Disclaimer: see chapter 1
----
"Gently now!" came the cry. "Now lower away ..."
Slowly and surely, ropes creaking, the Black Pearl was lowered into the deep, calm water of the harbour. She gleamed, from bow to stern and from keel to the top of the mainmast. The holes in her side were mended, and the woodwork painted in fresh black stain. The neatly furled sails were new black canvas, and the ropes pale and clean and unfrayed.
Jack thought she was beautiful, and sat perched on a barrel as she was floated, watching. He had spent the previous months helping the shipbuilders with the repairs, hammering and sawing and caulking seams, and felt even more attached to the ship than ever - if that were possible.
Later on, Jack, and a few others of the Pearl's crew who had remained in Tortuga, rowed their captain to his ship. Passing under the bowsprit, Jack looked up at their buxom figurehead, newly painted and glorious, and grinned at it. They tied the boat up alongside the Pearl and followed Flint aboard, climbing up one of the new lines and clambering over the rail.
"Wouldn't recognise the old thing," said Bob, one of Jack's crewmates. Jack turned from caressing the foremast.
"She's the same ship, but in new clothes," he said. "Bonnier than ever. And faster, I'd warrant, with those holes closed up."
"Can't wait to get under sail?" Flint asked.
"No sir!" Jack replied, looking upwards to the topsails.
"Aye, that'll be good," Bob agreed, with a little less enthusiasm.
Flint laid a hand on Jack's shoulder. "A word wi' ye, lad?"
Jack followed the captain down to his cabin, which had been refitted with new furnishings and bright, clean textiles. It was luxurious and opulent; very much the abode of a successful pirate captain. Flint waved him into a seat and took one himself, lighting a cigar as he did so and puffing fragrant smoke into the air.
"I'm planning on setting sail next week," he said. "I have to find a new complement of men, but I'd be guessing you want to join me?"
"Aye, cap'n," Jack said. "If you'd be so good as to have me."
"I'll do more'n that," Flint said. "I'd like to ask you to become me second mate, Jack. I know you're young yet, but you've as much sea-time under your belt than many men, and more sense."
Jack said nothing, looking down at his nails and picking at them absently, turning the offer over in his mind. Second mate ... it meant more wealth, more privilege, more responsibility - more time spent with his beloved Pearl. He had not expected the promotion, not so soon, and the prospect was tantalising. Finally, he looked up and met Flint's eyes.
"Be honoured and delighted to accept, captain," he said.
"Excellent." Flint looked pleased, and stood up to offer Jack his hand. Jack took it, and they shook. "You'll be in command of the port watch; have an extra share in anything we win; and not so much hard graft."
"But less time aloft," Jack mused, the thought suddenly coming to him.
"Less, but you can't stay a topman forever if you want to get on," Flint told him.
"That's very true," Jack said. "Thank you, captain." He turned to go, and a question struck him. "Who's first mate?"
"There's an old shipmate o' mine in port," Flint said, "man named John Pin. Call him Belaying Pin, we do, usually. He's a good sailor. I'm going to put the question to him this evenin', bring him aboard tomorrow if he agrees."
"Surely he will?" said Jack. "Who'd refuse the Black Pearl, especially now she's in all her true beauty? No man in his right mind."
Flint laughed. "Not all men are in their right minds, lad. And some have loyalty to other ships and other men. Some have loyalty to themselves only, and will go where the wind is fairest. You're a man with loyalty to this ship - I won't fool meself by believing you've come back for me. You'd sail aboard the Pearl if the Devil himself were captain."
"Aye, I would," Jack agreed, "but I'd be working out how to get her free of his hold. Lucky for all of us that the Devil ain't captain, isn't it?"
"Lucky for me," Captain Flint said. He picked up a piece of parchment from the table, and passed it to Jack. "Supplies we need. Can you see to it?" A money bag was added to the list. "Somewhat to pay for them with."
"Aye, sir," Jack said, pocketing the money and folding the list. He opened the door, and paused one last time. "Thank you, captain," he said, again.
"Go on with you," Flint said, and Jack hurried out.
They spent most of the next week preparing the Black Pearl for her voyage. Although Captain Flint had paid handsomely for the repairs, and trusted the shipbuilders, he nevertheless wanted every line checking for frayed ends, every knot retying, and every inch of the ship swabbed down. In addition, getting supplies on board took a day, and cataloguing them as they were stored in the hold another half day.
