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Challenge: Treasure
June 8, 2005

By Arwen Lune
June 9, 2005

~ Stuns'ls ~

The wind lightened until even running before the wind they were barely making three knots, and Captain Jack Sparrow gave the windvane high in the mast a disgruntled
glance. This was dissatisfying. The Pearl was made to lean with the wind, to clip along briskly - not wallow about like a dead whale.

"Anamaria, can we set stuns'ls?"

She went off to speak with the sailmaker and returned a moment later.

"We have a full set. Shall I get the men started?"

Soon two of the topmen perched on the end of the yards like strange birds, fastening the stuns'l booms to lengthen the span. The booms were fitted with sheets. Another man brought up the light canvas sails, darker than the others, for they had not been bleached by sun and salt as the regular sails. Together they rigged in the stuns'l, and then on their signal two men below gently pulled the sheets until all was set.

When they were done the Pearl resembled a great bird that had spread its wings. "Five knots!" called Gibbs, and Jack glowed as if he'd just found a box full of gold.

By Lorraine
June 9, 2005

~ Dreams of Treasure ~

Jack was dreaming a strange dream. Well, all his dreams were strange but this one was stranger than most. He was on the Pearl as all his dreams started but this time Will and Elizabeth were there too. Will had a sword in one hand and the other arm around Elizabeth. Elizabeth clutched a burning brand in her hand and was chasing Gibbs around the deck trying to set fire to his silver rum flask. All three were laughing. Barbossa was there as well, standing on the foredeck looking pleased and juggling apples. He kept taking bites of the apples as they flew past his mouth. He smiled between bites and Jack could see the juice run down his face. Then he turned
around and found Norrington standing on the quarterdeck clutching his wig in one hand and what was apparently an apple pie in the other. He smiled at Jack with a pie-stained mouth and lifted the pie as if to toast Jack. Jack saluted him and ventured up to the wheel. He held onto the spokes with all his strength and remembered that this
part, finally after ten years, would not disappear when he woke.

By Jenthegypsy
June 10, 2005

~ Pirate Treasure ~

She had seen him like this only twice before. The first time had been on the island, where he had reluctantly admitted that the stories of his previous tribulations on the same spit of land had been greatly exaggerated. The second had been in the caverns, as the single shot that he had carried for 10 years finally found its mark in the heart of Hector Barbossa.

Gone were the maniacally waving hands, the exaggerated fey swagger, the raised brow and annoying little smirk. His body was still; his eyes were focused.

Focused on her.

Waiting for her answer.

By Felaine
June 12, 2005

~ A Grand Treasure ~
From the personal log of Jack Sparrow, before the mast.

I'm a man with a wide tolerance for the peculiarities of others; truth to tell I've a few of me own. But a married pirate's an unnatural thing, like a fish wi' fur.

Never woulda found out if he hadn't made me mad. "Quit mollycoddling me!" I yelled at him. "Tis but a scratch and I'm not your son, don't ye know?"

"I know the difference, ye stubborn whelp. I already have a. . . "

Fair floored me wi' that, he did; I wheedled the tale outa him whilst he dressed me arm. He's never seen the boy but loves him fierce. Sends home what blunt he can, which ain't much.

"Someday you'll see 'im, Bill," I says. "I'll find us a grand treasure and we'll be wealthy nobs."

He was quiet for a long time. "I already found a grand treasure. I just need some way to get it back. Go to sleep now, lad."

Strange. It doesn't fuss me as much lately, when he calls me lad.

By Geek Mama
June 13, 2005

~ Lost Treasure ~

There was an audible gasp from behind him as he let the crown slip from his fingers. It didn't make much of a splash. Surprisingly numb, he watched it as it faded, falling into transparent black, turning and winking where the moonlight penetrated, ghostly silver fingers on buttery gold and colorful cut gems.

Gone. Then, a second later, a final glimmer from the depths.

Then gone, indeed.

Behind him, Elizabeth found her voice. "Jack! Why?"

He raised his eyes. Past stone and rippling silver water, to where the great ship lay anchored, waiting.

"Burial at sea, Miss Swann."

By Lorraine
June 13, 2005

~ A Golden Hoard ~

"Mr. Groves, where in blazes is your colleague?"

"Where he always goes as soon as we dock. Sir."

"Damn him and his delicate French sensibilities." Norrington stalked down the road to town.

He found his quarry as expected. "Mr. Gillette, I do not believe you were dismissed."

