Chapter 11: Fair Winds and Calm Seas
"Sir? The Britannia and Elizabeth have disappeared."
"What the hell?" Gillette stared out the stern, as he saw that the two ships were no longer with them.
"What's wrong, Commodore?" Admiral Norrington stood behind the men, staring out. "Wait. I can guess."
"Perhaps they've just fallen back a bit, sir."
"No, Gillette, we've been had. I'll bet the one of Sparrow's men was on the Elizabeth, and then commandeered the Britannia. Damn!" He kicked his desk in frustration. Once again, he'd been suckered by Jack Sparrow.
"Well, sir, what shall we do?"
The Admiralty was in no shape to make tactical decisions at that moment, and he knew it. "Give me a few minutes with my thoughts. I'll have something."
Retreating to his cabin, he sat at his desk, tossed his hat on his bunk, and thought.
The five pirates returned to the town tired, but triumphant. Will was alright, and the Inuits had not followed them. Jack and AnaMaria were attempting to convince Johnny to come along.
"It's much better in the Caribbean now than it was. Barbossa's dead..." Jack began.
"Don't care."
"The local Navy man has a fair view of pirates..." AnaMaria suggested to him.
"The rum and women are excellent..."
"Jack..."
"Alright, the rum's excellent..." This earned him a smack from AnaMaria.
"And...it's warm. No more animal fur coats, no snow, no nasty bears..."
That turned him over. "Oh, alright, alright, I'll come. But I'm not signin' onto yer crew, ye hear me, Jack?"
"I hear ya, mate." But Jack smiled.
"Don't smile like that, I know that smile!" Jack persisted. "I mean it-every time you smile like that, I almost get killed!"
Jack ignored him. Then, as they walked to the port, the smile left his face, replaced by something rather interesting.
"What? What is it, Jack?" He continued to stare, then followed Jack's gaze.
Jack then uttered these words.
"What the bloody hell...?" There in front of him, tied to the docks, were three ships; his majestic ship, the Black Pearl; the HMS Elizabeth, and the HMS Britannia. All of them were crewed by some of his men.
Gibbs came down the Pearl's gangway, and said, "Commodore Sparrow, your fleet awaits."
He stared dumbly for a moment, then said, "I'm gonna need a few more hands."
A few hours later, the three ships were in full sail for the Caribbean, knowing that the Dauntless would not be far behind them. Gibbs and AnaMaria were at the Britannia's helm; Will and Elizabeth at the wheel of the Elizabeth; and Jack Sparrow and John Depp in command of the Black Pearl. Business was going to be booming in the West Indies very soon.
And Jack Sparrow pulled out a compass that actually did point North, and hummed a little song, then began muttering the words. "duh duh-duh-duh duh...and really bad eggs..."
John Depppicked up the tune. "Drink up me hearties, yo ho."
