6. Alf
Scarlett woke just after sunrise and realized immediately that something was wrong this morning. She wasn't alone in her bed. Soon the memories of the previous night came flooding back into her brain. Oh shit, she thought, the bloody storm. Carefully she tried to untangle her limbs from Jack's embrace without waking him but luckily he was fast asleep.
Damned, why do I always have to go and make things complicated? she asked herself while dressing quickly in some comfortable cloths, a wide shirt and baggy trousers that were rolled up to her knees. She was just about to leave her cabin when there was a knock at the door. Opening it swiftly she faced young Will Turner's worried face.
"What's up, mate?" she asked as politely as she was able to so early in the morning, and that wasn't very much.
"Oh... um... sorry for disturbing you Miss- um, Captain Scarlett I was going to say..." Will seemed to be uncertain how to handle this situation before he came up with his worries. "It's my wife, Elisabeth. She's sick."
"Sorry to hear that." Scarlett quickly closed the door behind her, not wanting him to see the mess in her cabin. She shrugged. "Well, there was quite a heavy storm last night so she's probably seasick, lad. Don't worry 'bout that. It'll pass as soon as we've reached Tortuga "
"My wife's definitely not seasick. I know her; she never gets seasick. Besides, the storm's long gone by."
"Oh, really? Thanks for reminding me." she said sarcastically while making her way to the galley. Will was close on her heels like a dog- does Jack call him 'whelp' for that reason? she wondered.
"Wait! This is presumably something worse. You know a great deal about healing as you've healed Jack, so please go and have a look at her."
Now, this was funny. She'd only managed to dig a bullet outta Jack's shoulder and suddenly she was a master of medicine? Well, actually she had no idea about the skills of healing.
"Hey lad, lemme have a sip of tea 'n a good look at me ship first before I'll look after yer wife, aye?" she told him when they entered the mess, where Rashid eagerly handed a mug of tea to his Captain. She nodded thankfully and drank her tea.
Will became furious. "I've should have known better. You're a typical pirate- caring more about your ship than a person's life."
"Nah, not say that." Rashid interfered. "Me Maharani is good Capitano, good pirate. Cares muchas about crew, so you shut up. Silencio, savvy? No talk to her early in the morning before first cup of tea."
Scarlett emptied her mug, handed it to Rashid for a refill, and smiled a little. He's such a good soul, she thought as Will actually fell silent for a while. With the mug in one hand she went up the companions way to the deck and looked up the masts. All sails were set, flapping lively in the breeze. She should have checked them, as well as she should have checked the hull for leaks after the storm, but she shouldn't have gone straight to her cabin. She got a little nervous and then she had to tell herself to calm down again. Everything was okay. The crew would have locked her in her cabin if she'd started an inspection of the Jewel right after she'd manoeuvred her ship through the storm; there had been heated discussions about this before. A captain should command a ship and not trying to do everything by herself, her crew had once decided. Therefore she knew that everything was ship shape, yet she had to go and question Marris. In addition, she still had a bone to pick with him...
"So, your ship looks okay to me. Now, would you please come with me and have a look at my wife?" Will plagued her again.
As she had no greater knowledge of healing than the first time he'd asked her, she just sighed. But one thing she knew for sure. "Lad, if yer wife 'd be feverish, throwing up blood or be bleeding to death you'd stormed me cabin instead if knocking politely, so it can't be that bad. Also, if she'd do so there'd be nothing I could do 'bout it. Better wait 'til we've reached Tortuga and consult Santiago. I promise, she won't die within the next few hours."
They had entered the afterdeck. Marris was in charge of the helm and greeted them joyfully, flashing a cheeky smile at Scarlett.
"'ello, my dearest Captain- you'll be pleased to hear that Peter's already repaired the mizzen mast and as far as I'm informed that's the only damage been done by the storm. Needless to say ye did an excellent job, as usual. By the way, did ye have a pleasant night?"
She really had to get a grip on herself not to beat him while Will was watching because the whelp didn't have to know what Marris apparently knew, due to that suggestive look he gave her. Luckily she saw a man passing by and stopped him.
"Peter! It's so good to see ye. I want to introduce you to someone. This is Bootstraps Bill's son, young Will Turner. Maybe ye'll tell him a bit 'bout his father and how awful it's to become a pirate."
"But Captain, it's not awful at all. Though I'm still suffering from acrophobia, you and Santiago have been very patient with me and encouraged me to discover my talents."
He was right; he was still too scared to climb the rigging, but he had gifted hands working with wood so he had become the Jewel's carpenter by now. Peter gave Will a warm-hearted glance.
"I'm so glad to meet you as your father told me a lot about you and he really is a hero to me. Do you know what he'd risked..."
Peter's voice faded as he walked away with Will, both being engrossed in their talk. Scarlett watched them disappear to the main deck before she turned to Marris again.
"Bloody hell, why did ye have to accommodate Sparrow in my cabin?"
"Thought ye'd liked it." he joked but then he got serious after recognizing that she wasn't in the mood for his jokes. He tried to defend his doings. "Well, actually there was no other bed left. I've given Santiago's cabin to the lovely honeymoon couple and I couldn't have let him sleep with the crew as he's Captain Jack Sparrow. So what? Ye don't sleep in your cabin that often anyway as ye prefer the jig's net and..."
