Okay, let's make this A/N concise
1. How tall are Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, and Orlando Bloom, respectively? Strange question will be explained later.
2. I barely managed to squeeze this out before school begins. I need two weeks to get into my classes, at least, before I can do the final chapter.
3. A big thank you to all who reviewed!!
4. Who hear bothers to read A/N? Cuz I'm usually like 'shut up and get to the story!!!'
For the next three days the boat hugged the rocky coast. The sun shone bright and balmy. The sea, glistening a brilliant blue hue, was unusually calm. Seagulls frequented the boat, squawking and complaining before sailing away in the air.
A black blob trailed the boat off the port side. As the days continued the black speck gradually grew larger. Eventually, Jack made out its form with a spyglass. The 'glob' turned out to be a little, comfortable vessel. The private ship of some aristocrat, most likely. A nice prize, absolutely, but so far Jack didn't give it much attention. There were other preoccupying issues.
For starters, a girl is not a puppy. When you toss a girl into the water she will not automatically begin swimming. It dawned on Jack, as he studied the bubbles, Kathy was not going to surface. Irritated, he jumped in to save her. That should've ending the matter, yet the child insisted she could do it "by herself." She nearly drowned a second and third time. By then, Jack was rather irritated and ended the swimming lessons.
The next day, Kathy kept to herself and kept quiet. That kept Jack happy. A quiet girl stayed out of trouble. However, the pirate soon found all his loose rope had been artfully braided.
Then there was the matter of the lime juice. She absolutely would not drink it. Not even when threatened with scurvy. From the sound of her screams and shouts Jack might've been killing her instead of suggesting she take her ration. Yet, when Jack drank his Kathy gulped down hers without a peep.
However, a feature of the landscape soon caught Jack's attention. A rocky peninsula jutted into the sea; too small to hide a dangerous vessel in ambush but large enough to conceal…say…Jack's fishing boat.
Suddenly, the pirate remembered the comfortable vessel trailing them. The spy-glass was whipped out. Jack studied the ship delicately. It had open portholes. Interesting. He focused on the deck. The persons on it were clearly not sailors. And he spotted a woman or two. Very interesting. It appears to be some sort of passenger vessel, though whatever landsman would travel was a mystery to Jack.
Jack glanced back to the ship, to the rocks, and to a box of gunpowder. Like most ideas, he made it up as he went along. The boat gently drifted towards shore.
"Uncle, Jack, what's a nickname?" Kathy stood behind the pirate as he maneuvered the rudder.
"Second name, sort of." Jack said inattentively.
"Then why do they call it a nickname?"
"I have no idea. If you get a chance, ask 'they' for me."
"Did my daddy have one?"
"Probably," Jack glanced at the approaching ship.
"Did my mommy have one?"
"She might 'ave."
"What was it?"
Jack positioned the boat behind the rocks. The cliff's tops just covered its stubby sails.
"Kathy," Jack began, "Ay would like you to do a favor for me."
"Ummmmmmmmm…." thought the girl, "what favor?"
Jack picked up his niece and stuck her in between two crates, "You are going to remain right here, while Ay go does some work."
"Can I help?"
Jack fought down a sobering mental image.
"You can assist me best, love, by just staying here. Maybe take a nap, perhaps?"
Kathy protested that she was too old to take naps, but Jack had all ready forgotten her. He started mixing together some dynamite with rages and oils. Kathy came over and pulled on his beads.
"I have to pee," she announced. Jack apparently didn't hear her. He finished his little smoke-bomb. Then, he sat back and awaited the ship.
"I really, really need to go."
Jack lolled lazily, "It truly is not necessary you inform me every time."
"But its urrrrrr-gent."
Thankfully, the ship appeared. Jack pulled his little boat out of its shelter. The boat, faster than the larger vessel, crept up. Up ahead, very close, was that open window. Now came the difficult part. It could have been simple for Will, with his sword throwing skill. Jack's aim was feeble. He took up the flammable bundle. A spark from a pistol lit it. The window drew nearer. When he hand started burning Jack chucked explosive towards the widow. It struck the edge, and split, and splashed. Jack winced. Luckily, the other half went spiraling into the ship. Smoke started happily billowing.
