Legend of the Dragon's Claw
By Amos Whirly
Chapter Eight: A New Friend
The Black Pearl lurched and groaned as it swayed back and forth in the tide against the dock. Numerous broken boards and planks hung from its damaged hull, and its ripped black sails flapped in the breeze.
Jack stood on top of a ledge on the side of the deck, gazing out over the small town on the island.
"Where are we?" Will asked, coming up beside him.
"Little place called El Corazon," Jack answered grimly. "Shame, really."
"Why?"
"Some rather disturbing characters around this place, mate."
"Jack," Anamaria started, coming up behind Will, "we'll need supplies before we head out again."
"Aye," Jack did not look back at her. "Mr. Turner and I shall go ashore. Have the men pound the nails back in."
"Aye," Anamaria turned and quickly began barking orders at the men.
"C'mon, Will," Jack jumped down and headed for the dock.
* * *
The people of El Corazon watched them suspiciously as Jack and Will made their way through the center of the township.
"People are staring, Jack," Will mumbled to his friend.
"Get used to it, mate," Jack rubbed the hilt of his sword absently.
"How exactly are we going to get supplies, Jack?" Will rolled his eyes as they approached a store. "We don't really have any money, and as long as I'm here, you're not stealing anything."
"No worries, mate," Jack thumped him on the shoulder.
They stepped into the store and halted just inside the door. Immediately, all activity in the place stopped, and everyone within stared at them. Quickly, most of the people inside hurried out, except for the proprietor who remained behind the counter, gawking.
"J—J—Jack Sparrow," he stammered, black eyes suddenly brightening.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack leaned on the counter with a malicious sparkle in his eyes. "Remember, Freddie boy?"
"Of c—c—course, Captain," the man bowed his balding head. "What—What can I get for you?"
"I've come to call on that favor you owe me," Jack smirked, tugging on his mustache.
"R—Right, right," Freddie started bustling around behind the counter.
Jack looked over his shoulder and smirked at Will.
"Old Freddie here owes me a favor of utmost quantity, right, Freddie?"
"Of c—c—course, Captain Jack," the man spoke from the back room.
Freddie hurried out of the back with a crate and set it on the counter.
"C—C—Captain Jack p—p—pulled me out of the sea," Freddie nodded with a grin. "He s—s—saved my life."
Freddie plopped a large burlap bag of apples on the counter.
"In exchange, Freddie offered to stock us up the next time we needed it," Jack gestured. "And right now, we desperately need it."
"I d—d—didn't expect to s—s—see you in C—C—Corazon for another year or so, C—Captain."
"Mitigating circumstances, my boy. Mitigating circumstances."
Freddie set another crate on the counter and shoved a sack into Will's arms.
"Th—Th—There's a treat for the r—r—rest of the crew," Freddie grinned. "Salted pork. Fresh barrel. And a couple of gallons of grog."
"Gibbs'll be appreciative," Jack smiled again and lifted one of the crates.
"G—Glad you came by, C—C—Captain," Freddie said. "Come again."
"Oh, but next time, the tab won't be on you, mate," Jack laughed. "You know I don't work like that."
"W—W—Well," Freddie flushed, "d—d—depending on how s—s—soon you come b—back, you never know."
"Thanks, mate," Jack winked. "Grab a crate, Will."
Will threw the sack into the other crate and lifted it. He and Jack headed for the door.
Jack, however, suddenly stopped and turned back.
"Freddie?"
"Y—Yes, Captain?"
"There been any other boats dock in the last hour or so? Black boat?"
Freddie concentrated for a moment.
"Aye, I think s—so," he nodded. "B—B—Black boat put to p—port four hours ago. L—L—Left only an hour h—hence. Strange folk."
"Did you see which way they went?" Will asked anxiously.
"N—No," Freddie looked down.
Jack nodded.
"No worries, Fred. Thanks for the goods."
Jack and Will walked quietly back to the Pearl.
"So they were here," Will whispered dejectedly. "But no one saw where they went."
"Seems that way."
"So how are we going to find them?"
Will followed Jack as they turned down an alleyway. Suddenly, Jack came to a halt.
In front of them stood five tall, angry looking men, all carrying swords and wearing dangerous smiles on their faces.
Jack and Will looked behind themselves to see five more men of the same type.
"Surrounded," Will whispered, setting down his crate.
"Aye," Jack mumbled. "Outnumbered, too. Looks like five to one, aye? Not bad odds, I'd say."
"Not good either, Jack," Will murmured.
Jack set down his crate, pulled out his sword, and smirked at the men around them.
"We really haven't got time to play, gents," Jack bowed like a courtier.
