15. Immortality Threatened
Matt and I climb up the to the main deck of the Pearl and glance around the deck while the others climb up.
"I can't believe Jack deceived us into coming onto this trip," Will comments to me as we wait for Jack.
"I can. It's Jack! I wouldn't have put it past him," I chuckle, trying to make light of the fact I too am pissed that he lied to me.
"At least we're still gonna get that flute thing," Matt replies with a smile.
"Yeah—that is good," I respond as Jack finally climbs up to the main deck.
"Ready the sails ye feculent maggots!" Jack commands hastily as he walks about the deck, "All hands to stations and raise the anchor!"
"Jack," I say as I walk over to him. He glances over at me, a bit anxious to speak to me.
"Aye, dahling?" he asks, shifting his gaze in all directions.
"Jack, why didn't you tell me about Norrington? You know I wouldn't have cared if we had to rescues him or not," I explain in a calm voice.
"That's debatable, luv," he responded, lifting a finger in the air as he prepares to explain.
"And why's that?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"Because, it's well known fact that as soon as one becomes aware of the fact that there is more to a journey than gain hence a rescue that may ensue much battling, one becomes disinterested in journeying on said journey," he explains. I just look at him with raised eyebrows.
"Jack! If I had known Norrington was alive and needed rescuing I would have been one of the first people in line to join your crew and save him! I probably would have been third in line behind Will and Elizabeth!" I exclaim throwing my hands in the air.
"Then I horribly misjudged the situation. Sorry dahling," he replies and then swaggers off in search of Gibbs.
I just shake my head in disbelief and then head to my station.
"So what did he say?" Elizabeth asks when I join her at stations.
"He didn't think we'd wanna join in on a journey if we had known there was a rescue involved because of battle," I reply still shaking my head.
"That'd ridiculous! He knows we'd be the first in line to rescue James!" Elizabeth exclaims.
"That's what I told him!" I exclaim with her.
"I just don't see why a battle to save James would want to make us not want to save him," Elizabeth explains.
"Not to mention we can't die now," I chuckle with wide eyes.
"That's also true!" she retorts.
"I didn't think ye and bloody Will would want to go on another adventure after just being joined in matrimony!" Jack exclaims suddenly from behind us. We both turn around and face Jack.
"That's quite true, Jack. But at least I wasn't robbed of my wedding night—again," Elizabeth states, "and besides, if you had told us it was to save James, Will and I would have been more than apt to join in!"
"There's more than meets the eye regarding Dao Yun Ching's crew," Jack replies seriously, "there's more to saving James than just battle,"
"Then what is it?" I ask.
"In time, luv. In time," Jack retorts.
"That doesn't help my wanting to save Norrington!" I exclaim.
"I even don't know the full extent to which his crew fights. They have the Jade Flute, mind you—that is an incredible strength in their favor," Jack explains, "it's a difficult task beating whoever is in possession of the Jade Flute,"
"Jack, what does this Jade Flute do?" Elizabeth asks.
"It depends on whoever is in its possession," Jack responds.
"So basically, this trip is dangerous because we don't know how Dao Yun Ching has been using the flute in his favor?" I ask, trying to make sense of it all.
"Exactly. Which was why I couldn't just tell ye about this venture because I am not even sure of what lies before us," Jack explains.
"That's all you had to say," I retort.
"Barbossa has our heading—we'll be pursuing the Majesty out of Singapore and into waters Barbossa believe Dao Yun Ching has been sailing in search for ye two lasses," Jack explains.
"What do you think he'll do when we find him?" I ask.
"Try and kill ye both," he responds bluntly.
"Comforting," Elizabeth replies.
"But we're immortal, remember?" I respond.
"Aye—but nothing can defeat the powers of the Jade Flute," Jack states.
"So if Dao Yun Ching tries and kills us, he can? Even though we can't die?" I ask incredulously.
"He had to kill you with the Jade Flute," Jack explains.
"How can you kill someone with a flute?" Elizabeth asks with a smirk.
