On Sparrow Wings
Chapter 5: The Bottom of a Boat
Disclaimer: So just want you to all know that the soundtrack rocks… Yeah… AND I LUV THE MOVIE!!! But I don't own all the important business stuff. No money for me! Whoo!
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Jack stood at the helm, the wind blowing his hair off his face. He watched his crew carefully. Something was up. They kept huddling in groups to talk and just when he would be gathering breath to shout for them to get back to work they would separate and continue with their duties. He frowned thoughtfully. Maybe they were planning something. A surprise… Like a 'congratulations on becoming captain' party! Ah, maybe he was suffering from lack of sleep. Why would anyone celebrate the death of their previous captain? He shook his head and frowned as another group huddled up.
"Benjie!" Jack hollered. "I want ye to take the helm." He strode down towards the group on deck. He couldn't hear what was being said and before he could get any closer, Timmory spotted him. The men straightened up and looked toward Jack.
"Hey, Capt'n. We was just discussing something, so if ye'll jes' move along, we get on with it…"
"What kind of something?" Jack narrowed his eyes.
"A surprise, Capt'n. For you, Capt'n. Ye don' wanna be ruinin' it, now do ye?" Timmory smiled genially.
"A surprise? Oh, well, carry on, but ye better be sure everything is done…" He went below deck and headed for his old quarters. Opening the door, he saw Maris at the desk, with paper and a quill. She looked up, startled.
"Wrong room. Sorry, I keep forgetting I don't live here anymore." Jack stepped back and made to close the door.
"Wait, come in. I'd like to talk to you," she said, standing up. "You've been avoiding me as much as the other men on this ship. Is something wrong?"
"No, not really. Its just-" he broke off. With a big sigh, he settled himself down on the bed. "The crew is a little upset that I let ye stay on board and I don't really want to press the matter. And ye're still recovering from yer injury. This is a good crew, Maris, and I don't want to have to let 'em go because they don't agree with my choices. So I'm trying to slip ye in through the cracks, so to speak. Not just crash ye in, but let them get used to the idea of ye. So I'm sorry if my avoiding ye has upset ye, but it's not because I don't like ye. It's because I do like ye. Savvy?" He looked at her imploringly.
"Savvy, Jack. This is a good crew, and I'd like them to accept me, too. You just do what you think is best and I'll follow."
He bounded up. "Splendid! Now I'm off to my cabin, I gotta get rid of this headache!" Maris smiled as he strode out of the room only to swing back around. "Say, do ye know anything about the surprise the crew is cooking up for me?"
Maris shook her head no and Jack went up top, muttering to himself.
~~~
Jack jerked awake. There was a loud thumping in his head. No, wait, it was the door. Someone was thumping on his door.
"Ehn…" Jack said. "Ehn mint…" The thumping continued. "Ehn uh mint!" He rolled off his bed and onto the floor. Pushing himself up, Jack shook his head and it gave a painful throb. "Ugh. I'm coming, keep yer shirt off… on! Keep yer shirt on!" He staggered up, wincing from the brain pain. Stumbling over to the door, he yanked it open. Timmory stood before him and grinned.
"It's time, Capt'n. Time for yer surprise." He stepped sideways a bit, allowing Jack to see beyond him.
Jack didn't like his surprise. Hairy was being held up by Hans and Chrispy was in the grasp of Ivan. Both looked worse for the wear. Hairy was sporting a split lip and a black eye and Chrispy had two shiners and a bloody nose.
"Capt'n! We tried to stop 'em. They just won't listen to reason!" Hairy burst out. Winger punched him in the stomach and knocked the wind out of him.
Timmory grabbed Jack and hauled him out on deck. "We don' like how ye captain this ship, so we're tossing ye off. And anyone who sticks up fer ye, like these blokes. And, of course, that miserable wench. Go to it boys." At this, all able men started stomping around, making as much racket as they could. Jack was more than slightly confused until the hatch to the stairs opened and Maris appeared, drawn by the noise. Timmory snorted with glee. "Ah, the nosy rat appears! Couldn't help herself, I presume!"
Maris was seized by Long Tom, an abnormally tall pirate. He lifted her up and she thrashed about for a moment, trying to reach the ground. Giving up, she glared at Timmory who appeared to be the ring leader.
"What's this all about? I demand an answer!" she snarled. Timmory ignored her.
"Ye see, Jack, this is only one of the reasons we're getting' rid of ye." He walked towards Maris and reaching out, he tangled his fingers in her hair. Stepping closer, he ran the back of his other hand down her cheek. Fear flickered in her eyes. "No matter how feminine she is," his voice came softly and full of lust. "She is still the reason our captain died!" He ripped his hand from her hair and backhanded her. Timmory turned to Jack, anger burning in his eyes. "The men have a few of there own complaints as well."
