Forgive me no more

Chapter 2

A few weeks later.

Since that fatal day Captain Sparrow found his master of patience and persuasion in a skinny boy, he had kept his crew busy and far away from every port. When there were no ships to take over, he would find some other way to occupy them, but mostly his compass proved itself a real friend, never letting him down.
Well, at least not until the day the compass had led them into the most draining doldrums they had ever experienced. Although they were immobilised like this for three days already, Jack refused to loose his confidence. Restlessly, he strolled along the rails, holding his compass in his left, the telescope in his right hand, alternating between looking at the reflecting glass covering the quivering needle and peering through the telescope, whilst his crew grew more tired of the Caribbean sun from minute to minute. Pieces of memory of the last mutiny that cost him ship and crew made him change from compass to telescope ever faster, and now and then he caught himself spying on his crew (especially of those parts of his crew sticking closely together and talking too lowly for him to listen) instead of searching the horizon for a solution. Just when it became obvious, when some of the sailors slowly got aware of their captain lurking around and were already shooting him not so friendly stares (surely, whenever one of them moved his attention in a direction that could get dangerous for him, he tried to turn away and pretend to be doing something else, but in the process forgot about those watching him while he was watching others), his eyes were caught by an approaching point hovering over the surface of the ocean. Hurriedly, he pushed the lens of the telescope up to take a closer look. Triumph pooled in his stomach. His compass had been right (as had he by trusting it). A smaller ship smoothly glided over the even water, pulled forward by rows.

"Mr Gibbs?"
"Aye, Captain."
"This be a ship."
Jack Sparrow handed his mate the telescope.
"Aye, Captain, looks like one.", Gibbs answered.
"I figured it might be one of those independent merchant ships, pro’bly tha 'Gorgeous'. What say ye?" Jack pulled his eyebrows together, lifting the hat to shelter his eyes from the sun.
"Aye, probably."
“Still, I’m havin’ some trouble with tha fact she’s all’lone, without any kind of escort ‘n such. Do ye think they might have paid the passage?”
“Aye, Captain. Can’t imagine any other reason.”
“Well, then it’s not their day taday. Forgotta pay me.” Abruptly, he turned from the rail, his words almost lost to Gibbs’ ears, heading to the stairs leading to the bridge with long, slightly swaggering strides.
“Uhm, aye, Captain, ye be right.”, Gibbs mumbled, still loud enough for Jack to hear it.
"Mr Gibbs?", the Captain called over his shoulder, half turning his head, one foot already set on the first step.
"Aye, Captain?"
"Would ye do me the favour of not starting every sentence with 'Aye'?"
"Aye, -" Gibbs shut his mouth. "Of course, Captain."
"Excellent.”
"Captain, since we're stuck here in the doldrums, how ...?" The older man didn’t finish his sentence, his eyes rising to regard the unmoving fabric of the sails.
Jack touched his forefinger to his chin. For a few moments, he seemed to be deep in thought before he fully turned to Gibbs.
"We'll use the longboat."
"The longboat? Captain, ta take that ship over we'll need more men than fit into the longboat."
"Thanks t’ye, Gibbs, for this quite valuable advice.”, Jack retorted with a slight pout. “Now, there be just one thing ye tend ta forget from time ta time."
Gibbs furrowed his brows, thinking.
"Captain, I -"
"'tis alright, Gibbs. After all, me didn’t hire ye ta do all the thinking, did I? What ye’re forgetting, mate, is:”, he leaned forward, opening his palms as if presenting the problem’s solution on a silver tray, “I”, he paused for a second, emphasizing the forthcoming, “am Cap`n Jack Sparrow."

A few hours later, when the wind had arisen again, the Black Pearl caught up to the smaller ship. On deck of the 'Gorgeous', the crew stood in a row, their hands tied neatly together in front of them. The ten pirates (who had fit into the longboat) were still searching the ship, while Jack examined the faces of the captured crew members. Eventually, he reached the captain. Jack sniffed his nose, extending the forefinger of his right hand as if to poke the man against the chest. But changing his mind, he leaned back on his heals, then rose a few centimetres on his toes.
