Book Three - Chapter Thirteen: A Question of Location

Captain Jack Sparrow awoke slowly. The comfort of his new bed made him reluctant to want to rise out of it. He moaned and rolled onto his other side. He felt the warmth of another body beside him. He had almost forgotten that the young woman was still there - it was a rare occasion indeed. She continued to sleep soundly there beside him, hardly making a noise or even a movement aside from traces of breathing. Jack put his arm around her and kissed her shoulder. This alone was well worth the rescue he performed the other day.

"You are a dishonest man," Amelia said in a groggy voice.

Jack smiled proudly and said, "Pirate, love."

He reached over for her hand. It felt different. The once sweet and soft hand was now coarse with scabs and hard skin. He felt the new texture with great delicacy. The wounds would heal in time but would leave her hands without great function aboard the ship. Jack would not have her in the rigging and, in the chance of any future conflict, her swordsmanship would probably suffer. She could still maker herself quite useful in other ways, however it seemed best to ensure that she had a smooth recovery. This related well to Barbossa's request of returning his daughter home when they should venture north-east again. Captain Jack Sparrow avoided giving his first mate a definitive answer just yet.

They were still on course for the Polynesian islands and would not turn back until they did what they came to do. While many of the islands were slowly becoming bases and colonies, one remote island remained free from kingdom domination. It was frequented by pirates to whom the locals remained friendly and helpful. While the island did possess a native name, the pirates had gone through years of difficulty saying it and so the island became dubbed "Ahoyhoy". The locals did not adopt the name themselves but learned to use it when speaking to non-native people. While this island did not have the usual luxuries that the men desired, such as taverns and brothels, it was a sure way to trade supplies. Even things that the natives would essentially deem as useless were always surprisingly well traded for on the main islands where colonies had begun to form. In return, the natives would give basic needs such as food, water pouches, and sometimes they even had a good supply of alcohol from the main island to ensure better trades. Better still than any items they could have received as the hospitality shown to the sailors when they came ashore. They were always invited into the homes of the locals and provided with fresh fruits and newly roasted meats. Large festivals would usually be held providing a wealth of food and entertainment.

This trip was no different. Everyone was warmly welcomed and the following day the serious business of trade had begun. Still, the question of what to do with Amelia was ever present. It led to frequent quarrels between father and daughter. Finally, when a quarrel had been brought before the captain, Jack silenced them both.

"That's enough!" he cried. "Nothing will get done with you two going back and forth about it. Now I'll make the final call, but I can't handle both of you at the same time, it's just too aggravating and I don't need the headache," he said. He pointed to Amelia, "You first." He then pointed to his first mate, "Then you."

Jack took Amelia by the arm and led her away.

"Jack, you won't send me away, will you?" Amelia pleaded.

"You know I don't want to, but I can't argue with Barbossa. We usually make that trip annually and it's about time we got back there. Chances are that the moment any one spots you you'll be taken back either by guilt or the guard. There's no point in starting a quarrel where one can be avoided. We're fortunate enough to have altered our vessel so if Crestcastle has the guard out looking for the Roving Maid, well, they're just tough out of luck. But I can't expect to simply hide you away on the ship while we make port."

"So I am to be sent back in fear of the inevitability of it all?" she asked quite upset about the statement.

"Let me finish, love," Jack said impatiently. "If you don't want to be sent back at all then there's a simple solution, you simply don't go."

"What do you mean?"

"Stay here. There's all you'll need - a warmer bed and better food."

"You mean to say that you'll sail away without me?"

"For lack of better words, yes, that's about the gist of it. But, hear me out, alright? Barbossa wants you safe - I trust you to be safer here than back in Stone Chapel, at least from what you've told me. It'll give you some time, especially while you're on the mend."

"How much time?"

"I'd say no more than a couple of months," he replied.

"Two months!"

"It's either two months here or forever with your mother, now isn't it? Besides, I think that it's the only way to reach a compromise with Barbossa. After that time I'm sure he'll start to miss you all over again and be happy as a lark to have you pillage and plunder to your heart's content."

Amelia fell silent, thinking over the situation at hand.

"It's the best I can do, love," he said to her, putting his hand on her cheek.

"I trust you, Jack," she said softly.

This made the captain happy. He had accomplished half of his goal but unfortunately it was the tougher half that still remained. Jack then approached Barbossa, as he said he would.

