Pirates of the Caribbean

Jack Sparrow sighed to himself and ordered another round of rum. This was his second day in Tortuga, and even though he was on important business, Jack was enjoying the trip. The English soldiers couldn�t get him, he was surrounded by other pirates, the rum was excellent, and the wenches�well, the wenches were beautiful, but they were not the reason he was here.

Jack needed information and quickly. He had heard rumors that the Black Pearl had been sighted recently near Tortuga, and he wanted to know when and where exactly. Jack gulped down his fourth mug and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. As soon as he got his hands on Barbossa�

Nearly eight years ago, Jack had been captain of the same Black Pearl he sought. He and the crew were headed to the island of Isla de la Muerta, told to be full of treasure�cursed treasure. One morning, Jack�s first mate, Barbossa, suggested to Jack that an even share should go to everyone, including the food, treasure, and course information. Stupidly, Jack had agreed, and told his crew everything. That night there had been a mutiny. Barbossa took command of the ship, and the crew marooned Jack on an island to die. Luckily for Jack, the illegal Rum Runners came by three days later and Jack had been able to barter a passage off the island.

Only a few days later, however, the ship had been caught and everyone on board arrested. After nearly six months in jail, Jack was given a pardon, but branded with a �P� for Pirate, to remind him of his �evil crimes.�

Absentmindedly, Jack folded up his sleeve and traced with his finger the small P. It no longer hurt him to touch it, but the thought that the whole crew had deserted him�-well; Jack had to admit Bootstrap Bill had not been at fault.

Bootstrap Bill, or known to Jack as William Turner, had been his best friend for a very, very long time. Although Will could not be allowed the position of first mate, Will signed on the Black Pearl anyway, and became one of the finest pirates Jack had ever known. The day Jack had been forced to walk the plank; he took one last look back, and saw William Turner�s eyes filled with tears. As he jumped off, Jack in his heart forgave his friend. William alone had a wife and son to take care of back home in England. William could not afford to be deserted on an island to die, even standing up for his friend.

WHAM! Jack snapped back to reality as a fight erupted at the tables next to him. He escaped from the center of the fight and retreated to a table in the far back of the bar. There he sat, alone, glancing at the door yet again for the men he was supposed to see. They still had not arrived.

Upon arriving in Tortuga, Jack had quickly discovered that the Black Pearl had been seen off shore not more than a week ago. Three men told Jack they would meet with him at the local pub the following evening. They would talk about the whereabouts of the ship; for a fee. Luckily, it was very small, and Jack did not mind spending the money�

�Is this spot occupied?� Someone asked. Jack glanced up into the face of a tall black Caribbean woman. She pulled over a chair and sat down across from Jack. In her hand she held a glass full of rum; he could smell it. The woman glanced over her shoulder and commented, �This is the only quiet table here. I will be gone in a moment, sir, because I would like to go fishing before it becomes too late.�

The woman pushed her hat black onto her head and took a sip of the rum. Jack watched her, noting the fact she had on pants and a shirt, not a dress. Jack glanced at the door again, yet the men still had not arrived. He pondered what the woman had said for a second.

�Fishing at sundown; not a very good idea, is it ma�am?� said Jack, leaning across the table to her. �What will make the fish come out after feeding time?�

The woman smiled. �I have lived in the islands of the Caribbean all my life. My papa and mama taught me all there is to know about the fish here. Most people would think they had already eaten, and had gone back to wherever fish spend the lonely night hours.� The woman paused, and got closer so Jack would hear her through the shouting. �But the fish begin to eat around this time. It is not only when they can get the most food, it is when I can get the best fish.�

The woman took another sip of her drink. �I have a small boat I use for going out fishing. It is probably not very seaworthy, but good for what I need to do with it.�

Jack nodded. �And that would be..?�

The woman frowned. �I just told��and then she started over. �Who are you, anyway?�

Jack had been expecting this. He sat up tall in his chair, grasped his empty mug lightly, and proclaimed, �I�m the great Captain Jack Sparrow. I have never been caught, there�s never been a problem I can�t handle,� Jack smiled widely, �and I like rum. How�s bout yourself?�

He had hoped to make an impression on the woman, but she just drained her mug of rum, slammed it on the table and said, �I�m AnaMaria. I�ve been born and raised in the Caribbean. I also have noticed that three men are asking for you over at the counter.�

Jack jumped up. He could spot three gruff looking men talking to the bartender, and he pointed to the table where Jack had been sitting ten minutes beforehand.

