Dead Men Tell No Tales

Disclaimer: Give me liberty or give me death. Yes, that is an appropriate thing to say on this 4th of July weekend but I want Jack and Will also.

The Black Pearl

I placed the coin in my pocket and closed the chest. "We must go to The Black Pearl but we best stay here for the night and just lay low. This jungle is full of wild animals and hungry meat eating men." I peered around. "The less we move the less likely we'll be seen by the cannibals."

Jem frowned at me. "You mean the Caniba?"

I smiled at her. "No I mean cannibals, and I'd be willing to wager they like female meat better then male. I have been told it is softer and tastes sweeter." I walked over to Jem and placed my head into the crook of her neck and bit her. "Aye much sweeter."

She pulled away and playfully slapped me. "Really Jack, you're a grown man, are you going to believe all the stories you hear?"

I smiled at her and walked out into the moonlight and looked at my skeletal body. "Well Luv, there are stories and then there are stories. Why shouldn't I believe them?" I held my hands up in the moon light and counted my skinless digits. I then looked back at Jem, Will and Ann Maria. "You see I think my condition will profit us immensely." I diverted my eyes behind them.

"Aye there is a good spot over there. We shall set up a place to rest for the night. One of us should lay ready waiting for the unexpected. What do ya say Lad?" I walked over to Will and placed my bony arm around him.

"I say, I agree with Jem, you're a grown man and you should----" He pulled back from me and gave me a wide grin. "You should grow up and stay out of the moon light."

Ana Maria quickly went over into the brush where I had pointed. There was shelter of low branches and several fallen trees. The fallen logs would allow for concealment in which we could lay behind and hopefully keep us out of the Caniba's view.

I looked towards Ana Maria and then at Will. "The three of you should sleep, Will I'll wake you in an hour or so and then I will sleep, unless I see something sooner."

"Aye aye Captain." Will looked out into the dark jungle and then went to lie down next to Ana Maria.

Jem walked over to me and grasped my face between her hands. She looked deep into my face and then into my deep brown eyes. "Why Jack Sparrow, you look as beautiful as the first day I met you, maybe even more. Yes I mean BEAUTIFUL so don't correct me." She looked over my shoulder and saw that Ana Maria was not watching. She pulled me close and gave me a kiss. I did not want it to end but she ended it as quickly as she started it. She then sat on the chest and looked at my pocket.

"Now Captain Sparrow, put it back! You must put the coin back and we must rebury the chest. There is no way we can carry it and we have to get rid of it once and for all. You know I am right and you also know you do not wish to remain cursed for the rest of your life."

I sauntered over to Jem and sat next to her on the chest. "Luv you are right I don't wish to remain cursed but I also don't wish to be dinner. Savvy? I think it will profit all of us if I remain cursed for the rest of the evening and put it back in the chest come morning. I promise on pain of death I will relieve myself of the curse with the first light of morning and I will place it in the chest and bury it deep."

"Jack they will not come back and they won't eat us either. As long as we don't disturb their dead." Jem hugged me and tried to remove the coin from my pocket.

"Come, come Jem." I grabbed her hands and pulled her close to me. I was surprised. Even though I was cursed and unable to feel her warmth, I desired her. "Do you take me for a child? I know you're every move Jem Barbossa. Every breath you take, every move you make every sound you make, I know what you are doing and thinking. You may be as sly as a fox and sneaky as a cat my Luv but I am a watch dog. Savvy? Now don't try to go for me pocket again or I will have to take your hand and put it to better use."

Jem gently stroked my cheek. "Jack please, will you put the coin in the chest now? I can see how you may feel it can help us if you remain cursed but in the long run you may end up that way forever. The chest is here, the coin is here and you are here. Please, don't tempt fate."

I stood up and started walking around the chest and Jem. "My Pet, you say they will not come back as long as we don't disturb the dead, well it appears we already have and I don't think it was any of their loved ones." I bent down and picked up several bones from the same hole the chest came from. "You see Jem, these bones belong to many different people and they have been licked clean. This is not a family burial spot this is a bone yard and I don't think Fido licked these bones clean and buried them. Do you?"

Jem grabbed the bones from me and tossed them back into the hole. As she did so she heard them clatter on many more.

I smiled. "They must have been hungry." I looked down into the hole and then back into her wide amazed eyes. "You see love you may have had an accord with the chief and his warriors but I guarantee you, that won't cover Ana Maria, Will or I. If our friends decided to come back I promise, I will have a surprise for them."

"Jack Sparrow, trying to talk any sense into you is useless." She stood up and walked over to where Ana Maria and Will had stretched out and she lay down beside Will.

