Aftermath
By: L'Morgan
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
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Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The Black Pearl has battled and won.. But is Jack Sparrow at the bottom of the sea or is he not?
A/N: For all my reviewers - YOU make this happen - YOU do! You wait for chapters? Well believe me, I RUN to my mailbox to see what you think in the days between posts! Thank you so much for taking the time to review for me! YOU are what keep these chapters coming!
Chapter 16: Wanderers of All Sorts
It was late the next morning before they could finally start out. Now the sun was high and bright. The going was very slow. They had tried walking along the beach at first, but that had been tiring for them both, Jack especially. So instead they moved though the jungle bushes. They had tried to stay near the beach, but the land was not flat and there was a high peak they would have to skirt, or swim around since it jutted out into the water as almost a sheer cliff for a good expanse.
Jack had wanted to swim, but the wind that blew was still on the cool side and she could just imagine the two of them shivering to death while trying to walk afterwards when they were wet and that breeze hit them. Better to take the long way and not catch their death of cold in her opinion.
It took hours for them to get to the inmost side of the bay. There were no caves for this night, so she took it upon herself to fashion a lean too shelter between two large trees while he found whatever was around to eat. The one thing she was thankful for was the abundance of wild bananas and other fruits that they had to select from. By dusk she had a fire going good and was beginning to wonder just where he had wandered off to.
Almost as if on cue, there came the sound of him talking to himself rather cheerfully as he meandered his way back, coming into view with two rather large looking fish speared on a long stick. She blinked. She'd expected bananas for dinner again, not fish! He smiled triumphantly at her as he offered up his 'harvest' with a bow.
"Your dinner m'lady!" he said formally and she shook her head at him.
"I was beginning to think you were lost out there. Since when can you spear a fish? Last I heard you didn't even like fish?" she said and he shrugged.
"But I know you like'em! And I'm hungry enough to eat just about anything!" he exclaimed as he dropped and watched her make short work of expertly cleaning and filleting said fish. She used the stick, breaking it in two, to spear each fish on one and offered him his.
"Do you have any idea how far it is around this bay?" he asked and she sighed.
"I was here once years ago with my Papa, I don't even remember what for. but yes; I know it's a long ways around. It'll be alright. We'll get there." She said and shivered a little as the cool night air came in and blew across them. She scooted a little closer to the fire to roast her fish as he had one of his coughing spells for a few moments and rubbed at his chest.
Soon the mouthwatering aroma filled the lean to, making her even hungrier than she already was. One thing was for sure, walking all day through the difficult terrain certainly built up an appetite! The first stars had come out by the time their dinner was ready and she devoured hers in no time at all. Greedily she sucked the last of the succulent juice from her fingers and looked over to find Jack picking at his mostly still uneaten meal.
"I thought you were hungry?" she asked and he shrugged and gave her a mild smile.
"Its fish - what can I say? Besides, I had a few bananas while I was out trying to get these little monsters and not drown in that pond myself! Took me a few tries to say the least. Here, you can eat this for me?" he asked and she frowned at him warily as she accepted his fish.
"What do you mean 'not drown'? You better not have fallen in just on account of fish that you don't even eat!" she told him sternly.
He rolled his eyes. "See if I try to be nice to you again missy." He grumbled and turned away with a pouting look. That didn't last for long though when he started coughing again and it seemed thicker and more choking and to last longer.
Concerned, she reached out to touch his head and her eyes widened. His hair was wet? She quickly moved her hand to his back and scowled at finding his shirt was wet too. Not sopping wet, but he clearly had been just recently.
"Jack! You blasted fool! Get out of those wet things!" she half yelled at him hotly. He shook his head, then in a few seconds started fumbling with his cuff, definitely still pouting.
She rose and stepped around him and knelt and quickly undid both of them for him. She roughly stripped him of his shirt, felt at his shoulder and then at his pants and sighed. His skin was cold to the touch even. Wonderful, just what they needed.
"Don't stop now luv," he said in a silky tone, carefully curling his mustache. She frowned at him.
"Take 'em off and behave yourself! I swear Jack Sparrow, if I thought you were warm enough to realize what you were saying I'd slap you so hard you'd land clear across that bay and right in the middle of Port Royal! You wouldn't need to so much as walk a step!" she told him, shaking her finger at him and he gave her a very teasing smile and went about removing his pants. While he did so she went and draped his shirt over a bush closest to the fire.
She heard him coughing again and went to retrieve his pants, then set about finding more wood to add to the fire. She hadn't thought they would need a big fire, but obviously now thanks to him, that had changed. It took awhile, but she got it going nice and hot so heat radiated strongly from it. She paused and looked down at the fish she had left by the fire. She sighed, feeling some of her irritation draining away. The daft man didn't even like fish, but he knew she did.
Why had he gone and done such a foolish thing? And now she was going to have to cope with him sittin' around without so much as a stitch on, for how long? And obviously not quite thinkin' so straight? She thought for a moment, picturing possible scenarios of the evening, then sighed and shook her head. It was NOT going to be the quietest or easiest night of her life. She looked at the fire, then added even more wood. She wanted those clothes dried fast!
~ * * ~
Commodore Norrington frowned as he traveled down the hallway and into the main reception area of the fort.
"Now is not the time for this" he grumbled softly to himself. He entered the room. Governor Swan turned to regard him with a smile.
"Ah Commodore! Glad to see you! This is Mr. Reynolds - Lewis Reynolds actually. And this is his secretary, Mr. Andrew Scott. They have been referred to us by Provisional Mayor Seville, of Santiago de Cuba - regarding a certain incident that took place last week or so?" he said of the two gentlemen with him and the Commodore gave him a surprised look, but showed them in to his office. They all took seats and waited as the attaché brought them a silver tea service.
They all looked over at the doorway as William and Gillette came to the door of the office.
"Oh! My apologies." Will started and turned away.
"No, no William, it was I who asked Mr. Gillette to fetch you." Governor Swan said quickly, and the blacksmith frowned mildly as he stepped into the room.
"Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Scott - this is my son-in-law, William Turner. William was also familiar with the incident you mentioned." The Governor introduced and the younger stepped forward and politely shook hands and quietly took a seat on the other side of Norrington. The man, Reynolds seemed anxious to get on with things.
