Chapter Eight
"Feast your eyes on them Captain. Every man here worth his salt. And crazy to boot." Gibbs announced, presenting a long line of scruffy looking men.
"So this is your able bodied crew?" Will whispered into Jack's ear, his tone mocking.
Ever since he found out that he was mere 'leverage' he had taken to taunting the pirate, showing her the coldness he felt she deserved. Her reaction to this was somewhat baffling. She did not smile so quickly, and for this he felt a tug on his heart. But he must not get seduced by manipulative pirates if he was to rescue his beloved Elizabeth. No matter how beautiful they were, or fast their voice made his heart beat.
"You, sailor!" Jack asked a pirate with a parrot, determined to prove Will wrong.
"Cotton, sir." Mr. Gibbs informed her.
"Mr. Cotton! Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face danger? Cotton? Answer me man!" Jack demanded, growing impatient at the mans silence.
"He's a mute sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out." Gibbs said.
Cotton poked out his broken tongue out at this point, and Jack replied by poking hers out in return, and then pulling a face and shuddering at the thought of losing her own. Despite himself Will found himself smiling at the pirates usual humorous, theatrical antics.
"So he's trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's figured how." Gibbs finished.
"Mr. Cotton's parrot! Same question!" Jack asked, trying to keep a straight face despite the ridiculousness of the situation.
"Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!" the parrot screeched.
"Mostly, we figure, that means yes." Gibbs interpreted.
"Of course it does!" Jack said, grinning at Will.
"Well, you've proved their crazy." Will answered, raising his eyebrows.
"And what's the benefit for us?" a female voice came from down the end of the line.
Jack quickly strode to the owner, pulling off her floppy black hat. In return for this action the dark-skinned sailor quickly slapped her.
"And I suppose you didn't deserve that either?" Will asked.
"No, that I deserved."
"You stole my ship!" the enraged girl yelled.
"Borrowed! Borrowed without permission!" Jack argued.
This earned her another sharp slap.
"I had every intention of bringing it back to ya, Ana-Maria!"
"But you didn't!" Ana-Maria replied fiercely, pointing an accusing finger.
"You'll get another one." Jack tried to calm her down.
"A better one. That one." Will said, pointing at the Interceptor.
"What? That one? That one! What says you?" Jack asked Ana-Maria.
"Aye!"
"Friends again Ana?" Jack asked with a deploring look.
"Oh.aye. But don't you be stealing my ship again." Ana-Maria replied, weakening.
"Couldn't help it luv. I'm a pirate." She said with a cheeky grin, leading Will and the crew onto the waiting ship.
When, hours later, Will found Jack at the wheel, navigating with a compass that didn't point north, he began to doubt the pirate's sanity.
"Gibbs. you do realize that compass doesn't point north?" He asked, out of earshot of the fierce captain.
"Good thing we're not trying to find north than."
"How is it Jack came by that compass?"
"Lad, I'm not sure if our lady captain will be wanting me to share her past with ye. No, 'tis better to forget the days when here father was captain of the Black Pearl."
"What? She didn't mention that." Will said in quiet shock.
"Well, she keeps things close to her heart now. A hard lesson that was. I'll tell ye the story of the mighty Jack Sparrow, past and present. Now Jacqueline's father was a good man, and bloody good pirate. He had built the Pearl himself, it was his dream ship. The crew was made up of what he thought were friends, but the only true friend among 'em was yer father, Bootstrap Bill. Anyway, by the time the Black Pearl was famous throughout the sea's, Jack Sparrow had found himself a lass. Isabella, she was called, and a fairer lady you've never seen. 'Cept maybe her daughter there. Anyway, Isabella and Jack were in love, and they soon married and had a child, not something common among pirates even now. Many were jealous of the captain and his blessed life, and his first mate, Barbossa, led them into mutinying. How the good captain had come by the compass leading them to the Aztec treasure is unknown, but he was forced to surrender the co- ordinates of the treasure to save his wife and daughter, Jacqueline. They shot him, sending him down to the darkness of the deep sea, but not before he slipped Jacqueline the compass. The betraying pirates then cast her and her mother, now dying from sword-wounds inflicted by the pirates, into a rowboat with no oars. Now Will, when a pirate is marooned at sea, they're give a pistol with a single shot. No good for hunting or signally, aye, but three weeks later, when starvation is curled like a wolf in your gut, that gun is looking mighty tempting. But little Jackie, even at six, would not just give up. She was washed up on a deserted island, her dear mamma already dead and long claimed by the sea. And there she went mad with grief."
