Disclaimer: still the same as before.
Author's notes:
- To JC: thank you very much!
- To Smithy: I am glad you liked the last chapter! I did arrive safely in my homeland and I've been stuffing myself with every kind of cheese available: brie, camembert, garlic and herbs, goat's log… you name it! ;-)
- To Ana: Jack's pun about a buccaneer being a "bread-cannot" is to mock Pete about his inability to gain money ("bread").
- To Candi: thanks! I love humpback whales since I've seen some in the St Lawrence's bay nearby Tadoussac (Quebec).
- The "bouillabaisse" is a French fish stew originating from the city port of Marseilles. It is composed of cooked fishes, shellfishes and vegetables with added herbs and spices (from Wikipedia).
Chapter 25: The Prince of the Oceans
The Barbary Corsairs looked in stunned silence at the wreckage which used to be a brig, just a minute ago. For all their courses around the globe, they had never witnessed such a prodigy: a humpback whale had leaped clear out of the water just to crash its seventy-nine thousand pounds of flesh into a ship! That was something the Turkish sailors would have a hard time to explain at their friends and families, back at home – they'd probably being called fantastic liars for the rest of their lives!
Jack, Ammand and the corsairs looked in awe at their immense savior, but strangely the whale didn't seem perturbed at all about landing its immense bulk on the Conqueror. Shortly after the loud "SMACK" of destruction, the whale let out a groan that sounded like a sigh of relief; then it slid from the remains of the brig on its belly to swiftly disappear into deeper waters with a strange serenity, as if destroying a vessel was part of this animal's daily routine just like searching for food or following migratory routes.
But the humpback whale's jump had proven fatal for Red Hand Pete's men who had remained on the Conqueror: corpses and dismantled ship materials floated everywhere under a rain of wood and bits of canvas, and it wouldn't be long before they'd all disappear into the ocean's depths under a shroud of foam. The impact had been so brusque and violent, only the pirates catapulted in the water by the momentum had a little chance to survive, provided they could swim long enough to reach the beaches of Isla de Muerta.
Andy and Tony had managed to flee on the tiny dinghy formerly belonging to Red Hand Pete. They had sailed away from the naval engagement, slowly but steadily, and luckily none of the Conqueror's sailors or the Seref's corsairs had noticed their escape. They had seen the brig's end, crushed under tons of animal muscles and fat, and they had a hard time believing their own eyes!
A deadly silence followed the sinking of the Conqueror, and then Andy exclaimed:
"Didja see that, Tony? That big fish jumped outta the water to sit on the ship!"
"I sure saw it, sonny," answered the old sailor. "´Tis a glorious sight that I will remember until the day I go to me grave."
"But why did that fish do that, Tony? Why would it do this fantastic leap for?"
"T'was a ´umpback whale, sonny, and it jumped because Cap'tain Turner ´as some powerful friends. Yes, very powerful friends indeed, by da look of it."
"Ya mean it landed on the Conqueror to rescue Cap'tain Turner?"
"Nope, I mean dat ´umpback whale did it to destroy all the culprits who had ´urt Cap'tain Turner, startin' with our unloved commander. Red ´and Pete and ´is friends must be tormented by all the demons of ´ell, by now!
"And what about Cap'tain Turner?" asked the boy.
"I'm sure ´e's safe and rescued and far away from dat brig before it went down, worry not!"
Andy remained quiet for a moment, and then he nervously glanced at the ocean's waters before asking, sounding very insecure:
"Is our boat goin' to be crushed by the giant whale, too?"
"Of course not, sonny!" laughed Tony. "You an' I both ´elped Cap'tain Sparrow to free his friend, and you've been hurt by Red ´and Pete when he baited Cap'tain Turner to climb on the Conqueror. I saw in that wounded lad's eyes that ´e didn't bear any kind of grudge against us. No, you and I are free. Free lika bird to go anywhere we please."
