Pirates Of The Caribbean Fan Fiction ❯ Lost in Translation (Pirates of the Caribbean) ❯ Lennox Dunngal ( Chapter 23 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Twenty Three:
Lennox Dunngal

* * *

Kaitlyn glanced across the noisy tavern and saw Jack sitting alone nursing a glass of rum. He looked as though he were thinking deeply about something and wondered what, exactly, he had been told. She excused herself and headed across the pub, and Luisa decided to return to her drunken customers, most of which were now either gambling or looking for women.

“Did you learn anything?”

Jack looked up from his drink and then finished it off and motioned for another. Kaitlyn sat down quietly across from him, hoping he hadn't been given bad news. “Didn't learn much about the curse I'm afraid, love,” Jack said. He had no real desire to tell Kaitlyn what had been said and was probably a bit too inebriated to think it all over clearly him self.

“So you don't know how to end it?” The barmaid sat Jack's rum in front of him and removed his empty glass. He immediately took another drink and then looked back to Kaitlyn.

“Course I do, love,” he lied. “Just have to put the statue back to the very spot from whence it came.”

“We have to sail back to Arigate Island?”

“That is where we found it, darling. It wouldn't do us any good to leave it anywhere else, now would it?”

Kaitlyn sat silently, thinking over what he was saying. Could it really be that simple to remove a curse? A deeper realization suddenly hit her and she looked back to Jack who had nearly finished off his second glass of rum since she had sat down. “I can't let you do that,” she said. “Captain Ackhart will be out looking for you soon and he expects his payment. Not to mention the crew is not going to be happy that they've wasted months looking for the statue.”

Jack smirked to himself, for neither of those thoughts had escaped him. Finally, he lifted himself onto slightly unsteady feet and stepped around the table so that he was looking down at her. “Guess I have a bit in common with ol' Saez, eh, love? Got debts to pay and a crew that will undoubtedly mutiny when they find out I'm givin' away their share of the spoils.”

Kaitlyn stood, unsure Jack should be trying to walk anywhere on his own. “And that led to both of them dying, if you recall. There has to be another way, we can't just return the statue.”

“It's only a trinket, love,” he said and then turned and unsteadily started walking towards the door, leaving her standing there alone. He had already had her life in his hands once and he had chosen himself and the crew over her. This time was different, he had no idea what would happen if they sold the statue or if it was taken by someone else. He wasn't even entirely certain whom the curse was upon. Jack hoped that returning the statue would take care of the curse and then he would simply allow his crew more opportunities to plunder and pillage. Hopefully, it would keep them content. Ackhart was another story, but he would deal with that when the time came.

Jack stumbled outside and started walking down the busy path, his rum soaked brain now wondering if Isidro Saez had finally found some sort of validation for his own life...and his death.

* * *

Kaitlyn sat back down in the chair and stared at the door after Jack left. She could tell that he didn't want to be bothered and she had no real desire to head straight back to the ship. It had been weeks since she had been on dry land and it was nice to have the change of scenery, even if it amounted to nothing more than a run down tavern full of drunks and harlots. After a few moments she saw someone set a drink down in front of her and looked up to see Luisa standing there smirking.

“You look like you could use one of these,” she said.

“Thanks you,” Kaitlyn replied and took a small drink from the glass. The rum tasted much smoother to her than the first few times she had tried it and assumed that she was finally acquiring a taste for it. The thought of her parents seeing how she was living now almost made her laugh. Her father would simply be outraged beyond belief, but it was quite possible that her mother would faint and then suffer a nervous breakdown.

“Nina didn't have good news for you?”

“I'm really not certain. She wanted to speak to Captain Sparrow, not to me. He didn't offer to tell me what had been said.” Luisa nodded but said nothing. It really wasn't her place to intrude and she didn't usually like getting involved with things involving Nina to begin with. She liked the old woman but did her best to avoid getting becoming overly familiar with her beliefs.

“Looks like some of your crew has finally wandered in.”

Kaitlyn watched as Marty and Cotton came inside and looked around the tavern. It seemed that they were looking for someone so she stood and walked over.

“Where's the captain?” Marty asked immediately.

“You just missed him,” she replied. She could tell there was a reason that they wanted to talk to Jack and she wasn't entirely sure that talking to Jack would do anyone any good until he sobered up a bit anyway. “Is something wrong?”

“The lad went and got himself arrested,” Marty answered. Kaitlyn stared down at him for a moment and then glanced at Cotton who remained silent as always.

“You mean Dallin?” She had to assume that was whom he was referring to. He was the only young man on the ship.

“Aye.”

“Where's Mr. Gibbs?”

“Don't know,” Marty shrugged. “Wasn't with us.”

“How in the world did Dallin get himself arrested?” Kaitlyn glanced at Cotton as he brought his hand up to his mouth and made a few motions to indicate that Dallin had been drinking.

“Too much rum. Got in a fight,” Marty said.