"Not selling slaves this time, are ye?", he asked, inclining his head.
The smaller man shot him a glance.
"At least I'm not a thief, Sparrow, and after all I paid to get a safe passage. You should really know better than to ignore that."
"Nah, mate.” Jack waved his forefinger in front of the man’s face, “that be where ye’re wrong. After all, ye paid somebody else to get that safe passage, but not me, now did ye?”
“Still, Captain, you pirates agreed we would have to pay just one of you.”, the Captain protested weakly, gesturing with his bound hands.
“I wouldn't be so sure 'bout that, mate. And even if", the pirate pulled back, “ye gotta remember a pirate’s a pirate ‘coz he’s breaking them rules.” Jack drawled these last words, nodding at the man to make his point, before continuing to the captive who stood next. Unlike the crew and captain of the "Gorgeous", he wore a wig. His clothes, although they were in a condition of disarray, gave away the fact he had to be a wealthy man, as did his bulky appearance. Sweat had already gathered on his brows, a few drops running down his cheeks and nose.
"And who might ye be?" Jack pondered, leaning forward to study the embroidery pattern adorning the collar of the man's coat. The captive instinctively took a step back.
"I – I'm a merchant", he stuttered. Jack's eyes were caught by the way the man wrung his tied hands.
"Are ye? Mate, ye seem ta me a little nervous." He put his left hand on the man's shoulder, sympathetically looking at him. Somehow, Jack thought, this one tries to hide something from me.
"No need ta faint, mate", Jack started chattily, "I'm no murderer, anyways. Honestly. These things just happen if I happen ta be forced ta make 'em happen. It's all up t’ye. Me, I'll get a little weight off yer ship, and off ye go. Really, I -"
"Captain!"
Jack turned to Gibbs, who had just gotten out of the door leading to the cabins. He was dragging a bundle of green silk and chestnut locks after him, which was constantly throwing not so silky insults at him. When he had almost reached Jack, his petite prisoner managed to twist her wrist out of his grasp, turned and bolted back into the cabin. The door slammed shut and the key was turned with an audible "click".
A few seconds of surprised silence followed, before the crew of the Pearl burst into laughter. Gibbs felt his cheeks burning, and not for the first time he thanked the Gods he chose not to remove his beard. Stunned, he first stared at his empty hand, then at his captain, who didn't look amused at all.
"That was pathetic, Gibbs. If ye can't handle a woman, how'd I trust ye t’handle me ship?" Gaping, the mate stood paralyzed. Somehow he had always known the episode with that bloody boy would get on him someday.
Wordlessly, Gibbs eventually reached for the pistol hanging loosely from his belt. With an expression of utter challenge, he offered the pistol to his Captain.
"Well then, Captain, make it short."
Obviously taken aback, Jack took his time to first stare at the pistol, then at his mate. "There be anything ye wish ta tell me, Gibbs?" The question came from somewhere deep within the Captain's throat, turning Gibbs' cheeks from reddish to white. "No, Captain, really, I just thought ..." Curtly interrupting the man's stammering, Jack raised his nose and strolled past him, meaningfully ignoring the offered weapon. A few steps left between him and the cabin door, he turned again and eyed his crew members.
"Back ta work, ye miserable scoundrels! We don't have all day here!", he scolded.
In a blink of an eye, they had gotten back to searching the ship and consigning whatever they found to be valuable. Straightening his coat, Jack approached the door and gave a soft knock.
"Who is it?" a female voice demanded.
"Captain Jack Sparrow, young Miss. Would ye be so kind as ta open the door?"
"Jack Sparrow?"
"CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, Miss."
"I've heard of you, Mr Sparrow." the voice stated.
