Three . India
The faces were swimming out of focus, but even from the quick glance, Jack thought he had seen that man before. Before he could be sure, however, another figure leapt in front of him.
"Avast Jack!" the girl's voice sliced through the fog in his brain like a pointy cutlass. Not that Jack had ever seen many not-pointy cutlasses, but he felt the need to emphasize the sharpness of the sound. Vaguely startled, it took him a moment to realize who it was.
"India, love," he replied with a deep voice and a grin.
She ignored the term of endearment, sat down, and went straight to business matters.
"I need your help, Jack," she said, a little hurriedly.
"Whoa, slow down, love," he said, unable to concentrate but proud to have actually been asked for help.
"There's a ship in the harbour." She seemed excited. Jack stared blankly at her.
"Is there now?" he asked, not following what she was saying.
She nodded. "Gibbs told me I might find you here. He also said that you were talking to him."
"What if I was?" he asked. Who was Gibbs to be giving out personal information? Didn't he know - Jack wondered how much she had paid Gibbs to find this out. Nothing was a secret among pirates, especially not on Tortuga. There was too much profit to be made with the selling of information for anything to stay private for long.
She lowered her voice, aware that other pirates could be listening to their conversation. "So I know that you know about the treasure."
"What treasure?" Jack asked.
"The treasure that my father hid."
Jack was beginning to lose interest. "Your father? If you mean on the Isla de la Muerta, it's long since been spent."
India looked blank. "Isla de la Muerta?"
"Yes," Jack began. "It's an island that cannot be found save by those who already know where it is."
She looked even more blank, then shook her head. "That's not the treasure I'm talking about. From what my father said, in his journals." She trailed off, obviously deciding that she would not tell Jack more about the location of the treasure before he agreed to help. "There's more," she finished simply. The tone she used implied that there was a lot more.
Jack's eyes glittered at the prospect of gold. Funny the sobering effect a little talk of treasure can have on a man.
Jack glanced around, making sure again that no one was watching them. He leaned back a little. "So now that I know about the treasure, what do you want me to do about it, eh?"
"I need your help to steal the ship in the harbour!" India said, as though it should be completely obvious.
"What?"
"Aren't you Jack Sparrow - Captain Jack Sparrow?"
"Ay," he answered.
She raised her chin. "I had never heard of you before except in my father's journals. And the things written there were less than flattering."
Jack was shocked, not so much because he had expected Barbossa to have written anything nice about him, but the fact that India had never heard of him dealt a rather harsh blow to his inflated and delicate ego. All he could manage to do was glare at her and try to look imposing. It didn't seem to have much of an effect.
"Well, will you help me or not?"
"What's in it for me?" he asked. "If you haven't even heard of me, love, why ask me to help? You don't know that I won't keep the treasure for meself if we do find it. Besides, I gave up the pirate business two years ago, when." he cut himself off before blurting out that he had shot her father.
She seemed not to notice his pause. "Of course you'll get a share in the treasure when we find it. But I've spoken to your friends and they say you're a decent man. Say there's no one crazier than ye and no one better than ye to head a venture like this. The men say there's no one to match your skill with a ship and a crew."
"And the women, what do they say?" he asked, more for effect than wanting an answer. He could have sworn that India blushed, but in the next moment he discarded the notion.
"All I want is for you to help me steal the ship." she exhaled and added, "And to captain it."
Oh, she wasn't asking much. But she seemed willing to trust his abilities as a pirate. Jack inhaled the complement, and thought over what she had asked. He could use another treasure to replenish his diminishing funds. And more than he could deny, the sea called to him. For two years he had done nothing but sit, drowning the instinct in rum. But now the opportune moment had presented itself, and it was up to him to make the right decision. Now, to help her steal that ship.
"Commandeer, love," he said, standing up and moving away from the table. She followed him out of the tavern. "A pirate doesn't steal a ship, he commandeers one. You've a few things to learn."
Sure enough, there was a beauty of a pirate ship docked at the port.
"This would be lucky for us," Jack said, half-turning to India as they kept walking. "If only we had a crew."
"Luck has nothing to do with it, Jack," she replied. "I've assembled a crew."
Jack nodded a little in surprise, looking around. He saw no one who looked as though he might be awaiting orders to help take the ship out of port.
"And where might this crew be, may I ask?" he asked.
