Pirates of the Caribbean – The Secret of Hell Water
(A/N- Woot! Next chapter and they FINALLY reach Hell Water! Heh heh! THANK YOU so much for your reviews! * Hugs you all the death* you people are just too awesome for words! Please keep the comments coming… it helps keep me typing.
Oh! I want to give you all the heads up- but I'll be gone on Vacation from August 10th- August 18th. So there obviously won't be any updates until sometime in the week after next. But I'll be back! And probably with the rest of this fic drafted. So I can get right back into writing. Okay- I'll shut up now… back to the adventure!!
Chapter 11- Jack Sparrow's 'Opportunity'
Jack and his crew made good use of the strong easterly wind and The Black Pearl cut through the water swift and true to its reputation as being the fastest ship in the Caribbean. The crew, enlivened by the recent adventure (and triumph) on board the Commodore's Trade ship went about their work good-naturedly. Many took a few moments out of their spare time to praise Emma on her excellent work of sneaking aboard the ship and creating the chaos needed to provide an opportunity for escape. They were all aware, as Will had undoubtedly reminded them on several occasions, that they were in Emma and Elizabeth's debt. Undoubtedly, if the two women had not taken charge of the situation, everyone would be locked in the gaol about now, awaiting the hangman's noose.
Emma's mysterious escape from the The Black Pearl, her brush with death, and the unusual circumstances about her reappearance on the Rum Cache Island were all topics skillfully avoided by the pirates. It had become apparent that the crew had received strict instructions from Jack not to press the matter.
" If ye ask me one more time about the wench, I'll hang ye in the rigging by your toes!" Became his usual, good-natured reply.
Emma was thankful for his use of authority in those situations. She'd learned from the beginning of her voyage just how difficult it was to sidestep around questions she would rather leave unanswered.
From the moment she'd stepped on the ship and it had left the island in its wake, Jack acted like his usual foppish self, which included regarding her with no difference in his manner what-so-ever. In one way this was quite relieving to Emma and infuriating in another. With the exception of the occasional wink and knowing smile that he would flash at her from time to time, he acted as if the night they'd spent together had not even existed. Emma, on the other hand, dwelled on it constantly. She couldn't forget the sensation of his calloused hands on her skin, or the feel of his hot breath as he ran his lips down her neck. Every time her eyes met with his, her heart beat quickened and she would become distracted or forget what she was saying in the middle of a sentence. What was more, she found herself prone to daydreaming about that night constantly.
Now, they had been on the move for four days, and since that one night, she had not had the opportunity to spend any real quality time alone with him. Part of her was relieved for this fact. Her sensibilities told her that she didn't need any further distractions… especially when she was so close to her goal of finding the Blade of Neptune. Yet, every night that she curled up in her hammock, in the tiny living space she shared with Anamaria (which was an area simply curtained off from the rest of the crew) she was plagued with a constant, aching disappointment in the pit of her stomach. Emma lay awake late into the night, scolding herself for her childish fancies about the roguish Pirate Captain.
" He's not the kind of man to loose his head over a woman, so you'd better not loose your head over him." She told herself firmly. " If he knew just how often you thought of him, he'd laugh in your face!"
As time passed, she came to a reluctant realization that with her final decision to trust Jack Sparrow, she'd unintentionally developed a tremendous, undeniable crush. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't ignore it.
Three more days rolled by fast and fleeting. That morning, Emma woke up early with the sunrise and spent the greater part of her day hard at work aboard the ship. Most often she found herself scrubbing the deck, or occasionally helping with meal preparations in the galley. There were one or two instances during the trip where she'd managed to corner Will and convince him to teach her a thing or two about swordsmanship. She was chagrined to think that the reason Jack had almost died was due to her being captured by the Commodore, and while she was fairly good at defending herself with a dirk, she was not familiar with swords and cutlasses. She didn't know enough offensive moves to be much good to the pirates in a battle. Therefore, she was resolved to remedy this situation, partly because it would undoubtedly be of use in the future, and also that the lessons helped her forget her personal troubles with Jack Sparrow.
" After you swing, you leave yourself wide open at your left side." Will said, pausing momentarily in his instruction. " You have to assume the worst of your opponent, he will take every advantage he can, so don't leave yourself open!"
