Author's Note - You probably guessed it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As though it had been choreographed, the Not-Exactly-a-Pub was simultaneously emptied and refilled. The merriment-making patrons stopped mid-laugh and mid-groan and disappeared. They were immediately replaced by clowns - grinning, iridescent-costume-wearing, pancake makeup made up clowns with brilliantly colored shocks of hair and dazzlingly white pointed teeth. They produced pistols, and the pistols were trained on our heroes' table.
Man, I freakin' HATE clowns.
In one smooth motion, Dana Flint was out of her seat with both pistols drawn. They were both immediately aimed levelly: one between Captain Melanie Cash's eyes, and one between Jack's. To their credit, neither flinched, although Jack had been in the middle of taking a drink so he probably shouldn't get so much credit. Dana spoke softly in the room's new silence.
"I'm going to ask you not to be brash," she said. "Especially you, Jack. It wouldn't do to damage the cargo that I've been working so hard to ensure arrived here." Her gaze rested on him briefly. He was regarding her with bloodshot eyes that didn't appear to be altogether focused. She turned to address Melanie, who was grinding her teeth and glaring. Ooo, if looks could kill!
Dana offered her a small smile. "I honestly didn't think that we'd have to travel across the entire Carnival before you let your guard down. I've been waiting for hours." She gestured around the room with the gun that had been pointed at Jack. The pistol before Melanie never moved. "You see, almost everyone here works for me. And my job is to make sure that I make my deliveries on time. Right now, we're a little late because I didn't expect the good Captain Cash to be so vigilant, but that's okay." She winked. "You were good. Didn't trust me for a moment."
Will was incredulous. "WHAT?"
Dana spoke without looking at him. "I'm sorry, Will. I really am. But your father isn't alive."
"How do you know that?!"
"Well, firstly, your father wasn't sent simply into the water for years while he was cursed," she said patiently. "The movie script purposely added in the words 'crushing black depths'. That means squished - curse or not." Will was trembling with rage.
"And secondly," she continued, smiling widely now. "Secondly, I'm the one who wrote your letter. I'm the one who sealed it with wax with the insignia of this island. Don't tell me you didn't notice how the letter arrived when I did. Even I thought that was a stupid plan. But what works, works. All the better to get you here."
Will's face was dark, and Melanie could not guess what it was that kept him in his seat instead of leaping across the table at this woman. "But we were friends, Dana."
Dana Flint's strong demeanor flickered for a second, then she regained her composure. "I regret if this changes that. But this is what I do."
"What do you want with me? Why did you bring me here?"
"Oh you shouldn't be concerned about that, Will. It's Jack Sparrow that I'm being paid to deliver, not you. You were just the bait, and dear Captain Cash here was just a little tug on the line. You're both free to go home anytime or to stay and enjoy the hospitality of our little island. But if you'll excuse me - " she motioned a pair of the scary clowns over. Each took a hold of one of Jack's arms and hauled him to his feet. Led by Dana, they started to lead him out the door.
Unable to contain herself, Melanie exploded with anger. "He saved your life!" she cried.
Dana paused in the doorway. She did not turn. "Don't think that I don't remember that," she said. She sounded pained. "But my job is my job, and I deliver what I'm paid to deliver." And with that, Dana Flint and the captive Jack Sparrow were gone into the deep of the Carnival night, leaving the unbelieving Will and Melanie behind.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As though it had been choreographed, the Not-Exactly-a-Pub was simultaneously emptied and refilled. The merriment-making patrons stopped mid-laugh and mid-groan and disappeared. They were immediately replaced by clowns - grinning, iridescent-costume-wearing, pancake makeup made up clowns with brilliantly colored shocks of hair and dazzlingly white pointed teeth. They produced pistols, and the pistols were trained on our heroes' table.
Man, I freakin' HATE clowns.
In one smooth motion, Dana Flint was out of her seat with both pistols drawn. They were both immediately aimed levelly: one between Captain Melanie Cash's eyes, and one between Jack's. To their credit, neither flinched, although Jack had been in the middle of taking a drink so he probably shouldn't get so much credit. Dana spoke softly in the room's new silence.
"I'm going to ask you not to be brash," she said. "Especially you, Jack. It wouldn't do to damage the cargo that I've been working so hard to ensure arrived here." Her gaze rested on him briefly. He was regarding her with bloodshot eyes that didn't appear to be altogether focused. She turned to address Melanie, who was grinding her teeth and glaring. Ooo, if looks could kill!
Dana offered her a small smile. "I honestly didn't think that we'd have to travel across the entire Carnival before you let your guard down. I've been waiting for hours." She gestured around the room with the gun that had been pointed at Jack. The pistol before Melanie never moved. "You see, almost everyone here works for me. And my job is to make sure that I make my deliveries on time. Right now, we're a little late because I didn't expect the good Captain Cash to be so vigilant, but that's okay." She winked. "You were good. Didn't trust me for a moment."
Will was incredulous. "WHAT?"
Dana spoke without looking at him. "I'm sorry, Will. I really am. But your father isn't alive."
"How do you know that?!"
"Well, firstly, your father wasn't sent simply into the water for years while he was cursed," she said patiently. "The movie script purposely added in the words 'crushing black depths'. That means squished - curse or not." Will was trembling with rage.
"And secondly," she continued, smiling widely now. "Secondly, I'm the one who wrote your letter. I'm the one who sealed it with wax with the insignia of this island. Don't tell me you didn't notice how the letter arrived when I did. Even I thought that was a stupid plan. But what works, works. All the better to get you here."
Will's face was dark, and Melanie could not guess what it was that kept him in his seat instead of leaping across the table at this woman. "But we were friends, Dana."
Dana Flint's strong demeanor flickered for a second, then she regained her composure. "I regret if this changes that. But this is what I do."
"What do you want with me? Why did you bring me here?"
"Oh you shouldn't be concerned about that, Will. It's Jack Sparrow that I'm being paid to deliver, not you. You were just the bait, and dear Captain Cash here was just a little tug on the line. You're both free to go home anytime or to stay and enjoy the hospitality of our little island. But if you'll excuse me - " she motioned a pair of the scary clowns over. Each took a hold of one of Jack's arms and hauled him to his feet. Led by Dana, they started to lead him out the door.
Unable to contain herself, Melanie exploded with anger. "He saved your life!" she cried.
Dana paused in the doorway. She did not turn. "Don't think that I don't remember that," she said. She sounded pained. "But my job is my job, and I deliver what I'm paid to deliver." And with that, Dana Flint and the captive Jack Sparrow were gone into the deep of the Carnival night, leaving the unbelieving Will and Melanie behind.