Chapter 5 - The Water Of Life

Princess Seminola led me to the Indians' sacred ground where the fountain was. We walked on an animal trail through palm trees and pointy-leafed palmetto saw. There in a clearing a solid rock stood from which a constant trickle of water flowed, surrounded by tranquil pools of water.

"The fountain!" I gasped, falling to my knees. I was so exhausted from the trek through the forest that I cupped my hands in the pool and splashed water over my face.

"Here," said Seminola. "Drink from the flowing water so it isn't stagnant."

"What?"

She pointed to the trickle from the rock.

"And live forever and be unable to die?" I questioned her.

"It's your choice."

"It would be lonely," I said, looking at her, "to do it alone."

"You needn't be alone. I'll drink with you," she offered.

The two of us cupped our hands and collected the trickle of water in our palms, first her, then me. She waited for me.

"Ready?" I said. "One, two, three!" At the same moment we raised our hands to our mouths and drank the water. I was so thirsty that I could hardly go without drinking anyways. I admit I drank my fill. The water was cool and refreshing.

"It shouldn't do anything anyways," I said after drinking, "without the ritual and the mermaid tear."

"Oh yes it does," she said. "Anyone who drinks from it will live forever and not age anymore."

"What about the ritual then? Why does Blackbeard want the ritual?"

"Why indeed?" said a dark voice behind me. I spun around in near terror to see the formidable figure of Edward Teach or Blackbeard, an ugly smile on his face. "What about the ritual?" he said. "The voodoo ritual. There are different rituals to be done with the water from the fountain. In fact one of them could use . . . you two. Men, grab them!"

Blackbeard's crew grabbed me by the arms once again and held me fast, and the beautiful but struggling Indian princess as well. I looked and saw the familiar faces of Jack Sparrow, Angelica, and Scrum, but they offered no assistance, only watched. Philip and Syrena were missing.

"I wondered where our young cabin boy had run off to," Blackbeard said, circling us like a hungry wolf. "I followed him here. Now, for a different ritual we'll need the water from the fountain, one chalice, holy ground, and the boy and girl both. Take them to the mission church!"

The mission church? I wondered. What was going on? I saw Blackbeard hold a vial under the trickle of the fountain and fill it with water, then cork it. Then the pirates dragged Seminola and I through the thicket to an old, hastily constructed mission church with a thatched roof of dried palm tree leaves.

"Nombre de Dios Mission," Blackbeard said. "Constructed by the Spanish in 1587. Over a hundred and fifty years ago. It will serve our purposes nicely. Put the cabin boy and girl up the aisle by the alter."

I figured out what was going on. I looked at Seminola, who had given up struggling and was demurely walking where her captors took her, like a doe. They walked us up the mission aisle to the alter.

"As captain I can perform a marriage," Blackbeard said.

"So can I," chimed in Jack Sparrow, who was watching.

"I need two captives for the wedding ceremony," said Blackbeard, "and then I will drink the water from the chalice and live a thousand years, like the good book." He grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me to face Seminola, who I still barely knew. "You two are getting married," he said. He turned to face his crew, who were sitting in the pews of the mission. "Any objections?"

The pirate Scrum raised his hand. "The cabin boy is too young to get married," he said matter-of-factly.

"Aye," said Jack Sparrow. "English law says they have to be so old to get married, or have their parents' consent."

"As captain I am guardian of the ship's cabin boy," Blackbeard said. "I give my consent and therefore they can get married."

"What about the girl?" Angelica said.

"I would be her guardian as well, if I recognize our cabin girl. Isn't that right - Sarah?" He grabbed the girl by the shoulder and looked at her in the face. "The cabin girl might have flipped away in Whitecap Bay and swam up to shore, even taken in by the Indians, so it looks like, but I'd still recognize her anywhere. Isn't that so, Jim?" He leaned over and looked me in the eye. "Is it her? You tell me."

I looked at Seminola. Her blonde hair had been dyed black from cooled charcoal and her skin tanned, even red paint smeared across her face, but I saw the same face I had seen back home in England. "Aye, Captain. It is her. I'd recognize her anywhere, across the world and back."

"Then let the wedding commence," Blackbeard said. "Bring forth the good book."

Scrum came forward with a Bible from the ship. Blackbeard took it and flipped it open to the ending page.

"Ah yes," he said. "The Book of Revelations. The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life."

"The water of life?" I gasped.

Blackbeard threw back his head and laughed. "Bring forth one of the chalices."

Angelica handed him one of the chalices. He took the vial of water from the fountain out of his coat pocket, uncorked it and dumped it into the chalice. He raised the chalice in his hand and looked at the two of us, Sarah and I.

"I pronounce them married!" he said over our heads. "You may kiss the bride!"

I hesitated. Then Scrum, who had been standing silently watching, grabbed me by both shoulders and pushed me firmly up into Sarah's face. Angelica held Sarah behind her. They pushed us toward each other until my lips smashed up against hers.

"They're wedded!" Blackbeard said. "I now drink to their happiness!" He raised the chalice to his mouth, put his head back, and drained the cup dry. "Now let's off to port," he said. "On the honeymoon voyage. I can hardly stand on holy ground any longer."

Being the devil himself, I supposed he was right about that. Sarah and I were pushed out the door of the mission as Jack, Angelica, and Scrum cheered and slapped me on the back as I passed. I dimly wondered what had happened to Philip and what he would say if he were here. Probably something religious and a "Congratulations." I wondered what Sarah thought of me. At least she hadn't protested.