Chapter 7: Maraud and Embezzle

The Black Pearl slid through the waters of the Atlantic, approaching Jamestown.

"Let's review the plan, shall we?" Jack said.

The crew groaned. AnaMaria said, "Jack, we already did this—twice."

"Three times won't hurt none, now will it?"

"Fine, fine: Gibbs and I shall go ashore in a boat ahead of all you men. Then we'll steal the smallest ship there is docked there, while you boys pretty much rain merry Hell down on Jamestown. That the gist of it?"

"That would be the gist of it, luv."

"We'll be fine, Jack. Stop worrying; we know how to steal a ship." Though you didn't always know how, she thought grimly to herself. After all, there always has to be a first time.

FLASHBACK

"Captain Flynn?"

The captain of the Endeavor turned to his newest crew member. "Yes, m'boy?"

"Sir, the crew would like to speak with you. If you'd follow me, sir?"

"Certainly, lad. Lead on." The captain followed the boy down below to the crew quarters.

Where a sack was placed over his head. Then something big and blunt hit him squarely in the back of the head. Then blackness.

"Captain Errol Flynn. You are charged of with-holding payment to your crew for your own personal benefit. You are also charged with lack of brigandage, indecision, and general lack of lawlessness. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty." Captain Flynn stood tall, blissfully unaware that in this court, all the men already knew the charges, the damning evidence, and the final verdict.

The 'boy' brought forward a chest from the Captain's cabin. 'He' then went to the captain, and said, "Remove the key from your neck."

"Key? What key? I have no key!" Flynn knew now he was doomed.

The 'boy' turned to 'his' large crewmate, and said, "Taurus, tear his arms off."

"That's enough of that, Ana; we have some decency in this court!" The 'judge' levelled a finger at the 'boy'.

Captain Flynn regarded the 'boy'. "Ana...?"

The 'boy' removed 'his' hat. "AnaMaria, at your service, Captain. The key?"

He handed it over; fear of the dreaded pirate AnaMaria compelled him to do so. When the chest opened, there was a large amount of gold and silver in there—far more than was proportionate to the amount he'd promised the men from each raid. "This scurvy dog's been holdin' out on us!" Crewmen joined the cry. "Mangy bloke's been keepin' it fer 'imself!" "Sodding scumbag!"

"Order, order!" The 'judge' pounded. "I've seen enough. Captain Errol Flynn, in the charges of with-holding payment to your crew, you are found guilty. Sentence is immediate removal from command and marooning, to be carried out immediately as well. Throw him overboard! That little island ought to make a prime location!" The man had no way of knowing that another captain would be marooned on that same island several years later, or that just as then, rumrunners used the island as a cache.

END FLASHBACK

The Black Pearl moored a few miles out to sea, while the men rowed in under cover of night. Then the Pearl followed them in. In the proceeding raid, the town was almost destroyed, and a ship was stolen from the harbor.

AnaMaria stood at the helm of the Endeavor. Hello, old friend. Fond memories, eh?

No time for reminiscence, though; straight on to New York.

A/N: Yes, yes, yes, for those of you who are serious pirate fans, I used Errol Flynn. And I'm not done with him yet! And if you don't know who he is...thirty lashes with a wet noodle! REVIEW!