"This concerns a missing person known to be recently in this area. I understand a large amount of goods and supplies were delivered to Port Royal, probably about the middle of last week?" Reynolds asked. Norrington and the Governor quickly exchanged alarmed looks.
"We were told those goods were all paid for sir. We were given what we were told was the bill of sale" the Governor told him and the man smiled.
"No, no - they were. They were purchased in Santiago de Cuba. It is the man who purchased them that I looking for - Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart. He purchased the goods and had them delivered to a Captain Sparrow at the docks that same day. It is Lord Stuart I have been trying to catch up with for - well, since last winter" Reynolds said and then motioned to his secretary who opened his attaché and then brought out some pages.
"The Mayor Seville thought you might be the best able to help me." He said and the three all looked rather surprised.
"They got all those supplies from the - the Spanish?" Will asked incredulously. Reynolds looked slightly irritated.
"Spain is our current ally in the Grand Alliance young man. And I can assure you we are all glad to have them on our side; as should you be. But - let me start at the beginning then. Almost a year ago I was engaged by a family in England, with the assistance of the crown, to locate a certain man known to be in this area for some time now. A certain Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart?" he asked, and both Norrington and the Governor gave him blank looks. The man smiled mildly.
"That is about the same reaction I have gotten everywhere else so far! I was getting quite discouraged until the events of this last spring." He said and all three both looked only mildly interested. The man continued anyway.
"Aside from this recent purchase - which was made in cash I will add, there has been no sign of Lord Stuart for the last 18 months now. There are two reasons I need to find the man. One, His father passed away last winter and as eldest son, there is the matter of inheritance. The family runs a mercantile shipping business. Has been transporting goods for the Crown for decades now." He said and they all waited as they sipped at their cups.
"The second reason is that Lord Stuart served as a privateer more than once in the past. He was part of the force that went to America in 1664 and helped England seize New Amsterdam from the Dutch. You may remember that it is now called New York? Its' becoming quite a city in its own right these days. Then, between 1667 to 1675 - or thereabouts he served as a privateer on our behalf with the Triple Alliance in the conflict then with the French. He was extremely - efficient - shall we say? The French were not too happy, but our allies appreciated his efforts. Now, his royal highness, William the Third, as been advised to enlist his services again as part of our efforts against the French." He said.
"I don't remember ever even hearing of the man." Governor Swan told him. Reynolds nodded.
"That has been my problem since I came here to locate him some 9 months ago. Governor Seville claims this man Sparrow is no more that an abominable pirate. I am surprised you even received your goods!" he said and they all exchanged mild frowns.
"I have authorization to take this man Sparrow back for questioning. He'd better not have harmed Lord Stuart or he'll wish he had hung long before now!" he told them very imperiously. They all looked surprised at that news as he took a page from his assistant and passed it to Governor Swan.
"You will admit you've heard of Sparrow - correct? Seville said he is quite a nuisance at times. You will assist me in his capture of course?" he demanded.
Now he noticed as they exchanged quick looks.
"Come, come Governor Swan, we'll kill two birds with one stone! I'll find my missing Lord - and you'll be rid of this pirate. When I am done with him, and we have recovered Lord Stuart, I am sure the crown would be only too happy to hang the pirate for you. Pirate hangings are very popular in England." Reynolds added as if in making a very generous offer
Commodore Norrington stared at the man, concealing his strong desire to scowl. He was surprised at his angry reaction to the man's words.
"Is it possible this man, Stuart, knows you are looking for him and prefers not to return to England, or serve in the current conflict?" Governor Swan asked and Reynolds half shrugged.
"We have no basis to assume so yet. I started my search among the Leeward Islands where he had made a purchase about 18 months ago. In Trinidad actually. I have been working my way in this general direction ever since, and just happened to be near Santiago de Cuba the day he was in port. Unfortunately we were out in the hill-lands chasing down a rumor.
"If the man has disappeared as of 1680 - 12 years ago now - yet you have periodic evidence that he is alive. " Governor Swan observed and the man nodded.
"Its' rather an interesting story really. Lord Stuart was sent abroad to school as a youth, only to be kidnapped by Corsairs in the Mediterranean on his way home. He was only 19 at the time. For several months the family awaited some sort of ransom letter - but none ever arrived. They feared the lad dead actually. This was in oh - I believe it was 1660. Well, the lad turned up on an English privateers' ship, serving in the taking of New Amsterdam in 1664. Now how he got from the Mediterranean as a kidnap victim, to America on a privateers ship, I have not a clue. Then there is a time when he is missing again for another 3 years, and suddenly he shows up with a ship and crew of his own. He accepted his marque from the crown in London early in 1667. Apparently he was - rather good at what he did." He said with a small smile, and they returned the same. The man frowned now some and sighed.
"Lord Stuart privateers' marque expired in 1675. Our conflict with the French had then ended. But where he went from there is another mystery. He doesn't turn up again until 1680, here - or rather here in the Caribbean. The Bahamas actually then. New Providence to be exact. That was the purchase that first gave the family some idea of where the man was. Since then, there have been very few purchases, but always from here in the Caribbean. Men do come to the Caribbean just to disappear - you don't need to tell me that. Many of them do it by choice. I also am aware of that." He said and the Governor frowned mildly.
Reynolds copied his frown. "There is no rendition of the man that I can put on a circular. but upon his father's death, his mother requested that her husband's ring be used as an identifier. She said that Jackson was given an identical one when he turned 16 and may well have it still. So, an artist was hired, and a circular was produced with a facsimile of it. See?" he said as he offered a page and the Governor took it. They all frowned mildly at the drawing of a silver filigreed ring with an oval black onyx stone.
"A signet ring of some sort?" Norrington asked and the man nodded.
"Has the Lord Stuart's initials engraved inside it - JMS, and a rendition of the seal for the house of Stuart." He said and the Governor smiled some.
"Stuart? The family is somehow related to royal house of Stuart and the man is out here in the Caribbean?" he observed and Reynolds smiled mildly.