“Surely it was just a misunderstanding,” she said reasonably. “We should simply explain what happened and see if they'll let him go.” Marty glanced up at Cotton with a reluctant look but said nothing.

“What?” Kaitlyn asked when he didn't reply.

“Pirates ain't welcome at ports like this one,” Marty said simply.

“They won't have to know that he's a pirate.” Again she was met with silence, neither indicating that they intended to help Dallin in any way.

“You're not just going to leave him there?” She asked in bewilderment.

“Let the captain decide what to do,” Marty replied and then looked up at Cotton before motioning back outside. The two both turned and walked back out the door, the parrot tossing comments back into the tavern as they left. Kaitlyn stood silently for a moment before her attention was drawn to a man chuckling. She turned to see an older man, probably in his early fifties, watching her with a silly grin on his face.

“Is there something that you find funny?” She inquired.

“Sounds like you're in the wrong business, lass,” he replied. She stared at him, unsure what to make of his comment. There was a glass sitting in front of him but he seemed to be mostly coherent. His clothes were old and worn, but not tattered and dirty like most sailors, leading her to believe he lived and worked at the port and not on the sea. His brown hair was almost shoulder length and most of it was pulled back from his face, leaving strands of fading gray visible. His face showed his age, though his skin didn't seem nearly as worn as most sea men's, probably because he spent much less time in the sun.

“What's that supposed to mean?” She finally managed to ask.

“You're not just going to leave him there?” The man mocked in a rather disturbing, high pitched voice; though his accent was perfect imitation of hers. “I didn't realize they were recruiting proper little British girls onto pirate ships these days. Must be getting desperate.”

“Or maybe they realized that 'proper little British girls' are twice as smart as most pirates and don't smell nearly as bad,” she countered, not entirely sure why his comments were getting on her nerves.

“Yes, but they're twice as loud,” he countered with a mischievous grin, “at least, as near as I can tell.”

“Did you have a point to make?” She finally asked. He was getting far too much enjoyment from mocking her and she still had no idea where to find anyone else.

“Not particularly,” he said. “Thought you were running off to save your crew mate?”

“I don't know where he is,” she answered.

“The little bloke said he was arrested. Be my guess that they put him in jail.”

“I am well aware they took him to jail, I don't know where that is,” she informed him curtly. The man grinned and then finished off his drink and stood.

“Well, why didn't you say so, Missy? I'd be happy to show you where the cells are. Can't wait to see how a little British pirate girl goes about rescuing her crew mates.” Kaitlyn stood staring at the strange older man for a moment, not sure she wanted to go anywhere with him but she also knew that Jack would be relatively useless for the time being and it would be easier than wandering around looking for Mr. Gibbs or the jail.

“I suppose I don't have much of a choice,” she relented with a sigh.

“That's the spirit, love,” he said.

“My name is Kaitlyn,” she corrected.

“We're exchanging pleasantries now are we? Well, in that case, my name is Lennox Dunngal. I just go by Lenny.”

“We should be going then, Mr. Dunngal,” she said intentionally. He smirked and followed her outside then stood silently while she looked in both directions then finally turned and looked at him expectantly.

“The jail?”

“Oh right... this way,” he said and started walking off to the northern side of the port. Kaitlyn followed behind him, keeping a safe distance between the two of them in case she should need to get away from him. She was intelligent enough to know that going off alone with strange men wasn't a smart idea.

“How is it that such a proper lass ended up on a pirate ship?”

“I commandeered it,” she said dryly. Lenny chuckled at her answer and then continued walking until they reached an old stone building. It was dark and didn't seem to have anyone around.

“Where are the guards?” She questioned.

“This isn't a heavily guarded port, lass, most of 'em are probably in a tavern or brothel at this hour.” Kaitlyn looked over at him and could see a mischievous look in his eyes.

“So that's why you weren't bothered about showing me where the cells were,” she acknowledged. Kaitlyn stepped inside, prepared to carry on a sensible conversation with anyone that was there, but it did seem empty. Lenny walked in behind her and let out a nostalgic sigh.

“This place brings back memories.”

“Were you a guard?” She inquired as she started towards the stairs that led down to the cells.

“More of a patron,” he answered. Kaitlyn turned and cocked an eyebrow, not sure she wanted him to elaborate further. “I haven't been old forever, lass.”

She was surprised to see very few men in the jail cells, most of them seemed to be trying to sleep, the other's interest seemed perked the second she and Lenny walked into the room.

“Kaitlyn?” Dallin hauled himself up from his place on the floor and walked over to the bars. “What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing getting yourself arrested?” She countered. She could tell that he had been drinking but he was still coherent and seemed rational.

“Who's he?” Dallin asked and nodded towards Lenny.

“Name's Lenny,” he answered and then looked at Kaitlyn. “You do know the lad needs to be on the outside of the cell to get away?” Lenny stifled a grin at the less than amused look on her face then stood silently as she turned to find the keys.