"Not after a storm!" she interrupted with great intensity but he just kept on smiling.
"Ah, but then ye're in a very- well, let's say special- mood. Come on, I know ye. Ye could have chucked him easily if ye'd wanted it, but apparently ye didn't." He reached out to stroke her cheek, something, which only he was allowed to do. "Now, Rowan, don't blame me for messing up things; you're quite good at doing that on yer own."
"Okay, it's my mistake." she sighed, still not very happy with the situation.
"Was it really that bad?"
"Ye don't expect me to go into details, d'ye?" She looked at him with a stern expression in her face that was in a strange contradiction with her ambiguously sparkling green eyes. Of course he wanted to know some details but she wasn't willing to tell more and only elbowed him. Marris put an arm around her shoulder to hug her.
"So we better keep it to ourselves, aye?"
She agreed laughing and returned his hug, as it was impossible to be angry with him; they were just too close.
At that moment Captain Jack Sparrow appeared on deck being in a splendid mood. He swaggered up the stairs to the afterdeck with casualness as if the world would be his own- or at last the Jewel. When Scarlett saw him coming up to her so full of himself, she immediately regretted what had happened last night. Although he was anything but a lousy lover, he shouldn't go getting any big ideas just because of this little success. After all, he wasn't that irresistible and she hadn't fallen helplessly in love with him; nothing had changed between them. So it was time to put him in his place again.
"Captain Sparrow, ye'll be pleased to hear that we're reaching Tortuga in an hour or so." she informed him with cool politeness before he could come any closer.
The words 'hello luv' just froze on his lips and he stood rooted to the spot, gazing at her with raised eyebrows. She had figuratively slapped his face and he really didn't know what for, though he was quite sure that this time he didn't deserve it at all. He indicated an exaggerated bow, as it was just his typical manner, yet he still seemed a little bit crossed. "Can't wait to get aboard my Pearl again, Captain Scarlett."
Marris shook his head slightly while watching both of them.
-
An hour later the Jewel was entering the harbour of Tortuga and anchored next to the Black Pearl, which was lying at the docks. Jack Sparrow couldn't wait to get back on his own ship again, to feel the familiar planks under his feet. He was expected by Anamaria who gave him a very special welcome. Scarlett couldn't hear what she was saying but she raised her hand to slap his face before hugging and kissing him in great relief. So, everything was back to normal.
That was before she saw Santiago walking up the companions way of the Pearl to face Jack and the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow turned as pale as if he'd seen a ghost- or at least met some unwanted memories that were hidden somewhere deep inside of him.
"Alf?" he gasped. "What 're ye doin' on my ship?"
"You're as ungrateful as ever, lad. Not a word of thanks for repairing the Pearl. You always take what you can but give nothing back."
"Pirate!" Jack smirked, but he didn't really sound like being his typical self. He was still much too perplex.
Scarlett came closer as she was interested why Santiago got away with calling Jack Sparrow 'lad' instead of 'Captain', and why Jack had called Santiago 'Alf'.
"Why's he calling ye Alf?"
"Because his little brain was overtaxed with my full name, Miguel Alfonso de Santiago, how I introduced myself when we first met, many years ago. As I said, nothing much has changed." Santiago's voice was strangely cool, almost chilly, but that changed when he looked at Scarlett. His eyes lit up and he gave her a very warm embrace. "Ah, I'm so glad you returned safe, my dear. You've got to tell me everything."
"She's quiet a smart 'n tough lass, mate, a bit too hot tempered sometimes but she's really doing well." Jack dared to say while shooting an ambiguous glance at Rowan who tried not to blush. Bloody bastard, she thought. Luckily Santiago didn't notice that as the mere presence of Jack Sparrow was enough to make his blood boil, so there was no use to make him boil over. Nevertheless she still wondered what had been between Santiago and Jack, as she's never seen her foster father in a mood like this. He probably would kill the pirate if he'd ever found out what happened last night, no matter that it had been she who started it, and that's why she really hoped that Jack would stop making any further, ambiguous comments. Or was it only she who thought them ambiguous?
"Ha, do you really think you're able to judge my girl?" Santiago snorted scornfully. "You, who can't even distinguish between the scum you usually love to surround yourself and decent people? Ah, just shut up and get out of my sight!"
"Oh, I'd really love to but unfortunately yer still aboard my ship, so even if I gave the orders to weigh anchor and set all sails, that wouldn't solve our little problem, aye?" Jack replied sarcastically and - apparently recovered from his first shock of seeing Santiago again- was now back to his typical manner again.
"By the way, what is this little problem between the two of you?" Scarlett was curious to find out yet she already knew that she would hear two different truths- or maybe half-truths.
"Well, I'd say it's some sort of difficult father-son-relationship that would've never worked as he's not my father and I'm not his son..." Jack began but he was cut off by Santiago.
