Chapter 21: 1742 The "Santiago"
Jack and Caithleen had no time left to wait for their clothes to dry. Both knew that over there on the other side of the gap Blackbeard would hurry his crew along to reach the ford as soon as possible Jack described to him.
So they tried as wet as they were and as fast as even doable to climb up the steep flank of the gap. Loose bushes, overhanging rocks and dead brushwood made it not an easy task so when they reached the edge of the gap they preferred to rest for a while being totally exhausted.
"Nothing of this stood within Patrick's books and I've the vague feeling he kept quiet about a lot of things which could have prevented us from becoming pirates back then!" Caithleen sat up shaking her head and having a look over to the other side of the gap.
"That's exactly what I have in mind, love! If I think it over he always told us about treasures, ships and sailing but nothing about – well what do you think, how shall I call it? Shore parties? Unfortunately we won't be able to blame him for it anymore!"
"Do you think, he would have listened to us? He would have smiled. This knowing smile he always had when we got into mischief and then he would have sentenced us to two more hours of training sword fighting..."
"...and swabbing the deck for Rosalind afterwards..."
"...while the two of them would have preferred retiring into their chamber!"
They gazed at each other and suddenly they started laughing until they panted for air and until the beautiful memories got dispelled by the here and now and the reality they were caught in.
"I miss them, Jack!" Caithleen sighed.
"Yes, love, me too, but we've to hurry now. C'mon!"
Jack reached out his hand and she grasped it and got up. They knew both that they had no time to lose. If they wanted to find the "Santiago" where – if the magical chart was to trust in – the silver chalices were hidden aboard they had to reach the shore the latest with sunset.
The path was nearly impassable. Obviously no one stepped on it for a long time and due to the thick green of the virgin forest they were just able to move slowly forward. More than once they stumbled over roots or intertwined lianas and the undetermined feeling of being watched by several hidden eyes wasn't even pleasing as well.
But finally the swoosh of the sea reached their ears through the brushwood and the jungle, still silent first than constantly. It came from the waves rolling ashore and then after a felt eternity Jack pushed some huge leaves aside.
In front of him and Caithleen lay the shore and the sea.
They changed a rapid look then they climbed over a dune and ran down to the sands.
The sun bent slowly down to the horizon while they followed the gently inclined coast line until they reached the flank of the mighty cliffs in which craggy crevices lay a wreck.
Jack stopped where he stood and Caithleen nearly stumbled into him: "Believe it, love, or leave it, but up there lies what we're searching for. Allow me to inform you about what's going on, love! Over there – well, better up there – you see the "Santiago", the proud ship of the famous – or was it infamous, never mind! – sailor and commander Ponce de Leon!" Jack gave Caithleen a broad grin but it died away nearly the same moment, when he added: "Well, if you ask me though why it is up there and not down here all I can say is that I've not the slightest idea! Sorry, love!"
"It's not your fault, isn't it?" Caithleen replied while having a look up the cliff to the wreck. She added with a sigh: "No one said it would become an easy task, right?"
"Aye! Let's hurry before the last daylight vanishes!"
With another sigh they started to climb up this second cliff as well...
When they used a narrow ledge to take breath for a moment Caithleen turned round to have a look down at the bay. Within the vanishing light of the sinking sun Whitecap Bay appeared harmless and untouched – with exception of the ship which anchored within the bay.
"It's the "Flying Dutchman"! What's Will doing here?" Caithleen asked in surprise.
Jack followed her gaze with his own.
She was right, it was the "Dutchman" and there was only one reason why she appeared within the bay: "He comes for those who did not survive."
In silent agreement they went on climbing up towards the "Santiago" being already in reach. When they reached the top of the cliff the sight of the ship seemed to be much more surreal than from below.
It lay mid-ship upon the cliff while its bow as well as its stern projected beyond it. Supposed the chalices were really aboard it meant every try to reach them included the danger to get dragged down the cliff together with the ship.
