As they rested in the bowels of the galleon, the gentle swaying of the moored ship and the waning adrenaline in their systems would have made it difficult to stay awake.  The soft sounds of waves lapping the exterior of the hull, repetitive and quiet, was the perfect white noise to drown out any thoughts racing through Joanna's mind.  How could she know who the ship belonged to, or that it would not still be at dock by sunrise?<br/><br/>Per the fastidious captain's orders, the ship's crew had drunk and danced and sung the civilian populous at the nearest dockside bar into a tizzy, until the pirates were indistinguishable from the local rabble.  In the pursuant cacophony, the scalawags skulked away, in the cover of night, slipping their tails and returning to the ship, where preparations were already underway.  The captain had supplies brought out to the pier and each man loaded their strong backs with sacks and crates, hauling the loot aboard.  When it had been settled on the deck, they cast off, the ship sliding out of the port under sail.  By the time they were out of port and into the choppier waves of the sea, the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, and it was light enough for the crew to begin stowing their cargo below decks.<br/><br/>This, unfortunately, brought a handful of the pirates into the bowels of the ship, down to the lower decks to stow some fruit and bread.  One of the pirates, the larger one with a black beard, caught a flicker of movement in his lantern, moving in closer to inspect, and spotting the girls immediately.  "Hello, what 'ave we here?" he quipped, a teasing smirk widening into a predatory grin.  "Got us a pair o' stowaways, oi?"  His voice grated like the creaking of pine boards, a wicked and cruel sound.  "Wonder wot th' cap'n t'will say about that?"<br/><br/>He lunged forward, grabbing Emily by the shoe and taking a swift kick to the face.  Shaking off the impact, he laughed jovially as if injured in sport, and lunging further to grab her by the wrist.  To other pirates flanked the girls from the sides, subduing them in moments and dragging them up the stairs to the higher decks and ultimately onto the half-deck, into the blinding light of the morning sun.  No land was visible on the horizon in any direction.  There was nowhere to run.<br/><br/>"Boss!" the false-captain cried out.  "We got us a pair'a girls on board!  Musta thought they'd found a safe place t'sleep the night away."<br/><br/>The captain, clad in simple dark clothes and a black jacket, stood on the upper deck, turning immediately to survey what was causing the spectacle.  Sure enough, the crew was circling the girls, partially to prevent escape, but also out of curiosity.  Lascivious glances were stolen, the men inspecting them with acute interest.  Women were something of a commodity in the seafarers life -- one which did not present itself often, let alone in pairs.<br/><br/>"Shapely ones, they!" one of the crew barked.  "I can think of a few good uses for a little thing like that!" another one commented through an audible sneer.  "I'd never need to take shore leave again," another mused.<br/><br/>"Enough," the captain said simply, boot clunking down the stairs into the half-deck.  The mere word seemed to be enough to quiet the commentary.  It was clear that they obeyed him.  Whether it was out of fear or respect remained to be seen.<br/><br/>He eyed down the two girls.  His gaze didn't hold the same perverse interest of his crewmates, but the disdain on his lips didn't seem much more favorable given the circumstances.  It was clear that, to him, they were not bodies to be ravaged or used.  They were mouths to feed, distractions to his men, a liability.<br/><br/>Not knowing exactly what to do with them, he took a deep breath, exhaling in frustration and crossing his arms over his chest.  "Before we throw you both overboard, perhaps you should explain yourselves," he commented, an airy, more educated accent in his voice.  "What are you doing on my ship?"