The other servants in the Swann household and I had been working tirelessly on helping Elizabeth prepare her bridal trousseau. On this warm day in May, Elizabeth granted me the day off. It was so lovely outside that I was beyond grateful, though I promised Bertha the cook that I would fetch her some food supplies she'd been needing. To the civilians, it most likely seemed to be just another ordinary day in Port Royal. But not to me! Though the Swanns gave use Sunday the Lord's Day off every week, being able to visit town on my own time for my own activities was a delightful treat! I carried my little diary inside my petticoat pockets: never went anywhere without it. That a small chunk of charcoal to write in it. As I smelled the heavenly scents coming from the baker's, which contrasted electrically with the horrid stench of sewage, tobacco, and fish throughout various parts of the city, I had no conception and no warning about how drastically my life was about to change.
Little did we know on this very same morning that a shrewd, wobbly-legged sneak thief was creeping around our town. He'd swam from his ship the Black Pearl-which was still far out in the bay away from sight-to shore in the shelter of some thick trees, and then made his way into town to steal some supplies for his crew waiting on the ship, to prepare for their next voyage. In my opinion, he could've just saved himself the trouble and attempted to make a purchase of what he needed, but oh, no! He just had to do things the pirate way and steal! But according to what Elizabeth and Will had told me, many citizens here still didn't take too kindly to the pirate so it wasn't as if they'd want to do business with him anyway...unless it involved the gallows of course. Still, the man could've asked a favor of his friends instead of setting himself up for more trouble! But this was Captain Jack Sparrow I'm referring to, and from what I'd heard, he relished in a fun wild goose chase.
Jack Sparrow was rummaging about in the shoe cobbler's own root cellar, scanning over and taking whatever winter preserves suited him! He was just climbing out of the dugout in the earth when the cobbler, Mr. Jenkins arrived! "Oh. Good day, mate." Jack grinned in a friendly voice. "Hope ye don't mind a me borrowin' from your winter stash while me crew is becomin' skin and bones now, eh?" Mr. Jenkins screeched and wildly ran all over town, shouting for the soldiers.
Jack gulped and made a run for it as he dashed off into alleys and atop roofs, trying to make it back to the thicket of trees near the water. He could hear pounding boots and men shouting as the navy rolled into the town square with their firearms drawn, searching for the nifty pirate. Jack stood atop the roof of the apothecary's place of business. He perched himself on the edge, watching the frenzied scene take place right below him. Nobody seemed to notice him in the least, which was perfect for him to execute his plan to escape the way he came. "Time and tide, lads." He smirked to himself with a silent salute to the dimwitted soldiers down beneath as he readjusted the heavy sack on his shoulders, preparing to take daring leap across the thin air onto the next building. But it would seem that Captain Sparrow's luck had run out. Just as he was about to boost off the edge of the tiled roof, something heavy whacked his head from behind. Jack flinched dizzily, then toppled over head first down into the street. Luckily for him, he landed onto a wagon filled with fresh hay for the governor's animals, then his body slid off onto the ground.
"I got him! Did you see that, Lt.? I got him! I got him!" An excited teenage boy announced to the villagers. He'd been atop one of the roofs himself, trying to sneak a kiss to a young lady he fancied whose father disapproved of the lad. He'd happened to see Jack sneaking around with the food and had slugged him with the club he always carried on himself.
"Blimey! It's him! The horrid pirate!" One of the soldiers exclaimed. Commodore Norrington stepped forward, his aloof presence commanding respect.
"Bloody Sparrow." He said flatly.
"I did it! I did it!" The young man boasted, waiting for some sort of public award.
"So you have, Master White." Norrington nodded. "Though might I ask just what you were doing up on the rooftops at this time in the day when you're supposed to be on your farm?" He teased darkly. The White boy gulped hard.
"Well, uhh...I, uhh...you see, Sir..." He stammered.
