Innocence Was Bliss

6: Change In The Winds

They arrived at Tortuga shortly.

The smell of vomit and rum filled the air. Prostitutes and drunks ran rampant all around. Nobody seemed to care about anything except finding a coin for their next drink. Animals were being sold with their filthy, damp fur or wool. Shots could be heard along with the maniacal laughter of men.

"It is indeed a sad life that has never breathed deep the sweet, proliferous bouquet that is Tortuga," said Jack as they walked through the streets. "savvy?" Some woman with her breasts hanging out cackled. "What do you think?"

Will focused on a drunk that was downing three pints of beer. "It'll linger."

"I'll tell you, mate, if every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted."

Jack noticed a woman and walked up to her. She was pretty, sporting a red dress, loosely tied, with red hair and red lipstick. It was a look and she nailed it. Even her name fit the attire. "Scarlett!" She slapped him and walked away. "Not sure I deserved that."

Another woman, this one with a softer appearance approached. She was a blonde with a messily worn dress, obviously easy to untie, and had messy mascara and lipstick.

"Giselle!"

"Who was she?"  She asked.

"What?" She slapped him. "I may have deserved that."

They continued and soon found Mr. Gibbs, sleeping with the pigs. Jack and Will fetched water buckets and then threw them onto the poor man.

Mr. Gibbs gasped and yelled "Curse you for breathing, you slack-jawed idiot!" The pigs around him grunted as he focused on Jack. "Mother's love. Jack. You should know better than to wake a man when he's sleepin'? It's bad luck."

"Ah," replied Jack. "Fortunately I know how to counter it. The man who did the waking buys the man who was sleeping a drink, and the man who was sleeping drinks it while listening to a proposition from the man who did the waking."

Mr. Gibbs looked confused for a moment before saying, "Aye, that'll about do it." He stood up and Will splashed the other bucket of water on him. "Blast! I'm already awake!"

"That was for the smell," said Will. Mr. Gibbs went to say something but it all ended with a nodded understanding.

The three walked inside the bar, utter chaos in there. Perhaps even worse than it was outside.

"Keep a sharp eye," Jack told Will, leaving him to stand nearby as he went to sit with Mr. Gibbs.

With a drink finally in hand, Mr. Gibbs said, "Now, whats the nature of this venture of your'n?"

"I'm going after the Pearl." Mr. Gibbs choked on his drink. "I know where it's going to be and I'm going to take it." Jack tilted his head.

Mr. Gibbs shook his head. "Jack, it's a fool's errand, you know better than me the tales of the Black Pearl."

"That's why I know what Barbossa is up to. All I need is a crew."

"From what I can tell of Captain Barbossa he's not a man to suffer fools, nor strike a bargain with them."

"Well then it's very good that I'm not a fool then, aye?"

"Prove me wrong. What makes you think Barbossa would give up his ship to you?"

"Let's just say it's a matter of leverage, mate." Jack nodded to Will. Jack didn't notice that caught Will's attention.

"Huh?" Asked Mr. Gibbs. Jack continued nodding until he finally got the hint. "The kid?"