Chapter Eleven

The Secrets Uncovered

I hate it when pirates get ideas. The ideas are either so crazy that they always work, or so risky that they work. But believe me, pirates' ideas always work in the most infuriating way.

I was still standing in the middle of Jack and Barbossa. The two pirate captains were conversing to each other, completely ignoring me, while I was trying to figure out what this was all about.

"Perfect way to settle our debate."

"And whoever wins gets…"

"We'll work that out later! Actually, maybe Sade here can provide something."

Finally, I threw my hands up in the air. "Woah, woah, woah. Just hold your horses. What debate? Is this more about Jack's mutiny?"

The pirates glanced at each other. "Darling," said Barbossa. "I think it's time for you to learn our little secret."

And so they unfurled their tale.

. . .

Jack was a teenage sailor at Tortuga, not quite a pirate yet, and trying to find a good job. That was when Captain Hector Barbossa had come.

The two men met each other at a bar, quite by chance. It just so happened that the seat next to Jack's was the only one left in the bar.

Jack was drinking rum, and stewing in thought. Barbossa sauntered up to him with his own rum.

"Excuse me, lad, but may I…?" He gestured to the seat next to Jack's.

"Oh. Yes. Of course." Jack gave it a side-long glance.

Barbossa sat and began to drink, then stopped and stared at Jack. Jack was getting quite uncomfortable with this man, and he continued drinking.

"You look lost," Barbossa declared to him.

"I imagine I do." Jack gazed at Barbossa.

"Hard times?"

"One of my girlfriends just found out I was cheating- a hot one too, damn it- I don't have a ship, and my only past time now is drinking."

Barbossa considered this for a minute. "Well, you are in a pickle, aren't you?"

"You could say that."

"You say you don't have a ship?"

"I used to have one! Actually, it was a bit small…" Jack cringed as he thought of the tiny little rowboat he had escaped on. He had run away from home a few months earlier.

"You need work?"

"Aye, any type of it I can find meself, mate." Jack smiled triumphantly. He was getting the hang of pirate talk.

"My name is Captain Hector Barbossa," said Barbossa. "What's yours?"

"Jack Sparrow."

I have a position open aboard my ship. You may take it, if you like."

"What sort of ship, mate?" Jack inquired.

"Why, a pirate ship, of course."

Jack felt a leap of excitement. "You mean that?"

"Yes, lad, you think I'd lie?"

"Well, you are a pirate," Jack pointed out, feeling quite reasonable. "I'll come. When should I be there?"

"Tomorrow. Early tomorrow. I don't like lateness."

"Of course not, Cap'n!" Jack had never felt more exhilarated in his life. "I'm not turning down such a good offer! Who needs hot girls, anyway?"

Barbossa smirked. "There's the spirit lad. Besides, it's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard…"

. . .

"How sexist," I scoffed.

"What?" asked Barbossa, who still had a faraway look in his eyes.

"Well, Jack was talking about women like they're objects, not that that's new, but still. I mean, seriously? 'A hot one too, damn it'? And you, Hector, with your 'women are bad luck'? You're almost as bad as him!" I pointed to Jack.

Jack and Barbossa glanced at each other. "Love," said Jack. "This was before I met you."

"Yes, we all know that," I responded, rolling my eyes.

"So how was I supposed to know that later, I would be telling this story to a raging feminist?"

"You could have left that part out," advised Barbossa. "I was going to, before you brought it up."

"Yeah, well, he didn't leave it out, and I've scolded you, so please, let's continue," I pleaded, thirsty for the truth.

"Okay," agreed Barbossa, and I was plunged into the past again.

. . .

A couple of years later, Jack was still working on Barbossa's ship. The pirates had just finished capturing a ship, and it looked like everyone on it was dead.

Except for one young woman and her baby. The woman was tied to a mast, and her baby was on a blanket beside her. The woman was crying in agony, and her baby looked rather bewildered and confused. Jack, who had become first mate, was watching them, his face expressionless.

When his captain strode by, though, Jack grabbed his coat. "Captain, is this really necessary? Why did we spare her?" he asked.

"Because, Jackie, she tried to protect her husband and baby by grabbing a knife. She killed one of our men. She and the child are to be tortured," answered Barbossa.