"That's an easy way to describe it, lad. However, fact is that he's unable to respect anybody but himself. He lacks discipline, is determined to get his own way regardless as well as he likes to offend people who mean well with him. Instead of accepting a critically comment, he'd rather surround himself with scum that says want he wants to hear- and then they betray him. Nevertheless he's not willing to learn anything from that but prefers to make his mistakes over again. Oh, I wished I could have stopped Rowan from risking her life to safe yours. Maybe the rope around your neck would have taught you better."
"Come on, Santiago, I really can't believe ye're sayin' this! Don't tell me it's wrong to spring a man from jail when the bloody Royal Navy was torturing him before he's going to have his appointment with the hangman. That just isn't right."
"See what I mean, lad? My dearest Rowan does know how to distinguish between right or wrong although she tends to overshoot the mark if it's about a ne'er-do-well like you."
Now Scarlett was really embarrassed. Though she liked to get an approval from time to time she certainly didn't liked to be praised to the skies if someone else was torn off a strip at the same time. Yet unfortunately she didn't know how to defend Jack without leaving the impression she could have fallen for him. Once again she regretted last night's activities as they only complicated things. Luckily a little angle with Elisabeth's beautifully face appeared on deck of the Jewel just at the right moment to save her from doing anything stupid. Elisabeth looked absolutely stunning to all men including Santiago who hurried to welcome her very politely.
"Mrs. Turner, I've already heard so much about your beauty but even the most vivid stories can't match with the vision before me. I'm really delighted to meet you and I'm overjoyed that Captain Rowan Scarlett could persuade you to visit me in Tortuga. Therefore I've already sent for the carriage so that none of the mob by the docks will bother you."
Speechlessly Scarlett watched them exchanging even more courtesies. Apparently Elisabeth wasn't as sick as her husband has thought- maybe it was just some sort of early morning indisposition that could even happen to the finest women when they're married... That didn't surprise her, but it was Santiago's behaviour. He hadn't left out any opportunity to criticise Jack in a slashing way yet there was something in his eyes that only she could see as she had known him nearly her whole life. It had been there when she had set sails to rescue Jack and it was still there, somehow. He couldn't fool her. He liked Jack as much as he despised him- or was it the other way round? However, he didn't want to let him go now, no matter if he'd told him to get out of his sight just a few minutes ago.
"Come on, into the carriage with you, you little creep." Santiago shouted to Jack, and Scarlett was astounded that Captain Jack Sparrow obeyed at once though Anamaria tried to hold him back.
"Captain! You don't really intend to go with them?" The way she pronounced the last word it sounded like an insult.
He rolled his eyes, looking at the sky and then back to her, dramatically waving his hands before they finally rested in a pleading gesture. "Luv, it'll be far worse not to go with them. Besides, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"
-
Since a carriage drawn by four horses couldn't possibly pass the small alley of Tortuga's old town, they had to make a detour around the whole town to get to Santiago's house. First their road led to the north and they followed the shoreline for a mile or so until the horses turned west, trotting into the countryside. Tortuga was very mountainous in the northern part of the island, yet here in the south there were only softly rolling ranges of hills covered with green forest alternating with plantations. Tobacco grew here, sugar cane and fruits.
Will and Elisabeth looked out of the window for a while, comforted with the sight. So not all of Tortuga was dirty, rotten pirate's nest and the nature of this island actually resembled Jamaica. Will was also relieved that they'd found such a friendly and cultivated gentleman like Santiago as a host. It was a pity that he didn't keep their company in the cabin of the carriage as he would have talked to him. Santiago had been the last one to see his father, it had been him who took Bootstrap Bill Turner to a Buddhist monastery somewhere near Saigon, and he wanted to know everything about it. At once, if possible. On the other hand he could wait, as he's nearly waited a lifetime to find out anything about his father. Also it really might have been better that Santiago had taken his seat outside next to the coachman because inside the atmosphere was already tense enough even without him. He tried to ignore this and was happy that Elisabeth sleepily snuggled her head against his shoulder.
The sun was high in on the sky now and it was getting warmer in the carriage, the soft rumbling got all of them a bit drowsy. Scarlett realized that her eyelids got heavier with every minute. Did Santiago chose a longer road to his house? She remembered his house clearly; it was a two-story building situated on a hill overlooking Tortuga's harbour. It was of Spanish style like many other houses in the older parts of the town still were, and it had a shady courtyard with a fountain. She could almost smell the scent of the jasmine and oleander bushes growing there when she suddenly felt transported back in time... she was a little girl again and saw this house for the first time after Santiago had picked her up from the dirty streets of Tortuga...
...it was a different world, only a few blocks away from the one she used to know. No comparison to the dock area where debauchery was the agenda and were filthy, stinking pirates ruled. She was impressed- nevertheless she didn't trust the man who'd brought her here. Though he wasn't one of these filthy pirates like Barbossa or the ones who visited the brothel were she had been raised, she was cautious. Simply because he was a man. No matter how neatly he was dressed. Like a fine Spanish Don...like the ones who have accused her mother being a witch. Oh, she already knew how men could be. If they didn't intend to thrash a woman and rape her, they liked to see her burn for being a witch, no matter if witchcraft existed or not.
