Ah, I've been away at Disney World for awhile, but I'm back to finish posting this up here and, on IMDb, I'll soon be going on with my version of POTC 4. Anyway, we're going to move away from Norrington for awhile and back to the others, with some action and with some serious drama on the storylines of Elizabeth and Davy Jones. (Plus a little piracy lesson, and some character background, to the 2 comic pairs.) At this point, I still hadn't exactly figured out where World's End was, but the direction was very good...very strange. (Another thing...I just improvised the Liar's Dice game based on what supposedly was the basis of the set-up, I don't know if it's right technical or what.)
Disclaimer: I don't own them...I suppose this is the last time I'll have to put this down.
7. A Duel and Liar's Dice
Around that time, Elizabeth grew restless and woke up, mumbling to herself as she rubbed her eyes, carefully shifting in her hammock as she glanced down at Will, who was soundly sleeping beneath her, though he was frowning. She sighed, wondering what sort of nightmares were bothering him...so much had grown wrong in his life when he was so young and now, years later, she certainly wasn't helping matters, worrying him with her unsettled nature. Elizabeth carefully leapt down, landing with a soft tread so as not to disturb Will, glancing down at him again as she guiltily thought that he looked too innocent, especially with the dim echo of the poem from her dying father, those powerful words, in her mind. She looked away and walked up the aisle, passing by more of her sleeping companions as she stepped out into a below-decks hallway, following the length of the hull with the quarters for the captain, the other Chinese sailors, and the holding bays of the cannons. There was also a ladder close by, leading down to another deck where they probably had long oars propped and ready, should the wind fade, but instead she headed up to the deck at the bow entrance, blinking in the bright sunlight as she glanced around.
Nearby, Mullroy and Murtogg were sitting on some crates, listening intently as Pintel told them, "Now, you've got to understand that the Pirate Code isn't quite so strict as naval codes, it's more like...what's the word?"
Ragetti raised his hand and replied, "Guidelines, uncle, that's what it is. Oh, and another word you should know...it's a French one or something."
Pintel growled and yelled, "Don't mention parley to them!"
Murtogg glanced back and forth between them and asked, "Wait a minute here...Pintel, are you really Ragetti's uncle?"
Pintel slowly nodded and answered, "That I am, my poor sister...she was wild, wouldn't stay at home or mind our parents. Got into trouble, you know, and Ragetti was born...with an eye missing, unfortunately. I've been minding him for many years now, at home and out here in the Caribbean."
Mullroy sighed and murmured, "That's a decent thing, you two sticking together for so long, we just figured you were just old buddies. Now me and Murtogg here, we met back in basic training, and I always thought of myself as a big brother to this fellow here."
Elizabeth smiled to herself as the 4 fellows went back to their pirate lesson; it would certainly suit them if they became friends. She turned her head and blinked, surprised to see Tia Dalma walking over to her, motioning her to sit down at another bunch of crates gathered a short distance away from everyone else. Elizabeth slowly nodded, slowly walking over to Dalma since she couldn't avoid her and so the two women sat down on the crates, stiff as they stared at each other, uncertain who would speak first.
Tia Dalma cleared her throat and said, "Elizabeth, those soldiers told me about what happened to your father, I'm so sorry. They told me that there were some words...I thought it decent to ask you personally about their nature."
Elizabeth inhaled deeply and told Dalma about last night and then about the words, reciting a few lines until Dalma raised her hand and murmured, "That's enough, Elizabeth. They're too powerful and it's best to be cautious, to let the spell be unsaid until it's time."
Elizabeth groaned and told her, "Well, in any case, they pertain to a personal nature and I'm worried whether...whether or not I can say them. When it's time. I mean, if I do say them, do...do I have to mean it, every single word?"
Tia Dalma slowly nodded and replied, "Yes, you do have to mean every word...this is not to be taken lightly, so many lives hang in the balance. The poem must either be said or not said, and whatever shall come of the choice shall come. You do not have to feel obliged to speak, Elizabeth, your soul must be true with feeling or else the power can go awry."
Elizabeth turned her head, gazing out across the water...she could not think, she wished that she had Jack's compass to guide her to a choice. Her thoughts were interrupted then, however, as she heard Captain Barbossa and Captain Sao Feng arguing...all in Cantonese.
