The Map

A/N: Usual disclaimer. Thanks to AniSparrow for checking through for errors. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Ani!

Sorry for the delay….


The Black Pearl
June 7th 1692

The loud rumbling was enough to have very man on the Pearl lift his head.

“Hold on!” Someone shouted as the whole boat tilted to one side. A scream came from above as Oliver fell from the crows nest into the sea.

“Compensate!” Jack screamed and ran with his hands flaying towards the opposite side. “Compensate, for God’s sake!” The ship righted itself and Jack looked out over the still churning water.

“What the bloody hell was that?” Dwent came crashing over to Jack for orders.

“Earthquake, watch the sea! Watch the sea…” Jack leant over the side and watched the sea carefully. “Raise the anchor, man the sweeps and pull against the tide as soon as she’s a’trip!” he yelled, as suddenly the water began to move in one direction like a channel. The ship was being pulled in the direction of the suction. Jack watched as his men scurried to their tasks; he looked up at the masts. “Tie the sails fast; I’ll not give this bugger any hold!” He ordered and raced towards the capstan joining the men as they pushed with all their might to raise the anchor.

“She’s a’trip!” came a shout and the sweeps moved with earnest against the pull.

It seemed like hours that the men pulled against the direction of the tide and Jack could see that they were still being pulled inexorably closer to land. But eventually they won the fight and the ship began to slow in its movement towards the rocks that lined the Cay.

“Make fast and hold on tight!” Jack bellowed knowing that a lot of water would soon be returning on the tide. Sure enough the waves crested against them and pushed them towards the Cay’s beach. They were billeted and buffered about on the waves like a piece of driftwood on the tide. The sweeps were useless now and were retracted into the ship as everyone waited for the water to calm again. But at least Jack knew that the worst now would be for them to wash too far onto the shore.

“We make for Port Royal at all speed!” he ordered when the water was calm enough to navigate in. He watched as his men hurried to obey, although he knew they were surprised by his words; he made his way to the wheel where Dwent was standing.

“That quake was in Port Royal,” Jack muttered as he took the wheel from Dwent. “I want a party ready for the long boats.”

Dwent knew he was right; the pull of the direction of the tidal waves had told them in what general direction the quake was. With a worried frown he turned to go down the steps to the deck below; he turned and looked back up at Jack.

“Might have been further out,” he shrugged.

“Aye, but that water was headed in one direction only.”

<><>Break<><>

Nell came too with a groan; she was soaking wet and freezing cold. She opened her eyes, uncertainty filled her as she lay looking up at the blue sky above her; her mind was hazy and at first she was disorientated. But then, memory reasserted itself and she sat up with a gasp; looking around her she could see where the others were beginning to recover too. She sighed with relief as she realised that they had made it; they had survived. A low groaning brought her attention to Elizabeth who was clutching her stomach with obvious pain now.

“Elizabeth?” Will crouched beside her, his hand on her back. “Elizabeth?”

“I think the baby is coming!” She hissed and arched her back as a wave of pain seized her.

“NO!” Norrington moved forwards from where he was slumped next to Bryant by the outer wall. “No, you can’t have the baby here! You must be mistaken.”

“I wish I was!” she snapped at him and took deep breaths as the pain subsided.

“Bloody hell.” Bryant paled at the news and stood up quickly. “What the hell are we going to do?”

Nell struggled to her feet and for a few seconds the worry of Elizabeth’s imminent delivery was swept from her mind; the scene of utter devastation below them was incomprehensible. Two thirds of the town was submerged beneath the water, the new shoreline lay about hundred yards from where they were and when Nell looked down she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. The ground was strewn with wreckage, wood, carts, clothing, food, bottles and even riffles were cluttered around the ground. The gravestones had been lifted and the coffins under them were smashed, the skeletal bodies mixing with the fresher corpses; and amongst the carnage Nell could see the drowned forms of the townsfolk. Women, men, children, animals; nothing had been given exemption from the power of nature.

A cry of pain from Elizabeth made Nell straighten and turn quickly. Now wasn’t the time for a breakdown. She could have that later; when she was safe in Jack’s arms aboard the Pearl. Jack!

“Sweet Mother of God!” Nell gasped and turned to Hock beside her. “What of Jack? What of the Pearl?”

“He’s anchored further from here,” Gibbs spoke up. “He’ll have felt the impact but they’ll weather that for sure.”

“He’ll come for us as soon as the sea calms enough for him to sail.” Hock touched her arm and leant over the wall. “We need to find a way of bringing Mrs Turner closer to the shore. Capt’n’ll bring long boats for sure, but we need to be down there, not up here!”

