Usual disclaimers... blah!
You lot are such a bunch of nags... here is the next two chapters!
Jack walked quietly back to his cabin from the galley carefully carrying his breakfast. He frowned as he passed James, noticing that the creature had yet again fouled his beautiful ship. If this was the damned animal's revenge for that hot poker all those years ago it was no longer funny. He narrowed his eyes as he passed, hissing at the creature, but the donkey just stood there quietly chewing the hay they had brought for it from Port Royal as it emptied its bladder on the deck.
"Jean Claude!" Jack shouted down to the galley. "Get out here an' clear up after this... this thing!" he spluttered indignantly. Jean Claude emerged from the gun deck, mop and bucket in hand as Jack sat and watched him clean up after the donkey. "Don't miss any," Jack warned, "I don't want m' ship to stink!"
"Oui Captain," Jean Claude smiled ruefully. Perhaps it had not been such a good idea to bring the animal onboard so soon, but if anything had happened causing them to flee then he would have been left behind - and the children would have been heartbroken.
"Nah, that's what it's done... just mop it all up like a good man, eh?" Jack sauntered off towards his cabin, laughing at his own joke and looking for Will. He wanted to finalise their plans for the night and decide how many crew were going to hit the town and how many were going to have to stay with the Black Pearl. If he said yes to all those that wanted to go then the ship would have been deserted except for Will's family. Some crew were bound to be disappointed, one of which was to be Cotton who he spotted waiting for him by the doors to the cabin. "Nah mate! Yer staying!" he declared.
Cotton frowned disappointedly.
"Look, yer too valuable as Ships Doctor t' risk t'night. We know Kitty is hurt an' when we get her back we will need yer. If yer get yerself killed then yer can't help her, can you?" Jack reasoned. "And," he continued quietly, "and I need at least one of th' senior crew aboard... savvy?"
Cotton did not look happy about Jack's decision but nodded. In the rigging above his macaw screeched "Wind in yer sails!"
Jack looked up, only just missing being messed on by the bird. "What is it with bleedin' animals pooing on m' ship?" he cried in disgust, diving into his cabin before it could take a second shot. He was grateful that the cats were still locked up, else there would be more creatures fouling his precious ship.
"Jack?" Will looked up from the table where he and his family were having their breakfast, surprised at Jack's precipitous arrival. "What's up?"
"Macaws!" Jack replied in disgust as he sat down next to Eilis to finish his bowl of breakfast. He started to put his feet on the table, as he usually did, but a frown from Elizabeth persuaded him to change his mind. "Between th' donkey an' th' damned bird it's safer in 'ere! As soon as yer've finished eatin' Will I want t' go through th' plans with yer an' th' crew... an' decide who's t' go t'night."
Will nodded, draining the last of his cup. "Let's go then," he smiled, pushing his chair back as he rose. "The sooner we decide who is going, the sooner we can start to filter into the town..."
After many heated arguments from those that he chose to stay, it was decided that roughly half of the crew would go into the town and help the townsfolk with the planned riot. They quietly slipped into the town throughout the day, hiding in small groups of twos and threes in the houses of those involved. Jack, Will, Jean Claude, Isaac, Oran, Paul and William split from the crew and hid quietly in the ruins of Theodore's house, waiting for the first signal for the riot to start - a barrel of gunpowder exploding near the smithy. A second barrel had been hidden on the outskirts of the town, close to the path, so that they could explode it to signal the crew to retreat when they had rescued Catherine.
The men that had finally been chosen had been warned that the true pirates code would apply tonight and not the one more usually followed by the Black Pearl. Those that got left behind would stay behind for the Black Pearl would not be coming back and would most definitely not be welcomed by the authorities if they did. They had also been warned that they were only to attack marines that engaged them - any that stood aside were not to be harmed for Jack knew of the split within their ranks and was determined to exploit it to the fullest.
Boom!
The seven of them jumped at the noise before Jack crept slowly towards one of the ruined windows, waiting to count the marines as they ran down into the town. Tabitha, the seamstress, had arranged for fires to be lit which would make the explosion look far worse than it truly was but that would not, hopefully, threaten any houses. He smiled when he realised that most of the Fort had emptied to quell the disturbance - it was going to be easier than he had thought...
