Chapter 28: 1739 New Headings and a Crew
It would always remain Jack's secret how he made it to cleave through the crowd, avoiding the brawlers while carrying three full steins with him.
Gibbs sat already within the quiet niche, waiting for him.
Will leaned against a buttress and watched the strange goings-on within the tavern in a mix of fascination, disgust and disport.
Besides the apparently unavoidable punch-up he really got sight of some other things as well. Twosomes being at one with each other made their exit to the upper floor. Those who wanted to have an undisturbed conversation or who wanted to strike a bargain sat within the niches. The rest was a mix of all one could imagine: sailors, pirates, merchants, harlots, slaves and what was running around elsewise.
They lived on that isle in some kind of relatively freedom...
Jack handed one of the steins over to him: "Keep your eyes peeled, mate! Have to talk with Gibbs about a new crew and our proposition."
Will was astonished about it but didn't give him a reply.
"Well!" Gibbs took a deep draft from his beaker, when Jack joined him within the niche: "What do you have in mind? Did you find a new treasure being worthwhile to hunt for?"
"No, mate, it's not the time for something like that! I want to go after the "Pearl" to get her back at last!" Jack replied without leaving any doubt that this was meant seriously.
Gibbs choked on his beer: "The "Pearl"? Never thought, you're really mad like that! Jack, the ship and its crew are cursed!"
"I'm aware of that, Mister Gibbs! But meanwhile I'm in the know how to lift that curse. Savvy?"
"After all those years? Van Dyck told me you had searched for answers to your questions whenever the both of you made berth with his "Stella". Why are you so sure you found the correct answer right now?"
"Let's say, owing to some favorable circumstances I'm able to put together all those pieces of information I found through the years to a fitting mosaic."
"What do you mean?"
Jack pointed towards Will, but Gibbs seemed not to understand, so he repeated his gesture.
Finally Gibbs got it: "The kid?"
"Aye! The kid!"
"How should he be of use for us?"
"Told you about the coherencies before – the mutiny, the Treasure of Cortez and the golden coins. The boy is the child of Bill Turner. His only child and I'm convinced, I'm not the only one who knows that Bill sent one of those coins to his son back then."
Gibbs eyes widened in sudden awareness and Jack continued: "As things stand, it seems the boy and the golden coins are the key to the curse, to Barbossa and to the "Pearl" – and we can leverage it..."
"By all spirits of the sea, you won't leave the boy to Barbossa?"
"No way, mate! I'm in need of his help to settle that open score at last! Although I'm not sure if he will trust me or if I can trust him."
"That's not really unperilous, isn't it?"
"I've no choice. But before we'll set sail, we have to find me a crew. Do you think you'll find one until tomorrow morning?"
"Aye, Captain! But tell me, where do you want to start your quest?"
"There is only one spot where the "Pearl" sails from, mate: Isla de Muerta!"
"The isle of the dead? God help us!"
"There's an end of it, mate! Still thinking you'll find me a crew?"
"For sure! There are enough of those crazy sailors who will follow you to an adventure like that."
"Well! Take what you can..."
"...and give nothing back!"
They looked at each other over the edge of their steins.
After several moments Jack asked: "What happened to van Dyck? Where is he? And why are you here? In that – condition?"
"Van Dyck and his "Stella" are sailing the Caribbean Sea at the moment."
"He's here?"
"Aye! He dropped me in Tortuga, about two or three weeks ago. Said he has to strike some bargains. He wanted to pick me up, but as it seems something happened to him."
Jack didn't want to believe that something occurred to the considerate Dutch. As soon as he would have got back his "Pearl" he would sail to Patirck's Island to search for van Dyck back from that place where they first met.
"Where have you been during the last years? He wanted to go back to the Netherlands, didn't he?"
"Aye! We stayed there for a while. Afterwards we sailed the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea. He's a clever merchant and made good business. However, last year we nearly ended up in Davy Jones' Locker! We got into a scrape within a pirate hideout in Madagascar. Compared to that place Tortuga is a harmless little settlement. Have you ever heard of Roc Brasiliano?"
"It's been told he has a hidden fortress in Madagascar. It's supposed to be nigh impregnable."
