CHAPTER NINE

A FAMILIAR FACE

"Nicholas!" Samantha called from the bow of the ship. "There's a man in the water!"

"Heave to!" Nicholas shouted to the crew. Echoes of the command were heard throughout the ship as the crew stopped the ship. "Go and get a blanket from below." Nicholas told Samantha. The crew threw out a line and the man grabbed it. When Samantha came back on deck, the crew was standing in awe around the rescued man.

"Well damme..." Jack said. The man stood and smiled.

"Jack Sparrow." he said.

"Bootstrap Bill Turner." Jack said. "How delightful to see you again."

"And ye." Bootstrap Bill said. Samantha stood back cautiously and observed as the crew greeted the man they seemed to have known a long time ago. The man looked exactly like her father, only older. The crew of the Black Pearl cheered and one by one shook Bootstrap's hand. Nicholas motioned for Samantha to come forward and he took the blanket from her and gave it to Bootstrap.

"How did you get out of that mess Barbossa put you in?" asked Jack

"Well, see, when he tied that cannon to me and threw me over, Barbossa seemed to have forgotten one thing, I was cursed as well. I managed to get that blasted cannon untied and swam to the surface. Then a passing ship picked me up and brought me back to London. I stayed for awhile, but the sea was callin' so I found another ship and took up piracy again. Yesterday, early, our ship was attacked, sunk to the bottom of Davy Jones' locker it did. I floated here, hopin' some good sailor would see me and pick me up. Had no idea it'd be old Jack Sparrow." At that moment, Bootstrap spotted Samantha. "Jack, don't you know, it's bad luck to have a woman on board."

"Seems to be good luck for you though." Nicholas said. "She's the one who spotted you."

"What of the curse? How did you rid yourselves of it?" Bootstrap asked.

"Well, we were never cursed. We got rid of Barbossa's crew, oh... eighteen years ago. Lifted the curse."

"How did you get the piece I sent off to Will?" Jack looked at Samantha.

"Funny story really..." Jack started. "We'll discuss it over a drink. Nicholas! Splice the main brace! Drinks all around!" Nicholas nodded and motioned for Samantha to follow him.

"Who is that man?" Samantha asked Nicholas.

"Never met him. Heard of him though. Bootstrap Bill Turner. He used to be on the crew of the Black Pearl, up until they marooned my father on an island. Bootstrap protested and they tied a cannon to his boots and sent him to the bottom of Davy Jones' locker."

"Turner?" Samantha said thoughtfully.

"Aye... I'm sure your father's told you the story. Every man who's ever sailed this sea knows of Bootstrap Bill. One of the best pirates ever to sail the Spanish Main."

................................................................................................................................

"Who's that lass that spotted me?" Bootstrap asked Jack. "Your daughter?"

"No...I have enough trouble with a son. Perhaps it's time I filled you in on our last little adventure." Jack said. "I showed up in a port eighteen years ago to commandeer a ship. I was in the market after my little skirmish with Barbossa. I found one but ran into a little problem. You see, there was this girl, she got in trouble and I helped her, but one of the soldiers in the port realized I was a pirate, you know how it is...I got arrested. During my escape I ventured into a blacksmith shop to hide, ran into someone...your son. He wouldn't let me escape, it's a shame you know, he hated pirates at the time. Took me a long time to make him come to terms with your profession. Anyway, later that night Barbossa shows up in the port with the Pearl, they kidnap the girl, Elizabeth, who has the medallion you sent to Will. I don't know how she got it, but I do know you're son was in love with her. Will shows up the next morning, and breaks me out of jail to help him find his girl. We commandeer a ship, sail to Tortuga, pick up a crew, find Barbossa and his bloody crew, save the girl, return the coin, kill Barbossa, take back the Pearl...return Elizabeth and Will to Port Royal. I escape being hanged once more, the crew from Tortuga and I sail off into the sunset with the Pearl. The end. I get married, have a kid...Nicholas, then, the other day, a girl shows up in Tortuga with the same ruddy medallion. We agree to help her, but only because it turns out that she is the daughter of William and Elizabeth Turner, and I believe my son fancies her."

"Will's daughter?" Bootstrap said in disbelief.

"Aye. Samantha Turner. She's sixteen."

"My granddaughter..."

"Aye." Jack said.