Chapter Eight Tortuga
Of course, Scarlett had heard of Tortuga. Her father had often ranted about the settlement on the island off the shore of Haiti, and how it was an utter den of iniquity. More than once, he compared it with the city of Pompeii, and even worse, to Sodom and Gomorrah, and so Scarlett had mentally braced herself for the absolute worst.
By the time they had brought the ship to the Port, it was well into the early hours of the morning, and yet, the town seemed to be alive with bright lights and loud music.
She watched in disgust as grown men flopped about outside taverns, barely able to stand with the amount of alcohol they had consumed. Then again, she grimaced as ladies of the evening prowled along the strip, painted heavily in makeup and smiling keenly, fluttering their eyelashes and giving dainty waves with their hands. Many of these women mistook her for a 'handsome' young man and tried to solicit her, pulling up their skirts and singing sweetly.
"Dear God, this is something out of Revelations", Scarlett muttered under her breath, "The debauchery, it's unbelievable".
"More importantly, it is indeed a sad life that has never breathed deep this sweet, proliferous bouquet that is Tortuga, savvy?" Jack gleaned, coming in defense of his most beloved town.
Scarlett found herself for the first time in her life longing for her handkerchief, or even her fan, a sweet bouquet, more like a cess pile of animal excrement and cheap rum.
Although Jack continued to smile cheerily, "What do you think?" Scarlett simply glared as response as Will looked all around him, "It'll linger", he wavered.
"I'll tell you mate", Jack clamped a hand on Will's shoulder, "If every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted".
Scarlett was incensed when a much older, heavily made-up woman approached them, she wore a dirtied pink dress, which had a very low cut on the bust, but that did not make Scarlett reach for her sword, it was the fact that she bore her name.
"Scarlett!" Jack smiled wildly, but the other, younger counterpart smirked happily as the redhead simply slapped him. Hard. Before stalking off from sight.
Jack blinked, wiggling his nose to ensure there was still feeling in it, "Not sure I deserved that".
It became comical as a second woman approached him, this time a blonde. Jack appeared to recover quickly as he smiled once more, "Giselle!"
"Who was she?" and then she glared at Scarlett, "And who is she?"
"What?" he attempted to sound dumb, which only earned him a second blow to the face, one so powerful, that he spun around to face Scarlett and Will once more, "I may have deserved that".
Scarlett rolled her eyes as Jack lead them to the first tavern they saw, "So, what did you make from all that?" Will teased in a hushed tone.
Scarlett shot him a horrid glare, "That I must at once go about changing my name".
He laughed, wagging his head, at least his friend had not lost her humour.
Inside the tavern, Scarlett perceived was much worse than outside. All the manners of seediness that she had witnessed from docking in the port, now appeared only to be overspill from what occurred inside these drinking rooms. Men fought, drank, and solicited women, some even doing the dirty deed in plain view for all to see.
Scarlett could not help but gasp as all her senses were overwhelmed, from what she could see, hear, and smell, the lady within her could barely contain her disgust. Jack stopped them abruptly, "You lass, find us a table in a quiet spot, whilst me and Mr Turner attend to some business".
Scarlett's eyes went wide, "You can't be serious", she spoke incredulously, "You plan on leaving me, alone in this madness?"
Jack raised an eyebrow, "Do you require a chaperone?" he mocked, and Scarlett's lips drew into a thin line, "Fine then", she snapped, and went off to complete her task, "And get a couple of drinks in while you're at it!" Jack called after her, only adding to her fury.
Scarlett was truly surprised when she managed to find a clear table tucked away in a quiet corner of the tavern, it seemed to be the area were some pirates came to pass out entirely. She then had to push and shove her way to reach the bar, where the barkeep, very stereotypically, was shining metal cups with a filthy rag and spit.
"What's yours love?" he grumbled.
"Three glasses of water please", she asked, which earned her an odd stare.
"Don't do water", he sniffed, spitting again into the cup.
"Fine", she sighed, "Three glasses of wine", this earned her a roar of laughter as he slammed the cup onto the wood. "Where d'you think you are love?"
She felt her cheeks tinge in embarrassment, "Uh, um, rum then please, three glasses". The barkeep nodded and began to pour, as Scarlett felt eyes begin to hone in on her.
"First time I reckon, I 'eard the word please used in this establishment", Scarlett looked to her side, a woman had spoken to her, a woman with a thick Irish accent. She was beautiful, with pale, ivory skin dotted with freckles, and long flowing red hair. She wore similar attire to Scarlett, only it was of better quality, and much better fitting, "And judging' from that lost little look on yer face", the woman smirked, "You're not from around these parties neither".