"I imagine the house of Stuart has many, many branches Governor. Obviously if the man were that important a much larger search would have been launched ages ago! I have been primarily working out of Santa Domingo since that is where several of Stuart's purchases have been made in the last half dozen years. 250 of those circulars were printed for me in London and were being sent to me last March. I wanted to distribute them throughout the islands. Unfortunately, the ship was intercepted by pirates. Along with the normal goods - the captain of the pirate ship happened to find the box of my circulars, and took the entire thing. Set my efforts back by months that man did." He told them and they all three looked surprised.
"Circulars? A pirate stole your circulars? Whatever for? Which pirate?" Swan asked and the man smiled and shook his head.
"Jack Sparrow." Reynolds told them, staring at them intently, and others all blinked hard, Will nearly choking on his tea. Gillette gave him a suspicious glare, but said nothing.
"Sparrow? I can't imagine why on earth - " Norrington reacted quickly with a glance at the blacksmith as Reynolds sighed.
"Well - to tell you the truth, I half expected the pirate to contact me and claim the reward. That is the only reason we guess as to why he would even want them. He had taken the time to ask the captain of the ship who they were going to, why, - just seemed inordinately curious. Then he up and took them with him! We thought perhaps he was going to ransom Lord Stuart directly to the family, or perhaps contact me and want the reward, - but its' been months now and nothing has ever come." He said as he handed each of them another page from his assistant.
Will frowned at the circular page he had been given.
"Reward offered for information on the whereabouts of Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart. Description: 42 years of age, dark hair and eyes, medium build and height. Identification can be proved by means of an oval onyx stone set in silver that bears the initials JMS inside, and a likeness of the seal of the house of Stuart. Lord Stuart is being most urgently sought in matters relating to title succession and vital issues related to the Crown. Anyone with information is requested to immediately contact - he read out loud, and then shook his head with a puzzled frown.
"Even if you locate this Lord Stuart, you still can't force the man to return with you." the Governor observed carefully and the man sighed.
"No - But I do bear a personal letter to said person, from his majesty himself. The King felt rather firmly that once he receives the missive, he will be willing to return with me." He said and the Governor arched an eyebrow.
"This pirate Sparrow is the most direct link I have had since I arrived. Hopefully it will not take long to apprehend him? Now that you have additional motivation?" Reynolds suggested
The Governor looked at the man and sighed deeply.
"Mr. Reynolds, there is no way to put this politely sir, but I am afraid that the pirate in question was killed just 2 days ago in the defense of Port Royal." he said, and the man froze with a stricken look
" I - I had hoped to perhaps bargain with the man even for his cooperation in at least getting a message to Lord Stuart. Well - this certainly is an inconvenience. This may well extend my stay in the Caribbean for months more. It may well be years before Stuart makes another purchase I am close enough to be able to track down like this - within days. Leave it to a pirate to go and get himself killed just before I arrive!" Reynolds growled, as if very put-out, and Governor Swan gave him a forced smile.
Norrington barely suppressed his scowl. Perhaps Stuart had no desire to return to England. He certainly hadn't done anything to make his name well known in the way of being a criminal. He had to wonder though. why in the name of heaven would Sparrow have decided he wanted to relieve the ship of it's circulars.
Things like that came out every year or so about someone or other. But this was the first time he had heard of such an item being stolen. Unless perhaps Sparrow intended to sell them back to this Lord - who wished to remain missing? Now that sounded more like something that he might find an accounting of in Sparrow's file He shook his head as he watched the Governor and his still rather upset guests now departing.
"Such stuff and nonsense." He murmured to himself dismally.
He half turned to find Will still there and sighed at him.
"You won't need to mention this to Elizabeth of course. I am sure she is upset enough at the loss of Mr. Sparrow." He said and Will gave him a hard look.
"That's Captain Sparrow, Commodore - can't you at least give him that in death?" He asked.
It was Gillette who scowled at the blacksmith. "I don't suppose you would have any idea of why he would even take the circulars? Or why on earth an English Lord would be so willing to assist Sparrow in his purchases? What, Sparrow knew where the man was so that's where he went running, so we would all be impressed with the magnificent generosity of him and his crew? I'm surprised the goods weren't just stolen!" he said very critically.
"I have no idea why Jack took the circulars. I have no idea if he knows this man somehow or why. But I do know that he was never so concerned with your opinion of him that he would bother to go to all the trouble to make it look like he bought your goods when he didn't. Maybe he knows the man but couldn't just waltz into the marketplace himself. If he had come to Port Royal last year and had wanted supplies he probably would have made land and come to me and asked me to purchase them for him. Given me the money," the blacksmith said darkly and Gillette looked rather taken aback.
"For all you know, this Lord Stuart is some friend of his for the past dozen years. Jack didn't care what you thought of him. He didn't bring you supplies so you would be nice or forgiving or anything else. He wouldn't even stay to hear the Governor's offer of a pardon or other means of reward. Maybe your Lord Stuart knew Jack better than you assume to. There are people in the world who do something just because it's the right thing to do at the time. God help you, Mr. Gillette if you need a pirate to teach you that." the young man said, then stalked out of the room.
Gillette turned to the Commodore, about to protest.
Commodore Norrington turned to him before the man could utter a word.
"Mr. Gillette, have you ever heard the expression 'rest in peace'?" he asked dry. The officer made no reply.
"I have no intentions of making it a matter of official concern to find out exactly how or why Sparrow did what he did. The man is dead and gone. We do have pirates on our seas that are a bit more of a concern. See to the 'Freedom's' repairs: I expect a progress report from you on that matter, as well as an update on the 'Dauntless' - by tomorrow afternoon." He said commandingly.
Gillette snapped to attention, gave a smart salute and hurried off to his assigned tasks.
Norrington turned back to the window, swallowing quickly in an effort to repress the emotion that threatened to rise.
"Yes - he was indeed, Captain Jack Sparrow." He murmured softly as he stared out the window and chewed on his lower lip.
~ * * ~
Ana gasped and sat up suddenly in the very dead of night, sweating and shaking. That same nightmare - again. Coughing came from a slight distance away, around the trees, out of sight. She looked at the fire that was almost out now. It must be close to 3 in the morning was her guess by the moon. He still hadn't quit coughing even as she rose.