"All they're waiting for is a signal, Captain," she answered. They neared the ship, Jack surmised, from its appearance, was fairly new, fairly expensive, and fairly fast. They would need speed to outrun anyone who might decide to follow; an irate pirate whose ship had been stolen was not exactly the kind of person Jack wanted on his trail.
A familiar face caught Jack's eye from beneath a straw hat - Gibbs, as discreet as ever, nodded and waited at his post on the docks. Other individuals, too, nodded as Jack looked in their direction.
India shot a glance behind them, then, seemingly satisfied, called, "Now!"
The majority of men on the docks mobilized, presumably acting under whatever orders India had given them earlier.
Jack winced, putting a hand to his face. Did the girl have no tact? If there was one way to draw attention to what they were doing, it would be to move in a large group - noisily. If the owner of the ship or any members of the actual crew were nearby, they would alert the others, who would come and interfere, and there would be no way to successfully manoeuvre the ship out of port.
Most of the men scrambled on board, up ropes or across planks, heading directly for their posts. Vaguely following India, Jack Sparrow tottered aboard, not part of the commotion around him but watching in awe. With an efficiency Jack had rarely witnessed, the ship was made ready, anchor was cast off, and they sailed from port. If anyone on shore had noticed, they certainly would not have had time to react. Once the ship was safely in the open water and the crew had relaxed a little, Jack turned to India. Something needed to be said to regain his dignity in light of the fact that India's plan had worked marvelously.
"India, love - if you want me to captain this ship, there's something we need to get straight: I give the orders. Savvy?"
India looked around, raised her eyebrows, and opened her arms wide. She knew Jack would never admit that she had been right and he should have kept his mouth shut.
"They're all yours, Captain."
Someone else had even taken the helm, Jack noted in despair, standing in the middle of the deck at a loss for what to do.
One of the men came over to India, who stood next to Jack.
"There be several of the crew in captive below deck. What shall we do with 'em?" he asked.
Jack looked from the man to India and narrowed his eyes. Who was she to be taking news? And who was this man to be speaking to a woman instead of to Jack?
India shrugged and gestured to Jack. "He's the one you ought to ask. Only one who knows what's going on around here," she said with a touch of sarcasm. The man shifted his gaze apologetically.
"Captain?" he asked.
"Aye."
"What shall we do with the prisoners?" he repeated.
Jack thought about it for a fraction of a second. "Keep them entertained." If they were friendly louts, it might be worth seeing how many were willing to join the new surrogate crew. However, Jack felt that he should give them a little time to get used to their new captain. Perhaps he should go down and speak with them to see what they were like, introduce himself, and find out who, in fact, their previous captain had been.
The man seemed to be awaiting further instructions. However, Jack shooed him away, saying, "I will speak with them myself once we are underway," though the ship was quite underway as it was.
Once the man had left, Jack turned to face India. He wasn't sure what to make of her expression, somewhere between amusement and annoyance, so he left it alone.
"So whereabouts is this treasure?" Jack asked, then remembered when Barbossa had tricked him into sharing the location of Isla de la Muerta with the crew of the Pearl, and how it had led to a swift kick in the trousers and desertion of an island in the middle of nowhere on the great blue sea.
"Wait -" he said, gesturing with his hands for her not to speak, "Don't answer that. Actions of the sort have been known to lead to unfortunate consequences. As long as you know where we're going, everything will be just wonderful ." he trailed off, considering whether he actually wanted her to tell or not. "And for heaven's sake, don't tell the rest of the crew! - or have you told them already?"
She shook her head.
"Good. Now, if you don't want to be marooned, I suggest you keep it to yourself, savvy?"
She smiled as though she knew the story.
"Don't worry, Captain, you can count on me not to tell," she made a motion to indicate that her lips were sealed. . . .
"I'm captain Jack Sparrow," he introduced himself to the group of prisoners in the makeshift keep. There were a few hushed murmurs, but he didn't catch anything of what was said. He glanced over each of them, finding neither a familiar face nor an unfriendly or dishonest looking one among them. If the ship had not been docked in Tortuga, he almost might have guessed that the ship was not in fact a vessel for pirates. Though it was true that actually bringing a ship into port was a stupid move marking an inexperienced pirate, neither was there any member of the crew who appeared to be of a royal navy of any country. No one wore uniforms, and the Jolly Roger had been flying in place of a Union Jack . but there wasn't even a proper brig in this excuse for a pirate ship. Nor did there seem to be weevils in the biscuits, scurvy sufferers, or general disorder and disarray onboard. He wondered again who the captain had been - then discounted it, reminding himself that now the captain was . himself.
