Okay. I received like nooooo reviews last chappie.....* Looks sad. * Not even
Cap'n Keira graced chapter eight with her reviewing presence.
Oh well. Sympathy call over. Also, I need Ana's surname!!!!!!! Pwease!
Hehe.
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Chapter Nine – Captain Moineau
Ana wasn't sure how they escaped their cells. Pintel had picked the lock, with a bent piece of wire. It seemed he'd done so before.
"Jack! Have you thought this through? This isn't like you!"
Jack just smiled slyly, and hurried up to the deck.
The crew lay about on the deck, drunk. They were nearly all unconscious. Many of them, however, were muttering drunkenly.
Pintel took a sword from Mr Trant's waistband. He waved it experimentally.
"I seys we shoves 'em inta the sea!"
"But they'll drown!"
"Can't help that, lass."
Ana stared at Jack. He looked momentarily worried, before his customarily passive expression returned. He nodded.
The two pirates began hefting their brethren into the waves. It woke most of the drunks, but it was too late to return to ship. Its sails were full of the powerful wind, pulling it across the water at a fast pace.
Once the deck was void of the old crew, Pintel looked at Jack. The boy had walked over to the wheel in a sort of trance. He let his hands stray over the polished wood, almost afraid of it.
Jack looked out over the ship. He'd never stood here before. Not for two years on this beastly ship. 'No, this beautiful ship.' His mind whispered. And now he looked, this ship was beautiful. It's sails hummed, it's wooden shape was streamlined. It stood out against it's blue and aquamarine surroundings like a jewel. 'A pearl'.
Pintel and Raggetti looked up at him. They'd never captained a ship before. They needed leadership.
"Umm, Mr Moineau?"
"Hmm?"
"Er, you gonna tell us what needs doin?"
Raggetti waved vaguely at the ship. It creaked in reply.
"Nah. You're experienced sailors, right? You can do it without bein' told."
They nodded.
"Aye, aye, Captain!"
Ana spun round to face her brother. Jack sighed contentedly. Captain Moineau...It felt good. But it wasn't right.
Ana had walked up to him.
"Happy are we, Captain Moineau? Finally got good at playin' pirates?"
"What's the matter?"
"You! You've barely said a word since we stowed away, and now your turning into a pirate!"
Jack looked uncomfortably at his feet. He'd always wanted to live on the sea. Like his mother. But he didn't want to have to wear some daft Navy uniform, or conform to any rules. After 17 years of rules, and then another two years under different rules, he'd had enough of them. He wanted freedom.
"Look, Ana, our mum was a pirate. It must run in blood or something, because I like being out here." He gestured to the ocean.
"I'm sorry you don't too."
Ana stared at him. She did the only thin she knew how to do. She stamped her foot. It was pathetic. She knew it was pathetic. Raggetti and Pintel stifled chortles as she marched across the deck, and locked herself in her cabin.
(Two months later.)
Ana sat sulking on the rails of the ship. Pintel had promised that they were near a port. She wanted off the sea now. She wanted off this boat. Jack had become a Captain overnight. God knows how, she thought. Maybe he'd known all along. Maybe he was just...born with it.
Well she wasn't born with any seafaring know how. She hated this life. She wished she were back at home.
It had been Jack's twentieth birthday a few weeks ago. Ana had kept a note of such things, counting off the days in her head, scratching marks in the wall. Jack hadn't noticed.
It was her birthday to day. Ana noticed. She felt older, but far too old. The sea had weathered her face. She didn't look very old, but a lot older than nineteen. She felt forty-two. Jack seemed to feel about ten. He sprang about the ship now, like a giddy child. He was grinning, singing or looking far too passive to not be laughing inside.
"Land ho!"
Ana turned, and saw a long grey smudge behind her. Jack came leaping down the rigging, producing a telescope from somewhere. He peered out to sea.
"Land ho, indeed Mr Pintel!"
"Aye, that be Tortuga, if'n I'm any judge."
"T-Tortuga? Isn't that full of, bad people?"
Raggetti laughed aloud at Ana's innocent face.
"Oh aye, tis full o' bad types, miss!"
Ana folded her arms hotly. Jack just slapped her on the back jovially.
"Cheer up Ana, luv!"
Ana nearly screamed. Luv? Luv! He was as bad as the two pirates, or worse! She slapped him hard across the face, biting her tongue to keep herself from screeching.
Jack staggered back a few steps, shocked.
"Wha'? What've I done now!"
"Luv! I'm your sister! I have my own name! Stop talkin' to me like you're a..." she hesitated. "...a bloody pirate!"
Ana stood, shaking with fury. Jack stared at her, hurt stamped across his face.
"Ana!"
"No! I'm not stayin' with you when we get to this port. I'm getting' a boat home. I don't want to be here any more!"
Pintel and Raggetti had withdrawn below. Jack looked round the empty deck.
"Why? What's so bad about it?"
