I'm pretending that I'm not writing this. I've got three deadlines I'm
trying to meet, and here I am writing this again instead.
Captain Jack Sparrow: Back to the false moustache again love?
Me: No, the sofa ate it . . . hey what are you doing here?
Jack: Your Cast of thousands wandered off to start a riot. Apparently they wanted an Oscar nomination and didn't get one.
Me: Oh god, not again.
Jack: So the temp agency sent me.
Me: You work for a temp agency? Somehow that seems unlikely. I mean, no offence intended, but who would hire you for any kind of responsible or respectable job?
Jack: Looks who's talking.
Me: *muttered* Eunuch!
Anyway, I apparently have a few things to clear up from the last chapter.
Book lover - Jack got the knife from Stenson when he landed on top of him. Sorry, I thought I made that clear.
Loraine: Legerdemain means sleight of hand. As in conjuring tricks, in this case making a knife disappear up a sleeve. I had Jack tell Will that in chapter 17, but I appreciate that that was some time ago.
Brokenskye: Masters saying 'I've seen this scene before' - he has, frequently, but with Jack and Bootstrap, not Jack and Will. But he thinks that Will is William, savvy? That was supposed to be implied anyway, I evidently didn't do it that well.
And a big thank-you to everyone else. And indeed you three. I now have over three hundred reviews. I'm considering printing them out, going to the highest building in university making each and every single one of them into a paper aeroplane and throwing them off.
Jack: That sounds like a wonderful plan. Can I come?
Me: Only if I apologise to you for calling you a eunuch.
Jack: . . . just write the story, luv. It makes more sense than you do, but then that would not be hard.
*******************************************************************
It wasn't often that James Norrington was taken utterly by surprise, but every time he was, it seemed that Jack Sparrow was there. He had not been expecting Sparrow to negotiate with Masters, indeed he had viewed the pirate with considerable disdain when it appeared he was doing so. He certainly had not been expecting Elizabeth to pass him a knife; it had taken all his presence of mind to keep his face blank. And he had not been expecting Will Turner to react so instantaneously to the pirate's ploy. It reminded him of how they had fought together on the occasion of Sparrow's hanging two years ago, making fools out of his men. Perhaps there was something in this 'blood of a pirate' thing after all.
He felt a little humiliated that he had to wait until Turner had struck down the first pirate to get a sword. He was a Commodore of the Royal Navy and as such should not have to look to a blacksmith. But still, it was good to hold the sword in his hand. Good to be on at least equal terms with these ruffians. He decided to ignore the odds, which were at least five to one and met the first of the pirates with a smile on his face. Having bested the man, he checked round - very quickly - to see what the others were doing. Sparrow was fighting two pirates at once, apparently attempting to get to Masters. Turner and Elizabeth were once again fighting back to back. Six or seven men surrounded them; he resolved to try and go to their aid.
The ship lurched alarmingly beneath his feet. Unfortunately he suspected that it was just going to get worse. The rain was heavy but it was still possible to see who you were fighting. Just. He hit at the man in front of him with the hilt of his sword and watched in shock as the man lost his feet when the ship rolled again and stumbled overboard. He felt something twist inside him at the expression on the man's face, the helpless desperation. Before he met the next pirate he made sure he was standing near a line, just in case.
Abruptly the rain got heavier, driven by the wind. It was ridiculous to be fighting in this; he could hardly see his sword, let alone the pirate he was supposedly aiming at. But there wasn't any other choice. He realised that his opponent was facing into the wind - the man obviously could not see a thing. For a split second he hesitated. He had always considered himself to be an honourable man. But he had others to think of. They had to win this fight. The hostages on the island had to be rescued. He lunged at the pirate, killing him instantly.
There were waves coming over the side of the ship. He wondered if the anchor would hold. It would be unpleasantly ironic if they should win this fight only to be destroyed by the elements. He continued to fight his way towards Elizabeth and her fiancé. The boy really was good with a sword. As was Elizabeth for that matter. Unseemly that, but this certainly was not a time for complaints. He ducked a particularly wild blow. Two more pirates rushed him. He desperately tried to counter but there were simply too many of them. And then the deck moved sideways and there was water around his waist. He grabbed the line hanging next to him and twisted it round his arms. Then, swallowing both pride and revulsion, he kicked out at the pirates. As they lost their footing, they were swept overboard. He held on tightly and prayed he would not follow them.
****
The storm was hitting the island hard, but Gibbs was more worried about the Black Pearl and at least three of the people on board her. He had been expecting her to move closer inshore at the start of the storm - Masters might be both crazy and sadistic but he wasn't stupid. But there had been no movement and the ship that he would always think of as Jack's was being thrown around the water like a child's toy. He hoped Jack would be alright. For all his efforts to hold the others back, his heart had been in his mouth when he had seen his captain fall.
