Book Five - Chapter Two: The Urchin

The ship Gibbs had found was easy enough to commandeer. Thankfully so since two of the three men Gibbs had rounded up didn't even speak English. The urchin-boy could barely keep up with the pace of the sailors. He was altogether quite useless onboard.

"They really didn't teach you anything, did they?" Jack said, taking the poorly handled rope from the boy.

"They just made us carry things, and clean things. Nothing actually nautical."

Jack had to laugh, "A boy your age should have more experience than a common powder monkey. How old are you, urchin? Eight? Nine?"

"Eleven and one half, sir," the boy answered.

"Eleven?" Jack nearly choked. The boy seemed much too small to be eleven. "You've got a lot of catching up to do, there, son."

"A year ago I had never even been on a ship before. Not one at sea, least ways. My mother would take me down to the harbour when she could, but that wasn't very often. My step-father didn't like it much. He forbade it."

"Sounds like a charming fellow," Jack said, finishing up with the rope.

"I hate him. That's why I need to find Captain Barbossa," the boy said.

Jack had finished the final knot and asked for the boy to pull it tight. The boy did so. Jack pulled it again, just to make sure that it was strong.

"So let me get this clear," Jack said to the boy, "you're planning vengeance against the sod and hoping that Barbossa, being the fiercest rumoured pirate to ever sail, will assist in your little endeavour."

"You think I'm simple, don't you?"

"I think that you need a more practical plan, lad."

"It's more complicated than that."

"How so?"

"You wouldn't understand," the boy sighed.

"Obviously not," Jack said. "I've known Barbossa longer than you've even been alive. Unless there's something in it for him, he won't just sign on to some kid's plan of revenge."

"When he finds out he'll help. He has to."

"Alright, urchin. Just don't be too broken-hearted if we get there and he don't warm up to you."

Jack checked his compass. The arrow pointed far from New Orleans. He had no real desire to go back to Louisiana again, but he knew that getting the Black Pearl out of Barbossa's hands was near impossible. Last time it took him ten years to recover it and less than a year later here he was without it again. Even if Jack found the fountain, he was not prepared to wait another ten years to reclaim his ship.

New Orleans had changed a great deal since Jack had last been there. What used to be acres of farmland was now a well developed city. It was lined with buildings and roads. The whole place was full of life, and all kinds of it. This is what a city should be, Jack thought.

Jack and the urchin-boy went to check along the large harbour. They hadn't seen the Black Pearl from the distance, but if it had come to port recently, someone was bound to have noticed. Jack kept an eye on the ships. The boy studied the people.

"Wait," the boy said coming to a dead stop. "There!"

The boy pointed but Jack couldn't see because, just as quickly as it was said, the boy darted through the crowds. It wasn't until the boy had found his target that Jack realized what, or who, it was. It couldn't be.

When he heard the call, Pintel tapped Ragetti on the shoulder.

"Look! There he is," Pintel said.

Ragetti shaded his brow and squinted to see the boy come running.

"Well if it ain't the little master himself," Ragetti said. "Tristan! Over here!"

The boy ran right into Ragetti and wrapped his arms around the man.

"I knew you'd come. Where's the captain?" Tristan said excitedly.

Jack had followed the boys trail and came up from behind. Ragetti and Pintel saw the captain and lumps built up in their throats.

"Captain Jack!" Pintel uttered with fear in his voice. "We wondered where you'd got to." He turned to Ragetti and said nervously, "Safe and sound. No hard feelings, eh?"

"Where's the slimy bugger of a sea-snake who stole my ship?" Jack shouted.

"Not here," Pintel answered. "Got an urgent letter in Tortuga, he did. Bein' the carin' type that he is, came runnin'."

"Still in contact with is daughter I take it," Jack said.

"She hasn't post to Tortuga in years. Knew it must be important," Ragetti added, his arm around the boy.

"But we found him," Pintel added, "so all's well that ends well, ain't it?"

"He is coming back, is he not?" the boy asked, looking up at Ragetti.

"Course he is," Pintel answered. "He just had us here to give the place the old one over, us knowin' you and the like, while Barbossa searches up the coast. Right worried we was when we heard you'd run off."

"Frightfully worried," Ragetti said.

"Are you certain that it was my mother who sent the letter?" the boy asked.

"Course it was," Pintel said.

"Who else would it be?" Ragetti answered.

"I hope that's true," the boy said.

Jack fell silent and contemplative. The boy's mother? Looking specifically for Barbossa and Barbossa answering the call? Eleven and one half.

"Urchin, what was it that you said your name was?" Jack asked the boy.

"I didn't, Sir," the boy said.

"I thought not."

"This be Amelia's boy. She married, you know? After you…" Ragetti said.

"I see," Jack said.

"You know my mother?" the boy asked with surprise.

