A/N I am so very sorry for the long delay in updating. Things have gotten to be very crazy irl. Please accept this offering which has been sitting on my harddrive forever.

Curse of the Black Pearl Part 5 - Uncertain

After Tortuga the trail unfortunately became cold. Sparrow and Turner had stopped there. They had remained for a small handful of days to collect both a crew and supplies. A merchant who traded in pirated goods, buying them for low prices from the island and selling them at much higher fare elsewhere, became a somewhat unwilling informant to the events. He affirmed that the pirate was himself on the trail of the Pearl (when the scuttlebutt circulated around the decks of the Navy vessel some men scoffed at the name of a ghost ship, more made the sign of the cross over themselves, and for his part, Theodore leaned closer to hear more) that Sparrow did still have Turner with him, and the searchers were woefully far behind. Afraid as the man was to give up the bearings and direction that Sparrow had taken, only overt threat and a plea from the Governor persuaded him to do so.

The interview had placed them even further to the rear, but once the merchant was returned to his own ship another meeting was called while the anchor was weighed to ensure the officers were all on the same page of the next plans. Resulting was a decision to prowl within distant sight of the islands. Nobody knew or had even a guess where the pirates may be now, only the persistent story that the ship which had raided Port Royal was a ghost that made berth at an island which supposedly rose from the water and vanished again when they departed. But, nobody sailed forever without making landfall, so there must be an island and so they must find it. Lieutenants Gillette and Groves passed a confused, slightly skeptical, and sympathetic look between them once out of sight of their superiors. They were unsure of the success of their mission without firm direction and the time constraint but were content to sail as long as it was required of them – only feeling guilty of the anguish the affair caused the Governor and Commodore.

Governor Swann currently resided in the large office quarters which otherwise would have been Norrington's. Both men however passed a good amount of time there deep in conversation during the day. When on duty either separate or together, or crossing to the officer's wardroom, both of the senior lieutenants made it a point to walk passed the room and steal a quick look to be sure their charges were still well. In the evenings all of the staff gathered for a short meeting before dispersing to their quarters or to the watch. To accommodate the extra man and all of the rest of the crew, Ginnis and Palmer the two junior lieutenants shared quarters and so did Groves and Gillette. The marine officers made use of one of the opened rooms and Norrington had the last to himself. Aside from a Commodore making use of a mere lieutenant's room it was not unheard of for the rooms to be arranged like this, the Fort Charles men had all simply become used to the freedom and privilege usually afforded to them.

Despite prowling so close to the shoals, sometimes as close to shore as the helmsman dared to take the first-rate they saw no signs of the ships they were searching for. Several others were seen certainly, mostly small fishing sloops that when hailed occasionally mentioned a lone ship which might have been Navy but flew no colors or another, much larger that ran before a fog and frightened away all of the sea life. When pressed for information about this second ship, their mouths sealed and they refused to say anything further no matter how questions were worded or how much they were promised for the information.

At two weeks from the start of the venture, a week from Tortuga, the trail turned from cold to frigid. All sign and mention of Interceptor vanished. The sea itself became a vast desert. No ships, no boats, no life. No even the pods of dolphins that followed to play in the waves churned up by large vessels and entertained those on watch, or sharks that sometimes scavenged among the scraps tossed by the cook. Men became restless, Norrington agitated and silent aside from issuing instruction or demanding update of their position and progress. The travel of the sun across the heaven was the only indication of any changes during the day and the moon the same at night.

Like weather was wont to do on the islands, it changed drastically. With how still the air had been for two days those who were experienced knew there had to be a break soon. They were not prepared for the violence of it. The first warning was much like the day at the fort, the air which had one moment been still and stifling taking on a sudden chill. Then a haze similar to looking through a dirty window hung along the horizon to the stern.

Theodore was entertaining a pair of sailors with a card trick while Will looked on and occasionally shaking his head; he was overly familiar with his friend's antics. Both of them were called to look to the rear of the vessel and when they did, it was a strange sight. What began as a slight mist was now a black mass that divided the entire sky in two, it had snuck up within only a half hour and appeared as if the hand of God itself were holding the storm at bay from sweeping across the entire expanse. One side was day and the other night, night was steadily creeping forwards. It was chasing them, the wind which was now picking up propelled them forwards and they were obliged to take advantage of this mixed blessing for as long as they could. The sails filled and Dauntless sped forward cutting a sharp path through the waves.

