Author's note: Warning- violence. And please don't call Greenpeace for killing a tiger- there was no protection of endangered species in 1695.

Reviews are always welcome.

chapter 7- the mystery of Captain Jack Sparrow

"Where is Captain Sparrow?" Norrington shouted as he climbed aboard the Black Pearl, irritated and looking for her captain. He should have never trusted a pirate and much less the infamous Jack Sparrow. Of course he would try to cheat him sooner or later, James had always known that, and yet it came as a surprise to him that it was already happening now. Still, it wasn't a real betrayal but just a slight deviation from the original plan, an unexpected tack had brought the Pearl into closer range to the fortress when she fired her cannons. This was not what they had agreed upon. Since he was the Naval officer, the one with military experience and strategic skills, it should have been his decision when to open fire. Also it had been agreed not to attack the fortress directly. The bombardment should only be a diversionary tactic to turn the eyes of Shardul's mercenaries away from Brody's attempt to disable the cannons in the harbour. But Captain Jack Sparrow didn't keep to their plan; he was up to something else and whatever that was he would carry through with it, stubbornly and much too full of himself as always. James wouldn't have given a damn though if the pirate had only risked his own life

"Where's Captain Sparrow?" He asked again and grabbed the sleeve of a pirate hurrying by. Unfortunately it was the mute one of all people, Mr. Cotton. Parrot ruffled up his feathers and squawked. "Sailing close to the wind!"

"Blast!" Bill Turner, who had overheard Parrot's words, froze in his tracks. He looked to the quarter deck where he had last seen Jack, bellowing orders, but apparently Mr Gibbs was in command of the Pearl now. It didn't surprise him. Jack Sparrow simply wasn't the man to sit back and wait until a Naval officer gave his okay for action, he preferred to chose his very own opportune moment.

"Damned, Jack, ye're such a mad, daft fool to believe ye can make it on yer own." Bill hissed as he scurried over to the longboats. As expected, one was missing. Immediately he tried to get another one ready.

James didn't know whether it was encouraging or alarming that there were also pirates who considered their eccentric captain as mad as he did but it also left him with a growing feeling of unease.

"What is he up to?"

Bill looked at the dark fortress, gloomily illuminated by cannon fire. "Take a guess, Commodore."

"He- no, he could not possibly have set off to rescue Rowan on his own? That would be daft," and therefore it was most likely true. Norrington sighed, then shot a worried glance in Bill's direction. The pirate was still struggling away with one of the longboats. "And what are you up to now, Mr Turner? I swear if you pirates think you can recklessly ignore my orders and therefore endanger the life of any honourable soldier serving His Majesty I feel obliged to…"

"Help me!" Bill barked, cutting him short.

For a moment James was too puzzled not to follow this order, so he did help the pirate to heave the longboat over the rail and launch it.

"Ye're right, Commodore, Jack ignores yer orders- did ye really believe he'd follow them just because ye're an officer? But the only life he'd ever endanger is his own, bloody daft fool that he is, and I won't let that happen, savvy? So, are ye with me or not?"

It seemed to James as if Jack had imprinted his madness on everyone around him because he didn't hesitate to follow Bill. The pirate grabbed the oars and started pulling but after a while he stopped, impatiently staring at his unexpected partner in crime.

"Mate, yer not with the Royal Navy now. Here there are only pirates and yer rank doesn't matter so take the bloody oars and help me; it won't kill ye."

When it came down to determination father and son were very much alike but unlike Will, who always acted a tad too rash, Bill usually kept calm. He rebuked James with a smile on his face and the Commodore swallowed his pride. It was hardly the right time to insist on propriety. A cannonball hit the surface next to their boat, splashing a fountain of water over them. James quickly picked up the second pair of oars.

"Well, I think we should see to it that we reach the shore." He ducked when another ball scarcely missed the boat. "I do wonder how Jack had made it ashore in this infernal cannon fire."

"Don't worry 'bout Jack, he always gets by."

James spared himself lying by claiming he was not worried about Jack. Instead he said. "Then what are we doing here at all?"

"Covering a friend just in case he might need some help. Now row, Commodore."

The impact of cannonballs ebbed when they reached some offshore rocks that protected the small beach of Kalpitiya. Neither of them spoke a word since they had to concentrate on manoeuvring their boat though the tight passage between rocks, which proved to be a tricky task at night. Again James wondered how Jack had managed that and that he had actually managed it became obvious a little later. At the beach he spotted a longboat, pulled ashore.

