Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been very busy recently with exam stuff so I haven't had time. I will try to update sooner for the next chapter. I hope you enjoy this one though. Please review, every comment means a lot to me.

Chapter 2 – The Rum Thief

Days on the Black Pearl passed. I worked hard and sometimes talked with Joey as I did so. Each evening I played my guitar to the crew who seemed to very much enjoy it. I didn't sing though. That would have given my identity away in a heartbeat. I was struggling enough as it was to keep my voice sounding masculine. But playing the guitar did remind me of the nights I had played for the crew on the White Maiden with my Father. It was a good moral booster. My Father was a good musician as well as an amazing Captain and he taught me everything he knew. It's the best memory I have of him now.

I finished the last song of the night when Joey appeared beside me. "Ur very gud at that." he commented.

"Thanks, I've been playing a long time." I replied as I placed my guitar down gently underneath the hammock.

"Ye don' sing though." He sat in his hammock and started to swing it slightly. "Why don' ye sing."

"Well, that's something that I am not so good at. But you are welcome to. What songs do you like? Hows about Jolly Sailor Bold? That's my favourite." I smiled over in his direction, knowing for a fact that this would please him and I was right. He was quite a simple person.

I lay myself down on my hammock and rested my head against one of my arms when a saw Jack going into a room at the port end of the ship. I had always assumed that it was just a simple storage room but it that was the case, what would jack be doing in there. Actually, when I thought about it, the room was always locked so there must be something important in there.

"Joey, do you know what's inside that room over there?" I gestured to the door that jack had just gone through. I knew it was a long shot asking Joey but it was worth a try. He gave a small laugh.

"What, ye mean you don't?" He smiled in his usual way that showed all of the teeth that he had remaining (which wasn't very many).

"No, should I know?" This had my attention now and the curiosity inside me was bubbling.

"Well I've heard that whilst he waz in Tortuga he had a lode of other ships that he sold onto other sailors. Got him quite a lot of riches it did." Joey lifted up his left foot and pulled of his boot. The odour that drifted off hid foot was almost visible as a green mist because of how bad it smelt. I don't actually think Joey has ever had a wash.

"So he has that in there? The riches." I said as best as I could without suffocating from the awful smell that was Joey's foot. Joey nodded. I looked over his shoulder and saw that jack was re-emerging from the room with a crate full of something. He also looked quite a bit happier than he did before going in. He gently put the crate on the floor. It didn't look like it contained any riches to me. He then pulled a small rusty key from his pocket and locked the door. I looked over at Joey who was already asleep. Joey had to be wrong about the room's contents and I had to feed my curiosity and find out. Most of the crew were now sleeping so I got up from my hammock and walked towards jack who was struggling a little with the crate.

"Do you want some help with that captain?" I asked. "That looks rather heavy."

"That would be good" he said quickly handing the heavy load over to me. The look of relief crossed his face and I could see why. The crate weighed a tonne. It was defiantly heavier than he made it look. I pretended that it was no big deal and looked to Jack.

"Where abouts would you like it to go captain?" My arms were now aching now.

"In me cabin, Follow me" He turned and started up the wooden steps to the upper deck. I followed. As I walked I could hear that whatever was inside the crate was made of glass because it was hitting lightly together in time with my steps. By the time we reached the cabin door my arms felt as though they were being pulled out of their sockets and my back was beginning to really hurt but ignored the pain and smiled at Jack. I didn't want him thinking I was weak.

I expected Jack to take the crate of me now but instead he opened the door and ushered me inside. I entered the room and looked around. It was quite simple. To one side of the room was a large bed that I must admit looked very comfortable considering I hadn't slept in one since my time on the White Maiden. There was a desk in the other corner with a selection of different maps and a very interesting looking compass. There were a few chairs around the room, all of which looked much more comfortable than sitting on wooden planks and the floor. I guess I had expected something more luxury. But it still looked nice.

"Put the box on the floor somewhere over there" Jacks voice reminded me of the heavy weight that I was still holding. I did as he said quickly and tried my hardest to hide the relief I felt after letting go. He wondered over to the crate and opened it to reveal 12 bottles. He pulled two of them out and handed me one before biting the cork and spiting it out across the room. He took 3 big glugs and then looked and me and gestured to do the same. I repeated his actions. The sweet taste of rum filled my mouth. I hadn't had it for about 6 years and I had really missed it.

