Chapter 4 – The Slimy Old Cur
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Dawn had caught up quite swiftly with the Black Pearl. The Grimness certainly enjoyed her competitive advantage in the dead of night; her black exterior blended flawlessly with the sea and never ceased to surprise its unsuspecting prey with a ravenous roar of cannon fire.
As the bright rays of morning began to ravage her glistening blackened decks, a strong, morning gust of wind proceeded to life to the Pearl's limp sails.
Captain Hector Barbossa was the first to awaken that morning, having too much on his mind to be concerned about the proper amount of sleep.
Placing his large black hat upon his head, he pushed open the cabin's large French doors, proceeding out onto the Pearl's sun-drenched deck, letting his thoughts wander towards the early morning horizon. He thought of how much he truly regretted neglecting to place a more watchful eye on Jack, who had taken the sacred map from beneath his nose. At the same time, he had taken Jack's precious Pearl from under his - unknowingly trading one precious possession for another.
'I've been a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a lord. I've had me ups an' downs an' each time I find meself on the upside, that damn Sparrow tricks me into fallin' flat on me face,' Barbossa thought, although he had picked himself up from the ground, he still could not help but feel the anger of being outsmarted, yet again.
Running his fingers through his beard, he came to realization that he had spent the past four days painstakingly searching for Jack, sailing from port to port in the attempt to catch up to the young rogue, knowing that he was falling behind.
Barbossa turned to the direction of his cabin, returning to his black chart table, unrolling the remnants of the old map that he obtained in Singapore, still in disbelief. He rubbed the deep wrinkles on his forehead, taking a swig of rum from a half empty bottle on the table, slamming it back down in aggravation. The large hole cut out in the center infuriated him more and more each time he laid his eyes upon it.
He grabbed an apple from a large bowl of fruit on the table, taking a longing breath of fresh sea air. Jack the Monkey joined him on his shoulder, giving Barbossa a comforting smile as he returned Jack's sentiments by softly caressing his tail.
High up atop the crow's nest, Marty cupped his hands to his mouth and called. "Sail ho!"
Barbossa moved toward the rail, extending his spyglass into the distance, catching a glimpse of a white ship on the horizon; the sun radiated off its glossy exterior. He smiled, closing the spyglass and placing it back into his pocket. He had a feeling he would be catching up with Jack Sparrow faster than he had anticipated.
"All hands! Prepare to come about ye scabrous dogs!"
Jack had no idea that Hector Barbossa was a few miles away, preparing to board his newly acquired ship. Murtogg and Mullroy failed to spot the Pearl their bow, seeing that they had preoccupied themselves with conversations of preposterous pirate superstitions.
As the Black Pearl drew near, Murtogg and Mullroy's heated discussion was suddenly interrupted by a loud rumble. The two men looked at one another, and quickly found that the rumble was caused by two dozen cannons firing as one.
Jack had awoken to a loud and violent shake in his cabin. A cannon ball had been fired through his window, sprinkling fine shards of glass violently about the room.
"Bloody hell!" Jack yelped, jumping out of bed to avoid the heap of sharp glass shooting toward him. He slowly peeked over the edge of the mattress, spotting a black main sail and rudder floating gracefully passed his window. He recognized the sound of those cannons; it could only be one thing – The Pearl.
"Not good!" he confirmed, running out of from behind the velvet curtain, colliding head-first into Murtogg and Mullroy on the way out.
"Captain!" Murtogg exclaimed breathlessly "The Black Pearl! She's on us!"
"I can see that!" Jack's eyes widened. He knew he could not match the Pearl's cannons or hand to hand combat, especially not with this crew. His hand grazed over the rolled up map in his pocket. Jack smiled, which frightened and relieved Murtogg and Mullroy at the same time.
"Gents, there's no need to fret, we've got something that Hector needs … And as I've said, I'm not ready to part ways with it just yet."
Jack pushed the two men aside, swaggering confidently toward the door. Murtogg and Mullroy followed their self-assured captain hesitantly out on deck where Hector Barbossa and his crew stood, awaiting Jack to grace them with his presence.
"Jack Sparrow, is this the best ye can do? Commandeering boats that belong to little girls? I'm surprised yer sails aren't pink!" Barbossa laughed followed by a roar of laugher behind him, originating from Jack's former crew.
"Hector! Well, isn't it fancy seeing you here, mate. I didn't think you'd be able to find me, what with old age starting to take its course and all," Jack stated, propelling his arms forward, smiling happily at Barbossa.
Jack demeanor caused a feeling of uncertainty to arise within Barbossa's mind; uneasiness brewed within the pit of his stomach.
"It was only four days ago that you sailed away with my ship," Jack said, turning his attention over to the Black Pearl. "And now you're here to claim another one, I suppose?"
"Jack, I don't know what yer talkin' about. That be my ship that yer lookin' at," Barbossa replied coolly taking a few steps toward Jack.
Jack studied his former crew, feeling an overwhelming uncertainty within each of the men. It was as if they were united with both him and Barbossa, but could not choose a captain between the two.
