Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all associated characters belong to their respective owners. I just play and give back. All I can lay claim to are the OC's in this story – and not even them. They own themselves, alright? I guess I come out with nada. Sadly.
Author's Note: Once again, any complications with the Spanish language are due to me having dropped the language…I wasn't that terribly far along anyway. Please be forgiving. This chapter is late because for awhile would not allow me to login. Boo.
Dedication: I dedicate this chapter to my grandpa who is sick in the hospital with cancer at the moment…also, dedication goes out to my friends who are helping me through this little dilemma: Cap'n Julie and my pal Nick. Thanks much guys.
Chapter 3 – Just the Natives
Jack sauntered across the yard behind the manor, covering the distance quickly but subtly, hiding his haste as best he could. He would not be seen in a disheveled rush.
He reached the first of the sheds and threw the door open. The pirate captain paused in the doorway and looked out the back of the shed, which extended as a lean-to into a small paddock. Jack grabbed a bridle off the wall and whistled loudly.
A loud snort filtered in from the paddock and a dapple gray hesitantly entered the shed at a four-beat pace. Jack held up a hand and the horse stopped though it still shifted nervously. Jack stood beside the animal's head and expertly slipped the bit into its mouth and pulled the joined reins over its head.
The horse snorted again, this time angrily.
"Fine," Jack muttered, taking a step over to a bag hanging from a nail in the wall. The horse's ears pricked expectantly. Jack reached into the bag and drew out a small amount of granular sugar. He offered it to the horse who eagerly accepted, licking his hand clean. "S'not like you need more energy." Jack wiped his hand unceremoniously on his breeches and led the horse out into the yard.
"Capitán,"
Jack cast his gaze to the source of the voice and found a wiry dark-skinned man walking toward him.
"Lo siento señor, debo haber cuidado del caballo-"
"Es bien. Debo ir ahora." The man bowed his head and backed a few steps away from Jack and his mount. "Téngalo por favor." The man responded instantly and moved forward, taking hold of the horse's reins just below the animal's muzzle.
Jack took up a handful of the horse's silvery mane and the equine stepped away from the pirate. "Stop that," Jack scolded, standing square by the horse's shoulder so he was facing its hindquarters. He took a deep breath and moved forward quickly, using his shoulder as a leverage point and hoisting himself up onto the horse's back. He collected the reins and nodded to the stable man, who released the reins.
The horse snorted and attempted to catch the bit between his teeth. When Jack applied a light pressure to the gray's sides, the stallion reared, squealing in protest. Jack leaned forward heavily on the animal's neck and worked at forcing him down. The stallion screamed again. "Knock it off!" Jack snarled into the gray's mane. The stallion snorted and dropped to all fours, dancing in place.
"Finally," Jack muttered, touching the stallion's right side lightly. The dapple gray moved into an energetic walk—bordering on a trot—and Jack steered him through the yard, around the manor, to the shore. The horse trotted eagerly into the wet sand and Jack turned him up along the eastern coastline. Jack tapped one heel into the horse's left side, urging him into a canter.
The dappled stallion lunged into a smooth rocking motion, cantering through the waves rolling in and crashing against the shore.
It was no more than a fifteen-minute ride but Jack had appearances to keep up. He turned the stallion inland and together they trotted into the native camp, stained by the sea.
Whispers rose in the native tongue from the natives and were shortly replaced by calls of 'Capitán!'
Jack brought the horse to a stop and a tribesman rushed forward, taking the horse's reins below the animal's muzzle. Jack slid off the animal's back and allowed the native to lead his mount away.
A man with dark skin and black hair interspersed with gray streaks moved forward from the semi-circle of natives. Despite his apparent age he was in good physical shape. A heavy plated necklace of gold covered his bare muscular chest and cuffs of gold encircled his wrist. His ears were pierced multiple times with gold hoops highlighted by raw gems. Shades of blue and purple stained his face and midsection and formed tiger stripes on his upper and forearms. A sarong of burgundy silk encircled his waist.
The man stopped a few feet away from Jack and the two bowed.