"You! Master Jonathan!" Mr. Jones, Jonathan White's girlfriend's father howled furiously from down the road as he charged toward the crowd like a mad bull. "Don't move, ye dirty rat! I'm gonna skin ye alive!" He threatened. Jonathan paled and looked pleadingly to Norrington for protection.
"You haven't answered my question, boy." Norrington said cockily. Mr. Jones was approaching at an alarming pace. Jonathan turned tail and raced out of sight with all of his might. The crowd laughed heartily.
"Where is he? Where is he?!" Mr. Jones curled his lip in dark delight.
"I believe he went that way, Master Jones." Norrington grinned, pointing in the opposite direction of where Jonathan had run.
"Much obliged, Commodore." Jones said with a frightful gleam in his eye. "If that young scamp ever comes near Amy again, I swear I'll..." He dashed in the said direction. The soldiers gaped at Norrington. He was the law man in these parts, and he'd just fibbed! He sensed their doubt.
"'Tis also my duty to protect the citizens here...even if it be from each other." He said sarcastically. Then he glared down at the unconscious Jack Sparrow. "Stupid Sparrow. Mulette, fetch some irons." He commanded.
"Commodore, did I just hear you mention..." Will Turner asked and stopped short as his eyes fell on the pirate. "Jack!" Will gasped. "What's he doing here?!"
"I was rather hoping you could tell me, Mr. Turner." Norrington said gruffly.
"Commodore, I swear I know nothing about this." Will said earnestly, though his testimony hardly impressed Norrington. Will knelt down beside his friend, hoping Jack wasn't injured.
"More than half a dozen oranges, a tin of kippers..." One of the soldiers said as they confiscated and scanned the stolen items.
"He doesn't seem to be seriously hurt, thank God." Will sighed with relief.
"No need for that, Turner. It's still going to be the brig for him." Norrington said. Will looked up at him.
"Indeed. But not the gallows, right?" He asked hopefully.
Norrington rolled his eyes. "We shall see." Private Mulette returned with a chain of shackles which they tethered Jack's wrists with then pulled him to his feet. His eyes fluttered open and his head lolled around as he swayed unsteadily on his already wobbly knees.
"Where's...the rum?" Jack slurred dizzily.
"Mr. Sparrow, so we meet again." Norrington gloated. Jack blinked and squinted.
"It's...Captain...Jack Sparrow," He said, holding up his index finger. As his foggy mind slowly began to clear, he noticed the shackles on his wrists. He rolled his eyes.
"Jack! It's me, Will Turner." Will spoke up. "Are you all right?" Jack backed up clumsily and frowned.
"I is just dandy, lad." He mumbled.
"Up to your old tricks again, eh, Sparrow?" Norrington leered, holding up the stolen food for Jack to see. Jack squinted at the evidence against him and sulked.
"More like an urgent business errand." He said cockily, still stumbling over his feet.
"Ahh. And where is your crew, Captain Sparrow?"
"Out of sight, out of mind." Jack said nonchalantly. "If they're truly smart, by now they've sailed out of the bay without me."
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Norrington said scornfully. "Take him away." The soldiers marched off, dragging Jack along.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Will asked tersely.
"Maybe this is my chance of redemption with the cunning pirate." Norrington replied. Will followed the parade.
Governor Swann and Elizabeth arrived in town in a carriage. Her father was tending to some business while Elizabeth had been planning to steal some time alone with her dear Will. The footman was just helping her down from the vehicle when the navy passed by. Elizabeth gaped when she recognized her roguish friend. "Jack?!" She gasped. He glanced her way and gave a wry smile as he was dragged through the streets. "Jack!" Elizabeth picked up her skirts and ran to the commodore. "James, what is the meaning of this?" She demanded.
"He was committing a crime, Elizabeth." Norrington sighed. "We caught him red-handed."
"What are you going to do to him?" Elizabeth asked with worry.
"For the moment, keep him under lock and key." Norrington replied firmly. "No doubt you and Turner will want to speak with him I presume?"