A loud shout rang out bringing their attention back to the carnage below.

“Bloody hell, it’s started already!” Hock said in disgust as he watched several men making their way towards the devastation. “And they call us Pirates!”

“What?” asked Nell, but her answer came when the group of men stopped and knelt and began to rummage through the bodies and other items.

“Looters, vandals, bloody bastards!” Norrington hissed. “Opportunists that survived. It won’t be long before they start coming from Kingston, question is, whether it’ll be to help or to loot.”

Nell stared out over the houses that were still standing; a gasp left her lips as she turned to Hock in despair.

“Stephen, what about Stephen?”

Hock looked momentarily lost until he remembered the purpose behind her visit in the first place.

“I don’t know, Nell,” Norrington spoke softly and looked out towards the area of town he lived in; it was almost completely submerged. “We’ll look, but I really can’t hold out any hope, Nell.”

Nell felt a wash of grief go through her at the thought of the loss of the brother she had only just found.

“Argh!” Elizabeth gave a cry of pain and it galvanised everyone into action.

“Right.” Norrington straightened and took charge. “Oxenbury, Wainright take Mister Timms and head towards the fort. See if anyone has survived up there; watch your back and don’t take chances. Bring back anything that might be useful.”

They crossed to the door and opened it carefully before heading down the wet slippery steps to the devastated church below.

“Mister Hock, Joshua, we’ll head for the town, or what’s left of it, and find some form of transportation for Elizabeth.” Norrington looked at Gibbs. “Mister Gibbs, I hope that you will remain with young Jimmy; those looters shouldn’t bother you, but all the same, a guard is needed.”

“Of course,” Gibbs replied.

Norrington turned to Nell and grinned lop-sidedly at her. “You’re the lass, I’m afraid; it’ll be for you to help Elizabeth with Will.”

“Me?” Nell’s voice crack as nervous horror shot through her. “Me? What do I know about birthing babies? Mother Mary, I’ve only just learnt where they come from!”

Norrington snorted and patted her shoulder. “You’re a woman; it’ll come to you!”

“I think we’d serve ye best by guarding from down the steps,” Gibbs said quickly and with Jimmy they edged towards the door. The others quickly followed when Elizabeth gave anther cry of pain. Nell resisted shouting after them, but only just.

“Oh bloody hell!” Elizabeth screeched again and Nell felt she should just faint and wake up when it was all over and done with; but then she came to her senses and turned to them.

“Will, I really don’t know what to do.”

“I do!” Elizabeth said through her gritted teeth. “And believe me; it’s not you that has to do anything hard!”

“Just breathe, Elizabeth,” Will said, feeling as helpless as Nell.

“I am, goddamn you!” she snapped and gripped his hand tightly as another wave of pain racked through her.

Nell took another deep breath and pushed up the sleeves of her shirt; her hands were dirty and there was nothing around that she could clean them on. “Let’s make you more comfortable,” Nell replied quietly. “Will, go down stairs and see if you can find anything that’s not spoilt by the water. We need clean cloths, that kind of thing… I think.”

Will jumped to his feet, glad to be able to do something, anything productive. He looked at Elizabeth and bent down, brushing a kiss against her sweaty forehead.

“I’ll be right back,” he said softly and left quickly.

Nell watched him go wishing she was going with him.

“You look like a nymph,” came Elizabeth’s strained voice. “Short hair… suits you…”

“Hock missed his calling in life,” Nell replied dryly. “He should be a barber…”

“He bound you?” asked Elizabeth, sweat was pouring down her head now. “Oh god, I have to push… Nell, I have to push!”

Nell panicked slightly as she had no idea what Elizabeth had to push; but Elizabeth dragged her dress up and her knees fell apart and Nell quickly caught on. Closing her eyes and muttering a quick prayer to Our Lady she leant forwards to help Elizabeth.

<><><><><><><>

Will came back up the stairs taking two at a time. After almost pulling the place apart in frustration, he had found only one altar cloth that had been in a watertight trunk.

He shoved the door open and stopped short at the sight in front of him. Nell was crumpled back against the far wall, her face deathly pale but she was smiling. He turned to Elizabeth and his breath caught in his throat when he saw she was half-reclining against the opposite wall; and, to his utter delight, she was nursing a baby to her breast. She looked up at him, a radiant smile on her face.

“You have a son, Will,” she whispered. She was exhausted; it was showing clearly on her face and in her voice. “A beautiful baby boy.”

Will sank to his knees beside her, the altar cloth still clutched in his hands as he stared down at his wife and son.

