Jack spent the first part of the night in the dining room of the Tortuga Inn recalling the earlier events of the day to woman after woman all the while taking back drink after drink. Many women left after they learned he was all talk. Scant few remained and these only did because they were as drunk as he and had not the better sense to pursue a more profitable companion.
"And then they ask me to be the little snotrag's godfather!" He slurred as he sloshed his mug around, spilling its contents all over the table.
"And then what did you do, Jack?" a plump blonde, who had been sitting in his lap, asked.
"I said . . . what did I say? No bother, I hightailed it, savvy? And then I come here to you lovely girls to ease my troubles . . ." But his speech slowed and finally quieted as he looked towards the stage, enthralled by the reader and his lecture.
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Neither can we call this a begging of misery or a borrowing of misery, as though we are not miserable enough of ourselves but must fetch in more from the next house, in taking upon us the misery of our neighbors. Truly it were an excusable covetousness if we did; for affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured and ripened by it, and made fit for God by that affliction. If a man carry treasure in bullion, or in a wedge of gold, and have none coined into current moneys, his treasure will not defray him as he travels. Tribulation is treasure in the nature of it, but it is not current money in the use of it, except we get nearer and nearer our home, heaven, by it. Another man may be sick too, and sick to death, and this affliction may lie in his bowels as gold in a mine and be of no use to him; but this bell that tells me of his affliction digs out and applies that gold to me, if by this consideration of another's dangers I take mine own into contemplation and so secure myself by making my recourse to my God, who is our only security (1)."
Jack growled to himself and staggered towards the stage. Pulling out his sword, he held the blade at the young man's throat. "You speak among pirates and sea scoundrels, boy. We are living islands. But are you so bold as to say that, if I kill you, someone will care?"
"Y-yes." The young man stammered nervously.
Jack looked over his shoulder at the audience that were suddenly captivated by his performance. "Who in here would care?"
"Kill 'im," came a man's shout.
"Yeah, show the quad(2) what real tribulation is!" came another.
Jack looked back at the trembling performer. "I don't think I hear the bell tollin' for thee today, boy. But I suggest you get as far away from us sea dogs as possible, should you want to keep yer head." Jack sheathed his sword and stumbled off the stage. He sunk heavily into his chair and plopped his boots onto the table. Everyone was staring at him. "Wha . .? Er, carry on, by all means." He waved his hand in the air as if he were a stately gentleman commencing regal ceremonies.
"The bell tolls for us all eventually." A woman behind him said.
Jack's feet fell off the table as he turned around in surprise. "Where the bloody hell did you come from?"
"Barbados, but I don't think that's any concern of yours."
Jack turned to see a tall, dark complexioned tavern wench. "Quit yer jawin', I'm askin' ya how you got there so quickly when you weren' here beforehand. You just popped out o' nowhere!"
"Why, the front door, of course." She smiled and took a seat across from Jack. She eyed the blonde plump girl, sending her scurrying away. The candles in the chandelier over them flickered violently.
"What sort o' haint are you?" Jack asked cautiously.
"How about we get a room, and then I'll explain, savvy?" She said, intentionally imitating Jack to a t.
"Haint from the cathouse(3), I s'pose?" He laughed to himself and chugged the last of his drink. "I'm always out to enjoy the company of a bird as lovely as you." He offered her his arm and the two went upstairs.
A/N: (1) John Donne's (2) from Alternative English Dictionary (see previous chapter for web address) means "a very clumsy person" (3) Also from AED, means "whorehouse"