Chapter twenty : searching....

They were smashed roughly against the wall, all three of them. Jack in the middle, Fen on his left, and Will on his right. There was a cracking of bones, and wincing as they took a step forward, only to be forced back against the wooden wall by the throng of pirates. We're to search you, Sparrow... They cackled, you too missy, and you, laddy. You ent going to escape us. They pushed nearer, reaching their grubby hands out, groping for the three prisoners.

Fen cast a glance at Jack, eyes open wide, fear showing in them. Jack knew the look. And what it meant. It was inevitable. It was like a hares, or a horses, like the look of terror, just before they bolt. If Fen were to bolt now, she would be run through. He turned his head to the other side, smiled what he hoped was reassuringly at Will - couldn't have him doing something stupid whilst his back was turned - then turned back towards Fen and shoved against the haggardly pirate that stood between them. He groped for her hand, found it and held it tightly. Just - stay - here. He muttered, rolling his eyes and staring at her.

She narrowed her eyes at him and was about to retort, when more knarled fingers approached her, this time to her left. She practically jumped against Jack in her eagerness to escape them, taking him unaware and he stumbled, couldn't find anywhere to place his quivering feet and fell, directly onto the pirate on his right, who then fell against the pirate on his right, who in his turn fell on Will who collapsed onto another pirate, who came to a sick crunch against the far side of the cabin they were in. Jack felt a warm weight on his body. He looked up from the ground to meet Fen's eyes.

That was remarkable, he said, mouth twitching, the domino effect. She looked at him scathingly and mumbled a that somehow didn't fit with her scowl. There was yelling and shouting from all around and the pirates were becoming more threatening every second. Let go of me, would you? She asked, wanting to be back on her feet and becoming uncomfortable so near to him. Jack frowned, suddenly aware that he had one arm pinning her to him around the waist and the other clutching her hand. He let go, roughly, almost pushing her off him. Just making sure you didn't run away... I know how scared you get, he said, raising his eyebrows as if it had been her who had been clutching him, and not the other way around.

She shook her head, and would have found some remark to make, but at that very moment the amount of people in the cabin seemed to diminish by at least three quarters. She looked around, puzzled, and caught Will doing the same thing.

Why, hello, hello... Jack Sparrow... I haven't seen you since... ages... how are you faring? A young boy, or that's what it seemed, walked into the room, in a rather pointed fashion, smirking at them. Jack gaped suddenly. Oh no... He groaned, wincing. Will and Fen both squinted like they couldn't see properly.

It didn't seem quite right that the boy was smirking at them, not when he looked like that. True, they were in a rather uncomfortable predicament, but he, he was, well...

Are you a clown? Asked Fen, somewhat hesitantly. She did not want to ofend him, nor to be clever, it was just that he did, indeed, look greatly like a clown. He had a thin, pale face, cold, blue eyes, and a seemingly permanent scowl etched onto his thin lips. He walked with scorn and disdain, contempt for just about everyone, and had a mocking voice. That doesn't make him like a clown, I know, unless it would be one of those ones in 20th century horror films, but the thing is, that he also had a great deal of hair.

Dirtied blond hair. In sweet little ringlets that fizzled off his head at delightful angles. And had him looking either like a clown, or a certain Moonface from another 20th century form of entertainment, this time children's books.

Jack winced, shaking his head, and even Will had to stifle a chuckle. The boy turned to her, murder in his eyes. No. I am not. I am the first mate on board this ship, and you would do well to know it. At this, Fen paled, becoming almost as white as him, and realised her mistake - it was probably him that was going to search them - she'd put her foot in it again.

I, err, I, well, I mean, I... didn't... err.. mean to be... err... rude... I was just.... err.. He smirked at her stuttering and remarked to Jack, Why, some taste you have, if it's not half-naked whores, it's stuttering changelings... or maybe you're more taken with the lad, here? He pointed to Will, whose nose and corner of lips had acquired a significant twitch. Jack half-scowled, half- nodded in agreement - it was his yes, well... look, the one he gave when he meant anything but yes, well....

It is true indeed that the girl's more of a changeling than a lady, even if the Captain insists on calling her that. If I were you, not that I am- Jack lowered his voice so only Fen heard and so, combined with the look on his face it looked as though he was pausing for breath. Or have any wish to be- His voice swelled back up to its original volume, But if I were... then I would just tie her arms behind her back as hard as deemed necessary and send her running back up on deck... She is of no use to anyone - tis I who has the map...

He smiled in a self-satisfacted, almost defiant way. The first mate smirked and shook his head, You don't seem to have changed much, Sparrow... Still such a fool. Jack raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. He had known the first mate as a young child of seven, and they had never got on well - probably because the boy's father had been one of those traitor pirates, the ones that are in liegue with the navy and betray their supposedly fellow pirates at every opportunity. Eight years had gone by, and the boy, probably with help from his lately deceased father, seemed to be doing well for himself, fifteen was young for a first-mate.

The cluster of tightly spun ringlets tossed to and thro as he whirled around, barking harshly to the three snivelling, stunted men behind him to search the prisoners. They did so happily, and, after taking what minor weapons were left in Jack's hair, Fen's boots and Will's sleeves - the only ones to have been overlooked when they had first been put into the cell, they snivelled their way back behind the first mate - whose name, by the way, was Rand - and they took coilfuls of sturdy, grubby rope to tie them up with.

Each of the prisoners winced as they slowly - much too slowly - winded and tightened, and wound and tightened, and yanked and tightened the rope some more.

Rand snickered again, this time with a great deal more humour. I think that you have waited a bit too long to make your move, Sparrow - He spat the last word venemously into his face, for there shall be no more opportunities to trick us... I shall personnally make sure of it. Jack smiled, Well, if you'll personnally make sure of it, then I am sure that we won't have a single chance...

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Thank you for reading, hoped you like it, thanks for the reviews!! Especially evil cats n spiders and im-a-daydream-believer...

kristhegreat : yeah... Jail scenes are neat...

VagrantCandy : I'll try to go over those misspellings...

Jackanory : Glad you liked it and that it's becoming clearer!!

Roz : I changed womyn back to woman, sorry - I was a bit tired... Still am, in fact...

im-a-daydream-believer : hmm, I reread it and it was pretty confusing... ouf... I'm glad you don't think it's too slowly, though I'll try and get them out a bit quicker now... Oh, and for the map, well, a bit of patience never went amiss...

Charmed Angel : Wow! Whoever said that word of mouth didn't work didn't have a clue about anything.... Who's your niece?? I'm glad you liked it!

evil cats n spiders : ooohhh... mittens and nose warmers are sweet! (a scarf as well....) The slip of paper is the map...