RETURN TO THE BLACK PEARL
It's just occurred to me that I've forgotten to write a disclaimer in the first two chapters. So to make up for this shocking breech of manners, I've composed a poem for the situation.
CAST OF THOUSANDS: [screams of horror] No! Say it isn't so!
ME: It is so. And here it is:
"What's this?" you moan,
Well, read and review.
I don't own,
So please don't sue.
Ha! Whaddaya think about that?
CAST OF THOUSANDS: It's even worse than we thought it would be.
Chapter One: A Good Morning, Continued
As soon as Jack's feet hit the deck of the Black Pearl, he knew something wasn't right. It wasn't much of a feeling, just a nagging sense that his ship wasn't the same ship it had been mere minutes ago when he had boarded the Duty Free.
But whatever it was, it could wait, because the reason for abandoning the Duty Free so quickly had been a ship appearing in the spyglass of Marty, who had been keeping watch in the crow's nest of the Black Pearl. Jack quickly climbed the rigging to join Marty, who pointed out the white sails and military polish that left no doubt in Jack's mind in who's fleet it was.
The Duty Free floated in the water a short distance from the Black Pearl, her captain still tied to the mast and her crew held captive in the brig. Jack had a strong suspicion that the captain of the military ship, no matter much he might want to go pirate hunting, would remain with the Duty Free for no better reason than duty. If there was anything more predictable than an officer of the Royal Navy, Jack had yet to meet it.
The regal-looking ship pulled in closer to the Black Pearl, close enough for Jack to recognize her as the Dauntless. She was not captained by the commodore, Jack realized with some regret, as he'd always enjoyed gloating. Instead, a pasty-faced officer stood at the helm. Jack didn't know which one; Norrington had any number of look-alike officers, all with the same pasty-white face that matched their wigs.
The other ship gained on the Black Pearl, but it didn't matter. Jack was already ten steps ahead of everyone else anyway, and he'd never been known to not have an ace up his sleeve. He idly wondered what the pasty-faced officer would think of the trick about to be played upon him.
= = =
A slow, pain-filled death was what the pasty-faced officer was thinking of when the fog surrounding the Black Pearl cleared to reveal a sea minus one large pirate ship.
The end is in sight! The end of chapter one, anyways.
No, really!
CAST OF THOUSANDS: What's after chapter one?
ME: Chapter two. And, while you're here, review!