"But to go where, Tony?" asked the boy with a forlorn voice. "We've been sailin' on a pirate ship; it means the gallows if we reach Port Royal. Tortuga is a crazy place and we cannot go to islands belongin' to French or Spanish crowns. I have no family, and nowhere to go."
"I don't have any kinda relatives anywhere too, meaning we are alone in dis world. Well, we'll go to America!" exclaimed Tony. "I know abbat a nice town up there named Boston. With Red ´and Pete's money stashed in dat leather bag, it will be the perfect spot for an old man and ´is grandson ta open a fish shop."
Andy's eyes shone like turquoises!
"Grandson?"
"Aye, sonny. That's what you are ta me. Are ya interested in 'elpin' me openin' a business? We'll sell freshly-caught fish in our shop after unloading it from a brand-new boat ta call our own."
"Oh, yes! Thank you, Tony!" said the boy, launching himself in the arms of the old sailor. They embraced warmly, Andy grateful at the idea of getting a new parent, and Tony imagining his old days enlightened with a child to care about. The newly appointed grandfather was picturing in his mind their small but comfy house, with a sturdy roof above their heads and a roaring fire in the chimney. A place to call home, where Andy could grow up safely and Tony live without fearing the law, the rope or the whip. Together they would be a family, keeping the best fish shop of Boston, earning honest money from honest work and no one would bother them about their pasts…
"We'll call the shop the "Tony and Andy's"!" exclaimed Andy. "And our boat will be named "The jumping whale"!"
Hugging the boy close to his heart, Tony looked at the Seref and then he did something he had never imagined doing it in his life: he silently thanked the enemies for attacking their ship and destroying it! He also expressed his gratitude to Captain Jack Sparrow for his incredible insolence and his talent for escaping from dangerous situations; but, above anyone else, he thanked Captain Turner for his exemplary courage, which had given a worn-out sailor the strength to break free from the fears chaining him better than iron.
"God bless ya, laddie," thought Tony. "For ´elping the drifting souls, for your ´onor showing me the way to do better, and for giving us ´ope…. God bless yur ´eart, laddie!"
The tiny dinghy sailed in the direction of the sunset, far away from the slaughter, taking an old man and his adopted grandson to a better future.
Aboard the Seref…
The Turks cheered after the humpback whale had disappeared below the surface, finally realizing their enemies had been blown to pieces by the prodigious intervention of the oversized sea creature. They had absolutely no idea who or whom had sent this animal, but it had been most welcome! The Corsairs were waving around their curved sabres, yelling "Eşsiz!" (fantastic!) at the top of their lungs. Pintel and Ragetti had forgotten their debates to hug one another like long-lost relatives. Murtogg and Mulroy prudently poked their heads out of the main deck's hatch to see what the commotion was all about, just to get nearly trampled by Marty, who was doing somersaults. Jack Sparrow was jumping up and down like a maniac, amazed by his own intelligence. Cotton's parrot, perched on his master's shoulder, was screeching "Hoist the colors!" again and again. Wang Tao, clutching his "souvenirs" bag in his hand, was impassively looking at the wreck while whispering under his breath: "A fine jade gem, indeed!"
Ammand kept a dignified face during the whole event, but inwardly he was smiling at his crew's explosion of joy: the fellows had fought well, his ship was still seaworthy and he finally had had his revenge against Red Hand Pete. Maybe his uncle and aunt would forgive him, after he'd tell them how he had thrust his sword into the body of Sami's murderer?
Jack was acting like a complete lunatic: he was walking on his hands, climbing the ratlines, falling on the deck to bounce like a rubber ball, started to dance a French minuet with Marty in spite of the short pirate's protestations and tried to rip some feathers off Cotton's parrot, all this in the same time! Finally he jumped right in front of Ammand with a triumphant gleam in his eyes:
"I'M A GENIUS! Admit it Ammand, I'm the undefeated genius of the entire world! How astute of me to call such a mastodon at our rescue! You were doubtful we would get out of here alive, eh? Eh? But I told you my plan would be failure-proof, haven't I? Captain Jack Sparrow was actually telling the truth, and it is not such a rare event as people think it is. I've always thought it was needless to fight when having leverage, and we did have one in the shape of young Will Turner. Calypso didn't take it too kindly after learning her protégé was in pain and in the middle of danger, so she chastised the perpetrators good and hard. For all my out-of-this-world work, I deserve an avalanche of barrels filled with the finest alcohol of the Caribbean. Ammand, head your galley for the nearest rum distillery. I'm thirsty!"
