Show Me the Horizon
Chapter 13
Two ships rode at anchor in a small cove. One was flying English colors. The other, Spanish. "You have proven to be of little use to me, LeSerre," growled a tall dark man. "I ask you for information on the pirate and fleet movements, so I can protect my plate ships when next they sail. And you spend your time sinking English ships for no apparent reason what so ever."
"Captain DaSilva," said LeSerre genially. "I've been of more benefit to you that you realize. The Royal Fleet is scurrying around trying to find out who this dreadful new pirate is, the Brethren of the Coast are scurrying around trying to keep clear of the Fleet, and no one is thinking about you and your plate ships. I've also neutralized the Black Pearl by kidnapping Captain Jack Sparrow, and dropping him off on the southern coast of Cuba. I daresay your people there have already captured him. I also have his second mate, Annamaria Simmone prisoner on my ship, as well as the Governor of Jamaica's son-in-law."
"As of two days ago, Sparrow has not been found," snapped DaSilva. "And the Dauntless is cruising these water as I speak. I want her gone."
"The Dauntless?" asked LeSerre. "Doesn't she usually stay further south?"
"Usually," answered DaSilva. "I don't know what she is doing in this area, but I intend to sink her. And for that, I need your help."
"I can't attack the Dauntless," protested LeSerre. "I'd lose the letters of marque that allow me to bring you the information you need."
"That," said DaSilva menacingly, "is why there must be no survivors. Bring one of your captives to me. I've always wanted to meet the notorious Miss Simone."
--
Elizabeth and Gibbs crouched in the longboat under cover of some overhanging branches. Gibbs looked through the telescope at the two ships anchored in the cove. "We'll have to wait until they split up," said Gibbs. "We can't take on both of them."
"Isn't that the Spanish flag?" asked Elizabeth.
"Aye," replied Gibbs. "LeSerre appears to be in league with the Dons, rot him. No doubt that's why he felt safe marooning Jack in Cuba."
"What should we do about Jack?"
"If I know Jack Sparrow, he won't sit around waiting for the Dons to find him," answered Gibbs. "He'll try and steal a boat and make for Tortuga. We'll have better luck looking for his there than searching beaches in Cuba."
"But first we must rescue Will and Annamaria," said Elizabeth firmly.
"Aye," said Gibbs. "If Jack finds out we handed them to LeSerre he'll drop ME on the coast of Cuba."
--
Norrington leaned back in his chair and eyed Jack speculatively. ""So you're telling me that Captain LeSerre of the Banshee is the pirate that's been sinking English ships and attacking English settlements?"
"Aye," said Jack.
"Why are you telling me this? I thought your code forbid it?"
"Well, at the moment, I'm not in a position to do much about it," replied Jack. "I'll help you catch him, however."
Norrington raised his eyebrows. "In return for.?"
"In return for you not trying to hang me again," replied Jack. "You've condemned me to death twice now - it's getting tiresome."
"Tiresome indeed." agreed Norrington. "And you continually escaping is getting irritating as well. All right, Sparrow, I'll accept your aid in catching LeSerre. And in return you can do something for me."
"And that would be?" inquired Jack.
"Apply for letters of marque," said Norrington, "and stop attacking English ships."
"Letters of marque!" exclaimed Jack, jumping to his feet and starting to pace around the cabin "You want to turn me into a damned privateer?"
"As a privateer sailing under English letters I won't have to worry about you any further," snapped Norrington. "Closer association with you has taught me that there are pirates and there are pirates. I'd rather spend my time hunting down animals like LeSerre than men like you."
"No, mate, I value my freedom too much to let anyone tell me what I can and can't do," Jack answered.
"Your freedom, at the moment, is dependent upon you giving me your word," said Norrington coldly. "What are you losing? Not only do you not have to worry about me trying to hang you again, but also from what I understand, you haven't attacked at English ship in at least six months. And when you have in the past, you've done it with minimal casualties."
"The French and Spanish ships are more lucrative," Jack admitted.
"Then where does your reluctance come from?"
"It's the principle of the thing," Jack muttered.
"Give me your word, Captain," insisted Norrington
"You'd trust my word, Commodore?"
"In this I would. I know full well you've been known to break your word when it suits you, but I don't believe you'd do it in this case. You're no LeSerre, Captain Sparrow. Give me your word, man, or I'll clap you in irons right now and ship you back to Port Royal in chains, with a constant armed guard from this moment until the moment the noose breaks your neck."
Jack stared at him for a moment, then spun on his heel and stalked to the windows. He looked out at the sea, the sun glittering off the blue waves, the sky turning pink with the approaching sunset. Norrington meant it. He'd be within his rights to string Jack up from the yardarm immediately, in fact. He forced himself to consider the idea. Would it really be so different? Was refusing worth hanging for? Jack turned and looked at Gwen. She hadn't said a word since Norrington had made this absurd offer, merely sitting quietly in her chair watching him. He looked at Norrington again, regarding him calmly from behind his desk. Jack took a deep breath and walked toward the desk, slowly extending his hand. "My word, Commodore. I'll apply for letters if you'll speak for me with the Governor."
"Agreed," said Norrington, taking Jack's hand.
"The amnesty from hanging extends to my crew," said Jack flatly. "So long as they sail under me."
"Of course," Norrington agreed.