He cleared his throat and continued strutting back and forth in front of the jumble of men. He kept talking. "I hope all of you will be content to serve under me as your new captain ." he paused to let them respond, and cringed at the general murmur of dissent. It was reluctant but not outright opposed, he guessed, hoping they could be persuaded to join with the promise of reward.
"For those of you who decide to assent, there will be a share of treasure at the end of the adventure." This seemed to warm them slightly to the idea.
"Right, well, we'll leave you to the idea, shall we? In the meantime, drink up me hearties, yo ho," he quoted in a half-melancholic tone, motioning to the food and drink he had generously decided to provide for them. Well, he thought, it was really more humane than generous, when it came down to it, and it would be best to cheer them if he was ever to get them to act under his orders. And the food was from the ship's stores to begin with . anyhow, the point was that he had given them food - perhaps a typical act by captain Jack Sparrow - but then Jack was not a typical pirate, as those who were unaware were sure to quickly learn.
'That's exactly the attitude that lost you the Pearl,' came Barbossa's words suddenly to Jack's mind. He started a little, still apprehensive after two years that Barbossa was always looming over his shoulder or just around the corner.
Well, no he was on board with Barbossa's daughter, Jack reminded himself. Of course it would be a little strange and awkward. He forced himself past the feeling, and left the prisoners.
"Captain, there's a ship following us," a rascal of a man informed Jack as soon as he had re-appeared on deck.
"What colours does she fly?" Jack asked.
"She's a pirate ship, sure as silver," the man responded. Jack grabbed the viewing glass from the man and looked for himself. Yes, the flag was certainly black.
"How long has she been on our tail?"
"Me guess is since Tortuga, but she's gaining on us - fast."
Jack shoved the viewfinder back at the man and twiddled his fingers for a moment while trying to decide what to do.
"Try to outrun her. See what her intents are. Avoid a fight at all costs, if possible." He had just acquired a new ship and was already rather fond of her, as he tended to be with any ship, and he didn't want holes blown in her on her first voyage under his command.
"Yes captain," the man said and wandered off presumably to spread the word.
India came to find him. "So, captain, what's the marvellous plan?" she asked.
"We'll see if she means to open fire on us before acting," he decided.
"Oh? And when will we know? When she does open fire? Then will we act?" she asked. Jack tilted his head back and gazed skyward.
"What do you suggest we do then?" he asked in something of a gravelly groan.
"I say we halt and fight," she said.
Jack considered it. "Look, love. The man commanding that ship is likely the captain of this ship, and he's managed to pay off some other sod from Tortuga to use his boat to get this one back. Now if that's the case, I'll wager he has a few of his men aboard with him - those who went ashore - as well as several of the other crew, just to protect their boat, see. But likely, likely," he said, coming round to the point, "he won't fire at us because this is his ship, and he doesn't want to see holes blown in it any more than we do."
India shut her mouth with a look of smug uncertainty, as though to say, If you're wrong don't say I didn't warn you .
Their ship, so far, had not managed to pick up any speed. The pursuing ship, however, was already on course and had the wind adjusted to advantage in the sails.
"Not fast enough," Jack muttered worriedly, praying that his logic wasn't as faulty as . well, his reasoning or common sense. Otherwise, they might be in trouble.
Jack felt out of place standing idly with the helm left to the charge of someone else, but it was true that he had not manned a ship for these past two years. Was it something one forgot how to do? These men didn't seem to have any idea what they were doing either, he commented to himself. They needed more speed.
With an exaggerated sigh, he turned to look back at the other ship, which was still gaining on them. Scrambling around the deck in anxiety, Jack tried to find something useful to do, or at least to something to do to appear as though he was doing something useful. After a frenzied failure to do anything but swagger uncertainly from port to starboard, Jack turned to glance one last time at the ship. It was certainly the captain coming to reclaim this ship. There was no one else it could possibly be. But who ..?
Jack scurried below deck to where the prisoners were being kept.
"You," he pointed to one prisoner. "Who was your captain?" The bloke didn't reply, but gazed at something beyond Jack's shoulder.
"A man named Will Turner," a voice replied from behind Jack. Jack turned, and found a man with a sword pointed at him.
