Book Four - Chapter Eight: About a Snake

Jack knew the way but it was Bimbly who directed Barbossa's navigation. Jack had little to say to Barbossa now.

A boat was needed to get to the witch in the bayou. Jack allowed only Bimbly to go with him. Bimbly, of course, was to carry his master's payment with him. The swamp was grey and desolate. Twinkles from alligator eyes could be seen in the water and in the distance. A thick mist whirled eerily over top the muddy water.

"Just like old times, eh, Jack?" Bimbly tried to say cheerfully, but Jack was in no mood to be cheerful.

As they approached the hut, the witch was already standing in her doorway, surrounded by fireflies. The boat rowed up to her small dock and was moored there. Bimbly sprang eagerly forward while Jack simply shuffled behind.

When Bimbly approached the witch, he removed his hat and gave an elaborate bow. "The ravishin' Tia Dalma," he said cordially.

The woman smiled revealing black teeth.

"Flat-tery don' make it come any cheap-er," she said.

Jack followed up from behind.

"We come with payment," Bimbly said, reaching into his coat for the money purse.

He handed it to her. She opened it and sifted through the contents. Then Tia Dalma laughed at it.

"For what you wan'," she said, "dese few coins be no' enough."

"What makes you so sure you know what we want?" Bimbly asked.

Tia looked past him and moved towards Jack. Jack stood sternly and watched her as she grasped a mat of his hair.

"I know," she said, admiring a golden teardrop tied into the captain's hair. "You, Jack Sparrow, 'ave already made a pay-ment - a costly one."

Jack pulled away from her and said, "Will you help or not?"

"De payment be too small," she said sternly. "But, for dis," she said motioning towards the teardrop again, "I may be able to help."

Jack grunted but nodded his head. Tia gestured for the captain to enter her home. He did so. Bimbly went to follow his captain but the witch stood in his path. He took the hint and stepped back. Tia did not move until he sat himself on a post on the dock. Once he was seated, she entered her hut.

Jack stood, analyzing the unusual objects that hung all around the room.

"So why 'ave you come back?" Tia asked from across the room.

"I thought you said you knew what I wanted?"

"Ah, Jack, what you want is no' why you's here," she said.

"Cortez came across a large amount of money," Jack said trying to avoid the real subject matter.

"And you wan' de gold?"

"That is why I'm here, isn't it?"

"If you say dat is de reason den mus' be de reason," she said. "The gold canno' be found –"

"Except by one who has already found it, yes, I know the story," Jack said.

"And de curse? Eternal damnation by de Aztec gods," Tia added.

"I doubt there's any salvation for me at this point. What I don't already owe the gods I'm sure Jones will take claim of," Jack said.

"And dis be what you want?"

Jack just looked at her.

"If you want de treasure, Jack, you mus' wan' it more dan anyting in dis world. Only den can you fin' it," she instructed.

"I want it," Jack said sternly.

Tia went to her table and revealed a black compass. She handed it to the captain. Jack opened it and examined that the arrow was not accurate.

"A compass?" he said disappointedly, "A broken compass?"

"If you wan' de treasure, it will lead you dere, but only if you wan' it."

"And if I should get…distracted?"

"Den you won' find it," she said. "You cannot lie to de compass, Jack. It know what you wan' even if you do not."

"How do I make myself want it most in the world?"

Tia laughed. Jack was not amused.

"What I t'ought," she said. "It is no' de gold dat you wan'."

She picked up the compass and went to put it in the back room. Jack stood and stopped her.

"Wait, I'll need that."

"De only way is to remind youself dat you cannot 'ave what it is dat you wan' unless you 'ave what you wan' to wan'."

"But I want to want what I want."

"Den why come here, Jack? Why ask for my help if dis is no' what you wan'?" she asked. "You want what your men wan' so dat you can 'ave what you wan'."

"Something like that."

"Be warned, Captain Jack Sparrow, de wheels of fortune are alrea-dy in mo-tion. Dis be no trife-ling matter you speak of. De curse is real. One 'undred years you owe to Davy Jones but eter-nity be a much longer time. You 'ave already paid a terrible price, but you are not yet done paying it yet."

"What do you mean?"

"You are here, Jack. You cannot go back until you 'ave gone for-ward. But going for-ward may send you fur'der back."

Jack shook his head at the riddles taking place.

"Dere be a snake 'board your ship, Jack," Tia continued. "If you follow de snake, you will no' find de gold. If you find de snake –"

"I'll find the gold," Jack added.

"Aye, but ei'der way, Jack Sparrow, you is doomed to be a cursed man. No ma'der what pat' you take, you cannot save de girl from her fate."

This caught Jack's immediate attention.

