Chapter 23: 1727 Prisoners: Jack
The door fell shut behind him when the guards dragged him out of the small cell he and Caith shared and Jack had to restrain a first impulse to wrest himself free to protect the woman he loved. He abandoned the thought the same moment fully aware of the fact that he'd not be able to break free from the guards within this moment and just all too well in the know that Mercer would not hesitate to kill Caithleen right on the spot should he dare to make even the slightest hint of a try to fight his way back inside.
Keeping this at the back of his mind, he decided to accept the inevitable for the time being, hoping that Caithleen would be able to use her guts and her wits to defend herself as good as possible. They had no other choice, neither her nor him, but to use their guts and their wits if they wanted to get out of this mess alive and as less bruised as possible...
Bright daylight flooded the room Jack got pushed into and the scent of the sea as well as a slight breeze got carried over from the open ocean and soaked in through the wide open windows.
Apart from the windows and the breathtaking view, an oversized writing table was the most prominent feature to catch the eye of every visitor to enter the room, one side covered with layers and stacks of papers, contracts and documents, the other with spread-out sea charts and maps amongst a number of nautical instruments. A globe got placed within one of the corners near the window and close to the fireplace stood a small table flanked by two comfortable armchairs.
Once a simple fireplace room, it now served its new purpose as study, library and office for the representatives of the East India Trading Company whenever they would be in need of a branch office for interrogations and other urgent business at the garrison, and so it was not by chance that a figure in the shape of a man got silhouetted against one of the windows.
He turned round when the door closed behind the guards and their involuntarily companion and pointed at the shackles: "I'm sure, these won't be necessary. Just free Mister Sparrow from those poor bracelets and then leave us alone."
Rubbing his wrists, Jack watched the guards as they left before he asked: "What makes you so confident about me not trying to seize this opportunity to kill you right here on the spot, Beckett?"
"You wouldn't ask if you wouldn't be in the know already, am I right? You're way too keen and way too bold, Jack. Do you really think, I'd prepare for an encounter with you without taking precautions? Of course, I did think of the possibility that you could make a try to kill me, but then I thought about Miss Stevens. Where would it leave your lover if you'd go and try to kill me? Especially, if you'd possibly fail to succeed?"
Jack didn't give him a reply and so he went one: "You see, it's always helpful to hold the right pledge if you want to negotiate, and to know how dear Miss Stevens is to you, makes her the perfect pawn in a scheme like this. I'm sure, our dear Mister Mercer would not mind to spend some more time in such inspiring company..."
When Jack still didn't make an attempt to give him a reply, Beckett had another look out of the window before he went to sit down at the writing desk: "A beautiful day, isn't it? Sunny and warm, the sea all calm and a slight breeze perfect for to sail under full canvas. I wonder why you'd prefer to stay ashore within a small prison cell if you could easily return aboard the 'Wicked Wench' in a wink of an eye..."
"Oh c'mon, Beckett, a nice little chit-chat about the weather? Why this detour and why are you pussyfooting around without getting to the point", Jack asked dropping down into one of the armchairs and placing his feet on the small table in front of it: "You know that I'm perfectly well in the know about what your idea about the role is you think I should play in this bargain you want to strike with me, aye?"
"What are you thinking of me? I was just trying to figure out how to begin this little piece of conversation without rushing forward all too quickly. But if it is your wish, we can, of course, cut a long story short, instead."
"What do you want?"
"You know what I want, Jack! I want you to tell me where the cargo is I left under your custody!"
"Cargo? I wasn't aware I had cargo aboard, but if you're talking about the whole lot of unintended passengers you asked me to sail over to the Bahamas that one single time, all I can tell you is, I lost your cargo at sea and I ensured that whatever effort you may try to make to enslave them again will be in vain."
"So, Tomlinson did tell the truth and you freed them, left them on a godforsaken island somewhere in the Caribbean where voodoo and hocus-pocus are known to obscure all senses."
"Yes, mate, I left them on a godforsaken island in the Caribbean where voodoo and hocus-pocus are known to obscure all senses to get them as far out of your reach as possible."
"I honour your noble intentions, Jack, but this was not your decision to make. You robbed me of my property and I want it back!"
"What property? The blood-money you expected from practising slave-trade? We had an agreement that I'd not become a part of this special branch of the company's trades and you still tried to make me your henchman when you talked me into shipping this special kind of cargo! What did you think how naive I am? Or how ruthless?"
"Obviously, you're not ruthless enough. That's regrettable."
"Regrettable? How is this?"
"I confess, trying to understand your moral standards gives me a headache, Mister Sparrow."
"Other than you, I still have moral standards."
"You're possibly right."
"And that's why there won't be slave-trade aboard my vessel!"
