Chapter III
Mystified and Muddled
It has been over a week since Jack's last attempt to steal from Anna's shop and almost as long since anyone had seen him at all, Anna's mind had never left him. Everywhere she turns, it seems, she sees him, gold teeth, braids, scars and all. Every time someone comes into the Inquiry she starts, anxious to see him again, ever conscious that it was his name that made her beloved aunt and foster mother take a decided turn for the worse. Now, finally tired of waiting around for Maisy to tell her what is going on, (something she is taking her sweet time about, by the way) Anna decides to go to the one person sure to know what it's about. After all, he made up most of the own legends about him himself and makes it his business to know what other rumors are circulating about the infamous Jack Sparrow.
Where do I find such a disreputable man? Anna wonders, locking up on the slow Friday afternoon, where to even begin looking. Unexpectedly, her answer presents itself in front of the blacksmith's shop. Recognizing a heaven-sent opportunity when she sees one, Anna rushes across the street to Mr. Jacobson, remembering that he walked off with Jack after the little 'incident' last week. Impatience and fear that she will lose him as he turns the corner speed her feet and blind her eyes to all that surround her. She anxiously pushes her way through a crowd, only to bump right into the reason for her chase.
She quickly excuses herself, attempting to push past the man, not realizing who he is. When he refuses to move, even daring to grasp her arms, she tilts her head back to look in his face. Sunlight streaming from behind his head, it takes a moment before she realizes who he is. In that moment, Jack takes his opportunity to search her bare neck and considerable cleavage, but when he sees nothing of interest beyond her obvious charms, he relinquishes his hold. Anna finally recognizes him as he steps out of the sun.
"Jack!" She grins, a smile lighting her weary eyes. "You are just the man I'm looking for." He cagily wonders why and posing the question to her, speculating why she is smiling at him instead of trying to have him arrested, as so many seem intent on doing, especially considering that he broke into the place of her livelihood and tried to rob her of it.
She pauses, a little embarrassed that she is about to cross-examine, in effect, a man she barely knows but for his exiting, devilish reputation. Holding on to the thought of Maisy's current emotional distance and believing that Jack can help cure it, or at least reveal the reason for it, she gathers her courage and forges ahead.
"Well, I was talking about you the other day and something interesting happened." Jack takes her arm and begins walking her to a nearby public park, his mind already on what part this girl will play in his future. He gives her a slanting glance and grins. "Interestin' things always happen wherever my name happens to be, but then they don't usually cause such a lady as yourself much trouble." At her raised eyebrows, an instinctive gesture she is unaware of, Jack chuckles mockingly. "Adventures such as those are not generally deemed fit for the ears of the higher class. But tell me about yours, luv." She takes a deep breath and relates her last visit with Maisy and her unexpected reaction. Jack listens intently, his brow furrowed in thought.
"And it just seemed to me that you must know why this is happening. People usually are aware when they have such an impact on another's life, aren't they," she finishes, pleading with him to fix her problems. Jack grins widely.
"I have a profound effect on thousands of women I've never met. Why, when most women hear my name, I'm sure they tremble in pleasure and excitement." He pauses. "But I do think I may know what happened to yer friend there." Anne grips Jack's arm tighter, unaware of the spectacle they make: an obviously well-bred, if poor, lady and a man that no one could possibly mistake for a gentleman acting astoundingly like one. Jack stops to glare at a fat woman and her stringy companion glaring at him, the only thing stopping him from saying something so totally scandalous that both will run off screaming is the gentle woman beside him waiting on his answer. The couple wrinkles their noses at him and hurry away, eager to spread their gossip. Suddenly, Jack sees a man step from behind a tree. A filthy, sinewy creature, he grins at Jack, showing a mouth of rotted teeth. He casually pulls a knife from his pocket, only to twirl it in the air and put it back again. He repeats this motion over and over again.
Jack winces and turns back to a far more appealing face. "But I can't give out such important information as that if I don't get something in return, now could I Anna?" Perplexed, she asks what a girl like her could possibly give him, within the bounds of propriety, of course. He winks at her a pulls her close. "How bout a kiss, luv?" Anna steps back, enraged by such impropriety in such a public place. She lifts her gloved hand to give him a sound smack across the face, only to have it caught just before it makes the satisfying smack she desperately wishes to hear. Jack lowers her hand, unhurriedly pealing off the crisp white glove. He lets it drop to the ground as he faces her palm up. Slowly, he drags his mesmerizing eyes from hers to her hand, apparently memorizing every line of her palm.
Her breathing quickens as unfamiliar feeling wash through her body, to stunned to even wonder what he'll do next. He lifts her hand and places a gentle kiss in the middle of it. Her fingers curl inward, cupping his chin. Again he looks into her eyes, then lowers her hand and kisses her on the lips, his hands cupping her innocent face. A tingling begins in Anna's chest, moving down to her stomach, then toes. A pressure builds, begging to be released, but it is so frightening that she cannot handle anymore. She firmly pushes against Jack's chest. He steps away from her, confused, unsure why she won't surrender to him. She looks at him for just a moment, then quickly lowers eyes brimming with tears.
"Go." He begins to step toward her, but she backs away. She puts up her hands as if to ward him off, unaware of how endearing it is to him to see the gloveless hand next to the virgin white one. "Please, Jack." Again he attempts to come closer.
"Anna…" To frazzled to take anymore, she runs. As he watches her disappear down the lane they just walked down, the other man comes over to Jack.
"A bit skittish isn't she?" He whispers in his ear. Jack jumps, having been unaware of the man's approach.
"I'll break her of it, Scurvy, don't you worry about that." he replies, inching away from the man. Scurvy grins, still clutching his blade. He breathes a foul, unnatural air on Jack, who shrinks in disgust at a breath fouler than his own.
"You'd better or the Captain is gonna start carryin out some of those un-pleasantries he's been promising. An' I'm just itchin' ta start." Scurvy brings the tip of his knife to Jack's chin. "He wanted to cut out yer tongue first, ye know." Swiftly moving, his slices off the so-carefully made braids on Jack's chin. Jack's eyes glitter in anger, knowing he could promptly kill this insolent dog who thinks he's so much better than the Captain Jack Sparrow, just because he works for the most treacherous mercenary on the seven seas. Bide your time, Jack, he thinks to himself. Pick your battles, and show 'em who's better when it's the most opportune moment. With as much servility he can muster, Jack gives a weak, "We don't want that." Scurvy laughs.
"You might not, but I'd sure enjoy the show." He flicks the knife from Jack's chin and returns it to its sheath. Satisfied that Jack has caught his message, Scurvy turns and disappears into the surrounding trees, not once looking back to see the reaction of his 'prey'. Fortunate that he hadn't, since Jack was struggling to drag his pistol from his belt, planning on shooting the murderous idiot right in the back. Giving up the struggle as he loses sight of Scurvy amount the trees, Jack starts for the Apollo. I need a good drink after the day I've just had.