"So that's the reason for the." Will did an impression of Jack's seemingly drunken antics.
"Reason's got nothin' to do with it. Anyway, Jack managed to escape the island by standing out in the sea and roping a couple of sea turtles together, making them paddle her back to civilization. But the revolver she's kept ever since, and that one shot she'll not use on any man, save one. Barbossa."
"She roped a couple of sea-turtles together?" Will asked, sensing a flaw in the haunting tale.
"Aye."
"What did she use for rope?"
"Hair. Human hair." Jack interrupted. "Now drop the anchor! Young Mr. Turner and I are going ashore."
"Why?"
"We're outta supplies Will."
"And why are you taking me?"
"Because if I leave ya alone, Ana- Maria will have her way with ya."
"I will not!" protested a disgruntled Ana.
Grinning at that, Will followed the captain down the docks to a rowdy port. He was feeling better towards her, after hearing the tragic story of her childhood.
"Why did you really want me to come? Don't you trust me?"
"That, among other reasons. Like ye really need to get some new clothes and have a bath, no offence luv."
Looking at his appearance, Will was inclined to agree with her.
"Well, you're no better! With that constant black kohl smeared around your eyes!"
Although Will had to admit, he liked the alluring affect it had on her features.
"At least I don't stink." She retorted with a grin.
That was sadly true enough. But before he could come up with a satisfactory reply, he felt a small hand at his pocket and turned to see a young pick- pocket run off with his watch. His mother's watch.
"Stop thief!" He shouted, trying to chase after the child.
He soon gave up when the pick-pocket disappeared into the crowd.
"Don't be down lad, we'll get ye another watch." Jack said, sensing his disappointment.
"Not like that. It was all I have left of my mother."
Casting him a knowing look, then a happy smile, Jack grabbed his arm and dragged him through the streets until they were standing outside a flashy tavern. Definitely more classy than those he'd seen in Tortuga, the tavern was decorated with posters claiming an amazing show every night.
"Why are we here?"
"Only one man in this port is criminal enough to deal with pick-pockets. Jonathan Deacon, owner of 'Magnifico'. And it just so happens I know him."
They entered 'Magnifico', surrounded by red furnishings and ornate carvings.
"John! John!"
"What ya be wanting? Jackie???" A tall, handsome man asked.
There was something in his manner that will did not like, the man looked conniving and sleazy. He wanted to rip Jack out of his slimy reach.
"Aye John. I know that you've just come by a watch and I'd very much like it back." She addressed him.
"How'd ya know that? The famous Jack Sparrow been pick-pocketed?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow. Nay, 'twas Will." She said, nodding at him.
"Well now captain, I'll be wanting a pretty price for this fine piece." John said, pulling the watch from his pocket.
"Money's not an issue."
"It's not money I'll be wanting. You owe me Jack."
"I'll not do that."
"Then I'll not return the watch."
"Jack, can I speak to you a moment?" Will suddenly asked, breaking up what he was sure would turn into a brawl at any moment.
"Aye." Jack replied, leading him into a corner. "Now what ye be wanting?"
"What does he want you to do?"
"I'm not tellin'" she replied, looking down, seemingly ashamed.
The great Captain Sparrow? Ashamed? Will could not believe it. What could the cocky captain have possibly done to bring the blush to her tanned cheeks that he was seeing now. Comprehension dawning he placed his finger- tips under her chin and lifter her head up to look him in the face. She still kept her eyes stubbornly down, although his touch was doing strange, pleasant things to her skin.
"Jack. were you.did you.have to sell your body?"
Her reaction was aggressive, she slapped him hard across the face.
