Chapter 17
Mari thought a few minutes then began her tale. As night fell around them, with starts peaking out of the clouds.
"It's kind of weird really. After the ship exploded I found a piece of driftwood and managed to get on it. Then I saw another ship and began heading for it. Then a wave overtook me and the as soon I as surfaced I reached out for the nearest thing I could reach. I passed out as soon I had a decent grip and felt I wouldn't fall off. When I woke up I was in Tortuga bay. I didn't know exactly where I was at the time but let go of my raft. As it swam away I realized it was a sea turtle." Mari said; she smiled at the memory.
"Sea turtles? That's a strange tale." Jack said; smirking as he remembered what he had told Will one time, on their last adventure to Isle De Mueta.
"Yes, but it's true, then after a year or so in Tortuga I took up pirating. So, what's your story? I heard you had a real big adventure when you were mutinied against. How'd you get off the island?" Mari asked, turning to face him and letting her arms hang behind her and over the sides of the ship.
"Ah, I seem to have a lot of people asking me that." Jack said, leaning against to port side railing.
"Well, that is the supposed 'Great and Mysterious adventure of Captain Jack Sparrow.' So I would guess that a lot of people would want to know that. But I think it's only fair since I told you my story." Mari said, looking into his dark eyes, staring him down.
"All right love, I'll confess. I was marooned on the island for three day, I waded out in the water, by the third day all manner of sea creatures had come and surrounded me. I managed to rope a couple of sea turtles mate, and I made a raft from them. Savvy?" jack said. Mari chuckled.
"You're teasing me captain. What really happened?" Mari asked.
"I'll answer you if you drink this?" Jack said holding up the mug of sleeping draft/rum. Mari looked skeptically down at it.
"You're trying to corner me Jack Sparrow; I don't do well when I get cornered." Mari challenged.
"Well then you won't find out my secret, love. I'll only tell you if you drink this." Jack said, challenging her back.
"What if I don't want to? What if I want to stay awake all night?"
"Are you afraid of something love?" Jack guessed.
"Ha! I ain't afraid of nothin!" Mari snapped, glaring at him.
"Ah, if you weren't afraid of something you wouldn't be so defensive love. So I was right you are scared of something." Jack said.
"No, I'm not scared of anything; I'd just rather avoid certain things, like you try to avoid being caught, or avoiding answering my question." Mari said.
"Ah, I see. Point proven love. So do we have a deal?" Jack asked, holding out his hand. Mari glared at him, unsure if she should or not. Then she shook his hand while crossing her fingers behind her back.
"Deal." She said shaking his hand.
"Good, now can we do that again without you crossing your fingers love?" jack said smirking. If looks could kill, Jack would have been in Davy Jones's locker before he could blink, so fierce was her glare. Mari muttered something under her breath.
"Sticks and stones love, do we have an accord?"
Grumbling Mari nodded and shook his hand. Jack's stomach did another back flip as their hands touched.
"I was on the island for a total of three days. On the third day a merchant ship came by to store goods, and I was able to barter a passage off. Though a lot of people think it's some big adventure but it wasn't really." Jack said shrugging. It wasn't his grandest adventure.
"Oh, interesting." Mai said with mild curiosity. She took the mug from Jack and gave it to Orion who took it up to the crows nest.
"Hey, you said you were going to drink that!" Jack said.
"I know, I just can't carry the mug up there while I'm climbing it. And you won't trust me to take it to my cabin, so the crows nest is the second best sleeping spot." Mari said as she started to climb up the rigging.
'You'll have time to get to your cabin love." Jack said
"Yeah, about two seconds." Mari said back as she swung herself into the crows nest.
You've had this stuff before haven't love?" Jack asked as he leaned against the rigging.
"Yes, a healer once gave it to me because I wouldn't sit still and stay out of trouble. But it was a bigger dose than this. Like a full potion she claimed was something else and I didn't think about checking it." Mari said.
"How long did it keep you out?" Jack asked.
"A couple days, I don't know, maybe a week." Mari said
"Then don't drink the whole thing, that's the last thing I need is you being stuck up there unconscious." Jack said. Mari snorted.
"What to you take me for? A fool?"
Jack said nothing. Mari growled, the next thing Jack knew was a pain on the top of his head. Mari had thrown the half empty mug at him and it had hit its target.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"For cornering me you blasted pirate! Savvy?" Mari snapped.
"Sticks and stones love. I had to find some way to calm you down." Jack said. The only reply was Orion's screech and the groaning and creaking of the ship. Mari was already curled up asleep.