AN (3/26) - Well, I was halfway through writing what is now next chapter when I decided to explain this now, rather then later. So, hopefully this will not take too long, for I wish to spend most of tomorrow and tonight talking to my good friend Daisy, for she is abandoning me for several weeks.
AN (3/30) - Sorry that I took a little vacation from writing. Going a bit crazy, as it were. I am peachy, now, so on I write during English.
AN (3/31) - Well, you people are lucky. The computer is being mean and I am terrified about the auditions for play productions tomorrow, seeing, as I cannot decide on any monologues. While this is bad for me, it is good for you, seeing as I am working on this in an attempt to convince myself not to fret. Now, I shall shut my silly mouth and continue writing.
Chapter 17-Agents
"Jack!" A cry in the balmy night made Jack swivel abruptly around, his dark brown eyes wildly searching for the voice that had cried his name. Jack saw nothing, glancing between the darkened figures of fragrant bushes. It had been nearly three days since he had received that identifying mark. Jack was incredibly self-conscious of that cursed P, unconsciously covering it up whenever he chanced upon a soldier. He did this now, slightly wincing as he touched his sore skin. Jack supposed that he should get someone to look at the burn, for the skin around it was beginning to fester, turning an ugly shade of red and yellow.
A warm wind wafted through his hair, spreading sweet smells inside his nose. The warmth splashed on his face, almost like a large swell upon the ocean. Jack sighed, suddenly missing the Pearl with an intenseness only comparable to the anticipation of something long sought for and lost. He frowned as his dark brown eyes saw nothing. Perhaps the spirits he had just consumed had a stronger effect on him then he had thought. That, or he'd imagined hearing it. The voice had the same resonance and slightly musical quality that Kajal spoke with. Jack frowned and chuckled as he remembered how treacherous, yet enjoyable, that strumpet had been.
He shrugged off the odd feeling of being watched and pivoted around. He started swaggering again towards the new tavern he was staying in now. Jack had been thrown out earlier that morning and had been wandering from tavern to tavern in search of more rum.
Jack sighed and started whistling a nameless tune he vaguely remembered his mother humming to him as a child. He continued his unusual gait, pausing every ten minutes or so, trying to catch whatever was following him unaware.
He never did see anyone as he entered the quiet tavern, sneaking his way upstairs. He silently entered his simple room, lying down on the bed without bothering to undress. His head was spinning and his mind was reeling from the alcohol. His eyes slowly cemented themselves shut and he entered a dream, a slight grin on his face.
Jack abruptly sat up on his simple bed, his eyes quickly flying open. He looked wildly around, muttering something about red hair and crooked teeth. When his mind had finally awoken, he found himself staring at the barrel of a pistol.
"Don't move, pirate," an ominous voice coldly uttered. "We have the tavern surrounded." A tall, wiry person, with malice evident in every aspect of his face, from the way his dark eyebrows furrowed to the evil intent shining in his gray eyes.
Jack's eyes widened in utmost surprise as he stared at the barrel of the pistol, which appeared to be at least as wide across as his head. He put his hand out, meaning to move the gun out of his face. The soldier shook his head and moved the gun closer to Jack's bedraggled head. Jack swallowed hard, trying to figure out how to get out of this one. He managed a weak chuckle. "I'm no' a pirate." The warm filtered sunlight coming into the simple room made his dark brown eyes glow.
The soldier's eyes filled with disbelief. "Do not take me as some fool, pirate. I happen to have a very reliable source that tells me you are a pirate." He glared threateningly at Jack again. "Get up, pirate. We're going to the prison."
Jack frowned and slowly stood. "Yer sources are wrong, sir." A sudden flash of brilliance hit the ever-resourceful young man. He stood up straight and stared the tall soldier in the eye. "I happen to be undercover, soldier. Captain Sparrow, from South Hampton." Jack saluted the wiry man.
The soldier's eyes widened incredulously. "You don't honestly think I'm going to fall for that, do you?" He chuckled abruptly, his voice slightly strained.