"Never!"
"Well I just couldn't figure out what else would cause you to blush!" Will retorted, holding his stinging cheek.
Who knew the girl possessed so much strength?
"I am not blushing!"
"Yes you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, ye are. Right there." Will replied, touching the soft, smooth plane of her cheeks.
She was silenced immediately, her eyes half-shut as he caressed her cheek. She felt the heat rising in her face even more, her skin tingling at his touch. Suddenly she realized what he had said.
"You said 'ye'."
"So I did." he mused, finally removing his hand from her cheek regretfully.
He was being sucked in, he could tell. He had to remember his love, Elizabeth. But her name did not bring with it the usual surge of joy.
"What did he want you to do then?" Will asked, returning to their previous conversation.
"To sing.for the evening crowd." She admitted reluctantly.
He let out a burst of laughter.
"Is that all? Do it then."
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's. embarrassing. I'd have to wear a dress. And sing. a love song." She looked disgusted at the thought.
"Oh, and big, bad pirates don't do those things?" he mocked her.
"Sure don't." she grinned.
"Well, this one is going to have to." Will informed her.
"No!" "Jacqueline, when we embarked on this quest to save Miss. Swann, you gave me your word you would do anything to help me find her. Now I'm asking you to do this. For her."
"Oh, using my full name. That's intimating. But I'll not do it for that sour bitch." She scowled.
"Don't call her that!" Will replied, furious.
"Why? It's true. What do you see in her?"
"She saved me when I was younger. The ship I was a deckhand on, a merchant ship, was attacked by none-other than the Black Pearl. I was set adrift on a panel of oak boards. She saw me in the ocean and got the men to pull me onto her ship, the Interceptor. I would have died had it not been for her kindness."
As he finished his story he saw Jack's green eyes light up with recognition.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing. I'll do it, but not for ye woman. I'll do it for your mother, yer father spoke well of her."
"Thank you." He told her, genuinely grateful.
What he didn't know was that she was doing it for him.
"John. Ye have yerself a deal."
~~~
"Feast your eyes on them Captain. Every man here worth his salt. And crazy to boot." Gibbs announced, presenting a long line of scruffy looking men.
"So this is your able bodied crew?" Will whispered into Jack's ear, his tone mocking.
Ever since he found out that he was mere 'leverage' he had taken to taunting the pirate, showing her the coldness he felt she deserved. Her reaction to this was somewhat baffling. She did not smile so quickly, and for this he felt a tug on his heart. But he must not get seduced by manipulative pirates if he was to rescue his beloved Elizabeth. No matter how beautiful they were, or fast their voice made his heart beat.
"You, sailor!" Jack asked a pirate with a parrot, determined to prove Will wrong.
"Cotton, sir." Mr. Gibbs informed her.
"Mr. Cotton! Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face danger? Cotton? Answer me man!" Jack demanded, growing impatient at the mans silence.
"He's a mute sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out." Gibbs said.
Cotton poked out his broken tongue out at this point, and Jack replied by poking hers out in return, and then pulling a face and shuddering at the thought of losing her own. Despite himself Will found himself smiling at the pirates usual humorous, theatrical antics.
"So he's trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's figured how." Gibbs finished.
"Mr. Cotton's parrot! Same question!" Jack asked, trying to keep a straight face despite the ridiculousness of the situation.
"Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!" the parrot screeched.
"Mostly, we figure, that means yes." Gibbs interpreted.
"Of course it does!" Jack said, grinning at Will.
"Well, you've proved their crazy." Will answered, raising his eyebrows.
"And what's the benefit for us?" a female voice came from down the end of the line.
Jack quickly strode to the owner, pulling off her floppy black hat. In return for this action the dark-skinned sailor quickly slapped her.
"And I suppose you didn't deserve that either?" Will asked.
"No, that I deserved."
"You stole my ship!" the enraged girl yelled.
"Borrowed! Borrowed without permission!" Jack argued.
This earned her another sharp slap.
"I had every intention of bringing it back to ya, Ana-Maria!"