She rubbed at her eyes as she half stumbled in the direction of the sound. In the silence of the night, it wasn't hard to find him. The white of his shirt gave him away as he sat with his back against a tree trunk and legs folded before him. His arm went across his knees and forehead resting on it as he finally quieted and now sat just gasping for breath it sounded like.
"Jack - what are you doing way over here?" she asked warily, startling him severely.
"Ana! What's wrong?" he asked very breathlessly and she frowned as she knelt by him.
"That's what I was going to ask you Jack. What are you doin' over here?" she asked and he shrugged and gave her a weak smile.
"William told me to wait here. He was going to go find somebody." He said and she blinked hard at him.
"What? William Turner? He's here? Where did he go?" she asked and he smiled and coughed a little more.
"He's right ov'r there. Bill!" he called as he struggled to his knees and tipped over forwards. Quickly she caught him by the shoulders and sat him up. She felt at his forehead and scowled.
"For the love of all the souls in heaven Jack, yer' burnin' up!" she told him and he shook his head.
"Just hot out. Afternoon's always hot here. Think the salt flats make it hotter." He said conversationally and she looked even more concerned.
"Why don't you come over here with me? The lean to has nice shade." She offered warily and he sighed. He struggled to rise and immediately seemed to sway dizzily. She grabbed him by the arm and kept a firm hold as she slowly drew him along with her. It wasn't even 50 yards and he seemed extremely short of breath and gladly sunk to the ground when she let go, and started coughing again.
He couldn't seem to stop and was obviously having trouble breathing. His desperate wheezing scared her to death as she pat him on the back trying to break the spasm. He finally did quit only to half collapse into her, gasping hard. She laid him down as he shivered hard and fiercely.
"Jack no - please? You can't do this now Capt'n! Not here - we're too far away! Jack please don't!?" she pleaded as she scooped him up in a deep hug and felt him shivering uncontrollably still. He gave up a soft moan and seemed to relax finally. Hugging him, rocking him, her face pressed to his head, she could feel the monstrous heat radiating from him. His heartbeat finally slowed and she laid him back to consider his face.
In the light of the fire she could see his eyes were glazed and heavy lidded as he gave her a weak smile.
"Oh loo'k Ana - flutter'bys!" he lisped softly in a tone of wonder as he looked up and behind her.
"What? What are you talkin' about Jack?" she asked and he put up a hand with a sloppy grin.
"Flutter - bys - see?" he asked with a slur. She glanced at his hand and stifled a scream. There sitting on his hand was the hugest, biggest butterfly she had ever laid eyes on. Black and yellow markings decorated its delicately shaped wings. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up on end as she looked up and realized there must be a good dozen or more of them fluttering around the lean to and the fire. All equally huge.
She swallowed dryly. Even she knew butterflies didn't come out at night. Not normal ones anyway. "Jack - get it off you!" she said urgently and he frowned at her in confusion.
"But I like it! They don' bite Ana, see? He's ver' pretty - fer a bug." he said sloppily as he brought his arm in closer, and it still sat there as calm as could be. It's wingspan was clearly as wide as his hand. She swallowed dryly.
"It ain't no normal butterfly you fool! Butterflies don't come out at night! It's some kind of voodoo spirit! Shoo! Off! Go away!" she said as she waved at it, trying to get it to fly away. She ducked as several more of the flock seemed to find the two of them interesting as he started coughing hard and chokingly again. This time he didn't have the strength to fight for breath and quickly grew weaker, his hand finally falling to the ground limply and the butterfly fluttered upwards.
"Jack! Wake up!" she said loudly as she shook him hard, and then fell over backwards in surprise as dark arms appeared from behind him. It was a man. A very, very, large, dark-skinned man with wild hair, bushy hair. He knelt down behind Jack and felt at his forehead and then his chest. He took a leather pouch off his belt and opened it, and poured some kind of powder into his hand.
Then he tipped Jack's head back and wet his finger, dipped it in the powder and put his finger inside the pirates mouth as if wiping the powder on the inside of his cheek. Then he rolled the pirate on his side and gave him three hard and powerful blows to the back that made her wince. Suddenly the pirate took a loud breath, then sputtered over the foreign substance in his mouth.
Ana looked up to find 4 other men standing silently behind her. Eyes wide, she stared at the man who now bent over the pirate and whispered in his ear very lowly in a rumbled tone as he traced some sort of a symbol on the pirate's skin where his shirt hung open. Gently now he lifted Jack with an arm behind his back, and one of the others offered him a skin container that he put to the pirates mouth. He tipped it so the fluid spilled into Jack's mouth and down his chin.
Jack sputtered and choked briefly as he came barely awake and the man offered him more, silently insisting he drink more, then another time before finally he gave it back to the other one. Jack seemed to have melted against him limply, eyes closed.
"What did you do to him!?" she demanded harshly and the dark man looked at her in speculation.
"You be with him? You come with him." He said in a very, very deep voice.
She gulped silently as she rose quickly. "Who are you?" she dared to ask.
"Houngan - Loco lead us to him," he said with a gesture at the butterflies overhead. "I am he who has knowledge of the plants that heal. Loco bring us tonight to him." He said as he rose, lifting Jack under his arms. The pirate dangled between his hands, head lolled forward, feet not really touching the ground.
"Wait - don't hurt him. What do you want? Gold? Silver? Name your price. Just don't hurt him. If you hurt him so help me I swear - " she started with a deadly scowl. He suddenly smiled broadly and said something in another language to the other four.
One stepped forward and rolled out something he held in his hand. It turned out to be a kind of hammock made of sturdy netting. One that the largest man gently but easily laid the pirate out in it. She knelt beside him, a hand going to his cheek. Jack slowly opened his eyes. She scowled at how large and wide his pupils were. The man had drugged him!
"Jack?' she said softly and he just sighed very sluggishly and mumbled incoherently.
She frowned up at the large dark man. White teeth grinned at her widely. "He sleeps. You comin'?" he asked as they rose and picked up the ends of the hammock.
"Bloody hell yes I'm comin'!" she said quickly as she leapt up and kicked sand over the fire. She took Jack's hand in her own and held on tight, even if he already did have his eyes closed.
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Chanting: This is Monday, the day the chapter is posted. Then comes Tuesday, then comes Wednesday - and on Thursday - Chapter 17 shall arrive! See you then!