Tabitha and the rioting townsfolk, aided by the pirates, were waiting for the marines to investigate the explosions and fires. As each group arrived they were to be ambushed and tied up - but at all costs they were to be prevented from returning to the Fort. Jack had not wanted the marines still on their side to be hurt and, unless they actively engaged the pirates, there was little way of telling who was who. They would keep doing this until the second signal sounded and then the pirates would melt away leaving the townsfolk to put out the controlled fires and to, eventually, release the captured marines.
"We're on," he hissed, creeping through the shadows and up towards the Fort, relieved to find that the side gate had indeed been left open as arranged. "Thank yer boys!" he whispered skywards in gratitude, knowing the risk that Murtogg and Mullroy had taken for them as the main gate was still patrolled and barred. They skirted the yard, keeping to the shadows and eyeing cautiously the guards patrolling the battlements above. Gently they eased the door to the cells open and slipped inside.
Catherine had been sleeping fitfully but was woken by the explosion. She looked around the cells in surprise. "What was that?" she asked.
Murtogg leaned quietly against the wall. "Nothing for you to worry about Mistress Kitty," he assured her, smiling before looking carefully around to ensure they were alone. "Although I'd get ready to leave if I were you," he smiled. "The rescue party should be here soo..." He stopped mid-word as the door above was thrown open - but not to reveal the man he had been expecting. "Sergeant Gordon!" he gasped in alarm. Four marines followed him down into the cells.
The Sergeant ignored him, motioning to his men. "Spread out and let them enter before we take them!" he ordered before turning to Catherine. "Your husband will find a little surprise when he comes for you my dear," he sneered, extinguishing some of the candles that Mullroy had lit earlier that evening before going off duty. "And I am afraid he probably won't be making it out of here alive..."
The cell door opened and one of the marines walked in, hauling her roughly to her feet. She cried out in pain, hobbling unsteadily on her good leg.
"Hey!" Murtogg protested. "The Commodore said she was not to be harmed..."
"Considering we are about to suffer an escape attempt she will be lucky to see the dawn!" Sergeant Gordon sneered, still livid with Murtogg and Mullroy for the earlier incident. The Commodore had not been happy to have had his orders questioned and his ears were still ringing from the rebuke. "Keep her quiet!" he instructed.
Murtogg looked on in shock as the other marine drew a blade and placed it against Catherine's neck. "But..." he said in shock! This most definitely had not been in the plan.
"Quiet!" Sergeant Gordon ordered - the door was opening.
Jack led the way cautiously down the stairs, wondering why the cells were darker than he remembered. He heard an oomph and a thud before his wife's voice.
"Trap!" Catherine screamed, before screaming again in pain as she fell. Perhaps it had not been her best idea to elbow the guard in the ribs and then smack him in the face but it had been all she could think of at the time. The marine grabbed her as he fell, pulling her to the ground with him. She screamed in pain as she fell on her bad leg, desperately trying to reach his knife.
Jack was too far down the stairs as was Oran when they heard her scream. Oran jumped over the side of the stairs whilst Jack dived for the bottom. Rifles fired and smoke filled the air. Jack picked himself up, relieved to see that they were all unhurt and drew his pistol, aiming at the nearest marine - Sergeant Gordon. "Back off!" he snarled as four more of the crew ran down the stairs but the man threw himself at Jack.
"Sparrow!" Sergeant Gordon shouted, flinching as Jack's shot flew high with the force of his attack, embedding itself in one of the beams of the ceiling. Jack frantically punched the man as he drew his sword, dimly aware that both the pirates and marines were doing likewise.
Murtogg looked on, frozen in horror, his loyalties torn in two. He realised that it could only end when all of one side were dead and the pirates were gaining the upper hand as two of the marines died - and then a third.
A harsh voice interrupted the fight. "Drop your swords or she dies!"
Jack twirled, his sword catching the Sergeant across the neck. He looked in disbelief at Jack as he staggered and fell dead, but Jack did not even notice him fall. His eyes were drawn to the open cell and his sword dropping from his lifeless fingers. "No..." he gasped. "Don't hurt 'er..." For the first time he saw what had happened to his wife and he was horrified to see her leg hurt, her face covered in dried blood.
The pirates turned to see the final marine holding Catherine upright by her hair, his knife again at her throat. Their swords were only a few moments behind Jack's in dropping to the floor.
