That doesn’t sound good. Livi launched herself at the nearest Marauder, but they were ready for her. As she chomped for the man’s neck, his mates grabbed her by the arms and legs. Within seconds she was tied hand and foot on the ground next to Nash, who resisted weakly when they bound him as well. Ahab and Srenners were tied up and placed alongside them. Nine dead Pirates were laid flat and a cent was placed over each of their closed eyes.
At least they weren’t shouting. Again, the only sound came from the growing chorus of coquís and the tiny bright sound of Nash’s metal eye when he blinked it. There was no sign of Ranger Robles anywhere.
Captain Jack loomed over his captives, rubbing his neck. Blood still trickled from the pair of puncture wounds. Grayish light reflected off the shimmery blood, but the wound was not deep enough for him to bleed out. Livi had missed his major vessels, if only by chance.
“Aren’t ye going to say, ‘But ye gave us yer word?’” asked the captain.
“Why waste my breath?” answered Livi.
“Indeed,” replied Captain Jack. “Ye fought bravely. I’d sooner sink a conquered ship than make a fine pair such as yerselves walk the plank. Before today I thought I could no bleed. But ye’ve heard the Sound Storm, and that be a secret we’ll no have others privy to.”
“Figging secrets,” muttered Livi.
“Aye, flamin’ secrets,” agreed Jack Tar. He leaned close to speak conspiratorially with Livi and Nash. “On second thought, I feel diff’rent about you two. I think perchance the three of us can keep this secret …” He rose and shouted to his men, “As long as two of us be dead!” He roared with laughter, and the rest of the Pirates joined in. “On yer feet then, ye bilge rats. No sense dyin’ in the dirt like dogs.”
Dusk arrived in earnest as the Marauders helped the four captives stand.
“Of course, only three of you need die today,” said Jack Tar. “We wouldn’t waste such a saucy morsel before she’s used up.” He eyeballed Livi suggestively.
Anger boiled through her veins, but she didn’t fight against the bonds. Let them think she was beaten, docile. When they gave her an inch of space, she would rip each and every one of their throats out. She would drain the lot of them dry. She didn’t let herself think about what they would try to do to her in the meantime.
A Marauder remained next to Nash to help him stay on his feet. Even though his legs were unsteady, Nash stayed upright. Livi wondered how long it would be until blood loss caused him to go unconscious again.
Why didn’t I run when I had the chance? I never should have trusted. Not Pirates, not anyone.
She might never have another chance to make that mistake again.
9
A Light in the Darkness
<< “It be honest truth that we Pirates do lack the ability to fear. The coxswain in the brain that do steer fear in landlubbers, the amygdala, do no function in we Pirates.
Like cursed gold, it be both a boon and a blight, for sometimes a touch of fear do be a good thing.”
- Captain Charlotte de Berry to a new member of her crew>>
Livi always knew drumbeats and chirping coquís would accompany her death. Right now was starting to sound like a good time for it to happen since she didn’t relish the idea of being a plaything of the twelve Marauders who had survived their fight.
Just like when Vitória died, the coquís would live on. This was their island after all. Livi had never really planned to be anything more than a transient visitor.
Four Pirates lined up in front of them, each holding a sword. The one in front of Livi, a short man with a scraggly beard, kept his sword at his side. She searched his hazel eyes and found no sign of pity. If anything, there was a bit of a leer in his gaze.
The other three were raised, ready to execute their bound prisoners. Nash faced them without speaking. His eyes seemed clearer, and she hoped his silence meant that he was coming up with a plan.
Livi considered appealing to the female Marauder, but it wasn’t worth her breath. The bitch knew exactly what fate she was leaving Livi to.
One coquí in the distance, somewhere around the bend in the road in the direction of Krete, whistled much louder than the rest. How did no one else notice that, even with their common ears? It was the loudest she’d ever heard, and it was totally separate from the painful ringing in her ears left by the absence of the Sound Storm. When she turned to stare up the road, the Marauders did the same.