He noticed that Anamaria was also staring out at the Pearl.
"He'll be fine," he told her, trying out reassurance. "They all will."
She shot him a disbelieving look but said nothing. It was Marty - Gibbs hadn't even noticed him there - who said "Jack's going to have to come up with something really clever to get out of this."
That was true but he still wished it hadn't been said. "He's good at clever. He'll come up with a plan, and Masters will never see it coming." It sounded weak even to his ears. They stood in silence, trying to shelter from the storm beneath the hill, watching the sea and the ship. All the digging had stopped - there was no way to get anything done in these conditions. And only a few of their captors remained alert and in the open, the rest having moved to a more sheltered area to drink rum, apparently in disgust. Gibbs wondered if there was any chance at all of them sharing.
Anamaria's thoughts had apparently been running along more productive lines. "There can't be many of Masters crew on the ship, right?"
"Less than a score by my reckoning."
"So if we could get rid of that lot," she nodded over to the carousing pirates, "We would have a chance of taking our ship back, and maybe rescuing Jack, Will, Elizabeth and that bloody Commodore?"
"Aye. We would at that." He smiled at her, he liked her thinking all of a sudden. After all, the rain would prevent the pirates from seeing them take out the few who were still alert, which would give them weapons, then they could go after the main lot, who were by the looks of things, already nicely drunk. Anamaria picked up her shovel, he hefted a pickaxe thoughtfully. The rest of the rightful crew of the Black Pearl, all standing nearby began to search for similar makeshift weapons.
"You're going to take on those pirates with spades when they're armed with cutlasses?" The woman - one of the prisoners taken from St Sebastian's - sounded incredulous. "You're daft, all of you!"
The pirates all grinned. It was difficult to say exactly when that had become a compliment.
***
Elizabeth thought that she was going to die. The sea water filled her mouth and she struggled not to breathe it in. Her body was pressed tight against the mast; she had no wish to be washed overboard. She could feel Will's arm around her, hopefully he was holding onto something more secure with his other hand. The water subsided and they seemed to both relax at the same time. Then - in unison - they raised their swords and went back to fighting the pirates. There were far fewer of them now it seemed. Apparently they were not so good at holding on during those times when the deck was swamped. She wondered for how much longer she and Will would be able to. And Jack and James. Where were they?
She looked round, frantically squinting through the rain, hoping that they had not been washed overboard. She saw Norrington in a similar position to the one she and Will had adopted - holding on to part of the ship with one hand and slashing at pirates with the other. He seemed to be doing well, but she would have expected no less of him.
The rain blurred her vision for a moment. As it cleared she saw a dark blur coming towards her, she stepped to the side as quickly as she could, but the sudden stinging down her arm told her that it hadn't been quickly enough. She spun on one heel, abandoning her grip on the mast for the moment and lunged, just as Will had taught her. The sword went through the pirate's chest. She had to put her foot on top of his corpse to pull it put again. The stories she had heard as a child had never been like this.
Will appeared by her side. His eyes were wide and she knew he had seen her get hurt. She smiled at him in reassurance first and then checked the wound. There was only a very thin line of blood showing through her sleeve. She tried flexing her fingers. Everything seemed to work fine. She leaned close to Will and shouted into his ear.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
The relieved look in his eyes told her that he had understood. Suddenly he grabbed her around the waist. She was startled, but uncomplaining, especially as he pulled her close into the mast as another huge wave hit the ship.
Once again it seemed that the end had come. She was struck with the frightening thought that the ship might simply roll right over, killing them all. The water was over her head. She clung tight to the mast and to her love, afraid for herself but terrified in case she should lose Will. At last, the ship righted itself for the time being.
There didn't seem to be any pirates left. At any rate, no-one was attacking them. She could see Norrington though, grasping the railing and making his way - slowly towards them. Of Jack Sparrow there was no sign.
*********************************************************************
This is part one of this chapter, part two will follow shortly. It is therefore not a cliffhanger. Honestly. Look, it can't be a cliff hanger if it's only half a chapter. And most of the second part is written.
Captain Jack Sparrow: But only in yer head, luv.
Me: That's where I do most of my writing. It probably can't actually be called writing then, can it?
Jack: Who cares? I'm just hoping you haven't killed me.
Me: So am I. I'd never hear the last of it.
Jack: By the way, phone call for you. From the Cast of thousands. They say that they've been arrested and want you to bail them out.
Me: Hmmmmmm . . . Would that be a good idea, I'm wondering?
Jack: While she thinks, and I drink . . .
Me: . . . Can't we do that in reverse?
Jack: Hands off the rum, darling. Anyway, while that happens, why don't you review this story.
