I made sure to look as apprehensive as I could right after those words, with my worried expression then with any luck convincing those pirates grinning at me that I was desperately trying to come up with something to get myself out of this dire situation. While in actuality, I was inwardly congratulating myself on how things had been going. Now, if I could just stretch it out a bit longer-

"Avast there, me hearties! Hold up, all, I must impart a remark or two, if ye'd be so kind, afore a possible blunder happens!"

Well, it really must be my lucky day. I watched with interest as the big pirate that had brushed past me earlier now made his way through the mob of corsairs good-naturedly standing aside for this man. It wasn't too hard to remember him anyway, what with his peg leg, his crutch, a battered, cheerful face reddened by sun and his exertions, and riding upon that man's shoulder, there was Engelbert the parrot currently giving me a sardonic look, as his owner then halted by the seated Captain Hook, who was thoughtfully eyeing this newcomer.

In a silky voice that practically oozed his concern, the pirate captain inquired, "Only a remark or two, Silver? That's not like you, what with your constant need to express yourself at great length. Are you by perchance suffering from some potentially fatal disease, that'll soon send you to your deathbed, and finally result in a nice, deep grave with a fine marble headstone that I'll be the first to contribute a donation towards?"

Long John Silver beamed at his questioner, and the pirate with a missing leg genially rumbled in answer, "'Tis most grand of ye to bother about me health, yer lordship. But I know ye'll be overjoyed that I'm in the prime of me life, unlike ye with yer bothersome problem involvin' yer lower half. Ye should know that if ye ever ask, I'll be more than happy to give me best advice on exactly what kind of truss ye should strap on in the future, to help yer stay a few steps ahead of that crockydile that lives in fervent hope of munchin' upon yer tasty corpus."

A fascinated crowd of pirates then watched literary legends giving each other polite smiles, over which two pairs of identical cold eyes searched for any newfound vulnerabilities possessed by the other man that each thoroughly detested.

Captain Hook was the first to break off their staring contest, with that suave man able to do so without showing any weakness, as he casually leaned back in his chair, and asked in a bored tone, "Well, just what were you going to say, about our plans for this little perisher who thinks he can stroll in here and rule the roost?" A quick jab of his hook was then made in my general direction, if anybody there actually needed to be reminded of my presence.

Indeed, Silver the pirate then slowly turned his head, to regard me with exaggerated interest for a while, well past the normal interval for this, as if he was playing to the crowd. Which action did in fact prove to be true, as he then contorted his face into a massive wink at me that would've reached all the way to the rearmost stalls in the panto theatre. A hum of curiosity arose from the other pirates paying close attention to all this, as they now watched Silver turn back towards them in their semi-circle, while the man opened his mouth to sonorously deliver his words.

"Gentlemen, I salute ye all for hewin' to the finest traditions of piracy, brigandage, and general snafflin' of whatever our victims hold dearest, but it's with me deepest regrets that I must inform yer honors that this young laddie's punishment, should he fail in his chosen task, was never, ever actually carried out by any livin' pirate in the real world. Sad to say, walkin' the plank was somethin' that was made up by some unknown author most likely bearin' the classic name of Anonymous, and carried onto this day only by those imagined pirates of yore that have populated the world of literature. Consider that carefully, me hearties."

As Silver finished speaking, that pirate looked expectantly at the crowd of buccaneers that had then started an astonished rumble of conversation with their fellows, discussing among themselves the surprising news that they'd just learned from the man with the peg leg. Did this mean I had to be let go, whatever happened, since that form of execution for someone strolling off a piece of timber attached to a sailing ship into the jaws of the waiting sharks below in the briny ocean was a total fabrication? Or-

At that moment, a throat was languidly cleared, but still done with enough force to immediately halt the debate. All eyes were then drawn by that sound towards Captain Hook, who was idly rubbing his dangerous prosthetic against the front of his coat, with that man then putting down his arm on his upper thigh, as he intently examined Silver standing there. Next, the seated master mariner slowly twisted in his chair to look around at those surrounding him, continuing his absorbed inspection of every single pirate present in the semi-circle.

While James Hook was performing his odd behavior, I sneaked a look at where Silver was, only to witness a quick expression of pained disappointment flash across his battered face, as that one-legged pirate evidently realized something that I'd missed. It wasn't until the captain in his chair was nearly finished in his scrutiny of those other corsairs, that I finally got it, too.

Barrie, Defoe, Ballantyne, Masefield, Marryat, Sabatini, Stevenson, Fraser, Powers…

Sure enough, when Captain Hook at last straightened in his chair after ending his inspection, that pirate bestowed a wide, triumphant smile upon his rival, as someone, who'd just confirmed to himself that virtually every pirate there, himself included, was a fictitious character that had long ago been invented in someone's imagination, now gloated, "So, Silver, what was your point again?"

A rumbling growl came from the redder-faced pirate, as Silver drew himself up in a serious huff, causing Englebert to flutter his wings to keep his balance. His owner ignored the parrot on his shoulder, to instead glare at the smirking captain in his chair, as that seated worthy expectantly waited to see how his adversary would respond to that. The other pirates continued to closely watch them both, with all of that audience absolutely enthralled by this truly wonderful show they wouldn't have missed for all the gold doubloons in the world.

After a few more moments of staring angrily at another man thoroughly enjoying his victory, Silver's face abruptly smoothed from antagonism into actual consideration. Seeing this, Hook's features also became more wary, sensing his opponent was about to try something else. Sure enough, the peg-leg pirate firmly nodded to himself as he clearly came to a decision, to send towards a suddenly-suspicious captain a confident smile, as Silver then abruptly stumped over towards me.

I stood there frozen in surprise, as the older man came up and then moved over to my left side, as with a dramatic flourish, he wheeled around on his peg leg, bringing down his crutch with a crash onto the ground, and as I twisted my head to see from my right eye, Silver then brought up his right arm, to next unexpectedly clap his massive hand down upon my left shoulder and leaving it there, causing me to stagger on my feet at this out-of-the-blue action by that pirate. Particularly when a sea-cook's voice that had easily roared over full gales now blasted into my left ear.

"SEE HERE, YE SWABS, I'LL BE THIS LADDIE'S ADVOCATE IN HIS BECOMIN' THE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

Captain Hook suddenly sat up straight in his chair, his face twisting into baffled fury, as the other pirates now whooped in glee, shouted in protest, or otherwise expressed their decorous opinions at the tops of their own lungs. Under the cover of this noise, I looked into the steady gaze of Silver at arm's length as he unblinkingly regarded me, while I hissed right into his face, "What the hell are you doing? I didn't ask you for any-!"

"Shut yer gob, boyo!" growled back Silver, who now had a determined glint in his eyes. "I been talkin' meself out of tight corners me whole life, and it's fortunate for ye that I can't stand that pooftah over there with his lah-de-dah hook! We got it in our village agreement that any true Brethen of the Coast can argue for those who face pirate judgment, so just let me be about me task!"

I would have protested further, except for two things. One, Engelbert was sniggering really loudly about my predicament, and second, the small charm on my necklace under my shirt had now started to continually vibrate.