Emma nodded, clutching the wooden pole she was using as sword tightly in her right hand. They went through a simple exercise, which dealt with consecutive blocks both high and low. She managed to execute these well as they'd practiced, however at the end of the routine, Will flourished a tiny side step and had his sword at her neck before she could blink.
" You have to stop thinking defensively, I gave you at least five openings in which to attack during the routine."
Emma took a few shallow breaths, panting in the heat that beat down on the sailors from the sun high overhead. She thought fleetingly of the cool, dark ocean beneath the rolling waves and how much she'd enjoy taking a dive. Sweating profusely was one unfortunate side effect of living above the surface of the water. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her large, billowing sleeve.
For lack of any wardrobe at all with the exception of her dirty slip, and the shoes and stockings she'd left behind on the Black Pearl, she had wasted no time in approaching both Elizabeth and Anamaria for any hand-me-down's they might be willing to lend her. The clothes she got from them as a consequence, were a little too large for her petite frame, but she wasn't about to argue. She looked the part of a pirate now with a random assortment of mismatched clothes, all carelessly tied onto her with fraying laces and more than a couple rips and tears. One side of her dirty dark gray overskirt was tied up in a secure knot to display the faded red petticoat underneath which was heavily frayed and torn at the edges. Her outer-bodice was of stained, damaged black velvet that had seen much better days, and her off-white linen under-shirt dipped so tremendously in the front that she wondered what on earth a woman like Anamaria was doing with a shirt so unlike her character.
" I wasn't expecting that, how did you move so fast?" Emma asked Will, after she'd gained her breath.
" It's all in the foot work." He leaned back against the starboard railing of the ship. " I'll teach it to you once you learn the sidestep maneuvers."
" I'm afraid I must interrupt your lessons, love--"
Emma gave an involuntary jump as Jack approached from behind her with one hand resting idly on his sword hilt.
" --But young Mr. Turner here is needed aft." Jack gave Will a knowing nod of the head. Will sheathed his sword in one fluid motion.
" Aye, Captain." Then spared a small smile for Emma. " Maybe later then."
Emma opened her mouth to reply, but Jack spoke up first.
" I'll substitute for ye." He flashed a roguish grin at the girl, whose cheeks took on a slightly reddish tinge. " You're learning the rules of engagement in a fair fight from Will here, so now I'll have to teach you how we pirates fight."
" Oh?" Emma leaned on one foot and put her free hand on her hip, looking at him with a questioning glance. " And how is that?"
Without a word, Jack whirled around and his sword was out of its sheath and upon her in an instant. Emma's reflexes saved her and she managed a block just in time to deflect his sword from slicing through, much to her surprise, the laces in the front of her bodice.
" Unfairly." Jack answered with a mock bow and a grin. Emma gave him a callous look.
" Oh really? Do you always try to cut off the clothes of your students?"
" Only the female ones, love."
She frowned and gave a little nod. " That's reassuring… I think…"
As soon as these words left her mouth, she found herself fending him off again with her wooden stick. He was as skilled in form as Will, and she could tell he was being exceptionally easy on her, as his swings lacked the strength to cause any great harm. She was beginning to get the hang of the exercise and after parrying a low thrust from Jack, remembered Will's suggestion to try attacking. When she thought she saw an opening, she lunged at him with the intention of poking him just below the ribs. He moved aside easily and she hit nothing but air.
Emma recovered quickly without loss of balance, however she was not fast enough. The moment she straightened up, she felt the weight of his body pressed up against her back and the sharp blade of his sword grazing her throat. Emma froze in that instant, Jack's free arm was wrapped securely around her torso, holding her in place.
" You made that almost too easy for me, love."
Emma swallowed with difficulty. She noticed her throat was parched and licked her lips nervously, wondering what to say to him. She was acutely conscious of his warm breath on the back of her neck, and the closeness of his body against her back.
" Not intentionally…" She said, trying her best to keep a steady voice.
" Tha's good…" Jack said with a hint of humor in his voice. " I like women who have a little fight in them."