"At least he's a good sailor," he murmured, a fact he already had had to admit earlier on, on their voyage from Madras to the Palk Strait.

"Aye." Bill agreed- but if he had added something about Jack being a good man, James would have felt obliged to throttle him. He had heard that once too often.

Then he looked around. Everything here was exactly the way Brody had described it. The tiny beach, the scrub growing at the feet of the steep cliff that made the island of Kalpitiya. A good part of the scrub was trampled or chopped down by now, marking a path that would most definitely lead to the hidden cave. Apparently Jack hadn't cared to leave no traces. But whether this was a foolish or a cool and calculated manoeuvre James didn't know. He, however, preferred to unsheathe his sword when he approached the thorny bushes and headed towards the mouth of the cave.

"We could use a torch now," he stated as the darkness thickened around him. There was a hint of accusation in his voice but most of all he was angry with himself. It had been thoughtless of him to follow Bill Turner totally unprepared for he knew that any military operation had to be carefully planned and thought through with great care; it was never wise to plunge headlong into an uncertain adventure. Alas, this wasn't a military operation but a mad pirate's plan and he had become part of it. James sighed with frustration.

Suddenly he heard a catlike growl. Before he could even figure out what was going on the sound of a gun echoed through the cave and in the flash from the muzzle James saw a huge tiger dropping dead to the ground. He gasped as it dawned on him that Bill Turner had just saved his life. Once again his life had been saved by a pirate and he hoped that wouldn't become a habit with him.

"I believe thanks are in order."

Bill shrugged nonchalantly. "Ye would've done the same."

He was grateful for the darkness because it would be embarrassing if Turner saw him blush, he could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks. It was still hard to live with the shame, with the deeds he had done while being possessed. He had almost killed Bill Turner's son and yet the man had saved him. He felt so abashed.

Meanwhile Bill had found some torches at the foot of a staircase leading upwards. He lit them and handed one to the commodore before he briefly examined the dead tiger.

"Poor creature. They let him starve to guarantee his hunger for anyone who dared to enter the cave."

"Hunger?" James raised his torch to throw a look around and blanched with shock when he saw bones, human bones. "Oh my God, what happened to Jack?"

Bill followed his glance and laughed grimly. "I don't doubt yer worries, Commodore, but ye're a bit too rash in fearing the worst. No tiger, no matter how hungry it is, can devour his prey completely in less than an hour, leaving behind only neatly gnawed off bones." He stepped closer to the bones. "Besides, this was a woman."

"Good to know, Mr Turner." James said stiffly to conceal his relief that Jack Sparrow had not become tiger food. He wondered aloud. "But how did Jack escape the tiger?

"That, my friend, is one of the many mysteries of Captain Jack Sparrow." Bill replied, patting the Commodore's shoulder. "Guess he'd say, 'cause I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, mate."

James couldn't help but chuckle. However, when he caught himself chuckling he quickly rebuked himself and became a dutiful officer of the Royal Navy again. He had a task to fulfil. There were still innocent British girls, which Shardul had captured, to be considered. He had to rescue them, that was why Governor Wellington had given his permission to this doubtful mission, that was what he was here for- and not, definitely not at all, to worry about an infamous scallywag who was so daft as to plunge headlong into danger, thinking he could manage everything on his own just because he believed in his own legend.

Whisking Bill's hand off his shoulders he straightened. "Well, Mr Turner, I think we should continue our way. There is no time to waste."

"Damned right, Commodore."

They started climbing up the staircase that would lead them into the fortress. The flickering fire of their torches sent ghostly patches of light and shadow across the old, bare stone walls cut into the rocks of Kalpitiya; walls that had maintained for centuries. It was cold and damp here, a musty scent hung heavily in the air. And there was danger lurking ahead.

"My, what a creepy place." Bill shuddered. Though he had just spoken what James was thinking it surprised him that a pirate would frankly confess his feelings of unease- he had thought that all pirates were tough guys and therefore immune to even noticing the unnerving atmosphere. "These walls breathe out hopelessness, disillusionment and despair… it sends a shiver down me spine."

"Yes, it is a very unpleasant place but we will not falter and-" his eyes grew wide. "Snakes!"

"Snakes?"

"Don't move, Turner. Be very, very careful. They're creeping out of a hole in the wall just above your head. Don't startle them. I think they're cobras, very venomous beast."

"How comes ye know 'bout snakes, Commodore?" Bill asked calmly. He stood there like a statue, only his jaws twitched nervously.