"But you didn't!" Ana-Maria replied fiercely, pointing an accusing finger.
"You'll get another one." Jack tried to calm her down.
"A better one. That one." Will said, pointing at the Interceptor.
"What? That one? That one! What says you?" Jack asked Ana-Maria.
"Aye!"
"Friends again Ana?" Jack asked with a deploring look.
"Oh.aye. But don't you be stealing my ship again." Ana-Maria replied, weakening.
"Couldn't help it luv. I'm a pirate." She said with a cheeky grin, leading Will and the crew onto the waiting ship.
When, hours later, Will found Jack at the wheel, navigating with a compass that didn't point north, he began to doubt the pirate's sanity.
"Gibbs. you do realize that compass doesn't point north?" He asked, out of earshot of the fierce captain.
"Good thing we're not trying to find north than."
"How is it Jack came by that compass?"
"Lad, I'm not sure if our lady captain will be wanting me to share her past with ye. No, 'tis better to forget the days when here father was captain of the Black Pearl."
"What? She didn't mention that." Will said in quiet shock.
"Well, she keeps things close to her heart now. A hard lesson that was. I'll tell ye the story of the mighty Jack Sparrow, past and present. Now Jacqueline's father was a good man, and bloody good pirate. He had built the Pearl himself, it was his dream ship. The crew was made up of what he thought were friends, but the only true friend among 'em was yer father, Bootstrap Bill. Anyway, by the time the Black Pearl was famous throughout the sea's, Jack Sparrow had found himself a lass. Isabella, she was called, and a fairer lady you've never seen. 'Cept maybe her daughter there. Anyway, Isabella and Jack were in love, and they soon married and had a child, not something common among pirates even now. Many were jealous of the captain and his blessed life, and his first mate, Barbossa, led them into mutinying. How the good captain had come by the compass leading them to the Aztec treasure is unknown, but he was forced to surrender the co- ordinates of the treasure to save his wife and daughter, Jacqueline. They shot him, sending him down to the darkness of the deep sea, but not before he slipped Jacqueline the compass. The betraying pirates then cast her and her mother, now dying from sword-wounds inflicted by the pirates, into a rowboat with no oars. Now Will, when a pirate is marooned at sea, they're give a pistol with a single shot. No good for hunting or signally, aye, but three weeks later, when starvation is curled like a wolf in your gut, that gun is looking mighty tempting. But little Jackie, even at six, would not just give up. She was washed up on a deserted island, her dear mamma already dead and long claimed by the sea. And there she went mad with grief."
"So that's the reason for the." Will did an impression of Jack's seemingly drunken antics.
"Reason's got nothin' to do with it. Anyway, Jack managed to escape the island by standing out in the sea and roping a couple of sea turtles together, making them paddle her back to civilization. But the revolver she's kept ever since, and that one shot she'll not use on any man, save one. Barbossa."
"She roped a couple of sea-turtles together?" Will asked, sensing a flaw in the haunting tale.
"Aye."
"What did she use for rope?"
"Hair. Human hair." Jack interrupted. "Now drop the anchor! Young Mr. Turner and I are going ashore."
"Why?"
"We're outta supplies Will."
"And why are you taking me?"
"Because if I leave ya alone, Ana- Maria will have her way with ya."
"I will not!" protested a disgruntled Ana.
Grinning at that, Will followed the captain down the docks to a rowdy port. He was feeling better towards her, after hearing the tragic story of her childhood.
"Why did you really want me to come? Don't you trust me?"
"That, among other reasons. Like ye really need to get some new clothes and have a bath, no offence luv."
Looking at his appearance, Will was inclined to agree with her.
"Well, you're no better! With that constant black kohl smeared around your eyes!"
Although Will had to admit, he liked the alluring affect it had on her features.
"At least I don't stink." She retorted with a grin.
That was sadly true enough. But before he could come up with a satisfactory reply, he felt a small hand at his pocket and turned to see a young pick- pocket run off with his watch. His mother's watch.
"Stop thief!" He shouted, trying to chase after the child.
He soon gave up when the pick-pocket disappeared into the crowd.
