Waiting Part II
"..We wait for the opportune moment…" …Jack Sparrow
Everything seemed to freeze to Elizabeth, she watched the Captains face, he didn't even blink, though Elizabeth's heart seemed to be in her throat. Despite all the quaint and oddities she attributed to Jack he was quite scary now, she knew the old saying a desperate man need not fear anything, and Jack certainly appeared to be very desperate.
"Miss Swann," the Captain spoke calmly as if he was merely commenting upon the weather, "If you could be so kind as to restrain your fellow passenger Mr. Sparrow or I may be forced to have him punished according to threatening a Captain. I haven't taken the cat out of the bag in many a year Miss Swann and I hope you can convince your…friend not to force me now."
"Jack," Elizabeth hissed, hardly believing the Captain hadn't ordered one of his crew members to shoot Jack. She noticed a crew member had come to stand beside the Captain, the whip the Captain had promised would be used for further offence hung at the man's belt, Elizabeth assumed him to be the Bo' sun. He sent a dark look Jacks way and his hand lay upon the whip; obviously he had been missing using it. "Please Jack, put it down," she cautiously lifted up her hand, placing it on Jack's shoulder, ready to retreat if she saw the slightest inclination that he would be pointing the pistol at her. She felt his shoulder tense but nothing else. "Please," she whispered, "It has nothing to do with the Captain; it was my doing to bring you aboard the ship. He had no idea," maybe making herself the object of Jack's anger was not the cleverest way to avoid a shot to her chest, but it was the only thing Elizabeth could think of at the present moment. She was more certain upon Jack not putting a shot into her, then into the Captain, though she wasn't very certain on all accounts.
"If you don't put that pistol down now Mr. Sparrow I will be forced to instill the cat and the brig for you," the Captain said coolly, looking Jack in the eye. Jack didn't make any move for a whole minute, then he slowly and coolly replaced the pistol, some sailors moved forward to grab him but the Captain raised his hand, pausing them in there tracks.
"I will give you leniency this time Mr. Sparrow, seeing as you're a passenger aboard ship, and your night pass time seems to have left you rather out of mind." the Captain pronounced, holding Jack's gaze, his tones firm, "But if you so much as raise an unfriendly hand to me or one of my crew I will take the cat out of the bag with no qualms, do I make myself clear Mr. Sparrow?"
"Inescapably Captain," Jack said his words dripping with sarcasm, he turned and walked away as abruptly as he had come, brushing off Elizabeth's hand roughly and not even glancing at her as he passed.
"I am so sorry Captain," Elizabeth said turning to the man, after she watched Jack making his way down the stairs. She thought it better to give him a moment to collect himself before following; he still had a bit of that madness in his eyes.
"I have made myself clear to him Miss Swann," the Captain said primly, "It is not for a lady to be distressed upon a man's actions, though…." with that he paused hesitating as if summing up whether his words would be decent or not, "I was wondering if I could have a word with you sometime…upon matters with Mr. Sparrow." Elizabeth being distracted and only half listening to the Captain, supposed he wanted to talk of Jack's state of mind…or rather drunkenness and if his character often took to violence. With that presumption she nodded and said of course, not expecting a very fine talk on all accounts.
"Of course after you have eaten," the Captain said, noticing she was rather pale and thin, her cheeks almost hollow and her face with knowledge that shouldn't have been there for one so young. "Douglas if you'll be so kind," he called; the young sailor which Elizabeth only knew by his last name of O'Brian stepped forward. "Can you please take Miss Swann and get her some rations from the mess."
O'Brian saluted lazily then bowing to Elizabeth took her hand and led her off the quarter deck and below.
"Douglas," Elizabeth stated as they made there way down.
"Aye, unfortunately the Captain knows me name," the young man said. "And there I was hoping I could remain a bit of a mystery for a while."
"I must admit after all that fuss I was expecting a grander name," Elizabeth managed to say, though her thoughts were distracted, thinking of Jack. She didn't know whether she was more afraid or more angry at him. She knew that when she went to him though he would be getting an earful of what she thought of him, imagine almost destroying their chances of remaining on ship after all her hard work.
"Well we can't all be fortunate enough to have grand names like Captain Jack Sparrow," Douglas said, Elizabeth's attention quickly snapped forward and she noticed that his eyes were twinkling merrily, she smiled in return, but though many retorts came to her head she did not answer, her heart had still not slowed down enough to allow her to jest completely.
Douglas was more then happy to do the talking for her though, some of the other sailors were in the mess, it was loud with noise and unconsciously Elizabeth allowed Douglas to lead her, before she knew it she was holding a small tin bowl out and being served with some soup and a few biscuits…or hard tack as the sailors called it. She also had a mug filled with rum.
"What of Jack," she suddenly cried remembering him, and how gaunt she had thought him upon first reuniting. "Don't worry miss," Douglas said, holding out a meal and a rum mug only half filled. "I have his share here; I'm supposing we shall go give it to him now. I should like to talk to him; I've heard a lot of strange things."
