Chapter 8: Cause For Celebration
Jack Sparrow called Kursar into his cabin on the Black Pearl. Kursar's first reaction was to shuffle back and forth on his feet; he was under the impression that he was in some kind of trouble.
"Kursar, I need you to do something for me," Jack said, feet up once again on the table.
"Sir?" At this, Kursar's face lightened very much.
"I need you to call all the ship's captains and any guest of their choice—the guests are not required, only them—for dinner tonight on the Pearl. Formal wear would be appreciated. Dinner will begin at sundown. There will be no exceptions. Stragglers will be shot on sight, and all that merry detail. Got all that?"
"Aye, sir!" Kursar scurried off. As he walked out the door, he thought, maybe he'll never notice that dent in the cabin wall. Guess Matelot was wrong—he doesn't notice holes in his ship.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yes, Will?" Elizabeth Turner stepped out of the back room of the Elizabeth's cabin, to regard her husband. "What is it?"
"We have a formal dinner tonight on the Pearl to celebrate the capture of two more ships, and use some of our fine new cargo. Apparently," he grinned at his wife, "we are to dress formally."
The argument began over roast pig.
Roast pig was not the cause of it. The pirate dish, one often served on the Pearl, was a savory meat that, under Jack's command, was usually treated with a small basting of rum. It was also stuffed with a bread substance that was both savory and spicy. Americans typically called it stuffing. The result, along with some spice sprinkled on the top of the pig, was a delicious dinner that was not likely to cause disagreement all by itself. It was merely the course that was on everyone's plate at the point Jack decided to become argumentative.
"You've decided what?" He spoke politely, but there was no mistaking the disagreement in Jack's voice.
"We've decided that Gibbs should get the Neptune, and Elizabeth can take the Valiant," James said, thinking that Jack had not understood. The others groaned. He hadn't, evidently, been with them long enough to know the folly in delivering such a statement to Jack Sparrow.
"And why's that?"
"Well...why not? Gibbs could certainly handle a ship of his own. Plus, he definitely deserves one, don't you, Gibbs?" James looked at him.
"Kindly leave me out of this," Gibbs said in a hushed voice. He did not care to face Jack's ire.
"Nonetheless, he does. Plus, you, Ana and Will have been teaching Elizabeth to sail—why not give her a ship?"
"Hmm. And why should I, as the Admiral, say yes?"
"Well..." James smiled, then stood. "Because a fleet was your idea. Because I'm right. Because I'm better with a sword than you. Because you're small. Because you're silly, and because I'll pummel you if you don't." As he said this, he leaned over Jack, slowly becoming more menacing until Jack was wide-eyed, leaning back in his chair—away from James.
"Do I make myself clear?" He asked in a small voice.
"Inescapably," Jack said with a grin. "Let's give Gibbs the Neptune and Elizabeth the—"
"Hold on; I don't want the bloody ship," Elizabeth said. "I'm perfectly content to stay on the Elizabeth with my husband."
"Well, then, who do we give the Valiant to? Ana's got a ship, so's Gibbs, Will, James, everybody except..." Jack grinned. "Kursar!"
He entered the room a moment later. "Yes, sir?"
"Get somebody for me..."
"Are you serious?" Ulysses Parker asked. "The Valiant?"
"Why not, mate? You're already a pirate captain; only problem was we took your ship and Ana's not giving it back."
"Damn right," she said, looking up.
"Well...how does one say no to the Admiralty Jack Sparrow?"
"Simple, mate; one doesn't," Jack smiled. "This, I believe, is cause for celebration. Kursar, get the rum! Let's break it out." When it was poured, Jack raised his glass. "To the Pirates of the Caribbean!"
"Hear, hear!"
As glasses clinked, something caught Jack's eye. As he tipped his glass back, he confirmed it.
Rum is an extremely alcoholic drink. It is taken primarily from the Caribbean; nowhere else even comes close. As a result, there is a flavor to it that is very unusual and very good. Nothing else even comes close.
To give an idea of how strong this drink is, one must compare it to the more well-known alcohols. Most wines range from 5-10 of alcohol in them. Budweiser has 6.
The better rum has 40.
This is not, however, a pleasant drink to have spewed from a pirate's mouth straight across the table towards you.
James Norrington found this out very quickly.
"KURSAR!"
Oh, damn.
"WHY IS THERE A HOLE IN MY SHIP!"
Another short chapter, but I think it's kinda good. REVIEW!