"Ye don't want t' be askin' that, luv," Jack responds softly. Elizabeth and I just exchange nervous glances and then we look back at Jack.
"I just don't think that something such as immortality granted by an alleged god can be threatened by something that is made by human hands," I reply thoughtfully.
"That's just it, dahling—the Jade Flute was carved from Jade found here in the East by one of the sacred gods of the land—Lim Lao," Jack explains. "Mr. Gibbs! If you please!" Jack called to Gibbs who was passing by at the right moment. Gibbs walked over to the three of us.
"Aye cap'n?" Gibbs asks.
"The Jade Flute," Jack states and head gestures to Elizabeth and I.
"Ah—the legend of the Jade Flute," Gibbs nods.
"This just gets deeper and deeper, doesn't it!?" I exclaim to Elizabeth. She just shakes her head with wide eyes, fully enthralled by the story about to be told.
"It is said that the sacred god Lim Lao carved this flute out of Jade from the mountains and with a solitary breath into the flute, granted the flute with all of his godly powers, never intending to loose it to man," Gibbs explains.
"How did he loose it?" Elizabeth asks.
"Well, I'll tell ye. It was an enormous battle that was had between the leaders of the East and the gods—many years ago in fact. It was with the Jade Flute that Lim Lao declared he would extinguish all of mankind from the face of the Earth—but it was by the deceit and cunning advances man's battle on the gods that they were able to get Lim Lao to drop his flute. It fell from the sky and landed in a remote location and wasn't found until many years later by the pirate Dao Yun Ching—and has been in his possession ever since," Gibbs finishes. He glances at Jack, who nodds his head.
"Thank you, Mr. Gibbs," Jack responds.
"Yer welcome, cap'n," Gibbs replies and then turns and leaves.
"That is the story of the Jade Flute. So as you both can imagine, we're in store for not your average battle," Jack states.
"I'll say! We're gonna get our asses kicked!" I exclaim.
"What's the point of being immortal if we can die at the hand of a musical instrument?" Elizabeth asks incredulously.
"My point exactly," I state quickly.
"Steady on! The both o' you!" Jack exclaims suddenly, "there is but one way to defeat the Jade Flute,"
"And how is that?" I ask.
"The Jade Flute but be blown into in order for its powers to take effect," Jack explains.
"So don't let Dao Yun Ching blow into the flute?" I ask.
"Each note played is a different power. Now this is where yer musical friend Matt comes in," Jack states.
"Matt doesn't play flute—or any instruments really. He sings," I reply.
"He must sing the matching pitch emitted by the flute," Jack continues.
"That doesn't seem all too difficult," I respond.
"Aye—but ye must play the flute and he must match what comes out," Jack explains.
"I have to play the flute?" I ask with wide eyes.
"Aye. If Dao Yun Ching plays it and his singer matches all the pitches, ye both will die," Jack says.
"So how am I going to get the flute to play it?" I ask, "and I haven't played flute in probably 16 years!"
"Barbossa knows where Dao Yun Ching keeps his flute aboard the ship—we fight, you and Elizabeth scurry into the hold where it's located, grab the thing and play is right away—Matt will be ready to sing and break the hold Dao Yun Ching has on it and then ye both won't die," Jack explains hurriedly.
"This doesn't sound like a fool-proof plan, Jack," I state.
"Dahling, nothing's fool-proof," Jack replies in a low voice. Elizabeth and I just look at each other nervously.
"What about you and Will? Won't you two die also?" she asks finally.
"No—Dao Yun Ching's not after William and me. He's after you two so he can take his long awaited seat in the Brethren Court," Jack says.
"We're so screwed," I sigh.
"Not if we're prepared—but then again, how prepared am I ever?" Jack asks with a grin.
"Comforting," I respond.
"So we've got a true threat to our immortality here," Elizabeth says.
Both of us are silent and then I look up at Jack.
"That's why you didn't tell us," I state.
"That's why I didn't tell you," he responds with a nod.