Chapter 7: The Arctic Circle
The weather was worsening. Now, not only could they barely see one another, they now were tied together by a rope, so as to not lose one another. Wind howled all around them. Snow and ice caught in folds of clothing, making it stiff. And, to make matters worse, Elizabeth was certain she'd seen something that looked a lot like the cloak that she was wearing.
Then AnaMaria fell behind her. Elizabeth tugged on the rope, signaling the others to stop. She knelt next to AnaMaria, then slowly pulled her to her feet. She stood by her for a moment, and helped her get her bearings.
"Thanks, lass," AnaMaria mentioned as they moved on.
"You'd do the same for me or Will." And despite what AnaMaria would claim, Elizabeth knew it to be true. And so did AnaMaria.
Then, up ahead, they saw the men, coming to another cave.
"Inside!" Johnny hustled them in, just in time for Elizabeth to see a white bear miss them in the storm. She slumped against the wall, tired and worried at what that thing was.
But it was pressed out of her mind as she dropped off to sleep.
The wind whistled and roared outside as it got dark. Jack and John got a fire going, but it took work.
Then Depp noticed markings on the wall. He studied them, then told them, "We're here. This is the Arctic Circle."
"And people live past this?"
"Not just live, Bess-thrive. They fish through the ice in some spots, and they use some real big dogs to haul them and their seal around," Depp informed her.
"Seal? Isn't that a...?"
"Yup. Sea creature. They get 'em somehow-grace of God, probably-and make some good meat out of 'em, plus their fat's got all kinds of uses, plus their skin, I've heard."
"And that bear thing I saw?"
"What it was. A bear-polar bear, to be accurate. They hunt seals...and the occasional Inuit, if they're hungry enough. But for the most part, the Inuits leave the bears alone, and they leave the Inuits alone. Nice example of mutual respect of nature."
"Oh." Elizabeth stood to check Will. He was still out of it. His normally dark face was pale, frighteningly so. She caringly brushed hair away from her husband's face, and placed a light kiss on his cheek.
Then Will stirred a bit. He did open his eyes, albeit unfocused. He spoke softly, "Hey there."
She smiled. "Jack! He's awake." The pirate dropped his rum, and hustled over.
"How ye doin', mate?"
"Been better."
"Ah. Turner wit. He's definitely better," Jack went back to his rum.
"But...how, exactly?"
"Same thing with Bootstrap. Closer we got, better he got. By contrast, the Inuits got meaner and nastier, but hey, win some, lose some. Now why don't you catch 'im up while I sleep." Not waiting for acknowledgement, he dropped off into the drunken stupor he called sleep. Shaking her head at the pirate, Elizabeth turned to Will.
"Where are we? Some kind of cave?"
"Mm-hmm. We're on the Arctic Circle."
"Oh. That's why it's so cold. What're we doing here?"
"For you. Apparently your father got this too, and got better at some place up here."
"And that's why you're wearing a bear cloak." Studying it, he noted, "Polar bear. Should like to meet the man who bagged that."
"Exactly what I thought when I saw your girl, mate. I'm Johnny Depp." The guide appeared over Elizabeth's shoulder.
"Jack? You shaved?"
"No. That's our guide, Depp."
"Hm. Looks a lot like Jack." Then he nodded off again.
"Will?" Elizabeth looked concerned.
"Don't worry about it. Bootstrap was like that too. G'night, Bess." He dropped off to sleep, leaving her to watch her husband's tired, haggard face.
The Dauntless glided through the Arctic Ocean, with ice slicing past them. The bow cut through the ice around and ahead of them, in pursuit of the Black Pearl. Behind her floated the Elizabeth, and the Britannia, both commandeered from the local Navy head; since he complained enough, Norrington allowed hm to come along, but only if he followed the lead of the Dauntless.
Commodore Gillette looked to the Admiralty. "Sir, are we to plow on?"
Norrington returned, "Yes."
"Sir," Gillette ventured, gathering his words, "We've been out here for near a month, and never seen the Pearl. Do we really still believe the locals?"
"The local authorities are asked as well, who definitely do tell the truth. As you were, Commodore." Admiral Norrington proceeded below.
"Aye, sir." Gillette turned his eyes out to the expanse of white before them.
Okay, okay- it's real short, and not my best-probably my worst yet-but I swear it gets better
Will be updated tomorrow around 10:30. Enjoy!
