'Pirates of the Caribbean' belongs to Disney
xxx
Will leaned heavily against the Pearl's starboard railing, staring out over the unnatural sea. Every now and then a crew member passed by, usually without speaking. Tia's warning, about how they must soon find a way out of this place or be trapped forever, had darkened everybody's mood. Even under that prospect, Will's mind kept turning to another concern.
Steps sounded behind him, and the last man he currently wanted to see sauntered up alongside. "Afternoon, whelp."
The younger man forced himself to meet Jack's eye. "Weren't you still trying to figure out that map?"
"Aye. 'Thought it might help ta get away from it fer a few minutes." Jack addressed his own right shoulder. "Of course it makes sense. A fresh eye is more likely ta catch the thing previously missed."
Not particularly in the mood to deal this new quirk of Sparrow's, Will resumed studying the strange waters. Jack noticed his glum expression. "Ye look a bit troubled, mate. An' in a more personal way than our present untenable and precarious circumstances seem likely to account for."
It was easy to deceive without actually lying. "I've been talking with Elizabeth. Or trying to."
Sparrow's dark eye glinted as he settled forward, extending his arms over the rail. "Ah, the infamously unsmooth course of True Love. 'Fraid I can't help you with that, lad."
To Turner's relief, the pirate captain made no further inquiries regarding the younger man's unquiet state of mind. If he were to suspect the least part of what Will was actually brooding on...
/ Escaping World's End won't be the end of my trials, or yours, Jack. Once we're back, it's my intention to deliver you to your enemies- to Lord Beckett, by way of Sao Feng- in exchange for your ship. Because I need it to catch the Flying Dutchman, and free my father.
/ I never anticipated, when I made him that promise, what disreputable means I'd end up using. Virtually abandoning Elizabeth, for a start. And now planning a betrayal nearly as vile as the one you committed on me... Or is it, in fact, every bit as vile? Is what I'm doing any more excusable because I'm acting to help another while you were trying to make an uninvolved person pay your debt?
/ At the least Cutler's custody is likely to be less harsh than Davy Jones'. Even if you and Beckett do have a history. /
Will hadn't consciously realized his eye was lingering on the raised P on Jack's wrist. But the owner of said wrist noticed. "What prompts yer interest in my brand, mate?"
Will hastened to cover himself. "Nothing important. I was, just recalling something Lord Beckett told me. He said the two of you had left your marks on each other."
"And yer curious ta know what my retaliating disfigurement was?"
"Somewhat. If you don't mind telling."
Jack smiled broadly. Whatever toll his time in the Locker had taken, it hadn't diminished his penchant for storytelling. Especially if the tale was about him.
"'Tis a different variety of mark altogether, that I inflicted upon His Shortness. An unhealing wound which can't be seen, but'll always be felt. On his most conspicuous, yet invisible, feature."
/ Jack's definitely been pondering that map too long. / "Dare I ask what this 'conspicuous and invisible feature' is?"
"His pride, lad. I deliberately disobeyed his direct orders, an' never did proper penitence fer that offense. At least not to his way of thinkin'. The man's a controlling sod, being compelled to subjugate, or eliminate, whatever defies him. That's one reason he's so determined ta have me under his domination again, whether it be a privateer under his command or a prisoner in his custody. Whatever he can manage."
Will shifted uncomfortably. "You said that was one reason. So there's another?"
"There is. A bit less suitable fer public discussion." Jack shifted closer. "Though you wouldn't think it from the looks of 'im, Mr. Cutler Beckett is, in fact, subject to carnal desires. I know, havin' been the object of said desires since my first days in the EITC's employ. No mistake about it! Every time I was anywhere in his vicinity, the git'd be scrutinizing me. Usually from positions he thought I'd not notice- from the corners of his eyes, around the edges of barriers an' such. I imagine ya know what I mean."
Turner blinked. "He was, in love with you?"
"Love never had a thing to do with it, mate. I doubt the word exists in the man's vocabulary," Jack sniffed. "Lust, yes. The urge ta possess, definitely. Also curiosity about 'forbidden fruit'. I happen ta be everything blokes of his social caste are supposed ta consider unsuitable in a paramour: a scion of lower-class stock, a 'colored' half-gypsy, a male. All in a very pretty package."
Will bit his lower lip. / I shouldn't be surprised. I did notice that tone in Beckett's voice, when he spoke about you. /
The pirate captain continued. "Of course I found it disconcerting, bein' the subject of a superior's 'improper interest'. But I figured I could cope with it so long as he confined himself ta just looking. In point of fact, I don't know whether it was ever Cutler's intent ta do more. That is, until I committed my Intolerable Insubordination, which is a tale unto itself. I actually witnessed the moment when he realized I was now fair game... when he was holdin' the branding iron in front of my face."
"Your face? But, he didn't brand you there!"