"Capitán,"
"Caciques,"
The chief smiled and Jack returned the expression with a golden grin. "Dé la bienvenida señor. He estado esperando para verle."
"Disculpas. Una problema surgió."
"I see." The chief's eyes held a knowing glow.
"How's your English coming along, Caciques? Are my men good teachers?"
"They are…most excellent," Caciques said slowly, "thank you." He extended his right hand, which Jack accepted. Caciques clamped his left hand around Jack's wrist and smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Come, let us eat."
"That's got to be the best idea I've heard all day, mate."
Caciques slung an arm across Jack's shoulders and the two walked over to the large fire pit. A scantily-clad woman with light blue paint smeared across her body carefully laid out a cotton blanket that was three times as long as it was wide. Caciques and Jack settled themselves on the blanket and watched as two tribesmen set about lighting the dry tinder aflame. Dusk had settled upon the land.
The same woman who had laid out their blanket returned with an earthen tray loaded with flat pieces of bread composed of grated plant parts. She placed the tray before the men and gave Jack a long, seductive look before walking off to retrieve another tray.
Another woman, with yellow paint on her body, approached with a coiled pitcher and two cups. She handed each man a cup, avoiding eye contact, and quickly but carefully filled the cups before rushing off.
Jack quirked an eyebrow and cast a curious glance at Caciques.
"She is young. She has no…fear for our culture."
"Appreciation?" Caciques gave Jack a strange look. "A combination of understanding and awe, I suppose you could say," Jack explained. Caciques nodded.
Jack reclined on the blanket, propping himself on one elbow and crossing his feet at the ankles. He gazed silently out at the gilded ocean, watching the sun sink below the horizon.
"Capitán,"
Jack started from his reverie and met the dark gaze of the blue-painted woman who now brandished a tray laden with freshly picked fruits. A slow golden grin spread across Jack's face and he casually plucked a pair of guavas and a slice of pineapple off the tray. Jack raised his cup in salute as the woman turned and walked off jauntily.
"I didn't do anything!" Jack and Caciques looked up from their meal at the shout from the beach. Caciques rose as three of his men dragged a struggling young man toward the fire. Jack looked down at the blanket, barely suppressing a chuckle.
"Release me at—Jack!"
Jack looked up at met Kole's confused expression with a serious one of his own. The firelight flickered across the pirate's face, casting half of it in cruel shadows.
"Capitán Sparrow!" One of Caciques' men corrected, knocking Kole on the side of the head roughly.
A grin broke across Jack's face. "Libérelo." The men holding Kole pushed him forward, releasing him in the same motion. Jack clapped his hands slowly thrice, still grinning broadly. He met Kole's confused gaze with laughter glowing in his dark eyes.
Caciques kneeled and leaned toward Jack, invading the man's personal space, though the pirate did not take notice. "Who is this? One of your crew acting as a spy or hidden guard?"
The tension burdening the chief's voice sobered Jack's mood and drew his gaze. "Caciques, you know—or I thought you did—that I would never do something like that. I know your people's history and betraying your trust would be the worst thing I could ever do."
"Who is he then?"
"A boy. His name is Kole Booke and my crew found him washed up on the southern coast early this afternoon." Caciques sat, accepting the information as truth. Jack's gaze flicked from the chief and landed on Kole. "How did you follow me? To have followed me when I came, you would have had to have run quickly and silently—which I doubt you did—so how?"
Kole's eyes were wide and locked fearfully on the gathering before him. His jaw was slightly loose but he did not speak, nor did he give any indication that he had heard the pirate.
"Kole!" The young man jolted back to reality and looked blankly at Jack. "How'd you follow me, boy?"
"I…um…uh...I..."
"Gather yer thoughts, then speak. Savvy?"
"Yes…I, uh, savvy," Kole answered immediately. Jack rolled his eyes, a gesture that made Caciques chuckle. "The horse."
Jack and Caciques both raised an eyebrow in silent puzzlement. "I don't quite follow, lad."
"I tracked the horse."
Jack wiped all expression from his features as quickly as one would wipe chalk from a board. "Ah, you know horses then."
