"Were you almost dead then?"

I never liked talking about my past, not about the terrible parts of it
and not about the happy and wonderful parts either. I live my life by the day,
like every good pirate should. If you cannot do that, you can never become a
pirate.

"Yes."

I trail off. I see how Will is curious about what has happened then, so
many years ago. It's said about Captain Jack Sparrow that his past is foggy and
that is true. Even for myself's a's a mystery at times.

"Bullets hurt a lot, lad. Take care that one never hits ye. The
blasted things even hurt when ye think ye have healed!"

I had not wanted to say this. For once, I actually wanted to tell him
the truth. Truth about me, truth without sea turtles and otheeatueatures where
I have read about in the many books I have found in my life as pirate captain.
But like always I took the coward's way out. But time will come. Time enough to
tell young Will Turner about my past.

I sit down in the warm sand, my feet just touching the sea. A perfect
spot. The sea near me and the beautiful sky with the moon and the stars above
me. Like I said, perfect. The lad sits down next to me, shuffling a bit closer
for the need of human contact. Carefully I lay my arm around him and pull him
closer. He's too young to handle this on his own, too innocent.

I am happy that at least I was with him in the beginning, when he
completely freaked out. Poor lad. He had expected so much; he still had dreams
to chase and things to see. I was a lot more calmer, but I guess it has been
something I've been living with the day I became a pirate.

"Tell me one of your adventures."

It's not even a question. I feel how Will shivers even during this warm
Caribbean night and that is definitely not good. Nobody this young should bare
heavy burdens like he is carrying right now. He had to get his mind off things.

"Did ye know I was once married?"

This certainly grabs his attention, like I hoped it would. He studies my
face as if he wants to find out if I'm lying. I could have told him that it was
no use: I was not the best liar in the Caribbean and this time I was not
lying.

"You weren't."

I grin. "Yes, lad I was. Although it was not one of those fancy
weddings like yers with young miss Swann."

His face darkens and I flinch. I shouldn't have said that! Quickly I
continue my story, dragging him along in it.

"I was a young lad at the time. Begin of me twenties. I was a
pirate captain already at that time… Me and me crew went to Holland. Ever been
there lad?"

Will shakes his head.

"Rotten place, really! It's one large mutt filled hole, filled with
farms, animals and cities. Bad weather as well. Cold… rainy. Not my idea of
'aving a good time. Women are fine though. Not so skinny as the lasses here.
But bossy… I don't think tha' I've ever met bossier women." I laugh out
loud and notice how Will is grinning as well.

"At tha' time me and me crew of the Pearl had come to
Holland for supplies. Good place for stuff like that, only have to keep yer
eyes open fer those blasted hunters on the waters. They 'ave an awful lot of
them!

Me crew was taking care fer the supplies and I decided to take a look
around on me onesies. Didn't much like tha' city… too crowded fer me liking
with civilized people so I went to take a look outside the city walls. Then me
ears heard the sound of screaming… female screaming that is. And I wouldn't be
captain Jack Sparrow if I wouldn't rush into action for a lady screaming fer
help.

Into the muddy lands two chaps wer trying to… well lad. I guess yer
proved yer not a eunuch or a complete innocent fool already. They tried to rape
the poor lass. I got me cutlass and I killed one of the two men… the other
escaped me, but I couldn't go after 'im. Had to look after the lass.

She was different from those other lasses I had seen so far. Not Dutch looking
at all. Skinny, tanned skin as if she came right out of the Caribbean, black
hair. She looked at me as if I wanted te rape her instead! But I managed to
calm 'er down, mind you that was a hard task since at that time I didn't speak
Dutch and she didn't speak any language I'd known. Gave er me jacket cause
there wasn't much left of er dress. And me hat, gave her that one as well just
to see the lass smiling at me. Remarkable smile it was, lad. Never seen
anything like tha' after wards."

A moment I fall silent. I can clearly picture her now as if she was
standing next to me… that Dutch little devil.

"Jack?"

"Sorry lad… lost in thought fer a moment. Where was I?"

"You gave her your hat."

"That's right! Brought 'er back into that blasted town as well.
Couldn't let her walk back all on her onesies in nothing more than me jacket,
savvy? Said goodbye to the lass and decided it was time to get back to me ship.
Hadn't gotten me hands on any rum… those blasted Dutch don't seem te drink that
much.

So I walked back, trying to disappear into the crowd," Will raised
an eyebrow at that comment, but I decided to ignore that for the moment.

