Book Three - Chapter Nine: Sorting Through the Mess

The sun was greatly welcomed in the morning. Everyone rose, stretching out their chilled aching bodies. First things first, they had to salvage what they could of the ship's contents and be rid of what was just taking up space. Ropes that still seemed strong were brought up on deck to be dried out, the rest was thrown overboard. The cannons seemed to be caked with ocean plants which needed to be scraped off. The cannons would need to be tested but the little amount of powder that was brought aboard would not be wisely used for such a purpose.

The captain was throwing out old bedding that was irreparable. He turned out drawers that were still filled with water. Assortments of papers were now simply mud at the bottom. All portholes and windows were opened to get the breeze through the ship. No one spoke about the current circumstances. Although it seemed plain that Captain Jack Sparrow was to blame for their suffering, the crew knew that it was not intentionally done. Still, it was in each man's mind to think ill of the captain and the incompetence he had shown, which is why everyone kept silent and did his duty without needing to be told. If they were to sail this ship, a lot of work needed to be done, and if they wanted a better place to sleep for the night, the work needed to be done quickly. Even the captain himself did not have much to say. He tended his cabin and did his best to avoid most of the people aboard.

Amelia knocked on his door. It was already ajar so the knocking eased it open a bit. Jack looked at her for a moment and then went back to sorting things into a rubbish pile he had created.

"Captain?" she called humbly, inching her way forward.

She received no answer.

"Jack?" she called, her tone being a little more worrisome in using his name.

The captain looked up, but not at her.

"What can I do you for, Ms. Amelia?" he said without the slightest amount of intimacy in his voice.

"What's happened, Jack?" she said in almost a whisper, as though she were afraid to speak aloud.

"The Roving Maid has sunk, that's what's happened," he said coldly.

He had not notice that she had been advancing this whole time and was not prepared for her hand to be reaching out for his arm. Her finger had barely brushed against his jacket when he quickly turned and moved to the opposite side of the room. His eyes remained on the floor and his entire face was solemn.

"Jack," she called again, though this time there was pain in her voice, as though his distance had wounded her somehow.

"Is there anything else?" he asked as a formality, not actually wanting to be asked any further questions at this time.

"It was Davy Jones, wasn't it?" she asked him, turning her own eyes down to the floor by her feet.

"Aye," he said, though it was just a breath and hardly audible.

"And you bargained for the ship?" she asked still with a distant voice.

"Aye."

"Our ship for yours?" she asked, hardly being able to say the words and keep tears from forming in her eyes.

Jack looked up.

"No," he said briskly, "my life for my ship."

Amelia ran to him, putting her hands around his jacket collar and pressing herself against him. He stood there unmoved.

"Once again the consequences of my actions have fallen onto others to bear. I do not expect to be forgiven," he said.

"But why, Jack? Why would you make such an arrangement?" Amelia cried.

"I didn't exactly set out with that intention. If there was any chance that Beckett had been aboard that ship I was not going to waste it. My life for his would have been a fair trade any way you look at it." Jack finally put his arms around the young woman. "He wasn't there and the ship was bound to swallow me one way or another. Jones showed up to collect the souls he could - I was just another to be added to the list. I promised him that he could have it if I could captain just a little longer on my own ship. I figured it would be a good way to remember a free life. I entirely expected the Roving Maidto go to your father. I thought that Barbossa could take it, sail as he pleases, and nothing would keep me from appointing you first mate aboard my ship. I should have thought the devil would do something so underhanded as to try to take the rest. It seems that Beckett and everything he stands for spreads through the world like a plague…a plague with tentacles…"

"So what happens now?" she asked, fearing for her captain's life.

"We enjoy what freedom we can, while we can," he said. He kissed her forehead and squeezed her just a little tighter.

"How long do you have?" she couldn't keep herself from asking.

"Long enough," he said. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about me. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, love," he said trying to bring a smile to her face, "I always find a way."

She placed her hands lightly around his face and kissed him tenderly. Looking at him she could see the unquenchable fire in his eyes that always gave her hope. Jack, of course, saw the sea in her eyes, and somehow it brought him the greatest peace. He smiled, rubbed her arm, and began to lead her out.

