Chapter 3 The continuing voyage
[Crappy title, but level with me]
"Do you know where the Sea Devil's anchorage is?" Jack asked Evelyn.
"I know the place in which the ritual has to be performed, so I assume that the answer to your question is yes."
"And I suppose that we're heading for Tortuga to find a crew."
"Partially right. We are going to Tortuga to rid the ship of her cargo and to pick up a man we need in order to make this suicide mission work."
"So, you admit that this is a bad idea?"
"Throwing yourself off a high cliff with razor sharp rocks below is a bad idea, this is a terrible idea, but it must work."
He leaned against the railing and crossed his arms over his chest. "You are aware of the trap you are heading into?"
She smiled. "She is looking for the remaining two pieces and I am looking for the seven others. Our paths are bound to cross sooner or later. If I go after her I am the one that has the upper hand. I am the one with the plan."
"What about the fact that you said yourself that she predicted this?"
Her face turned to stone for a bit. Then she smiled again. "Lucky for me she does not have her father's brains."
"Who is this man you are picking up in Tortuga?"
"Pedro Velasquez. I am afraid that you will have to seek him out for me, as I am going to be otherwise preoccupied and we are really pressed for time."
"You are indeed a strange woman, miss Wolff."
"Evelyn, captain Sparrow."
"I'll call you Evelyn if you call me Jack"
"Jack" she repeated.
***
The sun was well on its way down when Jack went to find this Pedro Velasquez. He didn't quite like the situation he was in, a situation he couldn't control at all.
Evelyn Wolff was indeed a strange woman, a woman he wasn't sure if he dared trust. He had no idea what drove her and that made him a bit uneasy and he did not believe that revenge was what drove her as she had said.
Well was she a cold woman, but not that cold.
He liked her and that was probably the biggest problem he had. It would be easier for her to double-cross him without him knowing about it before it was too late.
When he reached Velasquez's lodgings he knocked on the door. At first there was no reply, but after a while he could hear frantic Spanish mumbling on the other side of the door. Dear Heavens, what kind of ludicrous venture was he about to embark on?
The door opened and a relatively young man appeared in the doorway. "What can I do for you, senor?" said the man.
"Captain Wolff sent me" said Jack.
"Ah, yes." He peered up at the darkening sky. "She won't be out tonight." He returned his attention to Jack. "You senor is Jack Sparrow. Captain Fraser talked a lot about you."
"You served him as well, then?"
"No, senor, but the senorita speaks of you both all the time. At least she did before the accident." A smile played on his lips. "Now she only want closure. So, shall we go then?" He turned around and slammed the door almost literally in Jack's face.
"This is going to be real interesting" muttered Jack with a sigh.
Five minutes later the man emerged with a rather large chest. "Necessary tools" he explained to Jack. "Help."
Jack grabbed the other handle and helped the man down to the Bonaventure.
When they got back aboard they discovered that Evelyn had not returned yet and that worried Jack a bit because he had no idea where he had her, what she was all about.
"Captain Wolff will not be returning this night, senor" said Pedro as if he had read Jack's mind. "She'll be gathering a crew to take on the Sea Devil."
"But she said-"
"What the senorita says is not important, what she does and what she feels is important. She feels strong hatred for Zora Barbossa."
"So, that is the woman's name?"
"Si, Evy told me. She does not want to admit it, but the two were once friends. She does not like to talk about it, painful subject."
"You know what, Pedro? I would much like to hear about this relationship these two girls had."
"Si, senor. Long time ago they met in Porto Pirato, both young and in need for a friend of the same gender. Evy were after all always aboard the Sea Devil and Zora's mother were a bit too protective. They shared most secrets and stories. Till the day captain Barbossa attacked the Sea Devil and slaughtered most of her crew. After that the relationship was rather tense and they drifted further and further apart. Something more awful has caused bad blood between them, but no one knows what. Not wise to ask the captain questions. She will only get hurt. Hurt enough." Pedro just walked away before Jack got a chance to open his mouth.
***
The first rays of sun reached Jack's face and he jumped up. He had fallen asleep on deck, a terrible mistake judging by the aggressive headache he had. He got to his feet and then a strange feeling made him spin around.
"Had a nice sleep, Jack?"
Evelyn looked more tired than ever with dark circles under her eyes. The way she looked now it was a wonder that she was even alive because she looked like a skeleton with skin.
"Pedro told me that he told you about my relationship with Zora. Now you know perhaps you understand why I am helping you. But know this; I am planning on killing her. You are my way to her."
"I feel so used" he said in a mock hurt tone. "You still haven't told what she has done to you, only what her accomplice has done."
