Chapter 22: Gratitude And Goodbye

Two weeks went by much quicker this time on their return trip to Italy. Jack returned the crown to the very gracious King who in turn pardoned him of his past piracy and rewarded him with enough treasure that the whole crew could retire with. Of course just because they could, didn't mean they would. They were pirates after all and all the treasure in all the world would never satisfy their lust for looting, pillaging and the such. They would continue on their beloved ship, following their Captain who has never steered them wrong and always looked out for them. Even among pirates, they knew that even though they were scurvy, good for nothing thieves, they did have their honor to maintain.

Back on the ship, Romi had had one of her dreams about the baby. She dreamt it was a boy this time. They decided that they would name him Jack. Seemed appropriate. She thought the world would be very dull without a Jack Sparrow in it to keep the 'em on their toes.

Will and Angela decided to stay in Port Royale for a while. Will was going to open his own Blacksmith shop and he and Angela were going to try to extend their family.

Jack decided to return to Tortuga to visit the old woman that helped him in the first place and generously give her a small token of his gratitude with the reward he received. Of course, Romi was the one who had to talk him into doing it. A pirate would never give away any of his treasure to anyone other than his own crew, and those are the honest pirates who even do that.

When they arrived it was night, and the moon was full in the sky. Jack walked up the familiar street to the house where the old woman lived. As he got closer he noticed there weren't any lights on. 'Must be asleep.' He thought to himself, but decided to continue anyway since they were planning on leaving first thing in the morning and he wouldn't have another chance to see her. Jack walked up to the door and knocked lightly. There was no answer. He turned his head from one side to the other checking to see if he saw any movement, his beads clinking together each time. The house looked abandoned. He gave another knock but much louder this time. Still no one came to the door. Jack turned around and looked up the street. There was another house with a light in the window just down the path. He made his way to the doorstep and knocked. An older gentleman opened the door and peered at him through wrinkled eyes. "Aye? What do ye want?"

"Pardon the intrusion, I just arrived at the docks with the intention of seeing the old woman that lives in that house just there." Jack pointed in the direction of which he just came. The old man opened the door wider and stepped outside, looking to where Jack was pointing and squinted.

"Baaah, nobody lives in that house. House hasn't been lived in for at least ten years."

Jack looked at him in disbelief. "Sir, I was just here a little over a month ago and I assure you, there was an old woman there."

The old man stared at Jack for a moment. "Did ye say an old woman?" He rubbed his chin a bit as in deep thought. "There used to be a woman that lived there, but like I said, it was over ten years ago. She died from insanity. Was crazy, she was. Always talkin' 'bout ghosts and crazy talk like that. No one ever paid much attention to her."

Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are ye sure? I tell you I was just here not that long ago and she was there. Let me into her house, I sat on her chair, she had a fire going in the fireplace. It just can't be."

The man just shrugged his shoulders. "Ye must be mistaken. Perhaps it was another house ye went to."

"No, it was that same house." Jack stood there and thought for a moment. The old man was turning to go back into his home.

"Wait. Do you know anything about that woman? Where she came from?"

The man thought for a moment. "I believe she had said that she once worked for the royal family of Italy. Was the princess' maiden she said. Course we never believed her. When she came to Tortuga, she was already crazy. I heard she was banished here. Probably 'cause she was insane and ain't no where else in the world where she would be welcome. She was very secluded in that house." The old man turned to leave again and shut his door.

Jack stood there on his doorstep a little while longer feeling very baffled. He looked up at the bright moon and stared. Suddenly he remembered the old woman he saw back on the island. It did look a lot like the woman he was now searching for. But how could it be? Her spirit had helped him find the crown. Jack had seen crazier things so this was not out of the question. He also thought that she also had a hand in helping the princess be freed of her curse. Her own spirit would now be free as well.

Jack walked off the doorstep of the old man's house and walked back down the path through the bustling city of Tortuga. The path that would lead him back to his ship, his wife, his child and his freedom.

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