Chapter 10: 1727 Tia Dalma

Jack and Tia Dalma were alone in his cabin.

"Sit down, you're my guest. A cup of rum? Or vine?"

She shook her head.

"Well, I think I need one."

With a grin he grasped for a bottle of rum. Then he sat down and put his feet on the table.

"And now, what was it that chased you out of your swamp? You're not here because I fantasized for a week aboard my ship, aren't you?"

Jack looked thoughtfully at the Voodoo–Priestess.

Tia Dalma had not changed since he met her for the first time, several years ago. He found her strange weird island, where zombies and the undead were supposed to live, by pure chance, when he and his friends from Shipwreck Cove had been on a ramble.

In contrast to most of the other sailors his superstition kept within a limit. There was too much to fear within the real world. So he had only gazed curiously at the strange lady in her tattered golden gown of brocade. Back then she appeared to him neither sinister nor terrifying. Although the symbols scratched and tattooed to her skin seemed to be less inviting for the first look, a curious fascination came from her.

Much more indeed from her cabana which was built on stilts within the swamp and which was filled to the roof with peculiar things. Shells, chicken claws and frog eyes haven't been the most interesting oddities. His curiosity undid every hint of fear. Although it made him skeptical when she told him who he was, what his name was and where he came from without knowing anything about him. She had asked him if he wanted to know something about his future. He refused and she was the same surprised and confused. Then her gaze ingressed deep into his soul in a really odd way. The awkward feeling that she was able to read within his heart, mind and soul like within a book lasted not long but it left a bitter taste.

Back then he wasn't aware who she was. Today it was all different. When he asked her, why she came aboard his ship he already knew the answer. She always had left her island only for an important reason, although not everyone was able to interpret her incitement.

"You're here because I rather should be dead, aren't you?"

"Aye! It wasn't covert to me that a soul came back. From a place where never ever somebody came back."

"Call it diplomacy, love."

"You closed a dangerous bargain, Jack Sparrow. Be glad that you escaped the Locker without any harm."

"Without any harm? I nearly lost myself in that white desert. I do not even know if I found myself right now."

"You lost more than yourself, Jack. And only you will be able to find out what it was."

"You're talking in riddles. Have you seen my future?"

"Aye! You want to know?"

"No! I don't believe in that. My future is my concern, Tia Dalma!"

"Maybe you will be accompanied by sorrow and grief then."

"It can't be getting worse than it is now. A dear friend once told me, that there would be a day when my heart will be torn apart. It is now, I fear! It feels like that!"

"If it's so you have to take care for the shards. Don't lose them!"

"What for? I already lost what I desired most in this world. Do you have an answer for me? Do you know how I shall fill the emptiness inside myself?"

Tia Dalma smiled and she looked at him in that strange knowing way she did years ago as well.

"Well, maybe this will help."

She lay a small box on the table, right in front of him: simple but precious. Jack opened it. Embedded in that wooden box he found a compass. One which was at any rate – different.

"It doesn't show north?"

"No!"

"But it's not damaged?"

"No!"

"And it will lead me to an aim?"

"Yes!"

"If it doesn't show north what does it show me?"

"What you're desiring most, Jack Sparrow!"

With a sigh he took the compass in his hand. The needle rotated several times around its center, then it stood still. It pointed towards the little cabin where Caithleen had lived, when the ship still had been the "Wicked Wench". He kept silent.

Tia Dalma gazed at him. At last she said: "You know this desire is the only what can't be satisfied anymore."

"I know! So it must be that way if neither Davy Jones nor his Voodoo–Priestess were able to bring back her soul."

Tia Dalma startled. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue.

After several moments she asked: "You know it?"

"I saw death, Tia Dalma! At the same time there was more broken than only my ship. I was as well. Believe me, I can feel a broken heart now. Davy Jones is the best Captain who ever sailed the seven seas. He loves the sea as we all do. But he is the only man who was loved by the sea itself. He was the only man for whom she, the sea goddess herself, showed herself in human form. Until the day when his period of time was over, and he realized when he came ashore, that she had left him. Since then he sails on his cursed ship and he forces all the lost souls into his service. All who are not strong enough to face their death..."

Tia Dalma was like frozen. After a while she lifted her eyes and Jack saw all the pain of a lost love within her face.

"Your secret is safe with me, Tia Dalma. There is no reason for telling it to anybody."

"Be assure that they will find it out without your help. I know, the day will come and I fear it. But wherefrom are you knowing it...?"

"My father!"

"Teague?"

"Aye! After having more than one bottle of rum. He's the keeper of the code and he knows all those stories of pirate kings, the Brethren Court and what else is written in this book. He was in the mood of telling me stories. It was seldom enough, that he did. Maybe it wasn't a contingency that I found your island."

"There is more hidden within you than you will let others know, Jack Sparrow."

"It was of no great use until today."

"Use the compass with care. It will not always open up in a direct way."

"And what will be the price? I know, you're making no gifts. And I own nothing but my ship at the moment."

"You own yourself."

He sat up and frowned. For the moment he wasn't able to say if that what he supposed was the same what she wanted from him. He looked at her over the table: "I won't sell myself and I won't give away myself. Not even to the sea goddess herself."


The next morning he awoke long after sunrise. He was alone and he had no remembrance of the bygone night. It couldn't be the rum. He didn't drink enough to be drunk enough for an involuntarily night with a woman he was fascinated by but he felt only respect and friendship for. It was idle of thinking about it any longer. Tia Dalma knew the answer. Maybe she would tell him someday.

When he got into his boots his look got caught by the compass, lying already on the table. She left it there. Had he paid the price though? With a sigh he took the little precious. He would find out if that compass was worth that night.


Jack found Bill on deck.

"Where is Tia Dalma?"

"She went away before I came on deck."

"Never try to understand a woman... Aside from that I've other problems. I have to find me a crew but it's too long ago that I had to deal with such a thing. Tell me, which of those ramshackle huts is the best to serve our purpose?"

"It depends on what you're expecting."

"You told me, Barbossa is here?"

"Aye!"

"Do you think he would sail under my command?"

"Ask him!"

"Maybe I will talk to him about Cortez and some hidden treasures. If it sounds realistic it could be a nice adventure. And even a fine prize for the crew. We'll see. So where can I find Barbossa?"

"Let's try the "Pirate's Lass." I know the innkeeper."

"I leave the crew to you while I'll search for Barbossa."

"Aye, Captain!"