The Tempest
There was no sign of morning on board the Black Pearl. Evil clouds circled the high masts of the ship, strong winds and blinding rain tore at the sails, and knocked about the rigging. The crew was ascramble to clear lines and debris. Up in the high rigging men were working hard to secure the sails.
"Get those topsails in! Before this wind rips them to shreds! You! Duncan, clear that raffle!"
Captain Jack Sparrow was shouting orders to his crew from his position on the quarterdeck behind the wheel, clinging to it desperately trying to make the helm obey his commands.. He was drenched with rain and sea water, they all were. The gale had blown in, nasty and full of venom pushing the Pearl dangerously close to being bashed on a near by reef. Lightening sparked through the sky offering ilumination, but no peace, for lightening was just as dangerous to a high masted ship as being broadsided by the might of the entire British Navy.
"Heave to, men!" Jack shouted above the tempest. "We got to quit losin' ground!"
Then, lightening flashed and it was over. The mainmast fell with a sickening crunch, split in twain, sputtering in the rain as ignited fires died. Crew scrambled to cut away the fallen mast and as it slipped over the side it hung by a single taunt line, the waves caused the rubble to crash and buffet against the side of the ship, tearing a gash into the side of the hull. The Black Pearl began to take on water immediately. Jack stood temporarily dumbstruck. There they were dismasted, about to be dashed against the rocks of Hispaniola, if Windward Passage didn't swallow them whole.
"We've got 't get 'er 'outta 'er Cap'n!" Gibbs crowed over the noise.
"I know!" Jack shouted. "Will! Go down and see to the damage!" Every command was a scream
William Turner ran with speed, desperately trying not to lose his balance on the unstable, slippery deck. As he appeared below deck he saw immediately that the hull was breached, and taking in water, but, thankfully, the hole was above the water line. That fact did not stop the crashing waves from spilling in as much water as they could. Already, water was pooling around Will's feet making it's way to the hold below the crew's quarters. He could hear the livestock baying. The sheep and goats calling for freedom in the murky depths of the hold.
"We'll have to set up the pumps." He said aloud to no one, as all the activity was above decks. Quickly he made his way back to the quarterdeck nearly falling as the ship rolled with yet another wave.
"Captain! Captain!" Will shouted. Jack gave him a glance, which was all he could spare. His grip on the wheel as strong as ever. "We've been hulled above the water line! We need to set up the pumps or we're done for! I need men!"
"Take Duncan and Anamaria! Get to it!" Jack all but screached, his voice ragged with exaustion. "Wait! You're the carpenter! Make some quick repairs if you can!" Redirecting his attention Jack yelled out more orders. "You there! secure that main sheet!"
Two more long hours passed before the storm blew its self out. The crew, winded and exausted, puffed on deck, clearing up debris. Jack, wary of abandoning the helm, leaned into the wheel for support. He checked the compass knowing the sea well he did not have to check the maps before making his next order. "Gibbs. Take the wheel. Head Southeast quarter east."
"Bu' tha'll take us near Port Royal, sir." Gibbs answered.
Jack gave him a weary smile. "We'll put in near the coast, and head into town to pick up supplies to fix that blasted mast."
"Aye Aye . Sir."
Jack, then made his way below deck to check on the damage himself. Will was already hard at work making repaires to the hull when he arrived.
"What's our situation here Will?" he asked with a smile.
"Well, sir, I've just about got th hole closed, but I won't be able to finish until we get the fires up and I can heat some pitch to get her sealed properly. She held together really well though sir, considering."
"That's the Pearl for you. She's a tough broad, my favorite kind." Jack smiled. "Anamaria's working the pumps then?" He asked as an afterthought.
"Yes, sir. She's just about dry now."
"Well good, that could have gone a lot worse, savvy. See to getting that pitch, then finish sealing up that hole." Jack turned to leave, but memory served him and he spun around on his heal, smiled a sly smile at Will and said, "Oh, by the way, We're putting in near Port Royal for repairs. You've done a good job keeping my lady stay afloat, maybe, once you're done helping with repaires you'd like a bit of shore time, savvy?" Jack winked.
Aye Aye , Sir!" Will replied emphaticaly.
((*Authors Note*
Well what did you think of the first chapter? Elizabeth in the next chapter I promise. Anne's comming up soon too, but you'll have to be patiant. I'm establishing familiar characters before I introduce new ones.
Will pillage for comments.))
