Epilogue
"Your piss looks normal, Hector," Brother Thomas said holding up a half full glass beaker. "You say the both of you were feeling queer in the stomach?"
"Aye. We were," Hector said. They'd made a side trip to the small island to see if the monk could discover anything. Neither Jack nor Hector put much faith in Sir Kaspar's word after what they'd witnessed.
"And this feeling started nearly a day after you left Tripoli?" The monk splashed the contents of the beaker into his fire and observed it sizzling on the hearth stones.
"It did," Jack told him.
"But now that you've returned to drinking rum it's gone," Brother Thomas smiled. "I think you got a dose of bad water. Drank some from one of the wells there did you?"
"Of course. We didn't have enough rum to go 'round," Jack replied.
"I see," Brother Thomas rinsed the beaker in a bucket and set it back on the shelf. "There is a basket of apples outside the door on the wall. Take it with you and eat them for the next few days. Be sure to drink your rum straight for at least a week. I suggest you drink plenty of tea also. That should clean out your livers. I doubt that Kaspar poisoned you. As black as is his soul Kaspar is actually a man of his word. I, at least, have never known him to break it."
Epilogue
"Captain Sparrow,"
Jack turned to find 'Umniya. He had been sitting on a fallen tree looking out over the Mediterranean and had not heard her approach.
"I have a gift for you," The young woman reached under her veil and came out with a jeweled earring. She handed it to him. "Something to say thank you and to remember me by."
"Thank you, luv," Jack said as he took the earring. "So you're sure you want to stay here? Not much to do in this place."
"I like it," she said with a smile. "It's so green. Aasim likes it too. He thinks it will be a nice change from Tripoli."
"Aye. I reckon it will at that," Jack cast a look back toward the little village. "Keep an eye on that knight. He may be down for a time but when he's well again he might be trouble."
"I am not worried about Walter. I think he is a good man at heart," 'Umniya pulled her veil aside and lightly kissed Jack on the cheek. "Like you."
Jack smiled as he watched her walk back to the stone houses. When she reached them he looked at the earring and noticed the small gem. It was very like the one he had in his pocket. The one he'd pried from its setting on the gold statue of the falcon. It had taken several minutes to go through his loot from Tamir's treasure room to find a replacement that fit the setting and he'd wondered if Sir Kaspar would notice the small nick his knife had left. Jack took 'Umniya's gift and hooked it through one of his dreadlocks feeling very pleased with himself.
Epilogue
Below on the deck Jack could hear Pintel admonish Ragetti. "It'll get bet'er if ya quits rubbin' it."
"Bu' it itches!"
"Where to now, Jack?" Barbossa asked from behind him.
"I'm not sure. Where do you think, Hector?"
"I've sailed the world, Jack. Beheld its wonders you might say," Hector mused. "Everywhere from the Dardenells to the mountains of Peru. But there's no place like London."
Jack grimaced slightly. "No, there's no place like London. We should be able to pick up some fresh men there to round out the crew."
"London then?" Barbossa waited for Jack's nod then stepped to the compass and gave the heading to the helmsman. From his pocket he pulled a fresh green apple. "I think I could get used to these."
The End
Author's Note: I enjoyed writing this story. I owe much to Mr. Dashiell Hammett who wrote The Maltese Falcon. I also owe much to Mr. Sydney Greenstreet who played Kaspar Gutman in the movie of the same name. My character, Sir Kaspar Sydney, is of course based on and named for that character and the actor who portrayed him. Alas both of these men are no longer with us. If you have the opportunity to see the movie or read the book I think you will find the time well spent.
I also would like to say thank you to those of you who have reviewed. A special thanks goes out to Pirate-on-fleet-street. She stuck with me the whole way. She also asked some very tough questions that helped me to make this a better story. MsAuroura provided a good deal of critical assistance as well. At the time of this note she is in her first year of university in England and her time was preempted by her studies. I hope she will have an opportunity to finish reading this story. Last but not least is Rattraveler. He also was drawn away from the story before he could finish reading it. However, his reviews were encouraging while he was able to make them.
If anyone has any questions or observations please send me a PM. I always like to hear what people have to say about my work. Thank you all for reading.