Davy Jones scanned the room with his black eyes and settles upon Bailley. "I thought that was the Atropos offshore. Where is your captain?"

Bailley stood to his full, normally intimidating height. Jones just laughed, "You don't have to playact for me, boy. I remember you when your were knee high to lobster tail. Where is Kensington?"

Bailley stared him right in the eyes. Even I could see he was trembling, but he was putting on a good show. "You know full well where de capt'n be, Jones."

Jones gave another hearty laugh. I was surprised the rafters of the place didn't come tumbling down as his rich tenor voice rang through them. "I do, son. I do. But, 'tis neither here nor there. It is my one night of freedom on land and I do not intend to wasting it on relics like your captain," he said, his sonorous speech somehow reverent. Suddenly, his eyes brightened and he walked heavily toward the gaming tables. "Now, who is up for a good game against old Davy Jones?" He leveled his gaze directly at me and spoke again, "Ah, a young man with a run of luck, eh?"

I laid my hand on my chest and looked around to make sure I was the only "lucky" young man around. Unfortunately, my pile of coin gave me away. I don't think I ever thought so low of currency until that moment. "Who, me, Captain Jones? No, it seems I've taken the wrong seat. I'll just be going back to my table now -"

He cut me off with a pound of his walking stick. He lowered his octopus face so it was a mere inch from my nose. I don't know how I kept myself from pulling back in disgust. He smelled like someone's unwashed breeches after they'd been dipped in tar and thrown into the galley's used oil reserves for three weeks. Needless to say, the odor was unpleasant. But, I remained expressionless.

"What's your name, lad?" he asked. His breath wasn't much better, but at least it carried the less-unpleasant aroma of tobacco.

"Jack Sparrow, mate. At your service," I chirped back. I knew there was no use in trying to run. I might as well take whatever was coming to me like man.

One of the tendrils of his beard reached up and caressed the coin bearing the cross that dangled from my black hair. I was surprised when Jones laughed merrily and backed into a chair. "Kensington's protégé, I see. I've heard about you."

"You have?" I asked, completely taken aback. I straightened the lapels of my coat and and grinned, "You have."

"There isn't much that happens in these waters that doesn't reach me, master Sparrow," Jones laughed again. I was beginning to wonder why everyone was so afraid of this man. He seemed right jolly and he hadn't yet taken any rum. "Then it shall be my pleasure to take you from him," Jones said roughly and laughed again. "What is the game, Sparrow?"

I explained the rules to him. "And, the standard bet is one shilling or its match."

"I'd like to raise the stakes, if I may," he replied after taking a contemplative puff on his heady-smelling pipe. The haze of smoke seemed to engulf us, so that we were in a small cocoon apart from the rest of the tavern. Indeed, no one spoke, all just watched our exchange. I assented to Jones' challenge and he told me his terms. "If I win, you will leave your beloved Captain Kensington," Jones spat out his name like it was a foul curse, "and serve the Dutchman for the rest of your natural life and beyond."

"And if I win?" I asked without missing a beat.

Jones laughed again, "In the unlikely event that should happen, you can have whatever you want that is in my power to give."

"The Black Pearl," I answered immediately. She had been floating around in my subconscious since Cotton told that tale to me all those years ago. "Is that in your power?"

Davy Jones sat back. I'd obviously stunned him. After he chewed the pipe a moment more, he smiled. "I can give you the Pearl. But, it will take some doing. She's been in the Locker for nigh on a hundred years. And, no matter what, the Pearl comes with a price of her own."

"And what is that?"

"You can only sail her for thirteen years and then your soul comes to me," Jones said, his slimy beard already exploring the dice before him. He was eager to play. "Are you ready to pay that price, young Jack?"

I held out my hand and replied, "I'm not so young, Jones." He laughed, hearty and loud, and wrapped his tentacle hand around mine. It was a bit like shaking hands with a slimy snake.

