By virgo79
This is something of a sequel to "Catch of the Day", which can be found under my "Short Drops and Sudden Stops" collection, but it also ties in somewhat with "The Weight of Water" (which has most definitely not been abandoned, guys, and thank you for your feedback and your patience on that story. The next chapter's coming along!)
I don't own anyone from PotC, so please don't send the Disney overlords to sue me. This is rated M for language and content. (What does "M" mean again, anyway? Mature? Malignant? Mommy Wouldn't Want You Reading This?)
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"Sails starboard, Mr. Turner!"
Pipe clamped lightly between his teeth, Bill Turner looked up at Harry Downey's call, lifting one hand from the tiller to shield his eyes against the glare of the rising sun as he scanned the horizon. "Aye, I've got it," he replied, when he could discern canvas from sky. "Go tell the captain, Downey."
Captain Yearwood emerged just as Bill was tucking his pipe away. "Turner," he greeted gruffly. "What've you boys found for me?"
Bill gestured with his chin, and Yearwood drew out his spyglass. There were several moments of silence, finally broken when Bill spoke up. "What d'you say, sir?"
"Hunh," Yearwood grunted noncommittally. He lowered the glass, the scarred side of his face that always seemed to frown looking crosser, as it always did when he was thinking. He turned his gaze towards the east, where the sunrise streaked the sky in dull crimson, the light spreading out from its source like reaching red-stained fingers.
"Close slow and wide, Bootstrap."
………………………….
"Well, she ain't runnin'," Downey observed, about a quarter of an hour later, when their quarry was close enough that details were becoming visible to the naked eye.
"She isn't moving at all," Bill corrected, tipping his hat down low on his brow. He glanced at his captain. "Except where the waves push her."
Yearwood said nothing, his fingers drumming on his cutlass hilt.
"Sir?" Downey ventured. "Sir, should we raise our colors?"
The captain shook his head. "Don't bother."
Downey looked back and forth from Bill to the captain. "You think they abandoned?"
Yearwood's fingers tapped out their cadence on his sword, but still he offered no response.
"If they did," Bill said dryly, his eyes on the ship they neared, "they went in one hell of a hurry. The lifeboats are still secured on deck."
"Fuck," Yearwood hissed. "Get the men up here, Downey. And get the hooks ready."
TBC