"And your man at the door!" he ordered. "Come down real slow and stand with the others!" Reluctantly Paul Fearnan descended the stairs, placing his sword on the stone floor before standing next to Oran. "Now drop your pistols!" he ordered, pressing his knife harder to her throat to reinforce his threat.
Jack noticed Jean Claude fingering his cuff and moved across slightly to cover his movement. "Let 'er go mate an' we won't harm yer..." he offered.
"Why should I Sparrow?" the marine sneered. "When I can present the Governor with eight pirates to hang in the morning!" He laughed. "Including Turner now that he has shown his true pirate colours, so I don't think you are in any position to threaten me..."
"Look mate, let 'er go. She can hardly stand..." Jack could see that Catherine was very pale even beneath the dried blood. "You want me? Take me!" Jack offered desperately. "But let her go!"
"Why should I let her go? When I have her I have you... all of you!" the marine laughed, edging towards the stairs and dragging Catherine with him. She cried out in pain, staggering as she paled, but he held the knife tighter against her throat. "Back!" he hissed.
Jack glanced urgently around for anything within reach, relieved to see that a pistol was near his foot and that it was not his - which meant it was loaded. He caught Jean Claude's eye, glancing down at the pistol so that the Frenchman understood. He smiled, seeing the concealed blade that Jean Claude held and nodded.
The marine reached the bottom of the stairs, glancing behind him as he tried to figure out how to get the woman to the top. In the moment he took his eyes from them. Jean Claude threw the dagger and Jack dived for the pistol.
"Argh!" he cried in pain as the blade took him in the arm, causing him to drop the knife. He staggered backwards, Jack's shot taking him in the head moments later. Catherine, no longer restrained, fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. A thin line of blood marked her throat, luckily not deep.
"Kitty!" Jack cried as Jean Claude scooped her up into his arms. Jack nodded this thanks to Oran who passed him his sword and his own pistol as he checked her wound. He noticed that the others were retrieving their weapons and those of Jean Claude. Will pulled the thin blade from the dead marine's arm, wiping it on his uniform before handing it back to the Frenchman.
"Let's go!" Jean Claude urged but stopped as Catherine whimpered in pain.
"How bad is it luv?" Jack asked concernedly.
"It's broken," she winced. "Gibbs... Gibbs..." She started to cry, unable even to continue.
"I know luv," he comforted. "But we've gotta get yer outta here..." He looked to Paul. "Check th' exit!" he ordered.
Paul ducked back inside as a shot pinged the stonework next to his head. "No exit this way!" he called in dismay. The noise from the fight had clearly been heard and the remaining marines were clustered around the courtyard with their rifles aimed at the doorway.
"There's another way," Murtogg offered. "Through the underground - safer!"
Jack nodded. He realised that they would have to run to get clear of the Fort and that Catherine was in such pain she would not be able to help but cry out. "Trust me?" he asked, relieved when she nodded, before slumping in Jean Claude's arms as he rapped her smartly over the head with the butt of his pistol.
"Captain!" Paul called urgently. "Now would be a really good idea! They are starting to move!"
"We're leavin'!" Jack followed Murtogg as he led the way through the underground maze of passages and doors, finally stopping at a small doorway.
"The side gate is just opposite this door," he told them. "A few yards of open ground and you will be clear - plus you should be behind them!"
Jack smiled. "Thank you Murtogg... but you know we cannot leave you like this? It will look suspicious."
Murtogg nodded, realising that Jack meant to knock him unconscious in the same way he had done to Catherine. "Good luck," he smiled as he took his hat off, turning his back to Jack. "Don't hurt too mu..." he said as Will caught him, sliding him to rest gently on the floor.
"We must go!" Will urged, realising this had taken much longer than they had planned and concerned about the crew within the town.
"Fearnan," Jack nodded, indicating for him to lead.
The ex-highwayman opened the door cautiously, peering out into the yard. True to Murtogg's prediction they were now behind the waiting marines and just a few yards from the side gate. He signalled where the marines were, cautioning silence before he gave the all clear and slipped carefully across the short distance to the side gate. He eased the gate quietly open and the others slipped through.
Jack dashed past him, heading for the shadows when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He skidded to a halt, drawing his sword as the figure stepped towards him - Norrington!