She could imagine the sly smile that was on his face. She could tell by his tone of voice that he was greatly enjoying this moment of triumph, and no doubt getting some pleasure out of the forced close contact. A twinge of anger ignited in her at the realization that he was enjoying causing her unnecessary discomfort. How despicable! She frowned, thinking that if she could just get out of his hold, she would love to see the look on his face when she actually won over him for once. Then, she remembered the dirk that she had secured at her waist. At Anamaria's suggestion, she'd tied the hilt with a chord to a narrow belt, which was much easier to get to than keeping it hidden in a garter. An idea sprung into her head.
It didn't take her a moment longer to move into action, with as much speed as she could muster, she slid the dirk out of its sheath, simultaneously twisting around in Jack's grip and brought the small blade up behind his back, pressing the point firmly against the vulnerable spot just below his lower right rib. The knife was angled upwards, ready to plunge into his kidney. It was a vital organ that would kill anyone almost instantly.
" Ahh-" He gave an involuntary flinch, then replaced the brief look of discomfort with a praising glance. " Very good… I noticed you had some skill with that knife."
Emma returned his smile with a smug look of triumph. Her head was angled sharply upwards in order to meet his eye. She was still acutely conscious of his sword pressed up against the back of her neck.
" Now, what are we to do love? It seems we're locked in a bit of a standstill."
" It may seem that way…" Emma cocked an eyebrow at him in mock consideration. " Except, you're forgetting one very important thing."
" And what is that?" Jack looked down at her with a look of genuine interest.
" Well, you see… I can't die… and you can." She spoke conversationally, but low enough for only his ears to be able to catch.
" Aye, that's true enough." His tone was thoughtful. " However, you also forgot one other very important fact."
Emma paused, the smile on her face faltered. " And that is?"
Then, without warning he brought his free hand around and firmly grabbed her wrist that held the dirk. Emma only had enough time to give a tiny squeak of surprise before he brought it up above their heads. He stretched it so tightly that, in consequence, she was forced to stand uncomfortably on her toes, teetering precariously with imbalance and (to her dismay) completely at his mercy. Her eyes opened wide and she stared up at him in surprise.
He leaned close and whispered in her ear.
" I'm Captain Jack Sparrow… savvy?"
His lips had barely brushed her ear, but the contact made her heart pound even harder. She struggled vainly to loosen his grip on her wrist, but it only made her totter on one foot. She thought that she must look like a real fool in front of the crew. Her cheeks grew red with embarrassment.
" You've made your point, Captain Sparrow." She said heatedly, all her previous thoughts of romance had disappeared. "Now you can let me go."
" I was just wondering if you would like to tell me where you learned to use that dirk?" He asked her lightly.
She brought her free hand up and unsuccessfully tried to bring his arm down enough so that she could regain her balance.
" You can take a guess, I learned it from some of the other women who worked in the bar. For my defense when the place got too out of hand." She said the words offhandedly, continuing to pull at his arm, which refused to budge. " You filthy, rotten vagabond! Let me go!" She brought her hand up and made ready to aim a slap. Jack saw it coming this time though, and let go without warning. Emma uttered a cry of surprise at this sudden release and staggered forward, barely managing to regain her balance. Jack had sidestepped around her the moment he'd let go. One she was sufficiently recovered, she whirled about furiously, ready to give him a verbal beating, but stopped at the look of total uncomprehending innocence plastered over his face.
" You're very good at that…" She said softly.
" Anything to avoid a slap, love… those things sting something awful." He confessed.
" Maybe you should stop doing things that would merit them." She folded her arms and shot him her best glare.
Jack shrugged. " Old habit I'm afraid… hard to break."
Mr. Gibbs interrupted them at this point in their conversation. The weather beaten old pirate approached the duo apprehensively.
" Captain." Mr. Gibbs addressed Jack with a shaking voice, wringing his hands together and glancing out at the distant horizon nervously.
Jack turned to regard Gibbs with mild interest, and reluctantly let go of Emma, setting her firmly back on the deck. She rubbed her wrist absently with her free hand and regarded him out of the corner of her eye. One corner of his mouth was turned up slightly, revealing part of a golden tooth.
" Aye Mr. Gibbs?"
" There be Hell Water, Captain! We're coming abreast of her!" Gibbs handed a battered telescope to Jack and gestured with his free hand towards the bow of the boat. Jack took the eyeglass and sauntered over to the far railing, unfolding it as he did so. He held it up to his eye and peered through.
