Chapter 12

I swiftly turn around towards the other side of the room.

"Thomas!" I shout, "Thomas! Help!"

Thomas jumps up in a flash and is by my side within seconds.

"What's wrong?" He asked frantically, "What is going wrong?"

"It's Jack." I choke out, slightly surprised at how distressed I am feeling.

Thomas feels Jack forehead, like I did, and when he pulls back, he doesn't look happy.

I then remember from Thomas's story back at the cave that Tortuga has no doctor and the only medicinal thing around in alcohol which wouldn't work at all in this situation. Back in Port Royal, being sick isn't such a big deal. Although it isn't something we just brush off, death doesn't even cross our minds unless the sick or injured is seriously ill. We have doctors and medicine.

Here though, it is another story. Sickness here can be deadly, even the illnesses that are not normally considered lethal.

I can feel my heartbeat getting faster.

"What do we do?" I shout.

Thomas doesn't respond, and his eyes betray helplessness.

Suddenly he jumps up and heads for the door.

"Stay here with Jack." He says before darting through the door and into the night.

I turn back to the old man, my mind too preoccupied to be curious as to where Thomas was going.

Thomas returns fifteen minutes later, and by now, Jack's is officially unconscious. I had thrown a cup full of cold water and he hadn't even stirred.

Thomas kneels down at my side beside the cot and brings out a small cloth.

He unwraps it, revealing some plant leaves.

"Boil some water and place these two leaves inside, letting them soak for a few minutes. Then, take them out and soak some bread with the liquid to camouflage the taste as it is quite bitter. Force feed Jack the bread and hopefully, that will bring his temperature down."

I quickly heat some water using the burning ashes which are under the burnt out fire. I then take out a loaf and slice it while waiting for the leaves to soak.

I then cut the bread into miniscule pieces before dunking them into the drink and carefully cramming them down Jack's throat, thankful that although he is unconscious, his throat still works fine.

I lean against couch beside Thomas, tired and anxious.

"How do you know that it will work?" I ask him.

"I don't," He replies.

"Where did you go?"

"I remembered that a crazy old medicine woman used to live a few blocks away. She died a year or so ago and her cart has been lying around ever since. I went to it and took whatever plants I thought might work. If the ones we gave Jack don't make him improve, I will go back for more."

I nod, holding a hand up to my mouth, yawning.

"You should get some sleep." Thomas says.

"What? Are you crazy?" I reply loudly, and Thomas shushes me.

"Quiet down."

"I can't go to sleep." I continue, more quietly than before. "Firstly, Jack is sick and sleeping is so insignificant beside his health. Secondly, even if I did try, I wouldn't be able to fall asleep. I am much too worried and anxious."

"Fine." Thomas says, with a knowing smile, while holding up two folded blankets "At least rest. Use one of these as a pillow and the other to keep you warm."

I don't reply, but try to cover another yawn as I follow his instructions and lay down, warm and comfortable.

My eyes start to droop despite me fighting to keep them open. I can't stop yawning, however, and I can feel my body slowing down and my mind becoming sluggish.

Just a small nap. No more than a half-hour. I tell myself, snuggling under the covers.

But I can't leave Thomas to watch Jack alone! What if things take a turn for the worse? My mind argues back.

I wouldn't even be any help in this state if something where to happen. I argue one last time before my mind shuts down and I fall into sleep.

The sun wakes me from my deep sleep and I quickly sit sup, right away remembering our situation.

I turn to the bed where Jack is still sleeping. Now, however, he seems to be more settled and comfortable.

Stretching and yawning, I stand up, slightly shaky due to sleeping on the floor all night.

"He is doing better."

I turn around to see Thomas poking the fire.

I sigh, relieved.

"Does that mean that we will be leaving soon?" I ask.

"I said doing better, not healed." Thomas says seriously, concentrating on the flames sprouting up from the logs.

I look around trying to see what could have possibly made Thomas into such a bad mood. "What are you saying exactly?" I question, "How long will we have to stay here?"

"I have no idea." Thomas replies, "But at least two weeks. Definitely not less; probably more."

"We can't stay. What about Elizabeth!"

"Well, we certainly can't leave." He argues back, "Jack is in no condition to leave and we don't have enough money to survive much less by the supplies we need to properly accommodate Jack in his state."

I sit down on the edge of a chair, my hands running through my hair.

What are we going to do?

It suddenly hits me.

"I'll find work."

Thomas looks up surprised, a small irrepressibly grin on his face. "You, work? Now why didn't I think of that?" He teases.

"Very funny." I say through my slitted eyes, "But I'm serious. I think it's the perfect solution."

"Anna," Thomas starts, gently. "You can't."

I sigh exasperated. I open my mouth to argue but Thomas cuts me off, "Do you have any idea what the jobs around here are."

I just stare back at him my forehead wrinkled in slight confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"The only jobs around here that would be suited to a young lady would be either a tavern waitress or a prostitute."

I back up, involuntarily, disgust most likely showing on my face.

"Are you playing a game with me?" I ask.

Thomas laughs halfheartedly. "Absolutely not. I wouldn't play a game with this sort of thing."

I pause for a moment. I don't like how serious and solemn Thomas is being about the whole thing. It is a problem but he is acting as if it is the end of the world.