AnaMaria stood up. �Thank you for the company.� She said. �Now you and I must go our separate ways. Good-day to you, Jack Sparrow.�

�Captain Jack Sparrow,� muttered Jack as the men made their way towards him. Jack sat down again and watched AnaMaria leave. He sincerely hoped the following conference would help him find the Black Pearl�

The first two men pulled chairs from another table to each side of Jack. The third man simply sat across from him in the seat AnaMaria had occupied. For a few moments, no one said anything. Finally, the third man spoke.

�Heard ye needed some information.� He said, flexing his massive hands.

�Heard you could give me some, savvy.� said Jack calmly. He was not going to be intimidated by these men. Not when he was so close to getting back on the trail of the Black Pearl.

The man smiled. Then it�s going to be eight shillings, right up front.�

Obviously, Jack thought, this man takes me as a fool. �Let�s say three shillings up front and the five after you�ve told me your tale.�

The man argued. �Six up front.�

�Three,� said Jack again.

�Four!� the man haggled.

�Deal!� cried Jack, placing four shillings on the table. �You�d better get started on that information, Mate, or the trouble you�ve been causing me will make the coin value disappear.�

The man did not argue. Jack positioned himself to look threatening, aggressive, and downright piratey. Although the men did not show it, Jack knew they were becoming concerned.

�Fine.� said the third man. He pocketed the coins and leaned back in his chair.

�Name�s Bruce.� said the man, picking at his teeth. �Me brothers Sean,� the man on the left nodded, �and Dominic,� the man on the right grunted, �are fishermen. Day in and day out. We own the business down the way.�

�We need fish to run the fish mart.� spoke Sean for the first time. His voice was high and squeaky. �So about a week ago, we took our little boat out into the old� big and blue.�

�We weren�t sure exactly where the fish were that day, because every time we cast out the nets in the best spots, we got nothing!� spat Dominic.

�What time of day were you fishing?� asked Jack, remembering what AnaMaria had said on the subject.

�It was around sundown, near the evening meal.� said Bruce automatically. Usually the best time for fishing.�

�No one else was around?� interrupted Jack again.

�Are you going to keep buttin� into me story or what?� growled Bruce. �Keep your trap shut now!�

Jack looked at the brothers. �It seems my money isn�t worth anything here.� He said, getting up.

At once, the three brothers were up and apologizing and begging for Jack to sit back down. After a few more seconds, Jack sat back down. If you can�t get a man to do want, threaten him with money, Jack remembered.

�Sorry �bout that.� said Bruce.

�When I said I wanted information, I meant it.� said Jack. He was not smiling. �I need information, and I�m going to ask questions. Your job is to answer them, understand?�

�Yes.� Bruce, Sean and Dominic mumbled.

�Please go on.� Jack said, ordering a round of rum for them all.

Bruce continued with a flourish. �No one else was around. That AnaMaria gal, she likes to fish on the other side of the bay. Me brothers and I decided to push out a bit farther, into the fog o bit, just to see what we could get."

�It was really quiet and all. We could only hear the slapping o water against the boat. We decided to cast out our nets one last time when there seemed to burst thousands o voices!�

�Voices?� Jack pondered aloud.

�Well,� Bruce corrected, �more shouting than anything. It was all coming from one direction too, almost like it was from a big ship.�

�Then we was realizing, they was shouting and singing!� added Sean.

