Barbossa had meanwhile had Temari and Jack put in separate cells. He didn't like how well they got along. It was better not to leave prisoners together, lest they become allies.

He had also had Jack's wound washed out with a small dash of rum, because the pirate's condition was getting worse day by day. Jack almost gave the impression of being seasick, but he explained to everyone that it was only due to the Fortune, which was moving so ponderously through the water.

One night, Barbossa visited Jack in person. It was very dark, only the pale light of the moon came through the stairs onto the deck to the cells. Barbossa glanced briefly at Temari's cell, but she seemed to be asleep.

Jack was startled out of his thoughts when Barbossa whispered to him, "Jack! Shh! Come here."

Jack struggled to get up and staggered to the bars of the door to hold on to them. He pressed his forehead against the bars and looked at Barbossa out of dull eyes.

The latter was genuinely worried about the health of his prisoner. He didn't always want to admit it to himself, but he liked Jack Sparrow in a strange way, and he also thought that he might miss him if he kicked the bucket.

Barbossa spoke on calmly, "Jack, I know Tia Dalma needs the two women to free herself. I don't know how, but I know it. If ye suspect more, let me know. It's dangerous to have her on the ship for so long, and eventually I'll have to let her go."

Jack laughed softly and threw his head back briefly. His neck was shiny with sweat.

"Fever?" asked Barbossa.

"Not at all, mate, but a few windows wouldn't hurt. You could also just let me go out on deck to get some fresh air."

Barbossa rolled his eyes in annoyance, then, conflicted with himself, opened the door and let Jack out. At that moment Temari opened her eyes briefly and if either man had looked at her, he would have seen the sparkle in her eyes.

The pirates went on deck together, and the small part of the crew whose turn it was that night looked puzzled.

"Leave us alone!" ordered Barbossa and the crew ran a little further away from the two who went forward to the foremast.

Jack had leaned against the mast, his legs weak and shaking. He sighed heavily and then took a deep breath of the fresh night air. His spirits were somewhat awakened.

Jack brazenly reached for the rum bottle that Barbossa had taken with him on the way up. He drank three hearty gulps and then wiped his mouth dry with his sleeve.

"You should never have taken Tia Dalma as a prisoner on your ship, you do realise?" Jack asked in a weak voice.

Barbossa looked into the distance and took his time with his answer. "I know, but what else was I supposed to do? Let her keep weavin' her spider web that will eventually get so big and something will go wrong, and she'll get free? No, Jack, I – we – will stop her."

"Tia Dalma has never been the danger. It has only ever been Calypso. And there isn't any at the moment. Ye're fuelling her anger and with that, she's only getting craftier and pushing harder to find a way out of her human body. Foolish of you. Should have left Tia Dalma alone. She would have remained the crazy but also quite lovely witch she always was. She might even have forgiven us for locking her up for the second time. You just have to know how to take her. Now there is no turning back. What's done is done, and we have to make the best of it. For that, I know how you hope to escape her wrath by handing over Rachel and Temari to her, but that won't work"

Talking cost Jack a great deal of effort, and he slowly let himself sink to the ground, drinking from the rum now and then, and enjoying the cool air.

Barbossa, who had now been made aware of his predicament as never before, became furious. He grabbed Jack roughly by the upper arm and pulled him up to take him back to his cell. Captain Jack Sparrow offered no resistance.

Tia Dalma was still sitting on the chair to which she had been tied since the beginning of her stay on the ship. She hung her head, giving the impression that she was asleep.

But she was lost in a memory long gone.

It was the big rainy season, and yet it was warm in the Caribbean. At that time, she had still voluntarily taken the form of a woman at regular intervals. She strolled through the dusky streets of Tortuga and was in high spirits. Yes, she had fallen in love with a man. And it was with this man that she now wanted to meet. She stopped at a street corner, the agreed meeting place. Knowing she was far too early, she went to the nearest tavern to check her dress in the light. She smiled. Tia Dalma – that's what she would remain for the people, and when she left the human shell to become Calypso again, she would tell the people that she was going on a long journey. Some people she would never see again; she knew that. People did not grow old and she outlasted every generation. She could age her appearance too, but a healthy and strong body offered too many advantages. Longing and sadness came over her. She knew any man she loved or would love had to go before her. Once she had tried to get around that … yes, she had taken a shine to people themselves. Sometimes she even envied mortality …