You are lucky to be reading this chapter - the notes that I have for it commence "Will sees ship talking." I don't know if this made sense to me at the time, but it certainly doesn't now. Luckily I remember what I actually meant. I think.

Cast of thousands: That could work as a plotline.

Me: A talking ship?

Cast of thousands: You're the one who strives for the element of surprise, mate.

Me: I don't reckon that would be particularly unexpected . happens all the time.

Cast of thousands: Remove the caffeine.

Anyway, once again, a serious thank you to all my reviewers for support and inspiration and from time to time, direct threats. I love you all and live in immortal terror of you.

Cast of thousands: IMmortal terror?

Me: It was shiny ...

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The new ship anchored next to the Black Pearl. She was too far away for Will to see her name or allegiance, but by the fact that none of their pirate captors were troubled, he could tell that she was not here on a rescue mission. A couple of rowboats were launched and headed for the shore. Will continued to steal glances at the action on the beach while still continuing to do enough work to avoid the attention of the watching men.

Beside him, Norrington muttered, "That ship is oddly familiar."

He glanced round, in surprise, but the commodore was now staring fixedly at something on the beach. He too looked over and just for a second his heart leapt in joy when he recognised Jack's hat. A second was all it took for him to realise that the man beneath the hat was not his friend, indeed looked nothing like him. He realised that only one man could have stolen the hat, and looked to Norrington for confirmation. He was surprised to see the man was pale and his lips were compressed into a thin line. "Howard Stenson." He said, glaring down at the man on the beach.

"You two! Back to work, you scum!" The pirates had noticed their inactivity. The Commodore and Elizabeth went off with a small group of captives to dump the rubble around the corner of the hill. The ground had been getting difficult to stand on without slipping.

Quickly Will turned back to his digging, wondering exactly what Stenson was doing here. He resolved to kill the man at the first opportunity; he had sworn, back in Port Royal, that someone would pay for what had been done to Jack and he always kept his word. Although from the look in Norrington's eyes, he might have to fight the Commodore for the opportunity.

"Who is that?" asked Gibbs, quietly. Will hadn't heard the old man approach. Ana stood a little behind him, obviously also wanting to hear.

"Stenson." He answered, equally quietly. Both pirates looked blank.

"He was the one who brought Jack to Port Royal, breaking his leg and beating him half to death in the process." Will said, the pain of remembering blinding him to the probable consequences of the information. Gibbs reached out and grabbed Anamaria's arm at the same time as she started walking down to the beach, a look of fury on her face tempered with a grim determination.

The expression on Gibbs face was no less fierce, but still he pulled her back and whispered. "Not yet, lass. You're not armed, you'll never get near him. Wait. The moment'll come." He looked over at Will. "Same goes for you."

He nodded. "Don't do anything stupid." He recited under his breath, then turned sharply as a sound reached him from the beach.

"We pillage, we plunder la la la and loot. Drink up me hearties, yo ho. We something or other and don't give a hoot. Drink up me hearties, yo ho. Yo ho yo .. Oh come on mates, its a really easy song."

The second boat had just landed. Will, Gibbs and Anamaria stood and stared in utter disbelief as Jack Sparrow hopped out of it. He was bound, escorted by two soldiers and looked as though he had been dead for a week, but he was alive and chatting away to his captors.

"And it's a good one too. There's this line in it. Really bad eggs. Its at the end, but I normally sing it cos I can't remember how the middle bit goes."

Gibbs elbowed Will in the ribs. "I knew that nothing could kill that man."

Anamaria said dryly "Or stop him singing."

Stenson walked back along the beach and hit Jack in the mouth with the back of his hand. The pirate reeled but didn't fall.

"Stop singing that bloody song." He screamed. There was a gasp. Nearly all the prisoners had stopped working to watch. Their captors didn't object, mostly because they too were engrossed in the drama taking place on the beach. Gibbs had a hand on both Will and Anamaria's arm, restraining them.

Jack grinned widely, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Yo ho, yo ho" he sang then stopped, looking over Stenson's shoulder at Masters. "A pirate's life for me." He finished, speaking flatly rather than singing.

Masters hadn't moved from the moment Jack had appeared. Now he walked forwards, brushing past Stenson, until he was standing directly in front of Jack.

"You're supposed to be dead." He tilted his head on one side. "Can't you do anything right?" His tone was light, conversational even, but there was complete silence and all the watchers could hear every nuance.

"I tried it once." Jack's tone was nearly identical. He leaned forwards with an air of confidentiality but his words too, carried in the hush. "I didn't like it much. The skeletal look doesn't really suit me."

Masters nodded understandingly and, without warning, swung his pistol and hit Jack on the side of the head with it. The pirate crumpled to the ground without making a sound.

"Jack!" everyone looked round to see who had screamed. Will groaned inwardly, Elizabeth stood there beside Norrington, her hand up to her mouth. Masters looked at her, then back at Jack and then addressed her.

"So, you're working with Sparrow are you? That's interesting." He pointed to Norrington and Elizabeth. "Take them and Sparrow onto the Black Pearl. Stick them in the brig, until I can attend to them. Oh, there was another one wasn't there." His eyes scanned the crowd of captives. Gibbs attempted to stand in front of Will, but he pushed the old pirate aside. He needed no- one to shield him.

When Master's saw him, the pirate's eyes widened. "That is interesting." He said, apparently to himself. "That one too." His crew obeyed his orders immediately.

The three of them were forced into the boat and the unconscious Jack was thrown in after them. It was impossible to say how badly he was hurt; the pirates wouldn't let them check. Will watched anxiously for the tell-tale rise and fall of the chest that would tell him his friend still drew breath, and was relieved to spot it.

A hand crept into his. "Will, I'm so sorry." Elizabeth whispered. "I got us noticed and I think Masters knows who you are."

"It wasn't your fault," he whispered back. "Besides ."

"No talking." One of the pirates yelled suddenly.

He shut his mouth. He had been going to tell her that they probably had a better chance of escape on the Black Pearl where there would be fewer guards. There was also the fact that he didn't want to leave Jack alone with Masters, especially when he was hurt.

As soon as they were onboard the Pearl, they were thrown in the brig. Norrington, having the most experience, immediately moved to check Jack's injuries but before he could begin, Masters strode into the brig and stood in front of their cell. Instantly Will was on his feet, shielding Jack from his enemy. Without hesitation Elizabeth, and even Norrington joined him.

"That is a very touching sight." Masters sneered. "But as long as he's still unconscious, it's of no profit to me to be threatening him. You, however, boy," his gaze was fixed on Will's face. "You are a different matter. I thought there was something familiar about you and now I know what it is. You look just like your father, you know. So I ask again, what is your name, whelp?"

There was no point in further denial, and he didn't like the way that the pirate had called him whelp. There was a world of difference between the friendly teasing of Jack, and this utter contempt. "My name is William Turner." He answered, his voice as even and unemotional as he could manage. He heard Elizabeth sigh at his side, whether impressed with him or annoyed he couldn't tell.

"Yes." Masters nodded. "Your father gave me this." He rubbed the long, ugly scar that ran down his face. "It was an unprovoked attack, sneaky and dishonourable. You look just like your father. I'll be dealing with you later." With that, he turned and walked out.

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OK, they've now gone from being in a bad situation to being totally and utterly screwed. Heeheeheeheehee! Please review.