�We were in our little boat trying to see through the fog,� said Bruce, �to see whether we were in direct path of the ship. All of a sudden, right in front of us��

Bruce left off there. Jack waited a second, not sure if Bruce had stopped for climax suspense or to remember details correctly. Impatient, Jack finally asked, �You saw...what? Right in front, all of a sudden, you saw�what?�

Bruce scratched his head thoughtfully. �It was the Black Pearl, alright. I could see the name on the side of the ship clear as a doubloon. But to which direction she was heading�, and what speed, I can�t seem to remember.�

Jack did not understand why people could not just blurt out what they meant and what they wanted. He called over to the bartender and ordered another round of rum.

Bruce laughed. �It�s not the rum I need, chum.�

Jack slowly reached his hand under the table to his sword. He could sense danger in the man�s approach, and the brothers weren�t much friendlier.

�You see,� said Bruce, �the smell o� gold drives a man on; drives me on, at least. How bout you pay me the rest o� those shillings and then I�ll talk about the Pearl?�

�We agreed I�d pay after the story had been finished.� argued Jack.

�No, YOU were the one that said that, not us.� said Bruce. �Now I demand that you pay me in full, and I�ll tell you extra, even about the curse *hick* curse of the Black Pearl.�

�I already know in full about the curse.� said Jack. He was beginning to realize it had been a mistake to give the men so much rum, for they got drunk too easily.

Bruce sat and said nothing for a second. He seemed to be thinking the situation over. Jack did not let go of his sword. He still sensed something about Bruce�s posture that could mean trouble.

Without warning, Dominic pulled out a pistol. Jack had been ready, and before Dominic could shoot, Jack made a swift move and the man dropped his gun with a cry.

Jack suddenly felt rough hands clasp from behind around his throat. One, two three elbows to the stomach and the man still did not let go. Well, whenever the elbow did not work�Jack slammed his foot onto Sean�s boot with all his weight. Sean cried out and Jack wiggled free. It was prefect timing: Dominic had wound himself up and thrown a punch right where Jack should have been.

The end result was almost catastrophic for the old bartender. Sean received the blow instead and went sailing through the air. He finally landed on three tables in the back, breaking them and the glasses on top.

�Nice little trick.� grinned Jack. Then he picked up his hat, gold purse, and ran�Bruce, Dominic, and a dazed Sean were coming after him.

Jack sprinted out of the bar and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He could hear the angry pairs of feet running after him, and Jack knew he had to hide and get away fast or else he would probably be dead before morning.

Jack turned again and found himself on the edge of the docks. He ran onto it without thinking. Maybe he could hide behind some cargo while the brothers passed. Then Jack realized that since it was now nighttime, there wasn�t going to be any cargo to hide behind. Jack made a turn and looked behind him again. The brothers were still catching up.

It was as Jack was turning yet another corner when SMACK! He ran right into someone heading in the opposite direction. Dazed for only a second, Jack quickly got up and hurried on, but he wasn�t very far away when he heard his name being called.

�Jack? Jack Sparrow?�

It was AnaMaria. Knowing he had found his escape, he rushed back to her and asked breathlessly, �Where is your boat?�

�Over there.� AnaMaria pointed. �Why? Don�t you have your own ship?�

Jack ignored her. �Thank you love.� He said and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. She stood there, astonished, while Jack rushed on away from the angry voices steadily approaching.

He quickly came to the little boat AnaMaria had pointed out. It was stocked with some fresh water and fishing supplies. Jack hopped n and quickly began to untie the knot holding the boat to the dock. Trying to hurry, jack pulled out his sword again and began to hack at the rope.

�JACK SPARROW!�

AnaMaria was running down the dock with the brothers right behind her. �WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING TO MY BOAT?�

Panicking slightly, Jack pulled and sawed at the rope. Finally, it cut free and began to float away, just as the mob rushed to his spot.

