Grace listened intently, and carefully watched Connor’s changing expressions. She wanted to see if his sympathies stayed resolutely with Captain Wrathe or if he might be wavering.
“Well, the Academy works closely with the Federation,” continued Commodore Kuo. “Indeed, many of us here are involved in the hierarchy of the Federation. And we share and teach beliefs, such as the unequivocal respect for our captains’ sea-lanes.”
“We also,” added Captain Grammont, “strive to build and develop productive relationships with the land powers, such as Governor Acharo. Acharo was always lenient to us. It was a major ...well, let us say a major nuisance, Captain Wrathe attacking him like that. In the months since that attack, Acharo has changed his attitude and his policy toward us quite considerably. And that doesn’t just cause problems along the coastline of his territory, he has powerful allies in the north, too. So this random action by your captain has caused ripples far across these waters.”
Connor understood what they were saying, but he would not betray Captain Wrathe to them, not after everything Molucco had done for him. However, the other captains were warming to their theme.
“The more Captain Wrathe acts like a loose cannon,” said Captain Singh, “the more danger he puts himself and other pirate crews in. Why, look at what happened just days ago with Captain Drakoulis.”
Connor dropped his head sadly. “I was there,” he said.
Grace could see that he was thinking about Jez. Of course he was.
“How terrible,” Captain Avery said sadly.
“I was there,” Connor repeated, “and I saw my com-rade — my good friend . . . killed.”
“A milestone in any young pirate’s life.” Captain Avery nodded, sadly.
“These are changing times,” Commodore Kuo observed, as he pushed back an empty plate. “The world is progressing rapidly and piracy is changing and growing with every turn of the tide.”
“Wrathe’s sun is setting,” announced Captain Singh. “The future lies not in individual attacks but in coordination, alliances, and proper strategy.”
Connor listened to Singh’s words. It was a tension he’d been aware of since he’d first arrived on The Diablo, when Bart had clued him into the different philosophies of Captain Wrathe and Mistress Li. Now, he saw just how much the mood of the time was with Cheng Li and the captains gathered here — and, more importantly, against Molucco. It made him fear for Captain Wrathe and his crew — and it made him question his own future. But he had signed up to the articles of The Diablo. There was no escape from that. He had pledged his duty, his very life, to Molucco. A decision, which — as Grace had told him — was now beginning, perhaps, to look a bit hasty.
Commodore Kuo suddenly clapped his hands together.
“Enough of this talk, everyone. I fear we’ve placed Connor in a difficult position with our . . . observations about Captain Wrathe.”
Connor shrugged. “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before — at Ma Kettle’s.”
Captain Larsen gave a hollow laugh. “There’s some difference between the tittle-tattle you pick up at a tavern and the opinions you receive here in this august company.”
Okay, thought Connor, she’s another one not to tangle with. I’m learning.
“Now now, Kirstin,” said the headmaster. “Let’s not vent our grievances on young Connor here. We want him to enjoy his stay at Pirate Academy, don’t we?”
“Yes,” chorused Captain Quivers and Captain Avery. Others around the table nodded.
“And,” added Commodore Kuo, “when your stay comes to an end, Connor, we’ll see how you feel about where your future lies.”
Grace bit her lip. She hadn’t expected the headmaster to make such an open offer to Connor. How would he respond? She watched, but her brother only smiled, saying nothing.
“And now a toast,” said the headmaster. “To Connor and Grace. Please fill your glasses, everyone.”
A decanter of inky-black liquid was quickly passed around the table. Shot glasses were filled.
“Has everyone got the cuttlefish grappa?” Commodore Kuo checked. “Excellent. Well, please raise your glasses to Grace and Connor Tempest, who triumphed over the darkest of circumstances to make their way into the pirate world. Grace and Connor, we thank you for joining us here at the Academy this week. Here’s to a most enjoyable and enlightening stay and, in the words of a far greater pirate captain than I — Plenty and Satiety, Pleasure and Ease, Liberty and Power to you both.”
