Disclaimer: POTC is not mine. Dead Man's Chest rocks, go see it. First off, thanks for reviewing! Okay, originally "The Story Muddog Told" was suppose to come now, but I haven't finished that one yet so I bumped this chapter up. In today's edition Jack is informed of...

The Coastal Captain

Now, you must be wondering about Oliver, Charlie and Jon. Why would you be? Simple, I've just reminded you about them so naturally you're at this very moment thinking about them and wondering why I brought it up.

We left them all alone to tell a tale to the tale trader. Here's what happened afterwards:

" Snaffoam will never leave the sight of land, but stick to the coast. You have the advantage." Marie smiled. "Not only that you will know where he is headed."

Jack waited. He leaned closer listening intently, nodded his head as if she had just said something, and waited a bit more. Several awkward and discomfiting minutes of waiting for the smiling Marie to say something passed. Oliver and Charlie were slumped in their seats staring at each other passing when-is-she-going-to-say-something-so-we-can-go looks when Jack finally broke the silence and sighed, "And that place where he is headed would be?"

"Port Royal."

"You said he would stick to the coast."

"I did?"

"Yes, before the smiling and being very quiet."

"Oh, it's been so long…"

"It wouldn't have been if you just told us!" sighed Oliver.

"I didn't know someone could smile so much…" Charlie complained.

"And I thought Jon talking a lot was annoying…" added Oliver.

"Hey!" shouted Jon standing up from his seat.

"Well! I'm sorry but you needn't be so rude!" huffed Marie. "Besides I meant Port Royal, South Carolina." Marie strode over to a cabinet, opened it, shuffled a few rolled up maps around, before finally finding the one she needed. She handed it to Jack who slipped it into one of his coat pockets. "Now, a ship was it?"

"Yes." Jack said quietly.

"Mention "Narrow Passage" to the one snoring very, very irritatingly loud and strong near a docked ship called the Moderation."

"How do you know he's sleeping?" Jon questioned.

"I pay him to be there. There isn't much else he could be doing."

"What do you pay him?" Oliver asked.

"My, my I thought we'd been over this. My business is information. I don't just dish it out on a silver platter to every person on the street. You have what you need to know."

"Many thanks," Jack said with a small bow. "Now we really must be going." He headed out the door and the three boys followed.

"Why did we do all that?" Jon asked as they walked peering up at him.

"Do your feet hurt?"

"Yes."

"Are you confused and frustrated? Uneasy?"

"I suppose."

" I am." put in Oliver.

"Me too." added Charlie.

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes!" cried the three.

"Good."

"Good?" repeated Jon. "Aren't we going to eat something?"

"Not at the moment."

"Then,"Charlie sighed, "why ask?"

"Because it's what I wanted to know. Isn't that why we ask things?"

"Yes, but you haven't answered my question." Jon said impatiently. "Why did we go there? What was the purpose?"

" One, I needed to know who it was that took her. Two, I needed to know where he was going. Three, " Jack turned on a triumphant smile. "I needed some way to punish you."