Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 430 This is the voice of the people!
His voice became light and playful, giving the story a lighthearted start.

Lionel first describes the bright scenery of Port Royal, and the governor's beautiful but rebellious daughter, Elizabeth Swann.

Lionel highlights her yearning for freedom and her budding affection for blacksmith Will Turner.

Although Will Turner was of humble status, he was very upright and brave. Elizabeth rescued him from the sea, and the two had been childhood sweethearts.

To a late 19th-century audience, this setting was both romantic and thrilling, a challenge to class distinctions.

Lionel lowered his voice:

However, Miss Elizabeth was unaware that the gold coin belonging to Will that she had secretly hidden was no ordinary coin.
"That was a cursed Aztec gold coin, a gift from hell."

Next, Captain Jack Sparrow makes his appearance.

Lionel used incredibly vivid body language to mimic how Jack skillfully steered a sinking little boat into Port Royal and onto the dock...

This series of quirky and humorous actions immediately elicited a burst of lighthearted laughter in the recreation room.

Especially when Lionel imitated Jack's signature orchid finger gesture, even the usually serious Edmond de Goncourt couldn't help but laugh.

Maupassant leaned close to Huysmann's ear and whispered, his mustache twitching with interest: "This pirate is interesting."

The story moves quickly—Elizabeth's gold coin accidentally falls into the sea, and upon contact with the seawater, it unleashes a cursed spell.

When Lionel described the Black Pearl breaking through the thick fog and appearing silently on the moonlit sea like a ghost, the relaxed atmosphere instantly froze.

Several women instinctively leaned closer to their male companions.

The cursed crew members came ashore, their ghostly appearances particularly terrifying, and their movements were utterly silent.

Lionel emphasized the bizarre scene—

"They were impervious to swords and bullets. Bullets passed through their bodies as if they were passing through a fog, taking away only a few tattered pieces of cloth, but not harming them in the slightest."

The truth behind the curse is revealed in a cave on the island—

The greedy traitor Barbossa and his crew were punished for eternity for stealing Aztec gold coins.

"They are not dead, but they are no longer alive. They feel no pain, nor any pleasure. Fine wine tastes bland, delicacies taste like wax, and they feel nothing when they touch gold and jewels."

They exist between life and death; they are the most pitiful prisoners!

This alternative interpretation of "immortality" prompted writers like Zola to engage in reading comprehension exercises.

In their view, Lionel is not just telling an adventure story; he is now lashing out at human greed.

Lionel narrated the following events with great pacing and rhythm.

To save Elizabeth, Will is forced to cooperate with Captain Jack Sparrow, whom he had just betrayed; Jack's "pirate code" rhetoric is both comical and bizarre.

They found Jack's old friend, recruited a bunch of oddballs, and stole HMS Intercept, the fastest new ship in the British Navy, and set sail...

Each twist elicited gasps or chuckles from the audience.

Lionel's description of the Black Pearl and the Interceptor chasing and battling in the storm is particularly vivid.

"Cannonballs whistled, sawdust flew everywhere, and Captain Jack stood at the swaying bow of the ship, not commanding with composure, but rather as if he were performing an elegant dance."

He dodged the flying shards, muttering repeatedly, 'This is not good!'...

This ability to maintain a sense of humor even in times of crisis has made Captain Jack Sparrow's image even more memorable.

The events on the deserted island are even more exciting.

Elizabeth used her wisdom and courage to outmaneuver Jack, cleverly getting most of the pirates drunk, thus creating an opportunity for Will's rescue.

Her independence and decisiveness won the approval of many women present.

When Will heroically rescues her, and Jack seizes the opportunity to try and take the treasure for himself, the audience gains a more comprehensive understanding of these three characters.

Will is loyal and brave, Elizabeth is intelligent and strong, and Jack is both righteous and wicked, with a unique charm.

The climax unfolds in the treasure cave.

Barbossa is enraged when he discovers that Elizabeth's blood cannot break the curse, and Will, in order to save his lover, goes so far as to admit that he is the son of "Shoelace Bill"...

Finally, Barbossa betrayed his promise and uttered the famous line: "Welcome to the Caribbean!"

Elizabeth lit the rum to create chaos and signal a move, while Jack improvised...

Lionel skillfully weaves together multiple storylines and battles using his masterful narration.

He completely captivated the audience!

As Will and Elizabeth fought side by side amidst the chaos of battle, someone clenched their fist;
When Barbossa abandoned the two men on the deserted island, a chorus of indignant whispers arose.

When Elizabeth lit the billowing smoke signal, admiration gleamed in the eyes of the ladies.
When Commodore Norrington led the navy into battle against the pirates, and Jack and Barbossa faced off in their final showdown, the entire entertainment room fell silent...

