Will cringed as he made his way through the crowded streets of Tortuga.  He hadn't been here in ten years and as far as he was concerned, it had not improved.  If anything, it had worsened.  If that's even possible, he thought.  As he walked along, trying not to draw too much attention to himself, he was jostled by prostitutes selling their wares, men knocked backwards from fights, and the occasional animal running for its life.  Of course, there were also rum bottles flying overhead, shots being fired constantly, and a handful of bodies thudding to the ground.  Will suddenly heard an awful retching sound behind him.  Turning, he saw the Commodore, dressed in common clothes, bending over and vomiting on the ground.  No one, save Will, had even noticed.

            Will helped the Commodore to his feet and led him to the nearest pub.  Pale-faced, the Commodore accepted a flagon of beer and a slice of bread.  Will sat with him until he recovered a bit, then looked around.  They had happened into The Faithful Bride, its noisy and crowded surroundings familiar to Will.  As Will turned back to the Commodore to see if he was feeling well enough to continue on in their search, he caught someone staring at him.  His skin prickled as the hair on the back of his neck rose.

            The gawker was a particularly generously proportioned harlot, wearing a bright red dress that was halfway off her shoulders.  Her fleshy face was contorted in an expression of intense concentration, as if she was trying to remember something important.  Gazing intently at Will, her head tilted slightly, her eyes suddenly widened and she stood quickly, walking toward Will and the Commodore.  As her 'fragrance' wafted toward them, the Commodore moaned anew and ducked under the table.  Will almost chuckled at this overt display of discomfort among common people, but the woman was upon them.

            The woman poked Will hard in the arm to get his attention, as if he weren't already staring straight at her.  Frowning and rubbing his arm, he spoke.
            "Yes?"

            "You're a fine looking man," she started, batting her eyelashes. "Look like a little lamb I saw last night.  Innocent thing.  Didn't even know what to say.  Do you –"

            Will interrupted. "A boy?  You saw a boy who looked like me?"

            The woman looked upset that he had disturbed her talk and pouted prettily.  Will didn't budge.  Finally realizing he wouldn't give, she responded. "I may've.  What's it worth to you?"

            Will sighed.  He had figured it would come to this.  He pulled out a few shillings and held them out.  She smiled and continued. "I saw a boy last night.  Looked a lot like you.  Little thing.  I would've taught him a thing or two, but some bloke with a parrot grabbed him off."

            "Do you know where they went?" Will asked eagerly.

            "How would I know that?" She pouted again, hoping for some pity, but it didn't work.  Will jumped up abruptly, grabbed the sick Commodore by the arm, and beat a hasty path out of the inn.  The Commodore dragging along behind, he hurried toward the harbor.

            "If she didn't know where they went," Will muttered.  "Maybe the harbormaster will."