Chapter 5: Welcome Aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner and Encounter with Captain Robbush
Sparrow walked proudly onto the deck of the famous pirate ship. The sails were black and well known to her eyes. She had seen many pictures in her father's files. She knew it as if she had been travelling on it all her life. Jack strode up to the wheel.
"Well Jack Turner, here's your first test in sailing. Shimmy up the main mast, and tighten those riggings. And be quick about it!" Captain Jack Sparrow yelled from the side of the steering wheel. Sparrow was nearly halfway up the mast by the time Jack had finished giving the order. She grabbed the ropes and pulled tight. She then grabbed a loose rope. She tested it to make sure it was secure, then swung down to Captain Jack Sparrow. He and the rest of the crew stood in awe.
"Anything else, Captain?" she said raising her eyebrows, and smiling.
Jack cleared his throat, "As a matter of a fact, there is. Go help Mr. Gibbs and Cotton pull in the anchor," he said pointing over to the two men.
"Aye, aye Captain," she said, running to grab a place at the anchor wheel. She pushed and soon, the anchor was in place. Sparrow felt exhausted.
"Jack!" Captain Jack Sparrow yelled from the wheel. "Since your such a good climber, shimmy up the mast and loosen the top sail," he said motioning his head toward to mast.
Sparrow looked at the mast and groaned. She quickly began to shimmy up the mast, stopping occasionly to rest. By the time she reached the top, she was exhausted and breathing hard. She sat in the crow's nest for a short moment.
From the ground she could barely hear the voice of Jack shouting orders.
"Mr. Turner! How can we set out to sea if you are taking a nap in the crow's nest! We can't get very far without that sail, now loosen it!" he yelled.
A weak voice came from the crow's nest. "Aye, aye Captain," she said, getting up, then walked along the post that held the top sail. She stepped slowly, keeping her balance. She soon dropped down on her knees, then hooked them on the post, hanging upside down, dangling in front of the sail. She quickly untied the ropes that held the sail, letting the sail flop down inches away from her face. After the sail unfurled, Sparrow swung herself back on top of the post. She then walked back to the crow's nest. After that, Sparrow slid down the mast.
"Good work, Mr. Turner," Jack said nodding his head toward her.
Sparrow smiled, then walked up to the Captain.
"You're holding out well, good work," Jack whispered into her ear.
"Well, I do know how to sail. Phew, guess I'd better get back to work, aye?" she asked the Captain.
"Yes, there is a lot to do before we can actually start searching for your folks. Keep up the good work, love," Jack said, the turned his face to the sea.
"Cotton, go down to the galley and see if the cook has anything prepared for us,"
The old man nodded his head and ran down below. The voice of Cotton's parrot echoed up the stairs. "Let loose the anchor," followed by a low squawk.
Down in the gallley, Cotton looked around to see no food prepared. He turned then walked back up the stairs.
Captain Jack saw him and shouted out from his post, "Well then?" he asked the mute pirate. Cotton shook his head.
From the wheel, Jack gave out an annoyed sigh, "Where is that cook, I'm going to kill him!" he said, turning his head upward to the crow's nest, where Sparrow was sitting contently.
"Mr. Turner, take the wheel mate, while I go below," Jack bellowed.
Sparrow nodded her head and slid down the mast. She hadn't even been on the ship for an entire day, and Jack was already letting her take the wheel. Sparrow took the wheel firmly in her hands, and watched Captain Jack disappear down the stairs.
Now, we will return to the Captain Robbush, Elizabeth, and Will aboard the Black Emerald.
In an office near the stern of the gigantic pirate ship, Will and Elizabeth sat, waiting to hear of what curse they had gotten themselves into this time.
"Will, I'm worried about Sparrow. Do you think she is all right?" she asked her also worried husband. He had been staring out the window and watching sun ride and sink ever since they had been abducted.
A knock came upon the door. Will stood to attention, unarmed, but ready to fight if the time arose. In walked the Captain Robbush, more gruesome and grimy as ever. He wore the same garments, and the same sneer was still plastered on his face.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting on my story. We've been very busy up on deck. But as I promised, I shall tell ye of me story. Sit and make ye selves comfortable, for it is a long tale," The Captain said, before turning to sit in a padded chair. Will regained his seat, and took Elizabeth's hand in his.