"I read a book bout the Asian flora and fauna before I came to Madras. I wanted to be informed."

"Ah., did they also say in that book how to get rid of cobras?" When James shook his head, he added. "Alright, mate. Since we have no time to waste I recommend ye throw yer torch at them, I duck, and then we both run. If I don't make it you go and help Jack."

James hesitated but the pirate seemed to be deadly serious about it. So he whispered a prayer and threw his torch. A moment later they were both rushing up the staircase, unharmed by snakes- and then stopped dead at a crunching sound that seemed to come from the rocks. First they thought the impact of a cannon ball had caused this but soon they noticed that the ground was moving, opening up in front of them.

"Jump!" Bill shouted and jump they did. Catching for breath they looked back. There was a hole in the ground and down in that hole some pointed stakes rose. It would be a nasty death to fall on them.

"For God's sake! I cannot believe that Jack managed to get by all these hidden dangers unharmed, I mean…"

"Hey, he's Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy. Don't wonder how he made it 'cause I still haven't figured that out myself. Probably he's just a lucky devil."

"The mysteries of Captain Jack Sparrow… well, well…" James sighed because that didn't explain a thing and he liked to have everything neat and reasonable. Unfortunately, things were never neat and reasonable with the infamous Captain Sparrow. It was foolish to even believe he could ever figure him out.

Finally they reached the top of the staircase and a closed door. Behind that door they heard men talking, most likely Shardul's guards.

"Well, me thinks we should just open that bloody door and give 'em a good beating. What d'ye say, Commodore?"

James gabbed his sword with determination, ready to inflict the wrath of the Royal Navy upon them when he noticed that Bill was not armed or- to be more precisely- he seemed not willing to make use of his weapon. He carried a beautiful sword, definitely forged by his son, but it was still in its sheath.

Bill followed the Commodore's quizzical glances with his eyes and smirked, indicating a quick stroke with the side of his hand. After all, he hadn't spent his time at the monastery to no avail; he had studied the basics of traditional Chinese medicine and for the harmony of body and soul he learned some Kung-Fu. Actually he was quite good at it or at least better than he would ever be at fencing. It was funny though that his son had such a talent with swords.

James gasped when he saw Bill move. Of course the pirate did not keep to the strategic tactic he had just explained to him. Instead he opened the door and within a minute he had knocked out the three guards. A kick here, a quick stroke there- his movements came very precisely as if he performed a well-studied choreography. And a very effective one.

"Mr Turner, you have done well but the next one we meet is mine," he said dryly.

"Don't worry, Commodore. Yer time to fulfil yer duties will surely come."

-

"Don't leave me. I'll be right back." Shardul stroke her cheek almost gently before he headed towards the door, leaving Rowan securely tied up. He was a Master of Bondage; he loved to see silent pleas in the helpless eyes of his playmates when they were completely at his mercy. It aroused him- yet her defiant gaze aroused him even more. He'd like to have his way with her now, to abuse her until her stubborn pride was broken and shattered into pieces. Unfortunately, the chief of his guard needed his advice concerning the attack on Kalpitiya. These feeble-minded, useless mercenaries didn't know how to strike back and he had to show them how to load a cannon. It annoyed him. And since it wasn't wise to annoy Shardul Chopra, the one responsible for disturbing him in his private playroom would pay for it; a very slow death would be granted.

Rowan could also tell a thing or two about annoying Shardul. It hadn't been wise to show defiance but she had been so fed up with playing the submissive victim that she hadn't thought about the consequences. Jack was coming and he would save her- she simply had failed to consider that it would take him some time to get from his ship and into the fortress.

After hearing about Jack, Shardul had become enraged. He vented his fury on her, hitting her hard and yelling that she was his, his alone, the mother of his unborn children. He was truly, utterly mad.

"You're mine, laJjika, you know that. You're my brother's widow, you belong to my family. It's my right to claim you. Your lousy pirate lover can't change that fact."