Scarlett knew better than to divulge who she was and what she was doing, and tried to avoid the woman's piercing green eyes, "No, I'm not from these parts, England actually, and my business is my own", she attempted to sound confident, but she could see the woman's jewelled hand, decorated in many rings, resting on the pommel of her sword.
But the woman merely laughed, and called to the barkeep, "Jerome, her drinks be on me, alright?"
"Yes Miss Bonny", he nodded, passing Scarlett the three glasses.
"That's very kind of you", Scarlett thanked her, but the woman waved her hand, "Us lady pirates have to be lookin' out for each other, alright? Come this way lass", and Scarlett found herself unable to refuse as the woman pulled her forward.
"I has private rooms above this place, better than minglin' with the filth and unsavoury types that be floodin' them streets", the woman informed her as she showed her up the backstairs, Scarlett knew better than to trust this woman, and was quickly making mental maps of every exit she could see as she was lead high up into what appeared to be an attic. Inside, however, looked like a room befitting a Queen.
The wooden walls were decorated with silk tarps, deep and rich blues, pinks and reds. A large plush parlour sofa took the centre, with a small fire burning in the grand fireplace. There were countless soft furnishings, and what looked like chests of gold. Though it was hard to tell – the room was polluted with smoke, though it smelled sweet – incense – Scarlett deduced, and because of this, it took her a few moments to see the outline of the two people that sat on the parlour lounger.
"Jesus Anne took ye long enough to get the wench to get our drinks", the first, a woman snapped. Her hair was dark brown, and very surprisingly, cut short falling just above her shoulders. Lounging beside her was a man, he adorned all black, the same colour as his long hair.
"Hold yer tongue Mary, she's no wench", the woman, Anne, warned, "Sit girl", she commanded Scarlett, who obliged, taking the chair opposite the two strangers, placing the three glasses on the satin covered table.
Mary rose from her seat, watching Scarlett carefully, "Then who is she? Looks to me like she's still wet behind the ears".
Scarlett felt herself grimace at the insult but knew better than to object, and remained silent. It was three to one, and she could only see one exit, bar the window, and a second door, but she did not know where it would lead.
Anne turned, still standing, thumbs tucked into her belt, "Aye, she's young, but not wet though, are ye girl?" Scarlett wavered, "Well, speak up!"
"No ma'am", she muttered, which earned hollers from the two companions.
"Mannerly", the man laughed, stroking his neatly trimmed beard, "Very mannerly, sounds posh if you ask me".
"Aye, so she seems, reckon high up in class", Anne agreed, and Scarlett began to sense danger.
"I'm not!" she protested, "I'm a maid for a Governor".
"And I be the Queen of England", Anne retorted sharply, "Don't be daft girl, yer accent is a dead ringer – don't fret now – I seen who you sailed in with, whatever your past life may have been, you've clearly cast it aside, now I'll ask once, what's yer name child?"
Scarlett bit her lip, Anne was much like herself – intelligent, perceptive, and bloody too honest, she knew better than to attempt to deceive her. "Scarlett Swann".
"Hmm", Anne sniffed, "Aye, Swann be the name of the Governor of Port Royal if I not be mistaken, but Scarlett – wouldn't take that to be a fancy name, so, Scarlett Swann, what in the pleadin' name of Davy Jones, are you doin', sailing with Jack Sparrow?"
"Jack Sparrow", Mary hissed before spitting on the ground, clearly, his name was not well thought off.
Scarlett opened her mouth to answer but found she could not make a sound, and she looked rather much like a fish bobbing in the water. But to her relief, she would not have to answer, as the door to the room was kicked through, and who would emerge but Jack, followed by Will, followed by (to Scarlett's great shock) Mr Gibbs.
Both Mary and the man leapt to their feet, drawing their swords. Scarlett's way to her company was blocked by Anne, who wielded a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other. "Jack Sparrow", she grinned, "Last I heard of you, you were run down by the East India Tradin' Company".
"Anne Bonny", Jack smiled, "Or is it, Rackham now, I hear?" he nodded to the man, "Congrats are due mate, I expect, you bagged a good one".
"Aye", Anne gave him a wry smile, "He did", and there was a brief silence before the three burst into laughter, tucking away their swords. Scarlett stared at Will, unable to ascertain what on earth was going on. Where they friends, or enemies, or both?