Chapter 13
Two ships rode at anchor in a small cove. One was flying English colors. The other, Spanish. "You have proven to be of little use to me, LeSerre," growled a tall dark man. "I ask you for information on the pirate and fleet movements, so I can protect my plate ships when next they sail. And you spend your time sinking English ships for no apparent reason what so ever."
"Captain DaSilva," said LeSerre genially. "I've been of more benefit to you that you realize. The Royal Fleet is scurrying around trying to find out who this dreadful new pirate is, the Brethren of the Coast are scurrying around trying to keep clear of the Fleet, and no one is thinking about you and your plate ships. I've also neutralized the Black Pearl by kidnapping Captain Jack Sparrow, and dropping him off on the southern coast of Cuba. I daresay your people there have already captured him. I also have his second mate, Annamaria Simmone prisoner on my ship, as well as the Governor of Jamaica's son-in-law."
"As of two days ago, Sparrow has not been found," snapped DaSilva. "And the Dauntless is cruising these water as I speak. I want her gone."
"The Dauntless?" asked LeSerre. "Doesn't she usually stay further south?"
"Usually," answered DaSilva. "I don't know what she is doing in this area, but I intend to sink her. And for that, I need your help."
"I can't attack the Dauntless," protested LeSerre. "I'd lose the letters of marque that allow me to bring you the information you need."
"That," said DaSilva menacingly, "is why there must be no survivors. Bring one of your captives to me. I've always wanted to meet the notorious Miss Simone."
--
Elizabeth and Gibbs crouched in the longboat under cover of some overhanging branches. Gibbs looked through the telescope at the two ships anchored in the cove. "We'll have to wait until they split up," said Gibbs. "We can't take on both of them."
"Isn't that the Spanish flag?" asked Elizabeth.
"Aye," replied Gibbs. "LeSerre appears to be in league with the Dons, rot him. No doubt that's why he felt safe marooning Jack in Cuba."
"What should we do about Jack?"
"If I know Jack Sparrow, he won't sit around waiting for the Dons to find him," answered Gibbs. "He'll try and steal a boat and make for Tortuga. We'll have better luck looking for his there than searching beaches in Cuba."
"But first we must rescue Will and Annamaria," said Elizabeth firmly.
"Aye," said Gibbs. "If Jack finds out we handed them to LeSerre he'll drop ME on the coast of Cuba."
--
Norrington leaned back in his chair and eyed Jack speculatively. ""So you're telling me that Captain LeSerre of the Banshee is the pirate that's been sinking English ships and attacking English settlements?"
"Aye," said Jack.
"Why are you telling me this? I thought your code forbid it?"
"Well, at the moment, I'm not in a position to do much about it," replied Jack. "I'll help you catch him, however."
Norrington raised his eyebrows. "In return for.?"
"In return for you not trying to hang me again," replied Jack. "You've condemned me to death twice now - it's getting tiresome."
"Tiresome indeed." agreed Norrington. "And you continually escaping is getting irritating as well. All right, Sparrow, I'll accept your aid in catching LeSerre. And in return you can do something for me."
"And that would be?" inquired Jack.
"Apply for letters of marque," said Norrington, "and stop attacking English ships."
"Letters of marque!" exclaimed Jack, jumping to his feet and starting to pace around the cabin "You want to turn me into a damned privateer?"
"As a privateer sailing under English letters I won't have to worry about you any further," snapped Norrington. "Closer association with you has taught me that there are pirates and there are pirates. I'd rather spend my time hunting down animals like LeSerre than men like you."
"No, mate, I value my freedom too much to let anyone tell me what I can and can't do," Jack answered.
"Your freedom, at the moment, is dependent upon you giving me your word," said Norrington coldly. "What are you losing? Not only do you not have to worry about me trying to hang you again, but also from what I understand, you haven't attacked at English ship in at least six months. And when you have in the past, you've done it with minimal casualties."
"The French and Spanish ships are more lucrative," Jack admitted.
"Then where does your reluctance come from?"
"It's the principle of the thing," Jack muttered.
"Give me your word, Captain," insisted Norrington
"You'd trust my word, Commodore?"
"In this I would. I know full well you've been known to break your word when it suits you, but I don't believe you'd do it in this case. You're no LeSerre, Captain Sparrow. Give me your word, man, or I'll clap you in irons right now and ship you back to Port Royal in chains, with a constant armed guard from this moment until the moment the noose breaks your neck."
Jack stared at him for a moment, then spun on his heel and stalked to the windows. He looked out at the sea, the sun glittering off the blue waves, the sky turning pink with the approaching sunset. Norrington meant it. He'd be within his rights to string Jack up from the yardarm immediately, in fact. He forced himself to consider the idea. Would it really be so different? Was refusing worth hanging for? Jack turned and looked at Gwen. She hadn't said a word since Norrington had made this absurd offer, merely sitting quietly in her chair watching him. He looked at Norrington again, regarding him calmly from behind his desk. Jack took a deep breath and walked toward the desk, slowly extending his hand. "My word, Commodore. I'll apply for letters if you'll speak for me with the Governor."
"Agreed," said Norrington, taking Jack's hand.
"The amnesty from hanging extends to my crew," said Jack flatly. "So long as they sail under me."
"Of course," Norrington agreed.