For three hours I sat looking out into the woods. The only sounds I heard were the soft breathing of my three companions. I was getting restless and I stood up to stretch my limbs. The sliver of moonlight played on the trees casting strange shadows. The branches of the palm trees were swaying in the wind and they were also casting vague moon-shadows. A cold chill ran up my back when I heard a distant howl of a coyote but I knew there were no such animals on this island. It sounded like a dog but I knew it wasn't, it was a human noise.

I walked out into the moonlight and then I realized everything had fallen silent, only the wind had a voice. Frowning I turned back to look at the sleeping Will and Jem. To my surprise they were not asleep. They were both sitting up watching me Will had his guns drawn.

"They are out there, aren't they Jack?" Will asked in a low whisper.

As I stood in the moon light something groaned behind me. It was a deep and angry sound. I stood very still, listening to a strange dialect. I slowly turned to see if I could see anything and all went quiet again. I shrugged my shoulders and started to head towards Jem and Will, when I heard the low voices yet again.

"Jem, do you have any idea what they are saying? You seem to know an awful lot about these people." I looked at her and gave her a weak grin.

Jem smiled at me. "Jack they are saying they have never seen anything quite like you. They are saying you are god, a chief sent to them. You have come to take care of all there problems."

"Jem, you do not have to stroke my ego Luv. I know I am amazing but if you expect me to believe half the things you tell me, then I would be considered an idiot, which contrary to popular belief, I am not."

"Jack, I for one know how large your ego is and I would not fondle it. If you don't want to know what they are saying then don't ask me." She grabbed Wills guns out of his hands and slipped them back into his sash. Will slapped her hands and pulled his weapons out again.

When Jem and Will were finished playing I heard the sounds of the dry leaves crackling and snapping branches underfoot and it wasn't my foot. I knew there was something moving towards me and judging by the sound, it or they were about thirty yards away, back in the forest. I heard them grumbling again, louder this time. Closer, too. Not more then twenty yards away now.

"They are coming." I whispered to Will and Jem. At that moment the moon went behind a cloud and I was no longer in skeletal form. I could not see into the darkness nor see the source of the sound. Listening to the strange guttural dialect I became uneasy and quickly went to Will and Jem. I pulled Jem's guns from her sash and put them into her hands. The rustling of the brush grew louder and then I saw them. I now pulled my pistols. In the shadows I could make out the shape of two powerfully built men and they were coming towards us.

Will began to fidget with his guns. "Do you think they know we are here? Did they see you?"

"Lad, if you listen to Jem they have been watching me closely. I'm not sure they saw me come over here, but I know they heard us and they know we are around. I think we may be safe for the time being."

Jem placed her hand on Will's guns. "William please don't be too eager to shoot. Jack may think I am making up stories but what I said really was the truth. They are not here to attack us. Give them a chance."

Will glanced at me and then at her. "Jem, you did not see the mutilated remains of the two pirates on this island. When Jack and I first arrived here these so called friends of yours tried to kill us with wicked spears and arrows. I say we should shoot first and ask questions later." He then turned his serious brown eyes to me. "Jack we know what type of men we are dealing with. No disrespect to you, Jem, but I also know you like to wait to the last minute to pull the trigger."

While Jem rolled her eyes at Will and tried to get him to place his guns down I heard more cracking of twigs. I glanced to the left and right of us and came to the uneasy felling we were surrounded. "Jem I have to agree with Will on this one. Monsters do hunt in these woods and we are not safe."

At that very moment the two large figures that had been in front of us jumped at us. Both Will and I immediately shot at them. Not to my surprise, we hit them and several other men that were coming up behind them. The two large forms fell to the ground while the others retreated.

Jem groaned. "Why, why did you two have to shoot? Now they will attack."

I looked at her and shook my head. "Jem, if that wasn't attacking then I would love to know what they were doing." I did not wait for an answer; I directed my attention to Will who was clearly thinking the same way I was. We both lay on the ground behind the logs and started to reload our guns. "Well, they now know we are armed and we will kill them if they press us."

As we laid there I could only hear our heavy breathing. I looked up into the sky and the only light we had was from the dull moon which was still behind a thin layer of clouds. As I slowly sat up to look around, my instincts were telling me they were still out there and watching us. At last the moon came out full and dappled the jungle floor and I could see the shadowy shapes of the Cannibals. At first they did not move and neither did we. I studied them for a couple of minutes. They all rose and started to walk slowly toward us. The moonlight gave them a mysterious glow.

Jem looked at me with horror. "Captain Sparrow, it has been nice knowing you. You too, William Turner. I asked the both of you not to shoot but you gentleman just won't listen. William, I will tell Elizabeth how much you loved her and how you fought so gallantly to save us from Barbossa and the Canibas. I won't tell her that your downfall was stubbornness and an inability to listen. Jack, they are going to attack."

