Chapter 16: Exchanges
The fight soon went out of the sailors from the Manchester. With their ship caught between the Black Pearl and the newcomer they were forced to submit. They had no real chance of escape. The pirates quickly disarmed those on the Pearl and men from the other ship boarded and secured the Manchester.
It was a few minutes before the man Jack and Barbossa were expecting came across to the Pearl. Sir Kaspar Sydney dressed in a fine woolen jacket and deer skin breaches strode onto the bloodied deck like a man stepping into a tailor's for a fitting. He paused briefly to gaze around the battered ship and then cast a smile at the two pirates.
"By God, sir!" Sir Kaspar said as he came up to them. "Remarkable. Truly remarkable, sir. I am pleased to find you both still alive."
"I take it you've come for the falcon, Sir Kaspar," Jack said laconically as he sheathed his sword.
"I have indeed. You were successful in your mission?" the knight's voice carried the tone it might if he were inquiring about a day's hunting.
"We've got it," Jack replied coolly. "Are you ready to give us the antidote?"
"Antidote? The falcon first, gentlemen," Sir Kaspar demanded. "Business should, after all, be conducted in a businesslike manner."
"It's in the hold," Jack told him. The captain of the Black Pearl stepped casually to Sir Kaspar's right forcing the knight to turn slightly to keep both pirates in view.
"Please send for it, Captain Sparrow," Sir Kaspar said.
"In a minute," Jack countered. "Where are the doubloons?"
"Upon my word, sir. You are a shrewd bargainer," Sir Kaspar shrugged. He turned slightly and raised a hand to signal someone on the Manchester. A small, dark, fastidious looking man came across carrying a leather sack that clinked against his leg as he walked. Sir Kaspar took it and handed it to Jack.
"Is this the down payment?" Jack asked slightly confused. "We were talking about a deal more than this."
"Yes, sir, we were... But that is genuine coin of the realm, sir." Sir Kaspar smiled disarmingly. "With an ounce of that you can buy ten ounces of talk."
"Don't be takin' us for fools, Sir Kaspar," growled Barbossa.
"I do not, sir. It is simply that there is more to be taken care of now," the knight gestured to the Manchester. "There are bribes to be paid. Men to be disposed of. More enemies to guard against. In point of fact it is all I can spare."
"You didn't say absolutely all," observed Jack.
Sir Kaspar chuckled. "Absolutely all I can spare, gentlemen. Now the falcon, if you please, Captain Sparrow."
Jack looked aside to Barbossa who shifted a little then nodded. Jack sent one of the men to fetch the chest from the brig. When the wooden box was brought up the small, fastidious man took it and held it for the knight. Sir Kaspar opened the lid and there lay the jeweled statue upon a velvet cushion. The knight ran his fingers over it in what could have been mistaken for a lover's caress. He closed the lid almost regretfully.
"And now for the antidote, Sir Kaspar," Barbossa prompted.
"Antidote? There is none," the knight blinked and swayed back a fraction as he suddenly found Hector's sword point pressed to his throat. He said very carefully, "Captain Barbossa, there is no antidote because there is no need for one. You were never poisoned."
Both pirates fastened unfriendly eyes on the fat man. Barbossa's sword did not move.
"I had no other way of guaranteeing your fidelity and cooperation, gentlemen," Sir Kaspar sounded cool and calm. His eyes did not flinch when they met those of the pirates. "Come now, gentlemen. What if things had proven to be more difficult? What if it had taken longer than ten days? What if Sir Henry's agents had gotten the falcon? It was a gamble on my part. You were not harmed by my deception."
"Not harmed?" Barbossa growled menacingly. His eyes became feral like those of a lion scenting blood. "We were damned near killed a dozen times. Our ship's been shot to hell and we lost a quarter of our crew."
Sir Kaspar's cool demeanor now was shaken. He was a man accustomed to being the one in control. The knight now realized that he'd made a terrible error coming onto the Pearl like this and setting himself in the hands of cutthroats.
"There is no service to be had by my death, sir," Sir Kaspar said evenly.
Jack smiled coldly. "We'd keep the falcon."
"You could," Sir Kaspar agreed. "But killing me would cause my officers to act as their nature dictates, sir. They would sink your ship. Captain Sparrow, I know you are a resourceful man. You've defeated at least three of Sir Henry's vessels to get to this point. But as was just pointed out by your own first officer your ship is damaged and your crew is down by a quarter of its strength. You will not prevail here."
Jack caught Barbossa's eye and made a slight gesture with his hand. The blade dropped away from the knight's throat.
Sir Kaspar touched the spot where the blade had rested. "A wise choice, captain. I suggest you get under way. There is much I must attend to. I don't think I want to have you near by while I'm doing it."
Sir Kaspar and his man returned to their ship and the Black Pearl was readied to sail. An hour later there was a low rumble as of distant thunder. Several miles aft a cloud of smoke rose above the spot where they had left the Manchester.
"He's killed them all," Sir Walter said. Jack had not told Sir Kaspar that the knight was aboard the Pearl.
"Likely, mate," Jack agreed.
"Why'd you save me and not them?" Sir Walter wanted to know.
"Couldn't save all of them," the pirate said. "But I could save you."
"Why?" the knight pressed.
"You were my prisoner. I don't like the idea of killing helpless men."
"An honorable pirate?" Sir Walter smirked.
"You can be a pirate and still be a good man," Jack turned to one of the hands. "Bootstrap, help Sir Walter down to my cabin. Get him patched up. And get him some rum."