James Norrington spread his hands wide on seeing Jack and the pirates approach, unsurprised to find Will Turner amongst their number. "I thought you'd make it out," he smiled. "Keep to the north of town - I've sent as many troops as I can to the docks..."
Jack looked at him in shock, not expecting the Commodore to be helping him. "Why..." he began.
"Not all of us believe the Governor," James Norrington explained. "Although after this attack even I cannot defend you against the charge of piracy..."
Jack shrugged. "Longs as yer know th' charges were false! Although I never thought I'd see th' day yer turn honorary pirate!" Jack grinned.
James Norrington looked at Catherine in the tall blonde pirate's arms. He looked familiar but he could not place him. Then he realised. "Val..." he began. "Lact!" he hissed, reaching for his pistol, but Jack was quicker.
"Not today Norrington," he warned, aiming and cocking his unloaded pistol at Norrington, hoping that his bluff would not be called.
"Jack!" he hissed. "What is he doing in your crew?"
"At th' moment he's carrying Kitty - but when we get back to th' Pearl he'll be Quartermaster!" Jack grinned, delighting in the shock on Norrington's face.
"Quartermaster!" James Norrington gasped. "Have you any other surprises for me tonight?"
Jack frowned. "Well, I suppose I should introduce young Isaac t' yer. Isaac, come an' meet th' Commodore! He'd like his own sheet..." he winked.
Isaac Hallam carefully shook the Commodore's hand. "Pleased to meet you," he smiled.
"Isaac... Isaac who?" James Norrington frowned, not sure that he wanted his question answered.
"Hallam, Sir," he smiled.
"Hallam! Dammit Jack this is going too far!" he hissed, aware of the proximity of the marines.
Jack shrugged. "P'raps... but yer have m' word that I'll keep m' side of the accord an' not strike English ships - unless I believe they have some connection to Spense. I will have him Norrington... trust me!" he threatened.
James Norrington nodded, realising that there was nothing he could do about the two new crew members of the Black Pearl tonight without revealing his own part in the escape, even though he would willingly hang both of them as pirates. He sighed. "Please try not to kill any of my troops as you leave..." he asked.
"We'll I'd move them away from 'ere then!" Jack warned, nodding for the others to depart. "Who knows what a vengeful pirate might do... savvy?"
***
You lot are such a bunch of nags... here is the next two chapters!
Jack walked quietly back to his cabin from the galley carefully carrying his breakfast. He frowned as he passed James, noticing that the creature had yet again fouled his beautiful ship. If this was the damned animal's revenge for that hot poker all those years ago it was no longer funny. He narrowed his eyes as he passed, hissing at the creature, but the donkey just stood there quietly chewing the hay they had brought for it from Port Royal as it emptied its bladder on the deck.
"Jean Claude!" Jack shouted down to the galley. "Get out here an' clear up after this... this thing!" he spluttered indignantly. Jean Claude emerged from the gun deck, mop and bucket in hand as Jack sat and watched him clean up after the donkey. "Don't miss any," Jack warned, "I don't want m' ship to stink!"
"Oui Captain," Jean Claude smiled ruefully. Perhaps it had not been such a good idea to bring the animal onboard so soon, but if anything had happened causing them to flee then he would have been left behind - and the children would have been heartbroken.
"Nah, that's what it's done... just mop it all up like a good man, eh?" Jack sauntered off towards his cabin, laughing at his own joke and looking for Will. He wanted to finalise their plans for the night and decide how many crew were going to hit the town and how many were going to have to stay with the Black Pearl. If he said yes to all those that wanted to go then the ship would have been deserted except for Will's family. Some crew were bound to be disappointed, one of which was to be Cotton who he spotted waiting for him by the doors to the cabin. "Nah mate! Yer staying!" he declared.
Cotton frowned disappointedly.
"Look, yer too valuable as Ships Doctor t' risk t'night. We know Kitty is hurt an' when we get her back we will need yer. If yer get yerself killed then yer can't help her, can you?" Jack reasoned. "And," he continued quietly, "and I need at least one of th' senior crew aboard... savvy?"
Cotton did not look happy about Jack's decision but nodded. In the rigging above his macaw screeched "Wind in yer sails!"
Jack looked up, only just missing being messed on by the bird. "What is it with bleedin' animals pooing on m' ship?" he cried in disgust, diving into his cabin before it could take a second shot. He was grateful that the cats were still locked up, else there would be more creatures fouling his precious ship.