An old man, simply dressed and whistling like a coquí, approached along the dim road. With the exception of the three executioners and Livi’s guard, the Marauders began to cluster together, but still appeared calm. They could’ve been gathered for a business meeting, not for murder and plunder.
Livi recognized the traveler. It was Adam, the former Puerto Rican, first man to immigrate after the nuclear abatement. He held no official authority, but was considered a great ambassador despite never leaving the island. Their carriage must have blown right by him. If he was on the side of the road she had been blocking with her parasol, they never would have seen him.
One of the Marauders produced a spyglass to see who the figure was, then watched as Adam continued toward them at his lumbering pace. In a whisper that Livi easily heard, he said, “Cap’n. It do be Adam. We can’t pillage Adam.”
“I know that, ye scurvy dog,” whispered Jack Tar. “Give Adam quarter, then we’ll see to these landlubbers.”
Livi grinned. They’d just given her a way out of the situation. Hopefully Nash could follow along. While they all waited for Adam to approach, she scanned the horizon for Robles. If the evil Ranger really had something to do with the Marauders appearing, she would certainly be nearby watching the fallout. Livi didn’t see her anywhere and assumed she had found a quiet spot in the copious shadows to enjoy the show.
As soon as Adam was within shouting distance, Livi called to him. “You must have been in the trees when we passed, Adam.” She let him get a little closer then added, “We were going to meet you at the gate, but as you can see, we’ve been waylaid.”
Without making it obvious, she looked at Jack Tar to gauge his reaction. Faint worry lines creased his forehead, but he remained silent, slightly tilting his head as he watched Adam leave the road and angle toward them through the grass.
It took a lot of guts, even for someone beloved and respected like Adam to walk up to so many Pirates, nearly half of them with swords drawn.
“How unfortunate,” said Adam to Livi. He took a moment to take in the four prisoners and the Marauders facing them. “It seems uncommon on Hollow Island at times, but I’ve always tried to follow the teaching of the Good Book to love one another.”
“We do love them, Adam,” said Jack Tar. “We love the gold in their purses and the … sauce in their morsels.”
While the crew laughed at the comment, Livi leaned to her right and whispered, “Negotiate, Nash. Hurry.” Using a man’s name was a sure way to get him to do what you wanted. Even if it was for his own good.
“Captain, I propose an arrangement, now that our full crew is here.” Nash’s face went green, and his eyes bulged like he was trying to keep from throwing up. All trace of grogginess was gone from his face. Had he been faking semi-consciousness?
Jack Tar didn’t meet Nash’s eye. “Adam, do these mangy cockroaches be part of yer crew?”
Say ‘yes’, Adam. Or we’re fish food.
After a quick glance at Nash and Livi, Adam said, “Yes, Captain. I stepped into the trees to relieve myself then saw their carriage coming. But the flow of an old man is not the flow of a young man, you can’t quibble with the dribble after all, and the carriage went before I did.” He had a grandfatherly look to him, with his kind eyes, salt and pepper hair. Now that she looked closely, his dark tan skin and brown eyes were the same shade as her own avô. The silly wordplay sounded just like him as well.
Homesickness washed over her, and she wondered how much of it was the plight she was in and how much was due to needing
this grandfatherly man to come to her rescue right now.
“Hmm,” said Captain Jack, studying Adam, Livi, and Nash.
She was glad it was Adam who had fleshed out her story. Nash was a horrible liar and if he’d tried to get them out of it, they’d be dead already.
The captain leveled his gaze on Nash and Livi. “Why did ye no mention Adam earlier?”
Livi said, “We would have if you weren’t trying to shout the skin off our faces.”
“You didn’t give us much chance to talk,” said Nash. The green tint deepened on Nash’s face, and she wondered if he was going to puke. Maybe the Pirates had given him a concussion. It would be worth losing ground in the negotiations to see him projectile vomit all over the execution squad.
Jack Tar grunted and turned to Adam. “I no did expect you to associate with someone like her.”
Adam nodded. “I may be small and simple, but I’m still the father of Hollow Island. Even God uses the weak things of the world from time to time.”