"Of course!" Elizabeth nodded then she noticed Will and ran to his side. "Will?"
"For now he's just being locked up, Elizabeth." Will assured her. "Though I can't say for sure how long that will be the case." They both retreated to speak to Elizabeth's father.
I had heard a great deal of commotion through town, but hadn't heard any clear declarations as to exactly what was going on yet. I stepped out of the dressmaker's shop, pleased with the new silk blue ribbon I was able to purchase, when I heard the navy stomping in my direction. I looked and saw them approaching and jumped back out of the way. They were hauling a man I'd never seen before, but my eyes couldn't leave him. He was different. His taste in clothes wasn't even close to fashionable, but he had long chocolate hair, with beads in his braids, a bandanna under his hat, dark facial hair, and large beady eyes. What surprised me the most was his unusual behavior at the soldier's rough treatment. He wasn't thrashing around or throwing verbal abuse at them. Just the opposite. If anything, he seemed to just be rolling along with the situation, as if he wasn't that worried about his fate! He even gave a ridiculous grin to the ones who had him by the arms! I watched the whole scene with great this fellow was, he didn't look like the hardened criminal type.
"Ye know, you all should really petition the governor to raise your salaries, or better yet add a bonus to your wages for this efficient capture." Jack said casually to his captors who merely rolled their eyes. "Though a few in your number, Commodore, have much to be desired, I must commend you on your tenacity. If they'd had fine troops like your kind present during the Marquis of the Midnight Moon, you'd be reading different results of the turnout of that case this very day!" He rambled.
"I am not interested in your opinion on how to run my fleet." Norrington glared. "And as for the Marquis of the Midnight Moon, it's done with and cannot be changed."
"Wait! Did that criminal really just mention the Marquis of the Midnight Moon?" I asked myself, nearly unable to think clearly. Who was this man? How did he know so much about it? What did he know about it?! He'd mentioned that things could've turned out differently. What did that mean? Did it have anything to do with my father?! With...his disappearance? I could hardly breathe as a thousand anxious thoughts raced through my mind. I eagerly trailed behind the battalion as they took Jack to the fort jail.
Once they'd incarcerated Jack, Norrington departed from the jail back into town. I couldn't bear the suspense any longer and scurried up to him. "Commodore?!" I called.
Norrington stopped abruptly. "Miss Summers." He said. "What is it?" I gave a quick curtsy then straightened up.
"Sir, that man you just arrested..." I was trying to find my voice, and struggled to get my words out. "Who is he?"
"You don't know?" Norrington frowned.
"No, Sir."
"That man, my dear young lady, is none other than Captain Jack Sparrow himself."
My jaw dropped in astonishment. "No!" I gasped, dumbfounded.
"Incredible, isn't it?" Norrington sighed and started to walk away.
"Commodore! Where did he come from?"
"All over the Caribbean and the Seven Seas." Norrington said.
"He mentioned the Marquis of the Midnight Moon!"
"That was over years ago. There's no logical reason to bring it up now."
"But how does he know about it?"
"Perhaps you should ask him yourself. And I strongly advise you to keep a safe distance from that filthy pirate. He's a bad egg, Miss Summers. Good day to you." He tipped his hat and strode off down the street.
"Good day, Commodore." I barely acknowledged him. "Captain Jack Sparrow..." I told myself over and over, filled with awe. "I wonder if Will and Elizabeth know. I must speak with him!" But then I noticed the redcoat guards up on the fort. "Well, seeing as Commodore suggested I ask the infamous captain-though I think he was merely being sarcastically rude-, I shall do so!"
I ran for the fort, praying that Jack would listen to reason. He'd mentioned the Marquis of the Midnight Moon! My heart lept nearly to the clouds and I felt as if I could dance on air. I was going to find out the truth about my past and finally get answers! I had to speak with him! I just had to know! It was time for a little interrogation of Captain Jack Sparrow.
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