Only Lionel's voice and the faint sound of waves outside the window could be heard. The most exciting moment was when the curse was lifted—

"The last pirate coin, stained with Will Turner's blood, eventually returned to the stone chest... Under the moonlight, Barbossa and his crew underwent a strange transformation!"

They were no longer hideous skeletons; their skin regained its color, their hearts began to beat again, and they could feel the cool sea breeze and smell the pungent gunpowder...

They've finally come back to life!

However, coming back to life also means being able to be killed.

"The instant Barbossa regained his senses, Captain Jack Sparrow pulled out the only pistol he'd been given when he was exiled to the desert island, a sly smile on his face. 'I've kept this bullet for thirteen years.'"

Lionel mimicked Jack's tone: "'Now, it's returned to its rightful owner.'"

"boom!"

As Lionel's simulated gunshot rang out, it was as if a real bullet had pierced Barbosa's heart.

Almost simultaneously, a collective sigh of relief rang out in the recreation room, followed by enthusiastic applause!

The ending was equally satisfying and left a lasting impression.

Will and Elizabeth finally got married; Captain Jack successfully escaped the hanging and jumped into the sea to board his "Black Pearl".

He took the helm and compass from the first mate and set sail again onto the boundless sea.

"...He stood at the stern of the ship, watching Brigadier General Norrington and Governor Swann come to arrest him on the dock, and gracefully gave a farewell."

Then, he adjusted the course, and the 'Black Pearl' unfurled its ghostly sails, riding the wind, and sped off towards the free and unknown sea…

The story ended, and the recreation room was eerily silent.

Everyone was still immersed in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" world created by Lionel.

immediately--

An unprecedented burst of applause and cheers erupted in the cabin!
The sound was so intense and so persistent that it almost lifted the ceiling, drowning out all the waves of the sea and the roar of machines.

The gentlemen forgot their reserve and clapped vigorously, their palms turning red.

The ladies' cheeks were flushed, and their eyes sparkled with excitement;
Even the crew members standing in the corner couldn't help but grin and clap their hands vigorously.

In particular, Captain Jack Sparrow cleverly thwarted the conspiracy of the British Navy and the East India Company, ultimately reclaiming the Black Pearl and escaping justice...

On this ship, which was almost entirely composed of French people, the ending received near-fanatical approval from the entire audience, who felt extremely satisfied!
What could make the French happier than seeing one of their own, with his uninhibited and witty ways, play the mighty British Empire like a puppet?

Although Lionel never stated Jack Sparrow's nationality, since the character was created by a French-speaking novelist and his behavior fits the French imagination of a "genius madman," then this captain must be French!
Zola, Maupassant, Daudet, Goncourt, Huysmann, and others were also completely stunned, exchanging incredulous glances and even forgetting to applaud.

They never expected that Lionel could tell such an "unconventional" yet brilliant "pirate legend"!
Although it sounds like a bestselling novel, pursuing excitement, dramatic plots, and targeting a wide audience... it's somewhat similar to "The Count of Monte Cristo" or "The Secret of Paris".

However, the vividness of the characters, the ingenuity of the plot twists and turns, the grand scale of the background setting, and the terrifying effect created by combining them with the mysterious and eerie curse of the dead...

It's completely unmatched by any other bestselling novel of this era!
Even Alexandre Dumas never created an "anti-hero" as charismatic as Jack Sparrow.

It also surpasses Jules Verne, who wrote many science fiction novels on the theme of sailing, not to mention Eugène Sue, who wrote "The Secret of Paris".

What surprised them even more was that Lionel had even crammed his consistent anti-colonial ideology into what should have been a very superficial adventure story.

The story portrays the greed, brutality, and hypocrisy of the East India Company and British colonists, while also celebrating a "pirate-like" spirit of freedom.

All of this gives this adventure story a depth and sharpness that critiques reality, which is simply incredible!

Maupassant was the first to recover from the shock: "My God, Léon...you...you bastard! Captain Jack Sparrow! Damn, I love this character so much!"

He broke all the rules! Yet you can't hate him, you love him to death! What's wrong with your brain? How could you design such a character!

He grabbed Lionel's arm excitedly and shook it violently, his beard sticking up to his ears.

Zola slowly exhaled a breath of stale air: "Lionel, you have proven that the charm of a story does not lie in whether the subject matter is 'highbrow' or 'lowbrow'."

But it lies in the way the story is told, in the vitality of the characters, and in the author's reflections. The setting of the curse is particularly ingenious!

Barbossa and his ilk were not seeking wealth, but rather a feeling, the right to 'live' and then 'die' again!

This is far more profound than simply searching for treasure!

That evening, just as Lionel was about to tell another nautical story, the audience protested, chanting in unison:

"Jack Sparrow! Jack Sparrow! Jack Sparrow!... We want to hear the story of Jack Sparrow!"

Maupassant burst into laughter: "Léon, did you hear that? This is the cry of the people!"

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(End of this chapter)