"I was never properly married to Tyag." It was a feeble protest and he knew that, he'd been there, then, at the crematorium ground. He snarled with contemptuously joy, "Ah, but you were not disinclined to consummate the marriage if I remember it clearly…"

No need to fill me in with things long gone by but never forgotten. It was despair mingled with a hopeless feeling of loss that made me do this, my way of saying goodbye to the man I once loved. He would never understand that, not Shardul. He let his fingers run through my hair, sending shivers down my spine…his proximity is so appalling… I fought when he grabbed a fistful of hair in order to jerk me closer and tried to push him away. It was a mistake… a big mistake, because it was then he suddenly took notice of the tattooed ring on my finger. He cried out loud, immediately knowing its meaning and accusing me of betrayal. It was ridiculously but never laugh about a madman, you never know what his demented mind will think up next… the sound of cracking bones… it took me a moment to realize it were my bones but then the pain shot through my hand in hot burning waves… I knew what he was up to… he's gonna chop off my fingers just to get rid of that tattoo…No, please…

"Master, we have a problem."

Never had the voice of one of his devotees sounded more welcome than now. Not for Shardul though. He hated to leave me, didn't want to stop his evil doings. He wanted, lusted…

"Wait outside!" he barked.

What happened next? Can't recall…my memories blurred in a vision of red haze…pain shooting through every limp… I can't move… leather bonds are cutting into my wrists, my ankles, my neck, cutting of my circulation. I can't move 'cause if I do I'll suffocate. What a cruel way to tie up someone… His voice was full of sarcasm when he said, "Don't leave me. I'll be right back."

It was a threat disguised as a promise and that promise was kept; he came back soon. She had expected it, feared for it and yet longed for it because she couldn't control her shaking limbs any longer. Even the slightest move seemed to strangle her, to cut off her breath. It was a relief when he freed her from the bonds so she was almost willing to endure his groping hands on her body.

"Ah, laJjika, you're the perfect whore. You like what I do to you, don't you? Now give me your hand. It's just a quick cut. You're used to pain and pain I will give you. Then you will be begging for more. You will beg me to fuck you very hard and plant my seed into your womb. You will give birth to my son, my heir."

It was disgusting. Shardul licked blood and tears off her face while holding a sharp knife in his hands; a knife that was just waiting to come to its dreadful use and cut off her finger. But she wouldn't let that happen without resistance even if resistance meant death. Of course she failed. She never had had the slightest chance against him; he was so much stronger and she was weak, exhausted from enduring torments and rape. He simply knocked her out with a hard blow that made her see stars.

Then, suddenly in a splendid mood again, he let his hands run affectionately over the handles of his whips that he kept on velvet covered shelves.

"Naughty girl. You misbehaved and disobeyed, now beg for punishment," he said cheerfully as he chose the cat-'o- nine- tails, excited about the bloody streaks it would leave on her skin. "It's time for a little flogging, laJjika."

With a diabolical grin he cracked the whip; it was a sound he loved. However, the sound of whiplashes meeting naked skin he loved even more. The cries, painful screams and low whimpers of his victims were music to his ears, a wonderful symphony of torment.

"I want to hear you scream, laJjika. Arouse me with your screams."

"Sorry for interrupting here but that's not a nice way to treat a woman."

Shardul didn't believe his ears. Who dared to disturb him in his private play room and as well so boldly? He lowered the whip and turned around to face the intruder. It was, apparently, a pirate. An outlandish, eccentric looking pirate. How did he get here? He wondered if he was only surrounded by mindless fools who let a pirate stroll through his fortress without caring to stop him.

Meanwhile, Rowan was sobbing with relief- finally Jack had come.

Shardul shot her a glance from dangerously narrowed eyes. "Is he your prodigious lover? Did you spread your legs for that son of a bitch, that miserable joke of a pirate? I expected you to have more style than getting involved with such a scruffy something. But I'll teach you manners, you wanton whore! You belong to my family, you' re my property!"

Before he could raise his whip and continue with the flogging as if he didn't care about Jack's presence at all, the pirate gave a warning shot. Shardul just sneered scornfully, addressing Rowan.

"How pathetic. Did you notice that he just wasted his single shot? I think I will have a lot of fun with him when I castrate him and then skin him alive. His death will be very, very slow." He turned to Jack again. "Now, pirate, what did you expect? Did you think you could get away with disturbing me? Or did you think I would heroically duel over my whore?"

Jack stared at him with a calmness he didn't feel but no one could tell that from the expression of his face. His face was absolutely unfathomable; only a muscle in his jaw trembled a bit because it was hard for him to conceal his shock. He had thought he knew all about the blackest depths of the human soul, that he'd seen it all. He hadn't seen anything like this though, a well-equipped torture chamber for depraved lust and Rowan right in the middle of it, battered, bruised, abused. He should have believed in Marris' horror stories about Shardul. Yet, he wasn't unprepared either.