"It appears we have an accord, gentlemen," Jones crowed. His crew gave up a holler and we made our first rolls. I had a five and a six. An excellent start. Jones, however, came up with only a three and a five.

"It's odd you'd go to the Black Pearl after all Kensington must have told you about her," Jones sneered, while he shook his second roll. He came up with a two and six for a total of sixteen thus far.

"Captain never mentioned the Pearl. Besides, she'd been long sunk by the time he was a glimmer in his father's eye," I said, rolling a neat five and five for a total of twenty-one. I was five ahead. Jones growled at my roll, but then eyed me. He looked slightly confused, then suddenly laughed out loud again. He held his dice.

"Surely, Kensington's told you who the legendary pirate who captained the Pearl was!"

I shook my head to indicate the negative. I was anxious to continue. I was only one more toss from the ship of my dreams and the captaincy I fully expected.

"Why, none other than himself, Sparrow!"

"Impossible, Jones. Now, if you'll please -"

"No. You listen to me," Jones said, his jaunty tone carrying a hint of malice. "That man who sails the Atropos sold his soul to the devil, all right. He sold it to me! The Pearl drove him absolutely mad and finally, he tried to sink her himself. But, she wouldn't go down. She's got a magic about her, you see," he said. I was stunned. It couldn't be true, but yet, I always knew there was something about Kensington that was off. "I sunk her myself and stowed her away. I imagine you've met the witch?" he continued.

I shrugged. I hadn't met any witches that I'd been aware of.

"Tia Corinnina, fool. You've met her. I can tell by those ridiculous charms in your hair," he spat. I reached up and touched the one that held my mother's voice. It wasn't helping me right now as the pounding of my own heart drowned out all else.

"Well, she enchanted your Atropos and Kensington himself. As long as he stays aboard her at night, he doesn't grow old, nor can I find him. Even if I find the ship."

I looked at the dice in front of me and then over Jones' head. I saw Bailley and Cotton staring at me. They looked grave. I knew Jones was telling the truth. "And, if you found him?" I asked quietly. I was shocked to hear my own voice. It sounded just as young as it had the day I'd left my mother in Paris. There was no hint of the confident pirate I'd become in that moment.

"He'd be forced to honor his agreement and serve eternity before the mast on the Flying Dutchman," Jones answered.

I nodded. After a long quiet pause, I spoke, "Well, are we going to sit here all night or are you going to cast your lot?" I demanded, the confidence resonating through my voice.

Jones stared at me, "You still want the Pearl?"

"I am a man of my word, Jones. To forfeit now would be to serve before you with your ghastly crew. I'll take my chances with the Pearl."

"Well, Jack, may she make you crazier than you already are, then, if you win her," and with than, he threw his dice. A one and a three! An automatic loss.

I leapt from my chair, somehow not surprised. Inside I was angry and I had to speak to Kensington, but on the outside, I was my usual self. Bailley, Cotton, Pell, and the rest of the crew joined me behind the table.

I lifted my bottle to Davy Jones, "To you, Jones! I shall be forever in your debt for making me Captain of the Black Pearl!"

Jones stood, angrily spilling the contents of the table, "That's right, Captain Jack Sparrow!" he spat out at me, "You are. In thirteen years, I'll have your soul for my slave and Kensington's besides!"

He turned to leave and I called out, "Well, when do I get my ship?"

He made an awful grunt and turned again, "Meet me in three days off the north shore of Hispaniola and you'll have your ship!" With than, he stalked out, calling for his crew to follow.

Once they hideous lot had departed, a cry went up in the bar. I was held aloft in my chair and carried around the room to chants of my name. More rum was poured and my winnings (what hadn't been nicked up by the dishonest patrons) were collected. Amidst the revelry, I heard a great cry come as though from miles away. It was Captain Kensington, "Jack Sparrow!"

No one else in the tavern seemed to hear, so I slipped out during he third verse of "Yo Ho" and rowed out to the Atropos. I went to sea just in time to witness the Dutchman dive beneath the water's surface.