" Do you see it?" asked Emma with excitement, coming up from behind.
Jack turned back to glance at them both, then handed the telescope back to Gibbs.
" Aye, all hands on deck! Shorten the Main Sail and hold 'er steady."
In the midst of the expansive ocean, an island was jutting out at many sharp, jagged angles like the lower jaws of some monstrous creature. However, to say 'island' may not be quite the correct term for this particular spit of land. It was not a whole piece of land, as one would expect from the term 'island.' In this instance, it was a group of cliffs and sharp rocks that were so densely scattered, from far away it looked like one giant mound. But as they grew closer, they could see that these sharp teeth were separate entities, joined sparsely by smaller rocks and outcroppings. The narrow watery passages between the rocks and cliffs were treacherous and crooked. It became abundantly clear now why the area had earned its name. There was no place for a ship to land, or even safely anchor. The currents were treacherous and the waves frothed up on the rocks, crashing dangerously in ebbs and flows. The wind blew first in one direction and then the other, and already there were dangerous clouds over the horizon that signaled a halt to the fair weather they'd been enjoying.
Gibbs shouted the orders. Emma watched as Jack took the helm from Anamaria. He took the map out of his coat pocket, regarded it carefully, and then turned the dark wooden wheel to a sharp starboard. The ship angled sharply towards the left, cutting roughly through the turbulent waves on an invisible path set by 'Black Jack' Sparrow's map.
It was about an hour later when the ship finally entered the realm of Hell Water. Jack angled sharply southwest as it made its way through the shallow reefs. These reefs were the prelude to Hell Water, an invisible but deadly guardian that most ships that came sailing into those waters perished on. The Black Pearl was not just any ship though, and Jack was not just any Captain. With the aid of his father's map, he directed his ship on a precise course, twisting and turning back and forth ponderously on an intricate path that would see them safely through the reef and into the land beyond. As they continued, it was easy to see on the near horizon evidence of wreckage from sailors who'd gotten caught on that reef during a storm or had run aground and had their ship dashed to pieces by the furious waves. They passed by torn sails still attached to pieces of mast, sticking up from the water and waving feebly in the wind. Sometimes they saw the stripped down hull of a ship, and bits and pieces of debris were so frequent, Emma thought that if they collected them all, it would be enough wood to build 10 ships.
" What's down there?" Elizabeth had walked up next to Emma, and now stood peering over the railing into the deceptive blue water with the rest of the crew. Emma followed her glance; she could see patches of light and dark colors just under the surface. It was an indication of drastic changes in depth. But they were so frequent; she wondered how any ship would have ever been able to find safe passage through this underwater maze.
" Reef." Answered Emma softly.
" Aye…" The gruff voice of Mr. Gibbs interrupted the two women. They looked up to regard him with questioning looks. The pirate gave them a wry smile and began tying down a loose rope attached to the main sail. " If we run aground on it, it'll tear the ship apart, and us with it."
All the pirates wore masks of various emotions, from excitement to fear, to fascination. The peril of Hell Water was finally setting into each person's mind. Emma felt a tiny knot of nervous tension settle in the pit of her stomach, and she knew that the real danger was only beginning.
She looked up at the helm and saw Jack. His eyes were alight with a familiar fervor of anticipation. In contrast with the crew, his face did not betray a hint of fear. She turned her head again to regard the ominous landscape as it grew steadily closer and inhaled the salty breeze. A feeling of triumph washed over her in that instant, quelling the fear that had tried to take root in her just moments earlier. She had finally made it. She knew that somewhere in the middle of that dangerous conflagration of dense rocks and spires was their destination… The giant whirlpool of Hell Water and the treasure she'd been so desperately seeking.
~*~*~*~*~*
If Jack had ever thought that in all his long life, he had been uncommonly lucky, now was the time to say it. The storm hit the moment they cleared the reef. It had been almost too close a call though. Jack had instructed that they bring out the oars and if it hadn't been for the Black Pearls uncommon speed, they never would have made it out of the danger zone in time. Now, there was a good bit of open space still between the ship and the rocks for the storm to toss them about. It didn't mean he could relax though.
