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time know it is red over white. And they must be tied to your person. Do this all and hold the eye. Only when you are ready, only when you know you need to. No sooner."Jack placed the beads in separate pockets of his vest, just to make sure they wouldn't accidentally catch on a thread and touch, thereby unleashing the stone's power whatever that power might be. As unlikely as that seemed, Jack didn't want to risk it."Thank you, milady," Jack said, bowing.
    He moved to leave, but Tia Dalma grabbed his arm."Do not be fooled. Do not be arrogant. You are not safe yet, Jack Sparrow," she said, looking him in the eyes. She stared at him a moment and raised her eyebrows warningly."Very well," Jack said uncomfortably. "I will be seeing you soon.""Yes," Tia Dalma said, "you will, surely. And you will bring with you my payment."Jack grimaced."Take this as a parting gift," Tia Dalma said, handing Jack a bundle of dried herbs."What is it?" Jack asked."A rare magical herb called catnip," Tia Dalma answ ered. "It can undo what it has done. And it can redo what it has undone," Tia Dalma said, winking.Jack smiled, then quickly left Tia Dalma's shack. He jumped into his longboat and rowed toward the Grand Barnacle, a t the mouth of the river.
     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
    In what seemed like no time at all, Jack was again in sight of the shores of Isla Fortuna. The island was a sight to behold. From a mile away at sea, Jack could see the sandy beaches and tall palms covered in a thick blanket of snow. The sun shone brightly on the surrounding sea, but over the island hung a thick covering of grey clouds. The snow was still falling heavily, and dr ifts blanketed the sand dunes. The small town of Puerto San Judas was still empty of people. Only the small inn near the town square was active. A thick plume of smoke billowed from the chimney. Jack knew his crew was still holed up in there. He also knew that apart from his crew there was at least one other soul upon the island--the phantom of Cortes himself. Jack wondered if Cortes was still standing upon the hilltop cemetery where Jack had left him.
    Jack pointed the Sword at the island, "Land ho, mate!" he shouted, and the ship sped into port, docking beautifully."Couldn't have done it better myself," Jack said to the Sword. He gripped the eye of Stone-Eyed Sam in his left hand and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the Sword of Cortes with his right.
    "Ready or not, here I come," Jack said, less confidently than he would have liked.He tapped the gangplank with the Sword, and it was lowered onto the dock. As he descended the ramp, Arabella, Jean, and Fitzwilliam ran toward the boat. Arabella and Jean had wrapped themselves in blankets to keep warm. Fitzwilliam was wearing a fine coat. Jack could never figure out how that boy's clothes stayed so pristine, and how he managed to look dapper even in the most severe circumstances."Jack!" Arabella called out. "It's been days! Where have ye been?"
    "Days, lass?" Jack asked sincerely. "Felt like no more than a few hours."
    "It has been all we could do just to keep warm. You took the only boat in port, so we could not even sail to the warm ocean just one hundred feet offshore. We have been subsisting on s craps of food left here by the people of this island before they vanished." Fitzwilliam said."And Tumen's condition has worsened," Arabella told him."Jack," Jean said somberly, "we don't think he's going to make it."Jack shook his head. "Oh, ye of little faith!" he said confidently. "I have all the power of the Caribbean here in my hands. We'll fix everything right away, including this nasty weather," he said dusting some snow off his shirt."With all due respect, 'Captain,'" Fitzwilliam said sarcastically, "that does not address the situation at hand. What good is all the power in the universe, if your crew is starving, freezing, and dying? Were it not for the fire at the inn, we would already be dead. Caribbean structures were not me ant for this kind of