"Thanks" I said before taking another swig.

"You're a hard worker and great for the crew's moral." He sat behind his desk in the more comfortable looking of his chairs. "What's your name sailor?" Jack said before taking another mouthful of Rum.

"Sam Adams, Captain" I replied.

"Well Sam I have a good feeling about you, I feel as though I can trust you even though I don't know you too well." His words ran together slightly and it was only now that I noticed that this was normal for him. "Do you know what is in the room downstairs? The room I keep locked?"

"Well, Joey says it is filled with Riches. But I don't think it does, at least, not gold and silver anyway." I said the words slowly. Thinking it through as I said it. "Why would you want to tell me though? Nobody tells me anything." I stopped myself. He didn't need to know that I had been an outcast of society for the last 10 years. He was better off not knowing and so was I. I didn't need more attention on myself than I already had. Otherwise I might not be able to keep my identity a secret.

"I get a good feeling about you Sam, Plus, I need someone I can share it with, Gibbs isn't the best to talk to sometimes, especially when drunk." Jack drank what remained of the rum in his bottle and placed it on the table.

"Share what with me Captain?" I asked before placing my also empty bottle onto the table. Fortunately it took a lot of liquor to get me drunk so I could usually retain a clear head.

"The Rum." He smiled. I can tell you like the stuff. "That room is filled with perhaps 1000 bottles of the finest rum. Possibly more" I felt my eyes widen. "You cannot tell the crew about this though, I'm trusting you Sam. If they found out they would all want some." I nodded in understanding. "There is something different about you Sam. I can't quite work out what yet but I know there is something. Do you want to come to my cabin each evening for a drink and chat? It might be the case that we have something in common." He stood up.

"Aye captain" a feeling of warmth spread through me that I had never experienced before.

"Good, Come back tomorrow and make sure that no one finds out about what is in that room. I'm trusting you to report to me if you see anything" Jack walked over to the crate, using his arms to steady his balance against the rocking of the boat, and pulled out a second bottle filled with sweet rum.

"Aye captain, I will be here" I said before turning to leave.

"Sam" he called after me "in the absence of the crew you can call me Jack and you should know that that very few people are granted with that honour"

"Aye...Jack" I responded before leaving the room and freeing myself to the cool and damp night.

XXX

Morning came and I continued as always in doing my daily chores. Time passed quickly, as it always did at sea and before I knew it I was climbing the steps towards Jacks cabin. The air was cold and nippy but still warmer than it was last night and the sky was clear, showing a thousand glistening stars. I smiled at a memory of my father lying on deck with me when I was 5. We were just looking out to the stars. It was a simple memory, but a happy one.

Before I had the chance to knock Gibbs appeared behind me. "Ah you must be Sam, the captain said you would be joining us tonight. Can you pass on a message that I won't be attending, I have to deal with something" I nodded. He smiled and turned to go back the way he came leaving me alone once again in front of Jack's cabin. After knocking it only took a matter of seconds before I was sitting in the same chair as yesterday with another bottle of rum in my hand.

"Relax Sam" jack said. "Your efforts haven't gone unnoticed" he sat in his chair after taking some rum for himself and putting his feet up on the table.

"Thank you jack, but do you mind me asking what has made me stand out over the rest of the crew?" I fumbled around with the cork on my bottle which I still hadn't removed.

"Well" he tipped his bottle for a drink while considering his words, "You are very enthusiastic, and your music is great for keeping up the moral of the crew." I smiled at the compliment. "oh...and the rest of the crew just work so that they will be paid. They don't have any enjoyment for what they do, you on the other hand don't seem to care about your payment and care more about simply being at sea."

"Well, to me, the sea is a freedom you can never have on land. Plus, all of the good memories I have ever had are based at sea. I feel trapped on land." This was the truth but I didn't want to go into anymore detail. This would involve talking about my father which was something I really didn't feel up to. With the cork finally removed I took my first taste of the rum today. The sweet taste filled my mouth and for the rest of the evening me and jack s imply talked about the joys of being at sea.