"So", Jack clapped his hands, eyeing Mary, who had yet to put down her sword, "What is this, not enough with two lasses on your crew John, trying to Shang high one of mine?"
"No Jack", he grunted, "It was Anne who brought her up".
"What can a' say", Anne raise her hands defensively, "You left a defenceless wee lass to fend fer' herself, yeh know I has a soft spot for the lost ones".
"Trust me", Jack assured her, "Until you've seen this one fight with a sword, you wouldn't be calling her defenceless". Scarlett hated how her chest swelled at the compliment, of all people, she would not want Jack Sparrow to be complimenting her.
"Is that so"? Anne raised a brow, "Maybe we shall want her on our crew".
"Do I not get a voice?" Scarlett finally lost her temper, but instantly regretted it as all eyes fell on her.
Anne winked, "Aye, yeh do lass, we pirates do things democratically, so we does". And she offered Scarlett her hand, which she took wearily. "Well", she clapped her on the back, "If I can't have ye for meself, I at least won't have yah leavin here lookin' like some we thrift beggar girl", and she tutted Jack, and pulled Scarlett through the second door, closing it sharply behind her.
Scarlett was even more surprised to find it styled in the way of some French Boudoir, only rather than pastel pinks and creams, the most prominent colours were deep reds and blacks. "Come on now lass, we can't have yah dressed like a man – at's only useful when the crew won't have a woman on board", she threw her a devilish smile, "They reckon it's bad luck".
The only item of clothing Anne Bonny allowed Scarlett to keep were here black pantaloons, seeing as they were made from very fine material, and fitted her accordingly, although it should have, Scarlett, made them herself. She was fitted with a much more flattering white shirt, seemingly made for a woman, as well as a black leather outer-corset, and knee-high leather boots. Though most of what Anne bestowed upon her seemed very standard and practical, it was what she saved for last that really made Scarlett into a pirate. A brilliant coat of blue fabric and black trimmings that fitted Scarlett extremely well, seeing as she and Anne shared the same measurements. A new belt now held her sword, and a pistol and a black hat completed the outfit. Scarlett glanced at herself in Anne's mirror, she now resembled the female pirate a great deal, and she couldn't help but admire her new clothing greatly.
"Now, that looks much better, Scarlett", Anne grinned, slipping a sapphire encrusted ring onto her wedding finger, "A real pirate now". Scarlett turned to face her, now much more at ease with the woman, "I don't know how to repay your kindness".
Anne laughed, "Like I was sayin', us lady pirates look after our own – us bein' so few – and there was very few when I first started on me own. Very few Captains would accept a lass aboard his ship, and it took one person to see me geared up and prepared properly before I could really make it – to where I am today, one of the most feared pirates in the Spanish main".
"Who was it, if I may ask?" Scarlett inquired, "The person who did for you as you have now done for me?"
Anne nodded at the door, "Jack Sparrow, well, he took pity on me a' supposed, was in a foul marriage, very foul, helped steal me away – blighter paid off me husband to divorce me and all. Brought me to Tortuga, so he did, and en, en' he introduced me to John, he took me on as his first mate".
"Really?" Scarlett gasped, "Jack did all that for you?"
Anne Bonny laughed once more, "Is at so surprising, he's doin it for you, ain't he?"
Scarlett blushed, "Well, it's a bit more complicated than that". The older woman shook her head, "A had a million reasons too lass, but in the end, there was only one that rang true, freedom Scarlett, the freedom a woman can have flying under pirate colours. Was me marriage, me horrid life as a wife, that made me flee to the sea, but it was the freedom that saw I never left", she patted Scarlett on her shoulder, "Be warned lass, once you've tasted it, there's no goin' back to whatever life you had before".
Scarlett had not realised that a lump had risen in her throat, as she once more found herself speechless. Anne Bonny understood, and nodded, "Come on, we best be showin' our faces before the minds of those men start thinkin' unclean thoughts". Anne lead them back into the small parlour, where Jack was conversing with John. Will was the first to see her, and Scarlett could have laughed at the bewildered look upon his face.
"Bless me breeches, Miss Swann", Gibbs exclaimed, "You be lookin' like a pirate vision if it's not too bold for me to say".
"Aye, she does", Anne agreed, and it was then that John Rackham and Jack shifted their attention onto the two women.
John gave his wife an approving nod and beckoned her towards him, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. "I thought you loved that coat", he remarked, and Anne rolled her eyes, "Looks better on the lass, matches her eyes".