"She has betrayed me in an unforgivable way and for that she will have to pay." She took a few steps towards him. "You have a chance to get off here, but I can not swear that I will be able to return your ship or to save your crew if they are still alive. You will still receive your part of the treasure."
"Someone will have to stay and make sure that you stay alive. If this Zora is half as bad as her father you will be needing all the help you can get. But you will need a crew."
She smiled at him. "You feel that you will need to protect me? I feel honoured, not to say flattered, but unless you don't want to help..."
"You look like one good curse can kill you."
"You have no idea how right you are. As for the crew, they are below deck enjoying breakfast, I suggest you do the same."
"What about you?"
"Go ahead, I will join you shortly."
***
But she never did. Hours went and no sign of her, but the ship was apparently in motion. The crew she had gathered were all from pirates to former soldiers. Even a sixteen year old boy.
Finally he gave up and headed back on deck. There voices made him stop dead in his tracks and hide under the stairs to the upper deck to listen in on the conversation Evelyn were having with her first mate.
"Turn back while you can."
"Sorry, Charlie, I am too deep now. I can not go back. Besides, go back to what?"
"People don't know. They think that you are a real lady. You are the child of a lord."
"Supposedly" said Evelyn calmly.
"The point is that you can have any man you want. Why are you doing this?"
"Of the same reason. I can not have the man I want because the man I want is dead."
"Pirate."
"Nonetheless I loved him" she snapped.
"Your father would have turned in his grave by those words, lass. He would be damned if he saw you with a scallywag like that."
"You are missing the whole point, Charlie. The point is not that I supposedly can have any man I want. A lady has no real freedom to chose suitors, she is bound by etiquette. I don't want that life, I want the freedom to go where I want, do what I want and be with who I want. Besides, no man would ever want me if they knew the truth. I am only being realistic."
"You should not mourn the death of Pat any more, it is not healthy to mourn for so many years. You should find another man, a woman in her best age like you should be at home, being pampered by her husband."
"Right."
"And why have you brought that Jack Sparrow aboard? Your father would have had a fit if he knew that you left Port Royal and sailed all the way to Tortuga alone with that man."
She laughed and her soft laughter made Jack smile. It was so childish and innocent.
"I do not fear Jack Sparrow. I know that he has a terrible reputation, but I am sure, I know that he is not that bad. My father would never have spoken well of him if he was a bad man. Barbossa was a bad man."
"You weren't alone on a ship with Barbossa."
"Jack would never touch me without my consent. Rape has never been one of his charges."
"You know this because...?"
"His criminal charges are stored away in the archives back in Port Royal. Let's say that they were not hard to access. Look, I need him to help me get Barbossa out of the way. He needs help to get the Black Pearl back."
"I assume that you offered him a piece of the treasure as well?"
"That was my father's wish. I know that you don't believe the treasure to be real, but the medallion is proof that it does. The treasure is buried not far from the place where Zora needs to perform the ritual to get her father back."
"So, she is going to do it then?"
"All things point in that direction. I will be glad when all this is over."
"When you are dead, you mean?"
Jack frowned. This was a twist he hadn't quite expected and there was also a long pause before Evelyn spoke.
"I am hungry, I am tired, I can't take any more."
"That is the real reason why you have brought that pirate aboard, isn't it? You expect him to finish the dirty work for you."
"Not at all, after all I have nothing to loose. I can not die, a part of this terrible curse. All I want is some rest, all I want is a descent meal, but as long as this curse is hanging over me I will receive neither."
"I am not sure if I believe it although I have seen it with my own eyes. Are you sure that this is what you really want?"
"The damage is already done, I can never return to normal. Although the medallion is a key to lift the curse I am too tired to go on. If I hadn't been cursed I would have already been dead."
"Does Zora know?"
"She knows of the curse, but she does not know to what extent it goes. Perhaps now you know that I can not have a normal life. Now I just want to make things right before I die."
Suddenly there was a loud bang and Evelyn made to leave the helm, but suddenly Jack appeared from the lower deck.
"I'll handle it."
"You think he heard anything?" asked Charlie.
"He heard everything, but he will pretend not to have. There is still some gentleman left in him."
***
Jack hurried below deck and found Pedro buried in a heap of broken glass and wood. "What is going on here?"
"It is that blasted ghost. He only obeys Evy, he does. I were down here, doing my experiments when he attacked me!"
I'm in a bloody mental asylum thought Jack as he helped Pedro to his feet. One had a death wish and a curse hanging over her, another one was a superstitious madman and the rest of the crew in general were even below his standards. This was indeed a suicide mission.