"Jack?" Will looked up from the table where he and his family were having their breakfast, surprised at Jack's precipitous arrival. "What's up?"
"Macaws!" Jack replied in disgust as he sat down next to Eilis to finish his bowl of breakfast. He started to put his feet on the table, as he usually did, but a frown from Elizabeth persuaded him to change his mind. "Between th' donkey an' th' damned bird it's safer in 'ere! As soon as yer've finished eatin' Will I want t' go through th' plans with yer an' th' crew... an' decide who's t' go t'night."
Will nodded, draining the last of his cup. "Let's go then," he smiled, pushing his chair back as he rose. "The sooner we decide who is going, the sooner we can start to filter into the town..."
After many heated arguments from those that he chose to stay, it was decided that roughly half of the crew would go into the town and help the townsfolk with the planned riot. They quietly slipped into the town throughout the day, hiding in small groups of twos and threes in the houses of those involved. Jack, Will, Jean Claude, Isaac, Oran, Paul and William split from the crew and hid quietly in the ruins of Theodore's house, waiting for the first signal for the riot to start - a barrel of gunpowder exploding near the smithy. A second barrel had been hidden on the outskirts of the town, close to the path, so that they could explode it to signal the crew to retreat when they had rescued Catherine.
The men that had finally been chosen had been warned that the true pirates code would apply tonight and not the one more usually followed by the Black Pearl. Those that got left behind would stay behind for the Black Pearl would not be coming back and would most definitely not be welcomed by the authorities if they did. They had also been warned that they were only to attack marines that engaged them - any that stood aside were not to be harmed for Jack knew of the split within their ranks and was determined to exploit it to the fullest.
Boom!
The seven of them jumped at the noise before Jack crept slowly towards one of the ruined windows, waiting to count the marines as they ran down into the town. Tabitha, the seamstress, had arranged for fires to be lit which would make the explosion look far worse than it truly was but that would not, hopefully, threaten any houses. He smiled when he realised that most of the Fort had emptied to quell the disturbance - it was going to be easier than he had thought...
Tabitha and the rioting townsfolk, aided by the pirates, were waiting for the marines to investigate the explosions and fires. As each group arrived they were to be ambushed and tied up - but at all costs they were to be prevented from returning to the Fort. Jack had not wanted the marines still on their side to be hurt and, unless they actively engaged the pirates, there was little way of telling who was who. They would keep doing this until the second signal sounded and then the pirates would melt away leaving the townsfolk to put out the controlled fires and to, eventually, release the captured marines.
"We're on," he hissed, creeping through the shadows and up towards the Fort, relieved to find that the side gate had indeed been left open as arranged. "Thank yer boys!" he whispered skywards in gratitude, knowing the risk that Murtogg and Mullroy had taken for them as the main gate was still patrolled and barred. They skirted the yard, keeping to the shadows and eyeing cautiously the guards patrolling the battlements above. Gently they eased the door to the cells open and slipped inside.
Catherine had been sleeping fitfully but was woken by the explosion. She looked around the cells in surprise. "What was that?" she asked.
Murtogg leaned quietly against the wall. "Nothing for you to worry about Mistress Kitty," he assured her, smiling before looking carefully around to ensure they were alone. "Although I'd get ready to leave if I were you," he smiled. "The rescue party should be here soo..." He stopped mid-word as the door above was thrown open - but not to reveal the man he had been expecting. "Sergeant Gordon!" he gasped in alarm. Four marines followed him down into the cells.
The Sergeant ignored him, motioning to his men. "Spread out and let them enter before we take them!" he ordered before turning to Catherine. "Your husband will find a little surprise when he comes for you my dear," he sneered, extinguishing some of the candles that Mullroy had lit earlier that evening before going off duty. "And I am afraid he probably won't be making it out of here alive..."
The cell door opened and one of the marines walked in, hauling her roughly to her feet. She cried out in pain, hobbling unsteadily on her good leg.
"Hey!" Murtogg protested. "The Commodore said she was not to be harmed..."
"Considering we are about to suffer an escape attempt she will be lucky to see the dawn!" Sergeant Gordon sneered, still livid with Murtogg and Mullroy for the earlier incident. The Commodore had not been happy to have had his orders questioned and his ears were still ringing from the rebuke. "Keep her quiet!" he instructed.