"Hey, back off! What are you doing, trying to collide with us?" A man appeared and glowered over the railing.
"Whoa, apologies, matey, but these things don't steer so well, you know how it is."
The angry sailor's retort was cut off by a holler.
"There's fire! Fire below deck! All hands, below deck!"
The resulting clamor was music to Jack's ears. He lowered his sails, slowed to maneuver behind the ship. The preoccupied crew didn't notice a pirate rope his boat to their stern. Jack climbed like an inebriated monkey. Alone on the boat, Kathy stared in wonder.
Luck was with Jack. The crew had rushed below deck to check the spread of the "fire." That left, on the "safety" of the deck, the passengers. There was a little gaggle of them. A whole family of gentry, it looked like, with an uncle or two thrown in.
Jack suddenly appeared in their mist. He grabbed the nearest convenient female (a lass of maybe twelve), pressed a pistol to her head, and shouted, "Everybody stay clam. Ay'm here to plunder the ship!"
Then he kicked the hatch shut.
The travelers froze like deer in the headlights. They might have laughed at the lone pirate who dared attack them, if he didn't hold a pistol. Which was held against the girls' head.
The mum, perhaps, screamed. That brought movement back to their stunned minds. But before the wigged group could stir, Jack began,
"Put your hands in the air, where I can see them."
The captives warily raised their hands. Except for one lad, a bit shy of twenty. He fumbled for his pistol instead. Jack cocked his own.
"Ay wouldn't try that, son. What says you drop it?"
The hot-headed lad went white with rage. Hot, white, mute fury. But, he did drop his pistol and raise his hands.
"That's a good lad," Jack praised. He gestured with his head towards a few large, heavy coils of rope.
"Now, if you gents would kindly move those coils on top of this hatch, we might proceed without any sudden, unpleasant interruptions. Come, we really don't have all day, you know."
The father and (maybe) uncle tried to follow the pirate's orders. It took a little longer than Jack liked. These gentry obviously hadn't done any labor for a spell. By the time they were finished Hot-Headed lad's face was contorted in anger. He glared evilly at Jack. Jack smugly smiled back.
But, to Jack annoyance, the girl had begun sniveling.
"What do you want with us, villain?" demanded another uncle in a shaking voice.
Jack shrugged, "Ah, the usual; watches, jewelry, interesting trinkets or papers, your hat…"
"My hat?" The man blinked.
To be sure, it wasn't half so fine a hat as Jack's but Jack knew a good one when he saw it.
"Aye," he then ordered the girl to remove the sack lopped through his belt.
She did, silently. If only Kathy would be so prompt.
"Now hold it open."
She did.
"We best be paying tolls now," Jack approached the first gentleman. It didn't take much prompting for the fellow to remove all rings, jewels, purse, and whatever he had brought to save from the 'fire.' Jack smiled amicably, even as he pressed the barrel into the girl's skull.
The amount of plunder really didn't make the raid that much worth it. Neither was it all that fun. Oh, it had been exceedingly amusing to see all the sailors scurrying below decks like so many scared ants. And it was funny to think of them trapped as he looted their passengers. But, the plundering part was dull. None of these wealthy landowners had any intention of being interesting. Except Hot-headed lad. But Hot-headed lad was annoying, really. However, one bright spot: Jack had acquired a rather nice hat. It even had a feather in it.
The imprisoned crew was really making a ruckus by the time Jack finished.
"This way, love," he directed the girl. Jack was careful not to take his eyes off the aristocrats. Even sheep could bite. So, they walked backwards towards the upper deck, backwards up the stairs, and backwards to the back of the ship. His boat was neatly pressed against the ships hull. Jack pitched the sack into it.
"I'll not let you kidnap her!" squealed Hot-Headed lad. Jack looked, confusion written in his eyes. Oh, yes, the girl. He's forgotten he was still holding her.
"It appears you've sadly little say in the matter. But don't worry; I've no intention of taking on captives. For present."
Really, one girl was enough of a bother and the strength of two might prove unstoppable.
