Beckett's Quarry

Chapter 14

"Why are we changing course?" William asked as he walked over to the quarterdeck. He had been below and had come on deck to see what was going on as soon as he felt the ship change its heading.

Elizabeth, who had been peering off in the distance, turned around and looked at Will. "We've spotted another ship. Over there." She answered as she pointed in the direction she had been looking.

"And?" William inquired as his eyes followed her gesture, a slightly worried look on his face as he heard the hint of uneasiness in Elizabeth's tone.

"It's too dark and we aren't close enough to make a positive identification but Captain Rush seems to think it might be EITC." Elizabeth replied.

"And that can only mean one thing….Beckett." William interjected with uneasiness lacing his own tone as his eyes met Elizabeth's.

"We can't know that for sure Will, can't know for sure it's even an EITC vessel." Elizabeth answered, her eyes and tone showing she was less than convinced in her statement.

"Captain Rush is not one to speak before he is relatively certain he knows what he's talking about Elizabeth so the odds are it is an EITC vessel." William replied. "And more than likely Beckett is aboard." Will, nibbling on his bottom lip and deep in thought, peered in the direction of the distant ship for several moments as if expecting the identity of the other ship to suddenly become apparent, then spoke, "Until we are sure just who it is we should keep our distance."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and retorted, "Yes, well the Captain and I had already come to that conclusion Will, that's why we changed course."

"Oh, right." Will replied a bit sheepishly.

Their attention was drawn by the lookout in the crow's nest as he called out, "Sail ho!" and pointed toward a ship following some distance behind the first ship that had been spotted.

"Can you identify it?" Will called up to the man.

"Nay, but it don't appear ta be Navy or EITC." The man answered, then a moment later shouted out again, "Sail ho!"

"Yes you've already said that." Will retorted.

"Nay, there'd be another ship followin the followin ship Mr. Turner." The man called back as he pointed at the third ship.

"Can you identify this one?" Elizabeth called.

"Wouldn't be willin ta bet me life on it ya understan cause it'd still be a bit far out but if I was ta make a guess I'd say it's the Black Pearl."

"Jack!" Will and Elizabeth said in unison as they smiled at each other.

"Captain!" Will called as he strode over to the man, "Make for the third ship, it belongs to a friend of ours."

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"If you truly are intent on not becoming some big fishy repast-ment as you previously stated Captain I do hope your plan to get us off this vessel, if you do indeed even have a plan which I highly doubt, does not in any way include the idea that we just throw ourselves overboard and depend on your friend Lady Luck to fend off said fishies and provide us with a more suitable form of transport than inside one of the previously mentioned creatures."

With his best puppy dog expression and a hand over his heart Jack replied, "Former Commodore, ya cut me to the bone. Suggestin we throw ourselves overboard would be foolish."

James raised his eyebrow, "How fatuitous of me for even suggesting such a thing, especially in light of some of your previous escape attempts."

"Hawse-hole former Commodore." Jack replied with a smile.

James snorted and with sarcasm dripping from every word retorted, "Oh yes, I can truly state that once again I have underestimated your ability to conceive the most mad and outlandish scheme possible Captain. I can see how crawling through the hawse-hole and clinging to the anchor chain until we are too tired to hold on any longer and are washed into the sea as apposed to actually throwing ourselves into the sea is a much better plan."

"Trust me." Jack said with a wink.

"I am truly sorry to have to inform you of this but I have never under any circumstances or at any time during our acquaintance considered that a tenable option." James retorted, but he followed along as Jack grasped his sleeve and pulled him up then headed them off toward the hawse-hole.

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"Mr. Mercer, I am sure you can impress on Mr. Bloom how strongly I feel about having prisoners escape. When you have finished with that do find them, they can't have gone far. Return them to the cells, different cells this time if you please, and report back to me." Cutler said as he paced around his desk, his tone carrying the barely suppressed rage he was feeling.

Mr. Bloom, who was looking back and forth between Cutler and Mr. Mercer with panic, began babbling even more than he had when he'd reported the escape, "Weren't my fault Lord Beckett Sir, they took me by surprise…..there was nothin I could do………they was on me afore I knowed it. Please Lord Beckett……won't happen again I swear Sir….just…just give me another chance….Sir….please…..I'll find 'em…and return 'em…..I swear….Sir………"

With cold eyes glaring at the man, the menace in his tone made even more evident by the softness in which he spoke Cutler said, "Mr. Mercer remove him from my presence immediately."

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"Thought ya might want ta see this fer yerself Cap'n." the crewman said as the Captain approached and was handed the telescope. "Seems we've got lot a company now."

The Captain scanned the horizon and was able to make out two ships against the slowly lightening sky, "Now what make you of this situation Master Twigg? I'd be doubtin these particular ships would all be gatherin ta engage in convivialities with each other. "

To Be Continued

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