Chapter 4: Jack and Will's Secret

I'm so wound up I can't even walk straight. People are staring at me as I pass by and as I make my way towards the docks. Of course they're staring, I have tears and sweat all over my face and I'm a girl and I'm holding a sword. I can feel anger in every 'thud' my steps take. Watch. I'll prove him wrong. I'll show dad that my life is something. I'll show him that I've done something brave and... And... Useful. No. Not useful. Ummm... Adventurous! That's the word! Yes, I'll show them! I'll go with Jack to the island and we'll get that Vase of Mort-whatever and I'll become rich! Ok, so I don't believe that it turns water into money, but so what? I'll prove to the world that I've travelled and mixed with danger. They'll be so glad when I come back that I'm safe. Yes! That's it! I'll find that vase of Mort-what sits. And if it doesn't exist I'll just be grateful that I've once finally managed to get away from this. Here. This place.

I march to the docks. The sun has almost set. Dad can go and shove his weapons up his--

I stop as I see a ship with black sails. It's huge. The ship is massive. Does Jack really own this? Its sails billow in the wind and it looks like the most menacing ship here compared to all the others with white sails. I cautiously walk over to it. Wow. I walk down the wooden harbour towards it. I wish my parents could see me now. They're so stupid. Did they really think...? Temper rises in me again and I clench my fists. An old, not too old, burly man, a bit fat, approaches me from the ship.

"Can I help you, miss?"

"Parley." I say without looking at him. I'm still looking at the sails.

"Parley?"

"Yes."

"But I'm not takin' ye hostage!" He laughs a warm chuckle.

"Yes, just take me to Captain Jack. Where is he?" I start looking around in hope that Jack will appear soon.

"He's down at the Singing Duck." He points somewhere to my left but I already know where it is. It's a tavern. I go there at almost every trade. Sorry, did I say 'go'? I meant 'went'. Because of a member of my family-

"Do you want me to take you there, miss?"

"No, I'll go."

I march away and go to the Singing Duck. It's like an inn on the beachside. Everyone goes there. Everyone from the ships, that is. As I step inside I feel better as I feel the familiar surroundings. The dimly lit room, men with groups of women, tables and chairs, benches and small tables in the corners for business reasons, beer everywhere and rum spilt. I look in front of me at the bar, then to my left. I spot him. He's sitting half in the shadows in the corner on a bench with a small table. Business reasons. Talking to a woman?

My heart stops. Who is she? Ok, it's none of my business but I want to know. She nods her head at Jack and walks behind the bar. So she works here. If Jack does anything with her I'm marching right out of here. I know he's not my property but I went through something with him last night and if he's WITH her then I'm leaving. I'll be heart broken but I'll leave. I'll be homeless but I'll leave. Can this situation get any worse?

She returns with a man following her and she's holding two mugs. The man takes his place next to Jack and the woman sets the mugs down. Jack doesn't even look at her. She leaves.

Phew.

Jack looks angry with the man and the man looks as if he's trying to justify himself but Jack's not having any of it. Jack slams his mug down and wags a finger at the man's face. The man seems to be talking really quickly but Jack suddenly stands up.

I swear there is normally one fight a day in this tavern and I reckon this is it.

Jack picks up the man by the collar and shoves him down onto the floor. Nobody else is taking much notice because they are either used to this or too drunk to realise what's happening. The man on the floor slides backwards and Jack says one final thing to him. The man gets up and walks to the door towards where I'm standing. Jacks eyes are on him. Now they're on me.

With a finger, he signals me to come and I make my way towards him. My heart beats. Such a simple motion but enough to make my heart beat faster. How am I going to cope on a ship with him? He must be pretty angry at this moment. Well that makes both of us. I slide myself down next to him. He looks as if he's just recovering from being angry. We look at each other.

"So," He says turning to face me.

"So," I say, leaning my elbow on the table and resting my head on my hand. "Who was that?"

"A liar."

"A liar? And what did he lie about?"

"I gave him money to find out where the vase was last. He promised he'd find out. And he didn't."

He cups a hand around his mug and I hear his rings clash with the metal mug. I bet each silver ring has a different story.

"And you?" He asks, before gulping down some beer.

"Me?" I ask, whilst watching his Adam's apple.

"Why are you here?"

"Well," I reach for the other mug where the man left his drink full but Jack grabs my hand and stops me. My eyes look at him and he lets go of my hand and signals the waitress. He signals the number two and she goes behind the counter and comes back with two bottles of rum.

"Carry on." He says whilst trying to open both bottles.