Jack smiled, adopting a stance many soldiers he had seen as a child would take. "It's the truth, soldier. I have been working undercover for several years aboard a certain ship that I can not disclose the name of."
The soldier frowned, still unconvinced. "I doubt that, Captain Sparrow," he said sarcastically. His actions, however, were the opposite of what he said, for the honey-blonde man put his pistol down and un-cocked it.
Jack hid the look of relief that wished to burst across his face as the pistol lowered. His eyes filled with all seriousness. "D' you really trust the testimony o' some witness? I happen t' be one of the best undercover agents in the army."
The soldier thought about this for a moment, his gray eyes unreadable. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally nodded and saluted. "Sorry, Captain. My source was most likely a spiteful pirate on the ship you busted. He seemed rather unsavory and was probably drunk."
Jack slightly grinned, inwardly wondering who had disclosed his location. He saluted back. "It's quite alright, soldier." He nodded towards the door. "Ye'd bes' get goin' before you ruin my cover."
The soldier nodded and saluted. "Sorry again, Captain. We've just been informed to go after any possible pirate rumors." His gray eyes were full of embarrassment.
Jack nodded. "Tis quite alright." He saluted back. "Dismissed."
The soldier nodded and left the room. Jack clutched at his brand, grateful that the gullible soldier had been so easily fooled. He sighed, realizing it was probably time to vacate the premises, not anxious to run into another agent of the East India Company.
As Jack made his way aimlessly around the crowded street, stopping every occasionally to look at sparkling trinkets in small carts. As he stopped to examine a cart filled with chiku, a small brown fruit that tastes similar to a pear, he happened to catch sight of the young man he'd managed to fool before headed towards him, along with six other men, presumably all part of the Company. Jack cussed and turned to defiantly face them after purchasing the pungent fruit. He did not suppose he would be nearly as lucky this time, for the wiry man with gray eyes did not look amicable.
Jack sighed and saluted as the seven men surrounded him. The honey haired blonde from before scowled and did not return the salute. "There is no Captain Sparrow from South Hampton undercover," he quickly spat out, glancing at his companions, who were nodding their affirmations.
Jack smiled, slowly backing away. "Well, I wouldn' be undercover if I tole someone." He grasped his chiku tightly, using it as an out for the intense feeling of panic washing over him. It seemed impossible to worm his way out of this one.
One of the soldier's companions spoke, his brilliantly blue eyes full of spite. "You don't honestly think we'll fall for that again, do you?" He laughed and Jack soon recognized him, seeing as he had been one of the ones who had taken out of Kajal's place.
Jack gave an odd half smile. "I'd rather hoped you would." He continued inching his way backwards. "Not tha' ye look particularly gullible." He chuckled and glanced at each of the agents. They appeared quite disgruntled at his cheerful mood. Jack thought for a moment and made a motion with his hand towards them. "'Ow can ye take me in for piracy if ye don' 'ave any proof?"
The man who had just spoken chuckled. "We have proof, sir. Someone has identified you as the man that stole their money in a tavern. Though not a serious crime, you do have a pirate brand." He motioned the others to surround the young pirate with long, slender fingers. They complied, the distance between themselves and Jack shortening considerably.
Jack cursed himself for pick pocketing that man in the tavern. It was just too bothersome to replenish his rum money with his other reserves, most of the time. He looked wildly around, trying to spot something in order to escape the fate of dancing the hempen jig tomorrow morning. His dark brown eyes shone with sudden joy as he spotted a rope hanging off a large awning over the building he was being forced next to. He inwardly sighed with intense relief, but kept a look of terror and resignation on his face, his eyes suddenly back to normal. "Can't we talk abou' this, mates?" Jack imperceptibly began edging towards the rope.
One of the agents who had not said anything snickered, cool contempt in his beige eyes. "There is nothing to discuss, pirate." The others snickered as well and edged their way closer. It might seem odd that the group of trained soldiers had not attacked, but there was a gaggle of potential rubberneckers who might be injured if Jack tried anything stupid.