"I am the Captain Robbush, Captain of the Black Emerald," Robbush said. Then he paused and turned to the young couple, "Are ye sure ye haven't heard o me?" he said, placing his hands on the arms of his chair, and leaning closer to Will and Elizabeth.
"The only face that even has the slightest resemblance to yours, is Captain Barbossa. But he is dead," Elizabeth said, turning to Will.
Captain Robbush seemed taken aback by the mention of the dead pirate Captain's name.
"You knew Barbossa?" he asked Elizabeth. His eyes now wide in curiosity.
"If you can even call it knowing," she said, glancing back at Robbush.
"Well then the reason I resemble Barbossa, is because I am related to him," Robbush said, getting out of his chair, and walking over to the window. "He was my brother," he said turning to the window and giving a short, evil chuckle. "Funny really. Even though he's the baby brother, he gets all the credit. I could never amount up to him. He was the favourite. At one point, we were actually fond of one another, but then a ship sailed into the harbour, a ship with his future on it," he said turning over to Elizabeth.
"What was on that ship?" Will asked the pirate Captain.
"His was Captain Jack Sparrow. He saw us standing on the dock. He had to choose which one to take. He took Barbossa," Robbush said, turning back to the window. "He took him away. Barbossa and I were going to find a ship and crew and rule it together, two Captains, two equals. But Jack Sparrow shattered every hope of that dream the second he floated into the harbour. Then I hear about Barbossa becoming first mate, then taking over the Black Pearl. Then some old man tells me about Sparrow killing Barbossa. The night I heard, I stole me self a ship, and sailed to Isla del Muerte, the Island of Death. I found him, below the chest of the gold of Cortez. Dead, like a frozen sea. He was cold, and I was cold for revenge. I followed Jack, and the Black Pearl. He didn't even know I was there. Then I followed him. He finally came back to Isla del Muerta, but he set off in a different direction once he got there. I followed, and through the dangerous storms of the sea, he brought me to a holy location. He sailed to the legendary Isla de la Vida, the Island of Life. Here I found him and his crew quarrelling over pitiful treasure. Then I saw it, the true treasure of the island. The ruby statue of Queen Vala herself. Yet, even though this was a holy place, and she was kind and gentle, there was a curse. Whoever touched the sacred statue of Queen Vala, would be doomed to walk this earth until judgement day. So what did we do? We touched it, but not only that, we stole it. A fine ruby statue would fetch a good price on the market, cursed or no. And now we are cursed, and can never feel anything again. But no light can show our true form, for we in fact have no true form. We look no different than you, except we can't bleed, or cry, or sleep. We are dead inside, but alive on the out. It is a terrible way to live. Alive and dying, dying and alive," he paused once more, and looked over the faces of William and Elizabeth Turner, "But thanks to ye, we can lift our curse. For the only way to be rid of it, is to give the sacred jewels of Vala back to her and her family, and the earrings that are upon your ears, Miss Elizabeth, are Vala's. The larger ring must be returned to her husband, Naryan. Then lastly, the smaller ring must be returned to her daughter, Venya. But Jack stole these items, and shipped them off to you, and your family. But there be a problem. Where be the second ring?" he asked Elizabeth and Will. Robbush's eyes were no longer filled with sorrow and grief. They seemed to burn through the young couple.
Elizabeth and turned to Will, "Sparrow," she whispered.
Robbush's ears seemed to prick up, "Hmm, what was that? Sparrow? Jack Sparrow?" he asked her.
"No, our daughter," she said backing as far back in her chair to escape Robbush's musky breath. Will sighed hopelessly.
"Aye, so she be the one with the final piece," he said, giving out an evil laugh.
"Thank ye for listening," he said, and then left the two alone in the cabin.
"I'm sorry Will, I didn't mean to say her name," she said hugging him.
"Don't fear, Elizabeth. I have a feeling that Sparrow is on her way as we speak," he said, trying to comfort his worried wife.
