The voice came from the end cell, the one I was next to. Moonlight poured its silver glow through the portholes and, with a shuffle, the owner of the words revealed himself from the shadows. A handsome face, dark eyed, high cheek-boned, sun-tanned face appeared to me. With unusual facial hair, long dread-locks and a bandana holding it all off his face, I'd certainly never associated with a man like him before. But I was certain that he was another pirate. Was he a jailed member of the crew or a captured enemy?
Shocked by the revelation of my neighbour, I stared open-mouthed. He watched me back and tilted his head curiously, "A girl with sense would have played along with his homemaking routine. What brings you to the brig?" His voice was smooth, confident. Looking him up and down as he sat in the moons beam, the yellow glow of the lanterns barely contributing to my vision; he wore just a baggy light shirt beneath his long unfastened dark coat, with a V down to his waist exposing his bare chest. I could not see, clearly, his breeches, but I could make out the knee-high, handsome but rather shabby boots he wore. A hat sat beside these boots, simply.
"I tried to drown him in my bath water." I stated plainly, still studying him. I feared him not, we had bars separating us and from what I gathered we shared a common enemy.
"Sounds charming," he grinned crookedly and crept closer to the bars. He was not near enough for me to move away just yet but I became wary, "Perhaps I should be asking questions of greater import, but why, pray tell young lass, had you bathwater to occupy." There seemed to be a suggestion of scandalous behaviour and this I could not condone. We had barely spoken!
"I was covered in dirt and my own vomit and I would thank you kindly, pirate, that you not insinuate such vile things! I want to go home! Away from you horrible creatures and this never-ending bedpan of nothingness that we're floating on!"
Silently contemplating my words, it was a few moments before he spoke, "Interesting."
Then neither of us spoke. This went on for some time. It was I who decided to set aside my fuming displeasure at the whole situation and speak again, "Why are you here?"
Holding his head high, petulantly, he replied, "Seeing as that is hardly any of your concern, I'd rather not disclose such information… but as you took the time to ask, I make many friends but seem to make twice as many enemies. I have gotten on the wrong side of the lord of the manor upstairs," he waved nonchalantly to the air, "more than once. It all began with a girl and ended with… well a girl actually. We crossed paths recently and he… got the better of me and here we are."
I slumped back,"Here we are…"
He slumped back"May I know your name?"
"I do not see why not, pirate though you are." Waiting for a reaction from him, I got only a smirk, "It is Flora. Cultarga."
"Ah, so he found you." The pirate murmured, before I could ask him what he knew, I was cut across, a cunning smile spreading across my acquaintances face "Pleased to meet you, young Miss. I am Captain Jack Sparrow, perhaps you've heard of me."Shaking my head timidly, he shuffled peevishly, "Your island's a bit out of my way."
As I began an amused retort, eye brow cocked questioningly, there was a clanging followed by scurrying feet of the steps to the brig. The dozing fool who guarded us seemed to rise promptly. Jack remained where he was, calm and collected. I flinched at the ruckus and crawled to the barred cell door to get a better look of who had come down, fearful that it was that blasted Maurier.
"Right, your shifts over, time to get to actual work." I knew the voice from the instance. It was the nameless member of the trio who had captured me, with the shaven head and cratered complexion. The nasty, vicious one. Never could I forget such a feral, cruel voice. Hardly a leader, but the authority in his voice struck a discomfort in my heart.
"All right, Jewell. Been no mischief of yet. Watch that Sparrow, won't put past him to meddle with her." Said the other, drowsily.
"Through bars? Sure you would have heard that meddlin' Harris." Jewell sneered in reply, a cackle upon his lips. There was an exchange of keys that interrupted the conversation briefly.
"No, no. No. The head meddlin', I half a mind to believe that his quiet means that he be thinking. Thinking means planning."
"Stupid you are. Nothing gets by me." There was scuff of feet on the floor boards, coming towards our cells, it was only the pair. I hurried back from the bars, to the shadows in the corner, repelled by his approach. Harris had remained where he was, readying himself to leave, "Shall plant myself here. That should put them off any mischief. Physical or otherwise." This time, Jewell outright cackled, a sound like gravel scraping upon cobble stones.
