It wasn't exactly what you'd call pleasant. The smell was appalling; an odd mixture of sick, sweat and alcohol. I tried to breathe through my mouth as much as possible to avoid the stench.
"It is indeed a sad life that has never breathed deep this sweet bouquet that is Tortuga, savvy? What do you think?" Jack turned to us. His grin was broad and there was a clear glint of expectant hope in his eyes. I cast my eye around the shambles that was the streets of Tortuga; the fights, the drunken anarchy, the litter, mess and noise.
"It'll linger," Will answered for both of us. Jack failed to detect the distain in Will's voice. He nodded.
"I tell you, mate, if every town in the world was like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted," he looked around at Tortuga. His eyes fell on the fierce woman with flaming red hair who was striding towards us, "Scarlette!" he greeted.
She slapped him and stalked off.
The grin was off his face now. "Not sure I deserved that," he rubbed his cheek. He had only just recovered when a skinny blonde approached with a face like thunder. The smile was back on Jack's face, "Giselle!"
"Who was she?" Giselle asked, but before he could reply she too slapped him and stalked off. I noticed a pattern emerging.
"I may have deserved that." Jack admitted. Will smirked. His smug look clearly showed that he agreed. Will's look stirred an odd feeling of shame and hate in me. It was so condescending! Did I ever act like that?
Jack led us down some dark alleys until the smell of manure was strong in my nostrils. We were about to enter the side entrance of a tavern, but Jack spotted someone around the side, lying in among the pigs and pig muck.
"Aha," he muttered, approaching the figure that was snoring loudly. Jack picked up a pale of water and threw it over the man.
"Curse ye' for breathing ye' slack-jawed idiot," the man sprung to life, brandishing a dagger. His voice was slightly familiar under the harshness. His eyes slowly focused on Jack. "Mother's love! Jack! You should now better than to wake a man when he's sleeping. Its bad luck."
"Ah, but fortunately I know how to counter it. The man who did the waking does the man who was sleeping a drink. The man who was sleeping drinks the drink while listening to a proposition from the man who did the waking."
I was just about following. There was a pause as the man thought it through. "Aye, that'll about do it," he smiled, taking the hand Jack offered and standing up. When he was on his feet Will threw another pale of water over him.
"Blast it I'm already awake!" the now drenched man shouted.
"That was for the smell." Will wrinkled his nose. The man looked as though he was about to retaliate, but then his face relaxed as he realized Will's point was true. It was then that I recognised him although I couldn't really believe it.
"Joshamee Gibbs," I muttered. Both he and Jack looked at me. Gibbs's eyes widened in surprise.
"Miss Norrington?"
Jack frowned at us, "Do you two know each other?"
"Aye, that's James Norrington's sister. I used to be part of his crew. What are you doing here?" Gibbs replied.
"Barbossa and his crew took her friend." Jack spoke for me.
"It was Elizabeth." I said.
Gibbs looked shocked, but not about Elizabeth. "Barbossa," he repeated, looking at Jack with shock and disbelief. Jack nodded. He was trying to tell Gibbs something silently with his eyes, but Gibbs didn't pick it up. He started to speak but Jack grabbed him roughly and pushed him in the door. After a confused hesitation, Will and I followed; he had a look of mistrust over Jack's actions. He looked at me for help, but I shrugged. We picked our way through the jostling crowds in the bar. Jack and Gibbs were sitting at a table. We approached them, but Jack stood up and came over to us before we had a chance to get there. He smiled brightly.
"You two, come with me, I need to talk to Master Gibbs on his own, he may take some convincing," he said, leading us away from the table. "Keep a weather eye," he told us, glancing around the crowded tavern. Will and I watched him join Gibbs again.
"Keep an eye on Jack." Will said quietly.
"Why?"
"I don't trust him, that's why," he replied. I almost snapped. I almost told him that I wouldn't keep and eye on Jack. I almost told him that, although he may not trust Jack, I was beginning to.
"What are they doing?" Will asked. I glanced over at the two men.
"Talking," I said, "and drinking, well, Jack's drinking, Gibbs just chocked on his. They look like they're arguing. Now Jack's trying to signal something, but Gibbs isn't getting it…"
"Isabel look away," Will instructed, I did, but only to look at him.
"Why?"
"They're looking at us."