“Are you all right? Is he all right?” Will lifted a dirt streaked hand and then snatched it back before he could touch the baby.

“We are fine,” she replied and looked across at where Nell was starting to stand up.

“We should wrap the babe in the cloth…. Lord, forgive me.” Nell took the altar cloth from Will’s hand and with Elizabeth they wrapped the baby with the cloth.

She backed away from them and turned to cross to the walls. Adrenalin was starting to leave her now and fatigue was rapidly catching up. She looked back at where Will and Elizabeth were sitting huddled together. Elizabeth was almost falling asleep and Nell knew that the danger was still real; she had never seen so much blood before, and they still had to leave this place.

She looked over the walls, watching for some sight of the others returning. Her eyes closed as she settled against the wall and leant her head on her forearms. She would just close her eyes for a few minutes.

<><><><><><><><><><>>

The utter devastation was something that Jack could honestly say he had never seen before. Well over half of the town was gone; water covered the harbour, streets and the lower sections of the fort. Any ships that had been in port were smashed to smithereens on the rocks that edged the inlet. His heart sank as he surveyed the results of the earthquake; he just couldn’t see how anyone had survived the carnage that lay in front of them.

“Capt’n?” Dwent stood beside him, his head shaking as he looked over the damage. “Where…. How…” He stopped, unsure what to say or do.

“Lower the long boats, we’ll go… ashore.” Jack frowned as he realised that technically there was no shore any longer.

“There’s people still alive there!” Ward shouted from the crows nest. “Higher up the town, towards the Slip; I can see movement, people milling about!”

The news seemed to cheer the silent crew and they lowered the long boats quickly. Jack wasted no time as he headed towards the side. “Mister Dwent, keep a watch for any naval ships coming in. I have no idea who was at port and who was not. We don’t want to be accredited with this!”

“Aye, Capt’n!”

<><>BREA|K|<><><>

The long boats moved silently through the water; no one spoke as they looked around them. It was surreal to find themselves rowing over the tops of houses and inns; but what was worse was the loss of life, so obvious as they grew closer to the water’s edge. They secured the boats and carefully clambered out onto the sandy streets. Seaweeds, shells, rocks and fish were lying strewn about amongst the debris of the wrecked port.

Jack led the way as they silently walked through the town, unable to avoid the sight of the dead bodies that had been exposed as the water had drained away. Jack could see a woman, buried to her waist still holding her lifeless child in her arms. He averted his eyes and began praying to any god that would listen that this wasn’t how he would find Nell.

“Red coats!” hissed one of his crew and he looked up to see three red coats standing in obvious shock as they struggled to comprehend what they had just lived through.

“We stop for no one!” Jack ordered and with their hands on their pistols they walked past the group of oblivious red coats.

“Commodore!” A voice made Jack stop and turn back to where the group of red coats had suddenly come to life. He looked around and with a surge of relief he spotted Norrington coming through an alley with something in his hands. Hock and Bryant were behind him but his relief was crushed when there was no sign of Nell with them.

“Where is she?” he called out to Hock as he made his way towards them, almost slipping on the wet sand beneath his feet.

“Captain!” Hock saw him and the relief was clear on his face. “Oh, God, Jack! Thank god you’re here!”

“Where’s Nell?” his voice was harsh as he caught Hock’s arm.

“She’s safe!” he replied. “We made it to the bell tower of a church before the water struck.”

“And Jimmy?” Soames stepped forwards, his face showing his anxiety for his son clearly.

“Jimmy’s fine too,” Hock replied as he banged Soames on the back in greeting. “We all are.”

“Thank God,” Jack hissed out his breath, sagging slightly before once again becoming the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow.

“Sir?”

Norrington looked at the three red coats; they were soaking wet, filthy dirty and still clinging to riffles that were too water logged for any use.

“Have you seen any other officers?”

“No, Sir.” One of them shook his head rapidly his eyes darting back and forth over the carnage that lay around them.

“Head to the fort,” Norrington replied. “Help should arrive soon enough from Kingston.”

Without another word they turned and headed towards to the fort. Norrington frowned after them and shook his head impatiently.

“Halt!” he called them after them and they all stumbled to a halt, all military bearing had left them; they merely resembled frightened boys now.

“You have family here?” He watched them nod their heads in affirmation.

“Look for them; there are survivors further inland, towards the Slip.”

“Aye, Sir!” Moving more quickly they resumed walking inland.

“God’s speed,” Norrington murmured, knowing that any search would most likely be futile.