Jack beheld Caithleen: "Want you to stay here, love! I'll be back as soon as possible! And, Caithleen, keep a sharp eye on what's going on!"
He gave her a wink and went over to the wreck.
Jack hurried climbing up the ship's side to get to the deck.
Nothing moved round the whole wreck and nothing queer was to spot but the crackling of the planks underneath his feet and the sound of the wind running through the masts and through uncountable rips and cracks. Besides this nothing vivid stayed aboard - nothing visible. So Jack sashayed silently down the steps leading to the captain's cabin trying to avoid those which seemed to be rotten and brittle.
"Well, then!"
With a sigh he slipped into the cabin and stood rooted to the ground. It was a magnificent room filled to the brim with treasures, gold and dozens of caskets filled with jewels and pearls. Curtains made of heavy brocade adorned the windows and on a table made of solid wood lay uncountable sea charts. Everything was covered with a thick layer of dust. A bed of state was placed midst the room supposedly much more fitting for a king but a seafarer and discoverer, but it nearly filled one half of the cabin.
The sight he got aware then appeared even more strange and bizarre to him than everything else Jack had seen and experienced upon the island up to now. Within the bed, amongst cushions and sheets of linen, brocade and velvet lay a skeleton still dressed within the most valuable fabric. Heavy rings adorned its bony fingers, a necklace of solid gold still hung from its neck while its skull was covered with a gorgeous crown. Upon the knees of that bony fellow lay a chart which his fingers still held within their firm grip.
The sinking sun threw a peculiar light upon that weird scenery and strange shadows seemed to fill the room. There was no doubt, the dead man in front of him, dressed like a nobleman, gnawed to his bones and adorned like a king was the one Jack had hoped to find right here.
"Ponce de Leon!"
Surprise and relieve were within his voice when he whispered the name. At least up to this point the magical chart did not lie.
Jack winced when he suddenly heard the sound of another voice out if the dark side of the room: "Have a look around! The treasures within this room would be enough to satisfy all the dreams of your crew – if you would have one!"
His hand upon his sword Jack turned round. The same moment a man appeared out of the shadow he might have expected but not at this time and at this place.
Leaned on his cane Hector Barbossa stood in front of him – barely to recognize but entirely himself.
"You?" Surprise and a hint of disbelief were within Jack's voice when he identified the man.
"Aye! Me! Why not, eh? At least you're here as well, am I right?"
"Well, yes!" Jack drew his sword and continued: "And I'm not willing to negotiate! Not this time, mate!"
"I was first!" Barbossa disagreed: "But tell me Jack, what is it that leads you here?"
"Blackbeard sends me!"
"What's that! Since when allows Jack Sparrow anybody to send him anywhere?"
"Let's say since our beloved captain Teach owns some very good reasons for doing so and I've no other choice but following his order. You?"
"To find a pair of silver chalices and on the King's behalf!"
"Hard to believe, mate!"
With a bold jump Jack lunged at Barbossa but after only a few strokes heavy crackling and crunching told them that the ship started moving.
"Get back! Hurry! We have to balance it again! Otherwise it will drag us down the cliff!" Barbossa yelled.
They both moved back some steps and the movement as well as the suspicious noise stopped immediately. Silence surrounded them again.
"Very well then! It won't work this way!" Jack pushed his blade back to his belt and turned round to Barbossa: "I'm not intended to stay aboard this vessel much longer than necessary! So tell me, Hector, what if we both pick up something of approximately the same weight? It should be enough to balance this rotten whatsoever..." Jack had a look around and grasped for a valuable vase. Immediately the wreck tilted over to his side: "Oi! Stop! What..."
Barbossa rolled his eyes: "Put it back! From now on none of us will touch anything! Got that, Sparrow?"
"Aye, mate! Like you said!" With a shrug Jack slammed the vase to the ground.
Once again the ship got in motion.
