Chapter 44: 1740 The Escape

An amazing lot of folk ran around the market, when Prudence Stevens pushed Jack into the middle of the place.

Brasiliano looked him over with that kind of gaze which told him that he had been in the know right from the first day on. His crew surrounded him – lurking and expectant.

Amongst them Jack discovered three bedraggled figures who the Captain obviously meant to be sold at the slave market. The leftovers of their clothes suggested that they had been seamen on an English warship, but when he looked into their faces he nearly froze to the spot. He knew those men, although it had been long ago when he first met them. They had been aboard the English warship which took him and Caithleen back to London shortly after they had lost the "Wing".

A young naval officer named Brian Hawke and his attorneys in fact.

Jack asked himself what Hawke was doing here right now. He was assiduous and and obliging, he would never have deserted from his ship. So there was only one possibility left:

The English had found a way to spy on the fortress of Madagascar. They would smuggle some trustable men in with the pirates, who were ordered to spread a rumor now and then and if the Captains were completely at odds with each other they would be able to take the fortress without any effort.

Jack didn't want to wait until he and the "Pearl" might end up within the bay because of that plan.

"You're the one who claimed to know me? Are you sure, you know yourself anymore, mate?" He looked straight into Hawkes eyes.

The man gave him a reply: "Who did not know you, Jack Sparrow? The English are hunting for you all over the seven seas. Am I right?"

Hawke didn't lower his guard. For sure he got more than one promotion within the last years and his loyalty belonged only to the King. He had kept a straight face when he answered.

Brasiliano interrupted him: "The three of them argued that you were a traitor, Sparrow. One of those pirates who sold themselves to the King, being vested with a Letter of Marque and sending every vessel to the depths which came across."

"If that would be true, mate, why should the fleet hunt for me? Besides, you would not have been able to take me to your bay then. I would have elicited you, Brasiliano, and sent you down to Davy Jones' Locker! You better should tell us where you found those figures."

"We pulled them out of the sea near the isle. They were drifting on some leftovers of flotsam and pretended having been at sea for some days. But calm down, Jack Sparrow, you're not the only one I suppose to be a traitor. I don't trust those water rats as well. They suggest they've tried to incite a mutiny but having been caught."

"That's the truth!" the pretended former officer spotted: "Me and my men have been lashed and thrown overboard in front of the eyes of the assembled crew."

"Don't you think as well, that a courageous man has the strength to endure it if necessary? The more if it means to provide an advantage for the fleet? A man who will achieve the trust of the pirates, who will spy on them and who will at least betray them?" Jack gazed at Brasiliano.

He sensed that the pirate king of Madagascar was on the verge of losing his temper when he answered: "And why should I rather trust you than those figures over there? After all you betrayed me as well, didn't you? Or will you deny that you spent the whole night within the house of Madam Stevens?"

"No! I won't deny it! But, I didn't spend the night within the house of Madam Stevens, mate, I spent the night with Madam Stevens. Savvy? She invited me and I accepted. You know it yourself, Brasiliano, it's sometimes lonely at sea, and for I'm never averse to a beautiful woman, the less if she invites me..."

"Very well then, Sparrow! Enough already! Traitors or not, these three will be sold on the slave market. If they are interested in mutiny or spying on the fortress again I will find ways and means which will keep them out of mischief. You're much more dangerous and I think it's time for you to meet the flood-stakes!"

"You can't do that! There's no proof that he's a traitor!" It was Prudence who stepped into Brasiliano's way now.

He pushed her aside: "I can and I will do it. And I assure you I will talk to you later, Captain Stevens! Imprison the three of them! We will look after Captain Sparrow first!"


The flood-stakes were an easy and very effective way to get rid of disagreeable coevals. All those who tried to spy on the fortress or the hidden cannons were preferred to end up here, but absconded slaves, thieves and murderers died at the stakes as well – depending on what crime they had committed.

Jack knew that this method held only advantages for Brasiliano. Whoever sailed into the bay had to pass the gruesome spectacle inevitably and was warned from the first moment what was waiting for him if he incurred the wrath of the brotherhood.

Brasiliano and his Captains were not even in the need to dirty their hands. If the unfortunate victims were gaged withal, no one had to bear their screams until they lost consciousness or died after the crabs followed their instinct.

It was near sunset when Brasiliano dragged him there. Satisfaction was in his eyes when he enchained Jack to the stake.

"I would love to wait until the flood comes and the crabs will come ashore, Sparrow, but I have to take care for those three English. Think you will understand that I can't keep you company for you being the dinner tonight."

"Very kind, mate! Will tell you something. You will make a great mistake, Brasiliano. Within a year, maybe two or three years, your fortress will be razed to the ground. You should pray then, that it is a warship of the Royal fleet which takes you to London and not a trading vessel of the East India Trading Company!"

"You're a talebearer, Sparrow! But maybe this will save you. You should try to tell the crabs stories. Perhaps they will spare you from having dinner. Good luck! But it's really cowardly to hear a once so proud pirate begging for his life like a mangy lubber!"

"I'm not begging neither for my life nor for something else, mate! I only tried to warn you. But you're blinded by jealousy! You're a wretched fool, Brasiliano. You're not aware what's going on in front of your eyes!"

