Long, long ago...
João Pardal, at the ripe age of ten, was headed to the place known not so long ago as the New World. Never before in his life had he been away from Portugal, beyond a few measly trips over land to his mother's home village in Spain that hardly counted at all. Pai, however, told stories of France and Africa, where he travelled sometimes as a map-maker, and quickly sold his son on following in his footsteps. João Pardal, son of Davi Pardal, world famous cartographer! The boy decided this at seven, the same age his bratty baby sister, Eva, was now, and never looked back.
Now, though, was the first time that any of the Pardal family were going to set foot in the colonies, and João was determined to be the first one off the ship when it landed. He would make his mark, become a great map-maker like Pai, and also a great explorer, and also one more thing. The past few weeks onboard ship had changed the future's plans slightly; sail and sea called lovingly and João gladly answered back. Constantly under the sailors' feet, he wanted to know everything and refused to rest until they chased him away.
Mere João Pardal would no simple cartographer be, it was decided when he asked himself. No, instead he would become Capitão João Pardal; explorer, map-maker, and bravest sea captain ever to sail uncharted waters!
*****
Two weeks after coming to this exciting decision, João found himself under fire. Pirates had attacked his ship. When Naval aid finally arrived, they discovered burning debris and no survivors. The ship's records were recovered, and a body count was taken. Quickly they discovered that, along with a small portion of able-bodied sailors, the two children aboard were also missing.
Over the next five years, many of these sailors were hanged for piracy, though some returned to working for merchants having escaped the pirate life; the fates of the children, however, were never discovered.
*****
Jack's earliest memory of his father, and of being Jack, was the Black Pearl. In fact, his start as Jack Sparrow dawned the day she was commissioned to be built. No, true, that was wrong. She wasn't the Black Pearl then, and he wasn't sure how long he'd been Jack Sparrow, either. In his mind, though, he already called her that name, Pearl, as he gazed at the designs for her. Wicked Wench was no name for such a beautiful lady.
Teague, the man who might be his father, gave them to him as a welcome-to-waking present. Whatever that meant, it had to be the kindest thing the man ever did for anyone. True, waking up to being Jack Sparrow took about a week, and a lot of care from Amadi (the woman who must be his mother). Doing so, however, and studying those copied, stolen plans gave Jack Sparrow new meaning.
As far as he knew, Jack always wanted to be a pirate. No pirate, however, could possibly sail this beautiful ship when it was built. The Wench would belong to the East India Trading Company, and everyone knew their hatred of pirates. No, only an honest man would be able to sail this beautiful lady. Irrefutably, more deeply than Jack wanted to follow in his father's footsteps as a cartographer and pirate, he had to captain that ship.
Someday, mere Jack Sparrow would no longer be a pirate. He would be an explorer, a cartographer, the captain of his beautiful pearl, the Wicked Wench. Jack Sparrow, scummy pirate, would become Captain Jack Sparrow; explorer, cartographer, privateer, and the most famous captain ever to sail the seven seas!
Now, though, was the first time that any of the Pardal family were going to set foot in the colonies, and João was determined to be the first one off the ship when it landed. He would make his mark, become a great map-maker like Pai, and also a great explorer, and also one more thing. The past few weeks onboard ship had changed the future's plans slightly; sail and sea called lovingly and João gladly answered back. Constantly under the sailors' feet, he wanted to know everything and refused to rest until they chased him away.
Mere João Pardal would no simple cartographer be, it was decided when he asked himself. No, instead he would become Capitão João Pardal; explorer, map-maker, and bravest sea captain ever to sail uncharted waters!
*****
Two weeks after coming to this exciting decision, João found himself under fire. Pirates had attacked his ship. When Naval aid finally arrived, they discovered burning debris and no survivors. The ship's records were recovered, and a body count was taken. Quickly they discovered that, along with a small portion of able-bodied sailors, the two children aboard were also missing.
Over the next five years, many of these sailors were hanged for piracy, though some returned to working for merchants having escaped the pirate life; the fates of the children, however, were never discovered.
*****
Jack's earliest memory of his father, and of being Jack, was the Black Pearl. In fact, his start as Jack Sparrow dawned the day she was commissioned to be built. No, true, that was wrong. She wasn't the Black Pearl then, and he wasn't sure how long he'd been Jack Sparrow, either. In his mind, though, he already called her that name, Pearl, as he gazed at the designs for her. Wicked Wench was no name for such a beautiful lady.
Teague, the man who might be his father, gave them to him as a welcome-to-waking present. Whatever that meant, it had to be the kindest thing the man ever did for anyone. True, waking up to being Jack Sparrow took about a week, and a lot of care from Amadi (the woman who must be his mother). Doing so, however, and studying those copied, stolen plans gave Jack Sparrow new meaning.
As far as he knew, Jack always wanted to be a pirate. No pirate, however, could possibly sail this beautiful ship when it was built. The Wench would belong to the East India Trading Company, and everyone knew their hatred of pirates. No, only an honest man would be able to sail this beautiful lady. Irrefutably, more deeply than Jack wanted to follow in his father's footsteps as a cartographer and pirate, he had to captain that ship.
Someday, mere Jack Sparrow would no longer be a pirate. He would be an explorer, a cartographer, the captain of his beautiful pearl, the Wicked Wench. Jack Sparrow, scummy pirate, would become Captain Jack Sparrow; explorer, cartographer, privateer, and the most famous captain ever to sail the seven seas!