Murtogg looked on in shock as the other marine drew a blade and placed it against Catherine's neck. "But..." he said in shock! This most definitely had not been in the plan.
"Quiet!" Sergeant Gordon ordered - the door was opening.
Jack led the way cautiously down the stairs, wondering why the cells were darker than he remembered. He heard an oomph and a thud before his wife's voice.
"Trap!" Catherine screamed, before screaming again in pain as she fell. Perhaps it had not been her best idea to elbow the guard in the ribs and then smack him in the face but it had been all she could think of at the time. The marine grabbed her as he fell, pulling her to the ground with him. She screamed in pain as she fell on her bad leg, desperately trying to reach his knife.
Jack was too far down the stairs as was Oran when they heard her scream. Oran jumped over the side of the stairs whilst Jack dived for the bottom. Rifles fired and smoke filled the air. Jack picked himself up, relieved to see that they were all unhurt and drew his pistol, aiming at the nearest marine - Sergeant Gordon. "Back off!" he snarled as four more of the crew ran down the stairs but the man threw himself at Jack.
"Sparrow!" Sergeant Gordon shouted, flinching as Jack's shot flew high with the force of his attack, embedding itself in one of the beams of the ceiling. Jack frantically punched the man as he drew his sword, dimly aware that both the pirates and marines were doing likewise.
Murtogg looked on, frozen in horror, his loyalties torn in two. He realised that it could only end when all of one side were dead and the pirates were gaining the upper hand as two of the marines died - and then a third.
A harsh voice interrupted the fight. "Drop your swords or she dies!"
Jack twirled, his sword catching the Sergeant across the neck. He looked in disbelief at Jack as he staggered and fell dead, but Jack did not even notice him fall. His eyes were drawn to the open cell and his sword dropping from his lifeless fingers. "No..." he gasped. "Don't hurt 'er..." For the first time he saw what had happened to his wife and he was horrified to see her leg hurt, her face covered in dried blood.
The pirates turned to see the final marine holding Catherine upright by her hair, his knife again at her throat. Their swords were only a few moments behind Jack's in dropping to the floor.
"And your man at the door!" he ordered. "Come down real slow and stand with the others!" Reluctantly Paul Fearnan descended the stairs, placing his sword on the stone floor before standing next to Oran. "Now drop your pistols!" he ordered, pressing his knife harder to her throat to reinforce his threat.
Jack noticed Jean Claude fingering his cuff and moved across slightly to cover his movement. "Let 'er go mate an' we won't harm yer..." he offered.
"Why should I Sparrow?" the marine sneered. "When I can present the Governor with eight pirates to hang in the morning!" He laughed. "Including Turner now that he has shown his true pirate colours, so I don't think you are in any position to threaten me..."
"Look mate, let 'er go. She can hardly stand..." Jack could see that Catherine was very pale even beneath the dried blood. "You want me? Take me!" Jack offered desperately. "But let her go!"
"Why should I let her go? When I have her I have you... all of you!" the marine laughed, edging towards the stairs and dragging Catherine with him. She cried out in pain, staggering as she paled, but he held the knife tighter against her throat. "Back!" he hissed.
Jack glanced urgently around for anything within reach, relieved to see that a pistol was near his foot and that it was not his - which meant it was loaded. He caught Jean Claude's eye, glancing down at the pistol so that the Frenchman understood. He smiled, seeing the concealed blade that Jean Claude held and nodded.
The marine reached the bottom of the stairs, glancing behind him as he tried to figure out how to get the woman to the top. In the moment he took his eyes from them. Jean Claude threw the dagger and Jack dived for the pistol.
"Argh!" he cried in pain as the blade took him in the arm, causing him to drop the knife. He staggered backwards, Jack's shot taking him in the head moments later. Catherine, no longer restrained, fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. A thin line of blood marked her throat, luckily not deep.
"Kitty!" Jack cried as Jean Claude scooped her up into his arms. Jack nodded this thanks to Oran who passed him his sword and his own pistol as he checked her wound. He noticed that the others were retrieving their weapons and those of Jean Claude. Will pulled the thin blade from the dead marine's arm, wiping it on his uniform before handing it back to the Frenchman.
"Let's go!" Jean Claude urged but stopped as Catherine whimpered in pain.
"How bad is it luv?" Jack asked concernedly.
