When Jack woke up, it was still dark. He nestled back into his blankets...he didn't want to get out of his hammock. Unlike all the rest of the crew, the hammock next to his was empty- he didn't have to deal with snoring companions. Jack bolted upright. The hammock next to him was empty. The girl was gone! All the things that could have happened to his young charge instantly flooded his mind.

"Oh buggah..." He groaned, jumping out of the hammock to the tilting plank floor. He could see a patch of the sky up the stairs, it was reddening in the east, but the sun was not yet up. A quick glance around the room showed no young girls. He let out a frustrated hiss between his teeth and ran up the stairs to the main deck. The girl wasn't visible. He ran frantically from box to box, looking for the girl hiding in the shadow. Nothing was there. Finally he mounted the stairs and ran up to his father's cabin- he was going to ask him. When he approached the door, he hear low muttering from inside. His father wasn't alone in that room. Jack's curiosity overcame him- he pressed an ear to the door.

"Captain, you remember when Javin was on that island for four days, and we picked him up? I'd thought I'd seen the worst of starvation then...but this..." It was the ship's doctor, fondly referred to by the crew as Doc Grog. There was a note of concern in his voice Jack had rarely heard before. "And look at these. These whip marks- someone beat this girl."

Jack's breath caught. A red flash passed over his eyes. Someone hit the girl? Before he could think properly and stop himself, he slammed open the door. His father and Doc Grog were bent over the desk- where the little girl way lying on her belly, fast asleep. The back of her shirt was sliced open and the two men were staring down at the bony back. Jack crossed the room in an instant and joined them. His father did not say a word. Jack looked down at the girl's back. It was horribly mangled- criss crossed with red lash marks and scars. Jack felt his face contort with rage.

"Whoever did this, I'll kill them." The captain could see his sons rage, and shook his head knowingly. As if the starvation wasn't bad enough, Jack thought angrily, then she was beaten. And often, too, by the looks of it.Jack's face turned redder then a tomato in just seconds, and he quickly left. He felt that if he stayed there, he would try to kill the next living thing he saw.

As the boy walked across the deck the crew moved -for they all could feel his immense anger, and were almost afraid of the ten year old boy. All except Carver were smart enough to move.

"You insignificant' flea bag! You got me into a heap 'o trouble," Carver said angrily at the enraged boy, stepping in his path.

"Move Carver, or I will move you myself." Jack sounded like a demon.

Carver hated listening to anyone, much less Jack, so he stood firm as a rock. Out of nowhere Jack attacked Carver like a rabid raccoon. After he had taken out enough anger, Jack left Carver to lick his wounds. He walked back to his father's cabin to find the girl.

The little girl woke up right after the attack, temporarily forgetting where she was. Why am I outside of that awful chest? Where am I? Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. Jack emerged that exact moment, she quickly remember she was on a pirate ship.

"Come on girl, lets go get some food," Jack said, not unkindly, "Before the crew eats it all." the child's only response was a faint nod. Jack smiled at her. She needs a name, I can't call her "Girl" the rest of her life." Jack thought. He turned to the girl, and knelt to be on the same level as her.

"What's your name?" He asked. The girl said nothing. Jack smiled wryly. "Name...?" Not a sound. She simply watched him. "If you don't give me your name, I shall be forced to name you. Savvy?" She didn't say a thing. Odd- he knew she could make sound. Maybe she just didn't want to... As they walked on the deck Jack noticed that the sun was rising. As the orange, fresh light hit her face, the girl smiled for an instant. The sun is rsing to shine on her peaceful face. Rising from the east. Jack thought. He knelt by her again. "...May I call you East?" He asked the girl? Slowly, she turned to look at him. Then she nodded yes. Jack grinned, and they held hands as they fetched their meal.