"All of it! I hate the sea! I hate this ship! And..." Another hesitation. "...I hate you!"
Silence. Even the waves went quiet. Ana felt scared of her own daring. Jack swallowed. His soft brown eyes met Ana's for a second, and she felt awful. She wanted to stop it there, but her anger pressed her beyond the safe limit.
"I hate this pirate, who's obsessed with his ship! It's not you! You used to worry about me, now ever since we left home; you've been turning into some kind of eccentric pirate! Why?"
Jack made small circles on the deck with his foot. He didn't know why. It felt like he was being allowed to be him. Like all that time in Port Jashal, he'd been trapped behind some kind of mask. Now, the mask had gone. This was what he was like. This was Jackarius Moineau, not some posh Governors son.
"This is me, Ana. I'm not going home."
"Fine."
The ship docked. Raggetti and Pintel led the two anxious siblings off into the dark streets. A man, babbling in French, walked past. He pointed at Jack and Ana, and said something in Pintel's ear.
"Who are zey?" (A.N.Sorry. Attempting French accent. No offence intended.)
"Some kids who stowed away on the 'Black Pearl'. Jack and Ana Moineau."
Pintel gave the man a brief outline of the story. The Frenchman seemed surprised. Finally, he nodded. He smiled slightly at the two of them, before carrying on.
He ended up in a pub, stuffed with chattering men and women. Leaning on the bar, he called to the barman.
"Hey, Thegg!"
Mr Thegg ambled across to him, smearing the grime round a beer glass with a brown towel.
"Yes?"
"I just zaw Mr Pintel and Mr Raggetti. Zey were with two kids."
"So?"
"The boy, he is Captain of the 'Black Pearl'!"
Mr Thegg dropped the glass. No one seemed bothered by the loud smash.
"No! How'd he manage it?"
The Frenchman relayed the story Pintel had given him. Mr Thegg smiled.
"Ole' Pintel and Raggetti never were good pirates. Couldn't Captain a ship for money those two. So he's a natural, eh?"
The Frenchman nodded vigorously.
"Mr Raggetti zays they are going to see Barboosa. Apparently he's out of work."
He raised his eyebrows meaningfully. Thegg chuckled.
"He's a card Barbossa. Started more mutinies than any other pirate I know. So, they're gonna play at bein' a loyal crew, afore they tip 'im overboard. Don't see the point meself."
The Frenchman grinned a toothless grin.
"Zey say that the boy has Tanya Morgan's diary..."
Thegg's jaw dropped.
"No, not? Not really?"
Oh well. Sympathy call over. Also, I need Ana's surname!!!!!!! Pwease!
Hehe.
**********************************************************
Chapter Nine – Captain Moineau
Ana wasn't sure how they escaped their cells. Pintel had picked the lock, with a bent piece of wire. It seemed he'd done so before.
"Jack! Have you thought this through? This isn't like you!"
Jack just smiled slyly, and hurried up to the deck.
The crew lay about on the deck, drunk. They were nearly all unconscious. Many of them, however, were muttering drunkenly.
Pintel took a sword from Mr Trant's waistband. He waved it experimentally.
"I seys we shoves 'em inta the sea!"
"But they'll drown!"
"Can't help that, lass."
Ana stared at Jack. He looked momentarily worried, before his customarily passive expression returned. He nodded.
The two pirates began hefting their brethren into the waves. It woke most of the drunks, but it was too late to return to ship. Its sails were full of the powerful wind, pulling it across the water at a fast pace.
Once the deck was void of the old crew, Pintel looked at Jack. The boy had walked over to the wheel in a sort of trance. He let his hands stray over the polished wood, almost afraid of it.
Jack looked out over the ship. He'd never stood here before. Not for two years on this beastly ship. 'No, this beautiful ship.' His mind whispered. And now he looked, this ship was beautiful. It's sails hummed, it's wooden shape was streamlined. It stood out against it's blue and aquamarine surroundings like a jewel. 'A pearl'.
Pintel and Raggetti looked up at him. They'd never captained a ship before. They needed leadership.
"Umm, Mr Moineau?"
"Hmm?"
"Er, you gonna tell us what needs doin?"
Raggetti waved vaguely at the ship. It creaked in reply.
"Nah. You're experienced sailors, right? You can do it without bein' told."
They nodded.
"Aye, aye, Captain!"
Ana spun round to face her brother. Jack sighed contentedly. Captain Moineau...It felt good. But it wasn't right.
Ana had walked up to him.
"Happy are we, Captain Moineau? Finally got good at playin' pirates?"
"What's the matter?"
"You! You've barely said a word since we stowed away, and now your turning into a pirate!"
Jack looked uncomfortably at his feet. He'd always wanted to live on the sea. Like his mother. But he didn't want to have to wear some daft Navy uniform, or conform to any rules. After 17 years of rules, and then another two years under different rules, he'd had enough of them. He wanted freedom.