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
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Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The Black Pearl has battled and won.. But is Jack Sparrow at the bottom of the sea or is he not?
A/N: For all my reviewers - YOU make this happen - YOU do! You wait for chapters? Well believe me, I RUN to my mailbox to see what you think in the days between posts! Thank you so much for taking the time to review for me! YOU are what keep these chapters coming!
Chapter 16: Wanderers of All Sorts
It was late the next morning before they could finally start out. Now the sun was high and bright. The going was very slow. They had tried walking along the beach at first, but that had been tiring for them both, Jack especially. So instead they moved though the jungle bushes. They had tried to stay near the beach, but the land was not flat and there was a high peak they would have to skirt, or swim around since it jutted out into the water as almost a sheer cliff for a good expanse.
Jack had wanted to swim, but the wind that blew was still on the cool side and she could just imagine the two of them shivering to death while trying to walk afterwards when they were wet and that breeze hit them. Better to take the long way and not catch their death of cold in her opinion.
It took hours for them to get to the inmost side of the bay. There were no caves for this night, so she took it upon herself to fashion a lean too shelter between two large trees while he found whatever was around to eat. The one thing she was thankful for was the abundance of wild bananas and other fruits that they had to select from. By dusk she had a fire going good and was beginning to wonder just where he had wandered off to.
Almost as if on cue, there came the sound of him talking to himself rather cheerfully as he meandered his way back, coming into view with two rather large looking fish speared on a long stick. She blinked. She'd expected bananas for dinner again, not fish! He smiled triumphantly at her as he offered up his 'harvest' with a bow.
"Your dinner m'lady!" he said formally and she shook her head at him.
"I was beginning to think you were lost out there. Since when can you spear a fish? Last I heard you didn't even like fish?" she said and he shrugged.
"But I know you like'em! And I'm hungry enough to eat just about anything!" he exclaimed as he dropped and watched her make short work of expertly cleaning and filleting said fish. She used the stick, breaking it in two, to spear each fish on one and offered him his.
"Do you have any idea how far it is around this bay?" he asked and she sighed.
"I was here once years ago with my Papa, I don't even remember what for. but yes; I know it's a long ways around. It'll be alright. We'll get there." She said and shivered a little as the cool night air came in and blew across them. She scooted a little closer to the fire to roast her fish as he had one of his coughing spells for a few moments and rubbed at his chest.
Soon the mouthwatering aroma filled the lean to, making her even hungrier than she already was. One thing was for sure, walking all day through the difficult terrain certainly built up an appetite! The first stars had come out by the time their dinner was ready and she devoured hers in no time at all. Greedily she sucked the last of the succulent juice from her fingers and looked over to find Jack picking at his mostly still uneaten meal.
"I thought you were hungry?" she asked and he shrugged and gave her a mild smile.
"Its fish - what can I say? Besides, I had a few bananas while I was out trying to get these little monsters and not drown in that pond myself! Took me a few tries to say the least. Here, you can eat this for me?" he asked and she frowned at him warily as she accepted his fish.
"What do you mean 'not drown'? You better not have fallen in just on account of fish that you don't even eat!" she told him sternly.
He rolled his eyes. "See if I try to be nice to you again missy." He grumbled and turned away with a pouting look. That didn't last for long though when he started coughing again and it seemed thicker and more choking and to last longer.
Concerned, she reached out to touch his head and her eyes widened. His hair was wet? She quickly moved her hand to his back and scowled at finding his shirt was wet too. Not sopping wet, but he clearly had been just recently.
"Jack! You blasted fool! Get out of those wet things!" she half yelled at him hotly. He shook his head, then in a few seconds started fumbling with his cuff, definitely still pouting.
She rose and stepped around him and knelt and quickly undid both of them for him. She roughly stripped him of his shirt, felt at his shoulder and then at his pants and sighed. His skin was cold to the touch even. Wonderful, just what they needed.
"Don't stop now luv," he said in a silky tone, carefully curling his mustache. She frowned at him.
"Take 'em off and behave yourself! I swear Jack Sparrow, if I thought you were warm enough to realize what you were saying I'd slap you so hard you'd land clear across that bay and right in the middle of Port Royal! You wouldn't need to so much as walk a step!" she told him, shaking her finger at him and he gave her a very teasing smile and went about removing his pants. While he did so she went and draped his shirt over a bush closest to the fire.
She heard him coughing again and went to retrieve his pants, then set about finding more wood to add to the fire. She hadn't thought they would need a big fire, but obviously now thanks to him, that had changed. It took awhile, but she got it going nice and hot so heat radiated strongly from it. She paused and looked down at the fish she had left by the fire. She sighed, feeling some of her irritation draining away. The daft man didn't even like fish, but he knew she did.
Why had he gone and done such a foolish thing? And now she was going to have to cope with him sittin' around without so much as a stitch on, for how long? And obviously not quite thinkin' so straight? She thought for a moment, picturing possible scenarios of the evening, then sighed and shook her head. It was NOT going to be the quietest or easiest night of her life. She looked at the fire, then added even more wood. She wanted those clothes dried fast!
~ * * ~
Commodore Norrington frowned as he traveled down the hallway and into the main reception area of the fort.
"Now is not the time for this" he grumbled softly to himself. He entered the room. Governor Swan turned to regard him with a smile.
"Ah Commodore! Glad to see you! This is Mr. Reynolds - Lewis Reynolds actually. And this is his secretary, Mr. Andrew Scott. They have been referred to us by Provisional Mayor Seville, of Santiago de Cuba - regarding a certain incident that took place last week or so?" he said of the two gentlemen with him and the Commodore gave him a surprised look, but showed them in to his office. They all took seats and waited as the attaché brought them a silver tea service.
They all looked over at the doorway as William and Gillette came to the door of the office.
"Oh! My apologies." Will started and turned away.
"No, no William, it was I who asked Mr. Gillette to fetch you." Governor Swan said quickly, and the blacksmith frowned mildly as he stepped into the room.
"Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Scott - this is my son-in-law, William Turner. William was also familiar with the incident you mentioned." The Governor introduced and the younger stepped forward and politely shook hands and quietly took a seat on the other side of Norrington. The man, Reynolds seemed anxious to get on with things.
