Usual disclaimers. blah!
Okay - yet again I must thank Mul... and all of you for the incredible reviews for this story. I am still hoping to go back and rewrite the first three stories when the tales are finished... so who knows when this might end!
BlueTrinity - I laughed until I cried over your review! James will have his day but it is in the next batch of chapters which are typed and ready to upload once tonight's four chapters get some reviews in.
So if you want more, and you want to keep BlueTrinity happy... review dammit!
Ta!
***
Will skidded down the steep bank, clinging onto various vines and tree roots to halt his speed. He fell, tumbling downwards and landing on the small beach with a thud. He staggered to his feet, surprised to find a pistol in his face. "Wait! It's me! Will!" he gasped, wishing the world would stop spinning. "I've got to see Jack!"
A lantern was roughly shoved in his face as his identity was verified. "Yeah, it's Turner!" He looked up, relieved to see Paul Fearnan standing next to the unknown pirate. "Although it helps if you actually say your full name Will," he sighed. "It's alright Barton, Jack'll want to see him." He held out his hand, helping Will to his feet. "Come on, I'll row you out."
More cocked pistols greeted them as the small boat bumped against the Black Pearl's hull in the rapidly darkening gloom. Will gulped as Paul called up. "Fearnan and Will Turner for the Captain!" Will was grateful to hear the pistols being slowly uncocked and he climbed quickly up onto deck.
"Captain's in his cabin," William Hawker informed him, standing rapidly to one side as Will barrelled past him.
"Jack!" he called, opening the doors to find himself facing yet more loaded and cocked pistols. "Dammit," he cursed, "will you all stop trying to shoot me?"
"Sorry Will," Jack apologised. "Guess we're all a little twitchy..." Will looked sharply at Jack. "Well if you've got news come in and shut the doors."
Will did as Jack asked, surprised to find most of the senior crew clustered around the large table - Oran, Jean Claude, Cotton and a younger man he did not recognise. "Who..." he began.
"Th' only one yer don't know is Isaac Hallam, Old Man Hallam's son..." Jack frowned at Will. "Well, what news?"
"You've been declared pirates," Will explained as he sat down, reaching for an open bottle of rum on the table. Jack raised one eyebrow. "I've just run all the way from Port Royal to warn you Jack... please." Jack nodded for him to continue as he took a long swig, smiling as he coughed at the strength of it. "Right..." he gasped, his eyes watering before turning to Jack. "Spense is going to hang them," he said bluntly, not knowing how to soften the blow for whatever he said would hurt his friend.
"Kitty?" Jack asked desperately. "What about Kitty?"
"Murtogg caught me just as I was leaving... Kitty is safe for now, but she will hang in a month or so unless we can get her out of there." Will explained.
"A month?" Jack puzzled.
"Murtogg said she'd been pretty badly hurt Jack. He said her face was covered in blood and that there was something wrong with her leg but he didn't know what. I'm sorry Jack, but I think the others have already been hanged." He looked out of the stern windows at the pale moonlight reflecting in the water. "They were to be hanged at dusk..."
Will and the others flinched as Jack threw one of the bottles against the bulkhead, watching as it shattered. "I'll kill him," he swore. "I'll bloody kill him!" He turned back to Will, his eyes dark and dangerous. "Tell us all, an' tell us slowly mate... we need t' know everythin'."
Will explained how Catherine and the others had been taken outside of his house, including how the marines had burst through his kitchen. "They had only just been taken away when I heard you firing so I dashed down to the docks to see you sailing for open water... and then I saw the notice." He sighed. "Murtogg took a risk coming to warn me for he was meant to be on duty. I know he will help Kitty where he can, as will Mullroy, but with the Commodore at sea there is nobody able to rein in the Governor..." He paused. "He also warned that they were watching the cliffs after your little exploit last time - you'll not get to Kitty that way!"
"If the men are dead he'll put them on Dead Man's Rock, oui?" Jean Claude asked.
Jack nodded. "Probably," he agreed.
"Well we can retrieve them in the morning at least... and blast their little rock to pieces..." the Frenchman suggested.
"We will," Jack stressed, "but you won't. Nor will Hallam. I want th' two of yer t' return with Will an' scout out Port Royal as yer are th' only able crew that they don't know. I'll not trust new men with somethin' like this. See what is happenin' an' report back when yer can."