Nash spoke up, “Captain, I have a proposal. I propose you release us. And I propose you pay us damages for the coach and injuries.”
Not exactly the kind of negotiation Livi expected, but she had to give him credit for his confidence. “Stop saying ‘propose’,” she whispered. “Is that your favorite word or something?”
Captain Jack’s face turned red and he drew a sword and shook it in Nash’s face. “Ye landlubbin’ maggot nest! I’ll keel haul you twice for yer insolence!” He drew his other sword.
Livi could tell Captain Jack’s hands were tied as surely as his prisoners’ were. If he had any leeway, Nash would be standing there without a head on his shoulders. For whatever reason, Adam warranted free passage from the Marauders, and somehow that extended to his crew.
Muttering something unintelligible, Jack Tar shoved his cutlasses into belt loops and said, “We might be persuaded to settle, you swaggering deck swabber. There did be the offer of gold. Make it to me liking, me boy. Release them,” he ordered the other Pirates. “I’ll no parlay with scurvy prisoners on the plank.”
As his men moved to untie the ropes, Nash said, “Simply help us repair the damage to the carriage and we’ll be on our way.”
Jack Tar exploded toward Nash, yelling in his face. “I’ll hang from the yardarm by the danglers before I pay a brass mil to a filthy bag o’ scum such as yerself!” Spittle flew with every word. “Gold flows from landlubbers to Pirates, and no the other way!” He stepped back far enough to wipe his mouth with his sleeve. “Now shut your bung about any restitution. It’s you who’ll be paying us today. Your coffer, there. How much gold be inside?”
Acting every bit like the leader of the group, Nash didn’t even glance at Livi or Adam, who were both standing silently and watching. After loosing the cord of his pouch, Nash weighed it in his hand, but didn’t speak.
“Yer horses do be rightly ours. But there do be a chance to keep yer gold if ye be a wagerin’ man.”
“What do you propose?” asked Nash, giving Livi a short, challenging look.
Adam chuckled lightly.
“If I can tell ye how much gold be in yer coffer, you hand it over, along with the strumpet’s purse.” Captain Jack glanced at Livi.
What happened to all the talk about worthy opponents? wondered Livi. She suspected a trick, but they appeared to be closer to getting out with their lives, so she didn’t interrupt the negotiation.
“What margin of error?” asked Nash.
“Within two cents,” said Captain Jack. “I no can be bothered with summing mils.”
Nash nodded. “Fair enough, but you can’t touch it. And if you’re wrong, you pay us the amount in my bag.”
Jack Tar’s face went hard again at the offer, but he forced a smile and said, “Aye, but ye’ll hold it up for me to inspect without touching.”
“Deal,” said Nash, stepping forward and offering to shake hands.
“You and me be buckos by now, Nash. Let’s no fool ourselves with gestures, as ye already know I can only be trusted to be untrustworthy.”
Nash let his hand fall and stepped back next to Livi.
“It’s a cold-hearted man who leaves another man hanging,” said Livi, giving him a light poke in the ribs. “Almost as cold-hearted as gambling with someone else’s money. The pittance you carry is no loss, but if they take my purse…” But the captain would never guess. There was no reason a newie Ranger would carry more than a few kilos, and Nash probably had over fifty in there. Livi, however, never travelled with less than ten gigs, and she now carried nearly twice that much to the Cold side.
“What say ye, boys?” asked the Booty Master, stepping forward.
“Yar!”
There was definitely something fishy going on. She got a sinking feeling that the Pirates were going to be riding off with a lot of money tonight.
Nash held his coinpurse in the air in front of him. As if looking through the leather of the pouch, the captain silently moved his lips as he walked around Nash once, twice. Nash switched arms as the captain made a third lap.
“Fetch the lass’s purse,” he said to the nearest Marauder. The young man started walking toward the coach and Captain Jack snapped, “Show a leg, knave!” The man ran to the coach and quickly returned with Livi’s purse.