"Come," he said, "let's get this girl into a good sailing order."

"Don't worry, Captain," she said adopting a playful tone, "I'm sure that you'll be able to man the Wench well enough."

Jack tried not to laugh. Had one of the men said such a comment he would have indulged in its double meaning, but coming from Amelia, he was unsure on just how far he could venture into such uncharted waters. Knowing that she had every intention of being cheeky he simply took hold of her hip and gave it a light squeeze causing her to break out into giggles. She broke out of his grasp and playfully ran from him. He pursued out onto the deck. The captain came to a dead stop when he realized that the surrounding sombre faces were all staring at him. Quickly the captain adopted a severe scowl, reinserting himself as the unwavering captain he desired himself to be.

"Get to work, you scurvy dogs!" he shouted. "The ship can't sail it's bloody self, and I have no mind for staying anchored out in the middle of bloody nowhere!"

Every man scrambled to perform his task. Jack smiled, being quite proud of himself for masking his earlier behaviour. Certainly Amelia could get away with running about childishly on deck, but he had an image to keep up and he felt that he did so quite successfully.

Jack surveyed the deck, sauntering around fully erect. He checked every inch, seeing that each timber was still strongly in place, every rope was holding firm, and that his hand could move as smoothly over everything as it had been able to do ten years earlier. The feel was much coarser than he remembered it being. He looked up at the men in the rigging, barely being able to see anymore than shadows as the sun beat down from behind them. Some of the sails were bought down to be stitched and patched. Those that were useable were being refitted to the masts, ensuring their security. Things were beginning to feel a little more in place. He walked through the bowels of the ship. It was terribly empty. The captain remembered rows of cots and hammocks lining every post in the crew's quarters, and the floors overflowing with cargo and arms, sprouting out from the cargo hold beneath. Going down further he realized just how little they had aboard. The hold was never before so void of contents. The brigand was usually filled with supplies that would not be fitted elsewhere, but now it looked as though it was a jail. He found the corner cellar and opened it. It smelt of salt and mould. His hand felt along the walls. Though many compartments were empty, his hand still felt the smooth form of bottles. Jack laughed to himself. He took one out. The bottle was dirty but the contents remained sealed inside.

"And here I thought the rum would be gone," he thought aloud to himself.

He kept the bottle in hand and exited the room. He decided to keep quiet about the supply until they had actually made sail. It would certainly be something that would bring comfort to the men, so long as Amelia did not get too near it.

As Captain Jack Sparrow appeared back on deck, the final sail was being hoisted up. He watched as it cast a shadow over the deck and began to flutter in the light breeze above.

"Condition?" the captain asked the nearest crew member.

"Shipshape, Captain," was the reply.

"Good," he said. He went forward and stepped up to the prow. "This here was once the pride of the seven seas, men, and she'll not fail us!" he called out to any one who would listen. "She's been granted a second life, and a second name is needed."

Barbossa approached his captain and other crew members on deck gathered around. Jack threw the bottle to his first mate who caught it with both hands. He examined the bottle.

"The Wenchwas a fine ship, indeed," Barbossa said.

"Aye, but she was Beckett's Wench. This ship will be finer to us. A fine pearl to rise out of the ocean," the captain said.

"Aye, a Black Pearl, sir?" Barbossa said.

"Aye, just as I was thinking," he replied. "Care to do the honours, Master Barbossa?"

Barbossa took hold of the bottle's neck in one hand and placed his other on the deck rail.

"Aye, by the gods, the winds, and the souls of pirates that still roam the seas, I call ye to bare witness and bless this fair vessel, the Black Pearl. May she sail smooth for all her days and keep clear out of the hands of those who would use her ill," Barbossa preached. He rose the bottle high in his hand. "To the Pearl!" he cried in triumph. He brought his arm down, just about to smash the bottle on the rail, when he suddenly stopped. "And!" he said, "if it ain't too much trouble," he said as an aside, "let her see Beckett's demise before the end!"

Everyone cheered, but none as loud as Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Then Barbossa let loose his arm and broke the bottle on the deck rail. He threw the remains into the sea and licked the trickling rum from his hand. There was a look that came over the crew. The captain could see them eyeing the drops of rum and smacking their lips with the thought of it.