" Tie down those sheets! Secure the topsails! Watch the Main yard!" He yelled over the whistling wind and the pounding of the surf. The sky had grown perilously black with the overhead clouds. Waves crashed over the side of the ship and rain pounded down at a precarious angle with the wind. The crew lunged about, half-hazardly fulfilling orders as the ship rocked back and forth. Their eyes were all aglow with the fervor of the moment, excitement and danger was what they lived for. And they faced up and fought the storm to the best of their abilities. Jack, standing at the Helm with water streaming off of his triangular hat in three miniature waterfalls, fought to keep the helm steady while the turbulent ocean threw the ship about like a toy boat in a bathtub. He knew that if he lost control, they would find themselves upon those sharp rocks within moments.
" Jack! We have to loose the sails!" Mr. Gibbs yelled up at him from the deck. " The ship, she won't hold much longer!"
" The storm is almost spent, she'll hold! " Jack shouted down at him to be heard over the roar of the waves. " Go below for the lifelines! And make it fast!" He knew these kinds of storms well enough. They left as fast as they came. But it was throwing the last of its punches and the end was always the worst. Yet, he could not risk setting the sails loose, the ship would have no direction then, and they would surely be pounded to splinters in seconds. They would have to make due at shortened sails and steer as best they could.
Emma, during all of this, was up on the helm with Jack, holding onto the Mizzenmast with all her might, rooted to the spot in complete terror. The rain and the spray of the sea drenched her from head to foot. She was determined not to loose hold and fall into the ocean itself. The minute her bare feet left the solid wood of the floorboards, she'd turn back into a mermaid.
Suddenly, a great scream pierced through the roar of the waves and the whistling wind. Emma and Jack both jerked their heads up in time to see Will loose his footing as a great wave went crashing over the deck.
" WILL!"
It was Elizabeth's voice they had heard. She was clinging tightly to the shroud as the ship lurched and bobbed in the water. But Will, in his attempt to try and get her down from her precarious position, had gotten caught unawares. Emma realized with horror, as the wave swept over the edge of the boat, that he was nowhere to be seen. He'd been swept overboard. Jack had seen the same, and shouted loudly.
"MAN OVERBOARD!"
" WILL!" Screamed Elizabeth again, she let go of the shroud and landed heavily on the slippery deck, then tripped and slid, lurching precariously with the roll of the ship over towards the port side railing where Will had disappeared.
Emma saw her and knew she was about to jump in after. She wondered if she could get down there in time to stop her, but Cotton had also heard the shout. He bounded out to her and grabbed hold of her waist, keeping her from jumping over the edge.
" NO! Let me go! WILL!" Elizabeth fought the pirate, and even though he could not speak, he was still strong and steadfastly refused by his tight grip to let her go over the edge.
Emma glanced out at the water over her shoulder, searching frantically. Just when she was about to despair, she thought she saw a head poking out of the waves.
" It's him!" She cried. Forgetting her fear in that instant, she dashed down the steps to the deck, almost running straight into Elizabeth in her haste. " Rope!" She cried, " ROPE!"
Cotton and Elizabeth looked at her incredulously. Then, a sudden glint of understanding lit Elizabeth's eyes and she stopped her struggle. Then, Gibbs burst onto deck with several large coils of rope gathered over his shoulders, in answer to Emma's plea.
" LIFELINES!" He cried. The distraught crew descended on him like hawks, taking the offered ropes and lashing one end securely to the mast, and the other around their waists to keep them attached to the ship. Gibbs threw one coil at Emma, who grasped it and tied it securely to her waist in a swift motion. Elizabeth took the other end and twined it securely around a cleat on her left.
Emma didn't spare another moment. She put one foot up on the rail and pushed off of it, diving in perfect form into the turbulent water with the rope flowing behind her. Elizabeth knelt down with hands clasping the wooden dividers, searching the waters frantically for any sign of them.
The wait was almost too much for Elizabeth to bear. If Will died, she didn't know what she would do.
" Please… oh please…" She prayed fervently, ignoring the water that streamed down her face and neck from the spray of the surf.
It was perhaps no more than a minute or two, but the time seemed to stretch to infinite lengths when Emma's golden head was seen once again bobbing up and down amongst the dark, perilous waves. Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat and she bounded to her feet, almost loosing balance and getting pitched overboard herself as the ship rocked precariously. She could see Will's curly dark hair poke above the surface as the girl lifted his head out of the water.