"Aye! He worked out a brilliant system, which makes him able to defend the whole passage to his hideout and the bay as well. It's a system of very well hidden cannons spreading the way through the passage. If someone isn't welcomed he scuttles them. No one was able to conquer him within his fortress up to now. The English are trying it – first and foremost our friend Beckett – without any success."
"How did you escape?"
"We got help from a woman! She's one of the Captains of the fortress and she helped us to get through the passage unharmed. Can tell you, a lass like a beautiful dream. Carroty hair and green eyes and enough of those female attractions one loves to have a look on! Unfortunately she knows how to fence and how to shoot..." Jack smiled, then Gibbs added: "She's called Prudence Stevens..."
Jack looked at him in surprise: "Spitfire Stevens?"
"Aye! They called her that! I would swear an oath that Brasiliano is more than only interested in her."
"Mister Gibbs, as soon as I've got back the "Pearl" we have a new heading!"
"Madagascar?"
"Aye!"
Jack didn't want to believe in such serendipities. First he found Bill Turner's son and now Gibbs told him about Prudence "Spitfire" Stevens. At least Caithleen's hotheaded cousin stayed with the pirates of Madagascar. Together with the infamous Roc Brasiliano.
Even within the Caribbean Sea he was known as a merciless and unbending Captain. It was told that he left his enemies and all those who tried to spy out his fortress to the monstrous crabs living in those waters.
Jack asked himself how the pretty and willful Prudence got in his company. He swore himself to find it out as soon as possible.
With a confident grin he looked at Gibbs: "Well, let's find me a crew!"
When Jack and Will arrived at the pier the next morning, Gibbs already waited for them – and with him a variegated gaggle of about twenty men who were willing to sail under the command of Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack knew some of them, the others Gibbs found within the lanes and the taverns.
"Captain, I found you a crew of intrepid and fearless sailors, ready to accompany us on our foray. They're all skilled sailors and crazy enough to dare that adventure."
Jack nodded. He caught up one of Will's curious looks and smiled. As it seemed he had a suitable crew now:
Marty, a vertically challenged cannoneer.
Cotton, a mute helmsman whom had been cut out his tongue. Instead of him his parrot was chattering around.
Gibbs his superstitious first mate.
And Will Turner, a boy who didn't want to be a pirate at all...
Jack was confident. For Gibbs had chosen the men this time and not Barbossa there was not to worry about a mutiny again.
"One question, Captain! What's the benefit for us from that sailing trip?" The young sailor at the end of the row found the courage to ask that one single question all of them had in mind.
With a grin Will saw Jack turning on his heels to have a closer look at that boy.
Jack paused for a moment. He knew that slender figure. And for sure it wasn't a boy!
He hesitated for a moment then he took away the hat from the girl's head. Long black hair flew over her shoulders and her dark eyes were shimmering furiously when she had a look in his face.
"Anamaria!"
She didn't give him a reply but another slap in the face.
Will couldn't deny himself a question: "What with that? Once again one you didn't deserve?"
"No, mate, this one I deserved!" Jack admitted.
"Oh well!" Anamaria hissed: "You stole my boat!"
"I didn't steal it, love. I borrowed it..." A second slap followed. "Well, borrowed it without permission..."
"Anyhow you owned up to having done it."
"I promise, you will get another one."
"For sure?"
"Aye! You will get another one."
"A better one!" Will added behind him.
"A better one!" Jack confirmed than he turned round to Will: "A better one?"
Anamaria looked from Will to Jack and back. Disbelief in her eyes: "And of which do you think of, if I'm allowed to ask?"
Meanwhile the crew followed that strange spectacle with brisk interest. Obviously the Captain and the girl knew each other...
"That one!" Will said.
"What one?" Jack gazed at him in confusion.
"That one!" Will pointed towards the "Interceptor" which lay for anchor within the bay.
"That one?" Jack had to pull himself together not to strangle young Will Turner. Then he gave in reluctantly: "That one!"
"Agreed!" Anamaria hissed. Then she rushed away, followed by the crew.
"Captain, that's not a good idea. A girl aboard is a dark foreshadow!" Gibbs protested.
"Not now, Mister Gibbs!" Jack turned round to Will: "You left our ship to a wily bootleggeress, mate!"
"Obviously you owed her one."
"Never again tell me, you're not a pirate, mate. You are!"