Bruce could not admit defeat. He threw himself into the water and began to swim after Jack�s boat. The water was freezing and, eventually, Bruce was forced to turn back. Waving his fist, he cursed and spat at Jack as he sailed away. �I�ll not forget what ye done ta me! I�ll get even with ye, you snotty nosed heap of parrot droppings!� roared Bruce from the dock.

�And I�ll never forget the wonderful exercise you gave me!� Jack called back over the waves.

AnaMaria had run to the very edge of the dock, as far as she could go without jumping into the water herself. She had a look of death on her face. In a final rage, she shouted out, �JAAACK SPAAAARROW! Be warned, I�ll NEVER forget your face�YOU STOLE MY BOAT!�

Jack listened to her with a twinge of regret. He slowly steered the boat out of Tortuga and out into the ocean. Soon, the pirate town was only a small dot in the distance.

The wind picked up, and clouds covered the moon. Jack didn�t mind, as long as he made it to another port before the storm hit. For now, Jack decided he would sleep and figure out where he was going in the morning. Just a few hours sleep wouldn�t, and couldn�t, cause any problems.

Jack hung onto the wheel of the Black Pearl as it sped through the ocean. He finally had it back! He couldn�t recall how, but he knew that this could not be a dream.

Feeling splendid, Jack called out to the crew, �I�m feeling the wind in my hair�how bout some rum?� Strangely, there was no reply. Jack looked around and saw that there was no one on the decks. Jack shivered with the feeling that he might be alone.

SPLASH! Jack suddenly felt himself land in the ocean. �How did I let this happen?� Jack heard himself yell. He could hear laughing in the water, and all around him. He cried out for help from somebody, anybody. A faint echo answered back.

�Yo ho, yo ho�� Jack was very puzzled and confused now. He wanted to get back to the Pearl, but for some reason it now looked like a bag of gold rather than his ship. Before he could make sense of it, a huge, scaly thin arm burst out of the water and no one could hear Jack scream�

CRASH! A huge wave crashed upon the boat, leaving Jack soaking wet. He woke up quickly and looked around. He was not on the Black Pearl after all, and realizing all had been a dream made Jack�s heart feel like lead. How much he wished he had the Black Pearl still in his possession. It was the world to him; he knew he had to find a way to get it back, he had to!

Another wave crashed aboard the boat. Jack snapped to his senses and knew instantly what was going on. He was caught in the middle of a huge storm, the exact same one he had hoped to avoid. Waves shook the little boat, and lightning lit up the sky.

Jack was on his feet quickly. Even after many years at sea, Jack still had a hard time keeping his balance. He had always been on a huge ship full of people who wanted to help each other survive the storm. Now the ship was much smaller, and Jack was totally alone.

The wind began to pick up, and rain began to pour down. Jack ran about, making sure that the ropes securing the water and fishing supplies were knotted tightly. If he lost any of them, Jack knew he�d be a dead man.

The sails were a different matter. There was only one small sail, but it had been let down, and Jack feared it would rip in the wind. He climbed up the mast and began to untie the sails to hoist them up. CRACK! Lightning flashed again, and rain began to pour down harder.

�Bloody rain.� Jack grumbled. He finished tying up the sails and began to climb down. Suddenly, the boat lurched to the left and Jack heard something splinter. He quickly got to the bottom of the boat, only to reveal a leak had sprouted.

�Bloody AnaMaria was right,� Jack mumbled. �This little dinghy isn�t good for a two hour cruise.�

He now had to find a way to plug up the hole, or soon the boat would sink. With the rain, and the wind, and the stormy sea, Jack realized this was now a fight for his life again, this time against Mother Nature herself.

Jack quickly searched through the supplies he had. There were the water kegs, rope, a fishing stick, several hooks, and a tin can of half-dead worms. The can�Jack smiled. It might be just the right size to plug the hole. He tipped the can of worms into the sea. He watched all the worms swim about and struggle to breathe. �Better you than me, mates,� said Jack tipping his hat. �Sorry mates.�

Lightning yet again flashed over Jack, and the noise of the thunder was deafening. Jack, for one split second, took a glance out into the black horizon and water that surrounded him. As more lightning flashed and the rain poured, Jack saw something silhouetted in the darkness that made his heart leap for joy.