"I suppose you're hungry." The man said with a gentle voice, but then he made the mistake of putting a hand on her shoulder, of touching her. She whirled around to threaten him with a dagger she'd just nicked from him.
"Lay yer fingers on me again 'n I'll chop 'em off 'n eat 'em."
"Excuse me, missy. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Then don't call me missy, me name's Rowan." she snapped.
"Ah, the red one." He looked at her for quite a long time and managed not to laugh at her though she knew she looked ridiculous with her badly shaved head as there were still some strands sticking out. "Well, Rowan, you're a very hot-tempered young girl and you've already proved as a pickpocket- it looks to me that you possibly wouldn't intend to become a fine, decent lady one day. Am I right?"
"Damn right, mate." she stressed. "Being a lady's boring. They sit in their fine houses doing needlework all day. I'd rather learn how to use a sword."
"To do what?"
"To kill Barbossa."
"Oh." He would have laughed at any other little girl of eight years who'd said that, but there was so much determination in her big, sparkling green eyes that it was better not to misjudge her. "But is this all you want of life? Revenge?"
He's a funny guy, she thought, asking a girl what she wanted of life. Though still being very young she had already realized that this was a men's world where women had to obey and stay quiet. Now, wouldn't it be a challenge to turn the world upside down? After all, this weird Spaniard had asked her a question and she was bold enough to answer it freely.
"No. I wanna be a pirate captain on me own ship- though I don't like pirates actually. But I like ships and the sea, and I wanna sail the world. I wanna break all these bloody laws 'bout what a woman's s'pposed to do 'n what not. I wanna set up me own rules. I wanna learn how to use a sword - can ye teach me how to fight with a sword?"
"Aye, I can teach you that. Actually I'm quite good with a sword."
From the look she gave him it wasn't to be ruled out that she would have turned around and decided to leave if his answer hadn't been pleasing to her. "How 'bout pistols? Can ye show me how te use a pistol 's well."
"I can teach you all you want to learn."
"Well... um, I also need to know all these things 'bout ships 'n sails 'n masts- all this nautical stuff, ye know?"
"I know. But for navigation you have to know how to calculate, to read and to write...Do you want me to teach you this as well? Knowledge might be as powerful as a sharpened blade."
In these times, woman usually weren't taught how to read or write- unless of course they were born into a wealthy and liberally orientated family. Little Rowan Scarlett knew that.
"Sounds cool." she expressed her enthusiasm and held out her small hand to Santiago. "Now, do we have an accord?"
Jack Sparrow had tried to make a conversation with Will but the whelp seemed to be much more interested in fondling his wife's curls, so he gave up after a while. The drowsiness in the carriage was catching yet he didn't want to fall asleep. This was a strange day. He didn't even know why he was here at all. Certainly not because Alf had asked him so friendly to join them. Alf- or Santiago or Don Miguel or all: Miguel Alfonso de Santiago. Maybe it was curiosity. It had been quite a shock to meat him today though he should have known better. There weren't many Spanish weirdoes in these waters and Scarlett had mentioned his name a couple of times- the penny should have dropped sometime before. For so many years he had repressed all memory of him and he didn't know the reason why, as it all had begun fairly promising once...
...he had been a street urchin with a head full of dreams but not a single penny in his pockets; his life hadn't been easy yet he'd had the rare talent to make the best from any situation, so he always came through somehow. However, Fortuna had really been on his side when he met Alf. Soon he had a roof above his head, a bed to sleep in, clean clothes and always enough to eat. He could have gotten used to it if only this house hadn't been much too far away from the sea and the harbour. Though he could see the sea from the window of his room it wasn't the same hearing and smelling it. Also it wasn't really his cup of tea to sit in a room and to decline verbs of a language that was too old to be used anymore when the sun was shining brightly from a clear blue sky. He knew he owed Alf a favour so he tried it at least sometimes yet he knew as well that he would never need it, as one day he's gonna be a famous pirate captain. Now, did pirate captains ever need Latin to do their plundering and looting? The answer was no and that's why he preferred to spend most of his time in the docks where his old friends hung out, although it was quite embarrassing that they'd already started to tease him about being better dressed and- even worse- educated
"Ye'll never be a pirate, Jack, let alone a pirate captain." they mocked.
"Ah, one day, me name's gonna be bloody well known in the Spanish Main- no, in the whole world actually. Mark me words, mates. Ye're gonna hear 'bout the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow."
He already had his characteristic way to get people hung on his every word no matter how much nonsense he talked, so he managed to impress the harbour-rats once again. Only Steven Bonnet, who had already sailed the sea as a ship's boy on a pirate's ship, kept on teasing Jack.
"Come on boy, ye've ne'er been on a ship before so stop talkin' 'bout becomin' a pirate."
"Alf's promised me a ship, me own ship."
Steven laughed. "Ye're quite naïve, aren't ye? D' ye really think ol' men 're really carin' for cute li'le boys like ye 'cept they're perverts? Me guess 's that ye'd rather end as a rent boy than an infamous pirate captain."
"Take that back!" he hissed furiously as he didn't allow anybody to speak ill of Alf.