"Serçe, your drunkenness is getting on my nerves sometimes!"
"Oh, yeah? Well, tit for tat, your temperateness drives me crazy!"
The Corsair's bushy eyebrows knotted themselves above his piercing eyes and he looked like he was going to cure Jack's permanent thirst by strangling him on the spot. But then something incredible happened: Ammand smiled and gave the slender man a hearty slap in the back!
"OUCH!" yelped Jack like a trotted-on dog – the Pirate Lord of the Black Sea had a strong arm!
"You impossible man!" said Ammand, laughing his head off at his guest's antics.
"Impossible and unsinkable, you got it one in one," replied Jack, who was secretly hoping that pounding the shoulders of the notorious Captain Sparrow wasn't becoming a fad these days. Ah, well, maybe it was the price to pay for his untarnished fame!
The Corsair and the scruffy pirate grinned at each other; and then, something caught Jack's attention and his smile vanished. Ammand looked around and understood what had made Serçe's happiness disappear so suddenly: it was the sight of Master Bootstrap, still sitting on the deck with his son.
Bill had also witnessed the annihilation of the Conqueror by the humpback whale; a fierce gladness had made his eyes shone like phosphorescent sapphires when the hated brig, with its equally hated commander, had disappeared forever, but his joy had been very short-lived. Holding the heart-wrenching, wounded body of William in his arms, Bill had lost all interest about the enemy's demise to gently cradle his son like a small child. Ammand had his revenge and Jack had succeeded in stopping Red Hand Pete; but at what costs for Will?
"Oh my poor Little One, my darling," said Bill, chocking on the emotion crushing his throat. "What have those monsters done to you? Oh Will, my pure love, I am so sorry I haven't been able to come sooner! Those bastards, a humpback whale was too good for them; I should have torched down the Conqueror after skinning alive every one last of them! God, Will, how could they have dared to touch one hair on your head? They weren't even worthy to breathe around you! Please wake up, Will, please tell me you're going to be all right. I love you so much; I cannot bear to see you in pain. All this is my entire fault. I knew the Benevolent was a fake; I should have come with you! My baby, my baby-"
Bill's litany ended with a sob, and the two Captains exchanged worried looks. Will was indeed looking as he'd die any second if he could, and medical help was a dire necessity. But how in the world do you tend to an immortal man gifted with supernatural powers? Jack certainly didn't have a clue about this at first; fortunately his agile brains soon provided him with the answer, judging by the way his eyes were shining in their sockets. But first things first: he had to retrieve the "signal" he had sent to Calypso.
"Ammand, please stay with Bill; I'll be right back!" said the bird-named pirate, heading for the galley's rail at all haste.
The Turkish Corsair watched in amazement Jack jumping overboard to climb down the Seref's hull, using one of its numerous dangling ropes as a lifeline, and then the tall man shook his head. What new crazy idea had germinated inside Serçe's complex mind? But experience had taught him trying to follow Jack's thoughts was a complete waste of time, so he shrugged off the matter and he turned towards his ship's mainmast. He crouched close to Bill Turner and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It's over, Master Bootstrap. Your son is saved. Red Hand Pete is feeding the fishes right now; he will never hurt anyone again, not with my sword stuck inside his rotten carcass!"
"Aye, and I can't thank you enough for your help, Captain Ammand," replied Bill sadly. "But… look at my son, just look at him! What kinds of torments has he been put through? How could he ever be the same again? And yet he endured all their tortures like the hero he is. William protected his family, his men and the whole world from falling prey of a bloodthirsty Davy Jones' emulator, and those cowards have massacred him for his silence!"
