Chapter 2

Rough waves woke the pirate late in the afternoon as the small craft threatened to capsize as it neared a small island. Jack scrambled to his feet and quickly directed the dinghy towards the forest looming up out of the water.

Jack took his time examining the island before him. As far as islands go, it was fairly small. Not large enough to support a town, but perfect for a few people. The beach rose quickly out of the ocean and turned to thick forest, surely to be teaming with food and water. The pirate licked his lips at the thought of water. Not often was it that he wanted a drink of cool clean water more than a drink of rum.

On either side of the beach before him, cliffs rose sharply, creating a sheltering harbor. In this natural harbor bobbed one small boat, only slightly larger than the pirate's. Jack arched an eyebrow at this. then noticed the thin stream of smoke from the top of one of the cliffs. The other eyebrow joined its mate.

Minutes later Jack Sparrow had his ship on dry land and secured. He stood on the white sand, marveling at its purity, barely any mark marred its perfect texture. With a sway of his hips and a little spring in his step, the pirate made his way to the edge of the forest, in the direction of the rising smoke.