"Or...?"
Steven was older, bigger and stronger but he was Jack Sparrow and would have started a fight with anyone who spoke ill of Alf. He'd already done it many times and he knew a lot of tricks. A little later he had a broken tooth plus a few more bruises but the other guy looked even worse. Steven lay on the floor and seemed to be absolutely surprised about what had happened to him; the little boy had beaten him.
"Ne'er say again Alf's a pervert. 'n 'bout me becomin' a pirate- gimme a year. I'll sign on the same ship like ye 'n I'll prove ye that within a year I'm gonna be the one who gives orders to you, savvy."
"So it'd be. It's a fair bet but in the end ye'll lose, sucker!"
So he signed on a pirate ship for the first time. He was young and the world lay at his feet but in his enthusiasm he'd forgotten to tell Alf about it; he just ran away thoughtlessly. However, it had always been easier for him to fight for Alf's reputation than to tell the man himself how much he cared for him, that he actually liked him a lot and that he owed him a lot. No word of that had ever passed his lips as he'd never been able to lay his heart bare to anyone. But, he'd proved it to Steven and within a year he'd already made a name for himself among the pirates of the Caribbean. When he returned to Tortuga he was as proud as a peacock and Alf was really mad with him, nevertheless he'd awaited him at the docks.
"Guess I've told you to wait for the opportune moment, Jack." he said offended and would have liked to tweak his ears if that hadn't been a much too ridiculous thing to do.
"I did, honestly, but that was the opportune moment to me 'cause if ye wait too long it'll pass 'n ne'er returns, aye?"
Alf couldn't help it, he had to smile at him. When they went to his house in the hills he was eager to hear all about Jack Sparrow's adventures and maybe he thought everything was gonna be the way it's used to be. But he was wrong.
The sea takes all and gives nothing back. Once infected by her she's gonna be in your blood for a lifetime, floating though your veins and calling for you. You can't stop her- can you stop the earth from turning, the fire from burning, the wind from blowing- she calls you and you'll return as you can't bear this yearning for her any longer.
He had to follow her call again but this time with Alf's blessing and his best wishes. This time he was asked to join the famous Captain Henry Morgan on his way to Panama. He couldn't believe it. He was asked to join the man who'd sacked Portobello town and looted more than 250000 Pesos- he's gonna be a rich man soon!
Well, actually he didn't get rich. Fifteen Pounds wasn't that much but he gained plenty of experiences when they raided Panama town... yet he's never ever talked about it with somebody and after that, all pirates who'd sailed under Morgan's command scattered in different directions.
When he finally returned to Tortuga once again he didn't find the way back to Alf's house anymore as the taverns in the dock area were much closer, and the promise of rum and doxies was much too tempting. Alf became a distant figure of his past yet he thought of him quite often during the years to follow. They've met once or twice by incident but then the memories faded...until now when he was to return to the place where it had started a long time ago... it was a warm, comforting feeling...
...it was only a daydream and his return to reality was quite a harsh one, as someone elbowed his ribs hardly to remind him that he had crossed forbidden borders once again by resting his head on her shoulder..
"Oh, why didn't you leave him?" Elisabeth chirped with delight. "He looked so cute cuddled close to you."
Before Scarlett could give an answer, Jack did. "Sorry, Lizzie, but ye surly don't wanna spoil me reputation, aye? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow- I don't intend to look cute, savvy?"
"By the way, me neither." Scarlett hissed sharply.
Elisabeth just sighed, thinking about what a pretty nice couple they could be if only they would stop this nasty bitching at each other- and if it was suitable at all to regard two pirate captains as a nice couple. The sudden stop of the carriage interrupted her thoughts. Santiago opened the door to welcome them to his house.
"Oh, this is really beautiful Will, isn't it?" she gasped enthusiastically when she saw an inner courtyard that was overgrown by oleander bushes and had a fountain with lions of stone. Yet the fountain was out of use and the whole place had the atmosphere of being abandoned for a long time, but it still told of glorious times. Some servants appeared to take care of the horses.
Will looked surprised as he hadn't expected a house like this in Tortuga; when he came here with Jack he'd only got to know dirt, stench and debauchery.
"I'm glad you like it, Mylady, though the house is certainly not in a condition you're used to. I've been away too long and unfortunately didn't have the time to prepare everything to your satisfaction for your visit as I had to take care of the poor Pearl as well; yet I hope the room I've chosen for you will be acceptable."
"Dear Mister Santiago, I'm not the spoiled governor's daughter anymore, so please don't make any unnecessary effort. Everything will be all right for me as long as I can be with my beloved Will." Elisabeth emphasized politely but firmly.
Will smiled gently at her wondering once more what on earth he did deserve her love, but then something Santiago had said made him wonder even more. "Prepare everything for our visit? But how could you know we were coming to Tortuga since that's something I never intended to do? Actually we've been quite happy living in Port Royal before..."
"Jack came and messed up everything?" Santiago interjected helpfully but Will shook his head in disapproval.
"Well, actually it was rather Captain Scarlett who did the messing up; Jack's not to blame."