Ammand had seen his share of wounds during his pirating career, but he had never witnessed brutalities as worse as the ones displayed on young Captain Turner. The bruises, the deep burns, the whiplashes, the missing fingernails… all these injuries were drawing a huge tattoo of pain on Will's almost-naked body, and his vulnerable state was even enhanced by his pale skin faintly glowing in the sunshine. His father was holding him close to his chest in an effort to shield him against the blowing wind, but it was obvious that Will was cold in spite of the smoldering Caribbean sun and the perspiration on his forehead.
The Pirate Lord of the Black Sea frowned: he'd rather be damned to the Nine Circles of Hell than leaving Captain Turner without any kind of protection! He untied the strings of his embroidered cloak and he shook it off his shoulders. Grumbling a curse in Turkish against the late Red Hand Pete, he quickly wrapped the garment on the inert form of Will Turner.
"Captain Ammand?" blurted out Bootstrap Bill in surprise.
"Your son kept us pirates safe from another immortal tyrant; the least I can do is to keep him warm! With those wounds, he's prone to high fevers that can cause brain damage. This'll do, until he sees a surgeon."
Bill couldn't find his words to express his gratitude for Ammand's generosity: this cloak was made of heavy velvet, embroidered with gold and silver threads and doubled with fine, purple-colored silk. It was worth a small fortune, and yet the Corsair hadn't hesitated to cover his son with, never minding if the blood would irremediably maculate the precious cloth. But Will answered for his father: he sighed softly, moved his head a little and then the ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. Cradled in Bill's lap and wrapped in Ammand's big cloak, Will looked as fragile as a fledgling and yet, the young man's beauty and courage also gave him an incredible nobility, something that Long's torture devices and Red Hand Pete's anger hadn't been unable to destroy.
"He looks like a Prince… Okyanusyprens, the Prince of the Ocean," thought the Turkish Corsair. He placed the palm of his hand on the young man's brow, brushing away the matted dark locks, and said:
"Elinize sağlik, Kaptain Turner!" before turning to Bill and translated: "May your hand be blessed, Captain Turner!"
The burly-shaped man stood agape after hearing Ammand's words, but the Pirate Lord of the Black Sea simply smiled:
"Your son's work is more acknowledged than you think, Master Bootstrap. For five years now, pirates and sailors alike have been talking about a new soul-carrying ship leaded by, I quote, "An angel", and how this vessel has replaced the dreaded Flying Dutchman and its crew of monsters. The poor guys haven't realized yet they were talking about the same ship! But young Turner has brought back hope to all the seamen lost at sea, and it would be only fair that he should be praised and rewarded for his actions."
Overwhelmed, a furiously-blushing Bill crushed his son against his powerful chest. Kissing Will on the top of the head, he said:
"I love him more than my life. I can only hope my presence on the Dutchman is somehow lightening his burden, even for a little bit…"
"Bootstrap, you really ought to work on your self-confidence. Would you like to sign up for lessons with a master?" asked an ironic voice. The two men saw Captain Jack Sparrow towering them, with a smug smile on his face and a dripping-wet cloth in his fist.
"What have you been up to again, Serçe?"
"Don't you know the lengths of my formidable mastermind by now, Ammand? Since our heavy-weight reinforcement has kindly destroyed the Conqueror for us, I figured it would be wise from my part to retrieve from the sea the "marker" I've sent to Calypso; otherwise our bulky ally might think we'd like an Encore of its jumping performance, but it could mistakenly target the Seref this time and we wouldn't appreciate if this kind of things happened to us, now, would we? So I've climbed down the hull to search through the various debris of our recently-vanquished adversary to find Will's bandana, the one I've deliberately dropped into the water. Lady Luck smiled upon me – as usual – and I've found it floating on a bed of bubbles; so here I am, returning this bandana to the representative of its rightful owner," concluded Jack while handing out the cloth to Bill, who accepted it gratefully.
