The sun rose higher and higher in the sky and Annamaria's bandanna was soaked in sweat. She was down to just wearing a cloth wrapped around her chest and thin pants. She nibbled an apple and hoped she would reach Isla Vache soon.
"Am I there yet," Annamaria asked herself. "Am I there yet, am I there yet?"
She squinted to look at the horizon. She strained to see if Isla Vache was straight ahead. After five minutes her eyes grew tired and her vision blurred. She ate more of her apple. Overhead, the sun was soon masked by clouds.
Jack carefully studied Elizabeth's face. Her usually pristine visage was smeared with runny makeup due to crying jags. It seemed innocent. But now her mouth was hanging open. "What?" she said. "Mother. . . isn't dead?"
"Told ya!" Mick cheered.
Governor Swann looked at the collection of pirates, realizing their presence for the first time. "Elizabeth, why are these people in your bedroom?"
Elizabeth was too overwhelmed to answer. Jack stroked her hair and said, "Relax, Lizzie."
"My mother isn't dead," she murmured. Then she snapped her head to face her father. "You lied to me for nineteen years!" she yelled.
The governor was perspiring. All seven heads were turned towards him, glaring. "Elizabeth, sweetie, hear me out."
"Why did she leave?" Elizabeth said, seething. She grabbed Jack's hand and squeezed. "Liz- yer- hurtin'- me," Jack grunted.
"She left because of a man named Antonio Rafael!" Weatherby said. "He charmed her away with false promises and his good looks! She was only nineteen, darling."
"I know. . ." Elizabeth said. "But why did you let her go?"
"Because I had my heir, albeit a girl. I was well over forty and she was still so young- I didn't want to see her unhappy."
"We have to find her!" Marcella declared.
But Layla was thinking. Peut-etre Annamaria already is. . ."
They all looked at Layla, and the pieces fell into place.
Hurrying downstairs, the buccaneers and the Swanns ran outside, straining to see the ocean.
"We should go after her!" Will cried.
Jack hushed him. "She's probably there by now. What's the point? She'll collect Lizzie's mum an' come back again. We'll marry an' live happily ever after."
Elizabeth smiled at him. So optimistic. "Well, it'll be at least another week until we do so, though. It'll take three days to get back, right?"
"Somethin' like 'at," said Mick. He stroked his grizzled beard whilst wrapping his free arm around Layla. "Well, chums, me an' the missus would like to carry on to an inn fer the rest of the days 'til Jacky's wedding to 'is woman."
"Carry on, then," Jack said. Elizabeth recommended a good place to stay and the remaining group watched them saunter off.
"Now, Captains Sparrow and Castilla-" Governor Swann said, but Marcella interrupted him. "Call me Marcie," she said, smiling.
"Well, Captain Sparrow and Marcie, where shall we adjourn to?"
"I need a pint," Jack said, itching his arm.
"Maybe we have some wine in the cellar," Swann said awkwardly, and turned, going back into the house.
"Let's go," Elizabeth hissed, grabbing Will's and Jack's hands and heading in the direction of Fort Charles.