Seemingly stunned, Jack drew his head back until his chin almost touched his collar.
“Uhm ... well, honoured ta hear that, Miss.” he eventually answered with a slightly confused expression.
“Now, I guess that be makin’ ye open that door now, don’t it?” he asked in an almost pleading voice, trying not to imagine what would happen to his reputation if he failed on this one, too.
“I do not think so, Mr. Sparrow. I’m only afraid of pirates.” Stretching her last word, Jack, although he really tried to misunderstand her, got the meaning. Fleeting moments passed. He spent them with attempting to figure out if he had any possibility to fill her pert comment with a different, less painful content, until he had to realize there was none.
“See – uhm, ... Miss, I promise I’m a pirate. Ye know, a real pirate, like in ‘We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot’.” He had always hated having to convince someone.
“Then, Mr Sparrow, I see no reason to unlock this door, as I feel declined to follow the demand of a criminal.” Jack rolled his eyes. Clearing his throat, he decided to let the subject drop, change the heading and also not to insist on the title - for the moment.
"That'd be right, Miss. But since I'm also a good man, as some people tend ta tell me over and over again, I guess there be no risk in opening that door."
"Pirates also tend to be liars, Mr Sparrow."
"True. Ye got me, Miss, a smart woman ye are, it seems, but still I wonder why ye aren't considering the fact me doesn't have ta talk ye out of there. 't would be much easier ta just shoot the lock 'n lug ye out, savvy?" Now, all of a sudden, I’m a pirate again, he groaned inwardly. Never would he completely understand the ways of the women. But aye, wait, he reminded himself. This particular pattern of behaviour he had decrypted long ago – they would easily change their point of view, as long as it saved the achievement of their goal. Never’d stick to anything, really.
"So why don't you?"
"'coz I'm a good man - for a -"
A shout from the Pearl interrupted him.
"There be clouds gathering, Cap’n! Looks like there's a storm coming up!"
Jack raised his head to look into the direction the man was pointing. Just above the horizon, dark clouds were piling up, and a few moments later, the first thunder rumbled. A strong gust of wind swept over the ship, pulling angrily at its sails.
"A'right, Miss. If ye'd kindly take a look out o'yer window.”, he turned back to the massive door. “We be havin’ a nice Caribbean storm all 'round us in 'bout few minutes, have ta get crew ‘n captives off the ship quite soon, so if ye don't want ta be left on this ship all 'lone, ye've got ta get out of there soon.", he warned her. There was a rustle of cloth, then a few steps and a soft gasp. With a satisfied smirk, Jack leaned back against the wall next to the door.
"Mr Gibbs, hurry up, would ye? Cut the ropes as soon as everybody's aboard!", he called. Just as he finished the sentence, he heard the cabin door being opened. A rather pale face peered through the small gap. When her eyes found him, she opened the door fully and stepped out of the cabin.
"Do I have your word not to hurt me?" she asked, straightening her slender shoulders. Jack shot Gibbs, who had been watching the scene for some time, a triumphant look.
"Dear, that be a good question t’ask while still in there.", Jack answered casually, his eyes refocusing on the fuzz he was trying to remove from his sleeve. The blood fled her cheeks completely, and the next instant she was reaching for the door. In a split second, Jack had pushed himself off the wall, yanked the pistol out of his sash, aiming it at her.
"I wouldn't do that.", he threatened. "Get away from that door, dear, or I'll proove meself a real bad guy."
The girl froze in mid-step. Frightened green eyes shot from the muzzle of the pistol up to his face. Her fingers loosened their hold of the door.
"Now get over here, Miss, and Gibbs," he called over his shoulder, "hand me a rope!"
Gibbs hastened over the deck, grabbing a piece of rope as he went, and hurried to his captain's side.
“Let me do that, Sir.”, he exclaimed, then whispered lowly, for just Jack to hear it: “Without that storm, Captain, you wouldn’t have been able ta -” His captain’s palm connecting with the back of his head made him break off his sentence. “Just han’ me the bloody rope, Gibbs.” Jack hissed, forcefully pulling the rope out of Gibbs’ hand.