"Your vessel, Jack? I think, you forgot who the real owner of the 'Wicked Wench' is. You'll be captain aboard my vessel as long as I want you to. You signed by your own hand that you'd agree to sail my cargo in my name as the captain of my ship."
"True enough, but trading slaves has never been part of the contract and as long as I am the captain of the 'Wench' or of any other vessel that floats, I won't ship slaves over to the colonies or to any other shore around the known world."
"It might have escaped your attention, but the 'Wench' is no longer under your command. She'll anchor within the bay until I'll make a decision about her further purpose." He looked up and locked eyes with Jack's before he added: "And until I'll make a decision about your further purpose."
"What's so difficult about making a decision? I was always convinced, you'd enjoy sending me to the gallows."
"Thinking of it now, the gallows are actually not enough. It would be so ordinary and it'd be over way too quickly to serve as a proper punishment. Maybe I should render Miss Stevens this service. I'm sure you would be deeply emotionally involved, wouldn't you?" He smirked beholding his fingernails and added: "But we have not reached this point of our negotiations, yet, and it's still up to you to avoid such inconveniences as I'm still convinced you're the best captain who ever sailed for the company. Therefore, I'm willing to hold open the offer I made to you: You'll get back the letters of marque, the contract and the 'Wench'. Give me the bearings of said godforsaken island and you, Miss Stevens and your crew are free to return aboard and to set sail in a week's time."
"Keep the contract and the letters of marque, Beckett, I'm not interested in getting paid with blood money." Jack got up and strolled over to the writing desk: "I think, here is where we should part ways."
"This would be the first time I come across a pirate with a conscience!"
"That's funny, isn't it? How would you know what 'having a conscience' it is about? I'm sure, your greed for power and profitable bargains prevents you from understanding the meaning of 'having a conscience' at all."
"Well then, Jack, as you're still unwilling to reveal where you hid the cargo you betrayed me of, I assume it's your wish to raise the stakes and I'm all set to meet you half way. Let's change the environment, then." Beckett called for the guards and ordered: "Be so kind and accompany Mister Sparrow to our cosy little interrogation chamber. I suppose, it's better for the carpet if we'll continue our conversation down there and tell Mister Mercer to bring Miss Stevens as well."
Jack had to watch on helplessly when the shackles snapped round Caithleen's wrists. She looked tired but unharmed despite the fact that her dress got soaked with blood. It must have belonged to someone else, maybe to the one, who took it for granted to be allowed to touch a woman wearing a dress exposing her female attractions in such a delicate way. Ian Mercer seemed to be in one piece, too, so, Jack ruled out the possibility of him having been the one bold enough to try his luck with his foolhardy girl.
Beckett didn't say a word, at first, but Jack had no doubt that he enjoyed the moment when his prisoners got to realize that they were meant to witness each others interrogations. It was first when Mercer informed Beckett that Caithleen had stabbed one of his privateers, Henry Batiste, to death, that he pricked up his ears. How was it that Batiste had been involved in Caith's interrogation and which role did the notorious troublemaker play in this strange game of life and death?
"I'm not sure, if I should award or punish you for having robbed me of one of my privateers, Miss Stevens", Jack heard Beckett address her: "but if it is true what you told dear Mister Mercer here, I should not mourn the loss of a captain who sidelined freight and money in order to betray the company. I guess, we agree about this. But let me ask you, if you deemed Batiste worthy to die, what about you and Sparrow, then? After all, you two robbed me of a profitable bargain as well, isn't that true?"
Jack caught Caithleen's gaze over the full length of the room and she signalled him not to get involved, shaking her head barely noticeable as she replied: "You will barely be able to accuse us of having pocketed a single penny of this supposed profitable bargain, won't you?"
"Unfortunately, that is true! But having you keep us company, now, might be helpful with bringing this exasperating issue to an end. Mister Sparrow might finally feel a little more inclined to answer my questions concerning my cargo knowing you to be my perfect pawn to hold him to ransom with. So, if one of you would be so kind to finally give us the bearings of that little island. You would spare us all a lot of time and yourself a lot of pain."
Caith shook her head, eyes still locked with Jack's and replied: "No!"
"Well, then, Miss Stevens, do not say I didn't try, but as you prefer to remain silent, it seems it will need other and more effective means to bring you to terms. A handful of lashes should do for now to make you reconsider your answer. Mister Mercer, she's all yours."
Unable to do anything, Jack had to stand by helplessly, when the lashes tore her dress into shreds and when they met the skin of her back with brutal impact. She did not scream, but she bit her lips until they were bleeding and she buried her fingernails that deep within her palms that blood ran down her wrists. She still held his gaze and he understood what she was trying to tell him: 'As hard as it must be to watch this, do not interfere!'