Jack sighed and frowned, his left hand now mere centimeters from the rope. He moved his right hand in order to distract the soldiers as he firmly grasped the rope. He sighed again, his mouth widening in mirth. "Today shall always be remembered as the' day ye almos' caught Jack Sparrow." He slightly bowed in response to the incredulous looks on their faces.
Jack quickly pivoted and scurried up the sturdy rope, immensely grateful of his experience climbing up the rigging of the Black Pearl. This daring escape attempt would not have been nearly as fast if he had not the experience.
As Jack began stumbling his way awkwardly across the awning, he smiled as he heard the agents below yell. His dark eyes continually watching for potential hazards and a way to get off this awning, he ran with his hands in front of him down the colorful blue awning. Jack soon reached the end of the awning and jumped towards the slightly higher one about a meter and a half away.
Jack held his breath as he flew through the air, unable to hear the cries of astonishment and disbelief from those watching him below. He grinned as he successfully landed on the green awning his feet wobbling uncontrollably as the fabric adjusted to this sudden new weight. Jack felt bold enough to glance back at the other awning. Three of the soldiers where running after him as the other four tried to race after him. The four on the ground were greatly hindered in their attempts by the masses of veiled women and astonished men watching Jack's plight.
Jack's glance took only a second as he started running once more. This awning was not nearly as tightly secured as the last had been. He rather hoped that he could get onto the next one before the three chasing him made it to this one. It was very probable that it would give out with that much weight pressing down against the slender beams of wood keeping it upright.
Jack sighed in relief when he saw a ladder leaning up to someone's window up ahead. The next awning was over 4 meters away from the one he was on. As he grasped the first rung and prepared to climb the ladder, a horrible ripping noise was heard as the fabric sheared itself. The agents who had been giving the eccentric young man chase fell through the gaping hole that appeared beneath their feet. The fabric had not been able to hold that much stress as the soldiers had landed on it. The fell directly into some freshly caught fish.
Jack quickly maneuvered himself on the ladder and started climbing as if the devil were giving him chase. He was the perfect target, now, for the agents of the British East India Company no longer had to worry about hurting anyone else. Jack was incredibly conspicuous as he climbed the wooden ladder, cussing as several splinters decided his hand was a better habitat then the wood they had been living in for an unknown amount of time.
Jack needed no encouragement to climb faster when the sound of a rifle being shot was heard. He quickly moved his head to the left as a bullet sizzled its way to where his ear had been a moment ago. He cussed, realizing how close that had come to ending his life. He used his cat-like reflexes again as another bullet narrowly missed.
Half of the crowd cheered as Jack made his way into the window. They had grown rather amused with his antics and therefore felt a sense of respect. The agents vainly attempted to get to the door of the building, but the throngs were far too great.
Jack gasped for air as he stood in the dark room. As his eyes began to gradually adjust to the vast light difference, he noticed someone staring at him. Jack chuckled uncomfortably at the small girl and smiled. "Sorry, poppet, jus' 'ave t' escape from some bad men."
The girl nodded, a smile breaking on her face. Though she had no idea what Jack had said, she still was awed, for she had watched his plight through her parent's window. She motioned towards some stairs, her rosy lips uttering something in her language.
Jack nodded and gave the girl a pat on the shoulder, brushing against her silky black hair. "Thanks, m'lady. Ye've saved me life." He put his finger to his lips. "Ye din' see me, right?"
The little girl nodded and giggled, mimicking Jack's signal. The door began pounding downstairs.
He smiled again and quickly and quietly walked to the stairs, his heart pounding in unison with the door. He quickly spotted a back door to the wealthy Indian merchant's home and shop. He mad a mad dash for the back door and managed to shut it behind him as someone opened the front door. Jack soon became a part of the ever-bustling crowd on the other street, appearing to have just vanished.