"Commodore, have compassion. It's been a month of weevilly, moldy hardtack. How could I wait another moment?" He waved his half-eaten baguette at the contents of the bakery.

"None of the other officers felt the need to desert the ship immediately upon arrival."

"Of course not, sir. You're all English. You wouldn't understand."

By Corrielle
June 13, 2005

~ Passed Over ~

The elite of Port Royal were not quite sure what to make of Elizabeth Swann’s wedding. Apart from the obvious disparity between the bride and groom’s social situations, and the fact that the man most everyone had expected to marry Miss Swann had instead sat through the ceremony in the front pew of the church with a half-sad smile on his face, there were a number of other strange happenings. For instance, a ruby the size of a cat’s eye strung on a silver chain arrived by way of a none-too-respectable looking sailor at the beginning of the reception in the Governor’s garden. The seaman insisted on putting the gem in Elizabeth’s hands himself, calling
it ‘a wedding gift from a mutual friend.’ Instead of being horrified, as most of the guests were, Elizabeth smiled and had her new husband fasten the chain around her neck.

All of this culminated in an uncomfortable silence around the new couple. The ladies were unsure of whether congratulations were in order to a bride who had married so far beneath her, and the gentlemen were glad to follow the lead of their wives and daughters, not being sure at all of what to say to the young man who had shod their horses, repaired their iron gratings, and was now wed to the Governor’s daughter.

Elizabeth kept her chin high and her eyes forward, but even she eventually began to be affected by the stony silence, and she knew Will wasn’t doing any better. She could sense his discomfort keenly, and his grip on her hand tightened by the second.

Just a while longer, my love, and this will be over. After all, we’ve survived worse, she thought, and was about to say as much to him when James Norrington, resplendent in his naval uniform, approached Elizabeth and said to her in a clear, strong voice, “Allow me to be one of the first to congratulate you on your marriage. I wish you both all the happiness in the world.”

Things were easier after that. Having seen one of Port Royal’s finest sons speak to the Turners so freely, the wedding guests warmed to them considerably. Elizabeth cast a grateful glance in James’ direction and he acknowledged her with a slight nod and a gentle smile before returning to his conversation with one of her many visiting relatives. Surprise briefly shadowed Elizabeth’s face as, for a moment, she caught a glimpse of the treasure she had passed over.

By Erinya
June 14, 2005

~ Geas ~

The gold called to them.

That day and into the evening the call had buffeted them with the wind of an unholy storm. It filled the Pearl’s black sails and pulled at her timbers until she creaked and moaned and whispered, but whether she cried out in torment or in joy none of them could say. Neither could they say how they felt under the geäs that drew them, for it tore at them, and yet they treasured it; it was all they felt now, all they had felt for many years. This lust. This greed. This hunger...

It was in their blood; nay, it went deeper than blood, deep into their bones, to the very marrow.

All else was shadows. They saw clearly only under the cruel moon, had long forgotten the brilliance of sunlight on the water, all scents but rot, all flavors besides dust. And the sensation always on their palms was the crawling, ravenous touch of the gold.

None of the cursed pretended to sleep, anymore, for the call wound always through their dreams, and stole away their rest with sly promises of life withheld. Pintel had dreamed thus, the night they weighed anchor from Isle de Muerta ten long years ago, as the raucous sounds of celebration filtered down from the Black Pearl’s deck. In his dream, he’d held one of the pieces in his hand and watched it soften, and melt, and sink into his skin like poison into sand. He’d woken to the panicked screams and shouts of the crew, as moonlight crept down the hatchway and laid cold fingers on his soul.

Now they perceived the lass but dimly, a shade among shades. But the gold at her breast, aye, that they saw, a great beacon pulsing slightly like a beating heart, another thing she had that they did not.

The last piece, it was, and they all knew it; the only bright thing in their world, and a treasure more than silver, gold or jewels.

It meant freedom, and their darkness finally ended.

By Hendercats
June 15, 2005

~ Red Handed ~

Steady now; quiet ... tread softly, softly.

It wouldn't do to alarm the quarry before he could be apprehended. Therefore, the pursuer must emulate the pursued and cloak himself in stealth.

Fortuitously, the terrain itself offers assistance when the thief slips into a blind alleyway to admire his pilfered treasure. Victory at hand, I step from the shadows.

"You've nowhere to go, you pirate; submit!"

"What? You!"

"Yes, me. I've finally caught you. Mrs. Laramie made those cherry tarts for the whole family, not just you."

"Jamie, you're so hidebound. Can't you let your own brother have a bit of fun?"

~.~

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