No response came from the other, all I heard were footsteps sluggishly retiring up the stairs. Jewell reached our cells, coming to a halt outside mine. Peering in, like an excitable child at a bird menagerie, he was close enough to hear the wheezing of his breath.
Jack broke the silence.
"She doesn't do tricks." He was getting to his feet, watching the others every move.
"That's what you think Sparrow." Jewell smirked, "You didn't see what she got up to in the Captains quarters. Dark horse, she is." A dirty chuckle followed.
Jack approached the bars, leaning nonchalantly on the iron and reflected on what he had said, "Knowing your reputation, Jewell, you'd like to try her. Just the same as ever. Have you considered perhaps asking a woman before you-"
The bald-headed fiend moved fast, despising the questioning and went for Jacks throat, reaching through the bars, snarling like a rabid dog. "You don't know what you say. I take what I needs, I give what women deserve and my business is nothing to do with you." He was choking Sparrow through the bar, who was gurgling unpleasantly and grasping weakly at Jewells shirt front.
Thrusting him away at last, Jack clung to the bars with one hand for support, collapsing to his knees and with his other hand rubbing his neck, coughing feebly. There was a fury burning in those dark eyes but he said no more.
"Nice try Sparrow." At first I didn't understand what he meant but then Jewell held the cell keys up mockingly, "Like I said, nothing gets by me. Tis an old trick,'s'pected better from ye." Returning to my cell, he scratched absently at his uneven skin. I became aware that I should be afraid. Having Jacks company had allowed my fears to, at least, subside. He was a pirate, and oh how I hated pirates, but there was a comradeship, a common ground that allowed my barrier to fall. We had to stick together. And now he was wounded, left weak and useless. Jewell could do anything and not be disturbed by Jack. Jack had failed.
"Maybe he was right," Jewell spoke softly, "I know what I like. And you're not the captains favourite now. Why, he can replace you just as soon as we finish business in Tortuga…"
"No." I pleaded, "You, all of you, keep saying this. Then why didn't Maurier throw me overboard. Yes, perhaps I can be replaced. But not without struggles. I am sure the Captain does not want me… meddled with."
It appeared that perhaps I was right; my blind excuses may have called their bluff. There was hesitation, and I rose, treading cautiously towards him. I did not feel brave but confidence would help me sell my cause, "Jewell – May I call you Jewell? – I would like to apologise to the Captain-"
"He won't come." He interjected swiftly.
"Then I shall go to him?"
"He won't permit you."
"Then I will send him a message."
"He won't accept it."
Talking was proving a distraction, but I prayed that my warning was effective "Whatever shall I do then. I wish to repair the bridge between the Captain and I. If I-"
"Oh quiet you blithering fool." Jewell cried, exasperated, "The Captain don't want you, and neither do we." I knew this statement was due to my threats, amused how he had to turn it around, "You can sit here till we drop anchor in Tortuga. Then Captain will know what to do with ya. He wants ye here, so ye stay here." A malicious grin spread across his ugly, displeasing face, " Tis a shame, seems I have to wait to try posh totty." Snorting at his own words, he wandered off gradually up the walkway.
Coming to a halt, he hooked the chair at the end, by the stairs, with his foot and kicked it ahead of him, making his way back to us until it was directly facing between our cells. Sitting with a heavy thud on the chair, he reached into his pockets and retrieved a knife from one and a small block of wood from the other. Above the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the ship, the groaning of the vessel itself and the creaking of the sparse, metal lanterns above him, the only other noise came from Jewell as he whittled away. He spoke no more.
I returned to the back corner of my cell and slid to the floor, dejectedly. Exhausted and agitated, I had to remind myself of the small success that had just occurred. Jack crawled to where I was but did not shuffle to my corner, unwilling to catch the attention of our jailer. Being there, in that gloomy place, where the floor and walls were constantly damp, with only straw to soften the hard angles, I was aware that Jack was watching me. Our best chances of survival lay in Tortuga and I hoped he knew that. To escape Mauriers clutches, I would need him although I hated to admit it.