The other captains joined in the toast. Connor and Grace recognized the words as the Academy motto. They watched as the captains downed their glasses of grappa. It looked and smelled disgusting. Grace was happy not to have a glass herself.
After the toast, the spotlight fell away from Connor and Grace and the captains began chatting about the business of the Academy day, much like any other group of teachers — albeit these ones had cutlasses at their waists.
At last, Commodore Kuo glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late,” he said. “You kids had better get some sleep.”
“Especially if you’re planning on joining me for SSM to-morrow morning,” said Captain Platonov with a smile.
“SSM?” asked Grace.
“Strength, Stamina, and Motivation,” explained the Russian captain.
“It’s the first class of the Academy day,” added Cheng Li. “All the captains take it in turns to lead it so it varies from forms of yoga to inspirational discourses to —”
“A brisk ten K run!” interjected Captain Platonov. “We set off from the terrace at seven o’clock sharp.”
“Sounds cool!” Connor said. Jacoby grinned.
Grace smiled too, but decided she might start her Academy day in a more leisurely way. “I’m going to bed,” she announced, standing up. “Thank you for dinner. It was lovely to meet you all.”
“You too, my dear,” said Captain Quivers. The other captains nodded.
Connor drew himself to his feet. “On behalf of my sister and I, I want to thank you all for inviting us to Pirate Academy.”
Grace smiled. She wasn’t used to hearing him take to the stage in such a formal fashion.
“You’re very welcome, Connor,” said Commodore Kuo. “And please, do not let yourself be swayed by our petty squabbles with Captain Wrathe. We understand how good he has been to you and your sister. And we admire your loyalty to him.”
Connor managed to smile, but his expression masked the increasingly complex thoughts swimming in his head. He was looking forward to getting to his room, where he could think about everything he had heard tonight. He was starting to feel a real sense of anxiety about the articles which bound him to Captain Wrathe. Suddenly, Grace’s fears made absolute sense to him. He glanced along the table. Gathered here were the most influential pirates of their day and they all seemed to think that Molucco Wrathe’s sun was setting. They also seemed to think that he, Connor, was something very special. Connor remembered the vision he had had of becoming a captain. He was determined to make that happen. In the future, perhaps, he’d have to select his allies and mentors far more carefully.
“Come on,” Grace said, appearing at his side. “Let’s walk back to our rooms.”
“What? Oh yes. Yes, sure. Jacoby, are you coming, too?”
“Actually,” said Commodore Kuo, “I need a brief word with you, Mister Blunt.”
Jacoby nodded his assent to the headmaster. Grace and Connor said good night to their new friend. Then they set off across the terrace toward their accommodation block. The twins said not a word to each other as they walked along in the moonlight, each locked in their own secret world of thoughts.
19
POWDER CREEK
The moon is high and full and illuminates the small ferryboat, beating its way steadily along the creek. “I see land, Captain,” Stukeley says. “Is this the place?” “Yes,” answers Sidorio. “Why? Are you hungry now?” “Yes, Captain. I’m hungry indeed.” A sly laugh. “Good.” Sidorio row
s the boat right up to the shallows, then jumps out into the water, pulling the boat, with Stukeley inside it, up onto the meager pebble beach. Now Stukeley jumps out, too.
“What is this place, Captain?”“Powder Creek,” Sidorio answers.“I swear, Captain — you know every last place along this coast.” Stukeley is impressed.
At that moment, Sidorio steps forward. Behind him is a wooden sign, flapping in the breeze.
WELCOME TO POWDER CREEK
“Leave nothing but footprints,
take nothing but memories.”
“Come on,” Sidorio says brusquely. “Let’s not lose any time.” He begins trudging across the beach. He seems to know where he is going. Stukeley follows, struggling to keep up with the captain’s lengthy strides. Something has caught the captain’s interest and Stukeley has learned that when that’s the case, you just have to keep up the best you can and await further instructions.
So far — all things considered — events haven’t gone too badly. Although there has been rather a lot of talk of a glorious future, an army of men, and a fleet of ships when, right now, there just appears to be a stolen ferryboat, two surfboards and the two of them. Still, you have to start somewhere, Stukeley supposes. At least the captain has dreams. Big dreams.
