Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

again, this time with the back of his hand. It wasn’t a very hard blow, as
such things went, but it rocked him, and it stung. Jack shook his head,
trying to focus.
“My captains,” Beckett said, still examining the ring, turning it in
his fingers, “have informed me that they have been sailing fruitlessly in
circles for days now. Kerma is there, it must be there, but they can’t
find it. But you found it. Damn you, Sparrow!”
He spat in Jack’s face.
Jack felt the thick, hot spittle hit him, perilously close to his eye,
and was grateful it wasn’t another blow.
Beckett held the ring up. “Who gave this to you? That ugly old
crone, that seamstress? I’ll bet you charmed her, Jack. I’ll bet you did
anything it took to get her to take you to Zerzura. You probably
seduced her, seduced that hideous black thing, Jack, because you
have no integrity, no decency, no honor. You disgust me.” With a
casual flip of his wrist, Beckett tossed the ring over the side of the ship.
Jack closed his eyes, grieving, bereft. Now he’d never find Kerma
—or Amenirdis—again. His lovely, courageous princess…He’d never
again kiss her sweet mouth, or hold her in his arms. He’d never again
hear her laugh….
He took a deep breath, and it hurt. After a moment, Jack opened
his eyes to find Beckett just standing there, staring at him, as if
somehow realizing that something significant had occurred—but of
course he didn’t understand what he’d done.
Beckett motioned to the marines, and they returned to the
captives. Then he nodded to Mercer. “Mr. Mercer, it’s time. First, we
warn the world of what Captain Sparrow truly is. Then we punish him.”
Mercer nodded at the marines, and two of them stepped over to
grasp Robby’s arms. “Cut their bonds,” the Scotsman instructed. “Just
in case they decide to go over the side to save us the trouble of
hauling them back to England, and prison.”
Quickly, Jack and Robby’s hands were freed. Two marines held
Robby and the other four clustered around Jack. Three held him, while
the fourth used his knife to cut Jack’s shirt, then, with a sudden yank,
ripped it off him. Mercer went over to the brazier. Picking up a rag, he
grasped the end of the rod, lifting it from the glowing coals. Jack saw