The men began to close in on them.
Will snatched the sword out of his belt.
And the men attacked.
Jack landed a punch square in one of the men's jaws, and the man crumpled to the ground. But another man lunged crazily and tackled Jack. Both of them went sprawling on the dirty alley floor.
Will tripped one and kicked another one in the hindquarters.
He shouted as two of the men snatched up the crates and started running.
"Get the supplies!" Jack bellowed from beneath his attacker.
Will ran after the two men, leaving Jack to deal with the other five men.
Jack squirmed out from under the one man and slashed at him. The man cried out and fell down, but another jumped out of the shadows, driving Jack bodily into a brick wall. Jack jabbed backward with his elbow and caught the man in the ribs. The man grunted in pain and doubled over, giving Jack the chance to whirl around and ram the heel of his hand into the man's nose.
He was just about to gloat when another man grabbed his waist and threw him to the ground. He struggled to his feet, but the man latched onto his right arm and yanked. Jack could not stop a cry of pain as he felt his stitches ripping apart again. He sliced the man's chest open with his sword and kicked him away.
He felt the last two running at him before he saw them. He ducked just in time, slashed both their knees with his sword, and the two men fell to the ground, moaning and walking in pain.
Jack stood and grimaced, feeling the blood pour down his back and soak into his shirt.
With a grunt, he shoved the pain away to be dealt with later and dashed off down the alley to find Will.
Will ran until he felt his lungs would burst. He could still see the men running in front of him. He skidded to a halt as they stopped and dropped their crates.
Will saw the reason why. The alley had suddenly ended.
Will clutched his sword and glared at them.
The two men charged with bloodcurdling shrieks. Will ducked under their first swings, but missed the next two, cutting his left arm and right hip. He drove his elbow into one of them, knocking him over, but the other landed a punch squarely on his jaw, sending him sprawling to the dirt. He looked up as the two men approached him.
His sword had fallen out of reach.
The two men halted above him, smirking down at him with evil in their eyes.
Suddenly, their faces went blank and they fell backward, collapsing in the dust.
Will laid still for a moment, trying to figure out what had happened. Slowly, he got to his feet, but he stopped before he stood straight.
Standing before him was a man.
At least, he thought it was a man. From the figure's height, it could have easily been a woman.
Deliberately, the small figure turned to him. He had angled black eyes and thick black hair that tumbled around his shoulders. He bowed slightly.
"Did you save me?" Will whispered.
"Yes," the man answered.
"Why?"
"Were you not in danger?"
"Well, yes, I was, but why did you save me? Do I know you?"
"Familiarity is not required to save a life."
"I suppose so."
"Will!" Jack shouted as he dashed into the light. "Whoa."
The small man turned to Jack and bowed. The man's head did not reach either of their shoulders.
"Jack, you're bleeding again," Will pointed out with the tone of an exasperated parent.
"Who's this bugger?" Jack nodded at the man.
"Forgive me for my rudeness," the man bowed again. "I am Zao."
"Zao?" Jack curled his lip. "What kind of a name is that, mate?"
"Zao Yue."
"Say again?"
"Zao Yue."
"I'm still not understanding him," Jack sheathed his sword.
"My first name is Yue," the man huffed. "My last name is Zao."
"Then, why did you say 'Zao Yue'?" Jack asked sarcastically. "You got them turned around."
"In my country, it is proper to say the last name first," Yue scowled.
"What is your country?" Will asked.
"China," Yue bowed again.
"China?" Will and Jack yelped together.
"How'd that happen?" Will was aghast. "China's a long way off."
"How did you get here?" Jack demanded.
"I was the only survivor of a ship wreck off the coast of this island," Yue explained.
"Yes, but how did you get here?" Jack repeated.
"It is a long story," Yue sighed. "But I shall tell it to you on our way."
"On our way?" Jack interrupted, stepping up to the little man.
"Yes," Yue smiled. "Since I have saved your lives, you owe me
a debt. In payment, I ask that you
grant me safe passage from this island."
"Now, wait a minute," Jack held up
his hands. "You saved Will's life. Not
mine."
Yue moved with the speed of lightning, grabbing the dagger hidden under his shirt and hurling it through the air!
Jack did not even have time to move.
The dagger screeched over his shoulder.
And buried in the heart of the attacker who had been sneaking up behind him.
"Now, I have saved your life," Yue walked over and yanked the dagger from the man's chest.
He wiped the blood of the blade with his shirt and returned it to its hidden sheath.
"Shall we go?" Yue turned and started for the main street.
Jack glanced at Will and scowled darkly.
"I knew he was there."