"Cap'in," said Mr. Gibbs. "I need to have a word with you." Jack nodded and followed him to the helm, where no one else was.
"What is it?"
"The way you tortured that girl this morning, it really rattled some of the crew. Now, I be wonderin', have yeh been able ter get her to tell yeh anythin'?" Jack lowered his gaze.
"No," he answered. "The girl's immovable. She won't talk no matter what."
"Now come on, there's got to be something yeh can do ter make her talk," said Gibbs. Jack shook his head.
"There's nothing, Mr. Gibbs. She's not afraid of pain and she's certainly not afraid to die, savvy?"
"Have yeh considered torturing her until she talks, instead of stopping after an hour er so?" Jack looked up at him, looking a little startled.
"What?"
"Yeh know, either she talks or you torture her to death."
"I don't think we're at a point in time where we need to consider doing that, mate."
"I does. It's been nearly three days and she hasn't cracked a bit. And the crew ain't enjoying the sound so much. A lot of them are waiting for it to just end. Others are startin' to think tha' you don't want ter kill her. They think you've started to like her a bit too much." Jack was tempted to shout to him that that was the case, but thought better of it.
"And what if it was?" asked Jack. "I am the captain of the Black Pearl. It's up to me whether or not the girl dies, and I say, not yet. Wait for the opportune moment."
"Is there and opportune moment?" asked Gibbs. "Cuz I'm startin' to think that you do like her. That means you be goin' weak lad."
"That's not true!" snapped Jack. "Since when did killing someone make you more of a man? Well?"
Gibbs shook his head.
"I don't understand you, Jack," he said. "Yeh used to be so heartless about these things, an' now you be showing her mercy. We have a job ter do, remember? Now, we be reachin' Esther by sunset tomorrow. If she hasn't talked by then, kill her."
"Since when were you to give orders, man?" Jack demanded.
"If yeh don't do it, the crew we'll know you've gone soft, and they'll maroon you like yeh've been so many times before. Savvy?" Jack spat at him, and Gibbs left.
"Em, we need to talk now," said Jack as he came barreling into her cell. Em, who had been asleep, poked her head up and yawned.
"Jack?"
He kneeled down in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Em, you said you loved me last night, right?" She nodded.
"Yes."
"And you meant it?"
"Yes, Jack."
"Then tell me where the bloody idle is," he demanded, his voice mixed with anger and sadness. "I don't care what promise you have, I don't care. If you don't tell me, they're going to make me kill you, Em." She only stared at him, and he knew she wouldn't tell him. "I don't want to bloody do it," he shouted, tears forming in his eyes again. "If you love me, you won't make me do this."
She looked up at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, Jack."
"Dammit!" he cried. "Em, don't make me! I've tried to find a way to get us out of this, but I can't. Just tell me where the bloody idle is!"
"No, Jack," said Em. "I do love you, Jack, very very much. But I won't slaughter and entire village for you." He sat back, running his hand over his chin as tears fell down his face. "I'm sorry," she wept.
"God, Em," he muttered. "Don't do this to me."
"Oh, Jack," She crawled over to him and put her arms around him, burrying her face in his shoulder, sobbing. He put his arms around her so they were barely even touching her, and cried into her shoulder. After a minute, she pulled back and pressed her forehead to his.
"I love you, Jack. But I have to do this. I'm standing up for what I believe in, and if it means dying, then I'll do it."
"Then if it means I have to be marooned, then so be it," he muttered. "But I can't kill you, Em." He held her close to him and closed his eyes.
"So, what's going to happen?" she asked. He sighed as another tear fell.
"I don't know."
His heart sank when above, he could hear Gibbs shout, "Land ho!"
To think I might no see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbyes
I nearly do...