"And suddenly I find meself surrounded by a large group of fine
gentlemen, waving their swords at me face and the one man that had escaped from
raping the lass. 'e was pointing at me and blabbering in that silly language of
his and guess what, lad? He said I killed 'is mate! He only forgot te mention
what he and his mate were doing at the time!"

I feel that even after all these years it still can make me angry.

"I wasn't really in a good position. I didn't speak the language
and though I tried to explain about the lass they only looked odd at me and I
didn't know 'er name at that time. Later a man who spoke English came to see
me, but 'e didn't want to believe me either. So… I was going te be hanged the
next day."

This time Will looks downright shocked at me and I can't help but grin.
"Listen mate… hanging pirates is not exclusively the idea of bloody
Norrington, savvy?

So the next day at the market place they planned te hang me. Quick lads,
those Dutch. Had everything arranged in one night and I believe the entire city
and those people around came to watch me. So I stood there and the man was
reading out loud what I have done, though I couldn't understand a word about
wha' was going on at the moment. For my sake he could have been telling silly
jokes at that crowd I wouldn't 'ave 'eard the difference.

And than suddenly… the lass. She was looking in utter terror at me,
screaming something when she came my way. Kinda like ye did, lad, when ye saved
me. Only she didn't need a sword for tha'. She screamed something and then most
of the females in the crowd seemed to help 'er as well. Moments later she was
standing next to me and I was freed from me bounds. A man came who shot me a
dirty look and he said something to the lass and soon after tha' me and the lass
were free and brought outside the city walls."

I shake my head. I still can't believe how quickly that all happened.

"I tell ye, lad. I was lost fer words. And mind ye, that doesn't
happen to me very often."

"What had happened then?"

"It seemed te be some sort of Dutch thing. When a man was hanged a
female could prevent that by marrying the thief. Than she and the thief were
banned out of the city. Most of the time it was an old ugly spinster who
offered te marry the prisoner and I heard from the lass that many prisoner
hanged themselves when they saw who was there te save them. I was lucky. She
was a fine lass. Totally different from every lass I met, though she has
somet'ing from 'Lizebeth in 'er I guess."

"What happened after that?" Will seems truly fascinated by
this part of my past.

"Well me and the lass went back to me Pearl. Te crew 'ad heard the
stories about some scallywag being captured, but they weren't sure it was me.
They just figured I had fallen asleep in some sort of inn and would show up
again after some while. She sailed along with us fer many years."

I trail off. I suddenly realize that this might turn out as a bad idea.
A bad story to tell on this moment.

"What was her name, Jack?"

"Haven't I told ye that, lad? Her name was Neeltje, lad. Learned me
quiet a few Dutch words afterwards. 'ave shown to come in handy along the
way."

"Were is Neel'je now?" Will carefully tries out this
Dutch name, not entire sure if he pronounced it right.

"She's dead." Even I am shocked with the bitter tone of my
voice. I should have thought I was over it after all these years.

"They found out tha' I actually cared about 'er. Not good fer a
pirate, mate, having friends and especially no' having a wife you love. They
killed 'er to hurt me. And yes tha' worked. I think tha's the only time I
actually lost me mind during a fight."

Will doesn't dare to ask, but I see the question in his eyes.

"Yes lad… killed them all. And not in a nice way."

I quickly stand up. Tonight every conversation seems to come back to one
point: death. And I don't like that. I don't like thinking about death at all,
not now, not ever. Death brings up bad memories.

"Come lad. It's bout time we are going to get ourselves back."

Will hesitates. I can understand why. I'm not actually looking forward
to this either, but there doesn't seem to be another way. Not that I have
experience on this matter. But who has?

"Come." I carefully take his hand into mine and drag him along
with me to avoid him standing still again. Now we're moving we have to get
going. Else I don't think we will move ever again.

"Do you… do you still remember what happened, Jack?"

I only hesitate for one second. I do remember, but I don't want
to bother him with that. "No, lad. You?"

"No. Not really."

Good. I hoped he wouldn't. I don't want this memory to plague him forever and
ever.

The area around us starts to change. The sand disappears to be replaced
by the dirty houses and inns from Tortuga. I've always loved this place; from
the very first time I came here. Funny that this place of all the places I have
visited during my life has to become the stage of a nightmare. Drunkards,
fighters and whores surround us, but don't seem to notice us at all.

That does not surprise me.

We both walk straight to the Faithful Bride. That was the place
we left a couple of hours ago for some fresh air and a more private talk. I
peek inside and see that not much has chanced. Gibbs, Anamaria, Mr. Cotton and
some other members of my crew are still sitting around one of the tables. The
only things that have chanced during our absence is they look obviously more
drunk and Ana has got the grin on her face that tells me that she is busy
winning the card games, being the best cheater of the lot.