"Look, Ana, our mum was a pirate. It must run in blood or something, because I like being out here." He gestured to the ocean.
"I'm sorry you don't too."
Ana stared at him. She did the only thin she knew how to do. She stamped her foot. It was pathetic. She knew it was pathetic. Raggetti and Pintel stifled chortles as she marched across the deck, and locked herself in her cabin.
(Two months later.)
Ana sat sulking on the rails of the ship. Pintel had promised that they were near a port. She wanted off the sea now. She wanted off this boat. Jack had become a Captain overnight. God knows how, she thought. Maybe he'd known all along. Maybe he was just...born with it.
Well she wasn't born with any seafaring know how. She hated this life. She wished she were back at home.
It had been Jack's twentieth birthday a few weeks ago. Ana had kept a note of such things, counting off the days in her head, scratching marks in the wall. Jack hadn't noticed.
It was her birthday to day. Ana noticed. She felt older, but far too old. The sea had weathered her face. She didn't look very old, but a lot older than nineteen. She felt forty-two. Jack seemed to feel about ten. He sprang about the ship now, like a giddy child. He was grinning, singing or looking far too passive to not be laughing inside.
"Land ho!"
Ana turned, and saw a long grey smudge behind her. Jack came leaping down the rigging, producing a telescope from somewhere. He peered out to sea.
"Land ho, indeed Mr Pintel!"
"Aye, that be Tortuga, if'n I'm any judge."
"T-Tortuga? Isn't that full of, bad people?"
Raggetti laughed aloud at Ana's innocent face.
"Oh aye, tis full o' bad types, miss!"
Ana folded her arms hotly. Jack just slapped her on the back jovially.
"Cheer up Ana, luv!"
Ana nearly screamed. Luv? Luv! He was as bad as the two pirates, or worse! She slapped him hard across the face, biting her tongue to keep herself from screeching.
Jack staggered back a few steps, shocked.
"Wha'? What've I done now!"
"Luv! I'm your sister! I have my own name! Stop talkin' to me like you're a..." she hesitated. "...a bloody pirate!"
Ana stood, shaking with fury. Jack stared at her, hurt stamped across his face.
"Ana!"
"No! I'm not stayin' with you when we get to this port. I'm getting' a boat home. I don't want to be here any more!"
Pintel and Raggetti had withdrawn below. Jack looked round the empty deck.
"Why? What's so bad about it?"
"All of it! I hate the sea! I hate this ship! And..." Another hesitation. "...I hate you!"
Silence. Even the waves went quiet. Ana felt scared of her own daring. Jack swallowed. His soft brown eyes met Ana's for a second, and she felt awful. She wanted to stop it there, but her anger pressed her beyond the safe limit.
"I hate this pirate, who's obsessed with his ship! It's not you! You used to worry about me, now ever since we left home; you've been turning into some kind of eccentric pirate! Why?"
Jack made small circles on the deck with his foot. He didn't know why. It felt like he was being allowed to be him. Like all that time in Port Jashal, he'd been trapped behind some kind of mask. Now, the mask had gone. This was what he was like. This was Jackarius Moineau, not some posh Governors son.
"This is me, Ana. I'm not going home."
"Fine."
The ship docked. Raggetti and Pintel led the two anxious siblings off into the dark streets. A man, babbling in French, walked past. He pointed at Jack and Ana, and said something in Pintel's ear.
"Who are zey?" (A.N.Sorry. Attempting French accent. No offence intended.)
"Some kids who stowed away on the 'Black Pearl'. Jack and Ana Moineau."
Pintel gave the man a brief outline of the story. The Frenchman seemed surprised. Finally, he nodded. He smiled slightly at the two of them, before carrying on.
He ended up in a pub, stuffed with chattering men and women. Leaning on the bar, he called to the barman.
"Hey, Thegg!"
Mr Thegg ambled across to him, smearing the grime round a beer glass with a brown towel.
"Yes?"
"I just zaw Mr Pintel and Mr Raggetti. Zey were with two kids."
"So?"
"The boy, he is Captain of the 'Black Pearl'!"
Mr Thegg dropped the glass. No one seemed bothered by the loud smash.
"No! How'd he manage it?"
The Frenchman relayed the story Pintel had given him. Mr Thegg smiled.
"Ole' Pintel and Raggetti never were good pirates. Couldn't Captain a ship for money those two. So he's a natural, eh?"
The Frenchman nodded vigorously.
"Mr Raggetti zays they are going to see Barboosa. Apparently he's out of work."
He raised his eyebrows meaningfully. Thegg chuckled.
"He's a card Barbossa. Started more mutinies than any other pirate I know. So, they're gonna play at bein' a loyal crew, afore they tip 'im overboard. Don't see the point meself."
The Frenchman grinned a toothless grin.
"Zey say that the boy has Tanya Morgan's diary..."
Thegg's jaw dropped.
"No, not? Not really?"