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Chapter 4. That Fateful Meeting
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Jack shuffled in his seat, eyes wide. "Oh bugger."

Three massive brown men made their way over to us. Now that I think of it, it's funny that I would use the word 'massive' to describe all three of the men, because, in essence, they couldn't have looked more different from each other. Yet they were all massive.

The first man was tremendously tall, with long, thin arms and legs. He made the other two men look like children. His features were small and sharp, like a rat's, with beady black eyes and short black hair. He looked angry, yet worried.

The second man, the one who had called out Jack's name, was thick, with a great thick chest and great thick legs. He looked like a gorilla, and I had to stifle a laugh. His shoulders were just as broad as the table, and judging by the look he gave me, he knew it. His eyes were a strange, hypnotic golden brown. His stance told me he was forceful and determined.

The third man was enormous. Plump as a pig, and short, to make it worse. He shied away from the group, a bit. His face was comical, shaped like a dog's. Sunken brown eyes and a large chin. He had a more mousy disposition than the others.

The rat, the gorilla and the dog stormed up to Jack.

"Gentlemen," Jack grimaced, clasping his hands together, "how may I be of service?"

"We are not here to negotiate, Jack Sparrow," he gorilla rumbled, with an unusual accent I hadn't heard before.

"Captain Ja-" Jack began, but the gorilla persuasively pulled out his curved sword and placed it at Jack's throat.

"We are here to collect what is rightfully ours."

Jack pondered this for a moment, then grunted. "Well, it seems to me that, at this precise moment in time, what you are here to collect, which I have, which is rightfully yours therefore belonging to you, but under the care of myself, is in fact not under the care of myself, hence my not having it, and if that be the case then is it rightfully yours at present?" The rat and the dog looked at each other, confused. The gorilla, however, knew better. Pushing his weapon hard against Jack's neck, he spoke through clenched teeth.

"He wants it back Jack."

Jack looked down at the sword and smiled nervously, removing it from himself. "Yes, Kato, and he shall have it back. Eventually."

"You will die in your watery grave!" The rat snarled.

"Nokkog," Kato hissed, "can you not see that there is a woman in our presence?" He stared at me, and I could not escape his evil eyes and maniacal grin.

"Yes! Well! We'd best not discuss this here then!" Jack exclaimed with forced ease. Kato backed off and made a motion with his hands. "Nokkog, Sikahq," he said, telling them to leave. Before he turned and left himself, Kato put his face uncomfortably close to Jack's. "We'll be back," he growled.

After the mean had left, Jack buried his face in his hands. "Bugger bugger bugger bugger," I could hear him mumbling. I hesitantly placed my hand on his knee.

"What was that about, Jack?" He looked up, and I sighed. He appeared tired. Afraid, even. His smile and playful banter were gone, replaced with fear and angst.

"Catriona," Jack started- and then paused. "It's not important."

"I'm not dense, Jack, it is important."

"Can I trust you?" He asked, looking deeply into my eyes.

"Undoubtedly."

"Very well," he sighed once more, rubbing his eyes. "About 16 months ago I decided to set sail without any direction. I just wanted movement. I wanted to be able to do what I wanted, even if it was pointless. As it turns out, I sailed north. Days, weeks, months, I can't remember. Eventually it started getting a bit nippy, and before we knew it, we had landed on a freezing, white wasteland. Of course, I knew it was snow, but most of my crew had lived in the Caribbean their entire lives, and they were amazed by it. So, we dropped anchor and began to explore the area. Turns out, there was a cozy little settlement, not 2 miles from shore. I think they called it... Padqikirut. Terrific little place. So we... made ourselves at home, so to speak. The people had a leader, who was a fierce warrior. Unbeatable, he was. But he had a secret," at this, Jack took a swig of rum and leaned towards me.