Jack glanced back as he weaved though the crowd of fisherman, port officials, and unsavory characters ever-present at the water's edge, making sure that Brian still followed. The boy had been ready to set sail in a surprisingly short period of time and his expression held no traces of being apprehensive, the normal state for young boys leaving home the first time. Jack considered the claims made by the boy—that he was an experienced sailor, twenty-two years of age, that he never lied—and conceded that they might even be true.
Jack turned his attention to the innocent looking ship that, when her name was uncovered and her black sails unfurled, was the deadliest, most feared ship in the Caribbean—and the pride and joy of Jack's existence. He was home again and that, of course, was the beauty of it—he could travel all over the seas and never once leave home. Jack smiled and turned to Brian who had just caught up. He gestured grandly toward the ship, involuntarily wanting Brian to approve, and spoke.
"Welcome to my humble abode. She may not look like much mate, but don't set too much in store by looks. She can outrun anything in her Majesty's Navy, and they all know it." The note of fierce pride and ownership was evident as he described the ship of which he was captain.
"As do I," Brian replied gratifyingly. "I have listened to many a bedtime story about the Black Pearl and her various exploits. Not to mention her ingenious captain."
"If you really are twenty-two, then I must admit, I was not the captain at that time. That would have been my predecessor, Captain Ari Saber, you heard about. I've always wished I could've met him, even once, before he was hanged," Jack said almost wistfully, looking at the infamous ship docked before them.
Brian looked startled. "You respected Ari Saber?"
It was Jack's turn to look surprised. "Of course I did. He's my absolute role model. I too grew up hearing the tales of his daring, some even say mad, adventures lad. Everyday I strive to be like him."
Brian blinked. "That explains more than it shouldn't," he murmured.
"Whatsat s'posed to mean?" questioned Jack.
Brian cleared his throat and hastily looked away. "Oh nothing," he said airily.
Jack decided to let the matter drop.
"Time for you to meet the crew Lad," he said as he climbed on board his ship. Brian followed obediently.
"Oy, Cap'n, who's the puppy?" said Thom, one of his crewmembers, grinning in a manner that did not bode well for Brian. "I didn't know we was starting a nursery school." The others joined in the taunting and Jack was about to intervene on behalf of the poor boy when he spoke up.
"I'm not so young and helpless, despite what you may think." The boy's subtle emphasis turned the seemingly bland statement into an insult.
"You should watch how you talk to folk bigger than you, lad, unless you have the strength to back up what you say. "Thom looked down at him contemptuously.
"Try me." Brian's gaze never wavered as he looked directly into the much larger man's eyes. Before Jack could interfere, Thom gripped Brian's shoulder. The look of surprise on Thom's face was almost comical as Brian slipped out of his grasp and a few deft maneuvers later, sent him soaring though the air. There was a brief moment of silence before the catcalls started.
"Woo! Poor ol' Thom! Beaten by a boy!"
"Tell me Thomas, was flying as glorious as it looked?"
"All righ' all righ', enough already," Thom grumbled good-naturedly. Turning to Brian he grinned and stuck out his hand. "I'm Thomas or Thom if you prefer. Glad to have you aboard the Black Pearl."
The rest of the crew crowded around introducing themselves and Jack relaxed. The boy threw Thom over his shoulder with such surprising ease that Jack noted that he would not pick a fight with him while intoxicated.
"Right," Jack said almost half-heartedly, "Hoist the sails then."
Despite Jack's seemingly dismissive behavior the crew immediately jumped into action, pulling ropes and hoisting anchors.