Five

- An ov'heard conv'sation is not how I start this advent're! -

If one were to ask Jack much, much later after the adventure had concluded, he would spin a tale about how his sharp intelligence had seen the connection between two disparate and seemingly unrelated events, and thus promptly set about securing his treasure by – never mind, that happened later on in the story. Let's just say his version of the story would put him in the center of the events, which of course very naturally put him at the center of attention during the anticipated storytelling.

But the truth of how he embarked on this adventure was really quite…well, by a chance of luck.

By the time the Black Pearl had made berth at Tortuga, Mr. Gibbs' tall tale was the last thing on Jack's mind. He was too anxious to start the serious business of debauching after three months of abstinence to think much of anything else (which was where AnaMaria came in handy, for the ship needed supplies as well). One could hardly blame him for forgetting things in such a state of primed anxiety. He was just being a pirate after all.

The Black Pearl had docked at Tortuga for five days, and Jack had enjoyed five full days' of riotous debauching when he uncovered ('stumbled across' being a more accurate description) a more deadly conversation.

That night, when nature called, he careened out to the dimly lit and very 'fragrant' back alley of the tavern for a quick piss. He was in a drunken, er, make that more-drunk-than-usual-state and was fumbling with his breeches when he overheard the word 'treasure'.

It was remarkable how quickly Captain Jack Sparrow could sober up when he had an incentive.

He poked his head around the corner, and his gaze was drawn to the open window of the neighboring building. Through the square of candlelight spilling from the window, he spotted two scallywags talking in that telltale manner of conspiring, their body languages tense and furtive. One of the cads suddenly held up a hand; he hastened over to the window and closed the shutters.

That was his mistake.

The closing of the shutters only fired Jack's curiosity even more. His revelry forgotten, the ever-opportunistic pirate captain tiptoed through the filthy darkness to the shuttered window. Making sure to stay in the darkness, Jack put one eye to a crack between the slates of the shutters.

He had never seen the two seedy characters before but that was all right. It was what they were saying that interest him, not their faces.

"Ar' ye daft?" one of them was hissing in agitation. "This is Jack Sparrow ye're talkin' 'bout! Ye're daft!"

Jack scowled at the shuttered window. Captain, it's Captain Jack Sparrow.

"He knows where's th' cursed treasure lies an' she obviously knows him," replied the second pirate. "It'll be a trade, a parlay. He'll take us to th' treasure an' in return, we'll give the wench back to him."

"Ye don't really expect him to stick to th' accord, do ye? He's a pirate!"

"An' we're not? Lookit this, a genteel lady willin' to brave the coarse an' dangerous pirate port to look fer him. Wench must mean somethin' to Sparrow, don't ye think?"

Genteel lady? There was only one Jack knew of, was even acquainted with in his long career as a pirate, one who was braver than two men put together and obviously prone to rash and stupid actions as well. This was starting to sound very suspiciously familiar.

"You scoundrels!" a female voice suddenly shrieked in rage. A voice Jack knew all too well, having been subjected to that particular enraged tone on a certain well-remembered island. "Wait till I get free! I'll cut your bloody throats!"

He didn't remember it sounding so bloodthirsty though.

"Ar' ye sure she's a genteel lady?" one of the pirate-kidnappers asked doubtfully. "She swears like a tavern whore."

Jack winced on his behalf. The cad ought to hold his tongue if he knows better. If she were who he thought it was, she wouldn't take kindly to be addressed as a tavern whore.

"Ne'er mind tha'. We hav' to plan how to parley wi' Jack Sparrow."

Jack stroked his braided beard thoughtfully.

So the two pirates inside wanted Cortez's treasure and they think to make use of him and the bonny lass inside to get it. Jack gave them points for sheer guts. The only problem was Jack didn't like to be forced into an accord. That just wouldn't do.

Time to do something about it.

In one smooth abrupt move, Jack yanked open the shutters and hopped up to perch on the windowsill. He smirked roguishly at the two pirates seated inside, caught off guard by his sudden entrance to react. In the far corner, he saw Elizabeth Turner tied to a chair, her murderous expression changing into one of shock and joy.

"Tho' I heard me name bandied around while passin' by," Jack drawled. "Wha' ca' I do fer ye two scallywags?"

"Get out!" one of the pirates roared and reached for his pistol.

Not too bright either, Jack noted. "Now, now, mate. Tha's no way to treat yer b'siness par'ner, is it?"

The pirates regarded him suspiciously. "Who ar' ye?"

"Me?" Jack's smirk widened. "Why, I'm Capt'n Jack Sparrow of course."

Go to Six