"Did ya talk any sense into her?" Barbossa asked.

Jack laughed at the thought of that even being possible.

"She won't go, mate, and she's firm on that," Jack said. "I know that you want what's safe, give her some time to heal over and work things out in her head, but sending her back kicking and screaming don't do nobody no good, right? Think about it. She'll get sour and rebellious, and next thing you know she's run off with some louse of a butcher or baker, what she's stuck with for the rest of her life. Then what's left of security and dignity? She's too spirited to back down. You tell her not to do something and you know it'll be the next thing that she does."

"So ye're sayin' to bring her along, then, are ya?" Barbossa said in a huff.

"Course not. The moment aomeone in town gets a look at her the whole bleeding guard will be on us, and I've had enough for that for the time being, thank you."

"So what are ya proposin' should be done then, Captain?"

"We leave her here," Jack said bluntly.

Barbossa hollered out a sting of unintelligible profanities.

"Just think about it. Whose care would you trust her in more? Hell, you don't even trust her under my command, and your wife isn't the most reasonable person in the world. These people have nothing to gain from her and would fall to their knees before crossing us. Ergo, I say, we make our rounds as planned - she's safe and happy, and we simply pick the girl up again as we come back round."

"Could take more than a month do to so, Captain," Barbossa pointed out.

"Aye, but think about it, mate. If she's left to her own thoughts for a good long length of time, she'd be most appreciative upon our return. She'll hold nothing sour against you for not dragging her back to her mother's and greet you with fond praises and embraces, now won't she?"

"What makes you so certain that she'll credit me when ye're the one doin' all the talkin'?" Barbossa asked suspiciously.

"Tell her yourself what you've decided. I'll confess to wanting to have giving her the ol' boot back home and off my ship - make room for someone useful. Leaves you as the hero, mate, all filled with wise fatherly advice and what have you."

"Ye said nothing to her just now?"

"I heard her out. I know my women, mate - all they want to do is talk. I just stand there, pretend to listen, and once they get it all out of their system they calm right down to being all sweetness and cherry pie."

Barbossa nodded his head.

"Is it settled, then?" the captain asked his first mate.

"Aye, I believe 'tis," Barbossa replied.

Captain Jack Sparrow gestured Barbossa to walk forward first. Barbossa did so, ready to address his daughter on the matter. Jack followed but not too closely behind.

Amelia saw her father approaching, he seemed very determined. She feared that Jack's plan had failed so she prepared to defend herself.

"Daughter," Barbossa called.

A few people turned to look out of curiosity. Amelia did not know how to respond. He did not call her by name and she was unsure if that was a good sign or not. Given the expression on his face she assumed the worst. He did not look very negotiable at the moment.

"The captain says that ye're unchanged in refusin' to return to Stone Chapel," Barbossa said.

Amelia was about to correct him when she saw Jack standing behind him nodding profusely. What had he done now?

"Yes," she said hesitantly, looking back and forth from her father to her captain.

"I would feel better havin' you spend some time off of the ship. Give ya something a little more stable. If ye won't go to your mother's then there's few places I'd be willin' to leave ya. I've thought it over and came to the conclusion that I be willin' to let you stay here on this island as alternative," Barbossa said.

"Oh," Amelia said. She looked over at her captain in case he had any other hints for her. He did not appear to, other than insisting that she reply something more. "Here?" she tried to ask as though it was a new idea.

"Aye. 'Tis quiet and free of all the troublesome features of any other town," her father said.

"So I would stay here while you and the crew carry on?"

"Not fer very long, be only a month or so," he continued to explain.

"And you think that that would be best?"

"Given the circumstances - though I don't much like the idea of leavin' ya by yerself, I think it's the best that we can do and remain on peaceful terms."

"I see," Amelia replied. "Well, if you think that it's best."

Barbossa nodded his head though he looked somewhat puzzled. When Amelia walked away he turned back to his captain and said, "I can't remember the last time she was that agreeable."

"Like I said, mate, just needed to get it out of her system," Jack replied.

The tall and gangly crew member from behind them sheepishly came forward and drew attention to himself.

"If you was at all concerned about leaving the Ms. by her lonesome, I would elect to stay behind, if it would help some," Ragetti said.

The captain and the first mate just glared at the awkward man.

"Guess not," he mumbled to himself and stepped away.