Chapter 4

Five Souls and One Lunacy

Beckett opened his eyes and found himself chained with scotch to a chair. Ms. Crumplebottom was lying nearby. "So, here we are. If Swann and Norrington are not here, I think that's their handiwork. Now it's useless to scream, right?" – He tried to, but mouth was carefully stuck with that damned scotch. "Chairman of EITC mustn't sink so low as to moo like a pregnant cow. Let's wait for my charming wife and her insane admirer. "

He didn't have to wait for a long time. Grinding of key was heard and the company burst into the room. "It's better to pretend asleep or my life will be cut down greatly." – To be convincing, he even began to snore, though it was pretty unpleasant with scotchful mouth.

"Parasite! He has done his best to spoil everything and even dare to be fast asleep! What are we doing now? Running away to Singapore! James, it's not the best way to avoid justice!"

"Honey, we're not criminals. I told Mr. Crumplebottom that his sister wanted to have a world tour. Pretend, he even gave me rather large sum of money to maintain that overgrown woman."

"It's not tour, but tourne of roaming circus! And we can't even shake off these clowns! One of them is my greatest-great-grand-daughter's husband. Lord Beckett, pluralize. I have double mind also. I want you to decide: will you bear us one more time? I know that Beckett and I are a pain in neck to you. But please, only for a few…well, not days; months…even years in the last resort…"

"Elizabeth, I recognized you completely at last. As hundreds of years before, I'm with you till the end." – James said it with such inspiration, that even Beckett twitched and fell on the floor embracing chair. – "And even your mad "husband" won't stop me"

"There's a problem, actually. You know, Will is immortal. Before death I asked him to prolong my life and yours one…on condition that your memory will be erased. But there must be a ransom…"

"Liz, did you ask him to give a bribe to…heaven? My noble pirate, I know why I love you."

"James! Hell must make one soul to suffer forever, but on the Earth. They don't do it for free, so the price was rather expensive for its owner. First time Will was asked to present "Flying Dutchman". But the soul of anybody must suffer, and he gave them Beckett's collection of wigs. Three hundred sixty five wigs, for every day. All colours and styles. Devils were very happy. The soul was punished, and heaven agreed to give a birth to you one more time. After your death punished soul could even live in paradise. But even at the bottom of the sea Beckett was disturbed. So…"

"Bastards! I hate you all! Even in hell I can't have a rest! I deserve to suffer, but why have you given them my wigs?! Ah, tell your husband that I'll kill him in the afterlife." – Beckett had gnawed scotch and screamed wildly.

"Which husband? Mine or Ashley's one? Don't forget, you are talking not only to me." – Elizabeth couldn't help laughing. – "Cutler, don't be so nervous. Just look at yourself in the mirror – you won't be indifferent."

But James still looked rather puzzled and disappointed:

"Elizabeth, I understand that my memory is not erased. But what about my life in general? Beckett isn't serving a sentence, but lives like others…like me."

"Honey, I forgot to tell you…If your memory were erased, everything would be fine. But now…Beckett and you have a bond. While one of you is alive, so is another one. That's why he's still here; not because I spare that geek Green." – Lizzi forgot about Ashley…

"Geek? Granny, you can't say so! He's my husband, and I love him! Don't even dare to flirt with Richardson!"

"Norrington, actually."

"Sorry for interrupting, but she's MY wife. And she isn't allowed to flirt either with Richardson or Norrington." – At last Jack made his presence known.

"Remember your behavior the day before. Don't you know that woman?" – Elizabeth grinned and pointed at Crumplebottom, who had awakened and was gazing at them all in fright.

"I did it, not Jack. And thanks to it you all have money. Where's your gratitude? Or shall I be embracing this chair till the last judgement?"

"Sure, you will, sweetheart."

James looked at the whole company and sighed with tiredness. It turned out that he was the only reasonable person in this floating asylum. But Beckett couldn't calm down:

"Where're the tourists? Or Ms. Swann…sorry, Mrs. TURNER decided to feed sharks?"

"Mr. Beckett…"

"LORD Beckett, Norrington."

"Lord Beckett, it's none of your concern. Be silent – and maybe you'll be given freedom."

Elizabeth smiled and whispered in Norrington's ear:

"That's really interesting. Where're they?"

"I didn't know what to do and told them that the whole group had to stay in some city. I gave them money to live down my absence. But they wanted more, so…"

"Let me guess, you found guilty though guiltless? Isn't it Beckett, James?"

"Well" – Norrington blushed and began to scrutinize his toes – "He left me no choice after yesterday's events had taken place. And some of the passengers hate him even more than I. But don't tell him now; at least he has some time to find such enormous sum. I won't give him Crumplebottom's money."

Beckett yawned and asked helplessly:

"Are you going to release me at last?"