I placed my hand on Will's shoulder. "Will, don't listen to the Lass. She is obviously delusional. There is only one person you should listen to and that is your captain. You know me William; I would not let us get killed this way. I am Captain Jack Sparrow and when I die it will be at sea. Now Will, I have a plan, if it does not work, I give you permission to blow them all to pieces and then do the same to Jem." I glanced at Jem. "You, Luv, can face Will's wrath if my plan does not work. I cannot believe you have such a lack of confidence in my ability to wield a sword and gun." I smiled at Will. "She may think I am kidding but we all know Captain Sparrow does not do that. Savvy?" I gave an evil smile toward Jem. "Luv, you had better be correct when you said they thought I was a god or a chief."

I stood up and walked into the moonlight and immediately turned into a skeleton. I kept on walking until I stood in front of about thirty scantly dressed natives who had bones through their noses and ears and their hair was adorned with bones and shells. Their faces were painted with various colors and around their necks I could see animal teeth, monkey paws and other skeletal animal parts. I also noticed they all held some sort of weapon. As I continued to walk I noticed the natives started to form a circle around me and then they all fell to their knees and started to chant and wave their hands at me. As they did this a young lad stood up and gave out a primordial scream. After which all was silent and the whole tribe remained on the ground and bowed at my feet.

"Jem?" I asked warily as I looked at the throng. "What is going on?"

Before she could answer the young lad turned to me and spoke in a dialect I could not understand. When he finished I heard Jem speaking. "Jack, the Caniba think you are their old chief. You have come back to help them in their hour of need. Their previous chief was killed on a hunt just two days ago and they knew you would come back to guide them."

I looked around at them and then gave them a wide smile. I raised my hands in the air and motioned for them to stand up. None of them moved, obviously none of them knew what I wanted, they just continued chanting.

I began to laugh and looked at the young native. "What is it you wish? I have no meat to offer you." I looked over at Jem and smiled. "You want to translate that for me? You see Luv, no worries, they love me and it appears they will not be killing us."

As I spoke several of the heftier tribe's men approached me and hoisted me up into the air on their shoulders. They started dancing around and then headed down the trail the way they had come.

I glanced back at my comrades and I now saw that Ana Maria was also staring at me and this strange sight. "Hey, I think they really like me."

"Jack!" Will yelled. "Please, for your sake don't do anything stupid."

As they carried me away they were chanting what sounded strangely like 'Chief…Chief…Chief…'. I decided to go along with it and I would make my escape later. I looked down at the natives and gave them my skeletal golden grin. "Easy on the bones mate, some of them are rather fragile." As we rounded the bend I saw Jem, Will and Ana Maria preparing to follow me.

The natives took me a goodly distance. There was a fine camp set up and a very large fire was burning. I could smell the cooking of meat but it did not smell good. I figured it smelled rancid to me do to the curse. They carried me close to the fire and placed me down on a cool green bed of palm leaves. Then the female natives ran over to me and started to remove my tattered clothes. After they did that they started to comb out my hair and adorn it with bones and shells. They scrubbed my bones until they were pearly white and then started to lather me with an oily ointment.

The smell of the oil was sweet and almost sickening and I began to feel very dizzy. I knew they were talking to me as my head was spinning and I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. When they had finished bathing me they draped over my bony shoulders a soft green silk cape embroidered with gold. One young girl laid my spinning head in her lap and continued to fondle my hair. As the young girl tended to me the men were running around the camp collecting more firewood. As they walked passed me they would bow at me and some would come lay a hand on me. All the attention was beginning to creep me out.

Before I fell into what appeared to be a drug induced sleep I saw that the fire was blazing high into the sky. The bed I laid on was comfortable and the woman's touch was nice. Several hours had passed and all of a sudden I felt a hand pressing down on my shoulder and lips whispering, "Ssh! Don't make a sound!"

I tried to move but couldn't. I realized that I was tied to a spit. My wrists were bound to one end and my ankles to the other. I was no longer lying on the cool palm leaves but I was hanging in the air over a large pile of wood ready to be burnt.

I awoke totally confused but I was quite. Jem was crouched beside me. "Jack darling, you are very close to getting off the island. While you were being wined and dined, Will was able to reach some of the crew from The Santiago. You will be happy to know the Aztec chest is being taken to the ship and when you get there you can remove the curse from yourself and you can toss the chest into the ocean. Of course first you have to get out of here. It appears their previous young leader was well liked and they want him back. They are going to burn your bones in order to bring back their fallen chief. They feel you are responsible for sending the bore that killed him because you wanted to come back. They all fear you and they know you are magical and powerful. You have proven this with your moon trick, that is why you have received the royal treatment and now you will be burnt."

"Jem, I think this would be the opportune moment to untie me and let's get out of here."