"Find de snake, Jack. Him will keep her from you."

"What makes you think-"

"Don' be foolish, Jack," she said leaning into him, "a woman know when a man look de o'der way. Her 'ave your heart, Jack. Many women 'ave tried. How she win, Jack? Tell me? What woman tame de great Lord of de Caribbean?"

Jack remained silent.

Tia gave a sigh and looked at the captain.

"Her cloud your 'ead, Jack. Dat how de snake move in."

"Who is it?" Jack demanded.

"A friend - de worst kind of snake. Him will pollute your ship with words. Him will take everyting you have."

"Will I find him?"

"When you know what you want."

"I know what I want. I'll take the compass," Jack reached for the jewel he had placed in his hair and pulled it out.

Tia held it in her hand and slowly handed the compass to the captain.

"You will lose her, Jack."

"I already have."

"And de child?"

Jack froze.

"De way is no' so clear as to see what is no' yet come," she said cryptically. "Only dis I am certain, de child will go where de mother go. Find de snake, Jack, him 'as already betrayed you."

Jack slowly exited the hut. Bimbly rose when he saw his captain.

"Well?" Bimbly asked.

Jack still looked stern. All he said was, "We're done here."

The two men entered into the boat once again. Bimbly could tell that his captain was very sour. He feared that the trip had been wasted but was afraid to ask directly. Jack couldn't get the warning out of his mind. Someone had betrayed him. Someone was betraying him. His men had been with him, unfaltering, through thick and thin. He led them to great treasure, certain death, and supernatural encounters. Barbossa was always in tune with the crew. If there was any chance of mutiny or double-crossing, the first mate would have wind of it. Very little went on on the ship that Barbossa was blind too. Then again, he was ignorant of his own daughter's affair with the captain. Jack knew that even though they had done their best to conceal it, they were not discreet - at least he knew that he wasn't. So there was a chance that Barbossa could fail in his command over the crew, but even so, Jack knew that Bootstrap was still on his side. Bootstrap penetrated all of Jack's secrets so far; surely he would be the first to know of something amiss and wouldn't fail to report it to the captain. Bootstrap had already related his concerns to the captain without hesitation. Jack could trust him, even with his life - after all, it was owed to him. No, his ship was secure, Jack was certain. The men had been around for this long, if they had ever doubted their captain they had plenty of opportunities to act out a mutiny. They could have deserted him on Ewould's Island. They could have overpowered him when the Wench was resurrected. They could have left him passed out in a tavern. They could have killed him in his sleep. It made no sense. It could not be one of his men. Why would they turn now?

Jack thought of Amelia. He knew that didn't sit well with anyone - least of all with himself. The cyclopes could be sour about the event, but he never seemed to be much of a threat. He would never step out of his place. He feared his superiors. No, even for the love of Amelia he would not be able to sabotage the captain.

Then it occurred to the captain that he was not entirely sure about what was being sabotaged. The snake would keep him from the gold but, according to the witch, he would also keep him from Amelia. The snake had already begun to betray him and the final blow was pending. Amelia. Amelia was the first betrayal. Jack felt it. Only two people aside from himself knew about the plan involving Amelia. Jack had already ruled out Barbossa. Besides, what would Barbossa gain from a betrayal now? The snake had to be the other one - the one rowing this little boat through the bayou. Bimbly wasn't part of the crew. He swore an oath, yes, but he had sworn an oath to his master, one Bimbly claimed he was prepared to betray. Why wouldn't he betray Jack, too?

"Turns out that Feersen's prize didn't pay for much," Jack said unexpectedly.

"Caught me off guard, too," Bimbly tried to say light-heartedly, but he was cautious in reacted to Jack's continual grave tone. "Don't matter much, now, eh? We'll just keep to ourselves, eh?"

"And Cortez?" Jack asked.

"You mean…didn't you get a map or somethin'?"

"No map, mate."

Bimbly stopped rowing.

"Must have been somethin'? She said you paid fer it. What did you pay her, Jack?"

"Pull up here," Jack ordered.

Bimbly reclaimed the oars and did as his captain commanded. They gently bumped up to the shore. Bimbly stared at his captain, waiting to see what was going to happen next.

Jack stood up.

"Out," he ordered, "and leave the oars in the boat."

Bimbly set them down and slowly stepped out of the boat. Jack had already walked a few paces up land.

"Jack? What is it?" Bimbly asked very worriedly.

Without hesitation Jack turned around to face his friend with a pistol ready in hand.

"Jack," Bimbly quivered.

"What price have I paid?" Jack demanded.

"I don't know."

"Well you better think a little harder and a little faster."

"Jack. Jack, what's this all about?"

"You mean to betray me."

Bimbly stopped breathing.

