CHAPTER SIX

CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW

"This is Miss Samantha Turner." said Nicholas, introducing her to the group of people around the table. When he said her name, they started whispering.

"Turner?" Jack said. He squinted and looked closer at her. "Aye. You look just like your mother. Are you here alone?" he asked. She nodded. "What brings you to Tortuga?"

"I had to find you." she said.

"Whatever would you need to do that for?" Jack asked her. Samantha pulled the medallion from around her neck and held it out to him. He jumped back uneasily at the sight of the coin, the crew's whispers returned, louder than before. "Ah. That."

"I need your help. We have to return it." she said.

"Well, I'm sorry lass, but I refuse to have anything to do with it. It gave me enough trouble last time. It gave me seventeen years worth of trouble." he said, glancing at his son. Nicholas rolled his eyes. Jack took Samantha by the arm and led her towards the door. "Terribly sorry I couldn't help. You'll give my regards to your parents for me? Much obliged." Jack opened the door.

"But you're Captain Jack Sparrow! You saved the lives of my mother and my father! You've escaped from under the noses of British Navy officers and defeated a ship full of pirates that couldn't die! Are you the pirate my father told me about or not?" Samantha said desperately.

"Jack, we can't just turn her out on the street." said a female voice.

"Ana Maria please, not right now." Jack said to the woman, Nicholas' mother, Jack's wife. He then looked back down at Samantha. "You even sound like your mother... First of all, Miss Turner, it's Commodore Jack Sparrow, as of yesterday. See the hat? Secondly-"

"You owe her father your life Jack." Ana Maria protested. "We have to do something." Jack gave a sigh of defeat and closed the door again, dropping Samantha's arm back to her side, the coin still clutched in her fist. Jack looked down at Samantha and then up again at the crew.

"Well then. What shall we do? I'm open to suggestions." Jack said.

"All in favor of returning the medallion, say 'aye'." Ana Maria said to the crew. Nicholas, Samantha and Ana Maria said 'aye'. One by one the other pirates did too. Samantha saw the man with the parrot her father had told her about and the little man. Jack shook his head and gave a mumbled 'aye'.

"We'll leave tonight then." he said, sitting back down at the table. Nicholas pulled up another chair and invited Samantha to sit. She did, and he sat next to her.

"Pour her some rum, Nicholas." said Jack. Nicholas reached for the jug and poured a mug for her and one for himself. Samantha took it and swished it around uneasily in the cup.

"Ever had rum before Miss Turner?" Nicholas asked. Samantha shook her head, but took a sip anyway. She almost choked at the shock of the strong taste, and it was a miracle to her how she managed swallow it. The crew laughed heartily at her and Nicholas smiled sympathetically. "It's an acquired taste." he said. "Perhaps some water instead?" he suggested. She nodded and Nicholas poured her another mug, this time full of water. "To Miss Turner." said Nicholas, raising his glass to her. Samantha smiled and raised hers.

"To my parents." she whispered. Jack raised his glass.

"To the Black Pearl!" he exclaimed. The rest of the crew shouted hurrahs and drank deeply from their mugs. After they had all set down their mugs and refilled them again, Jack turned to Samantha. "So, what have your parents been up to lately, Miss Turner?"

"My father owns the only blacksmith shop in Port Royal. My mother is doing fine."

"And what of your mother's bloody friend Norrington?" Jack asked.

"Oh! Governor Norrington?" Samantha said.

"Governor? Wasn't that your grandfather?" Jack said.

"Until January. My grandfather passed away of pneumonia. Norrington took over after his funeral." Samantha said.

"Terribly sorry to hear that. You know, I always liked Norrington, always. Unfortunately for me the only thing he liked about me was catching me. Unfortunately for him, I didn't like being caught." Jack said. The crew once again erupted into laughter. "Welcome to the crew of the Black Pearl Miss Turner."