Jack flashed the Spaniard a golden grin and held up his hands in a big gesture that seemed to say, you see, it's not me to blame, but Santiago ignored him completely.
"Dear William, things aren't always what they might seem. The ways of life are full of twists and turns, unforeseeable for most of us, but one day we'll meet at a distant crossing and we have to ask ourselves whether this is coincidental- or predestined." he told Will who wasn't much wiser afterwards, although he nodded as if he had understood every word. Perhaps he also thought that these words were just too high for a simple blacksmith. Santiago recognized his confusion and put an arm around the young man's shoulder. "Don't worry, William, it had been a long voyage and the sea hasn't treated you very kindly. I assume that you must be tired, hungry and thirsty, so I suggest we have some refreshment before we discuss what's happened in Port Royal."
The door of the house was opened by a slender Asian woman now, who greeted Santiago with the traditional wai; her palms were put against each other at the level of her nose to show her respect for the elder man.
"Welcome, Don Miguel." she said with a voice that sounded like a sweet song and every movement of her was so full of grace that once again Scarlett felt rather awkwardly in Mai-Lin's presence. Although the woman was a few years older than her, the years gone by hadn't done any harm to Mai-Lin's beauty and she still looked as fresh and pure as a young girl. "Also I would like to welcome your dear guests, Mr. and Mrs. William Turner. Please do feel at home here if you may. And my dear Rowan, I'm so glad to see you again- it's been so long ago, isn't it?"
While Will and Elisabeth imitated the wai in some sort of clumsy way and Scarlett in perfection, Jack just rushed in with an easy-going 'hello luv'. Then he stopped, turned around, and bowed to Mai-Lin in a gesture that vaguely reminded a wai, but only in his quite special and own ways. Nevertheless, Mai-Lin blushed..
"Oh Jack! You did come back..."
"And he's going to leave us soon." Santiago interrupted with a voice that could even freeze the Caribbean. He gave Sparrow so a hard push that he nearly stumbled and warned him to never ever lay his greedy eyes on any woman of his household again.
Jack was a little perplex. He hadn't intended to offend anyone but his presence here seemed to be offending enough to Alf, or Santiago. Suddenly he felt like a little boy again who'd annoyed him by sliding down the railing of the staircase instead of using the steps... So nothing's changed.
Santiago had already opened a door and invited Elisabeth politely in.
"The interior may be rather unconventional to you yet I hope very much that you'll find it nevertheless comfortable. As I've said before I've been in Asia for a long time and got so used to their style that..."
"My father, Bootstrap Bill Turner, have you met him there?" Will asked so excitedly that he forgot all his good manners by interrupting the elder man, but Santiago showed much more patience with him than with Jack.
"Well, actually your father travelled to Asia with us, aboard the Jewel Star, and then he disappeared one day to seek shelter in the dubious arms of Lady Opium."
"But why...?" Will frowned and ran his fingers through his hair, looking extremely confused. "I know that this sound's rather odd, but why is he not dead? I mean, Barbossa did send him to Davy Jones' locker, didn't he? He couldn't have survived that except if he was cursed but then again there wouldn't be no use taking drugs since they wouldn't have worked on him. Please correct me if I'm wrong."
"Your reasoning doesn't lack a certain logic, dear William, but there are some things that cannot be explained only with logic. For example, Barbossa had thought he'd sent your father to death but he was wrong as I was there just in time to prevent your father's death. Also, good old Bill Turner wasn't cursed and that's why he did take drugs. Of course there's never any use in taking drugs, but that's another story- and talking about other stories, lad, I'm afraid that you have to wait a little bit longer to find out more about your dad. I want to hear Rowan's story first, and what that scallywag has to tell before I can finally send him away."
Will didn't dare object to that although he was quite stunned how cold the Spaniard's otherwise friendly voice could get if it was about Jack Sparrow.
"Now rascal, what's happened?" Santiago addressed Jack. "Why weren't you able to take decent care of your beloved ship? Is it because you've managed to get cheated once again?"
Jack snorted indignantly and started with one of his stories but after a few words he realized that Alf didn't want to hear that, so he cut it short. "Can't remember much of it, mate. There's a battle with a huge, grey galleon; I fell overboard and all went black. Woke up on another ship with bloody Norrington looking at me 'n I can tell ye, he's really infernally pleased to have caught the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Ah, and why did the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow get caught at all? Might it be that he'd already had a few?"
"I wasn't drunk- if that's what ye're indicating. Just a little... well, let's say indisposed."
Scarlett couldn't stand it any longer as this was just ridiculous! Who was the greatest fool of them? Santiago for slagging off or Jack for being too ludicrously proud to tell the truth? Well, in her opinion both of them were behaving just daft. Shaking her head she interfered.
"Bloody hell, why don't ye simply tell him that ye got shot in the back? With a bullet sticking in yer shoulder 'n an infected wound it probably could happen from time to time that ye tend to forget a few details, ay?"
"Ah, so it's not the booze nor the drugs to blame this time- little Jack's got betrayed once more!" Santiago replied sarcastically while making an astonished face. "How could that have happened? I'll wonder if you'll ever learn. So, who's the traitor this time?"
