Chapter: Sunken Treasure
"ARGH!"
The pirate's chest slammed against the barrel of Long Tom. Bucking wildly, he pushed free. Four more bodies seized his back and drove him forward. The pirate's ribs cracked against the hot metal.
"Give up Sharkie," Gentleman Johnny urged his mate. Blonde hair swinging, the gentleman pirate wrestled Shark's powerful arm, "Capn wants a word."
"Ge te HELL!"
"Judicious recommendation, Mr. Shark."
Shark froze, his heart sprinting.
"Blister me…" Turk shuddered, his fat fists tightening around Shark's neck. The big pirate silently genuflected, "pray te ye angels Sharkie…pray hard."
Hacking against crushed ribs, Shark dug his fingernails into the barrel and cranked his head upright. A darkness flushed his face. Captain Hook.
A winter wind would have shivered. The captain regarded Shark acidly through black cigar smoke. Leisurely, he inhaled, the red fumes staining the cerulean eyes bloodshot. Shark's gaze moved down the burning cigar, tortoise-shell cigar holder, fingers…
Absurdly compelled by fear, Shark's eyes skipped to the captain's opposite side. His stomach cringed. The long hook smiled back.
"Quite a judicious sentence," continued Captain Hook, undaunted by the explosions jolting the hip, "especially for traitors and thieves. Treasure thieves. Don't you agree….Mr. Shark?"
Shark growled, his stomach filling the cannon's gun hole, "Ca-"
"I said-don't you agree, Mr. Shark?"
"Capn-"
"-Don't you agree," pressed the captain, his eyes flickering dangerously, "that a pirate who steals his shipmates' treasure and throws it over board should go to Hel—"
"CAPN!" Sweat bled from Sharks temples, "I di'nt! I—"
Sparks skittered as the hook slashed into the cannon. "Duplicitous scrogg!"
Shark recoiled, surprising Gentleman Johnny, Turk, and Black Murphy, and Scallop. Lurching back and forth, the crew threw their weight against Shark. Hook watched contemptuously as Shark wriggled like a fish caught in a strong current.
Marginally impressed, Hook toyed with his cigar. Shark was a compliment to his namesake, no doubt. Vigilant and merciless. Powerful and swift. And….Hooks eyes flickered; silent. The captain had overlooked Shark's independent streak, satisfied to let his pirate kill in isolation. The Shark's mind moved quickly and his attacks lasted only as long as the prey was not in his hands. Hook smiled. Silent and bloodthirsty; the perfect pirate.
But silence, Hook knew, was only calm before the storm. Behind Shark's mask was a sly fox, bearing its teeth at the litter. But Shark's crime was clear as the diamond chips stuck to his finger tips. Hook's mouth twitched. Sly fox, indeed. It was he who was the cleverest sea dog in the Neverseas. And it was he, the captain, who had Shark dangling off his hook.
"Mr. Smee?"
"Ye—yes Cap'n?" said Mr. Smee. The boatswain wrung his pudgy hands, peeking behind Hook's red doublet. Shark glanced up, blood caked over his lips. Hook paused, blowing two jets of smoke through his nostrils. He waited for the air to clear.
"Is Long Tom loaded?"
Shark's eyes dilated. Mr. Smee hummed apprehensively.
"Mr. Smee?"
"Ay…" Mr. Smee saluted weakly, "…aye, aye Capn."
"Delightful," said the captain. Hook lowered his cigar. Slowly and deliberately, the captain tapped the burning tip over the fuse vent, "Fire in the hole."
Shark jolted. The muzzle pressed against his stomach like an open mouth. He tore back and forth, bearing sharp teeth, "I din't—"
"Quite an extraordinary sight, I saw from the quarterdeck Mr. Shark," said the captain calmly. Again, he tapped the cigar. Embers flaked off, but the cannon did not detonate, "quite extraordinary. Can you imagine? A merman, heavy with golden treasure, swimming to and from the ship."
Tap.
"Capn—"
"And inexplicably," continued Hook, "this same merman disappeared, the treasure with him. But always his dark head reappeared portside. Yet the treasure…my treasure…"
Tap. Tap.
"…was gone."
"N—no—Capn—I d—"
"Where is my treasure, Mr. Shark?"
Tap. Tap. Tap. The length of fuse lit. The beach explosions roared.
"Put it out!" Rather than fight back, Shark swiped at the flame. Hook's jagged hand caught his fingers. Shark howled.
"Then speak!" hissed Hook. Smee bounced eagerly on his heels, licking his lower lip. "Oh we all saw him do the deed Capn! The scallywa—"
"Shut up Smee!"
The flame reflected in Shark's crazed eyes. It ran down the fuse, into the vent...