Elizabeth wiped her eyes and cleared her throat, muttering, "Barbossa knows how to speak Cantonese? What other surprises lurk within him?"
Tia Dalma sighed and muttered, "That is a thing to wonder, perhaps a dark wonder in the end."
In any case, Captain Barbossa and Captain Sao Feng appeared to be arguing, both with one hand each resting on the wheel as Barbossa gestured east just as Sao shook his head and started to turn the wheel in the other direction, west. At that point, Barbossa growled and unsheathed his sword as he harshly muttered something in Cantonese, an insult. Sao shook his head and unsheathed his own sword as the Chinese sailors and a few members of the Caribbean pirates stepped forward, grouping around the duelers as Jack the monkey shrieked, clapping his hands.
Sao Feng shook his head and called, "You know you won't win, Barbossa!"
Captain Barbossa grinned and shouted, "Ah, this isn't serious, Sao, I know it would be too complicated. Tell you want, the man who nicks the other first will be the one to decide our direction."
Captain Sao nodded and yelled, "You're on!"
The two pirate captains commenced their duel, their crews urging them on while Pintel lectured to Mullroy and Murtogg, pointing out the anything-goes style of pirate dueling. Barbossa was all bravado in his attack, heavy slashing and force, while Sao Feng was smooth in defense, dodging and side-stepping as he attempted to pierce a beep in the wall. Suddenly, Sao slid in a puddle and he cried out as Barbossa slashed out and the Caribbean crew gasped in horror...the heavy stroke tore into Sao's side, life-blood was spilling.
Sao Feng staggered, managing to steady his stance as he blinked, glancing down at his side as he remarked, "Ah, shame. It's always hardest when it comes to the chest area."
The Chinese sailors nodded, chatting with each other as Elizabeth cried, "How can you be so calm? Somebody, get some bandages!"
Ragetti was about to run off to do so, but Sao Feng raised his hand and told them, "There is no need for concern, lady Elizabeth. In fact, it is the perfect chance for me to demonstrate...our blessing."
With that, Sao Feng placed his hand against his side and murmured, chanting as he rubbed the wound, the blood halting in its flow while flesh formed, sealing the wound as Sao grimaced, finally sighing when the process was completed.
Elizabeth and the other pirates had gaped at the sight, though Barbossa had just watched the demonstration indifferently, being familiar with Sao's ways, while Tia Dalma nodded and commented, "Ah, that is very useful. Did you receive that blessing before you left China?"
Sao Feng smiled and replied, "Yes, my sailors and I received this blessing from a venerable old woman, who practiced her art at the harbor of Hong Kong. All of our wounds can regenerate, even in the heat of battle, and so we are very hard to defeat, nearly invincible. Of course, it's certainly not as powerful as the...curse that once possessed Barbossa and his old crew. Blessings and curses, in their way, are actually hard to discern...I was cursed to be born in poverty, to be ruled by a dynasty unkind to the general empire. Yet from that, I was blessed with the urge to leave, to come here to the Caribbean...here, I am blessed in my endeavors, in my business dealings of great profit. My friends, I have been blessed as well to meet such fine people as you all...I am sure we shall enjoy smooth sailing to World's End. Barbossa, you may take the wheel, and we'll head...east."
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Miles behind them, Greenbeard pointed and said, "The residue from the informant's beacon is very distinct, they're turning that way."
Davy Jones, standing beside Koleniko at the wheel, slowly nodded and Koleniko turned the wheel as Palifico turned to glance at his captain, slightly concerned about Davy's tense silence. Still, Davy turned away and strode off toward the stern as Palifico shrugged and return to his boastful conversation with Maccus and Ogilvey. The Twins, mopping the deck, glanced up as the captain passed by them, but then they quickly averted their eyes and returned to their task since Jimmylegs was overseeing them, toying with his whip. Wheelback, sitting on the steps leading below-decks, rocked slightly as he babbled, ignored by Quittance, Clanker, Penrod and Hadras as they played Liar's Dice, so absorbed in the game that they didn't hear the approach of Davy Jones. In fact, the only warning they had was that Wheelback suddenly quieted and they paused, stopping the shaking of their cans as they carefully placed the cans and dice on the table before turning around.