"Which story interests you most?" Elizabeth queried, remembering that before her actual encounter with Jack how magical he always used to sound. She remembered picking favorite stories from his many adventures, one being how he escaped seven agents of the East India Trading Company. Of course after she had made his acquaintance she realized that many of the stories must have been highly fabricated by himself or by friends such as Mr. Gibbs, they still made for grand stories though they lost their charm once Elizabeth had her own adventures with him and Will.
"Well the one about the fine woman who chained him to his own mast with a kiss," Douglas piped up, "You see it's one of us Irish men's downfalls, women and drink. I was wondering if he could teach me how to avoid such a pit fall."
Elizabeth kept silent at this, by his jesting manner she doubted he knew the woman had been her and she was not about to divulge that information. It was still a rather sore subject for her, for she didn't know whether to blush in mortification, laugh or have guilt envelope her, or do all at once.
After a lot of good humored chatter on Douglas' part and a few stairs they made it to the hammocks. Elizabeth approached Jack's hammock tentatively, he was lying upon it, the rum bottle from last night in his hands, his coat flung unceremoniously upon the empty hammock beside him. He was staring absently at the rum bottle lost in thought, one hand went to his head and his brows furrowed, obviously he had a terrible headache.
"Jack," Elizabeth finally plucked up the courage to say, he blinked slowly then looked up at her, his gaze was not friendly, and he didn't even look at the food and drink she held out.
"Well isn't that nice," he said from his position upon the hammock, his voice was dark, "Just nice innit, you got food to go with it this time too. You know laudanum don't work so well with food though love, don't you, or hasn't anyone told you that."
"Jack what are you going on…" Elizabeth began, becoming short as his behavior was making her even more puzzled and giving her a headache.
"How bout this," Jack suddenly snapped, he lazily rolled the rum bottle, it stopped at Elizabeth's feet.
"What.." Elizabeth put down his food and picked it up, looking at it, it was a normal empty rum bottle hardly note worthy.
"Don't pretend like that," Jack growled, "You planned it all after all, never were one to shirk when it came to your precious William were you? Though never thought you one to put laudanum in me drink, thought you were more of the seducing type Lizzy."
It seemed to click in Elizabeth's mind, she held up the neck of the rum bottle, sniffed the opening, it smelled strongly of rum and something like the pretty bottle of medicine her maid had once dropped when she was very small. Laudinum, helped those who had ailments, helped for those to sleep. She almost dropped it in shock, Jack's drink had traces if laudanum in it, heavy traces.
"How?" she queried looking at him. "I…"
"Save it," Jack growled, he then turned and Elizabeth was left to stare at his back.
Elizabeth was shocked not only of the fact that laudanum was in the bottle, but that she hadn't thought of it. It seemed so obvious now, it would have saved time waiting for Jack to get himself terribly drunk. It was no wonder that they had been unable to wake him, and why he seemed so sick upon awakening, she was unsure about how much had been mixed with the rum, but it must have been a fair amount.
She sighed impatiently, staring at Jack's back, "Jack, your acting like a child," she snapped. There was still no response from him. "I didn't put that laudanum in your drink, and I don't know who did. But I did plan for you to get drunk and I'm not sorry for it. I needed you to get on a ship and I knew you weren't going to do it with free will. I only need you to get me as far as Tia Dalma and help convince her to help me and then you can do whatever you want."
"Aye, like the docks hm?" Jack snapped back angrily.
"Come on Jack," Elizabeth snapped, "You really are childish, it's not like the water can hurt you, your not dead are you."
Jack suddenly sat in the hammock, glaring at her. She thought he was about to draw his pistol once more, but he managed to contain himself just barely. "Just leave me bloody well alone," he finally strung out, then he turned once more and lay down.
"Fine," Elizabeth snapped, but she gained no response from him, placing the empty rum bottle beside the tray of food and mug she promptly turned and stormed away from him, her stately exit somewhat ruined as she bumped into Douglas and had to pause for apologies.
She found herself on deck once more, and to her intense anger and humiliation she found tears stinging her eyes. She quickly moved towards the railing and wiped the few away, sniffling slightly.
"Are you okay?" Douglas suddenly queried.
"Yes I…I'm fine," Elizabeth said, she quickly took the mug filled with rum from his hand and drowned it down, giving it back to him. She smiled rather damply as she saw his astonished gaze.
"Miss Swann," he said in fake gallantry. "You are a woman after my own heart."
Elizabeth managed a genuine smile; she took the food from his hand and began to eat, leaning against the railing. After all her worries and all this time the aching in her stomach almost seemed to be constant, but now her taste buds came alive and her stomach seemed to ache for more and more as she ate. The meal was simple and not really very grand, the standard stale ship meal, but Elizabeth thought it was the grandest meal she had, even though she had eaten far better being a governors daughter. She wolfed it all down, even the hard tack, and just managed to constrain herself from licking the bowl with the knowledge that Douglas was beside her.