"This concerns a missing person known to be recently in this area. I understand a large amount of goods and supplies were delivered to Port Royal, probably about the middle of last week?" Reynolds asked. Norrington and the Governor quickly exchanged alarmed looks.
"We were told those goods were all paid for sir. We were given what we were told was the bill of sale" the Governor told him and the man smiled.
"No, no - they were. They were purchased in Santiago de Cuba. It is the man who purchased them that I looking for - Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart. He purchased the goods and had them delivered to a Captain Sparrow at the docks that same day. It is Lord Stuart I have been trying to catch up with for - well, since last winter" Reynolds said and then motioned to his secretary who opened his attaché and then brought out some pages.
"The Mayor Seville thought you might be the best able to help me." He said and the three all looked rather surprised.
"They got all those supplies from the - the Spanish?" Will asked incredulously. Reynolds looked slightly irritated.
"Spain is our current ally in the Grand Alliance young man. And I can assure you we are all glad to have them on our side; as should you be. But - let me start at the beginning then. Almost a year ago I was engaged by a family in England, with the assistance of the crown, to locate a certain man known to be in this area for some time now. A certain Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart?" he asked, and both Norrington and the Governor gave him blank looks. The man smiled mildly.
"That is about the same reaction I have gotten everywhere else so far! I was getting quite discouraged until the events of this last spring." He said and all three both looked only mildly interested. The man continued anyway.
"Aside from this recent purchase - which was made in cash I will add, there has been no sign of Lord Stuart for the last 18 months now. There are two reasons I need to find the man. One, His father passed away last winter and as eldest son, there is the matter of inheritance. The family runs a mercantile shipping business. Has been transporting goods for the Crown for decades now." He said and they all waited as they sipped at their cups.
"The second reason is that Lord Stuart served as a privateer more than once in the past. He was part of the force that went to America in 1664 and helped England seize New Amsterdam from the Dutch. You may remember that it is now called New York? Its' becoming quite a city in its own right these days. Then, between 1667 to 1675 - or thereabouts he served as a privateer on our behalf with the Triple Alliance in the conflict then with the French. He was extremely - efficient - shall we say? The French were not too happy, but our allies appreciated his efforts. Now, his royal highness, William the Third, as been advised to enlist his services again as part of our efforts against the French." He said.
"I don't remember ever even hearing of the man." Governor Swan told him. Reynolds nodded.
"That has been my problem since I came here to locate him some 9 months ago. Governor Seville claims this man Sparrow is no more that an abominable pirate. I am surprised you even received your goods!" he said and they all exchanged mild frowns.
"I have authorization to take this man Sparrow back for questioning. He'd better not have harmed Lord Stuart or he'll wish he had hung long before now!" he told them very imperiously. They all looked surprised at that news as he took a page from his assistant and passed it to Governor Swan.
"You will admit you've heard of Sparrow - correct? Seville said he is quite a nuisance at times. You will assist me in his capture of course?" he demanded.
Now he noticed as they exchanged quick looks.
"Come, come Governor Swan, we'll kill two birds with one stone! I'll find my missing Lord - and you'll be rid of this pirate. When I am done with him, and we have recovered Lord Stuart, I am sure the crown would be only too happy to hang the pirate for you. Pirate hangings are very popular in England." Reynolds added as if in making a very generous offer
Commodore Norrington stared at the man, concealing his strong desire to scowl. He was surprised at his angry reaction to the man's words.
"Is it possible this man, Stuart, knows you are looking for him and prefers not to return to England, or serve in the current conflict?" Governor Swan asked and Reynolds half shrugged.
"We have no basis to assume so yet. I started my search among the Leeward Islands where he had made a purchase about 18 months ago. In Trinidad actually. I have been working my way in this general direction ever since, and just happened to be near Santiago de Cuba the day he was in port. Unfortunately we were out in the hill-lands chasing down a rumor.
"If the man has disappeared as of 1680 - 12 years ago now - yet you have periodic evidence that he is alive. " Governor Swan observed and the man nodded.
"Its' rather an interesting story really. Lord Stuart was sent abroad to school as a youth, only to be kidnapped by Corsairs in the Mediterranean on his way home. He was only 19 at the time. For several months the family awaited some sort of ransom letter - but none ever arrived. They feared the lad dead actually. This was in oh - I believe it was 1660. Well, the lad turned up on an English privateers' ship, serving in the taking of New Amsterdam in 1664. Now how he got from the Mediterranean as a kidnap victim, to America on a privateers ship, I have not a clue. Then there is a time when he is missing again for another 3 years, and suddenly he shows up with a ship and crew of his own. He accepted his marque from the crown in London early in 1667. Apparently he was - rather good at what he did." He said with a small smile, and they returned the same. The man frowned now some and sighed.
"Lord Stuart privateers' marque expired in 1675. Our conflict with the French had then ended. But where he went from there is another mystery. He doesn't turn up again until 1680, here - or rather here in the Caribbean. The Bahamas actually then. New Providence to be exact. That was the purchase that first gave the family some idea of where the man was. Since then, there have been very few purchases, but always from here in the Caribbean. Men do come to the Caribbean just to disappear - you don't need to tell me that. Many of them do it by choice. I also am aware of that." He said and the Governor frowned mildly.
Reynolds copied his frown. "There is no rendition of the man that I can put on a circular. but upon his father's death, his mother requested that her husband's ring be used as an identifier. She said that Jackson was given an identical one when he turned 16 and may well have it still. So, an artist was hired, and a circular was produced with a facsimile of it. See?" he said as he offered a page and the Governor took it. They all frowned mildly at the drawing of a silver filigreed ring with an oval black onyx stone.
"A signet ring of some sort?" Norrington asked and the man nodded.
"Has the Lord Stuart's initials engraved inside it - JMS, and a rendition of the seal for the house of Stuart." He said and the Governor smiled some.
"Stuart? The family is somehow related to royal house of Stuart and the man is out here in the Caribbean?" he observed and Reynolds smiled mildly.
