Norrington found it a struggle to keep himself from pacing the shoreline. There really was nothing to do except watch and wait for the Black Pearl to either approach or turn away. Much to his dismay, it seemed as if the Pearl were intent on her course straight towards where the Navy longboats had landed. To stave off madness, Norrington occupied his mind with making a list of people he would rather encounter than Jack Sparrow. It was a long list.

Norrington had sent Briggs back to the village without fully informing him of the situation. He thought it best not to raise an alarm before it was due. Lieutenant Groves had gone back to the town as well, to oversee activities there as well as to rest his sore ankle. Gillette remained on the beach, clearly antsy, but refraining from strained conversation because it was clear the commodore wasn't in a talking mood.

The Black Pearl anchored, and pirates in longboats made their way to the beach. Jack stood at the head of one, his back to the shore, gesturing madly at the two crew members burdened with the task of rowing. The boat reached the sand and stopped with a lurch. Jack was knocked off his balance, and though he fought valiantly to regain it, he ultimately toppled backwards and landed unceremoniously in the sand. The pirate lay dazed for a moment, frowning as if confused as to why his feet were above him, and apparently still oblivious to the fact that he was not alone.

Norrington approached and peered with what he hoped was a menacing frown down at Jack. Jack's eyes widened, and there was a muffled exclamation of, "Bugger!" as the pirate scrambled to his feet, spewing sand in every direction. He scrambled to climb back into the boat, frantically shouting to his men to turn around.

"Mister Sparrow," Norrington said. He spoke in his best tone of command, having resolved to exploit the upper hand and the element of surprise while he still had them.

Jack froze. He turned around slowly, cautiously, and faced Norrington with his best Jack Sparrow grin. "Norrington, mate, why didn't you say you were dropping by for a visit?"

"I'm sorry, is this a bad time?" Norrington asked ironically.

"You could say that." Jack gave up on the boat and took a few steps towards Norrington.

"I don't suppose you'd care to elaborate as to why."

Jack laughed nervously and cast a glance past Norrington. "I see you've brought your charming lieutenant with you."

"We've got more up at the village, pirate," Gillette taunted.

Jack's face took on an expression of mild panic. "The village?"

"You know of it?" Norrington asked.

"All right, you win. How did you find me?" Jack demanded.

Norrington's frown of intimidation slipped. "Find you?" he repeated.

"I've hidden that little place for years, and I'll have you know it wasn't easy." Jack turned away, clearly distraught. "No one knows of this location, no one! Not even..." He stopped suddenly, and looked sharply back at Norrington. He seemed to relax, and the grin returned. "Commodore," he said slowly, once again approaching Norrington. "I don't see your ship."

"Well, I was hardly going to leave it out in the open for you to find."

"Then I don't suppose you'd like to tell me where you've anchored it, now?"

"Of course not."

"Aha!" Jack cried, pointing at Norrington with both index fingers. "That's because you haven't got one, have you?"

"Don't be absurd."

"Don't lie to me, Commodore," Jack scolded. He wiggled his finger in Norrington's face. "You're trapped here. You and your fine men, marooned on this island with no ship." The thought seemed to amuse him greatly, and he turned to his crew and shouted, "Hear that, gents? The Commodore hasn't got a ship! What do you think of that?"

There were snickers from the members of Jack's crew.

Norrington gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to simply deck the pirate, resisting only because he knew it would result in getting himself shot by one of the pirates. "If that were true, how would I have managed to arrive here?" Norrington countered, making a last desperate attempt to prolong the inevitable.

Jack spun to face him. "Easy," he said. "Sea turtles."

Norrington frowned at the daft pirate. "Sea turtles?" he repeated.

"Been done before."

"You're mad."

Jack grinned. "But I have a ship."


Norrington could only stand back and watch as the pirates unloaded their own supplies onto the beach. Jack also stood by passively, intermittently shouting random instructions which were all but ignored.

"Mister Sparrow," Norrington said, diverting the pirate's attention.

"Captain," Jack corrected, holding up a finger and pointing to himself. "Captain Jack Sparrow, if you don't mind."

Norrington ignored him. "I would appreciate it if you and your crew refrained from entering the village until I have had a chance to explain the situation to my men."

"And ruin the surprise?"

"Such a surprise would likely result in bloodshed, something I'm sure we would both like to avoid."

"Ah. Yes. Can't be starting a rivalry, now, can we, seeing as we're to be neighbors, eh?"

"Unless you know of any nearby town which could provide alternate accommodations for my crew."

"There's nothing for miles, mate, which is why I chose this little haven for my campground, as it were."

"Just as I feared." Norrington closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering what, exactly, he was going to say to his men. That they were to share quarters with a pirate crew? He sighed, knowing that was exactly what he would have to tell them, and not looking forward to it at all.

"That's it, Commodore," Jack said. "Just close your eyes and pretend it's all a dream."

Norrington opened his eyes and glared at the pirate.

Jack grinned and shrugged. "Or not." Then he frowned slightly as he studied the commodore's face. "You look bloody awful. What happened to you?"

"Wait here, Sparrow, until I come back." Norrington turned and started back up the path, with Gillette following just a few paces behind.


Enter Jack. Of course. And it's going to get even more interesting than that, so keep reading, my friends. As soon as I write more, that is. Reviews are my favorite. ;)