Me: That's normally my line. And sharing is good.
Jack: Pirate, remember?
Captain Jack Sparrow: Back to the false moustache again love?
Me: No, the sofa ate it . . . hey what are you doing here?
Jack: Your Cast of thousands wandered off to start a riot. Apparently they wanted an Oscar nomination and didn't get one.
Me: Oh god, not again.
Jack: So the temp agency sent me.
Me: You work for a temp agency? Somehow that seems unlikely. I mean, no offence intended, but who would hire you for any kind of responsible or respectable job?
Jack: Looks who's talking.
Me: *muttered* Eunuch!
Anyway, I apparently have a few things to clear up from the last chapter.
Book lover - Jack got the knife from Stenson when he landed on top of him. Sorry, I thought I made that clear.
Loraine: Legerdemain means sleight of hand. As in conjuring tricks, in this case making a knife disappear up a sleeve. I had Jack tell Will that in chapter 17, but I appreciate that that was some time ago.
Brokenskye: Masters saying 'I've seen this scene before' - he has, frequently, but with Jack and Bootstrap, not Jack and Will. But he thinks that Will is William, savvy? That was supposed to be implied anyway, I evidently didn't do it that well.
And a big thank-you to everyone else. And indeed you three. I now have over three hundred reviews. I'm considering printing them out, going to the highest building in university making each and every single one of them into a paper aeroplane and throwing them off.
Jack: That sounds like a wonderful plan. Can I come?
Me: Only if I apologise to you for calling you a eunuch.
Jack: . . . just write the story, luv. It makes more sense than you do, but then that would not be hard.
*******************************************************************
It wasn't often that James Norrington was taken utterly by surprise, but every time he was, it seemed that Jack Sparrow was there. He had not been expecting Sparrow to negotiate with Masters, indeed he had viewed the pirate with considerable disdain when it appeared he was doing so. He certainly had not been expecting Elizabeth to pass him a knife; it had taken all his presence of mind to keep his face blank. And he had not been expecting Will Turner to react so instantaneously to the pirate's ploy. It reminded him of how they had fought together on the occasion of Sparrow's hanging two years ago, making fools out of his men. Perhaps there was something in this 'blood of a pirate' thing after all.
He felt a little humiliated that he had to wait until Turner had struck down the first pirate to get a sword. He was a Commodore of the Royal Navy and as such should not have to look to a blacksmith. But still, it was good to hold the sword in his hand. Good to be on at least equal terms with these ruffians. He decided to ignore the odds, which were at least five to one and met the first of the pirates with a smile on his face. Having bested the man, he checked round - very quickly - to see what the others were doing. Sparrow was fighting two pirates at once, apparently attempting to get to Masters. Turner and Elizabeth were once again fighting back to back. Six or seven men surrounded them; he resolved to try and go to their aid.
The ship lurched alarmingly beneath his feet. Unfortunately he suspected that it was just going to get worse. The rain was heavy but it was still possible to see who you were fighting. Just. He hit at the man in front of him with the hilt of his sword and watched in shock as the man lost his feet when the ship rolled again and stumbled overboard. He felt something twist inside him at the expression on the man's face, the helpless desperation. Before he met the next pirate he made sure he was standing near a line, just in case.
Abruptly the rain got heavier, driven by the wind. It was ridiculous to be fighting in this; he could hardly see his sword, let alone the pirate he was supposedly aiming at. But there wasn't any other choice. He realised that his opponent was facing into the wind - the man obviously could not see a thing. For a split second he hesitated. He had always considered himself to be an honourable man. But he had others to think of. They had to win this fight. The hostages on the island had to be rescued. He lunged at the pirate, killing him instantly.
There were waves coming over the side of the ship. He wondered if the anchor would hold. It would be unpleasantly ironic if they should win this fight only to be destroyed by the elements. He continued to fight his way towards Elizabeth and her fiancé. The boy really was good with a sword. As was Elizabeth for that matter. Unseemly that, but this certainly was not a time for complaints. He ducked a particularly wild blow. Two more pirates rushed him. He desperately tried to counter but there were simply too many of them. And then the deck moved sideways and there was water around his waist. He grabbed the line hanging next to him and twisted it round his arms. Then, swallowing both pride and revulsion, he kicked out at the pirates. As they lost their footing, they were swept overboard. He held on tightly and prayed he would not follow them.
****
The storm was hitting the island hard, but Gibbs was more worried about the Black Pearl and at least three of the people on board her. He had been expecting her to move closer inshore at the start of the storm - Masters might be both crazy and sadistic but he wasn't stupid. But there had been no movement and the ship that he would always think of as Jack's was being thrown around the water like a child's toy. He hoped Jack would be alright. For all his efforts to hold the others back, his heart had been in his mouth when he had seen his captain fall.