"I imagine the house of Stuart has many, many branches Governor. Obviously if the man were that important a much larger search would have been launched ages ago! I have been primarily working out of Santa Domingo since that is where several of Stuart's purchases have been made in the last half dozen years. 250 of those circulars were printed for me in London and were being sent to me last March. I wanted to distribute them throughout the islands. Unfortunately, the ship was intercepted by pirates. Along with the normal goods - the captain of the pirate ship happened to find the box of my circulars, and took the entire thing. Set my efforts back by months that man did." He told them and they all three looked surprised.
"Circulars? A pirate stole your circulars? Whatever for? Which pirate?" Swan asked and the man smiled and shook his head.
"Jack Sparrow." Reynolds told them, staring at them intently, and others all blinked hard, Will nearly choking on his tea. Gillette gave him a suspicious glare, but said nothing.
"Sparrow? I can't imagine why on earth - " Norrington reacted quickly with a glance at the blacksmith as Reynolds sighed.
"Well - to tell you the truth, I half expected the pirate to contact me and claim the reward. That is the only reason we guess as to why he would even want them. He had taken the time to ask the captain of the ship who they were going to, why, - just seemed inordinately curious. Then he up and took them with him! We thought perhaps he was going to ransom Lord Stuart directly to the family, or perhaps contact me and want the reward, - but its' been months now and nothing has ever come." He said as he handed each of them another page from his assistant.
Will frowned at the circular page he had been given.
"Reward offered for information on the whereabouts of Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart. Description: 42 years of age, dark hair and eyes, medium build and height. Identification can be proved by means of an oval onyx stone set in silver that bears the initials JMS inside, and a likeness of the seal of the house of Stuart. Lord Stuart is being most urgently sought in matters relating to title succession and vital issues related to the Crown. Anyone with information is requested to immediately contact - he read out loud, and then shook his head with a puzzled frown.
"Even if you locate this Lord Stuart, you still can't force the man to return with you." the Governor observed carefully and the man sighed.
"No - But I do bear a personal letter to said person, from his majesty himself. The King felt rather firmly that once he receives the missive, he will be willing to return with me." He said and the Governor arched an eyebrow.
"This pirate Sparrow is the most direct link I have had since I arrived. Hopefully it will not take long to apprehend him? Now that you have additional motivation?" Reynolds suggested
The Governor looked at the man and sighed deeply.
"Mr. Reynolds, there is no way to put this politely sir, but I am afraid that the pirate in question was killed just 2 days ago in the defense of Port Royal." he said, and the man froze with a stricken look
" I - I had hoped to perhaps bargain with the man even for his cooperation in at least getting a message to Lord Stuart. Well - this certainly is an inconvenience. This may well extend my stay in the Caribbean for months more. It may well be years before Stuart makes another purchase I am close enough to be able to track down like this - within days. Leave it to a pirate to go and get himself killed just before I arrive!" Reynolds growled, as if very put-out, and Governor Swan gave him a forced smile.
Norrington barely suppressed his scowl. Perhaps Stuart had no desire to return to England. He certainly hadn't done anything to make his name well known in the way of being a criminal. He had to wonder though. why in the name of heaven would Sparrow have decided he wanted to relieve the ship of it's circulars.
Things like that came out every year or so about someone or other. But this was the first time he had heard of such an item being stolen. Unless perhaps Sparrow intended to sell them back to this Lord - who wished to remain missing? Now that sounded more like something that he might find an accounting of in Sparrow's file He shook his head as he watched the Governor and his still rather upset guests now departing.
"Such stuff and nonsense." He murmured to himself dismally.
He half turned to find Will still there and sighed at him.
"You won't need to mention this to Elizabeth of course. I am sure she is upset enough at the loss of Mr. Sparrow." He said and Will gave him a hard look.
"That's Captain Sparrow, Commodore - can't you at least give him that in death?" He asked.
It was Gillette who scowled at the blacksmith. "I don't suppose you would have any idea of why he would even take the circulars? Or why on earth an English Lord would be so willing to assist Sparrow in his purchases? What, Sparrow knew where the man was so that's where he went running, so we would all be impressed with the magnificent generosity of him and his crew? I'm surprised the goods weren't just stolen!" he said very critically.
"I have no idea why Jack took the circulars. I have no idea if he knows this man somehow or why. But I do know that he was never so concerned with your opinion of him that he would bother to go to all the trouble to make it look like he bought your goods when he didn't. Maybe he knows the man but couldn't just waltz into the marketplace himself. If he had come to Port Royal last year and had wanted supplies he probably would have made land and come to me and asked me to purchase them for him. Given me the money," the blacksmith said darkly and Gillette looked rather taken aback.
"For all you know, this Lord Stuart is some friend of his for the past dozen years. Jack didn't care what you thought of him. He didn't bring you supplies so you would be nice or forgiving or anything else. He wouldn't even stay to hear the Governor's offer of a pardon or other means of reward. Maybe your Lord Stuart knew Jack better than you assume to. There are people in the world who do something just because it's the right thing to do at the time. God help you, Mr. Gillette if you need a pirate to teach you that." the young man said, then stalked out of the room.
Gillette turned to the Commodore, about to protest.
Commodore Norrington turned to him before the man could utter a word.
"Mr. Gillette, have you ever heard the expression 'rest in peace'?" he asked dry. The officer made no reply.
"I have no intentions of making it a matter of official concern to find out exactly how or why Sparrow did what he did. The man is dead and gone. We do have pirates on our seas that are a bit more of a concern. See to the 'Freedom's' repairs: I expect a progress report from you on that matter, as well as an update on the 'Dauntless' - by tomorrow afternoon." He said commandingly.
Gillette snapped to attention, gave a smart salute and hurried off to his assigned tasks.
Norrington turned back to the window, swallowing quickly in an effort to repress the emotion that threatened to rise.
"Yes - he was indeed, Captain Jack Sparrow." He murmured softly as he stared out the window and chewed on his lower lip.
~ * * ~
Ana gasped and sat up suddenly in the very dead of night, sweating and shaking. That same nightmare - again. Coughing came from a slight distance away, around the trees, out of sight. She looked at the fire that was almost out now. It must be close to 3 in the morning was her guess by the moon. He still hadn't quit coughing even as she rose.