"Pshaw! The crabs will come ashore soon. If it's over I will hand your leftovers over to your crew. Then your men will be aware what was going on in front of their eyes. I suppose you have a brave crew aboard. Maybe I will leave the choice to them what to do next! Goodby, Sparrow!"

Brasiliano turned round and went up to the forest road where the horses and his companions waited for him. From the corner of his eyes Jack saw, that Brasiliano and Prudence Stevens had a hot tempered dispute until he somewhen bristled with anger: "Do whatever you want to, Spitfire, but I want you to be back at night when we make a decision concerning the English!"

Shortly after the sound of hoofbeat was to hear which departed rapidly within the beginning duskiness.


Behind him Jack heard steps in the sand.

"Don't move!" Pru whispered next to his ear, while she removed the iron shackles: "Wait until it's pitch-black. Return to your ship and set sail immediately!"

"I'm not a traitor, Pru!"

"I know! That's why I set you free, Jack Sparrow!"

"You can still come with me, love. Aboard the "Pearl" will be always a place for a Stevens."

"No! This place was never meant for me. I'm not Caithleen, Jack. We had a wonderful night together, but there are some things which have to remain unique. In addition...", she looked deep into his eyes: "...I got aware of something else last night. You can try to deny it, you can try to believe that it isn't that way and you can try to belie yourself – but you will come to grief, Jack. You still love her. You called me Caithleen – the whole night!"

She softly stroke over his cheek: "You're the proof, that not every pirate is like Brasiliano and his Captains." She gave him a bitter smile, then she kissed him once again and whispered: "Caithleen was the lucky one – she came across you, but we're not meant for each other!" She pointed towards the shore.

The flood came and so did the crabs: "I think you should hurry now!"

While he was carefully rubbing his wrists Jack gazed thoughtfully at the crabs. They really reached a respectable size. Following a sudden suggestion he turned round to Prudence.

His voice was only a silent whisper when he spoke to her: "They are children of the sea, love. Just like me. They won't attack me, Pru, and they won't come any closer. Even if you wouldn't have set me free!"

He knew it now. He had always known it, but he wasn't able to say wherefrom he knew it. He was a child of the sea...

"But why? What holds them back?"

"I've no idea, love! But let me warn you once again before you will return to your life. Be on your guard against the English. Maybe they are telling the truth and they are really mutineers. Then you have nothing to fear. But I suppose they have a mission. I saw the blueprints of the fortress and the emplacements of the cannons within your sleeping room. Search for a better place to hide them. If I was able to find them someone else might be able to find them as well. And beware of Beckett – he won't demur to kill you."

He breathed a kiss upon her lips, then he strolled through the crabs down to the water – they didn't move, when he hurled himself into the waves with an elegant jump once again.


Jack reached the "Pearl" unseen. As soon as he was back aboard he searched for Gibbs and van Dyck. The both of them shared the watch for not to miss his return by no means.

"Gents, there is an end of the idleness now!" Once again water dripped out of his clothes and his hair, while he wanted both men to follow him: "Is everything prepared?"

"As you ordered us to." Gibbs answered.

"Well, then we will make our exit right now."

"Aye, Captain!"

"Mister Gibbs lets set full canvas. I will need every sail which is at our disposal! If it's done open all hatches and prepare the cannons clear to fire. It could be possible that we will run across an English frigate which cruises round the isle for several days. Don't want them to have a walk-over!"

Gibbs nodded and went below: "I'm on my way!"

"It could be possible means we will run across the frigate, am I right?" Van Dyck asked.

"Yes, they will wait for every ship which tries to leave the bay. Van Dyck, I want you to take care that every light, every lantern and every candle will be erased as soon as possible."

"It's new moon, Jack. How will you be able to maneuver?"

"You will see it! Hurry up now!"

Van Dyck made haste to follow the order, whilst Jack wrapped himself in a blanket and rushed up to the helm. At once it was pitch-black aboard. The only light within the bay came from the settlement and from the ships which were moored to the pier. The same moment Jack got aware of the moving lights which approached unflinching.

It was Brasiliano's Galleon.

So he wanted to take the "Pearl" in a surprise attack.

With a fierce smile Jack let his hands slip over the helm until the sound of the swelling sails told him that he found the breeze he needed to sail the "Pearl" out of the bay. She gained speed and the interspace between both ships increased.

Jack trusted in his feeling and in his compass and although he saw less than nothing the "Pearl" found her way through the passage. The hidden cannons kept silent which meant no one noticed their flight except Brasiliano.

When they reached the end of the passage the English frigate appeared in front of them like a ghost ship, while Brasiliano's Galleon gained speed as well.

Jack veered the "Pearl" for a broadside then he ordered: "Fire!"

Before his antagonists realized what was going on the balls smashed into their ships. Jack brought the "Pearl" back to her course immediately so that she wasn't a target anymore, then she passed the frigate like a shadow in the night.

One of Brasiliano's salvos missed them and hit the frigate instead. Wind from the sea swelled the sails and while the English and Brasiliano fired at each other the "Pearl" vanished to the open sea.

Jack smiled – a new heading was waiting for them. He set course to the Mediterranean Sea...