Today's special, boys and girls (and lads and lasses), is Norrington! Poor
guy. He really was only doing his job. He had good reasons for wanting to
kill thieving murderous pirates; they're thieving and murderous, and
they're pirates. I mean, in his place, what would you do? If pirates had
been gunning, thieving and murdering the people where you lived, you'd have
a disinclination towards them, too.
I really do kinda feel sorry for him. He wasn't the bad-guy, really. He just fancied Elizabeth and felt that murderers should die. Didn't get the girl, didn't get to kill the pirate. He was a pretty good sport, in my opinion.
2 Show Boat
'Drink up me 'arties, yo ho. La la, la la...' Jack sang to himself as he manned the helm, flipping the wheel back and forth quickly enough that it did nothing to affect the course of the ship, he was simply enjoying himself. The elation of finally having his ship back still had not worn off, and it had been a little more than six months. When he really thought about it, he was always happy and perfectly content when at the helm, his lovely ship all his, and no one but he had any say about happenings on board. Of course, he did take suggestions, and considered them, but he had the final say. It wasn't so much a power issue so much that the ship was HIS and the crew was HIS.
And the hat was HIS too.
They were his own, and he was delighted more than anything to have them all again.
'Sail, ho!' Came a cry further to the bow. Jack's reaction was flurried and immediate. He whirled to grab his spyglass and stuck a belaying pin between the rungs of the wheel and into a little hole in the backing to keep the ship on course while he was temporarily away.
Scampering down the stairs from the quarterdeck, he strode across the deck towards the shouted voice.
'Just there, sir,' Said the crewman while pointing, a smile on his face. 'They's all lubbers, too, just a passenger ship.'
'Aye,' Jack said, slightly distracted as he peered through the spyglass. 'And they no doubt have some fine booty, too.' Jack mused through the spyglass a moment longer before casting it aside and making his way back to the helm. The crewman caught the spyglass after fumbling with it, but steadied and followed the captain up to the quarterdeck to put it back.
Jack removed the belaying pin from the helm and took her up again. He whistled sharply though his teeth to get the attention of the crew. 'Alright, me hearties! Reef the sails and prep the lines. There'll be a swaging today!'
A cheer came up from the crew and all set into motion.
First good loot of the season, Jack figured, but a little light went off in his head telling him to quit before he got ahead or behind, in case their chase was more than it appeared.
*
Commodore Norrington looked out the window from his quarters. Lately, there had been a rise in the number of ship robberies, and though there were no reports of black-sailed ships, or indeed, any confirmation of pirates at all, he was certain that the scoundrel Jack Sparrow had much to do with it. Presenting the situation to Governor Weatherby Swann, he also presented the idea of setting up a ship for the sole purpose of getting to the bottom of the robberies. Rather a good idea, actually. The ship looked just like a transport, like the ones that passed in and out of many exotic ports to get people around. Many aboard such ships weren't sailors of any kind, and were ideal targets for pirates and other such riff-raff.
"Show Boat" they had called her, but only in talk, for if the name was painted on the hull, it would probably be a total giveaway. The name on the hull was "Daystar", a name that screamed for thugs to come and get it.
'Commodore, sir!' Said a voice from the other side of the door, which was followed by raucous knocking. 'A mast on the horizon! And, blimey, it's her! It's the black-sailed ship!'
Immediately, Norrington dashed from his quarters and swept out onto deck. It didn't take long to spot the other ship looming on the horizon. His heart raced at the sight. This may be it, he thought. The day were the sad (but oddly elusive) excuse for a pirate would be shown the gallows for the last time. 'Right, men! Positions. We get one shot at this, and we WILL get it right. Make us look as helpless as possible without making us look suspicious.' Norrington turned and went back into his quarters, leaving a young, and rather inexperienced-looking fellow at the helm. There would be no William or Elizabeth to halt justice this time.
*
'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'll be your captain for a short portion of your voyage, long enough to take all you have to offer.' Jack stood on the rail on the larboard side of the Black Pearl which was keel to keel with a funny little boat called the "Daystar". He steadied himself with a rope dangling from a yard, having made sure that it was secure beforehand, as gangplanks were slammed into place. He was the first to make his way across, as was the norm, and selected crewmembers followed soon after with cocky grins and cocked pistols.
''Allo, miss...' Jack sauntered up to a younger woman who tickled his fancy, and looked her up and down, though mostly down. She flinched and turned away turning quite red. 'Now, now, milady. I don't want much from you, just simple...' Jack trailed off when he heard a series of loud splashes; the gangplanks had been heaved into the water. 'Rats, rats.' He muttered, and turned to face the interrupter.
'Figures it would be you of all people who'd fall for this,' Stated commodore Norrington, looking rather amused.
'I knew it,' Jack said accusingly. 'But, sadly for you, this will always-'
'-be remembered as the day... yes, hollow words, mister Sparrow.'