Fortune was on my side that night, if only briefly. Saved from assault, now I had the pleasure of waiting for our destination, gradually growing colder, without any understanding of how long it could take. Would I survive the trip? Would Jewell be capable of staying away? Would I be malnourished or possibly diseased? Or Would Maurier have a change of heart before then?
The night drew on and soon our jailer was dozing although I would not dream of trying anything. Certain he was a light sleeper; I could not sleep, shivering in the damp, uncomfortable cell. The night-coat I wore was useless to shield me from the conditions and I cuddled my legs, curling up in the corner. There was movement in Jacks cell and within moments, he was beside me, huddling close. Wordlessly, he shrugged off his coat and handed it to me through the bars.
"You will be cold," I whispered, teeth chattering.
"I'll manage. You'll catch a fever before journeys end, take it." His voice was soft, comforting. There was no hint of mocking in his tone. Accepting it with a hushed thank you, wrapping it over my stooped frame, I felt more comfortable then than I had in hours. Jack remained where he was, leaning on the bars, staying close to me for warmth.
That was how we remained, that first night as captives together. We were allies.
X
My fears, although justified, were foolish. Jewell did not serve as our jailer again, rotation of crew being vaster than I had anticipated. By jailer five, Jack had regained some energy following his attack, the gruel we were fed had an incredibly small role to play in that matter. By jailer seven, I was finally able to talk to my companion, the previous jailers being competent until then. Seven was asleep, happy to keep the chair back where it was when I was originally brought down to the brig. Privacy was returned to us, if only for a while.
There was no sun to shine through the port holes on us, but it was not stormy. Simply overcast. Jack lay along the back wall, his hat tilted over his eyes, the soles of his worn boots towards me, whilst I huddled in the corner of my cell closest to him. Those few days had led me to crave the familiarity. It was a comfort to find solidarity in someone, even a silent kinship.
"Jack," I whispered, watching his hand pick idly at the straw on the floor, "I may have a plan."
I expected him to turn his attention to me but he remained where he was, unmoved, "If you're considering the possibility of our departure at Tortuga, I am pondering the idea myself. As to how we can go about such a scheme, I tend to improvise on the day. Scripts aren't my forte."
There was no denying that I was flabbergasted, "No- no plan. Not even an inkling?"
"Never in my long and varied life have I had a strategy, there's no excitement in that. Let alone success. My greatest ideas have not been thought through… in fact I cannot stress how little I thought them through. Nor how often rum played a key part in it all." Lifting his hat a little with his finger to look at my, now, raging face, he smirked, "Get used to it, love."
Furious and frantic, a searched around wildly for something to throw in distress at him. Just straw. I attempted to throw it anyway, " You useless, layabout, sluggard of a pirate!" He sat up as it rained down on him, coughing as he inhaled some of it.
Stumbling to my feet, legs weak from lack of use, I began to pace my cage.
"I would be grateful if you put a little faith in me Miss Cultarga."
"I will not. I cannot lay about for next however many days-"
"Three days."Jack was picking bits of straw off his person. I came to a halt.
"Three?"
"You aren't much of a navigator. Cultarga is not far from Tortuga, but your island is often out of the general paths of pirates, few know the island and those who do see little interest and fortune to gain in such a new plot. Being that close to a Pirates rest stop has kept you out of trouble all these years. We are three days from Tortuga. In three days we'll arrive and make our escape. In the meantime, rest, devise your own plan if you want but I promise you, we will be free of the clutches of Maurier. I have no intention of spending more time than is necessary on this ship."
Blind faith, this was a risk I had to be willing to take. My destiny was in his hands. He knew Tortuga, I did not. I could begin to scheme but without Jacks geographical knowledge… Maurier would have the better of me.
"Do you trust me, Miss Cultarga? At least in this matter?" he eyed me curiously.
My resistance collapsed and I sighed, "In this matter."
"Then Tortuga awaits us."