"I knew her. Long time ago. Before you were born. She was a good seaman, err, seawoman. Damn good pirate if ever I saw," Jack replied reminiscing to himself.

Pintel and Ragetti cringed as they heard the word being sounded.

"Mum went pirating?" the boy asked. "No one ever told me that."

"I bet there's a lot they didn't tell you," Jack said.

The conversation was taking an unnerving direction. Neither Ragetti nor Pintel wanted the responsibility of filling the young boy in. That could surely wait for Barbossa's arrival. Jack also did not want to explain the part he played in Amelia's change of circumstance.

The boy was about to ask another question when Regatti interrupted him.

"What got into you anyhow? Runnin' off like that?"

"I didn't run off," Tristan said.

"He was picked up by some roving privateers. Found him east of here," Jack said.

"You found him?" Regatti questioned.

"Yes. Captain Sparrow here saved my life. I expect my grandfather to reward him well."

Pintel and Regatti only looked at one another.

"A reward?" Jack said cunningly. "I couldn't. But since you bring it up, I think my ship might just about do it."

"Your ship?" the boy asked.

"Aye, your grandfather has an awful habit of sailing off with it," Jack said.

"I don't see why he would," the boy said, "he has the fastest ship in the world."

"So I was right," Jack said smiling, "they have been quite selective with you." Jack put his hand on the boy's shoulder and began to lead him away. "Come on, little urchin."

Regatti tightened his grip on the boy. Pintel took out a pistol.

"Can't be lettin' you do that, Captain," Pintel said. "We's got orders."

"Wait!" the boy shouted. "What are you doing?"

Jack took out his pistol.

"Shoot me and you lose the charts," Jack threatened. "I doubt Barbossa has another set."

Jack and Pintel stared at one another, still aiming.

"Just keep the boy out of it," Regatti said, holding Tristan closer.

"This man saved my life," Tristan repeated earnestly. "You are not to harm him."

"Tristan, lad," Jack said, holding out his hand to the boy, "come with me."

"I apologize, sir, but I must wait for Captain Barbossa. These men can take me to him."

"You'll be waiting an awfully long time if he's out scanning the whole of the coast," Jack said. "And these two have loyalty to none but their own hides."

The boy looked up at Regatti and said, "That's not true. I know it isn't. You would for my mother. If she needed your help, you'd do it, wouldn't you?"

There was an alarming tone of desperation in the boy's voice. Pintel and Jack took their attention off of one another and lowered their guns.

"What's wrong, son?" Jack asked.

"The letter Mum sent about me. You're certain that is was written by her hand?"

"Well…" Pintel said, scratching his head. "None really saw it save the captain."

"She didn't write to Barbossa, did she?" Jack said, trying to put the pieces together.

"Mum told me to run. She told me not to come back," the boy said, beginning to breathe heavily.

"What happened?"

"Lord Crestcastle was in one of his moods. He tore through the house. I had only forgotten a book by the stairs. When he saw it, and that it was mine, he went mad. I could hear him through the door. So could Mum. She couldn't get there fast enough. I tried to apologize but it made no difference. I've crossed him many times, but not like that. Mum came running in to keep him off of me. He wouldn't stop. I don't know how she did it, but she got him off for a moment. Just enough for him to throw her across the room. I just remember her crying out for me to run. She told me to get out, to go far away, and not to come back. So I did. Even as I left the house I could hear her screaming. God only knows how bad he gave it to her that time. I ran to the harbour and hid where I could. I was hoping that my grandfather's ship would come, but the Spanish found me first.

"I shouldn't have left her. He was so angry. So much more so than usual. He never hits me. But her. All the time. Her defending me just made him more cross. I thought for sure he'd kill her. I have to go back, but I can't do it alone."

Jack didn't need to hear any more. He turned and darted through the crowds. Tristan broke free from Regatti's hold and ran for the captain.

"Wait!" the boy called out to the captain. "Where are you going?"

Jack didn't look back.

"Go back to the ship, son. If Barbossa comes, do as you will."

"What are you going to do?"

"Something I should have done years ago."

Tristan could barely keep up but it didn't stop him from trying. Barbossa's men were in the following as well.

"Where does he think he's goin'?" Pintel asked his mate.

"I think he's going to the estate."

"Now how does he know where to find it? Even Barbossa ain't got up there."

Jack could tell that the boy was still pursuing him so he stopped. Tristan nearly bumped into him. Jack put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Get back to the ship, lad. I'll deal with Crestcastle."

"Why? What's it to you?" the boy asked.

Jack looked up to see the two having caught up.

"You, blinky," he called to Ragetti. "Hang on to the kid. You," he said pointing to Pintel, "come make yourself useful."

There was no room for argument. Ragetti held Tristan back while Pintel did his best to keep up with the captain.