[Crappy title, but level with me]
"Do you know where the Sea Devil's anchorage is?" Jack asked Evelyn.
"I know the place in which the ritual has to be performed, so I assume that the answer to your question is yes."
"And I suppose that we're heading for Tortuga to find a crew."
"Partially right. We are going to Tortuga to rid the ship of her cargo and to pick up a man we need in order to make this suicide mission work."
"So, you admit that this is a bad idea?"
"Throwing yourself off a high cliff with razor sharp rocks below is a bad idea, this is a terrible idea, but it must work."
He leaned against the railing and crossed his arms over his chest. "You are aware of the trap you are heading into?"
She smiled. "She is looking for the remaining two pieces and I am looking for the seven others. Our paths are bound to cross sooner or later. If I go after her I am the one that has the upper hand. I am the one with the plan."
"What about the fact that you said yourself that she predicted this?"
Her face turned to stone for a bit. Then she smiled again. "Lucky for me she does not have her father's brains."
"Who is this man you are picking up in Tortuga?"
"Pedro Velasquez. I am afraid that you will have to seek him out for me, as I am going to be otherwise preoccupied and we are really pressed for time."
"You are indeed a strange woman, miss Wolff."
"Evelyn, captain Sparrow."
"I'll call you Evelyn if you call me Jack"
"Jack" she repeated.
***
The sun was well on its way down when Jack went to find this Pedro Velasquez. He didn't quite like the situation he was in, a situation he couldn't control at all.
Evelyn Wolff was indeed a strange woman, a woman he wasn't sure if he dared trust. He had no idea what drove her and that made him a bit uneasy and he did not believe that revenge was what drove her as she had said.
Well was she a cold woman, but not that cold.
He liked her and that was probably the biggest problem he had. It would be easier for her to double-cross him without him knowing about it before it was too late.
When he reached Velasquez's lodgings he knocked on the door. At first there was no reply, but after a while he could hear frantic Spanish mumbling on the other side of the door. Dear Heavens, what kind of ludicrous venture was he about to embark on?
The door opened and a relatively young man appeared in the doorway. "What can I do for you, senor?" said the man.
"Captain Wolff sent me" said Jack.
"Ah, yes." He peered up at the darkening sky. "She won't be out tonight." He returned his attention to Jack. "You senor is Jack Sparrow. Captain Fraser talked a lot about you."
"You served him as well, then?"
"No, senor, but the senorita speaks of you both all the time. At least she did before the accident." A smile played on his lips. "Now she only want closure. So, shall we go then?" He turned around and slammed the door almost literally in Jack's face.
"This is going to be real interesting" muttered Jack with a sigh.
Five minutes later the man emerged with a rather large chest. "Necessary tools" he explained to Jack. "Help."
Jack grabbed the other handle and helped the man down to the Bonaventure.
When they got back aboard they discovered that Evelyn had not returned yet and that worried Jack a bit because he had no idea where he had her, what she was all about.
"Captain Wolff will not be returning this night, senor" said Pedro as if he had read Jack's mind. "She'll be gathering a crew to take on the Sea Devil."
"But she said-"
"What the senorita says is not important, what she does and what she feels is important. She feels strong hatred for Zora Barbossa."
"So, that is the woman's name?"
"Si, Evy told me. She does not want to admit it, but the two were once friends. She does not like to talk about it, painful subject."
"You know what, Pedro? I would much like to hear about this relationship these two girls had."
"Si, senor. Long time ago they met in Porto Pirato, both young and in need for a friend of the same gender. Evy were after all always aboard the Sea Devil and Zora's mother were a bit too protective. They shared most secrets and stories. Till the day captain Barbossa attacked the Sea Devil and slaughtered most of her crew. After that the relationship was rather tense and they drifted further and further apart. Something more awful has caused bad blood between them, but no one knows what. Not wise to ask the captain questions. She will only get hurt. Hurt enough." Pedro just walked away before Jack got a chance to open his mouth.
***
The first rays of sun reached Jack's face and he jumped up. He had fallen asleep on deck, a terrible mistake judging by the aggressive headache he had. He got to his feet and then a strange feeling made him spin around.
"Had a nice sleep, Jack?"
Evelyn looked more tired than ever with dark circles under her eyes. The way she looked now it was a wonder that she was even alive because she looked like a skeleton with skin.
"Pedro told me that he told you about my relationship with Zora. Now you know perhaps you understand why I am helping you. But know this; I am planning on killing her. You are my way to her."
"I feel so used" he said in a mock hurt tone. "You still haven't told what she has done to you, only what her accomplice has done."