There was no sign of morning on board the Black Pearl. Evil clouds circled the high masts of the ship, strong winds and blinding rain tore at the sails, and knocked about the rigging. The crew was ascramble to clear lines and debris. Up in the high rigging men were working hard to secure the sails.
"Get those topsails in! Before this wind rips them to shreds! You! Duncan, clear that raffle!"
Captain Jack Sparrow was shouting orders to his crew from his position on the quarterdeck behind the wheel, clinging to it desperately trying to make the helm obey his commands.. He was drenched with rain and sea water, they all were. The gale had blown in, nasty and full of venom pushing the Pearl dangerously close to being bashed on a near by reef. Lightening sparked through the sky offering ilumination, but no peace, for lightening was just as dangerous to a high masted ship as being broadsided by the might of the entire British Navy.
"Heave to, men!" Jack shouted above the tempest. "We got to quit losin' ground!"
Then, lightening flashed and it was over. The mainmast fell with a sickening crunch, split in twain, sputtering in the rain as ignited fires died. Crew scrambled to cut away the fallen mast and as it slipped over the side it hung by a single taunt line, the waves caused the rubble to crash and buffet against the side of the ship, tearing a gash into the side of the hull. The Black Pearl began to take on water immediately. Jack stood temporarily dumbstruck. There they were dismasted, about to be dashed against the rocks of Hispaniola, if Windward Passage didn't swallow them whole.
"We've got 't get 'er 'outta 'er Cap'n!" Gibbs crowed over the noise.
"I know!" Jack shouted. "Will! Go down and see to the damage!" Every command was a scream
William Turner ran with speed, desperately trying not to lose his balance on the unstable, slippery deck. As he appeared below deck he saw immediately that the hull was breached, and taking in water, but, thankfully, the hole was above the water line. That fact did not stop the crashing waves from spilling in as much water as they could. Already, water was pooling around Will's feet making it's way to the hold below the crew's quarters. He could hear the livestock baying. The sheep and goats calling for freedom in the murky depths of the hold.
"We'll have to set up the pumps." He said aloud to no one, as all the activity was above decks. Quickly he made his way back to the quarterdeck nearly falling as the ship rolled with yet another wave.
"Captain! Captain!" Will shouted. Jack gave him a glance, which was all he could spare. His grip on the wheel as strong as ever. "We've been hulled above the water line! We need to set up the pumps or we're done for! I need men!"
"Take Duncan and Anamaria! Get to it!" Jack all but screached, his voice ragged with exaustion. "Wait! You're the carpenter! Make some quick repairs if you can!" Redirecting his attention Jack yelled out more orders. "You there! secure that main sheet!"
Two more long hours passed before the storm blew its self out. The crew, winded and exausted, puffed on deck, clearing up debris. Jack, wary of abandoning the helm, leaned into the wheel for support. He checked the compass knowing the sea well he did not have to check the maps before making his next order. "Gibbs. Take the wheel. Head Southeast quarter east."
"Bu' tha'll take us near Port Royal, sir." Gibbs answered.
Jack gave him a weary smile. "We'll put in near the coast, and head into town to pick up supplies to fix that blasted mast."
"Aye Aye . Sir."
Jack, then made his way below deck to check on the damage himself. Will was already hard at work making repaires to the hull when he arrived.
"What's our situation here Will?" he asked with a smile.
"Well, sir, I've just about got th hole closed, but I won't be able to finish until we get the fires up and I can heat some pitch to get her sealed properly. She held together really well though sir, considering."
"That's the Pearl for you. She's a tough broad, my favorite kind." Jack smiled. "Anamaria's working the pumps then?" He asked as an afterthought.
"Yes, sir. She's just about dry now."
"Well good, that could have gone a lot worse, savvy. See to getting that pitch, then finish sealing up that hole." Jack turned to leave, but memory served him and he spun around on his heal, smiled a sly smile at Will and said, "Oh, by the way, We're putting in near Port Royal for repairs. You've done a good job keeping my lady stay afloat, maybe, once you're done helping with repaires you'd like a bit of shore time, savvy?" Jack winked.
Aye Aye , Sir!" Will replied emphaticaly.
((*Authors Note*
Well what did you think of the first chapter? Elizabeth in the next chapter I promise. Anne's comming up soon too, but you'll have to be patiant. I'm establishing familiar characters before I introduce new ones.
Will pillage for comments.))