Book Four - Chapter Ten: The Promotion

Jack awoke suddenly in the night. In his dream he saw Amelia being taken. It had become his most common nightmare. Her scream was the last thing he heard. It chilled him. Jack reached over to his side table and looked for something to drink.

A knock was heard from his door. Jack looked quizzically at it. The knock sounded again.

A panicked voice called out, "Captain!"

Jack sprung from his bed.

"Captain, come quickly!"

Sensing the urgency, Jack grabbed his affects and hurriedly tried to arrange himself before getting to the door. The knock and the voice both became more desperate.

"Captain Sparrow! You must hurry!"

Jack knew what it meant. Feersen's vessel must be approaching. If that was true than it meant that Amelia wasn't with it. That gave the captain some hope that she may have been sent back to Stone Chapel after all.

As ready as he could possibly be, Captain Jack Sparrow sung open his door. The night was dark. There was no moon out, only a scattering of stars. All of the men crowded around the captain's cabin. It was eerie but Jack figured the urgency had called them all into immediate action. But there was no action. All of the men stood around just watching the captain. If there was a threat why weren't the cannons being manned? Jack's steps began to slow. All eyes were fixed on him.

"What's going on here?" the captain asked in a very low voice.

A path cleared before him. A familiar screech was heard. The stowaway monkey. Barbossa's pet. As the men in front of the captain parted, Jack could see Barbossa walking formally down the path made on the deck.

"What's all this?" Jack demanded sternly.

Barbossa smiled and held his pet in his hand.

"Let's call it a change in the winds," Barbossa said and then he laughed.

The crew joined in the laughter.

Jack felt a cold chill. He had found the wrong snake.

The crew took hold of the captain. Jack struggled but only for a moment. There were too many surrounding him.

"I gave you the map!" Jack called at Barbossa. "Everything was square."

"Tell that to me daughter, Jack," Barbossa replied.

"Hector, you were there when the accord was made. You agreed!"

"I agreed to me daughter havin' safe passage. Is that not what you promised, Jack?" Barbossa demanded.

Jack was silent.

Barbossa pulled out the map. "This is the second route," he said pointing to it. "This be where we're to find Amelia?"

"It's my estimation," Jack said trying to avoid anymore twisting of his words.

Barbossa pointed to the final mark of the destination. "Then tell me, Jack, why does this mark span so many miles away from Stone Chapel?"

"I told you, it didn't go as planned."

"Aye, that you did, Jack. And I told the crew. You see, we're tired of these complicated plans of yours, Jack. Captainin' ain't a right yer daddy can give you. Ye must earn it. Ye've gone down with too many ships, Jack. We won't wait to be taken down with ya."

"So that's it, is it?" Jack said. "Mutiny?"

Barbossa smiled.

"Think of it as a sort of promotion. We found a nice little island for you, Jack. Might you think of yourself as governor?" Barbossa laughed.

The crew readied the plank. Barbossa took hold of Jack's pistol and checked it.

"How fitting," he said. "You made yer own shot."

Barbossa put the gun back into Jack's holster.

"Fair winds, Govenor," Barbossa laughed.

Jack was being pushed forward on the plank. All he could do was look his first mate square in the eyes and say, "I'll see you in hell, Barbossa."

With that, the crew grumbled and roared - a sure enough sign that Jack could expect no friendship from the other end. He turned, faced the open air, and dove, at least wanting to be in control when he hit the water.

When Jack came upon the shore he felt more than the weight of water dragging him down. He watched the Black Pearl sail off into the horizon. Eventually the ship was nothing more than a faint shadow amongst the pink haze of daylight. Jack felt around his belt to assess his assets. He had his pistol and the compass, but that was all. He opened the compass and watched the arrow as it pointed.

"Amelia," Jack whispered to himself. Who would come for her now?