"I didn't realize how hungry I was," she quickly explained her manners, looking at him.
"Oh aye, a woman with apatite I love you even more," this brought a smile to her lips once again.
"So were you really a governors daughter?" he queried suddenly, Elizabeth's smile disappeared and she felt somewhat the fullness of her situation. It was a far cry from being a governor's daughter having lavish lunches, or even sailing with famous pirates. She was just another refugee of the war, being so starved she found a plain sailor meal a lavish thing.
"I am a governor's daughter," she replied rather more sharply then she had meant.
"I didn't mean nothing by it Miss Swann," he said looking at her kindly.
"I'm sorry," she softened slightly. "I suppose I'm just rather…on edge."
He laughed at this, "Aye, I suppose a lot of people are considering the circumstances." He was about to say more but someone called his name and he sighed.
"Duties await lady," he said, smiling, "But if you have need to talk, I'll always be ready to listen, I have a few ways of sneaking out of them." He winked and she smiled once more, feeling slightly lighter as he left her. His offer seemed genuine enough, but she wasn't sure that telling such a light hearted man her burden would help either of them. She sighed and turned away, looking at the rocking sea, she wished that Jack was here to make a rather suggestive comment about it, like he always seemed to do up on deck at least once. It made the sea seem more real somehow and made Elizabeth feel as if she was not the only woman on a ship filled with men.
Elizabeth spent most of the day watching the men at their duties and remembering her time upon other ships. She knew she could probably assist these men, but she also knew they would not see it as very proper and didn't need it anyway. So she watched and reminisced, and maybe sulked slightly at the response she had known anyway would likely come from Jack. Sometime during the afternoon Danny came towards her.
"Fine weather," he said, commenting on the nice wind tickling at them.
"Yes," Elizabeth responded, but could think of nothing else to say.
"I heard bout your little spat bellow," he said, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "After the Captain and all."
"Yes," Elizabeth responded once again, this time keeping herself from saying anything more.
"After all the years I've spent on the Black Pearl Miss Swann I haven't ever seen the Captain like he was aboard deck," Danny began, "I've never seen him lose his head like that, not once. He usually has some sort of scheme, but he just went crazy for a moment…almost like a true desperate man without a plan or nothing in his head."
"What are you trying to say?" Elizabeth enquired rather shortly, tired of thinking about Jack.
"Not like him is all," Danny shrugged and there was a pause. "I think…if he's afraid of the sea there's gotta be a good reason. Cause he used to love it Miss…there's just gotta be a good reason."
"I'm not going to apologize to him," Elizabeth said flatly, "If he wants to sulk like a child and not see reason I'm not going to humor him. He can stay down there for the whole voyage for all I care."
"It's not that he's sulking Miss Swann," Danny said, "It's just…now I'm not one to say..but I think maybe he's scared. And there's got to be a good reason for it. I imagine he's seen a lot, like I said before. I've only seen a bit of the war so far, a burnt ship left over from a battle.. I'm sure you've even seen more. But bodies in the water, enough to give us all nightmares, even the hardest of us. A lot of us were sick…and that isn't even the worst of it. I think maybe he's seen the worst…there are a lot of rumors…anyway I…I'm just saying you shouldn't be too hard on him is all."
Danny looked at her awkwardly, Elizabeth looked back, she remembered in Port Royal. They were all marched out to watch in the middle of the night as the Spanish burnt down the house of citizens who had tried to get a message to the navy, and to they people they had….
"Miss Swann?" Danny queried.
"Y…yes I understand.." Elizabeth said rather faintly. She hardly heard what Danny said after, feeling rather sick, he went away eventually though and she was left just staring.
J.S
"Jack," Elizabeth called, she had come down after a while. He was in the same position she had left him in, the little rum which had been in the cup had been drowned, the plate had not been touched.
She did not think he was asleep as silence only met her; the silence was rather more due to ill feeling then unconsciousness. She left him to his silence and sat down upon the hammock beside him, taking his coat. She had obtained some needle and thread from Danny, she had noticed his coat was frayed and shredded in places, in bad need of repair. There were some stains on it, but she had nothing to wash it with so she had to contend with mending it instead. Elizabeth had never really been any good with needle and thread, pricking herself more often then not, she had hated it when younger. But she felt it was an olive branch and something to make up for deceiving him, even though she did not use laudanum she had intended to use his helplessness to her advantage.
She was immersed in her work and after almost half an hour and many needle pricks later she mended one tear. She had been immersed in her work but now she looked up, Jack was where he had been before. She turned back to her work rather more dejectedly, finding the next rip, she then noticed the dark crimson stain. It was blood and quite a large bit, Elizabeth felt her stomach turn and she quickly closed her eyes at the thought, when she finally did open them they turned to Jack.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice rather soft though she was sure he heard it.
There was silence then, "Do you still have the bead I gave you?" he suddenly asked his voice a rasp.
"Yes," she said, her hand going to the chain underneath her dress on which the bead hung. She waited for more but that was all he said and she did not press him, instead she turned back to the coat, and began mending the blood stained tear.