"Well, I might have wasted one shot but now I expect you to die." Jack said with a harsh voice that didn't sound like his own. He drew two more pistols and fired them unceremoniously. It wasn't his way to kill so cold-bloodedly; usually he avoided the killing and preferred to negotiate. But extreme situations required extreme measures.

Both shots hit Shardul fatally. The depraved pervert howled with surprise- and pain. He, who had loved so much to cause pain, now wailed like a little boy when pain struck him, and he dropped to the floor crying. Jack murmured ruthlessly, "Yer funeral. Ye should have never tried to mess with Captain Jack Sparrow."

He looked at Rowan, lost for words although he usually never was. What should he say anyway? Ask her if she was alright when she obviously wasn't? But before he could do anything she flung herself at Shardul, attacking- no, butchering- his body with a sharp knife. Perhaps he had deserved that- he definitely had- nevertheless Jack felt a wave of nausea welling up inside him as he saw her going berserk with long suppressed hatred. He had never seen her so despairing, so furious and seemingly blood-thirsty. He was stunned.

"Shh, shh. Stop it now, luv." Jack gathered her trembling body in his arms, whispering soothingly. "Come on, darling, gimme that knife. He's dead. You can't kill him more than once and he's definitely dead. Look what a mess you've made, all that blood."

Slowly she came to her senses. Rowan stared at her bloody hands, then at Shardul's massacred body. He would never ever rape her or anyone else again, she had cared for that thoroughly. But she felt no triumph when she saw the bloody mash that once had been his genitals; actually she felt quite sick and couldn't withhold the urge to vomit. Jack held her close, whisking away strays of hair from her face, stroking her gently.

"It's over, darling, it's over. Everything will be fine again, I'll care for you. Good ol' Jack's here for you."

She was shaking all over now so he took off his coat and wrapped it carefully around her shoulders. For a moment she cuddled up deeply in the coat; it still radiated Jack's body heat and his typical, familiar scent. Even at such a horrifying, ghastly place like this it felt comforting.

The sound of approaching footsteps startled her. With her good hand she grabbed one of three remaining, loaded pistols which Jack carried in his sash. Apparently he had been properly prepared for meeting Shardul, it had been wise to rely on the power of firearms, wise to keep him at distance and not let him come close. And whoever was approaching them now had to be kept at distance too. Better to shoot first and then ask questions. She aimed the pistol at the British Navy officer who entered the room with resolute steps- and then stopped dead in his tracks.

"Oh. My. God." He gasped as he took notice of the disgusting surroundings. "Jack, are you-"

Norrington was lucky that Jack had a quick wit or he would be dead by now. Swiftly the pirate purloined the pistol from Rowan's hand.

"No! No, no, no- you can't just shoot good ol' Jamie. The Commodore's our friend."

Rowan sighed with regret. "Is he? Since when?"

"Well, it is still a great surprise for me, too, Mad- ahem, Milady Scarlett, Captain..." James felt kind of stupid for searching for the proper form of address because she probably didn't give a damn about it anyway. And, to be honest, it didn't matter; not here. He should do his job and take in as much of the situation as he could since he would need that for his report. There was a large amount of blood spilled here, Jack and Rowan were both smeared with it. "Are either of you seriously wounded?" he asked worried.

Rowan just laughed sarcastically while Jack shook his head and pointed to Shardul. "It's all his blood- well, most of it."

James took a closer look at the brutally massacred corpse of Shardul Chopra and wished he hadn't done so because his blood seemed to freeze. "You did a thorough job, Captain Sparrow."

"Ah, don't praise me, I simply shot him. It was Milady who made this mess."

Meanwhile Bill Turner had briefly examined Rowan. She was badly bruised and three of her fingers were broken but that all looked worse than it really was; her wounds would heal. What worried him more was her sanity. She had gone through hell but in spite of that she tried hard not to lose control. She was too cool and that was alarming since he could almost see how tense her nerves were. Probably she was still in a state of shock and would break down sooner or later, at least he hoped so. He had once seen her almost being devoured by numb grief, unfeeling and cold because she had restrained herself, had held back her tears for too long, and he never wanted to see her like that again. After all, there were already some dark stains on her soul.

"Jack, gimme yer bandana," Bill ignored the frown on his friend's face and explained tolerantly, "I wanna make a sling to keep Rowan's hand steady thus it'll hurt her less, savvy?" And then we have to get her out of here, out of this fateful room. We had already stayed here much too long anyway. It's not good, he added in thoughts.