The Barbary Corsairs' cheers had quieted down and some of them were staring with open curiosity at their Kaptan, his guests and the wounded young man lying on the main deck, bundled up in a familiar-looking cloak. After a moment, some faint shouts could be heard from afar and Yusuf ran towards the rail to investigate the cause.
"What is it, Yusuf?"
"Kaptan, it's the men who went back on the island after our guns have destroyed their longboat, shortly before the attack. They wave at us and they yell, I think they want to join us. Should we go and pick them up?"
Ammand went to see the stranded survivors, followed by Jack. Some of Red Hand Pete's sailors - the ones who had come ashore with their vainglorious leader to find the Dead Man's Chest - were indeed making frantic signals in the direction of the Seref. Jack identified Jefferson, Lewis and Burke amongst them, but they had also been joined by the very few survivors of the whale's jump: Gregorson, Lestrade and Smith the cook, Andrews and the sailor Jack had kicked out of the crow's nest… They all had watched the annihilation of the Conqueror, but they had quickly realized they would have to remain on Isla de Muerta… unless the Barbary Corsairs would accept them as new crewmembers. Surrendering to their victors seemed a better option than being marooned on this island!
Ammand was reluctant to have former enemies within his men; but he wouldn't sell them in Turkey either, since he hated slavery with a passion! Turning towards Sparrow, he asked:
"What do you think, Serçe? Should I send my men with longboats to rescue those worms?"
"I'd advise you against this idea, mate," answered Jack. "You see, during our little excursion on Isla de Muerta, I've made Red Hand Pete and his mindless minions believe we were searching for the item their arrogant Captain was so obsessed with. So I did lead them to a container, but not the one they were looking for. In fact, it was another brilliant booby-trap… nothing else but the infamous Chest of Cortez!"
Ammand's eyes went wide: like any other pirate, he had heard stories about that chest quite often, but seeking for it was simply against plain common sense!
"Are you talking about the cursed Aztecan gold? It was on this island?"
"Exactly! I knew about its presence here since it had been for this very same chest my backstabbing First Mate Barbossa had viciously overthrown me from my legitimate command of the Black Pearl. Learning about that stashed gold prompted old Hector to set my own sailors against me, apart from Bootstrap Bill. But Barbossa paid an accurate price for his treason, since him and his men remained cursed until I've managed to heroically lift their "living-death" status years afterwards, with a little help from Will and his future wife. The Chest of Cortez and its poisonous contents have remained on this island since our scuffle, forgotten by everyone but me. So I thought the best way to deal with the Conqueror's crew would be to split it fifty-fifty: about half of the men lured to go on the island, while the rest of them waited on the brig."
"But what was the use of showing Red Hand Pete and his men the Chest of Cortez?" asked Ammand.
"Mate, do you think such a bunch of idiots would have remained stoically indifferent in front of a chest stuffed with gold? Of course not! As soon as those blockheads got their greedy paws on the treasure, they went deaf about Pete's orders and I needed to go back to the brig without having any unsatisfied people at my heels. So while they were distracted about the riches, I ran back to the beach, sabotaged one of the longboats and jumped on the Conqueror using a clever invention of mine – another one. But there is a bonus with my plan: those men currently calling from the beach are going to have a nice surprise tonight, by courtesy of the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow!"
"What do you mean?"
"These yelling imbeciles have filled their pockets with cursed gold: therefore, they are cursed. They just don't know it yet; but the moonlight will reveal their new condition and believe me, it won't be a pretty sight. They are now immortals unable to feel or taste anything, and they will spend their time showing their bare bones under the moon while vainly hoping for a passing ship to rescue them. This curse can be lifted only if the thieves' blood is sprinkled over the Chest of Cortez, holding the complete lot of the eight hundred and eighty-two Aztecan coins. Pete's men had a subsequent dip in the water after your gunners have blown out their longboat and, well… some of the gold they have stolen must be lost on the seabed. I wish those greedy pigs good luck in learning the way to end the curse, and in finding all the missing coins anytime soon. They'll rue the day they have ever laid a finger on my friend!"