Flint's friend John "Belaying" Pin agreed to join the crew as first mate. He was a taciturn Norfolk man with a wild beard and bad teeth, but as Jack worked with him on the preparations he realised that Pin knew a lot about sailing, and that he was a friendly enough man willing to pass his knowledge on. Initially, Pin had cast some sidelong looks at his crewmate, clearly thinking him too young and therefore too inexperienced to carry out his tasks. Jack, thrilled at being back on board the Pearl, did not really care what Pin thought, and threw himself into the jobs Flint gave him. He shimmied up and down the rigging like a monkey, and heaved barrels around like a weightlifter; and after two days Belaying Pin said, gruffly: "You're none too bad after all, Sparrow. I thought the cap'n had taken leave of his senses, 'pointing a lad like you as second mate, but I see he hadn't."
Jack paused in coiling a rope, and nodded his thanks.
In the evenings, Flint and his two mates did the rounds of Tortuga's many taverns, canvassing for crew. Ten men remained from those who had sailed into Tortuga aboard the Black Pearl, four months earlier, and eight of them said they wanted to rejoin her. This meant that they were many hands short, and so from the variety of buccaneers, deserters from the Navy, and the other assorted riff-raff found on the island, a new crew had to be found.
Jack found this canvassing as pleasurable as the rest of the work. Sitting in a tavern, a mug of something in his hand, he regaled the watching drinkers with tales of the Black Pearl's adventures, exaggerating the riches she had won, and describing the far-flung places she had been.
"And now the captain's looking for similarly courageous gentlemen," he finished, "to join us as we continue our quest for treasure and glory." He paused. "The term 'gentlemen' used loosely, of course."
"Equal shares?" one man asked, swilling down his rum.
Jack inclined his head. "Equal shares."
"This be the black beauty out in the harbour?" someone else said.
"That's her," Jack agreed. "Sails as sweet as anything, does the old Pearl. Fastest ship in the Caribbean."
There were some doubtful looks at this.
"And why's old Skinflint sent you to find his crew?" the first man questioned. "Whoever you are."
"Me?" said Jack. "I'm Jack Sparrow, second mate of the Black Pearl, savvy? Not unusual for a man to send his mate to find him some crew, is it?"
"You're the second mate?" There was general laughter. "But you're only a lad."
"A lad who's done and seen a sight more than you ever will, Dick Blainey," a voice cut in, from behind them. Jack whirled, braids flying. "Mr Sparrow," Bootstrap Bill Turner said. "I hear you're looking for crew."
"Bill!" Jack leaped up, knocking over his stool as he did so, and faced his old friend. Bill was carrying a canvas bag over his shoulder, and sported long hair and a straggly beard. He had clearly just come off a ship, but nonetheless he looked lively and pleased to see Jack. "I am indeed. Would you be looking for a vessel?"
"Aye, that I am. Will you have me?"
"Like a shot," said Jack. "Best check with the captain, though - in fact he's aboard this very moment - how about going to find out what he thinks?"
Bill nodded. "Aye, sounds like a plan."
Jack turned back to the other men. "Should any of you fine men wish to join the Pearl, merely come and enquire aboard. We sail next Tuesday." He picked up his hat and put it on, drained his tankard, and strolled out followed by Bootstrap. Behind them, voices broke out in a clamour of noise.
"Fine performance, Jack," Bill said, falling into step beside his old friend. "Flint made you second mate?"
"He did," Jack said.
"He chose well," Bootstrap approved. "You don't seem that surprised to see me, lad."
Jack shrugged. "Told you I'd see you in Tortuga. Here we are, in Tortuga. Makes sense to me."
His companion shook his head. "I'm glad it does for one of us."
"What'd you tell fair Elsie?" Jack asked. "She take kindly to you leaving Portsmouth Town, did she?"
"No." Bill hefted his bag higher on his shoulder. "Not kindly at all. But I lost me job - the old man died and the shop had to close. Couldn't find another. And with Elsie being with child ..."
"She's expecting?" Jack said. "My congratulations! Bootstrap Bill, a father. Hope you're planning on being a better one than my dad was for me."
Bill nodded. "But a man needs money to bring up a child, and we had none. So I set sail aboard a merchant, slipped anchor at Port Royal, and came here in the hope of finding the Pearl."
They came out into the harbour, and Jack waved a hand. "And there she is."
"There she be." Bootstrap looked lovingly at the ship. "She looks fine."
"Just been repaired," Jack said, proudly. "Cap'n put a deal of money into it - no more leaks, for a while at any rate."
"You had luck?" Bill asked.
"Luck, and keen piratical skills," Jack said. "And luck," he added, as an afterthought.
Bill grinned. "I've missed it," he said. "I love my Elsie - she's a sweet lass. But you were right, Jack, that time in Portsmouth. I can't do without the sea for that long. I missed it, plain and simple."
Untying the Pearl's skiff from the pier, Jack climbed in and unshipped the oars. "Course you did. Jump in, Bill. Let's go and see Captain Flint about that berth of yourn."
They struck out across the harbour, sweeps dipping in and out of the water in time, back to the Black Pearl.