"Weigh the anchor!" the captain ordered. "Fear not, men, there will be rum a plenty."

The command was followed and the ship set sail. Jack went down to the storage hold, taking Bootstrap with him. They loaded their arms with bottles and distributed them amongst the crew as the sun was setting. The men took the bottles gladly and wasted no time in getting them open. The night was seemingly less harsh as each drop passed their lips. The bottles were being passed around from man to man, ensuring that no one was left out. Half a bottle found its way into young Amelia's hands. She was about to take a drink when the captain took hold of it.

"Oh, no you don't," he said. He took a gulp of it.

"That's not fair!" she cried.

The captain was smacking his lips from the salty taste around the brim.

"You haven't learned to hold it yet," he told her.

"So I get cut out completely?"

The captain thought about it. "You're right, love. That is unfair," he said. He took the bottle and chugged most of it in front of her. He stopped just before it emptied. There was only a sip's worth left. He wiped his mouth and passed it back to her. "There you are," he said, and accidentally burped a little.

"Thanks," she said harshly, taking the bottle back from him. Before taking a drink, she made a fist and punched her captain's arm.

"Hey!" the captain cried. He rubbed his arm, surprised that she was actually able to inflict pain upon him.

Amelia had finished off the bottle. In response to her captain, she merely stuck out her tongue and skipped away to find better company. Jack shook his head knowing that he was incapable of keeping up with his feisty young woman.

Barbossa had not seen the captain taking the bottle away from his daughter, only him having given it to her. He did not hesitate to address the issue.

"Jack!" the anxious father cried. "Tell me that I didn't see ya feedin' me daughter rum."

"No more than a drop, my good man. I took as my personal responsibility to confiscate the half bottle that lay before her and left her with what could do her little harm. Honestly, Hector, sometimes I get the feeling that you just don't trust me anymore," he said as though he were saddened by the fact.

Barbossa looked over and saw that his daughter had managed to come by another bottle. He let out a sigh of defeat. Jack just laughed.

"A real lady that one is, eh?" Jack said.

Barbossa left in a huff to address his daughter. Jack watched the encounter and laughed to himself, taking hold of the bottle near him.

"And what a lady she is," Jack said to himself. He went to take a drink. He leaned his head all the way back but not a drop was left in the bottle. He pouted but knew that he could go down and sneak back a fresh bottle. In fact, that's just what he did. He came back up seeing everyone stumbling around, laughing and singing without a care. The sight made Jack smile. Then he saw Amelia sitting around with Ragetti, his arm around her back. Jack knew that the man was not so presumptuous to be taking advantage of the girl; in fact, logic stated that he was probably just keeping her steady. Regardless of whether or not she had managed to make herself drunk, while she was in a giddy state there was no saying how stable she could be. Still, there was something unsettling about her being put in that man's care. It was one thing when she was little but there was not a man aboard, except Barbossa himself, who saw her as that same little girl.

Jack opened his bottle and took a quick drink from it. Should he cut in? If he did, to what purpose would it serve? It would make all the more difference if it was his arm around her than just another crew member's. She would probably spend another night next to Ragetti. How unfair it was that he was able to wake with her by his side when Jack couldn't. He took another drink.

A hush slowly came over the crew. Jack had not noticed that Amelia had begun to sing. It was not a coarse shanty like the others had been enjoying, but a real song. She so rarely found courage enough to do so, but there she was singing to no one in particular. As the silence came over everyone her beautiful melody floated through the air. As always, she was enchanting. She seemed to have more confidence in this company than when she was forced to sing in front of the Caspian crew. She sang of lovers being parted by the sea. The words hit the hearts of the men, bringing sweet tears to their eyes which could not be turned away from her.

Jack's attention was turned again when he saw that the hand around her back began to finger the tips of her long waving hair. He took another drink. How dare another man try to run his fingers through her hair! Those waves were his and his alone. Jack squeezed the bottle's neck in his hand. The thought of using it against Ragetti's head came to mind but he realized that it would require a confession at some point afterwards. Why did she have to be so beautiful? If she was plain then he would not have this competition to worry about. Then again, if she was plain then he probably would not be as enraptured either.