"We're done here, Captain.", Piney announced, a small, skinny pirate who, despite his low weight, always managed to be the last man standing (apart from Jack himself) when all the others were already drunk beyond the point of forgetting their own name.
The girl closed half the gap between her and the pirate, then she stopped. Her widened eyes were still fixed on his face, and now that she was closer, he could see her hands trembling.
"C'm on, dear, there still be worlds between us. Gimme yer hands, 't won't hurt." he assured her. Reluctantly, she took another two short steps towards him and came to a halt, an arm's length away from him. She crossed her wrists and extended her hands to him.
"Well then, pirate, bind me now. But be warned, I will be rescued, and you, rascal, will be punished terribly.", she promised, putting all the dignity she could muster into her voice. Jack tried in vain to suppress what would have been a genuine laughter, and gave a soft snort. Smoothly, he then pushed the pistol back into his sash and began to twine the rope around her wrists.
"Will I? My, ye gotta be quite important a person threatening a pirate like that.", he grinned broadly, fastening the knot.
"Indeed, Mr Sparrow, I am."
"Well, looks like ye wouldn't mind telling me yer name then, would ye?" His eyes were sparkling with amusement.
"Celine Beckett." A deep silence spread over the ship, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Only the man wearing the wig gave a small groan of resignation, and it occurred to Jack that he just might have discovered the man’s secret.
"Beckett? And in which way, dear, are ye possibly related ta late Lord Beckett?" Jack inquired. Now if that's not bloody lucky, he thought, then I don't know what could be.
"I happen to be his niece, Mr Sparrow." The haughty tone of her response brought the sparkle back into his eyes.
"My, my, Miss Beckett", he smiled, the gold teeth flashing, "what a coincidence. I never thought I'd hear that name again."
"So sorry to disappoint you." Regaining her courage, she sweetly returned his smile. "Now, Mr Sparrow, would you do yourself a favour and release me and the crew?"
Jack turned to the few pirates which had not left the ship already.
"Stop gaping, ye rogues. Get off the ship, loosen the ropes and – uhm, just get off, savvy!", he finished, both of his hands scaring away invisible, but cumbrous birds.
Celine Beckett's shoulders relaxed as he returned his attention to her. A wave of relief washed over her, and she breathed deeply, watching the pirates hurrying across the ship, hasting to get back aboard the Pearl.
"Now, that was not so difficult, Mr Sparrow, was it? And at last, you've proven yourself a smart pi-"
A sudden tug at her bound hands made her yelp and stumble against Jack's chest, who instantly seized her shoulders. Dark, kohl rimmed eyes bore into her suddenly again scared ones.
"Luv," the pirate hushed her, "I've no intention of letting ye go. Instead," he continued, bringing his lips close to her ear, "ye just made sure I'll get thrice the ransom, provided that -" Brushing his nose against hers, he changed to her other ear. "- they are willing ta pay such a high price for the snotty brat ye are." The captain's warm breath against her ear made her shiver, an uneasy flush creeping into her cheeks. Embarrassed, she moved her face away from his. Slowly, Jack raised his head again, his eyes meeting hers. Those green eyes staring up at him now held a look of both defiance and fear. The corners of her lips twitched, but whatever it was she was about to say, she somehow managed to hold her tongue. Contented, Jack released her shoulders and backed away a little, just to manoeuvre her up the stairs leading to the bridge, never losing his hold on her. No pirate was left on the smaller ship and aboard the Pearl the crew was already about to set the sails, the sound of Gibbs’ orders being carried over the raging sea. By now, every one of them knew their captain would get onto the Pearl without the planks connecting the two ships.