----
"Gently now!" came the cry. "Now lower away ..."
Slowly and surely, ropes creaking, the Black Pearl was lowered into the deep, calm water of the harbour. She gleamed, from bow to stern and from keel to the top of the mainmast. The holes in her side were mended, and the woodwork painted in fresh black stain. The neatly furled sails were new black canvas, and the ropes pale and clean and unfrayed.
Jack thought she was beautiful, and sat perched on a barrel as she was floated, watching. He had spent the previous months helping the shipbuilders with the repairs, hammering and sawing and caulking seams, and felt even more attached to the ship than ever - if that were possible.
Later on, Jack, and a few others of the Pearl's crew who had remained in Tortuga, rowed their captain to his ship. Passing under the bowsprit, Jack looked up at their buxom figurehead, newly painted and glorious, and grinned at it. They tied the boat up alongside the Pearl and followed Flint aboard, climbing up one of the new lines and clambering over the rail.
"Wouldn't recognise the old thing," said Bob, one of Jack's crewmates. Jack turned from caressing the foremast.
"She's the same ship, but in new clothes," he said. "Bonnier than ever. And faster, I'd warrant, with those holes closed up."
"Can't wait to get under sail?" Flint asked.
"No sir!" Jack replied, looking upwards to the topsails.
"Aye, that'll be good," Bob agreed, with a little less enthusiasm.
Flint laid a hand on Jack's shoulder. "A word wi' ye, lad?"
Jack followed the captain down to his cabin, which had been refitted with new furnishings and bright, clean textiles. It was luxurious and opulent; very much the abode of a successful pirate captain. Flint waved him into a seat and took one himself, lighting a cigar as he did so and puffing fragrant smoke into the air.
"I'm planning on setting sail next week," he said. "I have to find a new complement of men, but I'd be guessing you want to join me?"
"Aye, cap'n," Jack said. "If you'd be so good as to have me."
"I'll do more'n that," Flint said. "I'd like to ask you to become me second mate, Jack. I know you're young yet, but you've as much sea-time under your belt than many men, and more sense."
Jack said nothing, looking down at his nails and picking at them absently, turning the offer over in his mind. Second mate ... it meant more wealth, more privilege, more responsibility - more time spent with his beloved Pearl. He had not expected the promotion, not so soon, and the prospect was tantalising. Finally, he looked up and met Flint's eyes.
"Be honoured and delighted to accept, captain," he said.
"Excellent." Flint looked pleased, and stood up to offer Jack his hand. Jack took it, and they shook. "You'll be in command of the port watch; have an extra share in anything we win; and not so much hard graft."
"But less time aloft," Jack mused, the thought suddenly coming to him.
"Less, but you can't stay a topman forever if you want to get on," Flint told him.
"That's very true," Jack said. "Thank you, captain." He turned to go, and a question struck him. "Who's first mate?"
"There's an old shipmate o' mine in port," Flint said, "man named John Pin. Call him Belaying Pin, we do, usually. He's a good sailor. I'm going to put the question to him this evenin', bring him aboard tomorrow if he agrees."
"Surely he will?" said Jack. "Who'd refuse the Black Pearl, especially now she's in all her true beauty? No man in his right mind."
Flint laughed. "Not all men are in their right minds, lad. And some have loyalty to other ships and other men. Some have loyalty to themselves only, and will go where the wind is fairest. You're a man with loyalty to this ship - I won't fool meself by believing you've come back for me. You'd sail aboard the Pearl if the Devil himself were captain."
"Aye, I would," Jack agreed, "but I'd be working out how to get her free of his hold. Lucky for all of us that the Devil ain't captain, isn't it?"
"Lucky for me," Captain Flint said. He picked up a piece of parchment from the table, and passed it to Jack. "Supplies we need. Can you see to it?" A money bag was added to the list. "Somewhat to pay for them with."
"Aye, sir," Jack said, pocketing the money and folding the list. He opened the door, and paused one last time. "Thank you, captain," he said, again.
"Go on with you," Flint said, and Jack hurried out.
They spent most of the next week preparing the Black Pearl for her voyage. Although Captain Flint had paid handsomely for the repairs, and trusted the shipbuilders, he nevertheless wanted every line checking for frayed ends, every knot retying, and every inch of the ship swabbed down. In addition, getting supplies on board took a day, and cataloguing them as they were stored in the hold another half day.