Caithleen panted for air when it was over and Beckett addressed her again: "You're the true daughter of your mother, Miss Stevens, but what for, I wonder? To protect a cargo of slaves? Barely! You try to protect someone else and I'd almost place a bet that your true reasons to endure this punishment are of a way more fleshly nature. Am I right?" He locked eyes with Jack's and smiled a knowing smile as he went on: "Oh, of course, I am! But let me think it over for a moment. If you're really willing to protect our young pirate captain over there that strenuously, what does it make you, then...?"
It was within this moment that Mercer strained a white-hot branding iron to her shoulder...
Her strength got used up and Caithleen collapsed with a painful scream when the torrid steel engraved the burn mark deep into her skin mercilessly.
Beckett waved the guards over: "Take her back to her cell. From now on, it'll be Mister Sparrow's turn and I'm curious for how long he will be able to resist our arguments."
"Do you really think, torturing my girl and pushing her close to the brink of the bearable will enhance my eagerness to give away the bearings of that bloody island?"
"No, but applying torture to you and pushing you close to the brink of the bearable possibly will. I want you to understand one thing, Jack: This is no longer about good business, only. You turned this whole affair into something personal and I'm convinced you were fully aware of the risk you'd take if you'd run this gauntlet."
"This whole affair, as you named it, is just between you and me. Keep Miss Stevens out of it. She's nothing to do with those decisions made."
"Don't take me for a fool! Why do you think did I have her branded as a piratess? Do you really think, I didn't do my research? She's more to you but just your lover! I know, you cherish her advice and I know how important her support is to you. So, do not dare telling me, she had nothing to do with your decision to free those slaves!"
"You want to know the truth? It was an unanimous decision rendered not only by Miss Stevens and me but by our whole crew."
"Is that so? Well, in this case, I should possibly do the world a favour by letting everyone know who and what you really are, shouldn't I?"
Before Jack was able to realize what was going on, the guards grabbed him and pushed the sleeve of his shirt up his right forearm. His tattoo of a sparrow silhouetted against a sunset came into sight.
"That's fitting!" Beckett told him presenting him with an icy look: "Well then, Jack, before I will bring this to an end, I want you to listen attentively to what I'm going to tell you, now. Step by step, I will take everything you love away from you. Your freedom, first! Then, your ship! Your lover, next, and, in a final step, your life! And, trust me, I will take my time and I will enjoy it!" His voice was filled with satisfaction when he waved Mercer to join them, then, without another word, he took the white-hot branding iron from his henchman and strained it upon Jack's arm himself forcing his former captain to lock eyes with his until he'd collapse.
The last thing Jack was able to remember before he passed out was Mercer's voice: "A good clean job, Sir. Nice and deep..."
Jack woke up to a gentle touch and it was Caithleen's face he saw first when he dared to open his eyes. She had bedded his head within her lap and looked at him with a smile, her gaze a mix of relief, gladness and gratefulness when she bent down on him to breath a kiss upon his lips. He surrendered to her touch and to her kiss for a while before he sat up, anxiously tried not to strain his arm more than necessary, as the angry burn mark sent a deep and pulsating pain up his forearm and down his whole body. He pulled Caithleen into a tight embrace, his cheek nestled up against hers, and whispered: "I was no hero today, love, I'm sorry...!"
"We're still alive", she replied: "and there was nothing you could have done to prevent this."
"But you paid the price for my failure!" He brushed some of her black curls from her face and cupped her cheeks with his hands: "This should always have been just between Beckett and me, but he used you as a pawn to get to me and even if he wasn't able to make me sell out those poor devils we set free, he still got me to understand that he's hell-bent on turning my life into hell on earth."
"Well, as it seems we are branded pirates for the rest of our lives, now, doomed to sail the seven seas together, doomed to drink rum in dirty ramshackle huts together, doomed to live and die together and doomed not to get enough of each other. If this bloody brand mark wouldn't hurt so much I could accept the prospect of a life like this."
"You're crazy, Caithleen Stevens!" A smile was on Jack's lips. Most probably, was she the only woman who was able to make something good from a desperate situation like this.
"Isn't this why you love me?"
"Your pretty face wouldn't be enough." He leaned back against the wall and dragged her on his lap: "Come to me, love! I need to see something beautiful, tonight."
She smiled at him as she caressed his cheek: "You look tired and exhausted. Are you sure you don't you want to sleep?"
"No, love, when I'm asleep I cannot look at you."
"I'm no sight to behold, tonight", Caith told him: "I'm just a woman in a tattered dress, branded, whipped, smeared with blood and tears, tired and terribly in pain...but...", her fingers shivered when they gently brushed over his lips: "...also foolishly and incredibly in love with you, Jack Sparrow!"
Jack let his gaze melt into hers when he gave her his reply: "Have I ever told you how much I desire you, Caithleen Stevens?"