He's a Pirate
Chapter 14- For Your Information"What does the letter say?" Will asked earnestly. He was obviously eager to know the contents of the letter.
Karie handed him the letter and waited while he read it. As he read the close-knit handwriting, Karie waited with baited breath to hear what he had to say on the matter. After he finished reading it, Will made a puzzled look that turned to a look of disgust. He threw the letter on the ground. Karie picked it up and put it back in the envelope, tucking it into her shirt.
"Well?" She asked.
"Your uncle sounds almost as bad as Jack," Will commented. His comment, though, was not helpful.
"What do you think I should do?" Karie asked him. Will was silent. "I have to find Jack and tell about this," Karie said, suddenly realizing how serious the situation was.
She stood up and made to go down the way that Jack had gone, but then realized something very important: There was more than one tavern in the nearby town. There was no way that she would be able to find him before he drank until he dropped like a stone, and then returned to the Pearl. In her mind, Karie went through the scenario, and came to the same conclusion, whether she found Jack or not. There was no way that he would be in his right mind to remember her, and he would leave her behind.
There was no way that she was willing to be left behind. She needed to solve the puzzle, the way her uncle had told her to. She needed to because, if she did, then it was possible that she could get her heart's desire.
"I think we better wait until he comes back from the tavern," Will said. He held out his hand and helped Karie to her feet.
"Maybe you're right," Karie said, brushing herself off. "The only solution would be to wait until tomorrow morning, when Jack is more likely to be willing to listen." Karie began to walk back to the beach, where Gibbs and Anna Maria would be waiting.
"If there's one thing I know about Jack Sparrow," Will said, following her, "It's that he will always listen when his life is on the line."
"What else would you expect?" Karie asked rhetorically. "He's a pirate. There nothing a pirate, especially a pirate such as Jack, cares about more than his life." After a pause, Karie reconsidered this statement. "Well, except for his booty," she added. Will smiled knowingly, and wisely said nothing.
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Jack stumbled onto the deck of the Pearl in a drunken stupor. He stroked the wood of the railing and murmured something about loving the Pearl. He stumbled over to where a lantern hung from a metal rod. He peered at the flame, entranced. He slowly reached his fingers towards the flame, and passed his fingers through the flame. It took him a moment to feel the searing heat of the lantern flame.
"Ouch!" He exclaimed louder than necessary, and pulled his hand back. He sucked on his fingers to cool them. Then, after a moment's pause in which nothing was accomplished, he stuck the fingers of his other hand into the flame. This time the pain came quickly. He yanked his hand away, yelping in pain and waving his hands around while jumping up and down and turning around in a circle.
Karie stood three feet away from him, but he didn't seem to notice her. "Nice dance," she commented, making Jack stop in his tracks and look around. Karie took two steps forward so Jack could see her better. "Did you make that up just now?" She asked. "Or have you been practicing it for the last four hours?" The last question was rhetorical, and had just a touch of the anger that she was feeling.
Jack made like he was bowing to a grand lady, and he took off his hat in the process. Karie raised one eyebrow and tilted her head to the left slightly in an irritated and questioning manner.
"Well now, luv," Jack began, taking a few steps towards her, "There is a long answer to that, and a short answer. Whish would you prefer?" He hiccupped.
"The truth," Karie replied, taking a step back. She didn't like the way that Jack was looking at her.
"Well, now that washn't one of the choices, wash it?" he asked, his tongue thick and heavy from drinking rum for the past four hours.
"I have something important to tell you," Karie began, taking a step towards Jack so she wouldn't have to yell.
"Heh?" Jack asked, obviously not hearing her. Apparently she was going to have to yell, whether she wanted to or not.
"I said, I have something important to tell you," Karie repeated, raising her voice slightly. Jack leaned forward and Karie took two steps back, on the off chance that he decided to throw up right when his head was above her face.
"Well, then, out with it!" Jack said, making incomprehensible gestures with his hands.
"The letter," Karie began, watching – by the light of the lantern – as Jack wandered around the deck in the dark. He banged into things and cursed loudly. "The letter," Karie repeated, louder now and more insistently, "The one from my uncle. It had some information that I think you should be privy to."
Jack wandered over to the opposite railing from whence he had climbed over, and peered down at the water. The light of the moon glinted off of the shining water, and Jack stared at it in wonder, with his arms hanging over the side. The next minute, he was vomiting violently into the seemingly clear water.
Karie wrinkled her nose in disgust and waited until he was finished. Jack straightened up, and staggered over to her, his hand over his forehead. "I think I could use some of that remedy of yours right about now," he said, and fell backwards with a loud thump on the deck of the Pearl. He began to snore loud enough to wake the dead.
Just as Karie was thinking this, and pondering how to get him into his cabin, Gibbs came up to relieve her of watch. He took one look at Jack, curled up in the fetal position, and had a good hearty laugh. As he wiped away tears of mirth, he helped Karie bring Jack into his cabin. Once he was on his bed, both people left: Karie to the kitchen to prepare some of her hangover remedy, and Gibbs on deck, to keep watch.
-
Jack woke up with a pounding headache. The gentle rocking of the ship made Jack's stomach feel like that of a landlubber during a violent sea voyage. He lay in bed for a moment, immobile. His hat was still on his head. That, at least, was some comfort, but not enough to make the pain go away.
Jack gathered his courage and hauled himself up into a sitting position. The room swayed, and the pirate captain knew he wouldn't be able to stand for some time.
Just as Jack was about to call for someone to bring him a pail, the door opened. Karie came in, remedy in hand, and shoved him violently back down onto his back. She was obviously mad about something.
"Not sure I deserved that," he muttered to no one in particular. Karie didn't answer, and began to pour a mug of the brownish, sweet-smelling liquid that had cured his hangover the last time he had been at a tavern.
Jack got himself back up into a sitting position. Karie pushed her hand against his chest, shoving him back down onto his bunk.
"Ye know, mate," Jack said, glancing at the door to make sure Anna Maria wasn't there. He touched his hat to make sure it was securely on his head. "Ye don't need to go to all this trouble, just to get me in bed." He smiled an almost toothless grin.
Karie stood over him with the pitcher of hot liquid. "Unless you want me to pour this scalding hot liquid on you, I suggest you shut your mouth," she said in a menacingly quiet voice.
Jack whimpered a little, but he shut up. Karie handed him a steamy mug of the hangover remedy and set the jug back on the tray.
"Why are ye here anyway?" Jack asked, wincing at the pain in his head.
"For your information," Karie replied. "I am here to warn you of impending doom." Jack sat up suddenly and banged his head on the top bunk. "Serves you right," Karie said.
"What do ye mean, impending doom?" Jack asked. Without a word, Karie handed Jack the letter from her dead uncle.
A/N: I hope you liked that. Review, please!