Maria frowns as she looks over the boat, out at the water, to where the cave is located. "Dead men tell no tale." Maria could kill that bird by now. Always echoing what she wished it didn't.
"Chills the bones, how many honest sailors been claimed by this passage." Gibbs says from beside her. They were sailing over shark infested waters and ships that went down in these waters. It's enough to scare anyone.
"How is it that Jack came by that compass?" Will asks as he, Gibbs, and Maria move away from the water.
"Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow before he came to Tortuga with a mind to find the treasure of the Isla De Muerta." Gibbs says as he makes sure the sails are tightly tied to the ship. "That was before I met him, when he was captain of the Black Pearl." Maria frowns and looks over at Gibbs.
"What?" Will asks, he too seems surprised and a bit confused. "He failed to mention that."
"He plays things close to vest now." Gibbs says.
"I can tell." Maria murmurs as she stares up at the rugged captain.
"And a hard learned lesson it was." Gibbs says. "Three days into the trip, the first mate says, 'Everything's an equal share, so that should mean the location of the treasure too.' So Jack gives up the bearings. That night, there was a mutiny. They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die. But not before he'd gone mad with the heat."
"So that's the reason for all the..." Maria rolls her eyes as Will makes a strange gesture.
"He's not weird." Maria defended, causing Will to glance at her confused.
"Now, Will, when a pirate's marooned, he's given a pistol with a single shot. One shot. Well that won't do much good hunting, nor to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starving belly and thirst, that pistol starts to look real friendly." Gibbs hold a gun shaped hand to his head with a twist smile. Maria frowns and looks over at Jack. She feels bad for what happened to him, no body should ever have to go through that. "But Jack escaped the island, and still has that single shot. He won't use it, though, save on one man. His mutinous first mate."
"Black Pearl's captain." Will guesses.
"Aye."
"How did Jack get off the island?" Maria asks as she turns and looks at him, great curiosity in her eyes.
"I'll tell ye. He waded out into the shallows, and waited three days and three nights, till all manner of sea creatures became acclimated to his presence. On the fourth morning, he roped a couple of sea turtles, lashed them together and made a raft." Maria's eyes widen in surprise and aw.
"He roped a couple of sea turtles." Will says, a tone of doubt in his voice.
"Aye, sea turtles." Gibbs nods.
"What did he use for rope?" Gibbs opens his mouth to answer, but closes once he finds that he has no answer. He turns upon hearing Jack, who now stands right behind Maria.
"Human hair." Jack answers, his fingers toying with her dark brown hair. Gibbs chuckles with a nod just before Jack adds what kind of hair. "From my back." Gibbs nods a disturbing smile on his face. Maria glances up at Jack, who is steering down at her with a breath catching gaze. He manages a small smile before pulling his away and look at the crew. "Let go the anchor!"
"Lower the anchor line!" The crew yells back.
"Young Mr. Turner and I are to go ashore." Maria sighs and stands as Gibbs follows after Jack.
Maria walks over to Jack as they're lowering the long boat. "Jack?" He turns and looks at Maria, a bit surprised upon her standing before him. "I'm sorry for before." Jack frown as he remembers her oh so snappy attitude. "May I come along shore with you? Elizabeth's my friend, please." Jack lets a sigh out as he looks over at the cave.
"It'd be dangerous." Jack begins.
"I know, please, can I go with you?" Jack glances over at her and smiles, holding out a hand to her, which she takes without so much of a blink.
"All aboard, love." He says as he helps her into the boat.
They row to the island, passing through waters filled with gold. "What code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" Will asks as Maria looks down at the gold in the water, causing Jack to smile ever the slightest.
"Pirates' code." Jack answers after a pause. "Any man who falls behind is left behind." Maria frowns, apart of her thinks he shouldn't tell Will that. It's not that Maria doesn't trust him, but it's not like he likes Jack, so what is to keep him from leaving him behind once he has Elizabeth. What is keeping him from leaving Maria behind? Maria doesn't think she wants that question answered.
"No heroes amongst thieves, aye." Will mumbles as he glances back at Maria and Jack.
"For having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way of becoming one." Maria chuckles as he says this. "Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga..." Jack and Maria look back to see him staring at the gold in the water. "And you're completely obsessed with treasure." He says as Maria runs her fingers over the water with a smile.
"Guess I'd be considered a good pirate." Maria says to Jack, causing the man to chuckle and look at her.
"An excellent one." He tells her as he looks back at Will.
"That's not true." The reach the bay and quickly climb out of the boat. "I am not obsessed with treasure." He says as they start up the hill to the rock face, where just behind it all the pirates are getting ready to lift the curse. Jack stands before the opening window, looking down at the scene before him, Maria standing before him, his arm draped around her and much to his surprise, she isn't pulling away.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." Jack smiles as he glances at Maria, moving her hair off her shoulder, and causing her to look up at him.
"Gentlemen, the time has come!" Maria frowns as she looks at the man who spoke. He has shoulder length wavy light brown hair, a scruffy beard on his face, he's tall too with a monkey on his shoulder.
"Is that the captain?" Jack glances at Maria before looking down.
"Yes, love, it is." He looks at her with a curious face, as if trying to read hers.
"Salvation is nigh! Our torment is nearing an end!"
"Elizabeth." Will gasps.
"For ten years we've been tested and tried and each man here has proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again! The crowd cheers with everything he says.
"Suffered, I have!" One pirate in the crowd yells.
"Punished we were, the lot of us, disproportionate to our crime! Here it is!" He lifts a foot and pushes the top of a chest open. "The curse treasure of Cortes himself." He runs his fingers down the chest, his fingers running over the coins as he went. "Every last piece that went astray, we have returned. Save for this!" He points to Elizabeth's necklace as the crowd yells once more.
"Jack!" Will hisses in worry.
"Not yet." Maria trusts Jack, so she knows to listen to him, Will however tries to climb over, knocking a few coins down, but Jack pulls him down to a crouch. "We wait for the opportune moment." He starts down the walk way once more, Maria walking beside him, and Will close behind them.
"When's that? When it's of greatest profit for you?" Will asks, causing Maria to frown at him.
"May I ask you something?" Jack asks. "Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me." He looks at both Will and Maria.
"N.. No." Maria shakes her head, but Will doesn't answer.
"Do us a favor. I know it's difficult for you, but please stay here." Jack says, causing Maria to nod in agreement.
"I agree with Jack, Will, you out there is way to reckless for us." Jack nods with Maria.
"And try not to do anything stupid." Jack adds as he and Maria start walking away.
"Who among us have paid the blood sacrifice owed to the heathen gods?" The captain asks as Jack and Maria watch from around the corner.
"I'll distract him, but you must go after Elizabeth." Jack whispers, causing Maria to nod in understanding and agreement. "But we must wait for the right moment." Again she nods.
"Us!" The crowd yells in answer to their captain.
"And whose blood must yet be paid!"
"Hers!"
"You know the first thing I'm going to do after the curse is lifted?" The crew laughs. "Eat a whole bushel of apples!" The crowd cheers as the captain picks up a knife, bending her over.
"Jack-
"Trust me, love." Maria looks at Jack, his eyes showing nothing but strength and truthfulness.
"I do." Maria whispers. "I trust you." Jack smiles in response as he turns back to face the crowd.
"Begun by blood. By blood undone." Maria frown as she sees a dark shape pass the corner of her eye, but before she can react blackness over takes her upon a hard hit is done to her head.
