself.
"My adventures?" Jack turned to look up at him. "Let's see. There's the time I was dead, and the time I was a skeleton. How 'bout the time I was a dancin' girl or tied up o'er a hot fire?"
Rafe stared at him in amazement and sat down to listen to the captain talk about each one, delighting in Jack's ability to use his wit and escape death time after time. When finished, Jack paused to reflect fondly on the memory of his tales then looked again at the fire wondering if his next adventure had already begun pitting him against Hawk with the boy caught in the middle.
"I see ye're still cooking twigs," Jack chuckled, thinking about the other day when he first met the boy. Rafe remembered as well and smiled back at him.
"Seems I'm good at that."
Jack agreed. Suddenly Rafe heard a muffled sound, and his eyes caught the slight movement of something in the bushes just beyond the captain's shoulders. Not sure if anything was there at all yet not wanting to alarm Jack if it was nothing, Rafe slowly stood up, then moved to the other side of the fire and waited. He narrowed his eyes and instinctively focused his hearing for any more unusual noises, preparing himself for any sudden movement or attack. Jack noticed the changed look in the boy's demeanor and stood up to see what he was looking at.
Without warning a man then another came bursting through the bushes. Jack's eyes widened in shock as the first man rushed toward him. Not having a weapon, he picked up a burning branch in an effort to keep the attacker at bay and swung it back and forth in front of him. When the flame started to wane, he threw the branch at the man and kicked sand in his eyes. Stepping back, the man stopped to rub them, but yelled out in pain after Rafe quickly booted him in the small of the back. The man hit the ground as the other one flung himself at Rafe with a loud, bellowing cry. In a quick, graceful maneuver, Rafe stepped to the side, and hit the man hard across the back of the neck as he charged by. He also dropped to the ground with a loud thud, while Rafe straightened up before him and readied himself for the next attack.
While waiting for him to recover, Rafe quickly glanced over at Jack just as his attacker got up and began a round of punches. Jack took a blow to the face causing him to stumble allowing the man to grab him from behind with an arm around his throat. Struggling to free himself, Jack soon felt the man's hold on him relax as he promptly dropped down to his knees. Jack looked around and saw that Rafe had again slammed the man full force in the back. Wincing in pain, the intruder turned toward the boy just as the other one stood up, and together they cornered him in between them.
Not waiting for them to strike first, Rafe jumped in the air and immediately kicked one man in the face with his boot, then caught the other with a kick to the groin. Jack tottered to the side quite out of breath and watched as Rafe took the two men down. Still amazed at the strength and skill of the little guy, he remembered what Rafe told him earlier about the medallion. Knowing he had been trained for such fighting, Jack therefore felt confident the boy could take care of himself. He was about to go over and check on him when suddenly a third man flew out of the bushes toward Rafe. He had also been watching and after seeing Rafe kick and punch his friends, he too decided to jump in the fray. Jack was startled for the man had waited some time before making his presence known, and Jack had assumed only two men were involved with the attack. As the man snarled and frantically lunged at the boy, Rafe stepped back just as the others recovered and slowly got up off the ground. With the three ruffians now surrounding him and grabbing at him, Rafe continued to punch, jab, and kick them, sending them down again and again. The men took a beating, however fighting in the sand caused Rafe to lose his balance and momentum at times. He quickly began to weaken. When they still rose up again to attack him, Rafe looked for Jack on the side and called out to him.
"I could use a little help, Captain!"
Jack looked around and upon finding a large rock, came up behind one of the men and with a crashing blow to the head, instantly knocked him to the ground. Taking no notice of their fallen mate, the others continued to focus their attention on Rafe. Jack meanwhile turned the wretch on his back and immediately searched his pockets. There he found a small bag of coins and to his delight, a flask of rum. He warily looked around, raised the flask to his mouth, and drank it. After throwing the empty flask away, he put the coins in his pocket and turned to take on another intruder. By this time Rafe had succeeded in disabling the other two men. As they lay unconscious at his feet, the boy took a few wobbly steps and slowly slumped down on the ground exhausted. Jack searched the other two men and found some more coins and more importantly, another flask of rum. He smiled at his good fortune and staggered over to Rafe to offer him a drink. Thinking it was water the boy reached for the flask and took a quick swallow. Immediately he began to choke and cough.