"Why not?" I ask him cautiously.

"Because you can't work, and because the only work for a man around here is to own his own shop or tavern which I clearly can't do, I will have to leave and get a job in another town until we have enough money to properly repair the boat and get enough supplies to make the trip, while still being properly fed and clothed."

"The boat? Why do we have to repair the boat?" I ask, letting whatever else he said slip me by for now.

Thomas sighs, obviously distressed by the turn of events, "I went to the boat this morning just to be sure that it was all right since you can never be too careful with drunkards running around. It was practically in pieces.

"The mast was chopped up and won't hold up in strong winds, the sail is torn in quite a few places, and the wheel is badly damaged. Even the holes I patched are mostly reopened. It was already somewhat filled with water and I had to drag the boat up onto the sand so that it didn't sink."

I let myself slip to the floor. How much worse could our situation be?

"Wait," I suddenly say remembering something Thomas had said earlier, "You said that you wouldn't play a game with me about the jobs and that you would have to leave Tortuga to find work. I think that that is a good idea. Why do you have a problem with it?"

"Anna, if you haven't realized we are in the most notorious pirate port." Thomas replies, "If I leave, you will be alone here with Jack. Do you know what happens to young girls that have no protection here? They are either beaten up, killed, or raped."

I shudder but quickly pull myself together. "Thomas," I say, in an authoritative tone, "Are there any more of the plants that helped Jack?"

Thomas nods to a table where the small pile of leaves are sitting, "When I found out that Jack was doing better, I went back to the cart and gathered as much of these leaves as I could."

"How long do you think this would last us?" I ask gesturing to the leaves.

Thomas shakes his head, "Not long. We used two leaves last night and there are only three left."

I look back to the pile, which looked like way more than three leaves. On closer inspection I find out that the leaves are much larger than I had previously thought and that there where in fact only three.

"If we kept giving Jack two every night, do you think that he would eventually get better."

"Absolutely." Thomas replies. He picks up a book that had been previously out of my and opens it. "I found this when I went back to the cart morning, most of it is burned to a crisp and unreadable."

I jump over the long chair covered in padding and lean over Thomas' shoulder.

"What is it?" I ask.

"It is a book on herbs and medicinal plants." He replies.

I smile at our turn of luck but then I remember that most of it is probably unreadable.

"The section on plants that help hair grow is all right and so are a few pages in the illness section. The rest is useless. Thankfully, the page on the plant that helped Jack is readable." Thomas says flipping over to that page. "It says that these plants are not native to this island or any close by but can be bought from traders for a fairly good price since they are not rare."

"What about the other pages on illness?" I ask and Thomas flips one page.

"This plant is helpful to relieve pain caused by burns. It doesn't heal the burn and it is also not native to this island or most, in fact. It is very expensive to buy."

Thomas closes the book.

"So, what do we do?" I ask.

"Well, I can't leave, and neither of us can get a job here."

I sigh, "I could try."

"No, you can't." Thomas replies, "I won't let you."

I let it drop, internally thankful.

"Jack is doing slightly better and we could always return back to Port Royal aboard another ship."

"No." I say determinedly. "I came to find Elizabeth and that is what I am going to do."

Thomas sighs, "Fine, but what about Jack?"

"Find Jack." A raspy voice says from behind us.

Thomas and I both spin around at Jack's voice.

We both rush to his bedside.

"Hey, Jack." I say softly, "How are you doing?"

He just grunts.

Thomas quickly grabs a skin of water and, raising Jack into somewhat of a sitting position, proceeds to help him drink.

After a few sips, Thomas gently puts Jack's head down.

Jack seems more awake and aware of his surroundings.

"Thanks." He says to Thomas, his voice a bit better but it is obvious that he is ill. He closes his eyes once again and drifts off to sleep, his breathing less crusty and his overall condition seems to be better.

"What was the first thing he said?" I ask after a few moments of silence.

"Find Jack." Thomas replies without hesitation, "But that doesn't make sense. He is the only Jack we know and he is right here." He pauses, then leaps up, "Jack Sparrow!" He cries, "He was talking about Jack Sparrow and it completely makes sense."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Jack Sparrow and Will Turner are most likely still here in Tortuga. They must have arrived sometime early last night and will probably be leaving today. I have to find them." Thomas rushes to the door.

"Thomas!" I shout racing after him, "What on earth are you talking about? How will finding them solve our problems?"

Thomas just grins. "You will have to wait and see. I'll be back soon." He says before running down the street towards the docks.

Minutes fly by and I stay seated, not quite sure what to do. I spend some time twirling my thumbs and some time pacing the room. I also spend around five minutes pulling my hair, frustrated that Thomas is taking so long.

My time is very well spent.

Finally, after a half-hour, I hear footsteps approaching the door.

I jump to my feet relieved.

The door opens and Thomas comes in followed by Jack Sparrow and Will Turner, who suddenly looks angry after spotting me.

I gulp, waving, "Hellooooo." I say apprehensively.

Will doesn't respond but his face is not one that is happy and his fists are clenched.

Jack Sparrow takes a large exaggerated step away from us, "Well, this isn't going to end well." He says, sitting down and looks at us both, anticipation clearly written on his face.