Ammand looked at the pirates on Isla de Muerta and then at Jack, back and forth.
"My word! I didn't know you were so crafty, Serçe!"
"Oh, those men are doomed not only by their greed, but also by their brutality towards Will. You see, when Red Hand Pete selected the twelve sailors who would accompany him to find the Dead Man's Chest, it was obvious that coward would chose the worst crewmembers for his bodyguards. Well, amongst them were the ones who had thoroughly enjoyed hearing the kid screaming in pain for days. You should have seen their ugly grins every time Will's torture sessions were mentioned… it would have been enough to make you puke your guts out," concluded Jack with an unusual steel-like quality in his voice.
The Corsair stared at his guest one last time, and then he made up his mind: he certainly didn't feel very enthusiastic at the thought of welcoming on his galley a bunch of cursed pirates… especially ones who had enjoyed the torments of Master Bootstrap's son, to boot!
"I won't compromise the safety of my galley and my men for a bunch of jackals. Yusuf, haul the sheets and stand out to sea! We're leaving this place."
"Evet, Kaptan! (Aye, Captain)"
Orders were shouted, men ran in every direction. The Seref slowly distanced itself from Isla de Muerta and its unwilling new inhabitants, who kept on yelling desperate insults but to no avail. In the next minutes, the grappling lines were cut while the dead and wounded men were transported inside the ship's hull. The masts were cleared up and a favorable wind filled the sails, making the use of oars pointless; gunners cleaned the cannons and secured the stock of gunpowder barrels in prevision of another fight. Swords, pistols and muskets were retrieved by armourers while sailors threw buckets of water on the main deck's planks to wash away the blood and gore.
In this flurry of activity, no one paid attention to Bill Turner and his cargo; Jack looked around the Seref in case if, per chance, a flagon of rum had escaped the wreckage and was floating on the water, but once more his hopes were crushed and he was left with a powerful thirst. His throat was hurting him as if some salt from Davy Jones' Locker had been stuffed inside it, and the little impromptu drink he had in the cavern was long gone.
"Why is there never rum when you need it?" grumbled the ex-Captain of the Black Pearl. They really ought to attack the next ship crossing their path, just to investigate its holds in case if there was some rum. Whoever heard of celebrating a pirate victory without this indispensable alcoholic beverage, anyway?
"Jack?" called out Bill Turner.
Sparrow shook himself out of his reverie: there was a more urgent matter than looking for rum and it was finding some help for Will. Ammand's cloak was protecting the kid's injuries, but he still looked awfully pale and frail. There was also a question Bill longed to ask Jack, but he was too afraid of the answer. Finally, struggling to find his words, the elder Turner said:
"Jack, while you were aboard the Conqueror, did you manage to learn if… Like, do you know if Red Hand Pete, his men or his torturer have… I mean, Will has been their prisoner for almost a week, and it would have given those bastards plenty of time to… to… After you've freed him, did Will tell you if he had been…"
Bootstrap was too horrified to put into words the dreaded question, but Jack could read in those clear blue eyes what exactly was tormenting his former shipmate. He smiled gently, and he answered:
"Bill, your son hasn't been raped."
"Oh, thanks goodness! Are you sure of it?"
"Aye; I admit to have feared this ignominy would be inflicted on our William. But after Red Hand Pete had swallowed my ridiculous story about me helping him to find the Dead Man's Chest with my magical compass, he showed me how he had chained your son: simply by burying him waist-deep in a crate full with soil!"
"Soil?" repeated Bill Turner, blanching at the news. "But Will cannot step foot on land!"
"Correct, because otherwise it causes him great pain and the loss of his powers – which helps to explain why Kraken-breath Jones was so frightened about the mere mention of going ashore. Red Hand Pete used that information to cripple William, but he was also afraid his prisoner might regain his powers one way or another. That's why Pete strictly forbade his men to unearth your son. That dirt-filled crate must have felt like an iron maiden for Will, crushing his legs days and nights, but paradoxically it was also protecting him from sexual abuse."