"Surely none of me crew, they're loyal. Besides, I've no eyes on me back, aye?" Jack stressed with a voice that sounded quite pissed off yet Santiago apparently loved to turn the knife in the wound.
"Guess that's what you have thought about Barbossa as well, haven't you? You're so full of yourself that it won't come into your mind somebody might not share your point of view about yourself. Let me tell you that you're wrong to think so."
Jack gave the impression that it didn't matter and that his fingernails were much more interesting than this conversation, yet Santiago had been overstepping the mark. It hadn't been fair to remind him of Barbossa and he simply wouldn't listen to it anymore. Actually he should return to his Pearl now; he didn't know why he came here anyway. Scarlett was much better at telling the story of their adventures in Port Royal as his part in it hadn't been too famous. Laying feverish in the Governor's bed surely wasn't a great story to tell, and getting drugged even less. Luckily she spared him a humiliation and left out how easy it was for her to cheat Captain Jack Sparrow. Of course Alf couldn't stop himself from praising her to the skies for everything his 'dear girl' had ever done... it made him feel sick. Would Alf also say these things if he weren't here? It seemed to him that this was just another attempt to offend him and he had to admit that it worked better than any insult, as there was that little something in Alf's eyes when he looked at her; something that's called a loving pride. Alf had never looked at him like this- but after all, he was Captain Jack Sparrow and didn't need it anyway. And he wasn't needed here but aboard the Pearl, so it was time to say good-bye to this charming company. Nevertheless, there was still one question that had remained unanswered and he was the only one knew.
"What did Norrington want of you?"
Now, that was a reasonable question if Santiago hadn't added. "Assuming we take it for granted that Norrington really wanted to find out something and didn't whip Jack just for being himself."
Enough is enough, Jack thought and got up from the floor cushion he was sitting on. "Why don't ye just ask yer dear girl as this pretty butterfly is much smarter than me anyway."
He hadn't intended to make anyone's blood boil, yet Alf got really furious now; he jumped up and headed for his throat. Of course Jack couldn't have known that the sarong he was alluding to had been a present the Spaniard had given to Scarlett and certainly not for the reason that a villain like him should see her wrapped in it... not even to think 'about unwrapping her...
"Damned, I'll only warn you once, lad! Keep your dirty fingers off HER! Don't. Molest. Rowan. Got that into your thick head?"
"Santiago!" yelled Scarlett but the Spaniard had chosen to ignore her by giving Jack a good shaking instead..
"Now, did I make myself clear, you miserable son of a bitch?"
"Oh, unequivocally clear indeed. Thanks for inviting me but I'm better off now."
Scarlett was stunned. Jack was about to leave the room, even the house, and Santiago didn't do anything to stop him. He only shouted: "If you'll ever dare to pester her, you're a dead man. I won't allow you to put her into any danger once again!"
"Hey, it's not me who's to blame..."
"Leave my house, now!"
"Great performance!" Scarlett cursed after Jack's finally left the room. "Ye both 've reacted like two stubborn, stupid boys. Absolutely fascinating! Damn you Santiago, wake up and don't be so bloody unjust. Do you really think Jack could have ever touched me if I didn't want him to? He didn't start anything, it was me."
"That's irrelevant."
"Bloody hell, it's not!" Scarlett turned to make her way to the door but Santiago stopped her.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"I'll go 'n get Jack back."
"You're not going to run after that bloody scallywag!"
"I'm not running after him!" she pointed out. "Damned, we've got to find out what Norrington really wants from him!"!"
"That doesn't matter, dear. Nevertheless he will believe that you're running after him!"
Scarlett couldn't believe it. She ran her fingers through her hair and thought that either Santiago was going nuts or she was cracking up. However, she felt like a volcano shortly before eruption and couldn't hold it back any longer. "Bloody hell, it does matter! Actually it's of great importance, as Ratbone's no longer a mentally retarded hunchback but an evil magician and bloody Norrington's his willing servant and he's tortured Jack to find out a secret. But ye've sent away the only one who could've shed a little light on that just because ye're such a stubborn, grumpy old man who's apparently had his pride hurt by Jack a long time ago and is unable to forget 'bout it."
"It's not only my pride he's hurt." Santiago sighed and wondered if he could dare to put an arm around her shoulder yet she'd calmed down by now, breathing as heavily as if she'd run a long distance. He looked at the Turners who obviously felt rather uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to suffer from our little quarrel. Will you please excuse Rowan and I for a while as we really must talk about something without delay."
He took Scarlett by the arm and shoved her gently from the room into an adjacent one that was stuffed with books. He quietly closed the door.
"So, if we forget the tiresome fact that you've fallen for Jack's mischievous charm..."
"No need to assume any romantic motives, it was just the storm and I had the need." Scarlett interrupted him.
"Dear Gods, I should have sent you to a convent while you were still a child. The nuns would have taught you at least a bit of decency." Of course this was supposed to be a joke but he should have known that Scarlett wasn't in the mood for jokes at all. She looked at him with dangerously sparkling eyes.