J.S
Elizabeth quickly retreated to the Captains cabin as the men came down, leaving Jack's coat where it had been. She felt slightly satisfied with her work, though only managing to mend three rips in that time, she felt like at least she had done something. She fell upon the bed and found herself thinking upon Jack's reaction, it could have been worse she realized, though she could not think how. The Captain still had not approached her upon having the talk about Jack yet, but their journey was almost reaching an end, Pelegostas quite close, and Elizabeth hoped that there would be no need to talk of Jack between now and then. Elizabeth was too emotionally exhausted to worry long though, and soon her thoughts fell into a fuzzy darkness and she knew no more.
"Miss," someone was calling her, she thought it was Barbossa, aboard the Pearl. No that wasn't right she had told him to stop calling her miss, she had threatened him with a sword. It must have been Jack then, he had taken to calling her it after she had threatened Barbossa, though he had never been one to wake her….
"Yes Miss," the voice floated to Elizabeth from her muzzy thoughts, "It's Mr Sparrow…Jack…"
"Jack," Elizabeth repeated slowly, then the thought reached her brain. "Jack," she suddenly sat up, looking around her. It wasn't the Black Pearl it was The Turning Tide, and Jack…Jack wasn't about to be waking her or teasing her with titles such as Miss nowadays.
Her eyes met Douglas' twinkling brown ones, though they were at the moment quite serious. "Miss I'm sorry to wake you, but Danny said to. It's just Mr. Sparrow, he is…well we don't know whether he's having a fit or not, the poor fellow. He woke us all, thrashing and the like, come I better take you to him."
Elizabeth quickly rose as Douglas took her hand, then they were rushing from the deck, daylight was breaking, and below, to the hammocks. The men were all crowded around one in particular, someone held a lamp aloft. Douglas quickly pushed through the crowd and then there was Jack's form, Elizabeth quickly knelt beside him though the others kept their distance. Danny was the one with the lamp, the Captain standing beside him. The lamp cast his face in shadows, and Elizabeth felt fear choke her once more.
It was like a darkness had grasped him something invisible to see, he was on the floor obviously having fallen from his hammock. He was groaning and muttering, crying out things, his body thrashing, it was almost as if he was having some kind of fit. Elizabeth wasn't sure what to do, as hesitant as the others. She had never seen Jack like this, he usually slept quite peacefully and heavily, of course he usually fell unconscious after drinking a lot of rum. She didn't know what to do, it was like something had taken hold of him, that wouldn't let go. Like he was reliving something horrible, something she couldn't even begin to imagine. She just wanted him to stop, to stop thrashing and moaning and whimpering, no one should have such fear or horror.
She had heard you shouldn't waken a person sleep walking, she wasn't sure about nightmares…or whatever it was, but she couldn't stand it anymore. She couldn't stand seeing him like that.
"Jack," she called out, nothing, he continued to thrash, lost to her voice. "Jack," she cried out, this time grabbing his shoulders and attempting to shake him, to awaken him. Suddenly there was a yell and something hit her face and she was stunned falling back. She felt horrible numbness and then her right cheek was throbbing terribly, making her feel odd. She looked over at Jack, she had some vague idea that he had just hit her, as he held his fist, his eyes wide open now, staring at her in equal shock, though her head was ringing making thought difficult.
He got up shakily, he was shaking, and he swayed terribly, holding a wooden beam for support as if he was drunk. Though Elizabeth knew that this, unlike many, was one time when he was completely sober. He looked down at her, and then he turned and staggered, men quickly moving out of the way to let him through.
"Jack," Elizabeth found herself calling out, she quickly got to her feet too, following him though her head swung, she grabbed his shoulder. He was shaking, and panting heavily as if he had run for miles. He turned slowly and looked at her, his eyes rather blank.
"Jack," she said rather weakly, "I want to help you. I..."
"You can't," he snapped rather shortly, shaking off her hand.
"Jack what happened to you," she cried in frustration as he made his way forward, "I know horrible things have happened to you, I know I saw some horrible things too Jack….why won't you tell me…just talk to me…please…" Jack stopped.
"Don't presume to know anything bout me Elizabeth," his voice sounded out, deadly quite once more, each word holding weight, his voice began to rise though, the control becoming lost. It started to become a roar, and he turned to face her. "You're a bloody pampered Governors daughter and that's all you'll ever be. You know nothing bout the real world, no matter how much you pretend. You don't know bout the cold and the hunger and the struggling to survive. You seen nothing of it, not the corpses, or the blood, or the screaming… so don't pretend to know. And help me by just leaving me the bloody well alone!"
Elizabeth took a step back from him, the words stinging her. She looked at him shocked, he ignored it turning and walking away, disappearing above deck. Elizabeth closed her good eye in an attempt to prevent the tears from falling. All the men around her were silent, just watching.