"But Will, now Robbush will be after Sparrow. Will she's just a girl, how can she even match up to a pirate like him?" she asked Will, releasing him then wandering over to the window. Elizabeth looked out onto the open sea, and began to cry.
"Don't worry my dear. I don't think Sparrow can do this on her own. She's smart enough to go looking for help," Will said, brushing the tears off of Elizabeth's face. "She'll be safe,"
Back aboard the Black Pearl, Sparrow was still manning the ship, while Jack was giving the old cook a good talking to.
Sparrow stood at the wheel steering with ease and belting out orders.
One of the crew members walked up to her. A little bald man with a strange, eastern accent stood by her knee caps.
"Why do you get to be Captain?" he asked her.
"Because, I'm Jack Sparrow Turner, savvy?" she said, looking down at the little man.
The little guy huffed and walked over to help check the cannons. Sparrow then returned her eyes to the sea.
Down below, Jack was supervising the cook's preparation of their dinner. After about an hour, Jack came up to see how the ship was doing. He strode up the steps to the wheel and Sparrow.
"I think you should take a break, Mr Turner," he said, motioning his head below to the Captain's cabin. "I put in an extra bed until we can find you some decent space elsewhere, love." he whispered to her.
"Aye, aye Captain," she said, and gladly raced downstairs to Jack's cabin.
It was a bit dusty and messy, but what did you expect from a pirate. She looked over by Jack's bed and found a pile of blankets and a pillow. She jumped into them and buried her face in the soft pillow. It felt so good to be off her feet. She lay there asleep and dreamed.
Back up on deck, Captain Jack Sparrow was manning his ship. He looked up at the sun, then down to his crew. "Mr. Cotton. Go down to me cabin, and wake Mr. Turner," Jack said. Cotton smiled, and went down the stairs and knocked on the door of Jack's cabin.
Sparrow had woken up, and was now standing in front of the mirror. She removed her blue bandanna and began brushing her black-brunette hair. Cotton opened the door to see the girl. He stood in awe, but was silent, since he was mute. But unfortunately, his parrot wasn't mute. From Cotton's left shoulder, the blue macaw let out a whistle, and a "Mermaid on deck," followed by another squawk.
Sparrow turned and gasped at the sight of Cotton, "Cotton! You won't tell anyone will you?" She asked the old man.
Cotton gave her "Are you serious?" look. Cotton's parrot gave out a "dead men tell no tales,".
Sparrow smiled and hugged him. Cotton smiled and greatly accepted the hug. "Give me two minutes," she said. She pulled her hair back into the bandanna and followed Cotton up the stairs to the deck.
Sparrow looked around. The work was done, and there was nothing left to do but look out on the open sea.
Sparrow cleared her throat and walked over to Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Cotton knows," she whispered to him.
Jack turned toward her, "Well you don't have to worry about him, love," he said with a smile.
"Yeah you're right. So what do I do now?" she asked the odd pirate.
"Well, do what I do. Once you have your course set, put the ship on lock, and take a breath of fresh air," he said, putting a chain on the wheel to lock it in position.
Sparrow followed the Captains example. She walked over to the rigging and climbed it, hooking her feet through ropes, securing herself so she could look out over the open sea. There was a slight fog now. Sparrow looked back to Jack who seemed disturbed by something. He kept smelling the air. Sparrow released her feet from the rigging and walked over to Captain Jack Sparrow.
"What is it?" she whispered to the Captain.
Jack looked over to the young pirate lass, "Something's not right. Somethings burning, about ten yards off the starboard bow. I don't like it," Jack said turning to the short Asian man, "scurry up to the crow's nest and keep a look out for anything, and don't dauddle.
Sparrow returned to her spot on the rigging. She could now smell the scent of something burning, and it was close.
From up in the crow's nest, the short Asian Man yelled out, "There is a lot of debris Captain,"
Jack could see most of it and steered clear of it.
Sparrow looked amongst the debris. Boards and boxes we scattered throughout the rubble.
Back up in the crow's nest there came a shout, "There's an object coming up on our starboard bow. I can tell what it is,"
Sparrow perked up and her eyes were like hawks as she waited for the object to drift near.
