And now, the conclusion of "His Majesty's Pearl". Thank you especially to those who stopped long enough leave kind words.
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The Black Pearl was resting some leagues north of the eastern end of Jamaica, having watched her sister ship home at a respectable distance. Now, as the moon slowly rose through bars of gilded cloud, Jack Sparrow stood at the bow staring thoughtfully toward the shore. Joshamee Gibbs walked up beside him and sighed loudly.
"Bad luck comin' even this close, Cap'n."
The captain's lips curved in a wry smile. "Aye, Mr. Gibbs. Terrible bad luck." He turned to look at his second in command and his expression froze when he saw the view behind him. Gibbs raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"Jack?"
"Perhaps even worse luck than you'd think."
Gibbs turned to look and swore. Even in the dark he could recognize the Dauntless. "I don't suppose there's any hope they haven't seen us."
"Not when we're exactly what they're looking for, Mr. Gibbs." Jack looked toward the mainland again and sighed. "Bring us closer to shore and lower my boat. I'll go meet the commodore in private."
Gibbs shook his head. "Aye, Cap'n." Muttering his way back amidships, he called orders to Cotton at the helm.
"I thought I might find you here, Captain Sparrow." Jack tensed imperceptibly as his eyes shifted to look at the commodore. It almost sounded like the man intentionally called him 'captain'.
"Yes, well, James, you know how it is." As the commodore stiffened in annoyance, Jack relaxed again. No point in making things too easy between them. He was wondering if he may have gone too far when the commodore finally spoke in a tight voice.
"That's 'Commodore', Sparrow. Commodore Norrington."
The pirate chuckled at that. "Fair enough." He extended a hand, which hung in the air for a while as Norrington ignored it, eventually fluttering back to his lapel after a movement that made him look, for a moment, as if he were conducting an imaginary orchestra. "Well, Commodore." Jack tipped his head back to look at the other man. "What brings us here?"
"I received word from His Majesty that the terms of our deal were acceptable. In fact, he has a small problem you can take care of."
"Already?"
The commodore looked down his nose at the pirate. "Unless you prefer that our former relationship resume? I do have a fully armed ship close at hand, not to mention a fort –"
Jack held up his hands in defense. "Alright, alright. What does ol' George want from me and my Pearl?"
Norrington took a deep breath. "He wants you to sail to London. Or at least close enough to pick something up from a ship out of Southhampton. A bit of an errand."
"Bit of an errand?" The pirate stepped back on the rocky beach, wobbling slightly as he frowned. "Gods, man, that's three months at least, back and forth, even on the Black Pearl."
"Yes?"
"Well…" Jack trailed off for a moment, turned abruptly to look farther inland. "I promised Lizzie and the whelp I'd be here to greet their boy."
If Norrington was surprised, he hid it well. Instead, looking thoughtfully up at the clouded stars, he shrugged. "Surely you're not suggesting that a ship such as the Pearl couldn't be back in time?" The pirate shot him a dark look. "Or perhaps you can think of it as incentive."
"Ah. As opposed to simply not being hung for sailing my ship?"
The commodore's mouth quirked as he looked away. "Indeed."
Jack paused for a moment before walking unsteadily over to the dinghy and pulling a bottle out from under the bench. "Well then, James. Howsabout we have a drink and you can tell me all about this little 'errand'."
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Will stepped out into the garden that had been so carefully planted before they left and sighed. It was peaceful, the breeze tickling the trees and wafting a scent of vanilla to the house on the hill. He walked out onto the footbridge over the tiny stream and stared out to sea, resting his elbows on the railing as he leaned on it. Not a ship in sight. Shaking his head, he spoke quietly to the night air.
"I hope you're alright, Jack."
"I'm sure he's fine, Will."
The young man turned with a start and laughed. "Elizabeth." Stepping toward her he took her hand and gave her a kiss. "Did I wake you?"
She laughed in turn, brushing her hand over her abdomen. She was beginning to look like she was actually with child, and they found it both exciting and a little frightening. "No, I think the baby managed to do that all by himself." Her eyes widened abruptly and she put his hand on her stomach. His smile turned to one of astonishment.
"Was that him?" She giggled and nodded. "That must feel – strange."
"A bit." Elizabeth looked at him with joy in her eyes. "But wonderful."
Will looked into her eyes and shook his head in wonder. "I love you."
They were still kissing when a tching noise nearby made them stop and turn toward the forest.
"Honestly. Isn't that how you got into this to begin with?"
"Jack!"
"In the flesh. By God, Lizzie, you feel like you're going to have a baby." He pulled away from her hug to look her up and down. "Do you know when, yet?"
"Mrs. Connors thinks I'm about four months along."
"Ah."
Elizabeth frowned up at him and glanced at Will, who met her eyes with the same puzzlement. "Is that a problem, captain?"
"No, it should be fine."
Will laughed. "Well aren't we relieved." When Jack didn't respond, but glanced back toward the wood, Will and Elizabeth exchanged another look. "Listen, Jack. Will you come in for a cup of rum?"
Jack looked at him thoughtfully, then shook his head. "I've got to be off, lad."
Will's eyes widened. "Norrington? But I thought we were set with that."
Elizabeth nodded. "Even in town they're starting to tell stories about how Jack Sparrow, the first one, is dead, and there's some other taking his place and his name, but they don't know anything about him."
The pirate managed a grin at that. "It's Norrington, but he's not after me to stretch my neck. I've got a little job to do."
Will spoke without thinking. "I'll go with you."
"So will I."
"No, no you won't. Neither of you."
"Children have been born on ships before, Jack."
"I have to take the Pearl to London."
They stood in silence for a few moments before Jack went on. "And you know as well as I do that the weather can make things unpredictable between here and there. I wanted to let you know where I'd be, so you didn't worry if the boy came before I was back." He shook his head, chuckled at himself. "I haven't accounted for myself in years. Better be flattered, love."
Elizabeth bit her lower lip, then moved to hug him. "I am, Captain."
"Excellent. Then I'll take a moment more to have a drink with you before I'm off. And we'll work out what you can add to the legend of Captain Jack Sparrow in this town. Savvy?"
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A honey-skinned woman entered a small hut on Palomino Island, looking around as if she'd been away for a while. A faint smile crossed her lips as she glanced over to the bed and saw a red scarf laying there, its owner long gone. She nodded as she walked over and picked it up, running its silken smoothness through her fingers. Her gaze drifted toward the small table near the bed, and an eyebrow lifted.
Setting there, in a leaf that curved like a shallow bowl, was a delicately wire wrapped bauble. The woman lifted it carefully, looking at it curiously in the gentle light of the hut, iridescence shimmering across the dark surface. A black pearl.
Smiling gently, she tied it into her long, dark hair. Her whisper was warm in the silence.
"I'll not forget you, Zulee. Have no fear."
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END
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Thanks to those who have stayed with me. A few author's notes: If you're like me, when you've read a piece of historical fiction, you want to know what the author made up and what she just 'used'.
To that end:
The Battle of Jenkin's Ear really happened.
Palomino Island really exists, and is approximately where I put it.
There were three King George's in the 1700's. I just didn't use a number.
There really was a 's Harbor and a Port Maria on the northeastern coast of Jamaica.
Crab Island exists, and is now called Vieques.
The native words, in both Creek and Taino (natives of the islands) are as close as I could render them. You can find dictionaries of these online.
The story of Jack's parents is loosely based on that of an historical Native American woman, the daughter of a Creek Emperor who married an English trader and was given the name "Mary".
The French and Spanish Alliance was real. The infighting and possible rebellion is an invention of the author.
Thanks for reading!
Miran Anders