"Because he didn't care to uglify my comely visage- he had other plans fer it. Whatever it's location, that 'P' affected a profound change in my social status. I was no longer a citizen under the protection of the Crown; I was a despised outlaw. Comin' from a humble background yerself, you should understand the implications, lad. You know what sorts of abuses rich, connected men can get away with, so long as they only do 'em to lowly people."
Will's eyebrows drew together, then leapt in alarm. "Jack, you don't mean to say he...? Beckett didn't...?"
"... rape me?" Jack finished grimly. "No. But I knew it were a possibility, so I made sure he didn't get the chance. Within hours of bein' returned to my cell, I scarpered." By way of explanation, Sparrow added, "There are some advantages ta bein' my size, Will. Stockade guards tend ta be big gits, who don't always think ta keep watch on gaps what are too small fer themselves ta fit through. So, I fled respectable society an' entered the lower stratas of seafaring, where I began my career as a full-time pirate. An' managed to keep clear of Beckett's person, if not his awareness, for the next seven years."
Will did some quick calculating. "So, you encountered him again. Between the mutiny on the Pearl and our first meeting in Port Royal."
"The answer is unhappily affirmative. Through those vagabond years I did enough pillagin' of EITC properties ta motivate theer placin' a sizable bounty on me head. Which is flattering to the reputation, but has practical disadvantages. As I came to appreciate when I signed onto a regrettably law-abiding merchant freighter whose First Mate recognized me. Bein' turned in fer the reward was bad enough. It was much worse luck ta be delivered to the Company outpost in Barbados under the command of Mr. Cutler Beckett. Very pleased he was ta see me again- his ardor for me hadn't diminished. Was, in fact, better defined, now that he'd had years to brood over missed opportunities.
"But not to fret, Will- at that point it wasn't his preference ta force the issue. Not directly, anyway. For a man of his outlook, it's far more satisfying to have yer coveted object acknowledge yer right to dominion. So he attempted to negotiate an arrangement: offering me pardon an' a command in the EITC fleet, on the condition that I fulfill certain extracurricular duties whenever I came into port. I declined his generous offer, of course, citing a number of irreconcilable differences in our priorities. Whereupon he instructed his thug, Mr. Mercer, to take me below and employ his 'considerable powers of persuasion' to make me reconsider. 'Nothing permanent or maiming- just make sure he understands how serious we are.' That was not an enjoyable evening." Sparrow glanced down for a moment, haunted and angry. Will felt distinctly unwell.
"Fortunately, it were also my last in the Company's safekeeping," Jack continued, more brightly. "I took my leave the next day- vanished under the noses of seven EITC agents, as you may have heard tell of." The pirate's smile didn't reach his eyes, indicating that escape hadn't been the light-hearted frolic his summary implied.
"And Beckett's been after you ever since," Will finished, rather hollowly.
"As he most likely shall be, fer as long as we're both drawin' breath. I'm a Wild Beast- it's his mission ta tame me, one way or another. 'Tis the only conclusion that'll close the prideful wound I mentioned."
"Do you think, if he ever caught you again, he would still prefer to negotiate?"
Jack sighed a bit. "I don't know, Will. The man's never been easy to predict. After all the damage I've caused to his financial interests, it's probable he'll be most gratified ta shoot me himself. Though, being business-minded, it's more likely he'll first try ta extract any useful information he thinks I might possess. An' maybe have me hauled into his chambers afterwards, to enjoy my pleasurable company. There's not much of anythin' I'd put past that sod."
Will sagged, letting his head hang over the railing. / I really, really didn't need to know about this. /
"Ah, poor William- have I offended yer sensibilities?"
"I just didn't realize... When I made that deal with Beckett, to track you down, he led me to believe he was only going to subject you to a forceful recruitment pitch."
"And so he would, given the chance. A very forceful pitch indeed!" Perceiving that Will was genuinely disturbed, Sparrow clapped the young man's shoulder. "Hey, don't ye be worryin' about ol' Jack, whelp. I can be elusive! I've slipped out of that halfpint's clutches twice before, virgo intactus... compared to how I came in, I mean. No reason ta assume me luck's run out yet."
Will grasped onto that. / You do have a knack for getting away- you'll probably manage it next time, too. I know you'll still be angry at me... maybe permanently. But you'll be okay. /
Jack leaned back, stretching like a cat. "Anyway, we've both got more immediate problems. I really ought ta be takin' another gander at that map."
The Captain sauntered back to the chart table, leaving Will to contemplate the waters with a redoubled sense of guilt. He considered whether he would have agreed to Sao Feng's terms, if he'd known then what he did now.
He realized he would have- the obligation to his vow was still overriding. But it no longer felt like a scrupulously honorable undertaking. Nothing close to it.
/ I really am just as weasely as Sparrow... What is my father going to think, when learns what price I've paid for his freedom? And made others pay? I can only hope he'll eventually forgive me, for the burden I'm loading onto us both.
/ Because it's entirely for him, that I've become a true Pirate after all. /
xxx
TBC...