“Why do they even bother locking these men up?” Kaitlyn questioned when she returned and started fumbling through the ring of keys. It's not as though it hadn't been quite simple for them to walk in and get the keys to the cells.

“They keep it guarded if need be,” Lenny answered. Most of the men sitting in the cells were likely drunks that had been causing trouble, not worth the guards' efforts. Kaitlyn tried a couple of the keys and then gave a frustrated huff.

“Yer doing it all arseways,” Lenny said and took the keys from her. “Some pirate you are, lass.”

“Kaitlyn's not a pirate she's a translator,” Dallin informed him.

“You're not doing a much better job at being a pirate than I am,” she argued. They stared each other down for a moment and then turned when they heard a loud jingling noise. Lenny was standing there with his arm outstretched above his head dangling the keys, staring up at them as if that would some how tell him which key was the right one.

“Gotta love the devil that invented the key,” he said, as though keys were the single greatest discovery in this history of great discoveries. Dallin cocked an eyebrow curiously and looked to Kaitlyn who simply shrugged. It was becoming quickly apparent that their new companion either had more to drink that he had let on or he lacked at least some part of his sanity.

“Ah, here we go,” he said and took a key. His brow furrowed when it didn't open the door and he pulled it out and began fumbling with them again. He tried a second key to no avail. “No, that's not it.” He continued to mull over the ring of keys, muttering to himself incoherently. “Who invented these bloody things anyway?” He finally growled in annoyance.

“And I'm the one that was doing it all arseways?” Kaitlyn asked sarcastically. Dallin finally reached through and grabbed the keys away from Lenny and started fumbling with them himself.

“If I left it up to the two of you, I'd never get out of here,” he muttered.

“Serves you right, you shouldn't have gotten yourself arrested in the first place,” Kaitlyn countered. Dallin snapped the lock open then slipped out of the cell.

“Shall we?” He asked.

“Lead the way, lad. You are the pirate here, after all.” Lenny said as he motioned Dallin ahead.

“I'm just as much a pirate as you are,” Kaitlyn muttered almost childishly as she followed Dallin up the stairs.

“Captain Sparrow won't even allow you to-” He stopped abruptly as he got to the main door and it was shoved open. A couple of men were standing there, apparently trying to figure out who they were and what they were doing there. Complete silence hung in the air as everyone stood contemplating each other. It was obvious that the two men were supposed to be guarding the prisoners and also that they had had a bit to drink during their absence.

“This isn't my shop,” Lenny said with feigned shock and looked around the room in mock confusion. Kaitlyn rolled her eyes at the pathetic attempt at an excuse.

“You,” one of the men pointed at Dallin. “You're supposed to be down in a cell.”

“No I'm not,” Dallin said. It was easy to see that the men were just inebriate enough that confusing them wouldn't be difficult.

“You're not, eh?”

“No, he's not,” Kaitlyn agreed. “He was granted pardon.” Both men looked at her, clearly confused but also suspicious.

“Pardon for a drunken brawl?” The man asked sarcastically.

“Yes, I have the papers right here,” Kaitlyn said and stepped towards them. The man looked at her questioningly as she approached but she merely smiled and then stomped down hard on his foot before shoving him into the other guard. Both lost their already unsteady footing and stumbled out the door and into the dirt.

“Run!” She took off running out the door, quickly followed by Dallin and, surprisingly, Lenny who was able to keep up despite his age.

“Was that pirate enough for you?” She asked as she rounded a corner and stopped to catch her breath. She had changed back into her dress before leaving the ship so that she would fit in better at the port, but now she wished she was wearing her ship attire more than ever.

“There gonna be out searching for us now,” Lenny warned them.

“We should get back out to the ship,” Dallin said logically. Kaitlyn began to nod and then shushed the other two when they heard people coming down the street. The only sound was the labored breathing coming from each of them but it seemed to be magnified by the silence around them. There were men moving in their direction, talking amongst themselves in a hushed tone, leading Kaitlyn to believe they were searching for someone.

“This way,” Lenny said under his breath and started leading them further down the dark alleyway. Kaitlyn did her best to pretend that she couldn't hear small creatures scurrying about and she was very thankful they didn't have any sort of torch or lantern to illuminate the rodents she was certain were now around her feet. They came out on a darker, more run down looking street that wasn't nearly as lively as the ones nearer the docks where the taverns were. “In here.” He quietly led them inside a large, stone hovel that looked like it could collapse on itself at any moment. Inside the smell of cheap whiskey, smoke and perfume lingered. There were a few women waiting around for customers, each one seeming to be trying to wear more paint and lavish attire than the next.

“I am not hiding in a brothel,” Kaitlyn informed them both.

“Would you prefer to hide in a cell?” Lenny asked. “You did help spring a prisoner and assaulted two guards, lass.” She turned and looked to Dallin but the boy simply shrugged. Kaitlyn could already see why Lenny was so eager to stop at this particular brothel; he appeared to be one of their regular customers. She took another look around and then sighed heavily.

“I suppose I don't have much of a choice then, do I?”