It was Will.
The faces were swimming out of focus, but even from the quick glance, Jack thought he had seen that man before. Before he could be sure, however, another figure leapt in front of him.
"Avast Jack!" the girl's voice sliced through the fog in his brain like a pointy cutlass. Not that Jack had ever seen many not-pointy cutlasses, but he felt the need to emphasize the sharpness of the sound. Vaguely startled, it took him a moment to realize who it was.
"India, love," he replied with a deep voice and a grin.
She ignored the term of endearment, sat down, and went straight to business matters.
"I need your help, Jack," she said, a little hurriedly.
"Whoa, slow down, love," he said, unable to concentrate but proud to have actually been asked for help.
"There's a ship in the harbour." She seemed excited. Jack stared blankly at her.
"Is there now?" he asked, not following what she was saying.
She nodded. "Gibbs told me I might find you here. He also said that you were talking to him."
"What if I was?" he asked. Who was Gibbs to be giving out personal information? Didn't he know - Jack wondered how much she had paid Gibbs to find this out. Nothing was a secret among pirates, especially not on Tortuga. There was too much profit to be made with the selling of information for anything to stay private for long.
She lowered her voice, aware that other pirates could be listening to their conversation. "So I know that you know about the treasure."
"What treasure?" Jack asked.
"The treasure that my father hid."
Jack was beginning to lose interest. "Your father? If you mean on the Isla de la Muerta, it's long since been spent."
India looked blank. "Isla de la Muerta?"
"Yes," Jack began. "It's an island that cannot be found save by those who already know where it is."
She looked even more blank, then shook her head. "That's not the treasure I'm talking about. From what my father said, in his journals." She trailed off, obviously deciding that she would not tell Jack more about the location of the treasure before he agreed to help. "There's more," she finished simply. The tone she used implied that there was a lot more.
Jack's eyes glittered at the prospect of gold. Funny the sobering effect a little talk of treasure can have on a man.
Jack glanced around, making sure again that no one was watching them. He leaned back a little. "So now that I know about the treasure, what do you want me to do about it, eh?"
"I need your help to steal the ship in the harbour!" India said, as though it should be completely obvious.
"What?"
"Aren't you Jack Sparrow - Captain Jack Sparrow?"
"Ay," he answered.
She raised her chin. "I had never heard of you before except in my father's journals. And the things written there were less than flattering."
Jack was shocked, not so much because he had expected Barbossa to have written anything nice about him, but the fact that India had never heard of him dealt a rather harsh blow to his inflated and delicate ego. All he could manage to do was glare at her and try to look imposing. It didn't seem to have much of an effect.
"Well, will you help me or not?"
"What's in it for me?" he asked. "If you haven't even heard of me, love, why ask me to help? You don't know that I won't keep the treasure for meself if we do find it. Besides, I gave up the pirate business two years ago, when." he cut himself off before blurting out that he had shot her father.
She seemed not to notice his pause. "Of course you'll get a share in the treasure when we find it. But I've spoken to your friends and they say you're a decent man. Say there's no one crazier than ye and no one better than ye to head a venture like this. The men say there's no one to match your skill with a ship and a crew."
"And the women, what do they say?" he asked, more for effect than wanting an answer. He could have sworn that India blushed, but in the next moment he discarded the notion.
"All I want is for you to help me steal the ship." she exhaled and added, "And to captain it."
Oh, she wasn't asking much. But she seemed willing to trust his abilities as a pirate. Jack inhaled the complement, and thought over what she had asked. He could use another treasure to replenish his diminishing funds. And more than he could deny, the sea called to him. For two years he had done nothing but sit, drowning the instinct in rum. But now the opportune moment had presented itself, and it was up to him to make the right decision. Now, to help her steal that ship.
"Commandeer, love," he said, standing up and moving away from the table. She followed him out of the tavern. "A pirate doesn't steal a ship, he commandeers one. You've a few things to learn."
Sure enough, there was a beauty of a pirate ship docked at the port.
"This would be lucky for us," Jack said, half-turning to India as they kept walking. "If only we had a crew."
"Luck has nothing to do with it, Jack," she replied. "I've assembled a crew."
Jack nodded a little in surprise, looking around. He saw no one who looked as though he might be awaiting orders to help take the ship out of port.
"And where might this crew be, may I ask?" he asked.