"Miss Swann," the Captain's kind voice suddenly sounded beside her, he took her hand. "Here I will escort you to my cabin, you need rest and someone to attend to your cheek. Douglas if you'd be so kind as to get any cold meat from cook."
He took her arm and Elizabeth allowed him to lead her above deck were the cool air soothed her. She looked around but could not see Jack, finally she had the sense to look up, there was a figure in the crows nest, she quickly looked away and followed the Captain to his cabin. He settled her into a chair and then moved to his desk. He did not sit down though, instead he paced.
"Miss Swann," he began, "I know this is not the proper time, nor place…and it isn't highly proper. But you are young and you remind me so much of my little girls that being the father that I am I could not help but speak for you, seeing as your own father is not here himself." He looked at her but Elizabeth could hardly comprehend what he was saying. "I have heard and seen many of this sort of thing occurring, and I presume it is the same in your case. Many young women get taken in by charm, women of fortune and standing in society. I have noticed that you obviously are such a young lady, having good breeding, a cultured voice and an education. They think it fine to run away with a pirate or any young man really, taken in by romance, charm and promises made from corrupt mouths to innocent ears. Please let me continue,' he said as Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest. "Sometimes the men are looking for fortune, sometimes not…they find no harm in ruining a young girl. I can only imagine the anxiety faced by these children's fathers, for a love for a daughter is immense as I know.
I know of Jack Sparrow, Miss Swann, I have heard much about him, from others and Danny. The picture they paint of him is quite different to what I have seen before me, and I am guessing it is quite different to what you thought. I don't think Jack Sparrow was always like this, he appeared according to Danny, to have been a good man. But the war has happened Miss Swann…and sadly I think that Mr. Sparrow was one of countless men who have been changed by it. Maybe even before he was changed, such nightmares I have seen many men who have experienced terrible things. I cannot tell not knowing him before, but now Mr. Sparrow is marred by darkness, it is eating away at him within Miss Swann and I doubt he will ever be the same. Such men Miss Swann, they cannot be helped, no matter what they try. The kindest thing to do is to leave Mr. Sparrow, leave him to live the little he can, because the darkness will plague his life and the only release he will have is through death.
Miss Swann you seem much dedicated to him, but please think of your poor father, your poor parents at home, filled with anxious thoughts for you. Please go back, I am willing to take you back wherever your home may be, and allow them to hold their child once more. It is not well to dwell on shadows, salvage your own life and rather remember Mr. Sparrow as however you used to know him and forget what you have lately seen."
There was a silence as the Captain looked at Elizabeth, true concern on his face. Elizabeth's heart went out to him.
"I can't," she whispered breaking the silence and his hope. "I can't leave Jack."
"Miss Swann," he said, leaning forward and trying to persuade her. "I cannot stress enough that there is nothing more you can do for Mr. Sparrow. I've seen darkness like that consumes men and theirs naught which can bring them back. Please reconsider and go back to your home."
Elizabeth couldn't help smiling at this somewhat bitterly. "I have no home Captain," she answered softly, "And I have no one to help me but Jack. If naught can bring him back then I have no other choice then to be naught, I can do nothing else."
The Captain sighed sadly and shook his head realizing there would be no way to persuade her otherwise.
"If you'd be so kind as to provide us with a row boat and drop us off at a river opening rather then on the island," Elizabeth finally requested after a long silence. "Danny know's where I mean, we would be very grateful."
The Captain nodded heavily, then as he said nothing else Elizabeth rose and made her way towards the cabin door.
"Miss Swann," he suddenly said behind her kindly, "I hope that for your sake, Mr. Sparrow is the exception to all the other men."
"He always has been the exception for most things Captain," she said from where she stood smiling slightly. "For him there usually aren't any rules."
J.S
Elizabeth saw Jack as she came out of the Captains cabin. He stood alone at the prow of the ship, gazing out to sea, occasionally swigging a bottle of rum he held in a lax grip. If the images of the night were not so vivid in her mind she would have been surprised at him. The pirate only a day ago who had refused to go anywhere near the deck, for fear of the water, now lent on the railing, gazing at the very thing which yesterday had made him so…. Whatever one called such an emotion. But Elizabeth had no thought to spare on this.
She approached him tentatively, almost afraid to, afraid of his reaction, afraid he would not tell her, and even more afraid that he would. He turned his head slightly, and then turned back to gazing at the sea, the waves lapping gently. He had acknowledged her presence but said nothing; Elizabeth knew not whether to be more cautious or relaxed because of it. Finally she just went to stand beside him, also gazing out to sea, not breathing, not moving, and not saying a word. He appeared to have calmed down some what, whether it be because of the view of the ocean, or the consumption of rum Elizabeth could not tell..
"Drink up," Jack suddenly rumbled; his voice rough but echoing over the waters and almost empty deck, only the watch slumbering away against the mast accompanied them. Elizabeth jumped a little at the suddenness of it's rising, breaking the silence. He held up the bottle of rum as if hailing the sea and then took a deep long swig. Elizabeth waited for him to lower the bottle, which took some time she had to admit, and then asked him what had been biting at her when she first saw it in his grasp.