'But they weren't the last time. And it was remembered as the day you almost caught me, eh? Now Monkey!' Jack cried, and threw a hand towards the side his ship was on. Nothing significant happened. 'Now! Monkey! Monkey?'
Norrington sniggered. 'That's it? You're relying on a monkey for an escape? I didn't think that even you were so-' Norrington stopped dead in mid- sentence, and put a hand to the back of his head where something like thick, damp goo had struck him.
'Ooh,' Jack winced. 'I think that was actually aimed at me.'
'Eeuch!' Norrington shouted with disgust, as his hand came away stuck with monkey dung.
'But thanks anyway, Jack,' Said Jack. He decided that, with even Norrington's crew laughing despite their loyalties, it was a good time to make a getaway. The distraction allowed the few men of Jack's onboard the Daystar to leap across the eight foot gap between the ships.
Jack felt that just jumping away would not be right for his idiom, and he should escape more dramatically to further impress his escape. Though rather wary of anything that would lead to heights, now, he wrapped a halyard tether around his hand securely anyway, and sliced cleanly through where it was secured to the deck with his saber.
Again, nothing significant happened.
The halyard had no current counterweight, and was useless for doing anything but hanging there and waiting to be used. 'Blast! Bugger this!' He ran to the edge and the railing, suddenly changing his mind about his idiom and would be happy to just get to his ship without anything else... significant happening.
'Agh!' Norrington exclaimed, severely frustrated. 'Do whatever it takes to stop him!' He couldn't let him get away again. This would be the fourth time the pirate had thwarted him, and it didn't seem right. He wasn't even that good of a pirate, and still he managed to slide out of the grasp of anyone who wanted to squeeze him too tightly.
There was a thud as Jack contacted with the hull of his ship. He was only half on, though, hugging the rail with his feet dangling towards the sea. The Pearl began to move away...
Well, if he couldn't hang him... Norrington pulled out his pistol and leveled it carefully. He had no idea why exactly the governor's daughter and her blacksmith friend wished that Norrington spare the life of the ruffian, and he wouldn't no matter how many times it was explained to him. A lifetime of crime couldn't be absolved with a few good deeds.
There were several sounds almost at once just then; the loud boom of the pistol going off, shouts of 'Cap'n!' from the Black Pearl's crew, the splinter of wood, a cut-off cry, and an untidy splash.
'Huzzah!' Cheered Norrington to himself. That was that, then. The day Captain Jack Sparrow ALMOST got away. Once less despicable pirate...
Followed by a great deal of other pirates that streamed across from the Pearl.
'He killed the captain!'
'Get 'em!'
Meanwhile, on the starboard side of the ship, Jack came to the surface spluttering, and cursing. 'Bloody... Could've killed me...'
I really do kinda feel sorry for him. He wasn't the bad-guy, really. He just fancied Elizabeth and felt that murderers should die. Didn't get the girl, didn't get to kill the pirate. He was a pretty good sport, in my opinion.
2 Show Boat
'Drink up me 'arties, yo ho. La la, la la...' Jack sang to himself as he manned the helm, flipping the wheel back and forth quickly enough that it did nothing to affect the course of the ship, he was simply enjoying himself. The elation of finally having his ship back still had not worn off, and it had been a little more than six months. When he really thought about it, he was always happy and perfectly content when at the helm, his lovely ship all his, and no one but he had any say about happenings on board. Of course, he did take suggestions, and considered them, but he had the final say. It wasn't so much a power issue so much that the ship was HIS and the crew was HIS.
And the hat was HIS too.
They were his own, and he was delighted more than anything to have them all again.
'Sail, ho!' Came a cry further to the bow. Jack's reaction was flurried and immediate. He whirled to grab his spyglass and stuck a belaying pin between the rungs of the wheel and into a little hole in the backing to keep the ship on course while he was temporarily away.
Scampering down the stairs from the quarterdeck, he strode across the deck towards the shouted voice.
'Just there, sir,' Said the crewman while pointing, a smile on his face. 'They's all lubbers, too, just a passenger ship.'
'Aye,' Jack said, slightly distracted as he peered through the spyglass. 'And they no doubt have some fine booty, too.' Jack mused through the spyglass a moment longer before casting it aside and making his way back to the helm. The crewman caught the spyglass after fumbling with it, but steadied and followed the captain up to the quarterdeck to put it back.
Jack removed the belaying pin from the helm and took her up again. He whistled sharply though his teeth to get the attention of the crew. 'Alright, me hearties! Reef the sails and prep the lines. There'll be a swaging today!'
A cheer came up from the crew and all set into motion.
First good loot of the season, Jack figured, but a little light went off in his head telling him to quit before he got ahead or behind, in case their chase was more than it appeared.
