Chapter 7
Thanks Libby
Coming out of the cabin once the storm has hit us hard, I feel the ship struggling. Walking above deck, I am soon assaulted by the downpour of heavy rain. I walk toward the helm, my hand in front of my face as I shield it from the wind and rain, and notice Gibbs and Will yelling at each other, but I'm not close enough to hear what there yelling. Once jack has filled me in with how close we are and how the ship is doing, I take the helm as he consults our compass.
"We should drop canvas, Captains!" Gibbs yells.
"She can hold a bit longer!" I shout, knowing where we are due to Jack.
"What's in your heads that's put you in fine moods, Captains?" Gibbs replies.
"We're catching up," Jack smirks.
After a while the storm stops, and both me and jack can relax a little knowing that the ship will survive. Most of the crew are looking down into the water where we see lots of broken ships, and we know to be careful about steering, so I leave Jack to it and make my way over to the side of the ship where most of the crew are.
"Puts a chill in me bones to know how many honest sailors have been claimed by this passage," Gibbs comments.
"Gibbs, the only people who know this passage are pirates-and they're not exactly honest," I point out.
Walking away, I make my way to my favourite sitting spot on the stairs up to the helm and listen as Gibbs and will talk.
"How is it Jack and Jasmine came by that compass?" Will asks.
"Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow and Jasmine Pearl before they showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isla de Meurta. That was back before I met 'em, back when they captained the Black Pearl," Gibbs explains.
"What?" Will says, shocked. I look at Jack and we share a smile.
"They failed to mention that," he finishes.
"Well, they play things closer to the vest now and a hard learned lesson that it was. See, three days out on venture the first mate comes to them and says, if everything's an equal share, that would mean the location of the treasure too. So jasmine and jack give up the bearings. The next morning, there was mutiny. They were marooned, Jack and Jasmine, on an island to die, but not before there first mate had his sick way with Jasmine and, according to rumours, made jack watch," Gibbs tells Will and I fume in anger at what Gibbs is saying.
Jack kisses me and I calm down slightly.
"He raped her?"Will asks in horror.
"Aye, she was seventeen then, and she's actually one of those women, judging from barbossa's bragging, that saved their virginity for after marriage. But she never got that far, and Barbossa took it from her, then left 'em to die. But not before going mad with heat," Gibbs carries on.
"Ah, so that's the reason for all this," Will asks, doing an impersonation of Jack.
"Reason's got nothing to do with it. Now Will, when a pirate's marooned, he's given a pistol with one shot, A single shot. Now that won't do very much good for hunting or rescuing, but after three weeks with staving billion thirst that pistols starting to look real good. But Jack and Jasmine escaped the island, and they both still have that single shot and there's only one man they're going to use it on-their mutinous first mate," Gibbs explains.
"Barbossa," Will finishes.
"Aye," Gibbs confirms.
"How did Jack and Jasmine get off the island?" Will asks.
"Well, I'll tell you. He waded out into the shallows and he waited there for three days and three nights, letting all the creatures become accustomed to his presence. Then, on the forth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, harnessed 'em together and made a raft. Jasmine made sure that he wasn't lonely and spent time talking to Jack from the shore, allowing the creatures to hear her voice and follow it," Gibbs tells him.
"They roped a couple of sea turtles," Will asks.
"Aye, sea turtles," Gibbs again confirms.
"What did he use for a rope?" Will asks, picking faults in the tale. Little did he know Jack was behind him.
"Human hair from my back. Let go the anchor, young Mr Turner, Jaz and I are to go ashore," Jack yells out and the crew are quick to move.
We are in a cave. There are coins and skulls all around us.
"What code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" Will asks.
So that's what they were talking about.
"Pirates' code. Any man who falls behind gets left behind," Jack explains.
"No heroes amongst thieves," Will mutters darkly, but we both hear.
"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates, you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprang a man and woman from jail, commandeered a ship of the fleet, sail with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga, and you're completely obsessed with treasure," I point out his major faults.
"That's not true! I'm not obsessed with treasure," Will snaps.
"Not all treasure's silver and gold, mate," Jack explains.
We listen to Barbossa talk about his men and the treasure.
Will breaths,"Elizabeth."
And we stay listening, until Will whisper yells, "Jack," trying to jump over the piles of gold coins in front of us.
"Not now! We wait for the opportune moment," Jack snaps, before walking past Will. I am close behind him.
"When's that? When it's of greatest profit to you?" Will accuses and both me and Jack freeze.
"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Do us a favour: trust me," Jack pleads.
"I'm sorry, Jack, Jasmine, I will not be your leverage," Will snaps.
I feel something hit the back of my head, and I fall to the darkness the impact creates.
Once I awaken, I notice jack is unconscious next to me. I slap him to wake him up and, when he does, he grabs the oar next to him, using it to prop himself up. We walk down one of the many tunnels the island has and at the bottom of it, see Barbossa's crew milling around. They all turn around and face us once I knock a bit of treasure off a pile.
"You! You're supposed to be dead!" Pintel yells.
"Are we not?" I ask, looking down at myself.
"Parleley...pareleloo...parlini...parsnip...partner...pardner..." Jack starts, as I look confused.
"Parley?" Ragetti asks.
"That's the one! Parley! Parley!" Jack exclaims.
"Damn it to the depths! Whatever muttonhead thought of a parley?" Pintel rages.
"That would be the French," Jack tells them.
I hear heavy footfalls behind me, and spin round to see Barbossa walking up the rocks. He looks up and our eyes meet. Once they do, I have an urge that I have never felt before: the urge to flee. But it's not of fear-no, it's of panic. Barbossa looks me up and down, before meeting my eyes again, and he grins the insane grin he had on his face when he raped me.