Flint's friend John "Belaying" Pin agreed to join the crew as first mate. He was a taciturn Norfolk man with a wild beard and bad teeth, but as Jack worked with him on the preparations he realised that Pin knew a lot about sailing, and that he was a friendly enough man willing to pass his knowledge on. Initially, Pin had cast some sidelong looks at his crewmate, clearly thinking him too young and therefore too inexperienced to carry out his tasks. Jack, thrilled at being back on board the Pearl, did not really care what Pin thought, and threw himself into the jobs Flint gave him. He shimmied up and down the rigging like a monkey, and heaved barrels around like a weightlifter; and after two days Belaying Pin said, gruffly: "You're none too bad after all, Sparrow. I thought the cap'n had taken leave of his senses, 'pointing a lad like you as second mate, but I see he hadn't."
Jack paused in coiling a rope, and nodded his thanks.
In the evenings, Flint and his two mates did the rounds of Tortuga's many taverns, canvassing for crew. Ten men remained from those who had sailed into Tortuga aboard the Black Pearl, four months earlier, and eight of them said they wanted to rejoin her. This meant that they were many hands short, and so from the variety of buccaneers, deserters from the Navy, and the other assorted riff-raff found on the island, a new crew had to be found.
Jack found this canvassing as pleasurable as the rest of the work. Sitting in a tavern, a mug of something in his hand, he regaled the watching drinkers with tales of the Black Pearl's adventures, exaggerating the riches she had won, and describing the far-flung places she had been.
"And now the captain's looking for similarly courageous gentlemen," he finished, "to join us as we continue our quest for treasure and glory." He paused. "The term 'gentlemen' used loosely, of course."
"Equal shares?" one man asked, swilling down his rum.
Jack inclined his head. "Equal shares."
"This be the black beauty out in the harbour?" someone else said.
"That's her," Jack agreed. "Sails as sweet as anything, does the old Pearl. Fastest ship in the Caribbean."
There were some doubtful looks at this.
"And why's old Skinflint sent you to find his crew?" the first man questioned. "Whoever you are."
"Me?" said Jack. "I'm Jack Sparrow, second mate of the Black Pearl, savvy? Not unusual for a man to send his mate to find him some crew, is it?"
"You're the second mate?" There was general laughter. "But you're only a lad."
"A lad who's done and seen a sight more than you ever will, Dick Blainey," a voice cut in, from behind them. Jack whirled, braids flying. "Mr Sparrow," Bootstrap Bill Turner said. "I hear you're looking for crew."
"Bill!" Jack leaped up, knocking over his stool as he did so, and faced his old friend. Bill was carrying a canvas bag over his shoulder, and sported long hair and a straggly beard. He had clearly just come off a ship, but nonetheless he looked lively and pleased to see Jack. "I am indeed. Would you be looking for a vessel?"
"Aye, that I am. Will you have me?"
"Like a shot," said Jack. "Best check with the captain, though - in fact he's aboard this very moment - how about going to find out what he thinks?"
Bill nodded. "Aye, sounds like a plan."
Jack turned back to the other men. "Should any of you fine men wish to join the Pearl, merely come and enquire aboard. We sail next Tuesday." He picked up his hat and put it on, drained his tankard, and strolled out followed by Bootstrap. Behind them, voices broke out in a clamour of noise.
"Fine performance, Jack," Bill said, falling into step beside his old friend. "Flint made you second mate?"
"He did," Jack said.
"He chose well," Bootstrap approved. "You don't seem that surprised to see me, lad."
Jack shrugged. "Told you I'd see you in Tortuga. Here we are, in Tortuga. Makes sense to me."
His companion shook his head. "I'm glad it does for one of us."
"What'd you tell fair Elsie?" Jack asked. "She take kindly to you leaving Portsmouth Town, did she?"
"No." Bill hefted his bag higher on his shoulder. "Not kindly at all. But I lost me job - the old man died and the shop had to close. Couldn't find another. And with Elsie being with child ..."
"She's expecting?" Jack said. "My congratulations! Bootstrap Bill, a father. Hope you're planning on being a better one than my dad was for me."
Bill nodded. "But a man needs money to bring up a child, and we had none. So I set sail aboard a merchant, slipped anchor at Port Royal, and came here in the hope of finding the Pearl."
They came out into the harbour, and Jack waved a hand. "And there she is."
"There she be." Bootstrap looked lovingly at the ship. "She looks fine."
"Just been repaired," Jack said, proudly. "Cap'n put a deal of money into it - no more leaks, for a while at any rate."
"You had luck?" Bill asked.
"Luck, and keen piratical skills," Jack said. "And luck," he added, as an afterthought.
Bill grinned. "I've missed it," he said. "I love my Elsie - she's a sweet lass. But you were right, Jack, that time in Portsmouth. I can't do without the sea for that long. I missed it, plain and simple."
Untying the Pearl's skiff from the pier, Jack climbed in and unshipped the oars. "Course you did. Jump in, Bill. Let's go and see Captain Flint about that berth of yourn."
They struck out across the harbour, sweeps dipping in and out of the water in time, back to the Black Pearl.