"Bloody Spanish macho! Now, should I be glad ye didn't do it, as the nuns would have loved to see if the red-haired devil's child would sink or swim? Oh, ye're so merciful."
"I am indeed. I had mercy on the nuns as you'd have probably gotten them drunk and taught them to sing all those nasty songs you learned at the brothel." Santiago laughed while opening a bottle and filling two glasses of his best Scottish whiskey. He handed one to Scarlett. "Come on, relax now, and have mercy with an old Spanish macho."
"Sorry... should've known ye're just teasing." She apologized rather sheepishly gulping down the whiskey. He gave her a hug.
"You're really wound tight at the moment, aye? Well I can comprehend this- after all, you've spent the last days with Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Well, he can be a pain in the arse sometimes but I can handle him." She sighed and helped herself to the whiskey. "It's Ratbone who makes me jumpy... it was so weird... like the world's changed into a perverted image of herself. Ye know, I've never really believed in magic though I knew it exists somehow. Dunno how to handle that."
"Surely not by getting drunk on my best whiskey." Santiago tried to keep the bottle away from her but she was faster, grabbed it and didn't even bother to use a glass anymore.
"Stop makin' such a fuss 'bout yer bloody whiskey. I'll just commandeer the next ship arriving from Scotland 'n all's fine again."
He saw that there was no use telling her about the different qualities of whiskey now and this one that had been stored in an oak barrel for many years, as there were more important things to talk over. He knew as well that his precious whiskey would calm her tense nerves and this was of the highest importance to him. So he let her drink as much as she wanted while she finally told him the whole truth of what's happened in Port Royal.
Scarlett usually wasn't easy to scare yet even thinking about this golden chalice sent shivers down her spine and her hands were trembling. However, talking about it made her doubt her mental state. This was far too insane as it was far too magical. Santiago had to think she'd gone completely nuts because that's what she thought listening to herself. But she didn't tell any nightmare about a freak show, this had been reality although this reality seemed to be quite out of touch with reality. Bloody hell, what am I talking about?
"You're sure the source of magic was a chalice?" Santiago asked after she'd finished her story.
He doesn't believe me, was the first thing that came into her mind. "Well, I'm damned sure the source wasn't the end of a bottle if you're indicating that. I can never get drunk enough to think up something like this."
"No. No, I'm not indicating anything; of course I believe you. I just wanted to be sure about the chalice." Santiago scratched his head thoughtfully and looked at the bookshelves which rose to every side of this room, stuffed with books, scrolls and old parchments. "Haven't I read about that chalice before... sounds somehow familiar... the answer's here, somewhere... "
He kept babbling on but he only talked to himself now and almost seemed to have forgotten Scarlett. Amused she watched him rummage in his books for a clue, knowing that he wouldn't stop until he's found what he was looking for. Somehow it was a relief that he picked things up so they're not resting on her shoulders anymore. She had another gulp of whiskey, feeling relaxed enough to inquire something else.
"Now, before ye bury your head in any book and won't be responsive for a while, lemme ask ye a simply question. What's happened between ye 'n Jack?"
"Ah, Jack. You're right. Go and get him back. We need to know what Norrington wants as there might be a connection to the chalice."
Scarlett looked at him in bewilderment. "Great, um... but that wasn't the question. Actually I wanted to know why ye're so mad at Jack Sparrow- and no excuses."
"Is there any whiskey left?" He put away the book he was scrolling through and walked up to her. After she'd filled his glass, he continued. "Well, you've nearly died because of his inability to judge people, his damned egoism and his stubborn pride. It was for Jack's sake I've left you at the wrong moment in time. I simply cannot forgive him for what he's done to you."
Scarlett frowned; she knew what he referred to but she didn't get what this had to do with Jack. She'd been foolish enough to underestimate Barbossa and that's why she nearly died- it was her own folly.Troubled with these memories she turned to look out of the window, lost in her thoughts.
"Sorry, Rowan, I really didn't want to bring up unwanted memories. Do you understand now why I'm so furious that Jack makes eyes at you? He's only full of himself and never cares about anyone else but himself."
"And he's gone!" Scarlett suddenly realized and she didn't mean the well-known fact that he'd left the house as she pointed towards the harbour where only one dark ship lay at anchor, and that one was the Jewel. The Black Pearl had obviously set sails to increase the distance between Jack Sparrow and Santiago and she felt cheated somehow. "Bloody bastard! Now we might never find out what Norrington wants of him."
"Don't worry about that, Rowan. We don't need him as I'll find out anyway." Santiago promised and gave her a comforting hug. "Rest now, you look tired."
Needless to remind Santiago that she hadn't slept much last night as she didn't want to bring on that topic again yet it was also applied to the nights before. All of a sudden she felt dog-tired, emotionally burned out after all of today's stress, and a little bit drunk as well.
"Besides, I guess he'll return soon, as he surely won't miss the chance to sail to Shanghai with you and Will."
She couldn't help but giggle as there was a dizzy feeling in her head caused by the whiskey she'd already had, and the imagination of two pirate captains going on a vacation trip to Asia was just too weird.
thanks again to Ellenar: I love thunderstorms best when I'm lying in bed writing about them...