Ch 2
The True Price of Rum
Crane's carriage journeyed through the dark and gruesome night. To pass time, he daydreamed about the Caribbean, his destination. Truth be told, Crane's surroundings have lost there beauty as the large, gothic sky stretched out over the sky. But the Caribbean was quite different. In fact, even at night the island shimmered in a certain fluorescent beauty as the stars shone on the wavy sea.
The Caribbean, described by book, is an area in the West Indies famous for sea pirates. And that was exactly what Crane recognized it as, an area crawling with roguish sea pirates.
After Crane's incident in Sleepy Hollow and failure to bring the criminal to court, the judge mercifully gave Ichabod another chance to prove his worth. However, if he failed to bring the criminal to court or meddled with any other outlaws he was warned that he would lose his jobs.
The constable's expedition seemed simple enough. He was to seek out a cunning criminal by the name of Jack Sparrow, a pirate. However, Crane knew little about this pirate. And this pirate was, to the constable's misfortune, a very clever one. It would take a hard bargain to catch this crook.
Ichabod would most likely enjoy his stay in the Caribbean. However, his trip could be ruined unless he gave up his search. Then and only then, Crane would be able to enjoy the smell of the sea and the sound of the crashing waves like Sparrow did himself.
The sea had been Sparrow's sense of freedom besides piracy. He sailed the seas triumphantly on his ship, the Black Pearl while pillaging and looting merchant ships all for the essence of adventure, "All hands to sails," the captain announced, "Come now you scabrous dogs!"
"Aye, sir," his partner, Gibbs, saluted then repeating the orders, "Men, manage the sails."
There was a small discrepancy on the ship as the only female crewmember on board folded her arms and rolled her eyes, "If you acquire only the men to manage the sails and not the crew I will just stand," she huffed at Gibbs.
Sparrow instantly recognized this woman to be Annamaria who he respected as an independent woman and a fine pirate. In fact, this woman had capabilities that sometimes scared the captain. He smirked sharply and corrected the issue, "All lads and lasses, then," he smiled with his hands tightly around the wooden steer.
Gibbs couldn't bite his tongue, "But, captain, she be a woman. Terrible things happen when a woman does a man's job."
Jack shook his head and sniggered, "What be the purpose of having her aboard then, mate," he said then growing more serious, "Also, realize that it'd be worse luck to make her not do the man's job and not manage these bloody sails. So I say all jets to sails means all jets to sails, savvy?"
"Aye," Gibbs said overpowered, "What we be looking for anyway, captain?"
Jack smiled at this very notice, "That ship," he said pointing to a tiny merchant ship.
"That ship," Gibbs echoed questionably.
"Aye," Jack responded confidently, "That ship."
With no further question Gibbs approached the rest of the crew to manage the sails and shadow the other ship until further notice on the attack, "One man to cannons," the captain commanded, "Don't attack. Now keep a weathered eye open."
One of the crewmates immediately emerged from his original position to load the cannons, "Now launch them," Jack grinned.
The crewmate grew puzzled, "You said not to attack, captain."
Jack laughed, "Don't attack. Send those cannons towards the ship but into the ocean."
The man, still not entirely sure about the order, listened to Sparrow. The cannons made a loud crackling noise as it shot from the cannon- blllllassschtttt- and a low thumping noise at it fell in the ocean nearby the merchant ship- bllluururp!
Each fire was the same as the last. They all shared the same sound and flew the same distance. In fact, if the captain hadn't grinned further and further in each dunk each shot would be identical and uneasy to define from the last.
"Their frightened," Jack smiled pulling out his sword, "Tie that ship to ours, we have a trip to make."
"Aye," said the man. Jack nodded and in that instant zoomed through the crashing waves, his fingers tight against the wheel, until the Black Pearl was an inch away from the merchants.
The man hurriedly tied the ships together, "Now what, captain," the man asked.
"Now we attack," Jack said turning to his crew. They intently looked back at him exhausted from sail management.
Jack grinned, "Release the sails," he ordered.
The crew did as he said reporting to him for further orders. Jack had noticed their intent looks and strong anticipation. He shook his head, "Stay," he smiled, "I'm taking my chances."
He jumped from his ship to the next with no allies, as he ordered. His crew remained very confident of Jack and what he had decided. However, they were confused and anxious for his return.
By the time Sparrow had returned, the crew was pale white with anticipation. Finally, a man spoke up, "What was it, captain?"
The captain rose a pure red bottle into the air triumphantly, "That ship was no ordinary ship."
"It wasn't," Gibbs asked.
"Not at all, lads," Jack denied, "The lads were not at all just merchants. They were rum merchants."
The crew frowned as they realized the bottles Jack was holding up in triumph were rum bottles. Sparrow noticing the unpleasant faces immediately spoke up, "Drinks all around…?"