She rubbed at her eyes as she half stumbled in the direction of the sound. In the silence of the night, it wasn't hard to find him. The white of his shirt gave him away as he sat with his back against a tree trunk and legs folded before him. His arm went across his knees and forehead resting on it as he finally quieted and now sat just gasping for breath it sounded like.
"Jack - what are you doing way over here?" she asked warily, startling him severely.
"Ana! What's wrong?" he asked very breathlessly and she frowned as she knelt by him.
"That's what I was going to ask you Jack. What are you doin' over here?" she asked and he shrugged and gave her a weak smile.
"William told me to wait here. He was going to go find somebody." He said and she blinked hard at him.
"What? William Turner? He's here? Where did he go?" she asked and he smiled and coughed a little more.
"He's right ov'r there. Bill!" he called as he struggled to his knees and tipped over forwards. Quickly she caught him by the shoulders and sat him up. She felt at his forehead and scowled.
"For the love of all the souls in heaven Jack, yer' burnin' up!" she told him and he shook his head.
"Just hot out. Afternoon's always hot here. Think the salt flats make it hotter." He said conversationally and she looked even more concerned.
"Why don't you come over here with me? The lean to has nice shade." She offered warily and he sighed. He struggled to rise and immediately seemed to sway dizzily. She grabbed him by the arm and kept a firm hold as she slowly drew him along with her. It wasn't even 50 yards and he seemed extremely short of breath and gladly sunk to the ground when she let go, and started coughing again.
He couldn't seem to stop and was obviously having trouble breathing. His desperate wheezing scared her to death as she pat him on the back trying to break the spasm. He finally did quit only to half collapse into her, gasping hard. She laid him down as he shivered hard and fiercely.
"Jack no - please? You can't do this now Capt'n! Not here - we're too far away! Jack please don't!?" she pleaded as she scooped him up in a deep hug and felt him shivering uncontrollably still. He gave up a soft moan and seemed to relax finally. Hugging him, rocking him, her face pressed to his head, she could feel the monstrous heat radiating from him. His heartbeat finally slowed and she laid him back to consider his face.
In the light of the fire she could see his eyes were glazed and heavy lidded as he gave her a weak smile.
"Oh loo'k Ana - flutter'bys!" he lisped softly in a tone of wonder as he looked up and behind her.
"What? What are you talkin' about Jack?" she asked and he put up a hand with a sloppy grin.
"Flutter - bys - see?" he asked with a slur. She glanced at his hand and stifled a scream. There sitting on his hand was the hugest, biggest butterfly she had ever laid eyes on. Black and yellow markings decorated its delicately shaped wings. She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up on end as she looked up and realized there must be a good dozen or more of them fluttering around the lean to and the fire. All equally huge.
She swallowed dryly. Even she knew butterflies didn't come out at night. Not normal ones anyway. "Jack - get it off you!" she said urgently and he frowned at her in confusion.
"But I like it! They don' bite Ana, see? He's ver' pretty - fer a bug." he said sloppily as he brought his arm in closer, and it still sat there as calm as could be. It's wingspan was clearly as wide as his hand. She swallowed dryly.
"It ain't no normal butterfly you fool! Butterflies don't come out at night! It's some kind of voodoo spirit! Shoo! Off! Go away!" she said as she waved at it, trying to get it to fly away. She ducked as several more of the flock seemed to find the two of them interesting as he started coughing hard and chokingly again. This time he didn't have the strength to fight for breath and quickly grew weaker, his hand finally falling to the ground limply and the butterfly fluttered upwards.
"Jack! Wake up!" she said loudly as she shook him hard, and then fell over backwards in surprise as dark arms appeared from behind him. It was a man. A very, very, large, dark-skinned man with wild hair, bushy hair. He knelt down behind Jack and felt at his forehead and then his chest. He took a leather pouch off his belt and opened it, and poured some kind of powder into his hand.
Then he tipped Jack's head back and wet his finger, dipped it in the powder and put his finger inside the pirates mouth as if wiping the powder on the inside of his cheek. Then he rolled the pirate on his side and gave him three hard and powerful blows to the back that made her wince. Suddenly the pirate took a loud breath, then sputtered over the foreign substance in his mouth.
Ana looked up to find 4 other men standing silently behind her. Eyes wide, she stared at the man who now bent over the pirate and whispered in his ear very lowly in a rumbled tone as he traced some sort of a symbol on the pirate's skin where his shirt hung open. Gently now he lifted Jack with an arm behind his back, and one of the others offered him a skin container that he put to the pirates mouth. He tipped it so the fluid spilled into Jack's mouth and down his chin.
Jack sputtered and choked briefly as he came barely awake and the man offered him more, silently insisting he drink more, then another time before finally he gave it back to the other one. Jack seemed to have melted against him limply, eyes closed.
"What did you do to him!?" she demanded harshly and the dark man looked at her in speculation.
"You be with him? You come with him." He said in a very, very deep voice.
She gulped silently as she rose quickly. "Who are you?" she dared to ask.
"Houngan - Loco lead us to him," he said with a gesture at the butterflies overhead. "I am he who has knowledge of the plants that heal. Loco bring us tonight to him." He said as he rose, lifting Jack under his arms. The pirate dangled between his hands, head lolled forward, feet not really touching the ground.
"Wait - don't hurt him. What do you want? Gold? Silver? Name your price. Just don't hurt him. If you hurt him so help me I swear - " she started with a deadly scowl. He suddenly smiled broadly and said something in another language to the other four.
One stepped forward and rolled out something he held in his hand. It turned out to be a kind of hammock made of sturdy netting. One that the largest man gently but easily laid the pirate out in it. She knelt beside him, a hand going to his cheek. Jack slowly opened his eyes. She scowled at how large and wide his pupils were. The man had drugged him!
"Jack?' she said softly and he just sighed very sluggishly and mumbled incoherently.
She frowned up at the large dark man. White teeth grinned at her widely. "He sleeps. You comin'?" he asked as they rose and picked up the ends of the hammock.
"Bloody hell yes I'm comin'!" she said quickly as she leapt up and kicked sand over the fire. She took Jack's hand in her own and held on tight, even if he already did have his eyes closed.
******************************
Chanting: This is Monday, the day the chapter is posted. Then comes Tuesday, then comes Wednesday - and on Thursday - Chapter 17 shall arrive! See you then!