Up on the bridge of the 'Gorgeous', the strong wind seemed to have gathered even more force, pulling on their hair and clothes. The pirate dragging her over the planks removed one hand from her to save his hat from being torn away by the gusts. When they arrived at the side of the bridge opposite to the Pearl, Jack stopped, drawing her almost gently closer to him.
"Dear, ye need ta put yer arms 'round me neck now.", he instructed her. Again, her eyes met his.
"What for?", she dared, resisting the tug at her arm. An exasperated sigh escaped the pirate's lips. Before she got the chance to protest, he'd pushed her tied hands over his head, one arm securely put around her waist, pulling her firmly against him, of course without letting go of his hat. Reaching for a line fastened at the yard, he stepped onto the low railing, causing his precious burden to loose the ground beneath her feet. The moment she was hauled off the ground and got sight of the high, dark waves shattering against the ship beneath her, she felt like her blood would stop running through her veins. Desperately, she tried to force herself to breathe again, and, closing her eyes tightly, she pressed her face into the fabric of the captain's coat. Jack looped the line around his arm once, leant back and took a running start. When his feet lost their contact with the railing, he had gained enough momentum to make the yard give in and follow the direction of the pull. The spreader described a semi-circle, carrying them in a wide arch over the gap between the two ships. Once they were hovering over the bridge of the Pearl, Jack let go of the line, dropping onto the wooden planks of his ship. For a split second he seemed to have lost his balance, but when the girl's feet also touched the ground, they stood safely. “Drama Queen.”, Jonah whispered to Piney. “Well aye, but t’ works.”, the other pirate whispered back, casting an amused glance at the bridge.
"Now, luv, that wasn't so bad, was it?" their captain chuckled up on said bridge, still holding her trembling form close to him. Gathering all the mental strength she had left, she willed her tense features to relax and glared up at him.
"Unhand me this instant, you brute!" she hissed, trying to pull her hands over his head, which proved to be quite a difficult thing to do, given the fact she was considerably smaller than him.
"Well then,", Jack shrugged his shoulders, ducking out from under her hands and putting his hat back to where it belonged, "as ye wish, luv. 'though I must a'mit, that's a new one." Almost immediately, her expression changed from anger to confusion.
“Pardon?” she queried, but before he got the chance to answer, she noticed the crew of the 'Gorgeous' still standing on the now deserted deck of the ship. Sudden understanding washed over her face.
“Mr Sparrow, I guess you do not intend bringing these people aboard your ship, do you?”
“Ah.” Jack directed his attention to the subject of her question. Closing and opening his hands a few times, teetering in time on his tiptoes, he seemed to actually think about it. Then he reached for his hat, placed it against his chest and bowed to the captive crew in a gesture of mocking regret. “Nay.”, he finally said, returning his focus to her. “I lied. Ta get ye out o’that cabin, ye know, dear, since ye women can’t stand da thought o’bein’ alone.”, he explained matter-of-factly. Indignantly, she shook her head in disbelief. “And now, Mr Sparrow, you’re telling me you are planning to abandon them in the upcoming storm, leaving them to die?” she charged him, her anger flaring again, one hand pointing accusingly at the group of tied sailors.
His mouth opened with a silent, surprised gasp, the pirate took his time to adjust to her unexpected outbreak. “No, luv, I won’t.” Jack finally replied, “`coz the sea, dear, will reclaim every life I ever take, that is, if I take it on purpose without necessity, ye know, somethin’ like I gotta defend me ship, crew o’ me own life, o’course.”, he undeceived her gravely. “So, we left ‘em a knife. They’d be able ta free themselves in time ta getta ship ready for the storm, an’if they don’t - “ The unfinished sentence filled the heavy silence between them. “-then you would not be the one responsible for their death, would you.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Perfectly right, luv.”, he beamed at her, for the second time putting the shabby leather hat back onto his head. “Jerry!”, he turned away from her with a jerk, calling for one of the older pirates right across the deck, “Take the lady down into the brig, and Gibbs, bring me somethin' small ta throw an’ a piece of paper!”