Davy Jones stood over them, gazing down as he asked, "Mind if I join a game?"
The crewmembers shook their heads and Clanker stepped out of the game, allowing Davy Jones to take his spot. With this new player, they started shaking their dice again before slamming them down, glancing at each other, but Davy didn't seem serious.
As the fellows started to call out numbers, Davy glanced out towards the ocean, to see the sunset approaching in its glory. He couldn't begin to describe the feeling it stirred in him, the fire of the sun dipping down into the water, quenching the flames to the tranquility of twilight and the moon.
Davy Jones sighed and muttered, "Two sixes."
Suddenly, Hadras frowned and lifted his head, staring at Davy as he murmured, "Liar."
The crewmembers froze, their tongues stuck as Davy turned, gazing at Hadras as he queried, "What are you willing to bet on that?"
Hadras rubbed his conch-head before he finally responded, "All of the years left on my sentence...about 80 years, I believe."
Davy Jones nodded and said, "You're on."
The dice were revealed...and Davy was the liar. Hadras grinned and closed his eyes as he faded, water dripping off of him as he turned into slush. Quittance and Penrod gaped at the mess, the empty space, while Clanker rushed forward to claim the space. A new game began, the dice stirred and then stilled, the unnatural crew staring at each other with a sneer.
Davy chuckled and yelled, "Four threes!"
Penrod jumped up and cried, "Liar! And I bet all of my years left, 60 in all!"
Such proved to be the case and as Penrod faded, Davy Jones closed his eyes and sighed, wishing that he could go just like that, to a peace, to an abyss. For he now knew how they felt, to be trapped like them with his heart clenched so tightly, but he could give them their release now even if he couldn't have it in turn. Quittance and Clanker soon followed suit, as did the Twins running away from the whip of Jimmylegs, who hesitated when he witnessed the scene.
Davy Jones gestured and told him, "Please, Jimmylegs, sit down and let's play a nice game. Do you want some peace?"
Jimmylegs stared down at his whip...and then laid it aside, sitting down at the table as Davy murmured, "Grand."
After that, Wheelback came forward, rational enough now so that he was able to say "Liar", but surprisingly it was even harder to convince Palifico, Maccus, and Ogilvey to play. Still, even they were weary of fighting and so they sat down while Greenbeard and Koleniko, after making sure that The Flying Dutchman would remain on course, started trudging forward.
Of course, it was hard to make progress when the deck was drenched with water and ancient flotsam, and when they sat down, Koleniko couldn't help asking, "What about Beckett? What do you think he'll do to your heart, when he finds that you've surrendered your crew?"
Davy shook his head and answered, "Never mind that, I'll take care of that business. You won't have to worry about that, wherever you're going."
Once they were gone, the sun had finally set by then and Davy Jones sat back, sighing softly as he thought that he was all alone...suddenly he froze, blinking as he shook his head, his tentacles wobbling. He stood up and tried to recall where the lantern was belowdecks and once he remembered that, he strode off, walking down the stairs that Wheelback had been sitting on before. Davy soon reached the below-deck corridor, barnacled by Wyvern, who was even now talking to Bootstrap Bill until they heard Davy's approach.
As they lapsed into silence, Davy bellowed, "Come on, get up there! Let's play a good old game of Liar's Dice!"
Bootstrap Bill shook his head, sighing as he told him, "I would if I could, I know what you've been doing these last few hours...but I lost my last game to you. I'm stuck with you for eternity, for no game of Liar's Dice can take away the years of eternity. As for Wyvern, he certainly can't play, he's an integral part of the ship, how can he even hold or shake the dice?"
Davy Jones lowered his head and whispered, "Ah...sorry. That's all I can say. Go on with your business, or whatever you want, I'll...I'll be in my quarters, I suppose. The only beauty left to my existence, or whatever you call this, is my music...go out into the fresh air, Bill. It's a fine evening, one that I would have enjoyed if I had my heart inside me."
Favorite phrase: "That is a thing to wonder, perhaps a dark wonder in the end." and then "Blessings and curses, in their way, are actually hard to discern..."