*
Commodore Norrington looked out the window from his quarters. Lately, there had been a rise in the number of ship robberies, and though there were no reports of black-sailed ships, or indeed, any confirmation of pirates at all, he was certain that the scoundrel Jack Sparrow had much to do with it. Presenting the situation to Governor Weatherby Swann, he also presented the idea of setting up a ship for the sole purpose of getting to the bottom of the robberies. Rather a good idea, actually. The ship looked just like a transport, like the ones that passed in and out of many exotic ports to get people around. Many aboard such ships weren't sailors of any kind, and were ideal targets for pirates and other such riff-raff.
"Show Boat" they had called her, but only in talk, for if the name was painted on the hull, it would probably be a total giveaway. The name on the hull was "Daystar", a name that screamed for thugs to come and get it.
'Commodore, sir!' Said a voice from the other side of the door, which was followed by raucous knocking. 'A mast on the horizon! And, blimey, it's her! It's the black-sailed ship!'
Immediately, Norrington dashed from his quarters and swept out onto deck. It didn't take long to spot the other ship looming on the horizon. His heart raced at the sight. This may be it, he thought. The day were the sad (but oddly elusive) excuse for a pirate would be shown the gallows for the last time. 'Right, men! Positions. We get one shot at this, and we WILL get it right. Make us look as helpless as possible without making us look suspicious.' Norrington turned and went back into his quarters, leaving a young, and rather inexperienced-looking fellow at the helm. There would be no William or Elizabeth to halt justice this time.
*
'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'll be your captain for a short portion of your voyage, long enough to take all you have to offer.' Jack stood on the rail on the larboard side of the Black Pearl which was keel to keel with a funny little boat called the "Daystar". He steadied himself with a rope dangling from a yard, having made sure that it was secure beforehand, as gangplanks were slammed into place. He was the first to make his way across, as was the norm, and selected crewmembers followed soon after with cocky grins and cocked pistols.
''Allo, miss...' Jack sauntered up to a younger woman who tickled his fancy, and looked her up and down, though mostly down. She flinched and turned away turning quite red. 'Now, now, milady. I don't want much from you, just simple...' Jack trailed off when he heard a series of loud splashes; the gangplanks had been heaved into the water. 'Rats, rats.' He muttered, and turned to face the interrupter.
'Figures it would be you of all people who'd fall for this,' Stated commodore Norrington, looking rather amused.
'I knew it,' Jack said accusingly. 'But, sadly for you, this will always-'
'-be remembered as the day... yes, hollow words, mister Sparrow.'
'But they weren't the last time. And it was remembered as the day you almost caught me, eh? Now Monkey!' Jack cried, and threw a hand towards the side his ship was on. Nothing significant happened. 'Now! Monkey! Monkey?'
Norrington sniggered. 'That's it? You're relying on a monkey for an escape? I didn't think that even you were so-' Norrington stopped dead in mid- sentence, and put a hand to the back of his head where something like thick, damp goo had struck him.
'Ooh,' Jack winced. 'I think that was actually aimed at me.'
'Eeuch!' Norrington shouted with disgust, as his hand came away stuck with monkey dung.
'But thanks anyway, Jack,' Said Jack. He decided that, with even Norrington's crew laughing despite their loyalties, it was a good time to make a getaway. The distraction allowed the few men of Jack's onboard the Daystar to leap across the eight foot gap between the ships.
Jack felt that just jumping away would not be right for his idiom, and he should escape more dramatically to further impress his escape. Though rather wary of anything that would lead to heights, now, he wrapped a halyard tether around his hand securely anyway, and sliced cleanly through where it was secured to the deck with his saber.
Again, nothing significant happened.
The halyard had no current counterweight, and was useless for doing anything but hanging there and waiting to be used. 'Blast! Bugger this!' He ran to the edge and the railing, suddenly changing his mind about his idiom and would be happy to just get to his ship without anything else... significant happening.
'Agh!' Norrington exclaimed, severely frustrated. 'Do whatever it takes to stop him!' He couldn't let him get away again. This would be the fourth time the pirate had thwarted him, and it didn't seem right. He wasn't even that good of a pirate, and still he managed to slide out of the grasp of anyone who wanted to squeeze him too tightly.
There was a thud as Jack contacted with the hull of his ship. He was only half on, though, hugging the rail with his feet dangling towards the sea. The Pearl began to move away...
Well, if he couldn't hang him... Norrington pulled out his pistol and leveled it carefully. He had no idea why exactly the governor's daughter and her blacksmith friend wished that Norrington spare the life of the ruffian, and he wouldn't no matter how many times it was explained to him. A lifetime of crime couldn't be absolved with a few good deeds.
There were several sounds almost at once just then; the loud boom of the pistol going off, shouts of 'Cap'n!' from the Black Pearl's crew, the splinter of wood, a cut-off cry, and an untidy splash.
'Huzzah!' Cheered Norrington to himself. That was that, then. The day Captain Jack Sparrow ALMOST got away. Once less despicable pirate...
Followed by a great deal of other pirates that streamed across from the Pearl.
'He killed the captain!'
'Get 'em!'
Meanwhile, on the starboard side of the ship, Jack came to the surface spluttering, and cursing. 'Bloody... Could've killed me...'