"Aye", Jack nodded, and Scarlett found herself feeling flustered under his intense gaze. He was unashamedly looking over her form very slowly. Gibbs was correct, she did look a vision, and for a moment he had to believe something dreadful was wrong with her, for how could Will fall so hard for her sister, with this beautiful woman constantly in his company?
"Keep starin' at her Jack and I'll cut out yer eyes", Anne warned playfully. Jack ignored her comment, but shifted his gaze away, "While it was delightful catching up with such dear friends", he shot Mary a horrid glare, which she returned, "We really must be on our way, towns to terrorise, ships to plunder, and all that", and he motioned for the others to take their leave.
"Aye", Jon nodded, "We ourselves will only be staying for two days longer, till we meet again, Jack".
Jack tipped his hat to him, "Same to you, mate".
Will and Gibbs left the room first, and as Jack and Scarlett had turned to walk away, Anne called out one last time, "Remember Scarlett, you'll always have a place aboard the Kingston".
Scarlett smiled, tipping her own hat to her, "Thank you, Anne, keep a whither eye on the horizon". The two women shared a look before Scarlett made her exit. She looked down at her clothes once more, she looked entirely alien to how she had ever appeared before … and yet, she never felt more at ease, more, like herself.
Jack manoeuvred them back through the tavern, and Scarlett found herself once more at Will's side, who seemed to be laughing to himself. "What's so amusing?" she inquired.
"You", he told her, "You never cease to amaze me, Scarlett, five minutes in Tortuga, and you have befriended three of the most famous pirates in the Caribbean".
"Well two", Scarlett corrected him, and he stopped, "I don't think Mary liked me very much". Jack spun quickly, halting them from proceeding any further, "Keep a sharp eye", he told them both and hurried Gibbs into a small alcove.
"What do you suppose they are discussing?" Scarlett asked Will, trying to crane her neck to see them.
He raised a brow, "Us, probably", he answered, "Considering Jack doesn't want us to hear the conversation".
Jack plopped two tankards of rum before himself and Gibbs, before sitting down, glancing behind him to ensure that both Will and Scarlett were far out of earshot. "Now", Gibbs sighed, making sure to keep his voice low, "What's the nature of this venture of yours?", and he took a swig of his rum.
"I'm going after the Black Pearl", Gibbs choked on the liquid, glaring at his long-time friend as though he had lost his good senses. "I know where it's going to be", he continued, "and I'm going to take it".
"Jack", Gibbs shook his head, "It's a fool's errand. You know better than me the tales of the Black Pearl".
But Jack persisted, "That's why I know what Barbosa is up to, all I need is a crew".
"from what I hear tell of Captain Barbosa", Gibbs spoke lowly, "He's not a man to suffer fools nor strike a bargain with one".
"Well then, I'd say it's a very good thing I'm not a fool then, eh?" Jack quipped, growing impatient.
"Prove me wrong", Gibbs snapped, "What makes you think Barbosa will give up his ship to you?"
Jack smiled, and it was one that did not bode well as he murmured, "Let's just say it's a matter of leverage, eh?"
Gibbs at first did not comprehend, even as Jack began to gesture in the direction of Will and Scarlet, it still took minutes before he understood what Jack was implying, "The kid, and Miss Swann?" he half laughed.
Jack nodded, "Those two, are the children, of Bootstrap Bill Turner. Twenty pints of his blood between them, savvy?".
"But, Miss Swann", he stammered, "She's the eldest daughter of Governor Swann".
"Look at her face Gibbs", Jack snapped, and Gibbs glanced over Jack's shoulder, "Tell me, that that, is not the face, of Dauphine Turner".
Gibbs studied Scarlett intently before his eyes went wide in realisation, "It can't be", he gasped.
"Bootstrap never saw the child's body", Jack whispered, "What if Dauphine, had given her up? She's the same age, and I'd never forget that face".
Gibbs nodded, before smiling, "Leverage says you, I think I feel a change in the wind, says I".
Jack returned Gibbs' smile, as the man grew excited, "I'll find you a crew, there's bound to be some sailors on this rock as crazy as you".
Jack raised his tankard, "One can only hope, take what you can".
Gibbs repeated his action, "And give nothing back!" And they clunked tankards, downing their rum in large gulps. Scarlett looked over, to see both men looking very happy, and there was something in their manner, that made her feel very uneasy.
A/N I hoped you guys liked the inclusion of Anne Bonny and Calico Jack in this chapter, rewatching the movies, I genuinely wondered what it would be like if Jack Sparrow had ever met these real-life pirates, especially considering I think a lot of Jack Sparrow was based on Calico Jack (John Rackham).