The Booty Master’s eyes lit up when he saw the fine black leather. “Ah, the motherlode.” All the Pirates goggled as if the presence of the gold made them tingle. The purse wasn’t large, but all the coins inside were gigs. There was no way the Pirates should be able to tell what type of coins her pouch held, but their reaction confirmed what Livi had suspected about a trick. Even by her standards, it was a lot to lose.
Livi let a few choice words roll from her mouth
“Nash, me boy, your coffers do hold four gigs, eighteen kilos, and twenty-two cents.”
Livi felt some hope. There was no way Nash had that much money. Only an idiot would guess that high.
For some reason Nash’s jaw dropped. “How did you…? That’s impossible.”
“Ye be on Hollow Island, lad. Nothin’ be impossible.” Captain Jack held his hand under the coinpurse and Nash let it fall. It definitely sounded like four gigs when it clanked into the Pirate’s hand. “Now let’s see what the lass do contribute to the Calico Crew.” He held up his hand and his crewman tossed the purse.
Moonlight glinted off the golden gigs as the Booty Master emptied the purse into his free hand. Oddly, the crew’s expression didn’t change when the valuable coins poured out, even though they represented a decade of a laborer’s wages.
“A pleasure doin’ business with ye,” said Captain Jack with a bow. “Now, there be the issue of Pirate secrets. I won’t bother swearin’ ye to silence because I know the Vamp no be trustworthy, the Ranger be too trustworthy to trust, Adam be me bucko, and the servants be too smart to even think of telling tales. I give ye a warning.” From a pocket inside his vest he withdrew a two-inch by two-inch card, blank on one side with a large black dot on the other. He held it up close enough for Nash and Livi to see in the moonlight. “Do ye know what this be?”
Livi rolled her eyes, but Nash wore a confused look.
“This be the black spot,” said Captain Jack. “If a Pirate gives ye the black spot, it do mean certain death. That Pirate’s crew will no stop until ye be restin’ in Davy Jones’ Locker. I’ll no give this to ye now, but I show ye as a warning. If ye breathe so much as one single word about the Sound Storm or coin wager, I will personally deliver ye this very black spot, be ye Adam’s mates or no.”
He tucked the card back in his coat and shouted, “Set sail, ye scurvy dogs!”
The Marauders yarred and ahoyed as they rushed to unhitch the horses, load up the dead bodies, and carry out the order. As they fled, Nash retrieved his gun and Livi’s daggers. Livi just watched them go, still staggered by how close she’d come to … she didn’t want to think about it.
When the five stood alone in the night, Livi told Nas
h, “You so much as crack a joke about hanging out with them sometime, and I will tear your throat out here and now.”
Nash grunted agreement, then said, “I’ll see to Ahab’s arm if you want to start packing.”
“I have something else to attend to,” said Livi. She needed to get her head back in the now, and a pick-me-up was just thing. “If you’ll excuse me.”
She walked over to the line of bodies. For a moment they all watched her with curiosity as she walked up and down the line like a woman at a butcher shop. The needle-faced Marauder who had pummeled her wasn’t on the menu, so she picked a healthy-looking Pirate with no beard. “Yep, you’re the one.”
Livi checked over her shoulder and found the men watching her. “Do you mind? If I don’t get a snack, you’ll be taking turns carrying me.”
Nash went a little pale—paler than he already was from the loss of blood—and couldn’t turn away fast enough. The servants and Adam turned more slowly, but they also gave her privacy. Millions of people watched her feed on a regular basis, so why was she concerned about people watching here and now?
She was too tired and thirsty to think about it, so she dug in.
A dead body didn’t spurt blood like someone with a beating heart, but there was enough of a flow for Livi to drink what she needed. Blood satisfied her like nothing else in the world, basically a magic potion for her genetically altered body. By the time she stood and pulled the handkerchief from the special pocket for just this purpose, she felt like she could sprint a mile. After wiping her face, she dropped the handkerchief on the chest of the man.
The rest of her party had regrouped by the time she joined them. Nash had a startled look to him. She thought about reminding him that she was a Vamp, and what all that entailed, but decided not to waste time teasing him.
“Did I miss introductions?”
A Mutiny of Marauders Page 12