James watched them with growing impatience; the cannon fire had increased and the walls of the fortress were shaken almost constantly now. He did not want to be buried in a nigh impregnable fortress that was nevertheless about to fall apart, apparently it was only a matter of time. And there were still there poor British girls to be considered… he noticed that he had erased the word 'innocent' from his vocabulary since it seemed to be inappropriate here. This place reeked with depraved sin, everything in here was simply the opposite of innocence.

Jack helped Rowan to her feet in a very protective manner that moved James in some way but when the pirate promised her to take her back home to the Black Pearl he just had to interfere.

"Jack Sparrow you have acquiesced to helping me free the other captives. Do you still stand by your word?"

"Did ye ever believe in the word of a pirate, Jamie?" Jack grinned when he saw the Commodore flinch, disappointment and mistrust clearly visible on his face. "Why, 'course I'll help ye, mate."

"I can show ye the way to the harem." Rowan offered matter-of-factly but actually she didn't consider many of the women to be worth of being saved at all. One or two perhaps… the very few who hadn't tried to make her miserable life here even more like hell.

"Luv, ye can scarcely stand on yer own two feet."

"I'm alright. I'll make it. You don't need to pamper me, savvy? I'm fine."

That was a blatant lie and everybody knew it, even Rowan herself. She clenched her teeth, bracing her good hand against the walls as she limped along the passageway that led to the harem. Walking was painful since every step sent another wave of throbbing ache through her lower regions.

After watching her for a minute or two, Jack had seen enough. He lifted her up in order to carry her and when she tried to protest he cut her short.

"No, darling, ye can't walk- or at least I'm not willing to watch this misery any longer. Just tell me the way we have to go and trust me that we'll get there. After all, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy."

"Now that you've mentioned it- tell me, how did the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow manage to get by all the hindrances on the way from the cave into the fortress?" James asked with curiosity.

"Hindrances? What hindrances? I entered the cave, walked up the staircase and saved me woman."

"What about the tiger, the snakes, the pit with the pointed stakes?"

"There were no snakes or pits with pointed stakes." Jack looked at the Commodore as if he was musing which of them was the mad one. "Ye either have a livid imagination or ye had a much more exciting way up the staircase than I had. I just walked in and killed the Tiger."

James couldn't believe that the pirate actually sounded a bit disappointed. "You killed Shardul..."

"Aye, I just said that. I killed him. Well, I know, it wasn't one of my most splendid deeds, no legends will grow around that…"

"Sparrow! I was referring to the tiger in the cave. You must have noticed it or- to be more precisely- the tiger must have noticed you. Good Lord, the beast was almost starving, it must have smelled you."

"There was a real tiger in the cave? I always wanted to have a tiger fur for me cabin. It looks so… so…"

Jack was still looking for the right word when Bill interjected helpfully.

"Shabby. It's cruel and despicable to kill a creature only to show off with a trophy."

The two pirates started to argue about the pros and cons of a tiger fur decoration aboard a pirate ship. To Rowan it was pleasant normality, a welcome distraction from this horrible place. She snuggled up into Jack's arms and for the first time in days, weeks, or no matter how long she had actually stayed here, she felt lovingly protected against the evil, the despair and the hopelessness these old stonewalls breathed out. And for the first time since she had came here she felt warm; Jack always radiated an incredible warmth as if his skin had absorbed and stored the Caribbean sun.

James could only shake his head, slightly enervated, as he led the way. Mayhap he had always been so keen to see all pirates swinging from the gallows because they were such a mystery to him.

No one stopped them on their way. They saw a few guards scurrying to and fro hither, busy with defending the fortress to no avail. Kalpitiya couldn't put up resistance to the cannons of the Royal Navy and two pirate vessels much longer. And what was more, Lieutenant Brody had succeeded in disabling the cannons in the harbour. Now he was invading the fortress with his gang of British soldiers and some swashbuckling pirates.

In the harem, however, none of these things had been noticed. The women heard the rumbling thunder of the cannons and it scared them. They had long given up hope that someone would come for their rescue so they didn't believe in it; they only feared the worst. They were surprised though when a British Navy officer entered the harem, shooing away the eunuchs with harsh words.

"In the name of His Royal Highness, King William III, I declare that all women held captive against their will, are to be released immediately." Commodore Norrington announced then.

"James?" Catherine approached him slowly, staring at him in bewilderment, and it actually took her a minute to recognise him. She had never seen him wearing a wig. "Oh my God. Is it really you, James?"

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