"Captain," both men echoed.
"If Gibbs an' th' men are already dead then Kitty must be our priority," he stressed. "We must get her out b'fore they hang her too - an' believe me, that bastard will if we give him half a chance! Will, find yerself a hammock an' th' three of yer can leave first thing in th' morning - road is too dangerous in th' dark."
He took a heavy swig from the bottle that Will had drunk from, not even grimacing at the taste. Despite its strength the rum barely registered. "Spread this round th' crew Booth," he ordered. "Now get out an' leave me alone..." He raised the bottle of rum to his lips again as they filed out of his cabin. "No - not yer Lact! We need t' talk!"
Jean Claude frowned, but waited quietly whilst Oran closed the doors behind him. He could be heard offering to find Will a hammock as they walked away. "Captain?" he asked.
"I want yer t' be Quartermaster," Jack offered.
"Captain?" Jean Claude gasped in shock. "But..."
"But nothin'! Yer th' best qualified fer th' post an' I'll have nothin' but th' best fer m' ship!" Jack argued. "An' Gibbs always approved of yer, even if yer are a Frog!"
"But what about your agreement with Port Royal?" Jean Claude queried, smiling at the back-handed compliment.
"Well I'll miss th' town, but I think th' Governor has kinda blown that out of th' water, hasn't he," Jack sighed. "An' with Hallam aboard now too I think it doesn't matter that much anymore... this is th' second time Port Royal has broken an accord - I'll not make a third." Jack nodded towards the door. "Go on, find yer bunk - but keep this t' yerself until it is announced."
"Aye Captain." Jean Claude rose and headed towards the double doors. He paused, his hand on the handle as he turned. "Captain..." he ventured cautiously. "What if we are unable to rescue Cather... Kitty?" He corrected himself, sometimes still forgetting to use her pet name. "Is there another plan?" he asked hopefully.
Jack looked up at him, his eyes dark with worry. "If we cannot rescue her then I walk into Port Royal alone..."
"But they'll hang you!" Jean Claude gasped.
"I promised Kitty that if th' end ever came t' this I'd never leave her alone... I'll not break m' word," he replied.
"Even if it means your death?" Jean Claude frowned in disbelief.
Jack took another heavy swig from the bottle of rum, realising that although the rum was beginning to blur his senses he was in no way drunk enough to go to sleep. "Without 'er I'm not alive anyway..." he slurred.
"Captain," Jean Claude murmured politely as he backed out the door, leaving Jack to his drunken misery. He realised that Jack was already drunk else he would not have revealed what he had said. He shook his head, ruefully understanding that he had snatched the wrong target in his attempt at McBride's gold all those years ago in Port Royal. If he had taken Catherine and not the two boys then Jack and the Black Pearl would have been powerless against him. But the tides turned and turned again - the eccentric Captain had saved his life twice now despite their past history and Jean Claude was honourable enough neither to reveal nor act upon his new insight. Perhaps one day he would gain a new ship of his own, but for the meantime it was no disgrace to serve as Quartermaster on the Black Pearl, no disgrace indeed.
***
"Will!" Jack called, beckoning him into the cabin early the next morning. The sun had not yet risen but already the sky was lightening with the promise of dawn. "A word b'fore yer leave..."
"What Jack?" Will puzzled, surprised that Jack seemed surprisingly sober considering the amount of rum he had drunk the night before.
"I've been thinkin' about what will happen t' yer if we have to leave sudden like... it won't be healthy fer yer t' be known as our friends." Jack warned. "Yer might decide t' try another island... savvy? I'll be willin' t' take yer where I can..."
"I understand Jack, but you know I could not agree to anything without consulting Elizabeth."
"Just think about it, eh? Best t' be prepared fer th' worst."
Will nodded. "I'd better be off though if we are to reach home shortly after dawn." He looked out of the stern windows at the lightening sky, clasping his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry Jack - we'll get her somehow!"
Jack's lips twitched in a poor imitation of a smile. "Take care Will," he warned as he walked out onto the deck with his friend. Jean Claude and Isaac were waiting in one of the ships boats and Will quickly climbed down.
"I will Jack, I will!" he assured him as he pondered Jack's warning. Did Jack truly fear it was going to get so bad that they would have to flee the island...