"Quickly, now." Hook said calmly, cigar poised over the fuse hole, "three…"
"Capn!"
"-two."
"I din't stea—"
"—one."
"I TOOK THE GOLD!" Shark screamed, "TE SAVE ME GIRL!"
The cannon detonated.
Hook surveyed the aftermath, impassively. The cannon stretched over the ocean, landing just short of that blasted merman. Hook squinted. The dam thing hadn't his treasure, but at least was trapped on the shore.
The deck was black where Long Tom had exploded. Shark's final desperate surge had saved his life…but scarcely. The cannon's impact had ripped that pirates apart, nearly hurling them through the deck. Shark had pitched furthest, his bare back laced with wooden splinters.
"Mr. Smee!"
Smee unplugged his ears. "Capn?"
"Dispatch the dinghies."
Smee smiled as Hook stepped over Scallop's moaning body, "take the crew fishing, shall I then Capn?"
Hook knelt over Shark. The immobile pirate hissed through his teeth as the captain took his throat.
"Fishing indeed Mr. Smee," Hook answered the boatswain. He placed the tip of his hook against the fleshy underside of Shark's chin, "Send the men ashore. Get that merman."
"Fish n'chips tonight!" Smee saluted happily, "all hands to the boats!"
Hook returned to Shark. Prick. A drop of blood slid down the hook, painting the metal red. "So. Mr. Shark, you throw my treasure to a fish, so he can escort it to the bottom of the sea?"
"F—fer me girl."
"Oh I beg your pardon," Hook mocked, "for your whore."
"Cut yer tongue, Bastard."
Hook's eyes narrowed, but part of him was amused.
"An inch into your head," Hook replied, sinking his hook deeper into Shark's skin, "and I'll cut out yours. You filthy-"
-white adipose puckered from the wound-
"-treacherous-"
"-sea witch, Capn!" Shark rasped, "me girl—she's a—mer—maid—mermaid."
Hook was intrigued, but alerted by something Shark had said. Without increasing pressure, the captain twisted the curve of this hook back and forth, "what's this about the sea witch?"
Shark's knuckles whitened. "Me girl—the witch—she's got—me girl—w-w-wants—treasure—trade."
A ransom. Hook drew back. "The sea witch..." repeated Hook. The captain spoke quietly at first, but crescendoed as the situation became transparent. "You are giving my treasure to the sea witch in exchange for your whore!? A mermaid?!"
Shark hollered as Hook sliced open his splintered back.
"And the sea witch!" bellowed Hook, plowing his foot into Shark's gut, "she's probably cursed the bloody ship and crawling underside the bloody keel you blasted-"
Shark curled into a ball, as Hook spun around. "Mr. Smee!" he barked, "toss this traitor in the brig!"
Blue eyes churning like a stormy sky, Hook a turned to face the shore. The merman was almost out of sight, dragging himself—and something else. Treasure?—across the burning beach. "And bring the fish to me."
Author's Note: Shark and Scallop are characters I have created (not part of the movies or books).
Wendy, the merman, and Peter return in the next chapter.
***I had a couple people ask me this: Which Wendy/Peter/Hook am I using? Well, truthfully I am a bad person and I am picking and choosing different traits from different movies...sorry all you purists out there. But when you boil it down, they are basically the same core characters. SO, I really don't care which characters are in your heads when you read this. I just want you to read with the characters you love best!
But still...since I was asked...here are the characters in my head when I write:
Hook: MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST be the 2003 version. They did a fantastic job portraying Hook as a stunning, handsome (almost gallant) pirate and a killer. I also liked how they were able to capture a sort of whimsical side to him as well. Plus...mini crush on Mr. Isaacs...what can I say?
Peter: Yes, I like the red head Peter (don't kill me). He seemed a little older than the 2003 version and I liked his voice better. That being said, I will refer to the leafy outfit used in the 2003 version. I will also be using a lot of the romance pushed in the 2003 movie, which I like better.
Wendy: It is interesting how Wendy changes through time. So, I am using both. In my head, she is always a combination. She is always kind of delicate looking, very much the animated Disney version (big eyes, light brown curls, taller and slender). But, her personality is a big combo. Wendy is a curious character. She is gentle but extremely capable of defending herself and she is loyal to a fault. All in all, she's a lady until threatened. It's rare now a days for girls to act like "ladies." What I do not think people realize is that it is possible to be a lady and tough...you know...a lady and a pirate kinda thing :)
Well, that was my shpeel on Wendy. Sry...I just like her character. Currently, I am exploring her character in my Red Handed Jill Series, which will be posted sometime in 2013. For now, I hope you all enjoy this little story. And remember-use the characters you like best. My job as a story teller is to please YOU!