"She has betrayed me in an unforgivable way and for that she will have to pay." She took a few steps towards him. "You have a chance to get off here, but I can not swear that I will be able to return your ship or to save your crew if they are still alive. You will still receive your part of the treasure."
"Someone will have to stay and make sure that you stay alive. If this Zora is half as bad as her father you will be needing all the help you can get. But you will need a crew."
She smiled at him. "You feel that you will need to protect me? I feel honoured, not to say flattered, but unless you don't want to help..."
"You look like one good curse can kill you."
"You have no idea how right you are. As for the crew, they are below deck enjoying breakfast, I suggest you do the same."
"What about you?"
"Go ahead, I will join you shortly."
***
But she never did. Hours went and no sign of her, but the ship was apparently in motion. The crew she had gathered were all from pirates to former soldiers. Even a sixteen year old boy.
Finally he gave up and headed back on deck. There voices made him stop dead in his tracks and hide under the stairs to the upper deck to listen in on the conversation Evelyn were having with her first mate.
"Turn back while you can."
"Sorry, Charlie, I am too deep now. I can not go back. Besides, go back to what?"
"People don't know. They think that you are a real lady. You are the child of a lord."
"Supposedly" said Evelyn calmly.
"The point is that you can have any man you want. Why are you doing this?"
"Of the same reason. I can not have the man I want because the man I want is dead."
"Pirate."
"Nonetheless I loved him" she snapped.
"Your father would have turned in his grave by those words, lass. He would be damned if he saw you with a scallywag like that."
"You are missing the whole point, Charlie. The point is not that I supposedly can have any man I want. A lady has no real freedom to chose suitors, she is bound by etiquette. I don't want that life, I want the freedom to go where I want, do what I want and be with who I want. Besides, no man would ever want me if they knew the truth. I am only being realistic."
"You should not mourn the death of Pat any more, it is not healthy to mourn for so many years. You should find another man, a woman in her best age like you should be at home, being pampered by her husband."
"Right."
"And why have you brought that Jack Sparrow aboard? Your father would have had a fit if he knew that you left Port Royal and sailed all the way to Tortuga alone with that man."
She laughed and her soft laughter made Jack smile. It was so childish and innocent.
"I do not fear Jack Sparrow. I know that he has a terrible reputation, but I am sure, I know that he is not that bad. My father would never have spoken well of him if he was a bad man. Barbossa was a bad man."
"You weren't alone on a ship with Barbossa."
"Jack would never touch me without my consent. Rape has never been one of his charges."
"You know this because...?"
"His criminal charges are stored away in the archives back in Port Royal. Let's say that they were not hard to access. Look, I need him to help me get Barbossa out of the way. He needs help to get the Black Pearl back."
"I assume that you offered him a piece of the treasure as well?"
"That was my father's wish. I know that you don't believe the treasure to be real, but the medallion is proof that it does. The treasure is buried not far from the place where Zora needs to perform the ritual to get her father back."
"So, she is going to do it then?"
"All things point in that direction. I will be glad when all this is over."
"When you are dead, you mean?"
Jack frowned. This was a twist he hadn't quite expected and there was also a long pause before Evelyn spoke.
"I am hungry, I am tired, I can't take any more."
"That is the real reason why you have brought that pirate aboard, isn't it? You expect him to finish the dirty work for you."
"Not at all, after all I have nothing to loose. I can not die, a part of this terrible curse. All I want is some rest, all I want is a descent meal, but as long as this curse is hanging over me I will receive neither."
"I am not sure if I believe it although I have seen it with my own eyes. Are you sure that this is what you really want?"
"The damage is already done, I can never return to normal. Although the medallion is a key to lift the curse I am too tired to go on. If I hadn't been cursed I would have already been dead."
"Does Zora know?"
"She knows of the curse, but she does not know to what extent it goes. Perhaps now you know that I can not have a normal life. Now I just want to make things right before I die."
Suddenly there was a loud bang and Evelyn made to leave the helm, but suddenly Jack appeared from the lower deck.
"I'll handle it."
"You think he heard anything?" asked Charlie.
"He heard everything, but he will pretend not to have. There is still some gentleman left in him."
***
Jack hurried below deck and found Pedro buried in a heap of broken glass and wood. "What is going on here?"
"It is that blasted ghost. He only obeys Evy, he does. I were down here, doing my experiments when he attacked me!"
I'm in a bloody mental asylum thought Jack as he helped Pedro to his feet. One had a death wish and a curse hanging over her, another one was a superstitious madman and the rest of the crew in general were even below his standards. This was indeed a suicide mission.