Commandeering Commodore
Chapter 68
As they approached the cove James looked skyward judging the time. It had taken them longer to make their way than he had planned, having to hack and slash for each step in progress. James snorted to himself as his foot once again tangled in the undergrowth and he tripped headlong into Jack. He was glad he had made the Navy his life, at least for the most part the only thing you were likely to trip or tangle over were a few drunken deck hands, not this abominable vegetation.
"Sorry." James said to Jack, although his expression and tone showed more aggravation than actually sorry.
"Land's no place fer men such as ourselves Commodore, less it's sittin nice and cozy in a tavern with a fine mug of rum in front of a body…and a strumpet or two of course." Jack replied over his shoulder and then promptly tripped himself almost tripping James as well.
A few yards later they reached the edge of the jungle and Jack smiled a wide glittering smile at the sight of his Pearl floating gently on the waves. They crouched down behind the overgrowth while they surveyed the area and planned their strategy.
"Not more n a handful aboard Commodore. Just need some way of gettin out there unobserved." Jack said, his mind working on the problem at hand.
"We could commandeer the longboats over there," James said pointing about thirty yards down the beach at the boats the treasure hunters had come ashore in, "although there is no manner of cover between us and them."
Jack looked at James with a mock frown and a flop of his hands, "Always with this wantin ta be commandeerin someone else's ship aren't ya Commodore. Seems ta me yer Navy could be providin ya with such and ya wouldn't have ta go around taken them from others."
"Oh please." James answered with a roll of his eyes.
"No Commodore, what we need here is a distraction. Somethin ta be catchin the attention of the men on board me Pearl long enough for us ta scurry aboard and take reoccupation of her." Jack said, still thinking on the matter.
"What kind of distraction would you require?" James said looking off past the Pearl.
"Somethin big Commodore."
"Perhaps the size of a naval ship of the line?" James asked.
"Wouldn't necessarily have ta be that big Commodore, just….." Jack looked at James and then in the direction James was looking to see James' ship blocking the entrance to the cove, and as they looked towards the deck of the Pearl the handful of men aboard were indeed gathered by the rail staring.
"That 'll bout do it Commodore." Jack said as he poked James in the chest a few times before heading for the longboats down the beach. James rolled his eyes, let out a huff, and then followed, the rest of the men following him.
Within several minutes they had launched the boats, rowed to the Pearl, and were climbing aboard. The men stationed there gave up without so much as a raised hand, having turned around to find sharp blades and pistols aimed at them.
"Mr. McNally, take Mr. Rush and Mr. Hollander with you and please be so kind as to escort these men below and lock them up." James said, re-sheathing his sword.
"Aye sir." The man said with a sharp salute.
"Well now Commodore, a fine plan even if neither one of us knew about it aye? I'll have to be sure and give your Mr. Groves there a fine thank you." Jack said as he rocked back on his heels and waved his hands about towards James' face.
"If you please refrain from that Captain, it will only reinforce the idea that I am unable to do without his 'mothering'." James said with a frown.
Mr. McNally returned with a wide eyed look in his eyes, casting glances back over his shoulder at the companionway he had just left. He walked over to James and Jack and stood there with his mouth opening and shutting, not a sound coming out. Mr. Rush and Mr. Hollander followed in much the same shape.
"What is it man?" James asked, wondering what could have caused the men standing before him to become so dumbstruck.
"Sir……below…..down there…." was all the man could stutter as he pointed back from where he had just come, his two companions not even managing to be that helpful.
James was about to demand a more lucid explanation from the men when Jack let out a laugh and said, "I'm havin a thought here Commodore, what say you we go see for ourselves, what say you to that?"
James rolled his eyes and said with a huff, "Very well Captain, it appears we are not going to get more that we have out of these men." Before he left the deck he gave orders to the signal man to inform Mr. Groves the Pearl was in their possession and he should stand by for further orders.
As they came down below deck they were met by the sight of what could only be described as wall to wall treasure. Every available space had been crammed with items of value from chests of coins and jewels to overflowing bags of loose gems to statues made of silver and gold. There was barely even so much as a walkway left.
James stood there in much the same shape his men had been in, although he did have the decorum to clamp his mouth shut rather than stand there gaping like a fish.
Jack, on the other hand, had a smile plastered on his face wide and glittery enough to rival the surrounding treasure.
"Seems me Da has been a bit busy."
"So it would seem." James managed to force out.
There was a hail from the deck then, "Commodore, you probably want to come back topside." Mr. McNally called down to him.
James and Jack both headed back on deck to see Captain Teague and his men swarming out of the jungle. Several men shoving cannons out of the edge of the forest and preparing to load them.
"Prepare to sail." James shouted, "Mr. Hollander, please signal to Mr. Groves we are leaving, he is to situate himself properly in case we need cover fire as we make our escape."
"Commodore, this is my ship, and as such…..." Jack started a bit poutily and was interrupted by James.
"Oh for the gods sake Sparrow." James said with a roll of his eyes. "Very well then, you are on the wheel, will that mollify you for the time being?"
"Oh aye Commodore." Jack said with a smile, "Was already planning on that and was just about to head that way, just so ya know. Not like I'm takin orders from ya or anything here Commodore."
"Perish the thought Captain." James said dryly.
As Jack maneuvered the Pearl out of the cove the cannons on shore let out a barrage barely missing the Pearl. They were answered almost immediately by Mr. Groves.
In the lull between Jack waved his hat about and called out to Captain Teague, "Thank you Captain. Just so ya know we'll be sure and mention yer name a time or two or at least think of ya whilst we are spending that shiny for ya." Then the Pearl, and James' ship as well, were around the headlands and out of sight.
"Well Commodore, what do you plan for your part of the treasure?" Jack said a short time later after everything had returned to a more normal rhythm.
"My part Captain?" James said questioningly.
"I owe ya something for helping me retrieve me girl Commodore." Jack answered with a wave around at his ship and a pat to the wheel.
"You could not possibly begin to comprehend what you 'owe' me Sparrow. What I have put up with out of you over the past months would be impossible to put a price on." James answered snippily.
"Could give it a try Commodore." Jack said with a smile and a flourish of his hand towards the companionway.
"I would not accept ill gotten gains Captain, you of all people should know that." James replied huffily.
"Might be you could rethink yer normally stuffy and stick up the arse Commodore-lyness seein as the ill gotten gains in this case are hundreds of years old, no one about ta claim 'em as it were. Gonna go to somebody, might as well be you Commodore." Jack answered as he flopped his hands about in James' face, punctuating his words with a poke or two to his chest.
"Indeed." James said as he looked at Jack.
Jack made a motion with his hand towards the companionway and even though James rolled his eyes he did start walking with Jack in that direction.
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Teague watched as the Pearl and the Navy ship sailed out of sight. He sat down, opened a bottle of rum and smiled as he saluted the direction the ships had disappeared in.
"Ah Jackie, couldn't have done it better meself. But I'm wonderin here just how ya got the Commodore ta help ya, wasn't countin on that ya know. Oh well no worries, still got plenty o treasure here, barely made a dent in it for sure. And," Teague said as he pulled an envelope out of his inner pocket, "still got this too, more n likely get a pretty penny for it somewhere, no doubt there'd be many would like ta get their hands on it." Teague took a drink of the rum, saluted the horizon, and said, "Till we meet again Jackie, and have no doubt bout that, we will."
The End
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