***
Okay - yet again I must thank Mul... and all of you for the incredible reviews for this story. I am still hoping to go back and rewrite the first three stories when the tales are finished... so who knows when this might end!
BlueTrinity - I laughed until I cried over your review! James will have his day but it is in the next batch of chapters which are typed and ready to upload once tonight's four chapters get some reviews in.
So if you want more, and you want to keep BlueTrinity happy... review dammit!
Ta!
***
Will skidded down the steep bank, clinging onto various vines and tree roots to halt his speed. He fell, tumbling downwards and landing on the small beach with a thud. He staggered to his feet, surprised to find a pistol in his face. "Wait! It's me! Will!" he gasped, wishing the world would stop spinning. "I've got to see Jack!"
A lantern was roughly shoved in his face as his identity was verified. "Yeah, it's Turner!" He looked up, relieved to see Paul Fearnan standing next to the unknown pirate. "Although it helps if you actually say your full name Will," he sighed. "It's alright Barton, Jack'll want to see him." He held out his hand, helping Will to his feet. "Come on, I'll row you out."
More cocked pistols greeted them as the small boat bumped against the Black Pearl's hull in the rapidly darkening gloom. Will gulped as Paul called up. "Fearnan and Will Turner for the Captain!" Will was grateful to hear the pistols being slowly uncocked and he climbed quickly up onto deck.
"Captain's in his cabin," William Hawker informed him, standing rapidly to one side as Will barrelled past him.
"Jack!" he called, opening the doors to find himself facing yet more loaded and cocked pistols. "Dammit," he cursed, "will you all stop trying to shoot me?"
"Sorry Will," Jack apologised. "Guess we're all a little twitchy..." Will looked sharply at Jack. "Well if you've got news come in and shut the doors."
Will did as Jack asked, surprised to find most of the senior crew clustered around the large table - Oran, Jean Claude, Cotton and a younger man he did not recognise. "Who..." he began.
"Th' only one yer don't know is Isaac Hallam, Old Man Hallam's son..." Jack frowned at Will. "Well, what news?"
"You've been declared pirates," Will explained as he sat down, reaching for an open bottle of rum on the table. Jack raised one eyebrow. "I've just run all the way from Port Royal to warn you Jack... please." Jack nodded for him to continue as he took a long swig, smiling as he coughed at the strength of it. "Right..." he gasped, his eyes watering before turning to Jack. "Spense is going to hang them," he said bluntly, not knowing how to soften the blow for whatever he said would hurt his friend.
"Kitty?" Jack asked desperately. "What about Kitty?"
"Murtogg caught me just as I was leaving... Kitty is safe for now, but she will hang in a month or so unless we can get her out of there." Will explained.
"A month?" Jack puzzled.
"Murtogg said she'd been pretty badly hurt Jack. He said her face was covered in blood and that there was something wrong with her leg but he didn't know what. I'm sorry Jack, but I think the others have already been hanged." He looked out of the stern windows at the pale moonlight reflecting in the water. "They were to be hanged at dusk..."
Will and the others flinched as Jack threw one of the bottles against the bulkhead, watching as it shattered. "I'll kill him," he swore. "I'll bloody kill him!" He turned back to Will, his eyes dark and dangerous. "Tell us all, an' tell us slowly mate... we need t' know everythin'."
Will explained how Catherine and the others had been taken outside of his house, including how the marines had burst through his kitchen. "They had only just been taken away when I heard you firing so I dashed down to the docks to see you sailing for open water... and then I saw the notice." He sighed. "Murtogg took a risk coming to warn me for he was meant to be on duty. I know he will help Kitty where he can, as will Mullroy, but with the Commodore at sea there is nobody able to rein in the Governor..." He paused. "He also warned that they were watching the cliffs after your little exploit last time - you'll not get to Kitty that way!"
"If the men are dead he'll put them on Dead Man's Rock, oui?" Jean Claude asked.
Jack nodded. "Probably," he agreed.
"Well we can retrieve them in the morning at least... and blast their little rock to pieces..." the Frenchman suggested.
"We will," Jack stressed, "but you won't. Nor will Hallam. I want th' two of yer t' return with Will an' scout out Port Royal as yer are th' only able crew that they don't know. I'll not trust new men with somethin' like this. See what is happenin' an' report back when yer can."
