11. The Value of Information
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"Did you find Jack?" Elizabeth asks me when I return back to the table.
"Yeah, I found him," I reply bitterly, taking my seat.
"What's wrong?" She asks, sensing my mood change.
"It's nothing, really," I say, smiling, trying not to upset her on her wedding day.
"I know you're lying. Don't worry about me—what happened?" she asks, concerned.
"You know, it's really not a big deal, but here's what he told me. He said he doesn't hate weddings, in fact he loves weddings because he was drink and be drunk the entire time. Now, you may ask yourself, why? He's drunk all the time anyway! Well, a little known fact about Jack was revealed to me, ladies and gentlemen," I explain harshly, both Will and Elizabeth intently listening as Matt's rubs my back.
"Well?" Will asks.
"Our dear friend Jack feels that there are better ways of expressing one's love other than a wedding; once again, we wonder why," I explain further.
"So…tell us," Matt huffs.
"Our beloved Jack feels weddings are distasteful because our beloved Jack was left by his own beloved at the altar," I say with a blank stare.
"What?!" Elizabeth exclaims in shock.
"Jack was married?!" Will retorts.
"No, not quite. He never got married. A while back, he was in love with this girl, I failed to learn her name, but he rushed into asking her to marry him and on their wedding day, he was up at the altar waiting for her and she never came," I explain.
"Oh poor Jack," Elizabeth says.
"Yeah no kidding," I reply, looking down at my plate.
"Lindsey, are you okay?" Will asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm fine—I feel bad for Jack—I really do," I reply, trying to smile.
"That's not all he told you," Elizabeth says, her strong eyes watching me, seeing through my fake smile.
"You're right," I say, looking up at her, "I'm not upset that he was about to marry another girl—and it's not likely that I want to marry any time soon—but it's something I'd like to do eventually," I explain rationally.
"Of course," Elizabeth replies.
"And I had hoped that maybe Jack would be the one I would be marrying some time in the future. HOWEVER, he has informed me that he foresees no weddings in his future," I state.
"Oh Lindsey, I'm so sorry," Elizabeth says.
"No, it's fine, really. He's a pirate. I couldn't have expected any kind of commitment like that from him," I reply.
"But that's not why he doesn't want to marry—piracy has nothing to do with it," Will chimes in. "It's obvious he doesn't want to marry because of that experience he had at his other wedding,"
"I know that—that's what he told me. And I told him that he's much older than wiser now and that he should know I would never do that to him and he still refuses at the idea of a wedding. I walked away and he asked me if I was mad and I said I was—because he doesn't trust me," I explain.
"Jack trusts you," Matt says finally.
"Clearly he doesn't," I reply, looking down at the plate again.
"Why so solemn?" Jack stumbles over to the table. Will and Elizabeth look at him and smile, pretending as if nothing's wrong.
"We're not solemn, Jack. We were just about to get up and begin a dance, actually. Care you join us?" Elizabeth asks, hoping Jack will give me some space.
"A dance! I love dances!" he exclaims in a husky tone as he follows Elizabeth and Will.
I turn to Matt and smile at him, "Let's get outta here and go drinking," I say.
"Hell yeah," he replies as he both get up and wander out of the hall.
0 0 0
Matt and I spent the rest of the night at a tavern drinking rum and laughing about old memories until we decided to head back to my store.
The next morning I awaken in my bed and find Jack asleep in the wooden chair by the foot of my bed. I hoist the covers off me and head downstairs without waking him up. I am just about to walk outside the store when I hear Jack's boots clunking down the stairs.
"Rise and shine, ye scurvy dogs!" Jack bellows to the sleeping crew members. I freeze at the door, not wanting to turn around and face him.
The crew members wake up and scurry about, readying themselves.
"And where are ye headin' so early?" Jack asks me as he walks closer to me. He stops right behind me.
"I'm going for a walk," I reply, not turning to face him.
"Ah, a walk," he replies with a nod of his head.
I turn around and face him, "what, you don't believe me?" I ask bitterly.
"I never said I didn't believe ye, luv! I just said 'ah, a walk'!" he exclaims.
"And where are you going this early?" I retort back.
"For a walk," he says, raising his eyebrows at me. I just turn around and walk out the door.
0 0 0
Jack and I refuse to talk to one another for the rest of the day and night, until the following day when we plan on asking Will and Elizabeth for help on our next journey.
We ready everyone and tell them to head to the Pearl. Matt leaves with the crew and Jack and I head over to Will and Elizabeth's home.
Jack and I are silent the entire walk there, and even when Will greets us and lets us inside, we do not speak.
"So what brings you both here?" Will asks, sitting down.
"Actually, we're leaving Port Royal today," I say.
"Oh no! We were hoping you'd be staying for a while," Elizabeth says as she overhears us and walks into the room.
"So you've come to say good-bye then," Will states through suspecting eyes.
"Actually, we came with a proposition," Jack replies with a grin.
"Here it comes," Will rolls his eyes.
"Now hear me out, Turner," Jack begins, "this is actually quite important and involves both o' ye,"
"Jack, not another adventure," Elizabeth says.
"Ever 'eard o' the Jade Flute?" Jack asks mysteriously.
"No," Will replies curtly, pursing his lips together.
"Well, dear William, the Jade Flute is located somewhere in Singapore and brings about fortune to whoever posses it," Jack explains.
"Jack, we're not helping you find something that will only bring about fortune for you," Will replies.
"Let me finish, Turner!" Jack exclaims, pauses, and then continues, "now, the Jade Flute brings about fortune yes, but what would ye say if it could bring back our dear friend Norrington?"
Their eyes light up at first but then fade in disbelief.
"Impossible," Will states.
"Nigh impossible, right? No. Norrington is alive," Jack says with wide eyes.
"How?! It can't be," Elizabeth exclaims, "I saw him get shot…we saw him get shot," she says as she looks me. I just nod my head, knowing what is coming.
"Aye—but Norrington was revived by Calypso right before Barbossa set 'er free. How do I know this, you wonder? I saw Norrington as I was tryin' t get me Pearl back from Barbossa. He ended up helpin' me strike a bargain with Barbossa, getting me the Pearl back. Norrington also happens t' know where the Jade Flute is located, as he is currently residing in Singapore. He asked me t' bring ye both with me t' Singapore so ye both could grant him a ship back t' England where he hopes t' reside in retirement," Jack finishes.
"Oh, Will, we've go to help James," Elizabeth pleads. Will is silent for a moment.
"Okay—we're in. But nothing extravagant, Jack. We sail directly to Singapore, we find the Jade Flute, we sail back to Port Royal and get James on a ship back to England," Will requires.
"Of course, William," Jack replies sternly.
"So I'm assuming we set sail today then," Will replies.
"Aye!" Jack exclaims, standing up.
"We'll meet you at the Pearl," Will states.
"Agreed," Jack responds, as we leave their house.
As we walk to the docks, Jack looks over at me, "See the value of information?" he asks.
"Yes, Jack," I reply, looking straight ahead.
"There's always value to information," he says as we arrive at the docks.
"I know, Jack," I reply blankly.
"Luv, I don't want t' keep bein' silent—it's killin' me," he says.
"Okay," I reply.
"What is it ye want t' know?" he asks.
"Her name," I reply.
"Sarah Edwards," he responds, getting the dingy ready for us to get to the Pearl.
"I'm sorry, Jack," I say finally, surprised he actually told me.
"It's okay, dahling," he replies with a smile. I smile back as we get in the boat.