"Yes sir."
"Blacksmith?"
"No sir, veterinarian."
"Animal doctor?"
"Aye sir. Horses mostly."
Jack absorbed the information silently and a grin slowly spread across his face. "I like you boy."
Kole's stance became rigid once more. "May I ask…why sir?"
"Yer a good lad, you understand propriety. Although 'sir' is almost too formal fer a pirate; 'Cap'n' will do."
"Yes si—Cap'n," Kole replied automatically, relaxing slightly.
"So tell me Kole, what did you do before you went on the account?"
Kole tensed again. "I was never a pirate."
Jack waved his rebuff off with one hand lazily. "Believe what you like, lad." The pirate captain collected his untouched food and dragged himself to his feet. Once standing, he downed the strong ale made from fermented corn and handed the cup to a nearby woman. "Caciques, thank you for your hospitality my friend. I apologize for having to leave so abruptly."
Caciques rose and wrapped his hand around Jack's wrist. "I understand Capitán. When do you leave?"
Jack was silent for a moment, his gaze focusing on the crackling fire and becoming slightly unfocused. "A week or two or more, I suppose."
Jack's gaze broke away from the flames when the snort of a horse drew his attention elsewhere. Two natives—one on either side of the horse's head—led the dappled stallion over to where Jack and Kole stood. Jack accepted the horse's reins with a muttered 'gracias' and began leading the animal toward the shoreline absently.
Kole began to follow Jack but was brought up short when Caciques placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Kole turned a curious gaze to the elder.
"Keep a close eye on Capitán Sparrow tonight," Caciques instructed, "he does not seem well." Kole nodded a hasty, somewhat fearful, acknowledgment and jogged across the beach after Jack.
"Get on th' horse, boy," Jack grumbled quietly.
Kole paused at the horse's side, looking at Jack out of the corner of his eye.
"Need a leg up?" the pirate inquired gruffly.
Kole started, as if just realizing the pirate's desire to get underway. "Oh, no,"
"Then what's takin' yah?"
The boy did not answer and instead placed his palms on the horse's back and jumped. Once his stomach was resting on the animal's spine, he swung his right leg over and collected the reins. Jack released his grip on the reins and began walking. Kole encouraged the horse forward.
Moonlight rained down from the sky and the stars shone as bright pinpricks of light in the vast expanse of bluish-blackness. The horizon stretched on forever, seemingly endless, illuminated by the celestial bodies above. Waves gently rolled in from the sea, brushing against the pale sand with quiet whispers, bringing their stories ashore.
Jack led the way along the shoreline, followed closely by the strangely calm stallion and his rider.
Kole looked down at Jack cautiously, fearful that the pirate would take offense to his silent scrutiny. After several minutes of nothing but Jack plodding along, sparing no glance in any direction, Kole relaxed significantly and observed the infamous pirate before him more closely.
One of the first things Kole had noticed about Captain Jack Sparrow, since the man had not had his effects, was his stance and peculiar gait. The pirate, even while stationary, seemed acutely unaccustomed to dry land. While standing still he swerved in place ever so slightly as if moving in tune with the gentle rock of a ship. However, his strange sense of equilibrium was most obvious when the man walked. He would saunter across a flat plane, compensating for the tilt that would be present on a ship, as if unaware that he strolled on stationary land. His hands often were held upright or out to the side and bobbed with each step, as if he used them for keeping balance.
But now, as Kole gazed down at the pirate, he noted that Sparrow's movements seemed over-exaggerated; abnormal even for Jack. Throughout the duration of their walk, Jack's walk had moved from casual, light swagger to heavy, truly unsteady steps.
Jack's next step landed awkwardly and his weight was pressed on the side of his ankle as his foot twisted in the sand, sending the pirate tripping toward the horse. The stallion hesitated, tossing his head up in protest of the intrusion of his space. Jack righted himself and continued walking, though he now kept pace with the stallion and one hand laid firmly on the animal's shoulder.
They approached the manor and Kole was surprised to see that only a single lantern burned outside the stables.