"Captain," both men echoed.
"If Gibbs an' th' men are already dead then Kitty must be our priority," he stressed. "We must get her out b'fore they hang her too - an' believe me, that bastard will if we give him half a chance! Will, find yerself a hammock an' th' three of yer can leave first thing in th' morning - road is too dangerous in th' dark."
He took a heavy swig from the bottle that Will had drunk from, not even grimacing at the taste. Despite its strength the rum barely registered. "Spread this round th' crew Booth," he ordered. "Now get out an' leave me alone..." He raised the bottle of rum to his lips again as they filed out of his cabin. "No - not yer Lact! We need t' talk!"
Jean Claude frowned, but waited quietly whilst Oran closed the doors behind him. He could be heard offering to find Will a hammock as they walked away. "Captain?" he asked.
"I want yer t' be Quartermaster," Jack offered.
"Captain?" Jean Claude gasped in shock. "But..."
"But nothin'! Yer th' best qualified fer th' post an' I'll have nothin' but th' best fer m' ship!" Jack argued. "An' Gibbs always approved of yer, even if yer are a Frog!"
"But what about your agreement with Port Royal?" Jean Claude queried, smiling at the back-handed compliment.
"Well I'll miss th' town, but I think th' Governor has kinda blown that out of th' water, hasn't he," Jack sighed. "An' with Hallam aboard now too I think it doesn't matter that much anymore... this is th' second time Port Royal has broken an accord - I'll not make a third." Jack nodded towards the door. "Go on, find yer bunk - but keep this t' yerself until it is announced."
"Aye Captain." Jean Claude rose and headed towards the double doors. He paused, his hand on the handle as he turned. "Captain..." he ventured cautiously. "What if we are unable to rescue Cather... Kitty?" He corrected himself, sometimes still forgetting to use her pet name. "Is there another plan?" he asked hopefully.
Jack looked up at him, his eyes dark with worry. "If we cannot rescue her then I walk into Port Royal alone..."
"But they'll hang you!" Jean Claude gasped.
"I promised Kitty that if th' end ever came t' this I'd never leave her alone... I'll not break m' word," he replied.
"Even if it means your death?" Jean Claude frowned in disbelief.
Jack took another heavy swig from the bottle of rum, realising that although the rum was beginning to blur his senses he was in no way drunk enough to go to sleep. "Without 'er I'm not alive anyway..." he slurred.
"Captain," Jean Claude murmured politely as he backed out the door, leaving Jack to his drunken misery. He realised that Jack was already drunk else he would not have revealed what he had said. He shook his head, ruefully understanding that he had snatched the wrong target in his attempt at McBride's gold all those years ago in Port Royal. If he had taken Catherine and not the two boys then Jack and the Black Pearl would have been powerless against him. But the tides turned and turned again - the eccentric Captain had saved his life twice now despite their past history and Jean Claude was honourable enough neither to reveal nor act upon his new insight. Perhaps one day he would gain a new ship of his own, but for the meantime it was no disgrace to serve as Quartermaster on the Black Pearl, no disgrace indeed.
***
"Will!" Jack called, beckoning him into the cabin early the next morning. The sun had not yet risen but already the sky was lightening with the promise of dawn. "A word b'fore yer leave..."
"What Jack?" Will puzzled, surprised that Jack seemed surprisingly sober considering the amount of rum he had drunk the night before.
"I've been thinkin' about what will happen t' yer if we have to leave sudden like... it won't be healthy fer yer t' be known as our friends." Jack warned. "Yer might decide t' try another island... savvy? I'll be willin' t' take yer where I can..."
"I understand Jack, but you know I could not agree to anything without consulting Elizabeth."
"Just think about it, eh? Best t' be prepared fer th' worst."
Will nodded. "I'd better be off though if we are to reach home shortly after dawn." He looked out of the stern windows at the lightening sky, clasping his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry Jack - we'll get her somehow!"
Jack's lips twitched in a poor imitation of a smile. "Take care Will," he warned as he walked out onto the deck with his friend. Jean Claude and Isaac were waiting in one of the ships boats and Will quickly climbed down.
"I will Jack, I will!" he assured him as he pondered Jack's warning. Did Jack truly fear it was going to get so bad that they would have to flee the island...
***