She ducked down into the brush as we heard the sound of voices and I could smell the damp earth and rotten leaves below me. I looked down at the wood and the bark that was built up under me and I saw ants running all over it thinking to myself they will be running all over me next.

The voices died down and Jem started to speak again. "Jack don't worry. Will has a plan."

"Ah, Will has a plan. No worries then Luv, I'll just hang around and wait for him," I said sarcastically.

"Jack, cynicism does not become you." Jem whispered. "I do have to admit, I don't think Will's idea is a great one but he told me you would prefer his to mine."

"Luv as long as he does not wait to the last minute and I don't become a burnt offering, I am sure his plot is good. If he is like you, and wants to wait to the last damn moment then untie me now."

Jem ducked again, as several women walked past me. "Jack, I am in no mood to fight with Will, you already gave him permission to shoot me. He can be so bull headed at times." Jem remained quiet for about five minutes and then spoke softer this time. "I have to tell you Jack, I was wrong about these people and you were correct. I couldn't believe it, Ana Maria and I found eight dead men on the beach and judging by the bodies they have been dead for three or four days. You were right when you called them cannibals. The poor dead men had arrows through their bodies and they were stripped and mutilated."

I hung there in silence. "Jem, I am glad you can admit your wrong but please spare me the details. I do have to say I am relieved Will has a plan, for I know he has a fine head on his shoulders. He won't wait for the most opportune moment because he is rash and eager and I have to say right now that really appeals to me."

"Very funny Captain. Well I must leave now, so Will can alarm the natives by creating some sort of diversion. His first plan was to just run in and slit all their throats but then he felt he wouldn't be any better than the savages."

Jem backed away and all became quiet. The moon was still out but I could see the coming of dawn. This did not make me too happy, I knew I would once again become myself and my skin would get charred before me bones. While I was in deep thought two young men approached me and tossed more wood on the fire and lit it. I glanced at them and then around the camp. I noticed all the natives had gathered around to see their chief, me, burn.

As the wood started to smoke and the flames started to dance on my bare bones I heard a weird whooping call. The cry was a long quavering howl that rose over the trees. It quivered in the still air, and then died away. I knew the sound had to have come from Will but it was enough to make the hair stand up on ones neck. An instant later, large stones suddenly started landing in the center of the fire, just missing me and scattering burning logs and embers everywhere. A series of weird whooping calls came again from the woods.

The whole camp went into turmoil. The native men grabbed there weapons and ran to the edge of the camp. The woman gathered up the children and ran for cover. I quickly glanced around and saw Will making his way towards me though the cover of the woods. The flames were now high and the smoke was suffocating. Will got to me and sliced the ropes. He managed to pull me into him before I fell into the flames.

"Come Jack, your crew can hold them off for awhile but not forever."

"Aye Lad they are a fine lot and I will have to thank them and you later." I looked at the flames and the running Caniba and then I went and grabbed my tattered clothes and knee high boots. "I will not be leaving here without my effects." I grabbed my hat, sword and guns and then Will and I vanished into the woods.

Moving quickly we took a route that Will calculated would intersect us with the rest of the crew. We knew my captors would figure out they had been tricked and would be once again hunting us. We finally broke out of the jungle and we were on the beach and in front of us was the most beautiful sight I could see, The Santiago.

"It's beautiful Will, we made it!" Will looked at me and then ran for the water. "Come Jack we are not out of the woods yet."

"What are you doing?" I yelled at Will as I followed him.

"I'm going for an early morning swim. I've got a wife and child waiting for me. As you can see the sun is coming up and it is a new day. I wish to start it with them. I'd advice you to do the same." As Will jumped in the water, several men of my crew ran past and followed him. Gibbs and Charlie ran past and gave me a brief hello, a quick nod of their heads and then they, like Will, jumped in and started to swim. I watched my faithful crew and then I saw Ana Maria and Jem. Ana Maria was running toward me and Jem had stopped.

I looked at Jem and yelled at her. "I'd say the Whelp has a good idea. We should all go for a swim and then sail The Santiago around to The Black Pearl, where we will commandeer her. We will have the guns of The Santiago and the crew to back us up, if we should run into any problems."

Ana Maria ran up to me. "Come my Luv, Jem will not be coming with us. It is you and I now and she will be staying here with her father. That is the way she wants it."

I looked at Ana Maria in disbelief. "No my pet, I believe that is the way you want it."

She looked at me hard and tossed her hands up in the air. "No Jack that is the way it has to be. Jem will be staying here and you and I will sail off on the Black Pearl, now come."

She grabbed my arm and yanked me to the waters edge. I pulled away and threw her into the water. "Swim to the ship Ana Maria, I will follow." I glared at her and then looked over at Jem. "I'll race you to the ship Luv. I challenge you."

