The Blade of Captain Sparrow

By Thalia Weaver

Chapter 3

"Jack!" Elizabeth cried, waving at him as her dress streamed in the wind. As the dinghy neared the Pearl, Jack reached for her hand and helped her courteously onto the boat. Will stood on the deck for a moment, until he realized that no hand was forthcoming for him. As he stepped aboard ship, shaking his head, Jack tipped his hat and grinned, his gold teeth shining in the sunlight.

"It's good to see you again," Will said, grinning ruefully. More than you know.

Jack looked at him and paused for a moment, his canny gaze raking Will from head to toe. Still looks like his father, he thought, then shook his head vehemently to clear it and turned to Elizabeth.

"I've changed my mind," he announced, addressing her bosom. "I think a relationship between us might be feasible after all. At least, a relationship between us," he gestured vaguely at her chest, "as in all three of us, I mean."

Annamaria smiled. He deserved that, she thought, smiling down at her ropes as Elizabeth's slap rang out clearly over the water.

Jack shook his head, his ears ringing. "Now, which one of you's the blacksmith, again?" he asked bemusedly, rubbing his sore cheek. "I wouldn't be surprised if a bruise forms there in the mornin'."

"Well, I daresay it's no more than you deserve," she replied, standing straight and looking at him with English upper-class dignity.

"Well now, lass, if you've plans to become a pirate…" he paused. "…piratess, ye'd best get used to that sort of talk. We're not like yonder Norrington, who looks as though he's something sharp and pointy shoved up his rear end if you catch my drift. Nay, pirates are a different, and more…" he gestured vividly, lurching slightly. "…uncouth breed. Savvy?"

"Uncouth, indeed," Elizabeth muttered. Jack grinned again.

"So are ye planning to take up permanent residence on me ship?" he asked, lurching in Will's direction. "Prepared for a life of crime on the dirty wharfs of the Carribean, runnin' from the law at all times?"

Will gulped a bit. A life on a pirate ship, abandoning all vestiges of respectability? Jack stood before him, hand on hip, his kohl-lined eyes sparkling with unfathomable amusement and his ragged bandana slipping down perilously close to one eye.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me…" he sang softly, and winked at Jack.

"A pirate's life?" Jack replied, staggering backwards in mock surprise. "What happened to Mr. 'I practice three hours a day so that if I ever meet a pirate, I can kill it?'"

Will winced. "He seems to have disappeared."

Jack grinned wider. "I told you you needed to get yourself a girl, mate."

Will, ignoring this, leaned back against the side of the boat. "When do we begin?"

Jack shook his head, as though he had just been awakened by someone dumping a bucket of water on his head. "What're we waiting for? All hands to the rigging, ye scurvy dogs! Scalawags! Pathetic excuses for pirates! Rag heaps! Raise the mast!"

Annamaria angled herself in next to Elizabeth. "Welcome aboard the Black Pearl," she whispered, as Jack leapt atop the rigging and began to hum a familiar tune.