Amelia's song ended and applause broke out. Ragetti's arm moved to do his part in the clapping. That brought some relief to the captain. He quickly took advantage of the moment and put his hand on her shoulder. As a peace offering Jack passed her his bottle which was more than half full. She smiled and took hold of the bottle. She only took one drink and then passed it back to her captain. Jack's hand brushed against hers as he took hold of the bottle. Grinning, Jack titled his head to gesture her to come with him. Amelia smiled but shook her head in response. Jack pretended to pout which made her laugh more. He laughed with her and took a drink.

Someone else started a sea shanty which captured everyone's attention. Jack took the opportunity to put his hand on Amelia's back and played with the tips of her hair. Amelia felt his hand there and placed her own hand on the small of her back, palm facing out. Jack ran his fingers up and down her hand. Gradually he moved his hand from hers to her waist. She did not look but felt the captain move in closer to her. He leaned his head against hers and was about to kiss her neck when Amelia pulled away. It was abrupt but Jack followed her with his eyes. She tilted her head and moved further away. Jack followed. He knew that she was seeking a more solitary location which gave him hope. Backed into a darker corner, Jack closed in on her. Amelia put her hand on his chest to keep him at a distance.

"Jack, your discretion is failing," she said.

"I can't help it," he said, trying to lean in again but been prevented by the force of her hand. "Stay with me tonight," he whispered to her.

"Jack, there's no staying anywhere. We haven't solved the issue of sleeping arrangements. Besides, I've seen your quarters. Presently it's no more inviting than the corridors," she replied.

"I don't care where," Jack said, "just stay with me."

"You know that it's not that easy, Jack."

"It should be. I can't see why it can't be."

"Jack, if my father -" she began to say.

"Oh, hang the wretch!" Jack said.

"Jack," Amelia said trying to plead with him but figured that the rum was making the effort futile.

"I know," Jack said bowing his head and reluctantly giving into reason. He rubbed his eye and covered his mouth as he exhaled loudly in defeat. "Just don't sleep with the cyclops tonight, alright?"

"It's not like that, Jack."

"I know. The bugger fears Barbossa more than I do. It's just not fair that he's allowed to fawn all over you while I get the evil eye for walking too close."

"That's it, Jack. You don't fear him as the others do and that's why he doesn't trust you. He doesn't believe that you'd know the consequences of your actions. You'd just deem it all as your rights as captain and nothing more."

Jack laughed.

"I'd like to think that I have some rights as captain," he said cheekily, reaching for her hip.

"Jack, I'm serious."

"And so am I, love. I don't want you to sleep with him."

Amelia slid her hand up to her captain's neck until her fingers touched the base of his jaw.

"Then I won't, Jack," she said earnestly. "But I can't lie with you either."

"I know, love. That's something I'll have to mend, and soon."

Amelia looked around, seeing if anyone would notice them in the corner. It seemed safe enough so she leaned in and kissed him. Then she rejoined the crew who were still loud and rambling through songs.

Captain Jack Sparrow leaned himself against the wall. The fatigue of the past twenty four hours was hitting him. He looked down at his bottle in hand. It still had more than half of its contents. He was in no mood to finish it off. He slowly slid down the wall until he came to a seated position. He leaned back his head and shut his eyes, listening to the rabble around him as it slowly faded out.

As the men grew wearier, they began to sit to the side and slowly fell into sleep. The quieter it became inside, the harder it was for those still on duty manning the ship to stay awake, so they began their own mild shanties on deck.

Amelia sat to side and hummed along with the men above. Ragetti walked over to her with the small blanket in hand and put it around her. He sat down beside her. He closed his eyes and the deeper the sleep he drifted to the more his body slid to the side until halted by the post beside him. When his snoring had begun Amelia put the blanket over him.

Captain Jack Sparrow woke unexpectedly, feeling that his personal space was being violated. It took a few moments before his eyes could focus well enough and his senses process the details to his brain. By the time his consciousness kicked back into gear, there was a head laid down gently onto his lap. Jack ran his fingers through the soft waves of her hair and then down her back as far as he could reach, as though he needed to make sure that she was all there. He let his arm rest around her and then leaned his head back against the wall to sleep.