"No Jack, I am not going with you." She looked at me and then at Ana Maria. Ana Maria stood up and stepped out of the water toward me and grabbed my arm again. "Come Jack we must go."

I twisted out of her death like grip. "Ana Maria don't ever take such liberties again. If I wish to go with you I will, I do not need to be pulled around like an animal. I will not play this game any more. Jem, you will be coming with us and that, my dear, is not a request it is an order." It was all becoming clear. Jem really was going to stay on the island, she had made a deal with Ana Maria and she was going to stick with it.

I went over to Jem and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Jem I am not making it a request, I order you to jump in that water and swim with all your might. I will not leave you here on this island of wild animals and men who eat men. If you truly wish to stay here with your father I can't stop you. But please come with us to the other side of the island were it is safer." I now pulled her close so that she could only hear me. "Jem, this was a game to get Ana Maria to help us. Don't play games with me. You must come with me. If you want, you can have The Santiago as your ship. Savvy?"

She stared at me with her moist, dark eyes.

"Jem please don't do this." I pleaded. "I can see you're upset and you do want to come with me. Don't let an accord with Ana Maria stand in our way."

She lowered her head and looked down at the sand. "Do you think you're good enough to out swim me?"

Ana Maria looked at the both of us and she went back to the waters edge. "Jem you best be wary what you say to Jack. Jack I will meet you on board, I'll be waiting for you. My money is on you Jack, for I am aware you are an excellent swimmer." She looked out into the cove and William was almost to the ship. "That man certainly has something on his mind." She said as she stared at me hard and then turned to walk into the water. Before she started to swim she turned to face Jem. "Captain Barbossa, it has been a pleasure, I hope you enjoy the time with your father and may our paths never meet again." She turned and started to swim for the ship.

I pulled my head back and smiled. "I know I can out swim you and Ana Maria thinks I can also. I'm an excellent swimmer."

Jem wasn't paying any attention to me; she was staring at Ana Maria as she swam to The Santiago. She then started waving her hands in the air, like I do, and started mimicking Ana Maria. "'I'll be waiting for you'….Wow, 'that man certainly has something on his mind'. "I mean he is only a red blooded English man with a woman on his mind," Jem ranted on. "'May our paths never meet again.'" She raised her head and yelled, "I bloody agree with you Ana Maria, our paths better never cross again."

I looked at Jem and then at Ana Maria's vanishing form. I couldn't help laughing as I pulled Jem close to me. "Luv, do you have something to say?"

She now realized I was talking to her and she placed her arms around my waist. "Very well Captain, if I reach the ship first I will be the new captain of The Santiago and I will take you to The Black Pearl, where you and your men will then give me the map my father wants. You will take your ship, The Black Pearl, and head for the horizon never to return again."

I started to laugh once again and I couldn't remember the last time I actually laughed so hard, until I could tell she was dead serious. I gave her a smug smile. "Aye then Luv, so if you win that is what we will do. I will set sail for the horizon and I will never turn back." I looked down into her beautiful face and kissed the tip of her nose. "But what if I win?"

"You won't." She removed her arms from my waist and pushed away from me. "Jack, it is for the best. You will get your ship and I will be with my father. He will continually come after you if I do not stay with him and I will be cursed if I go against my accord with Ana Maria. I do despise her and I want to see her at the bottom of the ocean. I hope you get revenge on her, but she has followed all the rules." Jem looked out at the sea as she saw Ana Maria nearing the ship and Will was already on board. "After all, you said it once, a long time ago. There was no possible way in hell a Sparrow and a Barbossa could ever be together."

"Yee of little faith Luv. If I win, I mean when I win, I intend to have my way with you on me ship, The Black Pearl. You will stay with me for the rest of your days as Mrs. Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "Jack, is that your romantic way of asking me to marry you?"

I pulled her close again and kissed her on the mouth this time. "Aye Luv, I do have my moments. So what do ya say?"

She did not pull away she leaned into my body and hugged me so tight I could hardly breath. "Captain Sparrow, do you really think you can beat me?"

"Luv, I have never been known to lose a bet, especially when the stakes are this high." I smiled at her and wiped a small tear that was falling down her check. "Luv, I would never let you down, you know that."

She grabbed my hand from her check and then released me. Her face brightened as she looked into my eyes, she said nothing as she stared at me and then she took off like a shot. Her actions surprised me for a minute and it took me several minuets to catch up with her. We both hit the water at the same time and we were swimming apace for quite awhile and then Jem pulled ahead. I unleashed my reserved strength and easily out distanced her. To Jem's chagrin, yet maybe not, I reached the ship first, treading water as I waited for her.

"Jem, it appears you won't be going anyplace, anytime soon." I pulled her against me. "Now it is time to pay the pirate." Placing my arm around her waist I yelled up for someone to toss us a rope.

