Much love to all my readers. Read and review.
D.R.
Tootles realized how horrible his planning skills on this endeavor had been as soon as he reached the shore and could see the ship, its windows twinkling like little gems on the inky black of the sea. It wasn't like he could swim out and climb aboard, he didn't have a paddle, but most importantly, he didn't have a plan. Tinkerbell had followed him, clearly intent on stopping him, though she had relaxed once she realized that there was nothing more he could do than sit and stare at the boat.
At least she didn't think there was, but then he opened his mouth.
James Hook, captain of the Jolly Roger was arguing with Starkey his first mate, when the most ungodly noise rose from the mainland, cutting across the distant drums. It was a rather appalling noise much like screaming. Smee had frozen at the side of the ship and after shushing Starkey, Hook moved to join him, and after exchanged looks with Starkey over Smee's "Singing in the night, mischief is about on the mainland." as neither Starkey or Hook exactly thought it was exactly singing they set to listening silently. After several moments it was determinable that, in a bad approximation of French, the badly mangled lyrics were: "Aux armes… citoyens! Formez vos bataillon! Marchons! Marchons! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve…nos sillons!" The words repeated over and over again in a sort of frightening screamed mantra that was growing in intensity as it had started out barely audibly.
Hook cocked his head, brow furrowing. "Is that-" He paused "La Marseillaise?"
"Le who?" Starkey asked glancing to the captain.
Right, that song probably came after they got sent here in the eighteenth century, but he was fairly certain on what he thought it was. Peter and his crew had a certain fondness for using that particular song to herald their S.O.S. He wasn't used to hearing it sung though, they would whistle it or hum it, and Peter would play it on his whistle. Singing was another matter entirely though, he had certainly never heard them sing it before.
"I think I'll check it out, stay here" He cautioned the two men, though neither needed much convincing. They weren't exactly the bravest men, and they had no desire to go near the dark shore. Hook on the other hand knew he had little to fear from one of the crew if they resorted to yelling their S.O.S., Peter should have taught them a little more subtlety.
By the time he reached the shore a ways away Tootles was rather out of breath, and the Captain was rather confused. He crouched behind a rock to see what the boy would do next. As his eyes adjusted to the moon washed scene he could see another boy perched on another large rock, Twins, he thought. "No one's coming Toots." Who were they waiting for? "Face it, Jimmy doesn't care about Peter, and he doesn't care about us." They were waiting for him? Hook didn't understand exactly what was going on, but it was already turning out to be more than he bargained for. The captain thought he heard the boy whisper, "C'mon Jimmy." In the direction of the ship, as if he could hear them on the ship. Was it a trap? Some weird elaborate ploy to get his attention? Well, they had it. Now what would they do with it?
He was half disappointed when after throwing a rock into the ocean Tootles turned away. That was it? That was all they were going to do?
Hook decided to reveal himself out of plain curiosity, and both of the boys spun when a branch cracked under his foot.
"Jimmy!" Both boys were staring at him with wide eyes. It was clear their ploy had been some sort of last hope. He widened his eyes and gestured in hopes they would just spit out what they wanted so he could get back to hunting them and the Indians. Something in Twins expression told him it wouldn't be that easy though.