"Where did you get that?" she inquired, venturing to speak after the silence had been broached, keeping her voice quite in the cool dawn on the empty deck. It was a small concern which could take her away from the larger and more pressing thoughts in her head.
She sorely hoped he had not taken it from the hold, as she doubted that the captain would be very gracious about it. They may even end up being thrown over board, after the disturbance last night, and Elizabeth doubted that with the fatigue which seemed to envelope her and not let go, and Jack's intense fear, they would last very long in the water.
Elizabeth was almost afraid she had insulted Jack, as he did not remove his gaze from the sea or answer; she turned to him and saw his brows were furrowed.
"There's a small hoard of it," he said suddenly, startling Elizabeth once more, "There always is aboard any decent ship." He gave a small grin to himself and took another swig.
"I haven't seen anything," Elizabeth said, frowning a little and feeling a bit ignorant, Jack stated it as if everyone should know.
"Course you wouldn't," Jack said, he turned to Elizabeth and his grin was a bit more superior, "It's hidden after all. No man's meant to drink more en his rations worth of rum. But, specially with the rations given on this ship, you've got to expect a hoard somewhere. It's easy enough to find, you just got to know where to look."
"What's wrong with the rations?" Elizabeth asked, surprised, she had found them quite plentiful compared to the meager she had been surviving on all these months.
Jack gave her a look as if she was a complete simpleton, his mouth gaping for a moment, an extremely perplexed look on his face. Finally he seemed to find the ability of speech once more, and drove into it with a passion. "Well of course love, there good and all, if you were a pig," Elizabeth felt slightly offended, and was about to protest but he just went on, "There slop, and the rum….the rum…not even enough for a swig." With that he demonstrated a healthy swig, using the rum he held as an example, "Probably keeping it all for himself, only a captain like that would give such meager rations to his crew, and he calls himself a decent man." Jack snorted in disgust and turned back to gazing out at sea, Elizabeth looked behind her uneasily, but there was still only them on deck and the slumbering watch, the captain's cabin was securely shut.
"Jack," she hissed, turning her attention back to him, "Maybe it would be a bit more prudent if you kept your voice down."
Jack took another swig of rum, then said loudly, that annoying smirk on his face "The captains a bloody stingy bugger."
"Here, here," a voice called out behind them blearily, Elizabeth jumped and whirled around, expecting to see the captain and crew standing behind them, rope and a plank ready to send what appeared to be mutinous passengers off. Or maybe they'd skewer them, or use the cat of nine tales; she couldn't forget seeing it hanging from the bosun's belt and the leering look he had directed at Jack. Even Jack glanced a startled look, but it was only the night watch men, who in his sleep responded to words he probably didn't understand, he turned over muttering something in his sleep, then resumed his peaceful slumber.
"Are you a simpleton," Elizabeth hissed, turning to Jack, furious at him for taking such a risk, "You could get us killed for saying that, or thrown over board, or whipped."
"S'not so bad," Jack said gazing out to the sea once more, his face expressionless once again. The moment of light heartedness and humor, of the old Jack seemed to have passed him, and this made Elizabeth even more furious in her despair.
"Well when you're having you're back stripped of flesh tell me then," Elizabeth hissed angrily, a cold shiver running through her at the thought. A sailor in the crossing of England had once been punished so. As a child she was taken down below, her father not wanting her to witness such a thing, but she had still heard the screams, seeming to rip through the ship in agony. She didn't think any crime was worth such a punishment, but she doubted she would have any say in the matter if she was the one being sentenced.
"For the love… can you stop thinking about rum for one moment and think of the consequences of your actions?" she continued angrily, the resentment showing it's face once more, she could feel her cheeks flush, "I'm sure being blind numbingly drunk his pleasant but don't forget you won't be thought of as alone in that, nor will the punishment. So can you just stop with your indulgence, if only until we reach land, is that so much to ask?"
Jack remained silent and with this Elizabeth dragged her thoughts away from that childhood memory and those painful thoughts. He was looking out to sea and his expression had not changed from emotionless to defeat, or anything else for that matter. He just gazed but his eyes, his eyes flashed and Elizabeth noticed he was gripping the rum bottle so tightly his fingers were white. Elizabeth felt the fear slightly choke her again; she looked at him cautiously and felt small once more, her breathing slowed and her eyes dimmed. Jack remained silent though and that was what frightened her the most.
"Do you want to know why I drink missy?" Jack's voice rose out, cracking like a whip on the silent deck, carrying across the water, so dry, so filled with something Elizabeth couldn't identify, it made her wince. "I drink to forget, and sometimes I forget because I drink," he gave a small humorless laugh, swiveling around to her, holding up the rum bottle, he swayed but Elizabeth did not find his pose amusing, or ridiculous, it seemed somewhat foreboding and contained with something, some emotion so strong it came off Jack in waves. "I drink to not see, and sometimes I see because I drink, funny how that works innit?" Elizabeth did not answer; he gave another humorless laugh, it seemed so unnatural and forced and it, more then anything, made Elizabeth regret her words. She found herself wishing, if just for a moment, to hear Jack's normal chuckle, or sarcastic laugh, to hear anything other then that awful sound. Jack held up the rum bottle once more as if to toast, the rusty contents swilling in the bottom, he took a long swig of it, drowning the rest of its contents.