“Commodore…” Jack touched Norrington’s arm.

“I promised Nell, we’d check for her brother,” Norrington said quietly looking down at the shorted man with a tired expression. “I won’t let her down.”

Jack flapped his hands in a forward motion and half smiled at him. He was more relieved now; Nell was safe, his crew was safe and his friends were also safe. They’d check for her brother, fetch them back to the safety of his ship and then they’d decided what would happen next.

<><><><>break <><><><><><><>

Norrington realised with a sinking heart that the entire portion of the street Stephen lived in, was completely under the water and totally impassable.

“Well….” He stopped and ran a hand over his face, smearing the dirt even more. “There’s no way… he wouldn’t…”

Bryant stepped forwards and placed his hand on Norrington’s shoulder. He had known that the two men had become quite friendly in the six months that they’d been back.

“We must move on,” Jack’s voice, low and regretful sounded in his ear. “I’m sorry, mate, really sorry.”

“So will Nell be,” Norrington said quietly. “I believe they had started to know each other again…”

Jack closed his eyes in regret and took a deep breath. “Commodore…”

“Not any more,” Norrington said bitterly, suddenly angry. It hadn’t seemed real, not completely real; he’d been acting on impulse and training since the whole disaster had started. But now, faced with the very real reality of the death of one of his friends, it had sunk in. “Haven’t you heard? Gillette holds that title.”

“James,” Bryant gripped his arm. “We really must move along, we shouldn’t be here after dark. If the looters are abroad already…”

“Looters?” Jack’s head snapped up. “Who’s up there with Nell? Just Jimmy and Will?”

“No, Mister Gibbs and Jimmy remained behind to guard them.” Norrington ran a hand down his face leaving dirty streaks before he suddenly straightened. “I’d almost forgotten… Elizabeth was in labour…”

“Well, let’s be moving on!” Jack hustled his hands forwards. “Good thing Mister Benjamin has accompanied us then.”

“I ain’t never birthed a baby afore, Capt’n!” Benjamin spoke up from where he was stood towards the rear of the company.

“And you won’t be now, Mister Benjamin!” Jack laughed. “I do believe it’ll be Elizabeth who births the baby, you just clean up after!”

“I think there might be more to it than that,” Benjamin muttered.

“Nah! Birthin’s like shelling peas.” Jack nodded knowingly and motioned Norrington to move forwards. “Best be moving on, Norrington; I don’t want to be here when night falls.”


Break

The silence that had followed had been ungodly; but it had been better than the screams and cries of people in pain. Anything had been better than this noise, agonised cries of pain, destruction and the infinite agony of loss; and he was useless to do anything.

“Orders, sir?” a tired, weak voice spoke from beside him. He turned his head slightly, his eyes unseeing at first, until he blinked at the young red coat stood by his side; blood smeared his face and mud matted his hair as he clung to his riffle desperately.

“I…” Gillette looked away. “I…” He could see the edges of fabric caught in the mud below them and he knew that most of his compliment of troops now lay beneath the waters of the Caribbean. What could he do? What could anyone do?

“I don’t know…” His voice was hollow and the red coat beside him slumped in grief.

Break

Davenport looked down at the dead body of Spencer and felt nothing. He looked at the dead bodies of Spencer’s wife and daughter and felt nothing. He could see the dead bodies of his servants and even some of the horses that had been washed through the entrance from the stables, and still he felt nothing.

He lifted his head and took in the complete devastation of his home, his lands and ultimately his fortune. Now he felt; now he felt anger and pain and utter desolation. He lowered his head again and let the tears flow down his cheeks. He was ruined.

He half turned his head and looked to where he had dragged Stephen Wearing along with him. Davenport hadn’t been home when the earthquake struck and that was what had saved his life; he’d been interrogating the man beside him. They’d known Stephen was the brother of the pirate whore and he’d been arrested almost as soon as they’d realised what was going on. They had been further inland and for that he should have been grateful; but Davenport wasn’t a man to think of his blessings.

“She’ll have died,” he grated cruelly at the man who was in obvious pain. “She’ll have drowned, or maybe she’ll have been crushed to death. But she won’t have survived.”

“We did,” Stephen returned coolly. His whole body was in pain; his burnt scarred skin stretched painfully by the chains that bound him hand and foot.

“We were lucky,” he spat back and yanked on the chains to make him move forwards.

“You think so?” Stephen snorted and looked back at the devastation of Davenport’s home. “I don’t think you’ll be reaping much sugar this year.”

“Shut your mouth!” Davenport whirled on him back handing his face in a sudden burst of temper. “We’ll head to the fort, see who’s left.”

