The Phoenix's Tear
Chapter 2: The Meeting
I deftly maneuvered my new prize into Tortuga's harbor.
"Old fool Thompson worrying for no reason about those crewmembers. I must be sure to bring it to his attention later." I sniffed the air, "Ahh, I love the smell of whores and liquor in the evening." I loved Tortuga. Don't get me wrong, the sea and my ship were my blood, my life, my soul, but Tortuga always refreshed me.
"I wonder who'll be in The Faithful Bride tonight." I thought to myself. "There's always someone, or something interesting in there. I need to remember to pick up the supplies that we needed also," I said, and grimaced at the thought of not having my precious rum.
"What's wrong, Commodore?" my 2nd mate Pete asked.
"Just thinking about me rum being gone."
An expression of pure anguish flashed onto Pete's face. "Bloody 'ell, I can see why. I just came to tell you that the crew is awaiting your orders."
"Alright men!" I shouted as I addressed the crew of both ships and started down to the main deck, "I need three of you to stay on each ship to guard it tonight. Everyone else just be back to the ships by sunset in three days time. Now Thompson, get your arse over here!" The crew rushed off the street to find a friendly mug and a warm bed.
"About our guests in the brig, I've decided that tomorrow those two shall be released."
"Not to be insubordinate, but why, shouldn't we just kill them or hold them for ransom?"
"Two reasons: 1.) I'm in a merciful turn of mind right about now, and 2.) There has to be someone to spread more rumors about the illustrious me isn't there?" I told him with a smirk and a bow.
"Ahh," he responded, "Have I ever told you that you have a devious mind?"
"Yes, the I never tire of hearing it." I looked at the rapidly sinking sun, "The Faithful Bride?"
"Just what an old sailor like me needs about now, The Faithful Bride it is." He said as we excited down the gangplank into Tortuga.
I sauntered into The Faithful Bride and got to my favorite table at the back of the place. I loved being able to survey the whole place. I told Thompson to get some rum and sat back to look around. There was fighting every other time I had been in here, and tonight was no different.
"It wouldn't be The Faithful Bride without it," I thought to myself. Just then, Thompson came back with the rum and sat down. I took a large swig, set down the mug, and swiped my mouth with the back of my sleeve. Looking up at him, I said, "I think that we should just keep an eye on those new crew members and keep an ear out for any rumors of mutiny. Good crewmembers are hard to find, and these were hard enough to find in the first place."
"That reminds me, commodore, I've been hearing some things about a round robin," he remarked. After seeing my face blanch, he quickly added, "Nothing but rumors mind ye, but something to keep in mind anyway."
All right, so tomorrow, we go back to the ship and ask some of the older crewmembers if they've heard anything. We might also go through the crew's belongings to see if we find anything informative. Simple as that," I responded, reverting back to my carefree manner.
"Aye," Thompson said, eyeing me with a dubious look.
"Bloody Hell, Thompson!" I exclaimed, "There's nothing we can do about it tonight!" He kept giving me that look, and wanting him to stop, I said, "Now, Thompson, about that Tortugan lady friend of yours, why don't you go try and find her tonight eh? Have a little fun."
"Find commodore, just remember my warning, and try not to pass out in the streets again, you're mighty lucky that I found you when I did, something could have happened to you."
I winced at this painful memory, "Yes, but nothing did, now be a good 1st mate and run along to your lady friend."
"Alright, alright, I can take a hint," he said with a shake of his head, and walked out the door.
I muttered to myself, "Damn him for knowing about my fondness for rum. There's nothing wrong with my esteem for it. Just then, a voice from the table next to me piped up and said,
"Right you are love, nothing better in the world then some fine rum."
I looked over in surprise. The voice was coming from a man with his head on the table, which was covered in braids, dreads, beads, bones, and God knows what else. I had thought that he was passed out from drink hours earlier. "Losing my touch," I muttered, annoyed that I had missed his alertness. Hearing this he grinned, lifted his head, and continued,
"I couldn't help but overhearing-"
"You mean you eavesdropped," I interrupted.
"You learn a lot by pretending to be asleep," he said, his chocolate brown eyes twinkling. "Now, I couldn't help overhearing that you might be facing a mutiny. Now, I normally wouldn't say anything, but since you're so pretty, love, I thought I might give you my professional opinion."
"And who are you to give me your professional opinion?" I asked, wanting to see his reaction.
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, did you not hear of my quest to get The Black Pearl back from my mutinous crew and 1st mate Barbossa?"
"No," I said, trying to keep a straight face. "Why don't you tell me over a drink. I'll buy. Rum, I presume?"
"Aye, love, and over that delicious rum you can tell me all about yourself, Commodore."
"I suppose," I replied, and motioned a wench over to order more rum.
"That's the spirit!" he said. I smiled to myself. This was going to be an entertaining night.
"Whattya do with a drunken sailor, whattya do with a drunken sailor, whattya do with a drunken sailor, whattya do with a drunken sailor early in the morning!" I bellowed as I walked arm in arm with Sparrow through the streets of Tortuga, swinging my rum bottle with the other.
He joined in to my sea chantey, "Put 'im in the longboat 'til he's sober, put 'im in the longboat 'til he's sober, put 'im in the longboat 'til he's sober early in the morning!"
"I love this song!" I shouted and started skipping, dragging Sparrow.
"Why, Van Steen, I do believe we've arrived at the beach, he slurred, swaying slightly.
"I do believe that you are correct," I said, slurring and swaying just as much, trying to fight my way out of the hodgepodge my brain was in, and finally giving up. As we walked through the wet sand, we were simultaneously taking large gulps from our own rum bottles. My foot slid in the sand and I fell, dragging Sparrow down with me. We were both silent for a while, nursing our rum bottles and staring out at the water, watching it glisten with the moonlight shining on it.
"'Tis an exquisite night," he murmured softly, "Reminds me of another night," he added, putting his arm around my waist and playing with the scarf in my hair.
"Tell me about it." I stated.
"Well, love," he stated, lying down with his hands behind his head. "I told you about Elizabeth right?" he started, pulling me down so that I was laying the same way as him. I nodded and he continued. "It all started when we were marooned on that island…" he said and went off into an outrageous story involving rum, fire, explosions, and the British navy. I stared up at the pinpricks of stars in the sky and squeezed his hand as I drifted off into a drunken sleep, his voice and the crash of the waves on the beach lulling me to sleep.
The tickle of cold water on my toes woke me up abruptly, causing me to sit straight up and shake Sparrow awake.
"Tide's coming in," I murmured, "We'd best move further away 'afore we drown." He nodded in agreeance and dragged me up the beach.
"We have a few more hours before the docks next to us start crawling with people." He said and as soon as I lay down again I was out.