"It's broken," she winced. "Gibbs... Gibbs..." She started to cry, unable even to continue.
"I know luv," he comforted. "But we've gotta get yer outta here..." He looked to Paul. "Check th' exit!" he ordered.
Paul ducked back inside as a shot pinged the stonework next to his head. "No exit this way!" he called in dismay. The noise from the fight had clearly been heard and the remaining marines were clustered around the courtyard with their rifles aimed at the doorway.
"There's another way," Murtogg offered. "Through the underground - safer!"
Jack nodded. He realised that they would have to run to get clear of the Fort and that Catherine was in such pain she would not be able to help but cry out. "Trust me?" he asked, relieved when she nodded, before slumping in Jean Claude's arms as he rapped her smartly over the head with the butt of his pistol.
"Captain!" Paul called urgently. "Now would be a really good idea! They are starting to move!"
"We're leavin'!" Jack followed Murtogg as he led the way through the underground maze of passages and doors, finally stopping at a small doorway.
"The side gate is just opposite this door," he told them. "A few yards of open ground and you will be clear - plus you should be behind them!"
Jack smiled. "Thank you Murtogg... but you know we cannot leave you like this? It will look suspicious."
Murtogg nodded, realising that Jack meant to knock him unconscious in the same way he had done to Catherine. "Good luck," he smiled as he took his hat off, turning his back to Jack. "Don't hurt too mu..." he said as Will caught him, sliding him to rest gently on the floor.
"We must go!" Will urged, realising this had taken much longer than they had planned and concerned about the crew within the town.
"Fearnan," Jack nodded, indicating for him to lead.
The ex-highwayman opened the door cautiously, peering out into the yard. True to Murtogg's prediction they were now behind the waiting marines and just a few yards from the side gate. He signalled where the marines were, cautioning silence before he gave the all clear and slipped carefully across the short distance to the side gate. He eased the gate quietly open and the others slipped through.
Jack dashed past him, heading for the shadows when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He skidded to a halt, drawing his sword as the figure stepped towards him - Norrington!
James Norrington spread his hands wide on seeing Jack and the pirates approach, unsurprised to find Will Turner amongst their number. "I thought you'd make it out," he smiled. "Keep to the north of town - I've sent as many troops as I can to the docks..."
Jack looked at him in shock, not expecting the Commodore to be helping him. "Why..." he began.
"Not all of us believe the Governor," James Norrington explained. "Although after this attack even I cannot defend you against the charge of piracy..."
Jack shrugged. "Longs as yer know th' charges were false! Although I never thought I'd see th' day yer turn honorary pirate!" Jack grinned.
James Norrington looked at Catherine in the tall blonde pirate's arms. He looked familiar but he could not place him. Then he realised. "Val..." he began. "Lact!" he hissed, reaching for his pistol, but Jack was quicker.
"Not today Norrington," he warned, aiming and cocking his unloaded pistol at Norrington, hoping that his bluff would not be called.
"Jack!" he hissed. "What is he doing in your crew?"
"At th' moment he's carrying Kitty - but when we get back to th' Pearl he'll be Quartermaster!" Jack grinned, delighting in the shock on Norrington's face.
"Quartermaster!" James Norrington gasped. "Have you any other surprises for me tonight?"
Jack frowned. "Well, I suppose I should introduce young Isaac t' yer. Isaac, come an' meet th' Commodore! He'd like his own sheet..." he winked.
Isaac Hallam carefully shook the Commodore's hand. "Pleased to meet you," he smiled.
"Isaac... Isaac who?" James Norrington frowned, not sure that he wanted his question answered.
"Hallam, Sir," he smiled.
"Hallam! Dammit Jack this is going too far!" he hissed, aware of the proximity of the marines.
Jack shrugged. "P'raps... but yer have m' word that I'll keep m' side of the accord an' not strike English ships - unless I believe they have some connection to Spense. I will have him Norrington... trust me!" he threatened.
James Norrington nodded, realising that there was nothing he could do about the two new crew members of the Black Pearl tonight without revealing his own part in the escape, even though he would willingly hang both of them as pirates. He sighed. "Please try not to kill any of my troops as you leave..." he asked.
"We'll I'd move them away from 'ere then!" Jack warned, nodding for the others to depart. "Who knows what a vengeful pirate might do... savvy?"
***