The four pirates and monkey stepped onto the open sand of the beach. They sat down to rest for a moment. From what the captain could see, the ships looked fine, floating there side by side.
"Why are we executing them?" Jack asked him.
"They could overrun one or both of our ships and leave us here." He responded, scowling as if it was obvious.
"Oh. Right." The young pirate sighed, pushing his long black hair from his face.
Captain Jack got to his feet and began walking towards the nearest rowboat. "Scrum, Pintel, you take one boat. Jack and I will take another. Savvy?"
"Aye." The two pirates chorused.
The captain and climbed into a rowboat, the monkey still on his shoulder. The younger pirate pushed it into the water and scrambled in quickly. The captain grabbed the oars and started paddling just as the other boat did.
"What were you and her arguing about earlier?" Jack asked, making the older pirate frown.
"You heard that?" He asked.
"Yes. You were pretty loud."
"Oh."
"What was it about?" He asked again.
"Doesn't matter." The captain responded, seeming troubled by that memory.
"Where'd you get that sword?" Jack pointed at it.
"Also doesn't matter." Captain Jack told him, not feeling like talking much.
They fell into silence as they rowed the small boat the few minutes to the Bloody Dragon. They boarded just before the other boat. Then they crossed the wooden bridge to the Black Pearl. Captain Jack stopped in his tracks when he spotted wet boot prints on deck and an old, beat up rowboat in the water.
"Captain?" Pintel asked.
"Go execute the prisoners, if they're still there." He ordered briskly.
"What about you?" Scrum persisted.
"Ye have yer orders now go!" He glared at him.
"Aye, Captain." Scrum shook his head reluctantly.
The two pirates and former blacksmith vanished down into the hull. Captain Jack looked at the trail of footprints, narrowing his eyes as he realized that one of them was a stud instead of a boot. One name came to mind, but he shook the thought away. No, he's dead. He saw that they lead to the Pearl's cabin.
Captain Jack pulled the door handle, stepping inside. His jaw dropped when he saw who the mysterious man was.