"Jack ye have something that belongs to me, and I'd like to have it back. Now, if you'd be so kind as to hand it over and there won't be any need of inflictin' pain on ye and yer crew," Barbossa stated, smiling as he extended his hand to Jack, waiting to feel the map's smooth presence upon his skin.
Jack returned a smile to his former first mate. "Captain Barbossa, I have no idea what you could possibly be speaking of. Last time I checked, this would be my map, but if you're willing to follow me terms it can be our map. I've got some interesting information that would benefit me, er… us." Jack leaned into Barbossa and spoke almost as soft as a whisper.
'He has something up his sleeve,' he thought skeptically. 'What that something might be, is of no importance at this moment.' He had been sailing for days, feeling life slip away from his fingertips. What he wanted now more than ever was his right to immortality and Jack had his ticket.
"Allow me the humor of listenin' to yer terms," Barbossa agreed skeptically.
"Of course, Hector. Shall we speak privately in my cabin?" he offered.
Barbossa nodded, growling as he walked past Jack towards his cabin. Jack followed, shutting the doors to the cabin behind them.
Barbossa sat at the table in the center of the room and propped up his feet on another chair. "Jack, what kinda game are ye playin'? What's this information I need to be knowin' about?"
Jack traced the bulge of the map under his coat, thinking about the rumor Murtogg and Mullroy had told him about the god who guards the fountain. Jack reached inside his coat pocket and slowly pulled out the map, setting it in the middle of himself and Barbossa.
"It seems to me that his elusive little map here does not lead us directly to what we want," Jack began.
"What are ye sayin', Jack?"
"Have you ever heard of the tales of a guardian of sorts that has been put in the command of the Fountain of Youth?" Jack uncorked two bottles of rum and handed one to Barbossa.
"Aye Jack, I've heard the tale but I never understood it to be true. The heathen gods sent forth one person – a poor, young soul, to drink from the fountain for their own personal gain. Ye be thinkin' this map will be leadin' us to this person rather than the fountain itself?"
"That is exactly what I be thinking, Hector. And if that notion happened to be true, then we'll be needing to find a way to drink from it with their godly approval. Unless, of course, we intend on stealing a drink rather than earning it," he proposed, feeling a devilish smirk dance across his lips.
Jack slowly turned the dials of the map, showing Barbossa the depiction of the large black goblet.
"My terms, Barbossa, are very simple. You and I tag team together in the quest of finding this guardian. You will be taking the Grimness as your flagship, of course, while I take the lead with the map on this ship. I will be needing a proper crew members of course, and by the looks of it, you seem to have more than enough on the Pearl."
"Once we reach La Florida, we befriend the person that the map leads us to and convince old-what-his-face to lead us to fountain," Jack continued, sounding very pleased with his plan.
"Jack, ye think it be that easy – playing with the gods is no laughin' matter," Barbossa spoke gravely.
"Who's laughing here, mate? I'm as serious as they come. Have you forgotten who I am?" Jack took another swig of rum and set it down on the table, waiting for Barbossa's answer.
"Aye, I know who ye be."
"So, do we have an accord, Captain Barbossa?'
Barbossa rolled his eyes, standing up to lean over the map with both hands on the table. He grabbed the bottle of rum that was resting next to his hand and took a good, long swig.
Barbossa had heard tales of the guardian, but he was not sure that Jack fully understood the complications that could arise if they decided to continue on with such a journey.
"Aye, Jack. We have an accord."
The two men exited Jack's cabin to find Pintel and Ragetti with their ears attached to the door. Their crew was eavesdropping in on their private conversation.
Barbossa glared at Jack and the incompetent duo. "Ye can have them two, the mute and the little one. I keep the rest. Oh, and we picked up a stowaway on Tortuga ye might be needin' since the 'First Mate' position already be filled on my ship."
Jack watched as his good friend, Joshamee Gibbs, appear from amidst the crowd of men.
"Cap'n!" Gibbs said excitedly, hobbling over to Jack with a grand smile on his face.
"Mister Gibbs, it seems as though I'm in need of your assistance on my vessel," Jack confessed, smiling at his First Mate. "Will you be willing to brave another journey under my command?"
"Aye Cap'n! Can't imagine it any other way! Do we have a heading, sir?" Gibbs inquired, excitedly.
Jack looked down at his compass and scanned the map for a few moments. The needle of the compass locked into place, steadily pointing towards the north-east.
"Gentlemen, we have our heading!" he stated confidently, looking about as the group of men crowded around him.
"Well? What are you lot waiting for? Mr. Marty! Brace the foreyard and take your post up on the crow's nest!" he ordered.
"Pintel! Ragetti! Trim those sheets and fasten the clews on yards of the lower topsail!"
"Murtogg and Mullroy! Secure the gaskets!"
"Master Gibbs! See to it that Captain Barbossa and the remainder of his crew return to the Pearl somewhat unharmed."
"Mr. Cotton, for the love of God, please make me something to eat - I'm starving."
Jack took his spot at the helm, once again looking down at his compass for reassurance. He looked out into the darkening horizon and smiled to himself. His plan was working.