Cortes - Self Defence

"Aim!" the commodore shouted as his men cocked their rifles.

Jack saw what was coming. He raised an eyebrow, then gasped and ducked below the Grand Barnacle's railing for cover.

"Fire!"A series of huge explosions rattled the Grand Barnacle.

Smoke filled the air as a barrage of rifle fire hit the broadside of Jack's ship. Jack peeked over the balustrade cautiously. All he could see were plumes of white smoke flashing a fiery orange at irregular blast intervals. Then he realized the blasts weren't only coming from the naval ship, but from the Grand Barnacle returning fire as well. The Sword was glowing again. It must have been causing the Grand Barnacle to fire on the adjoining warship. The navy ship had moved closer now, close enough for the officers to stage their attack and board Jack's vessel. Jack looked up and saw navy crewmen swinging from their ship onto the Grand Barnacle. In a panic, Jack grabbed the Sword and pointed it toward the men. Midway through the air, the men were transformed by a blinding flash. Instead of men, small octopuses and starfish now clung to the lines. They hung there a moment before tumbling into the sea.

"Oh, boy," Jack said worriedly.

Shrouded in smoke, the naval officers on the ship could not see what had happened to their seamen. And so they continued the battle, firing off cannons, rifles, and anything else they could find. Jack could hear screams and hollers, and he knew that whatever was happening was not good at all. Suddenly there was a tremendous sound, like an entire forest of trees falling before thousands of axes. Then a great plume of smoke rose over the deck. Jack felt the cannons blast below him. He struggled to steady himself as the jolts rattled the deck. A painful ripping sound resounded over the ocean, accompanied by screams and moans. This awful noise was followed by silence. Jack slowly crawled to the prow and peered over. The thick smoke was beginning to dissipate. Jack found it difficult to breathe. He couldn't stop coughing for the gunpowder that hung in the air around him. But the sea breezes soon carried the smoke away, revealing a horrifying sight. All that was left of the navy ship was splintered timber and some remnants of the sails in the water before him.

"No," Jack cried. "No, no, no! This can't be happening!"

Jack waved the Sword frantically toward the area where the navy ship had been, trying to raise it from the depths. But nothing happened. He stared in disbelief as splintered planks bobbed on the waves. But it was no use. The ship had gone to Davy Jones's locker. Stunned, Jack held his head in his hands for a moment. Then, he quickly jumped up. In a furious panic, he began to race around the Grand Barnacle, examining it for damage. The ship had been rocked by explosions during the battle. But as Jack surveyed the ship, he didn't find a gash, a dent, or even a scratch on it. The Sword had protected the Grand Barnacle, and Jack with it.

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The Sword of Cortes, Chapter 5