Gibbs looked over the rail and with a wide grin tossed a rope down and pulled the both of us up onto the deck. I looked at Gibbs and all the other familiar faces and then I looked at Jem. I lowered my face to her and touched her wet mouth with mine. "You taste of salt." I whispered. I pulled her up off the deck. "Welcome to The Santiago, Mrs. Sparrow. A bet is a bet so don't you worry about Ana Maria. She is my problem and I will deal with her. The only problem you have Luv will be me. Savvy?"

"Not yet Jack, I am still Miss Barbossa and we are not yet on The Black Pearl."

I laughed at her as I saw the playful gleam in her eye. "Luv that is a minor detail."

"Do you always get what you want, Captain Sparrow?" She looked at me with a sparkle in her eye.

"I do where you're concerned Luv." Before I could kiss her again, Kat ran up to her and threw her arms around her and the sounds of shrieking; laughing and crying filled the air. Gibbs walked over to me, smacked me on the back and handed me his flask. As I looked over the deck I could see Ana Maria on the forecastle, she smiled at me and started in my direction. Samantha was also on the deck. She gave me a slight wave of her hand and then stood like a guard dog, staring at the main cabin door. William and Elizabeth were no were in sight, I could only assume they were behind the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The Santiago was a small ship and it seemed even smaller with me whole crew and five women. Elizabeth took it upon herself to become our cook and the smells that were rising from the galley were wonderful. That night the small ship seemed to come alive. Some of the men had found instruments and there was plenty of rum and other libations. The ship's tiny hull creaked and groaned like a live thing and I had ordered the men to light the deck head lanterns. Usually I have the lights out by eight but we were all celebrating. We were all back together, I was not charred over the open fire and I knew Jem was going to be mine. As the crew danced and drank, the lights played on the great timbers and threw shadows across the deck and the spiraling effects of the illumination played on the rigging and the merry men.

After quite a while the dancing, drinking and all around talk stopped. Will and Elizabeth retired for the evening. Kat and Samantha likewise went to their room and the rest of the crew retired into hammocks on the berth or just bedded down on the main deck under the stars. I was more then pleased when I saw Ana Maria had found herself a quiet little niche to fall asleep in. I checked on her several times and she was sound asleep. I headed to the helm and I was then greeted with a nice surprise. Jem was at the wheel waiting for me.

"Jack Sparrow, welcome to the helm. I know you won our little bet but in all honesty Jack, you know my father will hunt us down. He truly does want me to sail with him and he does want his map."

"Luv, first of all it is not his map, it is mine. Secondly, if he wants the map so bad I will bargain with him. He can have the map as long as I get me ship back. I'd be willing to wager that he will take the map in a heart beat and let you sail away with me."

"Really Jack, my father does have feelings for me and you will lose that bet."

"Luv, Jack Sparrow never loses."

"Fine then Jack; let's place another wager on the table. You give my father the map and he accepts it along with my marring you and we will be husband and wife before the next full moon. Now if he does not accept this, then I will spend a year with my father and you will woo the fair Ana Maria as I have promised you would, and then you can do what ever you wish."

Jem held her hand out to me and I was hesitant to take it. I did know Barbossa wanted the map but I also knew, he would never willingly let me marry his daughter. Not that it mattered, for I wasn't going to ask. I am a pirate. Jem had no idea that Will and I had two maps and I was damn certain I was going to give him the doctored one. Not knowing how close Jem really was to Barbossa I figured I would not share that little detail with her. It appeared to me she was always giving him a hard time and I would think he would gladly wish to be rid of her; however, if she were going to me, Jack Sparrow, it was most likely a different situation.

I gave her a lopsided grin. "Luv, I don't wish to jump into a gamble while drunk. If I were to find someone to take over the helm would you join me on the forecastle and perhaps you can persuade me."

Jem looked at me and gave me a sly smile. She looked over at the now snoring Ana Maria. "I'll be glad to sway you, Captain Sparrow but when the sun rises I must be back at the helm."

"Aye Luv that can be arranged."

It was early morning and the light was painting the sea in black and yellow patterns but the sky and horizon were still as one. The first sheen of sunlight filtered across the water and through the white billowing sails.

As we sailed around the point Gibbs yelled up to me and Jem. "Begging your pardon Captains… but it appears we have visitors and they are not pirates."

I pulled myself out of Jem's loving, warm, arms and sauntered over to the helm and saw for myself. There were five vessels anchored in the cove. Two were flying the British flag and the other three displayed none. I looked over at Jem as she came up behind me.

"Well Luv, the devil has gathered quite a fleet, it seems. Your father has been busy commandeering merchant ships and two from the Royal Navy. I must say I am rather impressed but where is me Pearl? Where is me ship? She should be finished by now and anchored with the rest of his fleet."