"Yeah!" hollered on of the pirates.
"Yeah," said Benjie quietly. "I'm goin' home, Jack. I've been out here too long. I'm goin' home to Keira, she's waited long enough."
"Keira? Who's Keira?" Jack asked. His head was not improving under these conditions.
"My girl. She promised she'd wait for me, and I'm goin' ter marry her! I'm tired of livin' under yer thumb, Jack Sparrow!"
"Yeah!" The other men shouted. "Ye've kept us down and brought us bad luck! We won't have any more of it!"
"No one wants ye here, Jack. So we're gonna dispose of ye!" Timmory laughed. "Is the plank ready, men? And the boat? And the pistols?"
"Aye!"
"Aye!"
"Aye!"
"Mister Smarty Hat Chrispy can go first then!"
Ivan strode over to the plank and shoved Chrispy out.
"Walk," he growled. Trembling, Chrispy looked back at Jack. Jack discreetly nodded his head and Chrispy moved forward, toward the end of the plank. With one more backward glance, he stepped over the edge.
"Ha! Hairy next! C'mon, men! Bring him forward!" Timmory grinned, enjoying his new-found position of leadership.
Hans moved Hairy over and pushed him out. Hairy strode straight off without even a moments hesitation.
"And now…" Timmory turned toward Jack, grinning maliciously. "Our fair maiden. Just throw her off."
Long Tom strode forward, Maris clasped in his arms. "Say good-bye." He hauled back and tossed her overboard. She shrieked and the pirates laughed.
"And now, gentlemen, it's ti-" He glanced around. "Hats!" Everyone reached up and took of their hats, placing them over their hearts. "Right. It's time to say farewell to our captain. Bring him."
Winger stepped forward and grasped his arm in a vise-like grip. "Roight this way, Capt'n Sparrow, roight this way." Shoving Jack out in front of him, he pushed him out onto the plank, to the edge. "This is yer stop. Best git off now." Winger gave him a mighty shove and Jack plummeted to the sea.
Surfacing, Jack pulled in a deep breath, and looked around. Hairy and Crispy were pulling Maris into a landing boat. Swimming that direction, Jack tried to ignore Timmory as he shouted something down to him.
"That little boat be yer island, Jack! But we decided to only give yeh two pistols! Maybe ye could shoot yer fellow men and get a little privacy with the wench!" He turned back to the ship laughing.
Grinding his teeth, Jack reached the boat, and with Hairy's help pulled himself in.
"What shall our next course of action be, Captain?" Chrispy asked, helping Maris with her not quite healed wound.
"Timmory's a fool. It's only a day to Tortuga and he left us the paddles. We should be there by morning if we take turns. I never planned on floating around and dying without a ship, so we're going to do something about it. You three get some sleep now and I'll take the first shift."
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Maris listened carefully, and hearing Jack's deep, steady breaths, and Hairy and Chrispy's quiet rhythmic ones, she sat up, careful to not disturb the sleeping men. Jack didn't look surprised.
"Jack… What happened back there?" Maris whispered. Jack motioned her closer, so she carefully moved to sit facing him on the bench in front of him.
"Mutiny. I guess the crew wasn't getting used to you. And they were upset about me." He his voice rose and fell as he moved forward and pulled back, keeping the boat moving smoothly.
"Why would they be upset about you? It seemed to me that everyone got on really well with you."
"Maybe as a fellow crew member, but not as captain. Ye forget I'm only eighteen, Maris. They could handle an eighteen year old at their level, but raise him up to be their leader… No one wants some one that could be their son telling him what to do. Chrispy there is the only one who comes close to me and he's twenty-two. I can understand their reaction. I'm glad it wasn't more violent." His brow shone with sweat, but his strokes never faltered, even with the conversation.
"How can you say that? They took your ship! One you had every right to! You didn't do anything to deserve this! You didn't do anything wrong!" She thumped her fist down on the bench next to her. Hairy snorted and rolled over.
"That's where you're wrong," Jack said a little quieter. "In their eyes I did do something wrong. I brought ye to the ship. I cursed them with bad luck, brought a horrible storm down on them, followed by an attack by the Royal Navy, in which they lost their captain." He paused for a moment. "I can understand their decision."
"Jack…"
"But I don't agree with it. Women are not bad luck! They're people, with thoughts and feelings and likes and dislikes, just like everyone else! They deserve respect. I'll never again command a crew so bent on superstition."
Maris sat there, shocked to silence. "Where did you get such views?" she asked after finding her voice.
"My mother. She raised me by herself after my father ran off and I've never seen anyone with such strength. After getting herself a respectable job, she got us a place to live and kept food on the table."
"That's amazing. I wish my mother was a bit more like that."
"Yes, well, life has moved on and here we are. Better get some sleep, Maris."
