Chapter 9
The Black Pearl
Margot knocked on the door to her father's cabin. He shouted for her to enter and she walked in slowly. Will was seated at the table with Jack, sharing a bottle of rum.
"Margot, sit lass," ordered Jack, pulling out a chair.
She slumped down in the chair arms crossed over her chest and glared at Will.
Will grinned and pushed his chair away from the table, "I'll leave you two be. Nice meeting you Margot".
Margot nodded her head slightly as he left the room and then turned to her father, "He needs to talk to Johnny".
Jack looked at her strangely, "I thought that you and John Turner be enemies".
"We, uh…well we resolved our differences," blushed Margot.
"Ye did?" asked Jack suspiciously, "What…"
"It's of little importance. Of more importance is the treasure," interrupted Margot.
Jack took a swig of rum, "I told ye Margot. We scoured the caves. There be no treasure".
Margot reached inside her shirt and pulled out her glowing necklace, "Watch this".
Johnny was closing Margot's door behind him when Will walked around the corner.
"John, I've been looking for you," smiled Will.
Johnny started in surprise and then turned to face his father, "Oh?"
Will took in his son's disheveled appearance, "You missed a button".
Johnny cursed under his breath and re-buttoned his shirt, "Why were you looking for me?"
"I need to explain things to you, son".
"Explain why you abandoned me?"
"John…can we talk somewhere else? In your cabin perhaps?"
"That's not my cabin," smirked Johnny, "But Margot wouldn't mind".
Johnny opened the door and ushered his father in. They sat down and Will glanced briefly at the rumpled bed.
"Margot, eh? Well that's…"
"Enough of my private life. Tell me everything".
Will sighed and rubbed his forehead, "After your mum died…"
His voice broke and he cleared his throat before continuing, "She died and I was in sorry shape. I wasn't eating, wasn't talking, couldn't even hold my own son. Your grandfather found me a position on a British ship. Told me it was only for a year, to get my mind off things".
Johnny stood up and opened a cabinet, pulling out a bottle of rum. He took a sip and then passed it to his father.
"Thank you," said Will, pausing to drink before continuing, "I was on the ship and healing when the hurricane struck. The ship was destroyed and I was adrift at sea. On the verge of death, I was picked up by a foreign ship and placed into slavery in Egypt".
"Obviously you escaped…"
"I made a bargain. I would watch these caves for intruders and I would be given my freedom in ten years. It's been eight years since that bargain and I've turned away many ships. But now you're here".
"Did you not try to escape? I would've risked everything to be with my family," muttered Johnny.
Will nodded and turned in his chair, lifting up his shirt. Johnny stared at the deep scars that criss-crossed his back.
"Lashes for trying to escape. When I nearly died, my owner made this bargain with me".
Johnny brushed tears out of his eyes, "Can we take you away from here?"
"I've talked with Jack. He's agreed to set sail tomorrow. No one will notice my absence for several days. Enough for The Pearl to get back to the Mediterranean".
Johnny leaned over and wrapped his father in a tight hug, "I've missed you, father".
Tears seeped out of Will's eyes as he returned his son's hug, "I've missed you too, son".
When Will and Johnny came up on deck, they were surprised to see Jack Sparrow readying the rowboats. Margot, compass in hand, was climbing into a boat as they walked over.
"What's going on?" asked Will.
Jack jumped in surprise and turned sheepishly, "Mate, Margot's found the treasure".
"Jack, there is no treasure. I've been searching those caves for years," commented Will angrily.
"Margot, show the man yer necklace," said Jack with a flourish of his hands.
Margot pulled the necklace out and pointed it towards the caves. The beam of light illuminated one cave in particular before the images flashed before everyone's eyes.
Will grabbed the necklace, ignoring the burn, "Where did you get this?"
"My mum gave it to…"
"This is ancient magic, Jack. It's dangerous. We're better off without this treasure".
"Will, Will, Will. Where be your sense of adventure? Me men are restless. This treasure is ours".
"What about my father's safety?" asked Johnny furiously, "You promised him we would leave. He could be forced back into slavery. Hell, we could all be forced into slavery".
"Not speaking for you and your da, but we can handle ourselves," countered Margot, "I'm meant to find this treasure. You don't want part in it, you can leave".
Will shook his head sadly, "Your greed will be your undoing. But Johnny and I will come to protect you".
"Wonderful," Jack clapped his hands, "Will give me a hand with the shovels".
Johnny jumped into the rowboat with Margot, grabbing her arm, "This is madness".
"Madness would be ignoring a treasure that's right beneath our noses," replied Margot, wrenching her arm from his grasp.
"Margot, if anything happened to you…"
"Shh. None of that now. Crew's got sharp ears," whispered Margot.
"Bloody hell, I don't give a damn," cursed Johnny as he pulled Margot into his arms, crushing his mouth against hers.
Margot gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back hungrily. There was a commotion above them and they broke apart to see Jack and Will staring down at them.
"Hands off me daughter," growled Jack as he jumped into the rowboat, reaching for Johnny.
The boat rocked precariously as Margot shouted, "Da, stop! You'll capsize us!"
Jack plopped on the seat across from Johnny, "Wait until we be on solid ground lad. It'll be yer arse".
Will climbed into the boat and sat next to his son, "Mayhap the blame should fall on other shoulders. My son comes from a respectable home, your daughter was raised pirate".
"Respectable?" glowered Jack, "He was the bloody Casanova of Port Royal. Why the hell do ye think he's on me ship? Margot's an innocent".
"Not anymore," commented Johnny under his breath.
Margot kicked him in the shin as Jack yelled, "What? You bloody bastard…"
As her father continued to rant and rave, Margot had Smitty row them towards the caves.
Will, Jack, and Johnny were still having it out, when the boat entered the cave. An eerie silence descended as they looked around them.
Margot pulled out her necklace as they docked the boat and clambered out. A solid wall stood before them. The necklace illuminated a small lever at the bottom of the wall. Margot pulled it and the rock slid open, revealing a dark tunnel.
She turned to find Jack and Johnny about to start fighting, Will attempting to intervene.
"Enough," she ordered loudly, her voice echoing throughout the cave.
They stopped in mid punch and turned to see the tunnel she had revealed. Their mouths dropped open and they wandered over to her.
"Let's find us some treasure," smirked Margot as she grabbed a torch and set off into the tunnel.
The men sighed and followed behind her.