He left, and Jack watched him go. As soon as the captain was out of sight, he ran over to the mast.

"What's your name?" he asked the woman urgently.

She stopped screaming. Perhaps she trusted him. "Marjorie," she answered. "And this is little Dieter." She gestured to her baby.

"He's a handsome thing. Probably going to grow up to be strong and tall." Jack gave the baby a quick once-over.

"Have you come just to taunt me?" questioned the woman coldly.

Jack met her gaze. "No," he replied. "I have come to try and save you and your child." He paused. "I might only be able to save one of you," he continued. "If that be the case, which one of you am I to rescue?"

"Dieter," answered Marjorie without skipping a beat.

Jack nodded. "You are brave, ma'am," he said. "I will attempt my plan after dark. The torture is to start tomorrow."

As he walked away, Jack grew disgusted. Killing everyone on that ship was bad enough. But torturing babies? Torturing women? That's not right. Barbossa is awful. But wait. Maybe there's a way to rebel. Could I take over the ship? I don't see why not. Makes sense. Yes. Next time we go to Tortuga, I'll secretly gather a crew. That Gibbs guy I met last time, he wasn't too bad. And we'll grab the ship, leaving Barbossa and friends stranded on Tortuga. But right now, I need to focus on saving Marjorie and Dieter.

That night, Jack snuck out and approached the woman and baby.

. . .

"Wait," I said. "Barbossa, you were going to kill a baby?"

Barbossa sighed. "Aye, I was different then. But Jack, you're not being entirely fair to me."

"I'm telling it as it is," responded the current story-teller. "Now, love, where was I…? Oh, yes. Marjorie's and Dieter's rescue."

. . .

"I hope you're okay, ma'am," whispered Jack as he cut through her ropes with a dagger.

"I'm fine," she sighed. "You are a kind, bold boy, Jack Sparrow."

"Why thank you, miss," responded Jack. "Well… I mean…"

The woman shed a single, pearly tear.

"Your husband died, didn't he?" asked Jack, feeling incredibly guilty.

"Yes," she said quietly. "Dieter is my only reminder of him. He was a real man, Pierce was. Loyal to me, never making eyes at any other woman. Brave as a lion, he would do anything to defend me. Always stayed with me, never went out late at night, or got drunk and cheated. He was so special…" She hung her head.

Jack paused in cutting her bonds. "Is that what girls like about boys?"

"It's what any smart girl would want from one," she replied.

"Oh," said Jack sheepishly. "I guess I haven't been going out with very smart girls."

Marjorie laughed for the first time since her husband's death. "You're a funny boy, Jack Sparrow. You know what? One day, you will find the right girl. And you'll know by the way that no other girl, no matter how pretty, appeals to you."

"Really?" This all sounded very strange to Jack, so he continued cutting her ropes. "Boy, that's confusing."

Marjorie laughed again. Soon, her bonds were free. Jack picked up the baby and went to get a rowboat.

"Here's a compass, and a map," he said. "And some food and water. You'll get to shore soon, Port Royal is only a couple miles away in that direction. Good luck, Marjorie."

She hesitated at the rowboat, and glanced back at Jack. "Jack Sparrow, I will never forget what you've done for me," she said.

"And I will never forget your kindness and trust, ma'am," he said. "Now go. Be free. And most of all, know that because of you, I will soon be Captain Jack Sparrow."

. . .

"Jack, I really don't know what to say," I sighed. "You were so brave."

Jack grinned at Barbossa. "I told you she'd side with me," he said smugly.

Barbossa sighed. "What do I owe you?"

"I get Sade all to meself for a day," answered Jack.

"What?! Hello! Raging feminist right here, listening to every word you're saying!"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Fine. You owe me… Let's see… you owe me… a really big bottle of rum. Really, really big."

The two men shook on their deal, and I sighed. "At least my parents weren't here for all that," I said.

Karissa burst in the door without even knocking. "Emergency! Navy ship coming! All hands on deck!"

"I give the orders!" screamed Jack and I at the same time, tripping over each other to get onto deck.

Sure enough, there was a Navy ship after us. And I recognized Lord Beckett standing at the front like the ship's figurehead.