Chapter Three
The funeral was held two days later. No one spoke, save for the priest. Elizabeth was buried next to her daughter, and once the eulogy was done, most of the guests left. Soon only Jack, Norrington, William, and Governor Swann remained.
Jack felt awkward, not having known Liz as well as the others had. He toed the moist ground with his scuffed boot and wondered why he had to be the one to discover the dead young lady. He decided that Port Royal was cursed. The day before he'd rounded up his crew, telling them to prepare to leave by nightfall of the next day.
"I...I have to go. I need...to be alone." Governor Swann spoke to no one in particular and he wandered off looking older than ever. The other three remained silent for a moment longer.
Jack was the first to speak. "I'll be leaving tonight. You're welcome to come with me if you like, Will."
Will had been staring dazedly into space. "There's nothing left for me here. No reason to live. I should take my life now, get it over with."
"Seven hells, William! Don't talk such nonsense! You're no more of a man than your wife if you do such a thing. We're all sorry about what happened to your wife and daughter; more sorry than you may ever know. But do you think Elizabeth would want you to do such a thing?"
A tear slid from Will's eye. "No, she'd not want me to do such a thing. But...but...why Jack? Why did it happen to me? I've never had much of a family, and when I get one, they're taken away?"
Will began to sob. Jack gave him a light hug and let the boy cry on his shoulder. That's what Will felt like to Jack; a small, helpless boy. Tenderly he rubbed Will's back.
"It's decided. You'll join me on the Black Pearl. We leave tonight. No arguing."
Will looked at Jack with watery brown eyes and nodded. Norrington spoke then, startling the other two who had completely forgotten about him. "I know it seems an odd request, daft even. But...might I gain passage aboard your ship as well? It would seem that I too have no reason for staying in Port Royal and my hatred for pirates is not so deep as it would seem. I am merely an upholder of the British Law, but I tire of being such an ass all the time."
Both Will and Jack's eyes widened in surprise. After a moment of awkward silence, Jack broke into a grin and had himself a good laugh. "Don't see why not, mate! The Pearl could always use another able hand! Just loose the wig, aye?"
For the first time in his life, Will saw James smile. "Aye...captain."
An odd sense of content settled over the three as they parted. Jack waited aboard the ship while the other two changed clothes and gathered a few belongings. The Pearl left port at exactly midnight, the moon high in the sky.