I started throwing my hands up in the air and acting like a spoiled child. "Where is my ship? Where is the Pearl?"

"Jack, forget about the Pearl." Jem shouted. "Look, everything is gone." Jem directed my attention to the land and to where the village use to be. "Jack look, the trees and the pirate village…it has been burnt to the ground. Jack those three ships belong to my father but the two with the British flag still belong to the British."

I looked at the destruction and then the two British ships. I clenched my teeth. "If my ship has been destroyed I will..."

Jem grabbed me. "Jack we have to see if there are any survivors. What happened to all the pirates and their families? What happened to my father?"

"What happened to The Black Pearl? Do you see her anywhere?" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Jem stepped back and slapped me. "Jack, we must go ashore and find the women and children."

As I continued looking for my ship, Jem started gathering up the crew to take them ashore. As the men lowed the long boats into the sea there was a sudden explosion and a dull red glow spread out and glittered on the water, making the swells of the waves shine like silk. Then there was another explosion and still another.

"Men." I yelled, into the warm wind that was blowing off the sea. "Wake up you scally wags. All men to your stations the bloody British are shooting at us. They obviously know nothing of warning shots. We have reached our destination and many things are wrong. Lower only two boats Jem. William, raise the British Flag. They do not know we are pirates and if we fly their colors, perhaps they won't blow us out of the water."

I pulled out my spyglass to take a closer look at the destruction of the island. "Jem do you believe the Royal Navy did this? Perhaps the Canibas did, in order to get revenge on us for unsettling their dead. They are most likely very mad at us for disturbing the sacred mounds."

"Jack the Caniba would not do this. This is the work of the Royal Navy."

As I was viewing the island and barking out orders Kat came up to me. "Daddy what is wrong? Why is Jem so upset and why do you keep asking where The Pearl is? And why are they shooting at us?"

"Kat if you can tell me where The Pearl is I would be much obliged." I tossed the spy glass to her. "If not then nothing that is going on concerns you now." I watched the men as they lowered boats and then I could not believe my eyes. Jem took a flying leap over the rail and began to swim to shore. "Damn inpatient woman!" I yelled. "I have to go ashore for awhile Kat, but I'll be back soon. Would you please go inform young William Turner that I need him pronto?"

Kat wiped her face as the ocean's spray hit her. Unwilling to break the contact between me and her she stood close to me and hung on my arm. "Daddy, please let me come with you and Jem. I can help to look for survivors."

"Luv no, you must remain here. The less people on the island the better for us all." I turned away from her and started yelling for more men. "Gibbs, Turner, Charlie, Rogers. Come we must get to the island. Elizabeth I want you to go over to the British ship." I pointed to one of the long boats being dropped into the water. "Go with Ana Maria and convince them we are not the enemy. Tell them to stop shooting at us."

"William come, we must go back to the island." As I spoke The Santiago once again shook due to gun fire. "If those bloody Brits don't stop shooting I swear I will blow them down to Davy Jones locker."

Will, Gibbs, Charlie, Rogers and I headed for the island as Elizabeth, Ana Maria and, to my disappointment, Kat, headed for the British ship. Samantha stood on the deck with Bill and waved from above. There was still no sign of The Black Pearl.

We rowed to the sandy beach and the charred remains of the village were clearly visible and it was obvious the Royal Navy had been through. Not one hut or cottage remained standing. All had been reduced to charred rubble.

When we beached our boat Jem came running up to us. Will and Charlie jumped out and started combing the beach. Jem was dripping wet and out of breath. "Jack I can't seem to find anyone. The debris is still smoldering, which can only lead me to believe the attack had occurred quite recently."

Will and Charlie came up behind. "Captain we concur with Jem, there are no bodies to be found."

Jem looked at me. "I have to go to the house. I have to find my father."

Before I could stop her she was off and running. I leaped from the boat and went after her. Before I reached the rubble of Barbossa's house I could smell the stench of the charred wood. The sight that met my eyes was nightmarish. The house was gone. All of Barbossa's treasures had been burned beyond recognition.

Jem turned to me with tears in her eyes. "I can't believe it, it is gone, all of it. Jack, where is my father?"

"Jem Luv, it wouldn't surprise me if Barbossa took his crew and some of the villagers off the island. It appears he has many ships." I put my arms around her. "Yes, he left and he took the Pearl. The Black Pearl is most definitely gone," I mumbled.

Suddenly a very large, dark woman burst through the forest. I pushed Jem behind me and pulled my sword.

Jem recognized her and pushed my sword aside. "Jemina, Jemina darling I knew you would come back. I've been waiting for you. Your father said you wouldn't leave and he was right. We were hoping the Royal Navy hadn't found you. Oh you're safe, you're safe."