It was full night when the full wrath of the storm caught up to them. Stark black surf which before had been merely choppy was now lifting high above their heads before crashing downwards again and sweeping across the deck with a threat to take men back into the sea with it. Little by little sail had been taken in, in the hopes to ride out the weather for as long as they could but it was a losing battle. It was becoming dangerous to remain on deck, to be up in the masts with the threat of being shaken loose and falling to their deaths either on the deck below or the waves.

So close to shore there was a risk of being run aground on a sandbar or pushed into some hidden reef or rocks. A quick choice had to be made over safe harbor or turning to sea and riding it out.

But to lose even more time…

Already there had been delay in setting out, in stopping at Tortuga, in searching the islands, and now the storm…

But they could be no help to anybody should some misfortune befall them. One ship had already been lost and the Governor himself was aboard this one. Had it been only themselves that was at risk there was no doubt that Norrington would give the order to put to sea and brave the storm, as he often reminded them however, it was not himself that he served. Sail was again taken in and Dauntless took shelter in a harbor that quieted the rage. Hatches closed against the pounding rain the crew huddled crowded together below deck. Protected they may be the storm still slammed against them and the ship still rocked hard enough to make most anybody ill with each wave. All night the pumps had to be manned in shifts. Rope fiber and pitch had to be applied where timber creaked and twisted enough to allow the sea inside the bunker. Outside the watch huddled in a poncho or great coat beneath the overhang over the quarterdeck and still return soaked through all his layers, drenched and miserable. In the wardroom the officers passed a night with wine and whist, alternating taking advantage of the rest afforded and grumbling (quietly) as all sailors did.

A few puddles swirled around the table, running first one way and then the other with the motion of the ship. Their mugs were only half full to avoid any more splashes and two cots had been hung from the ceiling for seats rather than risk being toppled out of their chairs. Jackets discarded and wearing instead shirtsleeves and waistcoats the four gathered round. Palmer tossed his cards and pointed a threatening finger across the table. "Having you as a pair keeps us at a disadvantage."

Mouth quirking Theodore looked sideways at his partner, "How so?"

"Well everybody knows that when you want, you can deal yourself an entire hand of aces and everyone else low numbers."

At any other table that would be cause for a quarrel, in the lower decks it would even be the beginning of a fight, as it was his friend bristled on his account and Ginnis cautioned his partner to be less rude. Theodore smiled, "True. That's why Mister Gillette deals."

"And yet, you both keep winning."

"Not every time." Will's voice was strained, but much calmer than the other, holding a steady warning that the conversation shouldn't continue this way. "We're only ahead by three tricks, and it's your turn to deal next."

Rather than be pacified the more junior officer, though a few years older than those he was accusing and much further into his drink, stood from the game and pointed again. "It was your idea to play! You think that getting us drunk and happy with games will keep everyone from realizing the errand we're on? We've been chasing a ghost!"

The mood, which had been light, then slightly strained, became much darker. Ginnis lay down his hand of cards and rubbed at his temples, Gillette and Groves stood and faced Palmer. They were no longer smiling. "Say again, Mister Palmer?" Questioned the first lieutenant.

"We've risked ship and man to chase down one girl. Anyone but Mister Swann's daughter we wouldn't do that for. Any other girl the parent's would have to accept she'd been snatched by pirates. It's only because Commodore Norrington fancies he's a chance with her. And he won't even sail in a bit of rain to fetch her back!"

Ginnis valiantly tried to pull the most junior man back into his chair while the other two became bright red and there was a very real danger of either one of them lunging across the table to defend the honor of commander, governor, and maiden.

Something dropping to the floor above their heads shattered the dangerous atmosphere, distracting all before something irreversible could happen. A chair scraped across the floor and they were reminded that solid wood though the walls may be, they were not soundproof, and the wardroom rested directly beneath the Governor's chamber.

"You're drunk." Gillette stated, "Retire to your quarters, Mister Ginnis, escort him."

The grateful man fairly leapt from his seat to wrestle the drunken sailor out of the room. Palmer swayed, and leaned heavily on him. The door swung shut. Neither of the remaining young men moved from their spots.

Theodore pivoted, he snatched up he own coat and threw it. The last of the wine was spilled and dribbled over the table edge.

A knock rapped at the door, "Enter." They had a guess at who it was.

It slowly swung open to reveal the Commodore, he looked tired. "The conversation could not help but be overhead."

The lieutenants ducked their heads and Groves quickly scooped up the mess left behind.

It was a long night.