Sparrow's eyes widened when it came into view, "It's a child!" and without thought she jumped from the rigging into the water with a perfect swan dive. She swam to the fragile thing barely hanging on to a piece of wood. Sparrow got a good hold on the child. She then turned to see the source of the rubble. A ship, or what was left of it floated, burning on the black waters. Sparrow held the child in one of her arms and swam back to the ship. Cotton threw down the ladder and Sparrow climbed it.
Mr. Gibbs was already in a lifeboat with about five more men. They were getting ready to look for more survivors or useful items.
Sparrow climbed up onto the deck. Jack was ready with a warm, dry blanket for the child. He quickly wrapped it around the young thing. Sparrow brushed back the hair on the child's face. The child was a young girl of eight or more. She had a pale face and light redish-brunette hair, though it was hard to tell because her hair was wet. She was shivering and grasping something in her hands. Sparrow lifted the blanket to find a stuffed black teddy bear and it was almost completely dry.
Jack Sparrow walked up behind Sparrow, "Take her down to my cabin. Get some food in her and warm clothes on her. I will be down in a while. Be quick,"
Sparrow scooped up the child in her arms and took her below deck. She took the girl's dripping dress and placed one of Jack's tunics over her bare skin. She lay her under the blankets on Jack's bed. Sparrow looked around for any more blankets. She grabbed every piece of cloth she could find.
The child started to mutter, "Mummy...Barry," she grabbed her teddy harder. She reached out of the blankets with her free hand and grasped the air. Sparrow took the girl's hands in hers.
"Mummy?" the girl asked grasping Sparrow's hand firmly. The girl's eyelids started to flutter.
Sparrow heard someone come down the stairs. She turned to find Jack leaning in the doorway, "How's she doing?" he asked walking over to her. Sparrow was still holding the child's hand.
"She hasn't spoken yet, but she should wake soon," Sparrow said, brushing the hair out of the girl's face.
The child stirred under Sparrow's touch. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, "Mummy?" she asked once more. The girl's eyes were a dark brown, almost black, just like Jack's.
"Easy now, love. Lay down and rest," Jack said, sitting down on the side of the bed.
The girl turned to Sparrow and Jack, "Where am I? Who are you?" she said with curiousity and fear in her eyes.
Jack leaned closer to the girl, "You are aboard the Black Pearl. I am Captain Jack Sparrow, and this is Jacqueline Sparrow Turner. Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Molly from Tortuga," she said, relaxing a little.
"Molly, eh? What's your mother's name?" Jack asked the child.
"My mummy's name is Margaret," she said turning slightly to Jack. He looked a little shocked.
"Sparrow, I need some help getting Molly some food out of the kitchen," Jack said getting up and leaving his cabin. Sparrow followed him into the kitchen.
"What's wrong Jack?" Sparrow asked the worried Captain.
"Molly is the daughter of Margaret Songune from Tortuga. Molly is my daughter!" he said hitting his head against the doorway.
"Are you sure you have the right Maragaret, Jack? There could be more than one in Tortuga," Sparrow said getting soem soup out of a pot and putting it in a bowl for Molly.
"Molly has the same face as Maggie. She's my daughter!" he said under his breath.
"You'll need to tell her, Jack," Sparrow said leaving the kitchen and heading into Jack's cabin. He followed her back into his cabin.
"Here you go Molly," Sparrow said handing the bowl of soup to the young girl.
"Thank you," she said taking the bowl in her palms and sipping from the bowl.
"Um, Molly?" Jack said walking back over to the girl.
"Yes Mr. Sparrow?" she said, pausing her sipping.
"Um, I don't know how to tell you this but I'm your daddy!" he said opening his arms and smiling, showing all his gold teeth.
"I know, daddy," she said, taking another sip from the soup.
"Awe, she called me daddy! Wait a minute, how do you know?" he said turning his eyes over to Molly.
"I don't know, it was obvious?" she said finishing her soup.
"Oh, well I guess you're right, love," he said getting up, "Sparrow, get Molly some suitable clothes. Then take her up on deck," Jack said before returning to the deck of the Black Pearl.