Jem ran over to her and hugged her. "Sadie, Sadie, please tell me where are the others? Where is my father? Is he alive? Please Sadie, tell me is my father still alive?"

"Oh Jem, my sweet girl, many fled to the other side of the island and I fear they were killed by the Caniba's. The lucky ones left on the ship, the ship that was not anchored with the others. She was the ship the British fired at first. Oh it was terrible Jem; your father had just gotten her into the water when the assault started. It was as if they were after that ship and when they realized that it was not captained by Sparrow," Sadie turned and pointed her pudgy brown finger at me, "They came on land. They came looking for you and being the barbaric people they are, burnt down the village when they could not find you." Sadie then turned and hugged Jem again. "Jem much of the crew was with your father and they left with him. He sailed out on that large black ship of his."

"Not his, mine," I interrupted.

Both Jem and Sadie gave me a nasty look and she continued. "He sailed out but sent word to me for you to gather up the many valuables that he has hidden long ago. He said he was going to get revenge on those who burnt his house and hurt his family. Jem, he was so mad. I have never seen him like that before. He knew he had to leave but he did not want to go without you. He told me if I were to find you that you are to meet him…"

I grabbed Sadie by the shoulders. "Yes, yes we will meet him." I looked at Jem. "I will get me ship back. So where are we to sail?"

Sadie pulled away from me and coward behind Jem. "Jem please, that crazy man frightens me and I don't want him to touch me."

I drew back and I was stunned that I could frighten such a large woman. "Jem, go gather those valuables your father spoke of. Have my men help you and then we will get back to the ship. We'll sail around the island to look for and pick up survivors. Once everyone is safely aboard, we'll go after The Black Pearl and your father. Savvy?"

Four hours later, six large chests filled with treasure had been dug up from various places and boarded onto the long boats. The two British ships had left and I could still see the British flag waving on The Santiago. Elizabeth had convinced them we were no harm to them and we knew nothing of The Black Pearl or Captain Jack Sparrow.

Once the six chests had been stored safely in the hold of The Santiago beside the Aztec chest, I went to the helm and set a course for the north end of the island to look for survivors. As we searched, Jem and Sadie stood close to one another and I could see the disappointment in their eyes when we found no one. As I turned away from the island I heard Sadie talking to Jem.

"Jem, it was so close. Your father almost got killed. This attack was not on him or the people, it was because of your friend, your lover, Captain Jack Sparrow. Barbossa has vowed to kill him and to get you back." Sadie placed her heavy arm around Jem's shoulder. "I am glad you and your father have forgiven one another. Your father has asked me to protect you and to bring you to him. Will this Captain Sparrow, do that for us? Can you trust him to help us even though your father wants him dead?"

She nodded her head. "Yes we can trust Captain Sparrow. He will take us to my father Sadie. I have no doubts about that, yet his motives will be different of course. He will not be doing it to help us and it will not be for a father daughter reunion. It will only be to profit him for he is a pirate and he wants his bloody ship back. If Jack does not have The Black Pearl then he is a lost soul. I don't know what it is between my father, Jack and that ship but I do know one thing: one of them will end up dead."

Jem pulled away from Sadie, turned around and saw me staring at her. I'm not sure if she knew I heard her conversation. She gave me an evil yet seductive smile. "May the best man win!" Jem glanced at Sadie and headed for the main cabin. I stood at the helm for less then two minutes when Will approached me.

"Jack." Will gave me a sly smile. "I believe Jem is waiting for you. She has asked me to take the helm and set in these bearings."

I looked at the coordinates and handed the helm over to Will. "Whelp, follow these instructions and you know where I will be if you run into any problems."

"Aye Captain I know and I promise to knock if I need you." He smiled and then I heard him mumble. "Not that you will ever hear me knocking."

I ignored Will's last comment and went to my lovely Jem. I could only assume I was the best man.

A/N Summertime, I love the long days and the hot weather. I hate snakes however and I just saw a giant one as I was walking my dog. Where is Jem when I need her? I also had a skunk visit me last night and needless to say he did not smell very pretty. I hope everyone is having a good summer and if you celebrate the 4th of July may you see many fireworks. There will be many fireworks coming in the next chapters. Jack may have dismissed Jem's and Ana Maria's accord but I can let you know, Ana Maria has not. Jack and Jem beware there is a serpent in the grass. Please enjoy my chapter and send reviews. Just a short note: I will be going on vacation to Hawaii so updates will not be as often. Have no fears, I won't forget my loyal readers and I won't let Jack, Jem and Will down. I am sure I will not go for weeks on end without updating. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. They mean a lot to me, for it shows me you are reading and enjoying. You all mean a lot to me.

TA FOR NOW

Lovely Raven Sparrow