"You've been such a wonderful group of detainees today. The best, in fact, that Captain Jack Sparrow's been privileged to rob in a long while. However, Ay've still one more little favor to ask of you. A whim, really."
"What now, you lousy bastard?" growled the Hot-headed lad. His companions looked rather abashed.
Jack's eyes went all hurt, "That's not very nice. But Ay'll forgive you that one. Into the captain's cabin! All of you!" Sparrow uncharacteristically raised his voice. The family hastened to obey. Jack ushered the girl back down the steps.
"Ay really appreciated your assistance, love, as Ay'd've had a hard time of it by me onesy," Jack thanked the girl. She stared blankly at him, but the pirate grinned, thrust her into the cabin, and shut the door. Jack roped the handles. That should keep them in there.
WHACK!!
Sparrow whirled around. The crew was hacking intensely at the hatch.
WHACK!!!
Obviously, it would not be long before they emerged. Now was the moment to for Jack to make his bows and sail away.
He descended back into his boat, cut the ropes holding to the ship, and began to drift off. Disaster struck at that moment.
"Uncle Jack?" called Kathy's voice from where it most certainly should not have been. Jack turned, lifted his eyes in horror. Standing on the retreating vessel's deck, floppy hair waving in the wind, scared eyes barely peering over the railing, was the girl.
"Might I ask what you are doing there?" Jack shouted up at her.
"Can you help me?" the girl whined, looking very lost. Jack waved his arms up and down.
"Jump and Ay'll fetch you! Can you hear me? Just dive off."
The girl looked very distressed and started crying.
"I can't! Come back!"
"Its simple, all you has to do is fall. But now would really be the moment to attempt it."
Kathy didn't even look at her uncle. Her face turned red and her tears bubbled up and fell. Distantly, scuffles of feet sounded from the deck. The girl was suddenly yanked back. For a moment, Jack sort of stared, his brow furrowed. Best idea was to simply leave her. Solve a lot of problems at once. However, young Hot-head probably wouldn't be too fond of a girl who sailed with a pirate.
Jack's boat had drifted by now. With resignation, Jack threw off his coat, various pistols, knives, his sword, and lucky hat. But saved one cutlass. You never did know. Then he dived in.
The ship steadily reappeared. The discarded rope fell into his hands. Jack felt a touch of déjà vu as he climbed. He scurried back up the rope, dropped down onto the deck, and turned at the sound of a pistol.
Hot-headed lad grasped Kathy in a headlock, allowing her feet to dangle above the deck. The pirate's niece gasped for air. An ugly pistol dug into her skull. Hot-headed lad smiled with evil satisfaction.
"This looks awful familiar, doesn't it?" he growled at the dripping-wet Jack.
The rest of the ship was frozen. The crew and the gentry remained on the main deck, frozen, daring not to interrupt the delicate situation.
Jack slowly guided one hand to his wet cutlass. He wavered, unbalanced.
"Son, how about you calmly surrender that there pistol, before you do something really stupid. Honestly, gentlemen do not go around shooting little girls, in the first place."
The kid tightened his grip on Kathy.
"Don't touch that knife!" he shouted, "I'll shoot her unless you drop your weapon!"
"That could be difficult as I haven't picked it up."
"Put down your knife! And surrender! Surrender or I'll kill her!"
Sparrow spread an arm complacently.
"By all means, shoot. Ay'll not discourage you. It's only that pistol I'm after."
Confusion overcame the lad, for a second. Jack took advantage of his indecision and struck, taking a quick step to seize the gun. The boy saw the pirate. He panicked. Kathy fell to the deck with a thud. Someone shouted. The lad thrust the pistol at Jack's chest and fired.
The pirate recoiled at the impact. The lad had shot him! Shot him, Captain Jack Sparrow! The little upstart!
Far away, Jack saw the lad. He held the smoking pistol in shock. There were scuffles and shouts. But Jack was all ready falling.
You have read to Chapter 3. You MUST have something to say. Feedback, peoples! We thrive on feedback!! And, it's my Birthday too. So I'd like some reviews cuz it's my b-day. Many thanks.