Bill lightly stroked his son's face, silently thanking the Heavens for sparing Will from this kind of abomination. Then, he asked:
"How are we going to tend to his wounds? I don't want to carry Will to the lower deck, according to Yusuf it looks like a slaughterhouse down there. He suggested me to look after him in his Captain's cabin, but…"
"Ah, yes, I've thought about this, too. There is never a minute of peace for my exceptional brains, savvy? I know Ammand would let us use his quarters for your son to rest, no doubts about it but frankly, Bill, I think the best medicine for Will would be to bring him back to the Flying Dutchman as soon as possible."
"The Dutchman?"
"Aye. Like it or not, for the next five years or so Will is linked to his ship until his monopolizing soul-ferry duty is over – thanks to the mutual faithfulness he shares with Lizzie. Subsequently, his well-being determines the state of his vessel, and vice versa. That's why the Dutchman was such a disaster after Davy Jones had forfeited his mission out of rage. So I truly think that if we rush back to your ship, William would somehow "feel" that he's safely back on his board; his strength would return and it would help greatly in healing his wounds."
Bootstrap Bill considered Jack's words: deep down, he knew his friend was right but unfortunately, there was a problem with this plan that his sharp mind hadn't thought about.
"Jack, the Dutchman must be still anchored nearby the island of Tres Rocas, with a disoriented crew trying to repair the damages caused by Red Hand Pete's guns after he had captured Will. Even if our men have kept their minds focused enough to consolidate the ship, they still won't be able to sail it without their leader. The Dutchman must have a Captain, remember? That was Davy Jones' motto, and our crew still firmly believes it. Will had told us time and time again that it was only a way for Jones to put pressure on his slaves; I am fully convinced about it, but I cannot vouch for the rest of our men. After Will's abduction, some of our men's minds went blank, like zombies!"
"Well, I guess years of service under Jones' command would turn anyone's brains into bouillabaisse. Can't blame your guys for being temporarily unable to think – trust me, it's a great feeling knowing this kind of thing can never happen to me!"
"Jack, you don't understand! Our men cannot sail the Dutchman so it means we have to go back to Tres Rocas and it will take us about four days' worth of navigation to go there, maybe even five. William is too weak to endure this trip!"
"Well, mate, I guess we'd better head for Tres Rocas without wasting time, not even stopping to get some rum – alas! I'll speak to Ammand at once and he'll understand the urgency of Will's situation."
But all of a sudden, a flash of white light exploded in the sky, effectively blinding all the men aboard the Turkish galley in spite of the sun. Exclamations, cries of fear rang out and Jack briefly thought they had been struck by lightening, or maybe St Elmo's fire, even if this idea didn't seem very logical: there wasn't a cloud on sight! Seconds later, the light disappeared and the Barbary Corsairs looked blinkingly at each other, wondering what had just happened.
"Serce, what's going on?" asked the Pirate Lord of the Black Sea.
"Frankly, Ammand, I don't have the slightest idea. All I can say is, this new circumstance has nothing whatsoever to do with me…"
But before Jack could start another one of his interminable speeches, he casted a glance on the port side of the galley and a strangled sound escaped from his mouth.
"Jack, what is it?" asked Bootstrap, fearing another attack from an enemy ship.
"This is… incredible. Unbelievable… colossal... Mind-blowing, absolutely flabbergasting! This is stupendously stupefying! Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum… Shower me timbers, knock the man out of his boots and socks, me hearties, yo ho… No, no, this is simply beyond belief, making it impossible for us simple mortals to comprehend it… Or we're simply having a case of collective hallucination… Why is the rum always gone? Unless this is a mirage due to wishful thinking; yes, that is a valuable hypothesis, or maybe this is an accidental breach in the time and space dimension…"
"JACK!" roared Bill, reaching his patience's limits.
"Bill, you're never going to believe me and that's too bad, but… the Dutchman is here!"
TBC…