Totally surprised both of them got aware that a chest slipped out from underneath the bed. Within its cover two chalices were inlaid with gold.
"Have a look, mate! What say you? Could this be what we're searching for?" Jack gave Barbossa a broad grin.
So the story was really true – the wreck was real, Ponce de Leon was real and the chalices were real. Jack's confidence grew with every moment he spent aboard.
"Aye!" Barbossa agreed: "That's exactly what we're searching for! The chalices!" He gazed at Jack and moved some steps back again. Due to the deposition of the wreck the chest slipped over to him.
"Why do you think, you're the first one to look inside that chest, eh?" Jack stepped back as well and the chest moved over to him.
"We can go on this way up till the end of time, but what do you think, where it will lead us to, Jack?"
"As long as I get the chalices straight towards my aim, Hector! Savvy?"
"You will surely understand that I can't let this happen, will you?"
After several vainly tries to fool each other Jack and Barbossa finally ended up midst the room each of them on one side of the chest. They gazed at each other and then the decision was made.
"Together!"
They nodded, grasped for the cover and opened the chest. Immediately they lost their assuredness because in front of them within the chest did not lay a pair of artfully made silver chalices but only rocks...
"Do you see what I see, mate?" Jack barely wanted to trust his eyes: "Rocks!"
Before his disappointment could be mirrored upon his face as well Barbossa remarked: "The Spanish! I should have guessed it! They're already here!"
"And as it seems they obviously don't even have a haedstart but they're several steps in advance!" Jack's gaze met the skeleton and the chart its hand still kept in its grip: "If it's true what I've in mind, mate, I should have a look at this chart. I fear we've not much time left!"
He looked at Barbossa insistently and his counterpart understood on the spot. Up to an unspoken sign they jumped up on the bed on each side of Ponce de Leon's remaining leftovers. Several coins trickled out of the cushions but Jack pushed them forgetfully aside. If there was something he wasn't in need for at the moment it were treasures and other trifle. To save Caithleen he needed the chalices and apparently the only way to find them led over the Spanish.
With a sigh he grasped for the chart: "I can't understand, why they left it back here..." While he was still talking the skeleton seemed to move. The skull bent down on him and seemed to look directly into Jack's face. "Ahhh!" He winced in horror: "Oi! What the hell..."
"Put the chart back!" Barbossa whispered while he gazed at Jack unmistakably: "Now!"
Jack nodded and let the chart drop: "Have an idea what to do next, mate?"
"The Spanish are in the know where to search next! Well, and I'm in the know where to search for the Spanish! C'mon!"
The wreck swung and swayed alarmingly when the two of them climbed down the ship's side. Meanwhile the sun went down and bright moonlight lit the place.
"I feared I would never see you again!" Caithleen taunted with a knowing smile while she wrapped her arms around Jack, then she noticed Barbossa behind him: "Captain Barbossa! You found your way to the isle as I see?"
"Ah, Miss Stevens! A pleasure to meet you again! Let's say you got your part within it, eh?"
"All I did was to convince Gibbs to lead you here."
"Well, you succeeded! But all I ask myself is why are you willing to endanger your life just to save this young fool out of Blackbeard's firm grip?"
"Do you really think, Jack's in need for my help?"
"Exactly!" Jack wrapped an arm round her shoulder and had a straight look into Barboss's face: "Don't you think we should trash this out later on, mate? Think the Spanish are much more important at the moment, Aye?"
"Both of you did not see what I saw! Edward Teach is a demon and to vanquish him it will not be enough to negotiate or to strike a bargain with him. I'm willing to wipe him out by all means..." Barbossa paused, then he gazed at Jack inquiring and curious. He asked: "Tell, me Jack! To whom does your loyalty belong in this case?"
"My loyalty? First of all, Hector, you should know that my loyalty always belongs to me but in this case it belongs to her and there is no reason why I shouldn't accompany you...There is an open score I've to settle with captain Teach..."