"And….if you'll forgive an old pirates, what was it again?" he leaned closer to Elizabeth she could once again smell his rum soaked breathe but she was not concerned with it, what she was concerned with was his eyes, his eyes which bore into her and told her she had crossed the line, said something which she deeply and honestly wished she could take back. He put a hand to his moustache, as if contemplating, "Ah that's right," he suddenly said dryly, spreading his hand as if he'd seen the answer in the air, "Indulgences…." The word made Elizabeth cringe and she would have stepped back in intimidation if she had the ability to move and was not captured by his eyes which almost seemed to burn with a fire all of their own. The word was filled with such bitterness, such knowledge that it shamed her and made her fear. "You see it's just difficult missy, choosing between….the darkness or having a blessed moment, even if it is only the slightest, where you forget and cannot see…." he trailed off, he was panting almost, his gaze did not waver though, but suddenly he rocked back on his heels and looked down at the rum bottle in his hand, once more that glazed look in his eyes, once more the passion gone, once more the shadow returning. "The darkness…tain't pleasant love….tain't pleasant at all…." He panted breathlessly, his voice distant and odd.
"I….I'm sorry," she finally whispered, her voice cracked slightly.
Jack suddenly pulled back his arm and threw, the rum bottle arched in the air, the sunlight playing off it and seeming to send dazzles of light into the sea, and then it fell, down, down, down until the sea enveloped it in it's loving embrace, sending a small splash, and it was lost from any man's grasp, bobbing lightly, being dragged by the pulling waves.
" S'worth all the bloody trouble," Jack said softly, not meeting her gaze, his somewhat dead and still glazed, "S'all I'm saying, savvy?" He moved past her, his jaunty gate perfectly normal and almost graceful on the soothing rocking ship. Elizabeth looked after him forlornly then her gaze was drawn back to the spot where she saw the rum bottle fall into the ocean. It bobbed there, up and down, nothing within it, not the liquid it held which let a man forget if only for a moment, nor a message which Elizabeth as an innocent naïve girl had heard of in fairy tales…. it was just an empty bottle.
Elizabeth felt small and alone as the wind blew her hair and pulled at her thin dress, making her shiver. But all she really could feel and see was Jack on the floor of the hold, a nightmare sinking his claws into him and not letting go. Jack had always drunk. If Elizabeth remembered correctly on her last stay on the Black Pearl he hardly ever slept. Maybe Jack was like the bottle, tricking a person with wonderful stories of messages in a bottle or promises of rum, but in the end when all was said and done just being a bottle….he was just a man …..
He was afraid, afraid of something and it made Elizabeth afraid because this time he was not running, this time he was not scheming or gambling, this time he was just waiting to die….and he was afraid…..and he refused to share, and he refused to try, he just waited, waited to die afraid….waited to die alone….waited to die….and that scared Elizabeth more then any words, or blows, or wars ever could.
J.S
Land was sighted very late in the evening, and the Captain true to his word offered them a boat. They sailed the ship on Danny's guidance to the mouth of the river and anchored, preparing the boat for Elizabeth and Jack. Jack appeared upon deck a little while after as the men were making it ready, he looked out to sea, then at the boat, but didn't once glance at Elizabeth. Twilight was soon approaching, the sun was beginning to set.
"Captain," he suddenly called, Elizabeth felt her heart sink, fearing that he was about to do something which would destroy their security of passage back. Captain Thomas turned to look at him as he watched the men preparing the boat.
"Yes Mr. Sparrow," he said civilly, Elizabeth could not understand how he could be so cool to a man who had only the day before held a pistol to his head.
"Well sir," Jack said, he was speaking rather civily, leaning closer to the Captain then he needed to be. "This boat it won't do it all."
The Captain looked surprised, "Why not?" he asked, "I assure you all our boats are ready for a dip Mr. Sparrow and will carry you and Miss Swann upriver safely."
"That may be," Jack said, waving it away "But not this particular one."
"And why ever not?" the Captain queried, becoming somewhat indignant.
"Because this particular one Captain," Jack said, leading the man by his arm towards the ship, Elizabeth following them. "Has a hole in it." He gestured and both Elizabeth and the Captain lent down to check, it was true that the boat did indeed have a jagged hole, not too large, but large enough to ensure their sinking after a while.
"Goodness," the Captain exclaimed, "I would have never have thought…on my ship." He looked around at the crew members; it was obvious he was slightly annoyed that the boats hadn't been taken proper care of.