"I had a really bad argument."

He stops trying to open the rum and looks at me.

"A very bad argument with my dad."

"Here, have a drink." He hands me a bottle and I take a long swig from it trying to wash away the argument but it doesn't work. He opens his and takes an even longer swig and I watch his neck. His throat. And the way it moves.

"Tell me all about it."

I start telling him. Keep drinking. Tell him. Keep drinking. Tell. Drink. Tell. Drink. And all the time he's watching me, listening. The problem with me is that when I'm drunk, I become honest, imaginative, giggly, blank and stupid. Maybe not in that order but at least one of those things normally come upon me when I'm drunk. Like now.

"And then I grabbed my sword off the table and sliced through the table!" I shout, one hand in the air. This place looks a bit blurry.

"Did you really, now?" I hear Jack say. I turn to look at him but he's a bit blurry too.

"Of course! I had to. I would've! If I had the strength..."

I reach for the bottle again but Jack grabs my arm and stops me.

"And then what happened?"

"Then, he yelled something like 'Well, I was never your daughter!' And I told him where my money was and then I waltzed out."

"He was never your daughter?"

"No! I was never HIS daughter."

"You went a bit far, lass."

"But he thought I was sleeping with other men! He thought that was like 'my job' and it wasn't! Never has been never will be!"

"I'll drink to that!" Exclaims Jack.

"I was outraged! How dare he think that of you!" I yell, I don't know why, "We're not even like that! It was honest trading, honest."

I start giggling madly. It was honest trading, honest! That sounds so funny! Like a double meaning!

"I think you've had enough to drink, Crystie."

I Love the way he pronounces that! Not Cry-STAL but Cry-STY! I giggle some more.

"Aye, we should be getting to the ship."

"Aye!" I giggle.

"Stealing my words, Crystie?"

I laugh and as he stands up I stand up. I put one foot forward and as I step my leg gives way and I stumble to the floor. Jack scoops me into his arms and carries me out, leaving some money on the table. My arms are around his neck. Now this is the only way to travel.

"I feel like a damsel in distress!" I giggle as he carries me towards his ship.

"Aye, you would be if you weren't so flaming drunk."

"I feel like a princess."

"Aye, you are."

I'm drunk but my heart still flutters. I might've blushed if I wasn't already so red from the rum. Things are still a bit blurry. As he carries me towards the ship and I enjoy his arms, I vaguely hear someone shout "Crystal!" I'm so drunk that I'm hearing things.

"Crystal!"

Jack turns around with me in his arms and I unclearly see Will running along trying to catch up with us. He has his sword drawn. If I wasn't so drunk then maybe that would've registered a bit more clearly and I would've been able to see that he wants to threaten Jack (again) but his sword reminded me of something...

"Jack, where's my knife?"

"Sword. It's with me, love."

Will is coming nearer and although I'm drunk I vaguely remember what he did yesterday. I also remembered that yesterday I wanted to scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Jack gets such a fright that he drops me and I bash onto the wooden harbour. I slowly stand up and wobble a bit. I feel funny but I know what I want to say. And I might as well say it whilst I'm drunk. Everyone nearby and by their ships are staring at me. So what? Will approaches with his sword.

"Can you put that thing away?"

He pauses. But doesn't.

"I'm. Going. With. Jack." I say slowly. A word slurred but I'm not sure which. "I'm. Not. A hostage. I'm doing it out. Of. My own. Free. Will. Will." I start giggling madly. I did that double thing again! Ha ha!

"Crystal, I'm just looking out for your well being-"

Everyone's staring. I don't know him. I've decided. I don't.

"Mr. Turner," I say as formally as I can whilst I'm drunk. "Thank you. But. Jack is looking out. For my. Well. Being. So, if you don't mind. I'm getting on. This. Ship." I wobble a bit. Why is he always here?

"Maybe Mr. William Turner would like to accompany you on this trip if he's so concerned of your well being. After all, it is the Vase of Mortule."

I can hear Jack's voice from behind but I don't dare turn around for fear that my head might come off or float or something. It feels light. And dizzy.

"Vase of Mortule?" Says Will looking straight past me and at Jack.

"Aye, the vase of Mortule."

I think they're both staring at each other. I'm not sure about Jack but no one is saying anything. I want to stick out a hand and wave it in Will's face but I don't know if I have strength for it.

"Do you want to come William Turner?"

Will looks as if he's thinking hard. Like fighting his mind. We wait. He's just staring at Jack. I wonder how appealing Jack is to a man? Actually, I shouldn't be thinking that. Will looks at me but I look away. I don't want to know what his eyes want to tell me. If I can even make out his eyes. Will does something like a movement. Oh, he puts back his sword. He looks back at Jack. I feel a little bit weird.

"Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Mr. Turner."

I think that they're still staring at each other but I think I'm going to be sick. I always think that when I'm drunk. But I never throw up.

I slowly turn so that I'm in between Will and Jack, my hands out, balancing my body. I look at Jack looking at Will looking at Jack looking at Will... This is tiring. If they are just going to stare each other out the whole day I think I might sit down. I look at Will. His eyes have anger in them and his brow is furrowed. I look at Jack. Jack has never given Will a look of total dislike or anger so when I see the look on his face I'm surprised. Both faces show equal dislike. I cross my legs and make to sit down but a hand from each man pulls me up by my arms.

"I'll carry her onto the ship." Says Will, putting an arm around my legs.

"No, I'll carry her." Jack also puts and arm round my legs. "Besides, its my ship."

"I think. I can. Make it. Onto the ship. Without. Your help thanks." I say, without an idea why. I swear, if I was sombre, I would've loved to have them both arguing on whom wants to carry me on the ship but I suppose that I probably thought that they were taking too long. At least, I hope that's what I was thinking.

They both straighten up and I take a step back but my leg gives way and just as I'm about to stumble back and fall, Jack sweeps me up into his arms and walks towards the ship. Well at least that'll stop them arguing. Just as Jack is about to walk up that wooden plank thing onto his ship, he turns to look at Will, with me in his arms, and raises an eyebrow. Will clenches his fists and Jack turns around and takes me onto his ship. Jack walks to these stairs and goes down them. We're in a wooden hallway with five doors in total. There's one at the very end, in front, and two on each side.

"Jack, I've never. Been. Wooden. Hallway. Before." I start giggling. A wooden hallway!

He doesn't answer me but takes me to the door on the left just before the one at the end, and opens it. It's a room with a bed on the right against the wall and in the corner, a basin, mirror and cabinet with two lamps on the other wall and a chair opposite the door - opposite us. That's it. I giggle. I bet it's really spooky at night.

"Haunted!" I giggle.

"Eh?"

"Haunted!"

"Love, it isn't-" Jack walks in and is about to put me on the bed but I yell.

"AAAAH!"

"OK, woman! OK! You don' have to yell in me ear all the time!"

Jack walks out the room and opens the door that's at the end of the hallway. It's his cabin. It's quite large. It has a desk with maps, notes, candles and a lamp in front of us. A bed is on the left against the wall with a chair at its end. A wardrobe and cabinet is on the right. He puts me down on his bed and sits next to me. He puts a hand to my cheek.

"You're very drunk, love. Jus' stay here for the rest of the day."

"Night." It was sunset outside, right? Unless I imagined it...

"Night?"

"OK. Day." I start giggling.

"You giggle too much, love."

"Excuse... Excuse. Excuse...?"

"Me?"

"That's. It! Me. Rather laughing. Than. Scowling."

"Aye, true. But ye better start controlling them. I'm to be taken seriously, Crystie. And the ship. And the crew." He looks deep into my eyes. "This is not child's play, love. You taking me seriously?"

"I might." I smile. But, at the time, I didn't realise how serious he was. He was trying to make me understand the laws of the sea, pirates, ships that I have never known. But I didn't understand.

He sighs and mumbles, "You're drunk... You're drunk." He kisses me on the forehead, which makes me feel dizzy and then, as I close my eyes to his touch... I pass out.

"She's jus' asleep."

"What did you do to her?"

"Nothin'."

"Nothing? I don't believe you."

"You better start believing, boy, for I will not tolerate questioning of my words on my ship. Savvy?" I hear a threatening voice say. Is it Jack's? Of course it's Jack's. Who else says 'savvy?'.

"Why did you invite her?"

"You can ask her that when she wakes."

"Why is she in your cabin?"

"Because she didn't like her room. Thought it was haunted."

"I don't blame her. Look at this place, the sails! Can't you get some decent-"

I hear a shove and a squish of a chair.

"If you're coming you better wash that mouth of yours out, boy. This is my ship and my rules. Why are you coming here anyway?"

"For Crystal."

"Oh, really? Or is it for the vase?"

"What?"

"Or maybe you're coming for another reason, behind the vase."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, so long as you don't know what I'm talking about then I won't be able to tell you what you want to know. Or should I say, need to know?"

Neither says anything for about a minute. I hear footsteps, the door opening and then it slamming.

What the hell was all that about?