"Alright, Jack. Don't row yourself to death. Wake one of them when you tire." She motioned to Hairy and Chrispy. "And make sure I'm awake before we reach Tortuga." Jack nodded and she lay down as best she could.
Jack rowed for an hour more, pouring all his anger and frustration, confusion and understanding into the oars. When he finally ran out of energy, he nudged Hairy awake and traded places. He lay watching Maris breathe and thinking of what needed to be done in Tortuga. He soon found his thoughts more on Maris than Tortuga and the future, so he closed his eyes and concentrated on he rhythm of Hairy's strokes. He was soon lulled to sleep.
~~~
Jack leaned over and poked Maris on the leg. "Wake up, sleepy head. Wake up!" He poked her again and she began to move.
"We there already?" she mumbled, trying to turn over.
"Almost. Ye did say ye wanted to be awake when we arrived."
"Well, I'm awake. Now leave me alone. I didn't sleep very well. Your boat isn't very comfortable." She started to stretch.
"Yes, well, that's not important. When we're in Tortuga, we'll get us a ship and ye won't have to sleep in the bottom of a boat." Jack grinned at her.
"A ship!? How in the Caribbean Sea do you intend to buy a ship!? We've nothing to use!" Maris sat straight up, wide awake.
"Maris, relax. We're pirates."
She stared at him, open mouthed.
"And there she is! The saving grace of Tortuga!" Hairy pointed. Maris turned to look. There it was, indeed.
Reaching the dock, Chrispy jumped off to secure the boat. Maris, Jack, and Hairy followed. The four headed for the nearest pub, Jack assuring Maris that he could get all the money they need. Maris looked doubtful.
"Watch and learn." Jack glanced around the pub, looking for the drunkest fellow he could find. Strolling over, he collapsed into an empty seat. The man looked up groggily.
"Wha'dya want?"
"Ye look at bit down, mate. Have I got the thing to pick ye up! I have this spare ship, see? It's a bit more'n I can handle; I'm not all that good at sailing. But ye look like ye could handle it! I'll even cut ye a deal. It's rather large… and fully loaded… So let's say two thirds of the current goin' price for a ship. Do we have an accord?"
The man blinked up at him from near the table. "How loaded?"
"Everything that's on it now goes with it."
"What's yer name?"
"I, sir, am Noh Biddy."
"At only two thirds?"
"Indeed!"
"We have an accord." The man reached for his money and handed Jack the proper amount. "Thanks. I feel better already…" And with that the man passed out and slid to the floor.
Jack strolled back to his friends. "See. Nuthin' to it."
Hairy grinned. "How many other drunk bugger's are gonna buy our boat?"
"Five at least. Then we'll have to try a new tack."
"We could divide our group and each take up a small project to increase our funds." Chrispy piped up. "Later this evening we could rendezvous at one of the inns to combine our earnings and find out how much our efforts have raised."
"Sounds good. I'll take up the boat sales, Hairy can look for fights, Chrispy can look for loose change, and Maris can…" his voice dwindled as he thought. His expression brightened. "Maris can go with Hairy."
"What? I get to help look for fights? What good is that going to do?"
"The fights Hairy's going to look for are ones where people bet on the fighters. Some one has to be there to bet on him so when he wins, we can get the money. Or," Jack said, his grin getting wider. "He can bet on you, and collect the money you win! Alright! Let's go!" He and Chrispy set off immediately. Maris stood there, staring at Hairy.
"He's not serious, is he?"
"I think so. We'd better get goin'"
~~~
Six hours later, Maris and Hairy stumbled in the door to the room Jack had acquired.
"A little late, are we?" he inquired.
"Yeah, those last three fights weren't really necessary, were they, Hairy?" Maris dug her elbow into his ribs.
"Ah, no, they weren't… But we sure got a load off them! Word was getting around so people wanted to challenge her, Jack! It was great!"
Maris walked over to one of the beds and flopped down. "Yeah, great. Do we have enough yet?"
"Chrispy's counting."
"Unh."
Five minutes later, Chrispy still hadn't said anything and Jack was getting restless. "Well, Chrispy? Do we have enough for the ship I found?"
"You found a ship!?" Hairy and Maris burst out.
"Yeah, an old guy's getting' out of sailing and goin' into the pub business. His ship's up and she's a real beauty." Jack got a wistful look on his face.
"Jack," Chrispy said suddenly. "I have completed my calculations and if I have not overlooked anything or made a mistake, I do believe there is enough here for the ship, a crew, and spare canvas."
"What?" Jack turned to Hairy and Maris. "Just how much did you two make out there?"
"Enough, apparently." Maris smirked.
"Well," Jack smiled. "Gentlemen, my lady, I believe I have some business to attend to in the morning. Now, we sleep."
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A/N: Here it is! Enjoy! I'm going to bed now.