"All they're waiting for is a signal, Captain," she answered. They neared the ship, Jack surmised, from its appearance, was fairly new, fairly expensive, and fairly fast. They would need speed to outrun anyone who might decide to follow; an irate pirate whose ship had been stolen was not exactly the kind of person Jack wanted on his trail.
A familiar face caught Jack's eye from beneath a straw hat - Gibbs, as discreet as ever, nodded and waited at his post on the docks. Other individuals, too, nodded as Jack looked in their direction.
India shot a glance behind them, then, seemingly satisfied, called, "Now!"
The majority of men on the docks mobilized, presumably acting under whatever orders India had given them earlier.
Jack winced, putting a hand to his face. Did the girl have no tact? If there was one way to draw attention to what they were doing, it would be to move in a large group - noisily. If the owner of the ship or any members of the actual crew were nearby, they would alert the others, who would come and interfere, and there would be no way to successfully manoeuvre the ship out of port.
Most of the men scrambled on board, up ropes or across planks, heading directly for their posts. Vaguely following India, Jack Sparrow tottered aboard, not part of the commotion around him but watching in awe. With an efficiency Jack had rarely witnessed, the ship was made ready, anchor was cast off, and they sailed from port. If anyone on shore had noticed, they certainly would not have had time to react. Once the ship was safely in the open water and the crew had relaxed a little, Jack turned to India. Something needed to be said to regain his dignity in light of the fact that India's plan had worked marvelously.
"India, love - if you want me to captain this ship, there's something we need to get straight: I give the orders. Savvy?"
India looked around, raised her eyebrows, and opened her arms wide. She knew Jack would never admit that she had been right and he should have kept his mouth shut.
"They're all yours, Captain."
Someone else had even taken the helm, Jack noted in despair, standing in the middle of the deck at a loss for what to do.
One of the men came over to India, who stood next to Jack.
"There be several of the crew in captive below deck. What shall we do with 'em?" he asked.
Jack looked from the man to India and narrowed his eyes. Who was she to be taking news? And who was this man to be speaking to a woman instead of to Jack?
India shrugged and gestured to Jack. "He's the one you ought to ask. Only one who knows what's going on around here," she said with a touch of sarcasm. The man shifted his gaze apologetically.
"Captain?" he asked.
"Aye."
"What shall we do with the prisoners?" he repeated.
Jack thought about it for a fraction of a second. "Keep them entertained." If they were friendly louts, it might be worth seeing how many were willing to join the new surrogate crew. However, Jack felt that he should give them a little time to get used to their new captain. Perhaps he should go down and speak with them to see what they were like, introduce himself, and find out who, in fact, their previous captain had been.
The man seemed to be awaiting further instructions. However, Jack shooed him away, saying, "I will speak with them myself once we are underway," though the ship was quite underway as it was.
Once the man had left, Jack turned to face India. He wasn't sure what to make of her expression, somewhere between amusement and annoyance, so he left it alone.
"So whereabouts is this treasure?" Jack asked, then remembered when Barbossa had tricked him into sharing the location of Isla de la Muerta with the crew of the Pearl, and how it had led to a swift kick in the trousers and desertion of an island in the middle of nowhere on the great blue sea.
"Wait -" he said, gesturing with his hands for her not to speak, "Don't answer that. Actions of the sort have been known to lead to unfortunate consequences. As long as you know where we're going, everything will be just wonderful ." he trailed off, considering whether he actually wanted her to tell or not. "And for heaven's sake, don't tell the rest of the crew! - or have you told them already?"
She shook her head.
"Good. Now, if you don't want to be marooned, I suggest you keep it to yourself, savvy?"
She smiled as though she knew the story.
"Don't worry, Captain, you can count on me not to tell," she made a motion to indicate that her lips were sealed. . . .
"I'm captain Jack Sparrow," he introduced himself to the group of prisoners in the makeshift keep. There were a few hushed murmurs, but he didn't catch anything of what was said. He glanced over each of them, finding neither a familiar face nor an unfriendly or dishonest looking one among them. If the ship had not been docked in Tortuga, he almost might have guessed that the ship was not in fact a vessel for pirates. Though it was true that actually bringing a ship into port was a stupid move marking an inexperienced pirate, neither was there any member of the crew who appeared to be of a royal navy of any country. No one wore uniforms, and the Jolly Roger had been flying in place of a Union Jack . but there wasn't even a proper brig in this excuse for a pirate ship. Nor did there seem to be weevils in the biscuits, scurvy sufferers, or general disorder and disarray onboard. He wondered again who the captain had been - then discounted it, reminding himself that now the captain was . himself.