He noticed that Anamaria was also staring out at the Pearl.
"He'll be fine," he told her, trying out reassurance. "They all will."
She shot him a disbelieving look but said nothing. It was Marty - Gibbs hadn't even noticed him there - who said "Jack's going to have to come up with something really clever to get out of this."
That was true but he still wished it hadn't been said. "He's good at clever. He'll come up with a plan, and Masters will never see it coming." It sounded weak even to his ears. They stood in silence, trying to shelter from the storm beneath the hill, watching the sea and the ship. All the digging had stopped - there was no way to get anything done in these conditions. And only a few of their captors remained alert and in the open, the rest having moved to a more sheltered area to drink rum, apparently in disgust. Gibbs wondered if there was any chance at all of them sharing.
Anamaria's thoughts had apparently been running along more productive lines. "There can't be many of Masters crew on the ship, right?"
"Less than a score by my reckoning."
"So if we could get rid of that lot," she nodded over to the carousing pirates, "We would have a chance of taking our ship back, and maybe rescuing Jack, Will, Elizabeth and that bloody Commodore?"
"Aye. We would at that." He smiled at her, he liked her thinking all of a sudden. After all, the rain would prevent the pirates from seeing them take out the few who were still alert, which would give them weapons, then they could go after the main lot, who were by the looks of things, already nicely drunk. Anamaria picked up her shovel, he hefted a pickaxe thoughtfully. The rest of the rightful crew of the Black Pearl, all standing nearby began to search for similar makeshift weapons.
"You're going to take on those pirates with spades when they're armed with cutlasses?" The woman - one of the prisoners taken from St Sebastian's - sounded incredulous. "You're daft, all of you!"
The pirates all grinned. It was difficult to say exactly when that had become a compliment.
***
Elizabeth thought that she was going to die. The sea water filled her mouth and she struggled not to breathe it in. Her body was pressed tight against the mast; she had no wish to be washed overboard. She could feel Will's arm around her, hopefully he was holding onto something more secure with his other hand. The water subsided and they seemed to both relax at the same time. Then - in unison - they raised their swords and went back to fighting the pirates. There were far fewer of them now it seemed. Apparently they were not so good at holding on during those times when the deck was swamped. She wondered for how much longer she and Will would be able to. And Jack and James. Where were they?
She looked round, frantically squinting through the rain, hoping that they had not been washed overboard. She saw Norrington in a similar position to the one she and Will had adopted - holding on to part of the ship with one hand and slashing at pirates with the other. He seemed to be doing well, but she would have expected no less of him.
The rain blurred her vision for a moment. As it cleared she saw a dark blur coming towards her, she stepped to the side as quickly as she could, but the sudden stinging down her arm told her that it hadn't been quickly enough. She spun on one heel, abandoning her grip on the mast for the moment and lunged, just as Will had taught her. The sword went through the pirate's chest. She had to put her foot on top of his corpse to pull it put again. The stories she had heard as a child had never been like this.
Will appeared by her side. His eyes were wide and she knew he had seen her get hurt. She smiled at him in reassurance first and then checked the wound. There was only a very thin line of blood showing through her sleeve. She tried flexing her fingers. Everything seemed to work fine. She leaned close to Will and shouted into his ear.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
The relieved look in his eyes told her that he had understood. Suddenly he grabbed her around the waist. She was startled, but uncomplaining, especially as he pulled her close into the mast as another huge wave hit the ship.
Once again it seemed that the end had come. She was struck with the frightening thought that the ship might simply roll right over, killing them all. The water was over her head. She clung tight to the mast and to her love, afraid for herself but terrified in case she should lose Will. At last, the ship righted itself for the time being.
There didn't seem to be any pirates left. At any rate, no-one was attacking them. She could see Norrington though, grasping the railing and making his way - slowly towards them. Of Jack Sparrow there was no sign.
*********************************************************************
This is part one of this chapter, part two will follow shortly. It is therefore not a cliffhanger. Honestly. Look, it can't be a cliff hanger if it's only half a chapter. And most of the second part is written.
Captain Jack Sparrow: But only in yer head, luv.
Me: That's where I do most of my writing. It probably can't actually be called writing then, can it?
Jack: Who cares? I'm just hoping you haven't killed me.
Me: So am I. I'd never hear the last of it.
Jack: By the way, phone call for you. From the Cast of thousands. They say that they've been arrested and want you to bail them out.
Me: Hmmmmmm . . . Would that be a good idea, I'm wondering?
Jack: While she thinks, and I drink . . .
Me: . . . Can't we do that in reverse?
Jack: Hands off the rum, darling. Anyway, while that happens, why don't you review this story.
Me: That's normally my line. And sharing is good.
Jack: Pirate, remember?