�It�s a ship!� Jack yelled to no one in particular. �It�s a ship, a ship, I saw it!� Jack watched and waited for the lightning to flash again. When it did, Jack saw he had not been dreaming, and the ship had become bigger. It was coming right in his direction!

Jack was so happy he began to cheer. Even if it did not see him at first, the ship was coming in his direction, and there was a chance that he would be saved. Jack still held the can in his hand, and he stuck it clumsily in the leak. Things were beginning to look good for him, for a change.

With the next flash of lightning, the ship was even closer. For jack, his happiness drizzled into puzzlement. Why was this ship heading in his direction anyway? Jack pulled out his compass. It did not point North, but to Isla do la Muerta. He could easily figure out the direction of the island, and any island for that matter. This ship was not heading in the direction of Tortuga, or any direction of a port, which would be the smartest choice in a horrible storm like this.

The rain seemed to get stronger and the waves and wind rocked the boat, but even so Jack could see the ship clearly with the next flash of lightning. This time, to his dread, he recognized it.

It was the Black Pearl!

Jack gasped and staggered backward, nearly slamming into the mast. The Black Pearly wasn�t heading anywhere near port because it was the most feared ship in the Caribbean. Jack knew he was not ready to take command right now. If he tried, he would be killed!

�Move the boat!� Jack told himself. He rushed to the rudder and pulled on it as hard as he could, but it barely responded to his command. The wind had turned against him and the only way to compensate was to turn the boat around back in the direction of Tortuga, then wait for the Black Pearl to pass�and resume his course.

But there was a problem. If Jack did manage to turn around, there was a chance he would be spotted and picked up the by the Pearl. Jack doubted the crew would be happy to see him. The only way to make it past in time was to open the sails up. But in this harsh wind and rain, they would be in danger of tearing, and then Jack would never get anywhere!

Jack did not take long to make his decision. He knew he would be caught for sure if he kept his current direction.

Once more, Jack tugged at the rudder stick. This time, he pushed it, and the little boat began to make a slow, gradual turn. By the time Jack turned, he no longer needed the lightning to see the Pearl.

The boat began to rush forward with the wind. The high waves made it a bit harder to steer, but soon Jack was on his course. �Time for the hard part of the job.� grunted Jack. He hoisted himself up on the mast again and lowered the sails. In an instant they had caught the wind. So much wind, in fact, that Jack could feel the boat shudder under the speed it was traveling. It seemed to be on a race against time and the Black Pearl.

The ship was even closer now. Jack hoped the boat would be quick in passing front. But it seemed as the Pearl loomed closer, the boat began to loose speed. In fact, the wind began to die down completely, making the little oat go slower and slower�

�the boat was slowing down in front of the Black Pearl. It would run him over!

Knowing he only had seconds, Jack shoved the rudder stick as far as it would go making a sharp left.

The Black Pearl brushed by, the rain making it look like a ghostly tribute to Jack�s better days. In front stood the figure head of the young maiden holding a gray dove. She seemed to sigh in mourning as the ship passed. Jack could smell damp wood, she was so close. He reached out his hand. So close�. With a heavy heart, Jack watched his beloved Black Pearl sail away. Even if her captain happened to be that wretched Barbossa, the ship still belonged to Jack. He knew, one day, when he was ready, he would get the Pearl back and once again have the finest crew in the Caribbean.

While the rain still poured down, Jack turned the boat around and resumed his original course. He stood up, sighing. It was as if someone had reminded the pirate that he had just survived a huge storm, the worst in 50 years, and getting crushed by his own ship.