He cleared his throat and continued strutting back and forth in front of the jumble of men. He kept talking. "I hope all of you will be content to serve under me as your new captain ." he paused to let them respond, and cringed at the general murmur of dissent. It was reluctant but not outright opposed, he guessed, hoping they could be persuaded to join with the promise of reward.
"For those of you who decide to assent, there will be a share of treasure at the end of the adventure." This seemed to warm them slightly to the idea.
"Right, well, we'll leave you to the idea, shall we? In the meantime, drink up me hearties, yo ho," he quoted in a half-melancholic tone, motioning to the food and drink he had generously decided to provide for them. Well, he thought, it was really more humane than generous, when it came down to it, and it would be best to cheer them if he was ever to get them to act under his orders. And the food was from the ship's stores to begin with . anyhow, the point was that he had given them food - perhaps a typical act by captain Jack Sparrow - but then Jack was not a typical pirate, as those who were unaware were sure to quickly learn.
'That's exactly the attitude that lost you the Pearl,' came Barbossa's words suddenly to Jack's mind. He started a little, still apprehensive after two years that Barbossa was always looming over his shoulder or just around the corner.
Well, no he was on board with Barbossa's daughter, Jack reminded himself. Of course it would be a little strange and awkward. He forced himself past the feeling, and left the prisoners.
"Captain, there's a ship following us," a rascal of a man informed Jack as soon as he had re-appeared on deck.
"What colours does she fly?" Jack asked.
"She's a pirate ship, sure as silver," the man responded. Jack grabbed the viewing glass from the man and looked for himself. Yes, the flag was certainly black.
"How long has she been on our tail?"
"Me guess is since Tortuga, but she's gaining on us - fast."
Jack shoved the viewfinder back at the man and twiddled his fingers for a moment while trying to decide what to do.
"Try to outrun her. See what her intents are. Avoid a fight at all costs, if possible." He had just acquired a new ship and was already rather fond of her, as he tended to be with any ship, and he didn't want holes blown in her on her first voyage under his command.
"Yes captain," the man said and wandered off presumably to spread the word.
India came to find him. "So, captain, what's the marvellous plan?" she asked.
"We'll see if she means to open fire on us before acting," he decided.
"Oh? And when will we know? When she does open fire? Then will we act?" she asked. Jack tilted his head back and gazed skyward.
"What do you suggest we do then?" he asked in something of a gravelly groan.
"I say we halt and fight," she said.
Jack considered it. "Look, love. The man commanding that ship is likely the captain of this ship, and he's managed to pay off some other sod from Tortuga to use his boat to get this one back. Now if that's the case, I'll wager he has a few of his men aboard with him - those who went ashore - as well as several of the other crew, just to protect their boat, see. But likely, likely," he said, coming round to the point, "he won't fire at us because this is his ship, and he doesn't want to see holes blown in it any more than we do."
India shut her mouth with a look of smug uncertainty, as though to say, If you're wrong don't say I didn't warn you .
Their ship, so far, had not managed to pick up any speed. The pursuing ship, however, was already on course and had the wind adjusted to advantage in the sails.
"Not fast enough," Jack muttered worriedly, praying that his logic wasn't as faulty as . well, his reasoning or common sense. Otherwise, they might be in trouble.
Jack felt out of place standing idly with the helm left to the charge of someone else, but it was true that he had not manned a ship for these past two years. Was it something one forgot how to do? These men didn't seem to have any idea what they were doing either, he commented to himself. They needed more speed.
With an exaggerated sigh, he turned to look back at the other ship, which was still gaining on them. Scrambling around the deck in anxiety, Jack tried to find something useful to do, or at least to something to do to appear as though he was doing something useful. After a frenzied failure to do anything but swagger uncertainly from port to starboard, Jack turned to glance one last time at the ship. It was certainly the captain coming to reclaim this ship. There was no one else it could possibly be. But who ..?
Jack scurried below deck to where the prisoners were being kept.
"You," he pointed to one prisoner. "Who was your captain?" The bloke didn't reply, but gazed at something beyond Jack's shoulder.
"A man named Will Turner," a voice replied from behind Jack. Jack turned, and found a man with a sword pointed at him.
It was Will.