" HANDS TO PORT SIDE!" Jack's voice roared loud and clear before Elizabeth could raise her own alarm. " Man overboard! Take in the ropes!"
Elizabeth and several others grabbed hold of Emma's lifeline and pulled against the force of the pounding surf. The progress to Elizabeth seemed painfully slow. However it wasn't long before they brought up the wet and shivering form of Will Turner. Elizabeth was the first to kneel by his side and he coughed up seawater onto the ships deck. Emma had tied her lifeline around Will's body, which made sense, since Emma was hardly in danger of drowning. Though the rest of the crew didn't know that, and they were all frantically leaning over the port side of the ship, searching the waves for the girl who had disappeared.
Jack had given the helm to Crimp, and bounded down to the deck to see the status of his crew. He knelt next to Will and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
" Jack…" Will looked up at him then pointed weakly out at the ocean. " Emma is—"
" Aye, I know!" Jack said emphatically. "Don't fret… we'll fetch her. She's in no immediate danger… Elizabeth, take dear William below." Elizabeth nodded and helped Will to his feet and they all staggered as the ship lurched again, Jack almost fell over but righted himself quickly. " Hurry!"
Jack joined the crew in looking over the port side of the ship, searching the waves. But he knew she wasn't going to surface until the water calmed. He could already feel the storm lessening, the rain clouds were passing overhead and the wind had been reduced from a gale to a strong and steady blow.
" Back to your posts, ye pack of hen hearted numbskulls!" He ordered. " I've told ye many a time, not to worry about the lass, she'll be fine."
" Captain?" Mr. Gibbs questioned.
" Ye'll find out soon enough." Jack said dismissively. The waves were already lessening their magnitude and the rain was virtually stopped. He turned his back on the questioning glances and walked up to the helm, surveying the sights around him. They had not been blown far off course. The island was still at a near distance, but he guessed that they were west from his desired passage. It would take a little maneuvering to bring the ship about and set her back on course. He took the helm once again.
" Bring her about, starboard side." He ordered, and the crew fell into motion instantly.
~*~*~*~*~*
It didn't take long before they were pointing the right direction and steadily closing the gap between themselves and Hell Water. Jack sauntered down to his cabin with the intention of shedding off his soaking wet coat. He opened the door and stepped in to meet face to face the dripping wet figure of Emma. She stood in the center of his cabin, in the midst of a growing puddle on the floor, and had been caught in process of ringing the water from her hair. She jerked her head up to regard him as he closed the door and folded his arms with a look of mild amusement.
" Hello." She said, straightening up and throwing her head back, causing droplets of water to shower in every direction from her still soaking head of hair.
" Back from the dead again?" He inquired conversationally.
Emma smiled a little shyly. " So it would seem, wouldn't it?"
Jack swayed on his feet back and forth in his characteristic manner, regarding her dubiously. " Yes, well… it hardly surprises me. Next thing I know, you'll be sprouting wings and declare yourself my guardian angel." He stripped off his heavy black jacket and threw it loosely on the back of a chair, then took the ends of his dirty red striped sash in his hands and wrung it out, sending a cascade of water spilling onto the floor to join with Emma's puddle.
Emma raised an eyebrow at him. " I'm sorry to disappoint you."
" Not at all, love." Jack grinned at her, displaying gold and silver rows of teeth. " Oh, Will is down below with Elizabeth, I'm sure he'll be eager to hear that you're back. The rest of the crew though…" And he trailed off, looking her up and down like a very tender piece of meat. " I think they'll finally be wantin' some answers."
Emma stiffened, trying to think of what to say. Jack just gave her a wink and opened the door, gesturing for her to precede him out onto the deck.
She walked mechanically out into the patchy sunlight. The clouds from the storm had disappeared as quickly as they'd come, just as Jack had predicted. All the pirates on deck stopped what they were doing to turn and stare at her in various states of shock.
" Gents! See, what did I tell ye?" Jack said with a humor filled tone of voice. He stopped beside Emma, who was staring with rapt attention at a stain on the ground with her hands buried in her skirts. " Perfectly fine!"