"I'm sorry, Jack." Will looks truly hurt.

"For what?"

"If I hadn't forced you to come out with me to talk nothing would
have happened…"

I shake my head. Damn stubborn Turner! Just like his dad.

"Listen, William Turner," he knows he's in trouble now, cause
I only call him like that on those occasions. "This was not yer bloody
fault, savvy? When it's yer time to go, it's yer time to go. Nothing can chance
tha'!"

He shakes his head, but I can clearly see the relief in his eyes. Bloody
stubborn Turners!

"Let's get inside, lad."

"What do you want to do there, Jack?"

"I dunno… wait I guess? Wait until somebody breaks the news… It
can't be that long either, even not in a blasted place like this one."

I grin at him. "And who knows, maybe we can get ourselves some free
rum!"

I get myself inside and feel how Will follows me. As long as I act
confident I don't think anything will go terrible wrong. We both sit down right
behind Anamaria and with a sly grin I notice how she cheats like the best.
Gibbs gives her a dirty look when he once again looses 5 shilling during the
game.

"Bloody women! Bad luck I tell ye!" I hear him mutter and my
grin grows even wider. Will is always fascinated by this way of playing. He
himself has lost several shilling during the nights on the Pearl and we
all had truly laughed at his unawareness of all what happened under the table
and into the sleeves of several shirts.

"You all cheated!"

"Pirate, remember!" I grin at him. This was just like good old
times. Then my face darkens. I hear shouting coming from outside. Shouting that
doesn't sound good.

Bloody hell… it is annoying to always be right once in a while.

"They are dead!" A man bursts into the inn. "Sparrow and
that son of strastrap! They are dead!"

"What!?" yell Ana and Gibbs simultaneously and forgotten is their
card game. They both jump on their feet and I notice how Will shrinks under the
sudden panic around us. Not knowing what else to do I put my arm around him
giving as much sup as as I can manage at the moment.

With two long strides Ana stands in front of the man and a small dagger
that seems to come out of nowhere is pointed at his throat. /p>

"You were saying?" she says dangerously calm, a tone that
tells me all I need to hear. Every men that was getting in her way right on
this moment would gain a lot more than only a slap in his face.

The man is smart enough to realize this as well and he carefully takes a
step back. "Sparrow and Turner… they are found behind this inn. Dead. And
robbed."

Ana, Gibbs and the others have heard enough and ignore the man while they walk
past him to see with their own eyes that I have long known already. We both
decide to follow them.

"Aye, lad. That's still captain Jack Sparrow fer ye," I
tell the man when I walk past him and for a moment I actually think he has
heard me, cause his facial expression changes to one of utter fear and he gazes
behind him to the t spt spot where I stood only seconds ago. I can't help but
grin. As long as the people kept remembering that, the world was not entirely
lost yet.

Outside there are large groups of people that move into the same
direction, move towards the point where I know we are supposed to lie. I
flinch. It was definitely not a pretty sight. It was actually ra iro ironic
that me and the lad had to end in a way like that. We were attacked by a large
group of 'bloody pirates' and we simply didn't stand a chance. So much for a
legendary ending on sea!

"Jack? I don't think I want to go back."

"Me neither, lad."

"What do we do than?"

"I have no idea. Isn't there supposed to be a white light or
something like tha'? A voice tha' guides ye ter heaven or hell? I thought it
always worked tha' way."

For the moment I'm not ready yet to speak out my fear, the only fear
I've felt since it all happened. I remember the many times defeated captains
and even once a priest have screamed at me that the devil would get me for what
I had done to them. Was that what was going to happen? Captain Jack Sparrow
spending his days until eternity in the company of the devil himself?

"You have understood that perfectly well, Jack Sparrow."

We both turn around in shock. I mean, when you are dead you don't
actually suspect people talking to you, right?

A cat runs away out of the shadows and we both see a shape of a human
body watching us. Or something like that. It's kinda complicated to describe a
somebody who doesn’t really seem to have a body at all.

"Captain, if you please, sir." I've always managed to gather
myself together rather quickly, even under the most odd circumstances.

"Of course, captain. Now if you two would be so kind to
follow me."

There seems nothing better to do than that. I vaguely notice Anamaria
running past us, crying with Gibbs after her who seems to be in not much better
conditions either, but then there is only light.

White light.
>

- Fin -

Uhm… yeah. Please review?