Chapter 35

"Funeral"

I laid beside jack on my right side, squished like sardines on the tiny bunk. A goofy smile plastered on both of our faces as he calmly stroked my hair. We'd barely finished when someone began to jiggle the door handle and open the door. Jack not knowing I had locked it quickly turned over and headed for the door not wanting to be caught. In his hustle forgetting his pants were around his ankles he fell flat on his face. My hand slapped over my mouth as I tried to contain the laughter.

"Good thing I locked the door, eh?" I laughed as Jack rolled his eyes and scraped himself off of the floor. Finally laughing at his own misfortune, he calmly turned to me and pulled up his breeches.

When the knock at the door came followed by a "Cap'in?" I quickly stood from the bed, adjusting my own clothing and pulling up my own breeches. Jack opened the door in mild irritation. "What is it?" he questioned, Skully stood cautiously at the door, eyeing my now messed up hair and shirt. If he knew what we were doing he didn't mention it he just grinned.

"It's a real good take, Cap'in." He continued to smile.

"I figured as much, 'ave we unloaded?"

"The men are workin' on it right now."

"Then what are ye doin' 'ere?" I yelled, pointing toward the door. His mouth opened to say something, but quickly shut. "We lost someone in the fight." He informed me, looking sadly toward the floor.

"Who?"

"Red." He stated simply.

"That old coot, I told 'im 'e couldn't fight anymore."

"Who's red?" Jack's question came from beside me.

"He was my quartermaster, He was almost 60 years old and loved a good fight. But with a peg leg and one good eye I told him not to fight anymore."

"And he didn't for along time." Skully added. "At least he died doing what he wanted to." Skully sighed.

"Take 'is body to The Mistress, we'll bury 'im proper later on today."

"Already done, just thought ye'd like to know."

"Thanks, now go 'elp the men."

"Aye, Cap'in."

Running my fingers through my hair and eyed Jack who smiled happily. "We should go find another ship to take."

"Why? So ye can get laid again?"

"Aye, I liked that part." He smirked in an obvious attempt to cheer me up.

Chuckling and shaking my head I brushed past him and began to tear papers of the desk looking for anything that held any value at all. After ransacking the drawers and finding only useless maps and letters to the captain's family I walked over to the dresser. It mostly contained clothing and things a man needed to keep clean. Bending over to the second of the last drawer I opened it, tearing the clothing from the top there were books hidden at the bottom, I picked one up and began to rummage through it when a piece of parchment fell from it. Jack and I looked down, both eyeing it. "Well, what do we 'ave 'ere?" Jack asked, bending to snatch it up. He quickly opened it and read it over. A wide grin spreading across his face I eyed him curiously as he looked back up to me. "It seems we 'ave a map."

"To what?" I asked, quickly standing.

"I don't know, but look what it says."

"Collect the sacred objects and they shall open a doorway to great wealth." I read aloud.

"Wait, there's another one." Jack said, reaching into the drawer and pulling another parchment from the book.

"Many men have tried and fail, but only one can prevail through the obstacles. He who is chosen shall find great wealth and happiness." he read aloud, turning it over he continued. "Red is the blood who have tried and failed, and white is the color of light. Find this object and all will be clear."

"No wonder 'e 'ad it hidden." I looked down into the drawer spotting a necklace on a long gold chain with surrounding diamonds around each of the five ruby stones. "Looks like our friend has already started it."

We both looked to each other grinning happily. "See, aren't ye glad ye came along? Not only are we goin' to get a big emerald but we may as well find this treasure as well."

"Give me the parchments." I instructed stashing the ruby necklace into my jacket pocket and holding out my other hand.

"I think I'll 'old on to this part." He stated, placing both parchments into his pocket. "Wouldn't want ye to go after it with out me."

"I'd never do that."

"Yer an opportunist, ye'd do it in a 'eart beat."

"Maybe so." I answered honestly.

"So, ye 'ave part of the puzzle as do I. We shall be equal partners, savvy?"

Stifling a sigh I nodded and held out my hand. "We 'ave an accord."

Our deal sealed in a handshake we finished ransacking the cabin, putting anything of value into a trunk that my men would move later. A few hours later we had removed all valuables from the ship and went to the mistress to celebrate and relax. Towing the 'Wind Song' behind Hell's Mistress, knowing I could easily use it for ransom. The Royal Navy didn't have many ships left on account of their war with the people in the new world. 'The Black Pearl', 'Hell's Mistress', and 'The Wind song' anchored together we began our funeral for Red. We all stood on deck as each man recounted memories of Red how they met and good times.

"He was a good man." Gibbs finished finally after a long story about his good friend Red. I hadn't known Gibbs and Red served together with Commodore Norrington before they became fed up and turned to piracy.

"Well, I'm not good at this as ye all know. But, Red was a good man, served with us nearly 12 years before his death today. 'e will be sadly missed and remembered. We send ye now, good friend, to Davy Jones' locker where ye can forever be part of the sea." I stated, bowing my head, every other man following as they pushed Red's body into the dark depths of the ocean. "Alright, Red wouldn't want us to be sad about 'is death, he'd want 'is life to be celebrated and cherished. So lets all 'ave a mug of rum to 'is memory." I said shakily, pushing the tears that threatened to fall away from my eyes. The men cheered and went to fetch the barrels of rum and their dinner. I walked to the rail, placing my hands on it and leaning over to watch Red disappear into the murky depths. "Goodbye old friend." I whispered.