"Don't worry your mind bout it," Jack said, waving his hand as if dismissing it as a trifle, being very generous in Elizabeth's thoughts. "But maybe you should have your fellows make ready a more suitable boat, maybe that one perhaps." He pointed at a particular one, Elizabeth immediately felt suspicious, remembering many of Jack's former schemes.
"Why that particular one?" Elizabeth quickly queried.
"No reason," Jack shrugged, "Just seeing as I was looking over it had nothing wrong with it, so I thought it as good as any. Better then one with a hole in it wouldn't you agree?"
"Well if you find it safe Mr. Sparrow I am happy to comply," the Captain said, "Gentleman please ready that boat and ensure it has nothing wrong with it."
Elizabeth noticed that the gentleman hesitated for a moment, but at their Captains look they quickly went to work, though they continued to pass dark looks Jack's way. Elizabeth couldn't understand why an earth they would be doing so, and she was sure there was something amiss, but she couldn't quite understand it.
"Your Captains a clever one he is," Douglas suddenly said, making Elizabeth start, he was standing beside her.
"What do you mean?' Elizabeth asked narrowing her eyes suspiciously, but Douglas merely chuckled and shrugged.
"You'll find out soon enough I suppose," he said as he moved to assist a fellow crew member.
It infuriated Elizabeth and made her agonize more, but she could not understand what would make Jack or the others behave so, and what Douglas had alluded to. Finally though the boat was lowered, the ladder put down and Jack and Elizabeth were ready to climb down.
"We will be back here in the morning of the third day Miss Swann," the Captain said, "Waiting for you."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said the Captain though was still frowning absently; obviously the boat business was still bothering him. Elizabeth shook hands with Danny and Douglas, who alluded once more infuriatingly, then she made her way down the rope ladder, which to her surprise Jack was already climbing.
They were in the boat, Jack made no movement towards the oars, which Elizabeth didn't comment on, he hardly wanted to be there anyway. Resigning herself to the fact she was the one rowing she quickly picked them up and began rather unsteadily at first. Jack sat in the middle of the boat, rather hunched, he looked around at the water cautiously, obviously trying to keep as far away as he could from it.
"Gentleman," Jack called to the crew members suddenly, "It was a pleasure doing business with you," to Elizabeth's surprise he saluted them. Elizabeth looked back at the crew members; they were all looking murderous, bar the Captain Danny and Douglas. The Captain merely shook his head at Jack's antics and moved off from the railing.
Jack seemed to be making sure he was gone, then suddenly he pulled something from under a piece of canvas at his feet, it was a rum bottle. Elizabeth stopped rowing to stare, mouth agape, at him. Some of the crew members looked around then made obscene gestures at him; Jack merely waved and smiled cheerily, the rum bottle waving in his other hand. Danny and Douglas were the only ones to return the cheery wave, though rather less cheerily.
Jack sat back down, and uncorked the bottle, grinning rather happy with himself.
"Told you there was a cache aboard the ship," he said at Elizabeth's astonished look.
Elizabeth cast him a dark look and muttered something dark under her breathe.
"Sorry didn't catch that love?" Jack queried, looking at her.
"I said aren't you going to row?" Elizabeth snapped angrily.
"No," Jack said shaking his head and looking at her under lazy lids. "Don't see why I should. You were the one who bloody dragged me out here, and you're the one who wants to see Tia Dalma."
Elizabeth had nothing to say to this, she merely cast Jack another dark look and began rowing once more. When they passed the embankment Elizabeth caught something at the corner of her eye, a dark shape. She quickly looked and gasped, beached there as plain for the eye to see was the magnificent Pearl. She could not understand how she had not seen it from the ship, and how only now when they were practically upon it had she noticed it. She was exactly how Elizabeth remembered her, though her sails were furled and she was stationary, the tide moving around her. Elizabeth's eyes turned to Jack, he was looking at the Pearl, his gaze unreadable, appearing more shadowed.
"Jack how?' she queried, looking at the ship which seemed somewhat forlorn as it sat there, without being used for her correct purpose.
"Just let sleeping krakens lie," Jack muttered, then divulging in his rum, he pulled his hat over his eyes.
Elizabeth was by no means satisfied, but she realized she would gain nothing else for him, so she continued to row further down the river, the dark jungle surrounding them on all sides, silence seeming to stretch on forever.
This is the beginning of the chapter, I don't want to leave you guys waiting forever because I have exams coming up and I have to study so don't expect any updates for two weeks. There will be more to this chapter though, as I said before it's just the beginning of it. I don't really like it, I think it's hashed and…ugh. I really need some advice so please review.
My French is horrible, I mashed it, the little there is. Blame it on the computer translation, I just wish you could type in a sentence and it would give you an answer grrr. Thanks for the reviews please continue reviewing, hope you liked.
Sairra : p
Capitain Jacque Passereau'supposed to mean Captain Jack Sparrow
Oui, oui monamisupposed to mean yes, yes my friend
Je savoir il Capitain Jacque Passereau. Calmer apaiser! supposed to mean I know its Captain Jack Sparrow. Calm down! or something to that effect.
