So, in this chapter I tried out Tia Dalma's accent, and it's not so great. But, bear with me! Soon (next chapter) you will meet the crew and Jack's jar of dirt! :D so whoo-hooh!

Here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 6

After stepping onto the shore, Dave and I made our way to Pantano River where Tia Dalma was known to reside. It was rumored that she had powers to bring back the dead, summon demons, and make potions along with other voodoo. She, and other nomads, lived in the shacks encircling the Pantano River. From the coast of Cuba, the river's mouth extends deep into the swampy bayou. There are alligators, venomous fly traps, and other monstrous beasts. It'll be a wonder if we get out of her alive. Though I have managed worse, I thought, looking around as we entered the river bank. There was a man sitting by a decrepit dock, smoking a homemade pipe. He was wearing worn clothes, and a a shabby gray dew rag, and an obvious lack of footwear. To the right of him was a canoe big enough for four.

"Do you think we should ask him if w-" I mumbled and cut off as Dave sauntered up to the man and asked him what sounded like, "Can we get a ride to see Tia Dalma?" gesturing to me. Then it looked like the man shivered, and got a solemn expression on his face. Then glancing back to me, Dave gave me an annoyed look, and turned back to the man. Continuing to talk to the man for a moment, I glanced around the area. We were on the bank of the Pantano River, surrounded by trees, swampy marshes, and the sound of distant crickets chirping. The only other noise, beside the "conversation" between Dave and the man, was the occasional lapping of the water against the man's boat. Hearing footsteps, I looked up as Dave approached.

"Did you get us a ride?" I asked looking at him with a pointed expression.

Sighing he answered, "No...He doesn't understand that much English. All I could get of him was, 'Boat. Me. Crock'. Boat?' Whatever that means." Then looking back at the man an idea struck me.

"Let me go talk to him," I said, seeing my 'plan' run through my mind, "I think he'll help us if I talk to him."

Looking at me like it was hopeless and I was crazy Dave answered, "Well, good luck with that. I'm going to be over here coming up with a plan to get there."Then he turned from me grabbing his sword, and sat down to draw what looked like a rough map of the river and island. Striding confidently, I walked over to the sitting man. He was still smoking his pipe, but was now also using a rough blade to carve a piece of wood.

Clearing my throat I asked, "Sir?" Smiling to myself thinking of how proud Annabeth would be, seeing my manners. Then as he heard my voice, he looked up with an expectant face. "Um, can you take us to see Tia Dalma?" Once again I saw him shiver, probably recognizing the name.

"Tia Dalma..." the man pondered, looking me over from head to toe. Then his eyes caught site of my charm necklace and he leaned forward from where he was sitting to examine it. Reaching out his hand, he carefully grasped the charm rubbing his thumb over it, gasping.

"You. Son of Poseidon?" he asked in broken English. He looked awed to see such a like.

Awkwardly looking around, (anywhere but him) I stuttered, "Um...I c-can't under st-stand you."

Then giving me hand signals, he put down his pipe and pointed to me. Taking his hand up and down in a wave motion he looked at me expectantly again.

Thinking that maybe I knew what he was getting at, I asked, "Is that the sea? Waves?" Confirming my thought he nodded his head up and down. Okay, I guess we're playing charades.

Then he pointed to himself, then to the boat making oaring motions. "You can take me?" I asked excitingly. Nodding he pointed to Dave who was still drawing in the sand and beckoned us forward, toward the boat.

Turning, I shouted to Dave, "Dave, come on! He can take us!" Then Dave looked up in defeat (and slight annoyance) and trudged over.

"You got him to take us?!" Dave whined with a pouty face and crossed arms. Looking at him like he was a weirdo I hesitantly said, "Yeah..."

"Great," he said, brightening up and smiling, "Let's go!" Then he turned and climbed into the canoe sitting in front of the man and smiled, clearly eager to go. Rolling my eyes at how much of a child he was, I climbed in after him and we were off. Being a son of Poseidon has it's perks.

The man, looking at me with an ever constant grin pointed to himself and said, "Joe." Oh, so that's his name.

"Hi," I said, then introduced us. Pointing to myself I said, "Percy," then pointing to Dave I said, "Dave." Sitting in the canoe, I was reminded of my trip in the canoe in the underworld. However, Charon was a lot stiffer than Joe. As we glided through river, we turned and winded as the still water did too. Ever so often I would see a glimpse of flames in the distance, but it would only be fireflies. The constant chirping of crickets deep in the swamp, and the occasional slosh of a 'gator slipping into the waters made me apprehensive. The trip down the river had been silent and calm, as Dave and I sat watching the water, Joe caring, and the exotic wildlife.

As we neared what I thought was where we were to stop, I saw glimpses of rotting walkways half under water, or hidden in the foliage. Every now or then, I would see a pair of eyes in the trees, hidden by the dark. There were also random people sitting on the makeshift docks, or in their own boats.

Then as I thought we were turning the corner, we stopped, and Joe tethered the boat to the "dock". It was more of a flea-infested porch that could give away at any moment. Farther along the dock was a small, makeshift shack made of random pieces of wood nailed together to form some sort of structure. The windows of the shack were lite up, leaving beams of light to reflect out along the water. The sound of footsteps lightly stepping around the shack and the slightly enchanted sound of a women humming, brought me out of the boat. Dave followed, and Joe got back in the boat, looking at the house nervously. Then as he oared away, he waved and disappeared around the corner.

Breaking the eerie silence Dave said, "Well...that was weird." The sharp sound of a door opening cut us from our train of thought. Turning around, I saw the door of the shack slowly creak open. Then a women's voice called out,"C'me in boys..." Glancing at each other, we shrugged and walked towards the door. Inside, to the right of the door, sat a woman wearing a ratty Victorian dress that was low on her shoulders, and had several tears and stains in the dark red and cream fabric. The dress reached down to just above her bare (dirty) feet. On her neck she wore an assemble of beads and odd trinkets. Her hair was styled into messy dread locks reaching down to her waist. Her skin was a rich, chocolate black, that was offset by heavy eyeshadow (stain?), black lipstick, and what looked like burn marks under her eyes and on her chin.

Then she spoke again, "Perseus Jackson, you have a touch of destiny about you. Are you de son of de Sea god, sent do defeat Jolly Roger 'ere for a quest?" Looking at us while stroking a handful on crab claws she continued, "I dought so." Then she reached behind her to grab a jar of dirt. Handling it with care she put it on a shelve by the door, crammed with jars of eyeballs, ears, and other assorted freaky things.

"You 'ave come for my help, and help you will get. First dough, I must meet wid' anoder pirate. Den I shall 'elp. Dake a seat." She pointed to the table she had been sitting at that now had three other chairs. Creepy!

As we took our seats, she walked up to the door and opened it. Walking up from another boat, was a pirate sauntering up to Tia Dalma. He wore a pair of pirate boots, trousers, a large flowing cotton undershirt and a vest. He had a compass dangling from his waist along with a holster for a sword, and a gun tucked it his shirt. On over his head was a red dew rag around his dread locks and random charms and beads braided into his hair. He had a amount of jewelry on: rings, necklaces, and belts with shiny bronze. In his hand was a typical pirates hat.

"Jack Sparrow," Tia greeted him smiling wide.

Then he responded, "Tia Dalma!" as he walked in the door coming to great her familiarly. Then he noticed us and asked blankly, "Who are you?"

Smiling, Tia Dalma walked over to us and turned back to Jack. "Dis," she said, pointing to me, "is Percy Jackson, a son of Poseidon."

Yay! Jack Sparrow! ;D

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Thanks,

Annabeth7