“You could just let me go,” Stephen replied through the blood trickling from his mouth.

“I could,” he agreed quietly. “But I won’t.”

Break

“Jack!” The relief was clear in Gibbs voice when he saw his captain come swaggering into the church.

“Mister Gibbs! Young Jimmy, it does make the heart glad to see you’re well and…” His words were cut off as Jimmy flew past him and into his father’s arms. “wet, by the looks of you.”

Soames crushed Jimmy to him and then abruptly let him go to have a good look at him. “Thought I’d lost you this time, son!”

“Nah, take more than a wave to be rid of me,” he joked.

“Where’s Nell and the others?” Jack asked Gibbs.

“Oh good Lord, I’d forgotten!” Gibbs turned towards the door that led to the bell tower.

Jack didn’t wait for any more, he swaggered his way quickly through the ankle deep water towards the door. He knew the others hadn’t followed and he knew it was because they were scared of what they might see up there. Grinning to himself he looked back as he opened the door to the tower.

“Bunch of lily-livered girls, the lot of you!” he called back. “Tis just a baby! Oh and Mister Benjamin, just a thought, but I don’t think you’ll be able to do much down here. Best if you come as well.” Jack’s voice was dry as he watched his ship’s doctor mutter as he made his way towards Jack.

“Much rather remove a leg without rum than do this…”

<><>Break<><>

Jack opened the door quietly and stuck his head around, his eyes scanning the damp flooring and the bits of debris that were littered across it. He saw Will and Elizabeth huddled together; Elizabeth was asleep with the baby in her arms. Will looked up at him and smiled tiredly at Jack, relief showing clearly in his face. Jack winked at him and looked across to where Nell was standing by the wall, her arms were folded across the top of the stones and her head was lying on her arms, her face turned away from him.

“She’s asleep,” Will whispered as Jack eased his way through the door.

“Congratulations, Will,” Jack replied quietly. “Now your life really will be royally buggered.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Will replied with a warm smile.

Benjamin crossed to them, relieved to see that the hard part had been accomplished. He smiled down at Will as he crouched by Elizabeth; his black eyes took in the soft downy head of the baby wrapped in the cloth and his heart melted.

Jack crossed silently to Nell and leant against the wall sideways so he was facing her. Her eyes were closed and her cheeks were streaked with dirt, but he could see no obvious signs of injury on her face or her hands. He reached out his hand to touch her head; he stopped, his hand hovering over her hair. Frowning he leant forwards and inspected the short ragged cut of her hair. He raised an eyebrow and let his hand settle on her head; she woke instantly and in a panic.

“What is it? What is it?” she squeaked dislodging his hand as she straightened quickly.

“It’s me,” Jack replied and caught her arms when she swayed slightly with exhaustion.

“Jack?” She blinked, frowning and then her expression cleared as she realised it was Jack she saw and not a figment of her dreams. “Jack! Oh, Mother of God, you found us!” She launched herself at him and was enveloped in his arms as she clung to him.

“I’d always find you, lass,” he breathed against her ear. “Always.” He nuzzled into the soft cure of her neck and frowned again when he remembered the length of her hair was gone. He pulled back slightly and lifting a hand tugged at the short strands.

“What happened?”

“Mister Hock cut if off so I’d look like a boy and not the girl they were looking for.”

“Ah…” his eyes swept down her, lingering on her flat chest. “And what happened there?”

“Bindings,” Nell cursed herself as she felt the blush rising in her cheeks. “It’d look odd to have… well… there aren’t many boys with…”

“I’m following you, luv.” He grinned at her discomfort. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.” Nell shook her head and then gasped as she remembered Elizabeth. “Jack, the baby… the baby is here.”

“I know.” He turned and indicated where Benjamin had woken Elizabeth. “Sit with me, Nell, tell me what happened here.”

Nell looked at Jack as if he’d grown a second head. “Well, it was an earthquake…”

“I know that, Nell darlin’,” he said dryly. “I meant the events leading to said earthquake. Why, for instance, has your hair been cropped and who was looking for you.”

“Oh…” Nell coloured up slightly and let Jack settle her against the wall before sitting beside her; he drew her into his arms and listened quietly as she talked.

<><><>Break<><><>

A/N: Well, there you go. Not much left on this one. Maybe one or two chapters and that’ll be it.

Hopefully you’ll like this one as much as I have writing it. Thank you so much for everyone who has read this and is still with me; especially if you’ve left a review. It’s true that reviews feed the imagination and spark the fingers to go faster!

Have a great day!