"Don't be down lad, we'll get ye another watch." Jack said, sensing his disappointment.
"Not like that. It was all I have left of my mother."
Casting him a knowing look, then a happy smile, Jack grabbed his arm and dragged him through the streets until they were standing outside a flashy tavern. Definitely more classy than those he'd seen in Tortuga, the tavern was decorated with posters claiming an amazing show every night.
"Why are we here?"
"Only one man in this port is criminal enough to deal with pick-pockets. Jonathan Deacon, owner of 'Magnifico'. And it just so happens I know him."
They entered 'Magnifico', surrounded by red furnishings and ornate carvings.
"John! John!"
"What ya be wanting? Jackie???" A tall, handsome man asked.
There was something in his manner that will did not like, the man looked conniving and sleazy. He wanted to rip Jack out of his slimy reach.
"Aye John. I know that you've just come by a watch and I'd very much like it back." She addressed him.
"How'd ya know that? The famous Jack Sparrow been pick-pocketed?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow. Nay, 'twas Will." She said, nodding at him.
"Well now captain, I'll be wanting a pretty price for this fine piece." John said, pulling the watch from his pocket.
"Money's not an issue."
"It's not money I'll be wanting. You owe me Jack."
"I'll not do that."
"Then I'll not return the watch."
"Jack, can I speak to you a moment?" Will suddenly asked, breaking up what he was sure would turn into a brawl at any moment.
"Aye." Jack replied, leading him into a corner. "Now what ye be wanting?"
"What does he want you to do?"
"I'm not tellin'" she replied, looking down, seemingly ashamed.
The great Captain Sparrow? Ashamed? Will could not believe it. What could the cocky captain have possibly done to bring the blush to her tanned cheeks that he was seeing now. Comprehension dawning he placed his finger- tips under her chin and lifter her head up to look him in the face. She still kept her eyes stubbornly down, although his touch was doing strange, pleasant things to her skin.
"Jack. were you.did you.have to sell your body?"
Her reaction was aggressive, she slapped him hard across the face.
"Never!"
"Well I just couldn't figure out what else would cause you to blush!" Will retorted, holding his stinging cheek.
Who knew the girl possessed so much strength?
"I am not blushing!"
"Yes you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, ye are. Right there." Will replied, touching the soft, smooth plane of her cheeks.
She was silenced immediately, her eyes half-shut as he caressed her cheek. She felt the heat rising in her face even more, her skin tingling at his touch. Suddenly she realized what he had said.
"You said 'ye'."
"So I did." he mused, finally removing his hand from her cheek regretfully.
He was being sucked in, he could tell. He had to remember his love, Elizabeth. But her name did not bring with it the usual surge of joy.
"What did he want you to do then?" Will asked, returning to their previous conversation.
"To sing.for the evening crowd." She admitted reluctantly.
He let out a burst of laughter.
"Is that all? Do it then."
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's. embarrassing. I'd have to wear a dress. And sing. a love song." She looked disgusted at the thought.
"Oh, and big, bad pirates don't do those things?" he mocked her.
"Sure don't." she grinned.
"Well, this one is going to have to." Will informed her.
"No!" "Jacqueline, when we embarked on this quest to save Miss. Swann, you gave me your word you would do anything to help me find her. Now I'm asking you to do this. For her."
"Oh, using my full name. That's intimating. But I'll not do it for that sour bitch." She scowled.
"Don't call her that!" Will replied, furious.
"Why? It's true. What do you see in her?"
"She saved me when I was younger. The ship I was a deckhand on, a merchant ship, was attacked by none-other than the Black Pearl. I was set adrift on a panel of oak boards. She saw me in the ocean and got the men to pull me onto her ship, the Interceptor. I would have died had it not been for her kindness."
As he finished his story he saw Jack's green eyes light up with recognition.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing. I'll do it, but not for ye woman. I'll do it for your mother, yer father spoke well of her."
"Thank you." He told her, genuinely grateful.
What he didn't know was that she was doing it for him.
"John. Ye have yerself a deal."
~~~