Disclaimer: I only own Anna. She showed up a few weeks ago and promptly kicked me for trying to kill her off. I also don't own the coconut song.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed. Cryptic Storm- to be honest, I like Norrington too much to make him a bad guy. At least, not a convincing one. I feel all warm 'n' fuzzy when people tell me they want more. So, more it is!
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Murtogg and Mullroy were trooping down the steps to the jail when they heard the humming. Looking quizzically at each other, they followed the voice to Anna Cutter's cell. The pirate sat unconcernedly on the stone ledge, hat drawn down over her eyes.
"Oy! Cutter!" called Mullroy. The humming stopped, and a begrimed hand rose to push the tricorn hat from her eyes. She grinned at the two redcoats.
"Well, morning boys. And what can I do for ye?"
Murtogg held up a pair of shackles. "Um... well..."
Anna chuckled and rose fluidly. "Ah, yes. My execution. Well, wouldn't do to be late, now would it, boys?" She held out her wrists, looking extremely amused. The two soldiers glanced at each other warily before Murtogg unlocked the cell. Anna stood complacently while Mullroy fastened the shackles, though she had started to hum again.
By the time they were marching Anna away from the cell, she had started to sing quietly. Suddenly she stopped and peered closely at Murtogg and Mullroy.
"You boys sing at all?" They both nodded. She grinned heartily at this and said, "Would you do me a great favor, then?"
"Like what?" Murtogg asked.
"Sing with me on the way there?" Anna managed to look pleading. "S'an easy song, I promise."
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"I've got a love-ly bunch of coconuts!" Sang Murtogg in a bass voice as they trooped through the nearly-deserted fort.
"There they are a standing in a row!" Chimed in Mullroy.
"Big ones, small ones, some as big as yer head!" Finished Anna, grateful that the two soldiers were singing loudly enough to cover the sounds of the dagger picking the locks on her shackles. Truth be told, the pirate hadn't had this much fun in years. She laughed as the pair continued singing. Slipping off her shackles, she ducked away, laughing even harder when the shouts of pursuit didn't come for several seconds.
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Commodore Norrington paced in the square of the fort, glancing every now and then at the gallows a few paces away. Suddenly, the shouts of soldiers filled the fort, oddly coupled with maniacal laughter. Whirling towards the source, Norrington watched as Anna raced by, hair flying. She was followed seconds later by Murtogg and Mullroy. They in turn were followed by half the soldiers in the fort. Recovering from his shock, Norrington sped after them.
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Anna was beginning to question the wisdom of her escape plan. Running full-speed through the fort, she looked frantically for a door that led to the street. Finally spotting one, she leapt through it and down the street. Skidding to a stop at the next intersection, Anna considered her options. The right-hand road led to the harbor. The other led inland. She deliberated for all of three seconds before turning left at a slightly slower pace to blend in with the morning bustle of Port Royale. Behind her, she could hear the clatter of soldiers and ducked into a doorway to watch.
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Norrington watched as his soldiers turned towards the harbor without stopping. Halting in the same place Anna had, he considered. He knew Anna; she would have turned inland to throw off her pursuers. The marines hadn't gotten far enough down the street for them not to hear him calling them back. But Norrington turned left without speaking and drew his pistol. As he jogged slowly down the street, he caught a flash of movement to his right. Anna had broken cover and was careening down the street, weaving erratically to keep Norrington from taking aim. Scattering civilians in his wake, he gave chase. When she ducked down an alley, Norrington smirked. Slowing, he wondered what Anna would do when she found that it was a...
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And of course, you all know what the alley is, but I feel all cool and villain-esque when I leave it like that. This is the one scene in this story that I absolutely adore, but let me know what you all think. The next chappie will soon appear, have no fear! (heehee, I can rhyme!)