The rum had served its purpose. The men slept soundly without lamenting the pains of discomfort or hunger. The ones on the night watch were not as at ease and they had a fine time trying to wake the others to take on their shifts. Amelia did not sleep as soundly, being ever aware of the movement around her. Hearing more and more footsteps about, she decided that it was better to rise. She opened her eyes. Things seemed tranquil enough, but her guilt was haunting her too strongly to be sound. She gently moved her captain's arm off of her. Jack stirred a little but did not wake. Amelia kissed the side of his mouth lightly. He moaned a little and brought his arm back around her.

"Where're you off to?" Jack whispered, still seemingly asleep.

"Not far," she whispered back to him.

She kissed him once more before leaving him. She walked to the prow. She climbed over the rail and sat up with her feet resting on the figurehead. The wind brought salt to her lips and the waves roared beneath her, echoing in her ears. The moon was not visible but the stars shone brightly overhead.

"Ye best be careful there," a voice called from behind her.

Amelia did not need to look to know that it was her father. He sounded sober but she was not sure if that was a good thing or not.

"It's quite secure, I assure you," she said to him.

"That be not my meanin'," he said. "We should be thinkin' 'bout gettin' ya back to Stone Chapel. A ship's no place for a woman, especially not if she hopes to stay decent."

"You question my decency?"

"Nay, but sooner or later ye'll be wantin' an easier life. You may not think so now, but ye'll want home to call yer own, a husband to take care of you, and children to bring into the world. Longer ya spend out here, harder it will be to attain such things. You were never a deprived child, Amelia. Ye were raised to want the privilege of ladies. This life can't appease that, nor any man who leads this life be able to give it to you. Were you my son, I'd be proud as a peacock havin' ya sail to world's end and back again."

"But I'm just a girl," Amelia said anticipating her father's words.

"Aye, and I hope better for you," he said.

"Why is it that a girl can't enjoy the same freedoms?"

"Because there'll always be a man or two trying to take it from ye. Better to act out of yer own accord than as subject to another's. If a man becomes a pirate he has only himself to answer to when he meets the hangman. The world be no better nor worse for his life lost. If a man gets himself drunk, he can walk away without a trace of his own footstep behind him. If a man takes a woman, he need never know the child born from that night. There's too much care in the world for you, Amelia, to ever join the lowlifes that be roamin' the earth. There's too much that you'd have to live with yerself fer. Don't get me wrong, in my heart I'd want you to take the world in your hands, but I've seen too much of it to be ignorant of the hardships ye'd face. I've known meself too many women to live in misery until either they give up on life or sell their souls to ease the pain of tryin' to survive it. I don't want that for you. I don't know what I'd do if a man were to take ya. The guilt I would feel if ye were to find yerself in some godforsaken cell, or the end of a rope. 'Tis the price that is paid for what we call freedom."

"And so I'm to trade freedom for security?"

"I'd have ya see the freedom in security."

"Like the freedom of being locked in a room while the ship is doomed to sink?"

Barbossa was taken aback by the recollection of having his daughter locked away. Her trust in Captain Jack Sparrow was thus understandable, but not acceptable.

"A ship be always doomed to sink in the end," he said.

"Maybe that's because you don't believe that it's possible to have security in freedom," she said to him.

"That be what Jack's been promisin'?" Barbossa asked with an accusing tone behind his words.

"Jack doesn't make promises, you should know that."

"Nay, he makes promises in plenty. He just fails to keep 'em. His intentions are there, but he's still a child in too many ways. Don't get yerself caught up in it. There'll be no security there."

"In the end he's still captain. I have nothing to get caught up in other than my duties to my captain. It's disloyal for you to think so low of him. He's led you for more than ten years. If he were such an incapable captain I'm surprised that you'd follow him for so long. You're offended by his youth, no more."

"Perhaps 'tis because the youth seem to be so careless," he said, his words being directed at his daughter and her insolence.

Neither of them had any wish to continue the conversation. Barbossa left his daughter to her solitude. She stayed where she was, watching the horizon start to lighten. Land was up ahead. It should have brought more joy to her heart than it did. Soon more boats were seen in the waters ahead. Land was close by.