Episode 10 - The Capture of Iguana Jack: Part One
Greenbeard, Excaliber, and Captain Green Eye stood in the town square. Over thirty townsfolk and local pirates were gathered together with arms aloft as hoards of marines looked on.
"Some 'o tha locals informed me that most 'o Iggy's crew spent tha night ashore. I reckon's that Git wus one 'o 'em" explained Excaliber.
Greenbeard stepped forth and glanced towards the many irate faces before him, "RIGHT PEOPLE, I APOLOGISES FER DISTURBING YER MORNING NAP, BUT WE'RE 'ERE FER ONE THING - AND ONE THING ONLY" he called.
"YER A DEAD MAN, MISTER!" replied a voice from within the crowd.
"AYE, ARRR, ARRR..." came a chorus of agreement from the disgruntled people.
"SILENCE!" screamed Green Eye as he stood beside his cousin and drew his sword.
Greenbeard moved closer to the gathering. "I SHALL COMPENSATE ALL THE INNOCENT PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN THIS LIL' MELEE - PROVIDED YEW HANDS OVER THA YELLER BLAGGARD, IGUANA JACK" he shouted.
"GO TA 'ELL!" came the reply from another voice in the crowd.
Just then, Governor Jon approached. He was escorted by two of Excaliber's men, "I hope yew bunch 'o silly swabs realise just what yee've done!" warned the Governor.
Greenbeard turned to face the irate official, "Arrr, Governor. A quiet word with thee if'n ye don't mind" he said, as he motioned the two escorting marines to usher Jon into the nearby tavern.
Green Eye and Excaliber continued to walk the line of prisoners, "That Iggy Git is here. I can smell his fowl stench..." mumbled Green Eye to his mate.
Inside the tavern, a few of Excaliber's marines where clearing up the mess.
"Leave that be fer now - go outside 'n 'elp tha others locate Iguana Jack" ordered Greenbeard as he led Governor Jon to a table.
"So that's why yer here!" proclaimed Jon, "Ye be wantin' ta get yer scurvy hands on Iguana Jack, eh?" he said, with a frown.
Meanwhile, fifty miles east of Margarita...
Captain Cognito's lookout was scanning the horizon when he spotted some smoke in the distance.
"Sir! It's a French Brig. She's burning in the water!" he called.
Coggy headed for the Bridge. Peering through his spyglass, he could see the ship listing badly to her starboard side. Several dead sailors could be seen drifting around the stricken vessel. "Let's get over thar before she sinks. I's wantin' ta know what happened." he said.
Back in Tortuga, Greenbeard and Governor Jon where having a heated discussion.
"Look Gov, I's more'n willin' ta repay yer fine folks fer tha trouble we caused this very morning. But like I said, yee've gotta hand over tha swab I'm lookin' fer first." explained the irritated Greenbeard.
"And I've told ye - NO DEAL!" replied an equally irritated Governor.
"Why is ye bein' so difficult? Surely Iguana Jack don't mean that much to ye?" countered Greenbeard.
"Iggy don't mean a thing ta me. In fact - tha swine is nottin' but an Alliance Git as far as I'm concerned." replied Jon, before adding, "But this here be Tortuga, and ANY pirate that visits this fair town is safe in the knowledge that it be a welcome haven fer him"
Greenbeard's frustration grew but he remained silent.
Governor Jon stood up and leaned over the table, "My dear foolhardy Greenbeard. Yew and yer motley bunch have just signed yer own death warrants by commin' 'ere 'n attackin' this place. Thar aint a place in 'ell that can hide yer sorry hides now!"
And with that, Jon stormed out of the tavern.
Greenbeard remained seated at the table. For a moment a worried look came across his face.
Back outside, Green Eye and Excaliber had ordered the marines to stand down and release the prisoners.
Governor Jon approached, "I see at least yew two silly sods have some common sense" he said, as he watched the people of Tortuga slowly and reluctantly disperse and head back to their dwellings, "Alas, it aint gonna save ye from the bounty hunters!" he added, sarcastically.
"It just so 'appens we got what we came fer, Mr Gov'nor!" replied Excaliber as he and Green Eye escorted two angry looking men away from the town square.
Greenbeard emerged from the tavern, but the worried look on his face soon changed to one of glee on recognising the familiar face of his foe - Iguana Jack!
Twenty minutes later...
Green Eye stood talking to his cousin on the dockside, "Mate, tis a good job that these friggin' townsfolk aint as loyal as the Governor would like ta think!" he said as he gleefully watched his two prisoners get shoved into the open launch.
"They wus more 'n willin' ta point them two swabs out to me when I offered a fair bounty" he laughed.
"So who's tha other swab with him?" asked Greenbeard as he nodded to Iggy's companion.
"He be a Cap'n Mako. I aint never heard 'o him, but it turns out tha Git be one 'o Iggy's best mates" replied Green Eye.
Greenbeard walked over to the edge of the dock and called down into the rowboat.
Iguana Jack and Captain Mako had their hands bound together, and a gag tightly wrapped around their faces.
"HEY IGGY, TIS A BITCH WHEN THA HUNTER BECOMES THA HUNTED!" he called, as he goaded his long time enemy.
Back off Margarita...
By now, the Grim Reaper and Baron Boat had dropped anchor and were stationary off the stricken French ship. A group of Cogs men accompanied the two Captains in a rowboat as they cautiously approached the burning wreck.
"Let's get aboard her. See if'n thar's anything worth lootin' before she sinks" remarked Coggy.
The rowboat pulled alongside the ship and the pirates gingerly made their way aboard - trying to avoid the burning embers.
"Cog, we shouldn't stay 'ere too long. Whoever did this could still be in tha area." said Moose cautiously, as the two Captains climbed aboard.
"Agreed mate. Besides this bugger could blow up at any minute if'n tha magazine catches fire!" smiled Cog as the adrenaline began to flow in each man.
The entire deck was littered with the bodies of the slain crew, but towards the Bridge, a groaning sound could be heard coming from a pile of smouldering canvass.
Coggy and Moose carefully lifted the debris up as a couple of pirates looked on with swords at the ready.
"'Elllp me! Elp..." groaned the poor swab.
On removing the canvass, Cog noticed the bloodied body of a wounded officer, "Well well well, who tha 'ell do we have 'ere then?" he asked.
Within the hour, the pirate boarding party had finished searching the ship and had returned to the Grim Reaper, disappointed at not finding any loot.
"That ship has been totally ransacked. All tha crew slaughtered - cept this poor swine" explained Cog, as he pointed to the wounded French Captain being carried down to the surgeons cabin.
"Aye, whoever hit that ship done a darn good job." added Moose.
"So did 'e have anything ta sey?" asked NavyRum as he watched the Frenchman disappear below deck.
"Naw, tha poor Git is delirious. He just said his name was Creed, Captain Creed" replied Coggy.
Davey Jones stepped forward with a curious look on his face, "Creed, ye say?" he remarked, before heading below deck.