�Guess this deserves a bit of a reward,� smiled Jack to himself. He opened up one of the water kegs and took a long sip. Even though there wasn�t any rum, Jack felt good drinking what he had. He quickly drained the keg and tossed it aside.

Unfortunately, the keg hit the can Jack had used to plug the hole earlier. The can popped out and the crack split even wider than before. The can would no longer be sufficient to plug the leak.

Jack groaned. �I�ll only be drinking rum after this night.�

To keep the boat from sinking, Jack was forced to stay up the rest of the night and haul water out of it. The only thing he could use was the empty water keg. As fast as Jack was emptying the boat, more water was seeping in.

By sunrise, Jack was running out of steam. He knew he couldn�t keep working like this for much longer, or he�d become too exhausted and the boat would sink. He once more took a look out towards the horizon.

Even as Jack watched, the top of a small island cam into view. He was going to be alright! He climbed the mast again wand watched the rest of the island come into view. As he watched, Jack realized this wasn�t any ordinary island. It had a dock, a town, and a fort. Jack gasped. The only port near Tortuga with those kinds of fortifications was Port Royal.

Jack couldn�t have wished for better luck. He might be able to steal a ship, hunt down a crew, and go searching for the Black Pearl! He forced the rudder stick in the direction of Port Royal, hopes rising. This just might be his big break.

Jack dumped some more water out of the leaky boat, and tied up the sails. He climbed atop the mast and gazed at the growing port in front of him. �What a glorious opportunity for �Captain� Jack Sparrow.� He thought. The wind picked up a bit, and Jack let himself be swayed by the cool breeze. It almost felt like home to him.

GWAP! The leak at the bottom split even wider, and the boat filled with more water. Jack jumped down and began dumping out the water again. He was in the middle of doing so when something caught his eye.

Jack looked over at an archway to the left side of the boat. Tied up inside were three skeletons, all hung on a noose. A sign overhead read, �Pirates, ye be warned.� Jack tossed the empty keg aside and tipped his hat to the felled pirates. He would have to watch his back here in port. If anybody realized who he was, they would surely hang him.

As the ship turned into the dock, the crack split halfway along the ship, and Jack could no longer dump any water out. He climbed to the top of the mast and held on as the ship slowly sank. People minding their own business stared in disbelief as the ship sank deeper and deeper, all the while carrying Jack to the end of the pier. Finally, it hit bottom and dragged to a stop close enough to one dock for Jack to step right off it.

�So much for AnaMaria�s dingy.� Jack thought. He walked by several amused persons on deck and an old beefy man who had watched the whole thing. Jack was a little worried by the attention he was getting; he had hoped to make a smooth, calm entrance�

�Hey you! Where do you think you�re going?�

�Stay calm,� Jack thought. He casually stopped and spun himself around to face the beefy man he had seen a moment ago. A little African boy poked his head out from behind the man, staring hard at him. This must be the harbormaster, Jack thought. If he recognized me, I�d already be in shackles.

�It�s a shilling to tie up your boat at the dock!� the man growled. Jack looked over his shoulder at what was left of the boat. Only the mast stuck out of the water. �You�ve got to be kidding me,� Jack thought.

�And I�ll need your name.� said the man. Jack smiled, pulling out the purse he had taken from the bar just the previous night. He was glad he hadn�t paid the brothers. Jack smiled as he pulled out several coins.

�What if we make that three shillings and we forget the name?� Jack said innocently. The man�s eyes widened and the boy took in a deep gasp.

�Welcome to Port Royal, Mr. Smith.� The man greeted. Snatching the coins from Jack�s hand, he continued back along the dock. Jack turned around as well, and saw the book where the man kept all the names of the owners. Next to it was a small pouch filled with coins.

Grinning broadly, Jack cautiously walked over and snatched it up. Shaking the pouch slightly, the clink-clink inside told Jack there was more than double the money he had in his own pouch. Continuing along the dock, Jack couldn�t help but surpass a smile. Yes, Port Royal was going to be very, very good indeed