"Easy, son," Jack said as he patted the boy on the back and finished the last of the rum himself. He finally walked around to each of the three men and shook his head as he tried to recognize who they were.
"I don't know any of these scoundrels," he admitted. "Perhaps they were somewhere else on the island and saw our fire."
Rafe gave him a weak nod then suddenly gasped as several more men came through the bushes from the other side of the camp. Jack was also startled and jumped back in alarm but then heard a familiar voice.
"Cap'n… Cap'n Sparrow! It's me, sir... Jonesy."
Jack let out a long, deep sigh then closing his eyes, slumped down on the ground next to Rafe. Finally able to relax and breathe again, the two exhausted men watched as the four men from the Black Pearl came forward and greeted them. They tied up the attackers using rope they had brought with them and left them where they lay. Rafe and Jack swallowed water provided for them and when they had rested enough and regained their strength, the crew doused out the fire. They started back for the ship following the same route they had used to get there. This allowed them to make good time, and Jonesy was grateful they had already cleared a wide path on the way over. With lit lanterns they quickly walked, mostly in silence not knowing if other stragglers were still on the island and after an hour finally saw the distant lights of the Black Pearl through the trees. Once they were back and safely on board the ship, Gibbs took a few moments to talk to Jack in his quarters.
"Feels great to be back on m' ship, Mr. Gibbs." Jack sighed as he sat in his chair and propped up his feet. "Good work, my friend. Ye kept her and the crew safe for me. Also, thanks fer comin' back fer us. True as death, I wasn't sure we'd still be alive."
"Just doing m' job, Captain," replied the first mate.
"And how's the boy?" asked Jack as he leaned way back in his chair.
"He's well by the looks of it and seems content t' be back on the Pearl. Says ye saved him from those scugs. But what I'd like to know is how ye escaped from Hawk in one piece?" Gibbs slowly shook his head. "Can't believe ye managed to slip away. I dare say, I thought ye be a goner this time, Jack, though I always think that when ye're at death's door."
"As do I, Mr. Gibbs, though tis way too long a story to tell now," Jack responded with a grimace as he began to feel some aches and pains from his ordeal. "And I'm way too tired to think about anything other than sleep. I just wanna close m' eyes and hope that the mornin' favors us with fair winds for Gilley's Rock... again."
"Very well, Jack, rest well and… welcome back," Gibbs said as he left the cabin and headed to the lower deck.
"Bloody good to be alive," Jack mumbled to himself and reached for his bottle of rum. He found it almost empty except for one last swig and wondered why. Too tired to dwell on it, he walked over to his table and splashed some water on his face, then took off his shirt and leaned over to blow out a candle. He closed his weary eyes thinking how good it felt to stretch out. Better yet, he still had the taste of rum in his mouth. He smiled, happy to have survived the day. He thought of Rafe and his mysterious gold medallion, the things he did on the Raven and at the beach. He thought about the Order of the Dragon and about her, the Dragon Lady. With a preconceived vision of her in his mind, Jack fell asleep. In his dream he smelled the aroma of a large piece of meat roasting over a fire and heard the sound of tinkling chimes gently blowing in a breeze. A young, dark-haired woman appeared to turn the meat, and when she looked at him he caught a brief glimpse of seductive, green eyes gazing at him through long, dark eyelashes.
In a lower part of the ship, Rafe lay in his hammock thinking of Jack and the day's events. He was frustrated that he had not been successful when he had the opportunity to confront Hawk and Hooper, but he had no choice and certainly did not regret his decision to save the captain. He also wondered if he had been foolish to reveal to him the secret information surrounding the medallion, but it was done now, and in the morning they would set sail for Gilley's Rock. He needed time now to rethink and modify his strategy regarding Jack as a means to get to Joe Hooper, and he would do that once they finally got to the town. He did not have a new strategy in mind yet knew his goal had been compromised by his brief encounter with Joe on the Raven. Joe now knew who he was and what he could do. The element of surprise would no longer be in his favor, and adjustments would have to be made. For now however, Rafe just wanted to get some sleep. It had been a very hard and strenuous day and fighting Hawk's men and those on the island had exhausted him. At last he closed his eyes and soon began to think about strong arms and tattoos, and within a few moments he also fell asleep.