Evelyn shook her head and smiled, then left the wrecked cabin and walked to the source of the scream. She found Jones leaning over the front railing of the ship, his tentacles writhing in exasperation. When he saw Evelyn he stood up straight and backed away.
"That's one stubborn boy, but he screams like a lass. Won't come off that pole no matter what I say" he said. Evelyn leaned over the railing and smiled down at the young boy clinging to the pole just above the figurehead.
"Is he gone Captain Marsdan?" the boy asked, his voice high-pitched with fright.
"No, but he means us no harm. Climb up here and take my hand so I can help you up" Evelyn replied, holding her hand down to the boy. The boy hesitated at first, but then reluctantly let go of the pole and began to climb toward Evelyn. After Evelyn hoisted him up over the railing the boy looked at Jones in distrust. Surprisingly, there was no fear on his face, and for a moment this puzzled the two captains. The boy was looking directly into Jones's eyes, unblinkingly, and Jones stared back.
"What is your name, boy?" Jones asked. The boy blinked in surprise and suddenly grew nervous.
"Don't be rude, tell him your name" Evelyn said. The boy stayed silent, but a hint of fear had crept onto his face, and Davy chuckled.
"I think I know why he doesn't want to tell us his name, and it's probably more because he's afraid of what you will do" Jones said. Evelyn gave him a blank look.
"I beg your pardon?" she asked. Jones ignored her and kept his attention on the boy.
"Sit down, lad, no harm will come to you or your captain" he said. The boy's only acknowledgment of Jones's words was to walk over to a crate and sit down. Davy smiled, and then walked over to a piece of debris that was lying near Evelyn's feet and picked it up with his claw. He then turned to the boy and tossed the piece of wood at him. The boy reached to catch it, missed, and let it drop between his legs and onto the deck. Davy nodded at Evelyn.
"There is my proof that he is not really a boy; a boy would have slapped his knees together to catch it instead of letting it fall to the deck. He's a girl in disguise" he said. At this the boy's face paled, and Evelyn turned to him in surprise.
"Is this true?" she asked. The (girl) swallowed nervously, and then nodded slowly. Evelyn chuckled.
"I always thought your face was too pretty for a boy's" she said. The girl gave a sheepish grin, and Evelyn reached out and patted her head.
"So, are you going to tell us your name now?" Jones asked. The girl smiled and nodded.
"My name is Michaela Pearl" she replied.
"Well, it was a pleasure having you on my ship, Michaela. How old are you?" Evelyn said.
"I'm nine. I'm looking for my father who I hope is in Tortuga. The only problem is that I've never met him, so I don't know what he looks like; just what his name is, but that's the reason why I chose to get passage on your ship" Michaela replied. Davy frowned.
"Who is your father?" he asked. Something about this girl intrigued him, and he wanted to know everything she had to say; he hadn't met anyone in a long time who could actually hold an intelligent conversation with him without wetting themselves.
"On my eighth birthday, before mama was killed, she decided to tell me his name. Captain Marsdan and I are looking for the same person" Michaela replied, grinning.
"How could your father be the same person I'm looking for if I didn't tell the crew why we were going to Tortuga?" Evelyn asked, frowning as well.
"It's easy for me to walk through a place completely unnoticed, like I'm invisible. I listen to people talking to find out information, and when I heard someone mention Jack Sparrow; I kept listening. When I realized you were trying to find him, I followed you hoping I would be able to get safe passage on your ship" Michaela replied.
"So you cut your hair and dressed like a lad so you could be the cabin boy?" Jones asked. Michaela nodded.
"I knew how superstitious sailors were when it came to having a woman on a ship, and I didn't want the trip to be rough and tense because of me" she replied. Jones merely looked at her in a puzzled sort of way.
"So you're saying Jack Sparrow is your father?" Evelyn asked.
"Yes, and I want to find him so he knows he has a daughter, and so I can meet the man mama fell in love with. I also want to know why he left mama and never came back" Michaela replied.
"Michaela, who was your mother?" Evelyn asked.
"All the people in town who were friends with her called her Bella, but her full name was Arabella Pearl. Mama once told me that my papa said he'd name his ship after her when he got one" Michaela replied.
"Jack once mentioned someone named Bella when I first saw his ship, the Black Pearl," Evelyn said in a slightly surprised voice. "That must have been your mother he was talking about." Michaela didn't respond to that and instead looked away, her gaze flicking out over the dark ocean waves. Jones gave Evelyn a quizzical look then sighed.
"If everyone is finished with all these questions we can get onto my ship. Michaela can rest in my quarters, and you can find a place below deck" he said. Evelyn nodded and stood up, but Michaela looked at them both with a grim little frown on her small face.
"Nobody asked me if I wanted to go" she said. Evelyn turned to the girl in surprise.
"I'm not leaving you here all alone; you'd die here within a few days" she said.
"I'm not getting on his ship unless he's gonna take us the rest of the way to Tortuga. I've heard lots of stories about him and I'm not doing anything until he gives us his word. If we don't ask for his word there's no telling what he'd do with us after we're on his ship" Michaela countered.
"You will be guests on my ship; not part of my crew, so you need not worry about your souls" Jones said, chuckling quietly.
"Why would she be worried about our souls?" Evelyn asked.
"Those who swear an oath to the Dutchman owe me their souls for one hundred years. You two, however, have sworn no oath, and will merely be guests on my ship; you can leave anytime you want" Jones replied. Evelyn nodded, and then looked at Michaela.
"Promise?" the girl asked, looking at Davy.
"I swear by my heart" he replied, smiling. Michaela frowned, but she couldn't say no now.
"Alright, I'll go" she said.