"So it's true then," Jack said.

"Jack, please, I may not be an honest fellow but-"

"Why are you here?" Jack snapped.

"I told you, I's been runnin' for Feersen," Bimbly stuttered desperately.

Jack took out his sword with his free hand.

"Jack, please," Bimbly begged. "I'll admit it, Jack. I will. Because you're my friend. Because you's been so good to me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. But it was for the best, it really was."

"Just start talking!"

"It's like this, see? Feersen knows 'bout the gold. He knew the whole time. Heard me babblin' on 'bout it, like the old days. He asked me 'bout it. Sent me out lookin' fer it. Sent me here, Jack."

"I found you in Stone Chapel!"

"I know, Jack. That was after. He asked if I knew where to find it. Told 'm that no one can find it 'less you've been there. He asked me who'd been there. Hell, if I know, aye? But I thought if anyone would have found it by now, it'd be ol' Jack Sparrow. He asked about you. I told 'm all I could think of. Everythin' I could think of. I remembered your ship frequentin' the place, Stone Chapel. It was a seasonal place for you. Different ship though, from what I recall. Feersen sent me there to wait. So I did. Then I found you, Jack. Even to this day you won't let an ol' bugger like me down," Bimbly said trying to be jovial about it.

"You lied to me."

"I'm not an honest man, Jack, but I ain't a cruel one. I lied, yes, but not so much. I did plan on leavin' Feersen out in the cold after this."

"After this?"

"I mean, after I got back on with you. Feersen had it set up that his ship follow you out. You'd lead him straight to the gold. You'd go in, get it, and he'd be waitin' for you to come back out again. He's afraid of the curse, see. You have a ship, you have a crew, if I could do the leadin' then Freesen wouldn't have to worry 'bout the expense."

"My ship's expendable?"

"That's what he be thinkin'. But, Jack," Bimbly said, emphasising this part of his story, "I ain't led them here. I gave 'em wrong directions."

Jack stayed silent and waited for more explanation.

"When I went back, as you asked, I confirmed that you had agreed. If he thought that I was still on the job he wouldn't follow so closely. He'd wait. Then he'd go to the meetin' place. I told 'm it was where to find the witch, but I gave 'm the wrong coordinates. He'll be waitin' south-east, a good three days away even if he could catch up to us."

"Why?"

"I told you, Jack. I want out of this life. I ain't no servin' man, Jack. Not for the likes of him. The sea's in me blood as much as it be in yours. The gold'll be ours, Jack. Plenty to spare. Just let me have a fair share and I'll drift to the winds. You need never see my face again."

"Funny," Jack said calmly, "I could ensure that right now."

"Jack, please. I know I should've come clean up front, but what's done is done. We need never be bothered with Feersen."

"And Amelia? Why send her to him? What had you to gain from it?"

"Time. I didn't expect her to be part of the equation, but it seemed to work. I needed to give Feersen some assurance."

"And the Colonel's daughter would do just that?"

"The captain's sweetheart would," Bimbly said hesitantly.

Jack used every ounce of control that he had to keep from shooting the man on the spot. Bimbly could see that.

"It was a sacrifice, I know, Jack, but it was the only way. If I hadn't told you about her bein' sent home, you never would have parted with her."

"Where is she?"

"With Feersen, on the ship, waitin'. Leverage, Jack. Feersen would use her to ensure that you'd cooperate. If she was there, you'd hand over the gold, once had he'd kill the lot of you, maybe even me."

"He has her, sailing in the other direction, waiting for a ship that won't come to him?"

"Aye."

"And what will happen to her?"

"I dunno, Jack. He's got no reason to harm her. If he gets desperate he just might settle for reward money from the Colonel."

Jack's trigger finger trembled, ready to pull.

"Jack, please! It's just a girl, mate. Look at you goin' soft."

"On your knees!" Jack shouted.

Bimbly slowly assented. Calmly, he pleaded, "Jack, me lad, please. I ain't never meant no harm."

Jack slowly backed away towards the boat, still aiming at the kneeling man.

"Jack, don't! Just kill me and get it over with."

"You don't deserve that sort of mercy," Jack huffed.

"Jack, I'm dead already if you leave me here."

"Goodbye, Bimbly," Jack said as he entered into the boat.

Bimbly stood up and began to rush towards his captain.

Jack didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Bimbly fell to the side and groaned, clasping his hands around the puncture in his leg.

"Patch it up soon and you might live another day," Jack said as he began to row out.

"Jack!" Bimbly shouted. "Jack!"

Something in the man's cries echoed in the captain's ears. Jack could hear Amelia's cries as she was taken from the ship. "Jack!" It pierced his heart. He rowed restlessly until he reached his ship again, compass in hand.