" What devilry is this, Jack?" Mr. Gibbs was the first to speak. " No person could have survived such a tossing about." He walked up to them and looked at Emma as though she may have been a ghost.
" Ahh- no person could, no, Mr. Gibbs." Jack agreed with a swagger. " But then again, our Emma isn't just any normal person…savvy? I'm sure any mate would wager that. " He glanced at Emma, who had looked up from her spot on the ground to regard him with a wide-eyed expression, then he looked back at the awaiting crew. " … Let's just look back for a moment, shall we?" Jack waved his hands about energetically, every hand on deck watched in rapt fascination as he began to recount Emma's various unbelievable feats.
" She is an exceptionally strong swimmer, able to swim all the way to that Island from the site of the battle with the Commodore…"
There was a rumble of understanding from the men, who all agreed that was most unnatural.
" She was afflicted with a deadly bullet wound, and look at her now! Strong and healthy as ever she was a'fore."
Once again, there was a chorus of 'aye' and 'it do be true,' from the crew.
" Anyone care to take a guess, yet?" Jack asked.
He was answered by a lot of dubious faces and utter silence with the exception of Cotton's parrot that squawked loudly, " Shiver me timbers!"
Jack pursed his lip and regarded them flatly with a raised eyebrow, then shrugged and continued.
" The earsplitting noise you heard on the Commodore's ship…? Remember that? You all had to cover your ears."
" Mercy!" Cried one of the pirates. " It do be true! It was frightfully un-natural!"
Jack gave him a slight bow. "Right you are, Duncan." Then gestured to Emma with a slight jerk of his head. " That was her voice."
There was a sudden, oppressive silence. And then the crew all burst forth at once in a tumult of questions, oaths, and exclamations.
" A bloody mermaid! I told ya Crimp! I told ya!" Cried Quartetto.
" Pay up, Ladbroc. That's ten shillings ye owe me, I told ye she was something un'natural!" said Kursar in a triumphant voice. The pirate he had addressed muttered under his breath and reached into a pocket for the promised amount.
" If you look at her she'll steal yer soul!" Cried Moises, putting a hand up to shield his eyes.
" She's a mermaid, not the Devil ye belly-crawlin' wharf rat!" shouted Anamaria, who clouted the pirate on the back of the head with her open palm.
Emma couldn't believe her ears. In general, the pirates were not hostile towards her at all. A few regarded her with looks of disbelief and fright, but the larger portion seemed to have no trouble grasping the idea.
" Jest as long as she don't sing, I'm okay wi' her!"
" Wind in the Sails," squawked Cotton's Parrot.
Mr. Gibbs was the only one that seemed to find gravity in this new information, and shook his head in disbelief.
" It can't figure if it's good luck or bad, Jack! I don't know what to call it!"
Jack Sparrow put one arm across the nervous man's shoulder and said in a low voice, pitched so only his first mate could hear, " Call it luck, mate… or better yet… opportunity…"
Mr. Gibbs threw a sly glance to Emma, who was talking shyly to one of the enthusiastic pirates, then squinted at Jack dubiously.
" Aye? How do ye figure?"
" Captain,"
Jack and Gibbs both looked up to see Anamaria approaching. She regarded them both with a smirk.
" What is it, love?" Jack asked.
" We've reached 'The Fangs.'"
" Oh, good…" Jack muttered softly and looked up to see the ship closing in on a narrow passage. It cleaved through the rocky landscape in the form of two high granite cliff faces that towered on either side of them. ' The Fangs,' were the gateway to the entrance, and took the form of two high pointed spires, jutting out from the water on either side like inverted spikes. " Hoist the sails and rack out the oars."
" Aye, Captain." Anamaria strode away, yelling at the pirates to get back to work. They scattered from Emma to their proper posts.
"Gibbs," Jack caught his first mate on the shoulder before the man could walk off. " Call a meetin' of the crew…tonight on deck… but keep it secret from Will, Elizabeth, and our bonny Emma."
" Aye, Captain." Mr. Gibbs nodded in understanding and they exchanged looks of mild amusement. " What in the devil do ye have up yer sleeve, Jack?"
" Let's just say, this kind of 'opportunity' only comes along once in a lifetime. And I don't mean to waste it!"