Sidorio is standing still. Is he waiting for Stukeley to catch up? How decent of him, thinks Stukeley. He doesn’t usually exhibit such courtesies. He runs toward the captain — and feels water between his toes, thinking that his old boots have seen better days.
As he draws level with Sidorio he sees that the captain is talking to someone — in fact, to two people. Two young women. At Stukeley’s arrival, one of them looks over and laughs.
“Oh aye? Who’s this then — little and large?”
“This is my lieutenant,” Sidorio says. “His name is Stukeley.”
“How do,” says Stukeley, giving a little bow.
“Well, you’re a curious pair and no mistake,” the girl responds, nudging her friend, who begins to giggle.
“All right?” Stukeley says with a grin. “What are you two lovely lasses doing out here at this hour?”
“Ain’t it obvious?” answers the first girl in a bored tone. “We’re waiting for our ship to come in.”
Sidorio smiles and points over his shoulder, back toward the ocean. “Maybe your ship has come in.”
Stukeley sees something in that smile. The girl misses it. Of course she does. But Stukeley has seen it before. It is a sign. The game is on.
“I can’t see any ship,” the girl says, utterly oblivious to what is about to happen. “Just some third-rate rowing boat.”
“Third-rate?” Sidorio says, always quick to rise to anger. It will be down to Stukeley to provide the charm. It is always down to Stukeley to provide the charm.
“It’s big enough to take two beautiful young ladies out on a moonlit voyage,” Stukeley says. “Well, it is once we take the surfboards out.”
“You surf?” asks the first girl, her interest suddenly heightened. “We surf,” Stukeley confirms rather proudly, only lately having acquired the skill. “Let’s see you in action then.” She likes him. He can tell. Ladies tend to like him.
“No,” Sidorio says, shaking his head. “No surfing.”
“What the captain means,” Stukeley interjects, “is that we’d much prefer to take you for a voyage first. While the water is so calm.”
“It is calm, isn’t it?” says the girl, stepping toward Stukeley.
“It’s a small boat,” Stukeley says, “but it’s big enough if you squeeze in tight.”
“We’ll all keep nice and warm that way, won’t we?” says the girl, taking Stukeley’s arm. He trembles. In times past, he’d have been feeling a hundred other desires at this point — but now there is only one.
“Come on, Lily,” the girl says, looking back over her shoulder. “I’ll take David and you can have Goliath to yourself and we shall all have a spin around the creek.”
Her friend, Lily, giggles and steps toward Sidorio. He smiles at her, his mouth opening to reveal his twin gold teeth. Lily gasps, suddenly sensing the danger that her friend has been blind to. Stunned by fear into silence, Lily allows Sidorio to propel her toward the boat.
Stukeley gets there first, removing the surfboards and throwing them onto the shingle. The other girl watches him, oblivious to Lily’s alarm.
“I’m Pearl,” she says, “and this is my cousin, Lily. Where did you two fellas come from, anyhow?”
“From Hell,” Sidorio says, lifting the terrified Lily into the boat.
“Your mate’s a joker, isn’t he?” Pearl says to Stukeley as he lifts her into the boat and pushes it free from the shingle into the water.
“Oh, yes,” Stukeley replies. “The captain’s a big ol’ joker.”
The sound of two limp bodies falling overboard doesn’t register much, out in a dark, deserted creek in the very depth of night. Now you see them, now you don’t, as the molasses-like waters suck them down to their resting place. Down where we’d best let them lie. It doesn’t pay to dwell on such things.
Back on the surface, the ferryboat floats in the moonlight.
“That went well,” Stukeley says, licking his lips to draw the last drop of blood into his mouth.
“You’re learning fast,” Sidorio says.
“We’re a pretty good combination, I reckon.”
“Perhaps.”
“And how could I ever be lonely around such a sparkling wit and conversationalist?”
Stukeley’s irony is lost on Sidorio. It is probably better that way, thinks the lieutenant. Sidorio is calm now. Soon he will sleep.
There they lie, on either side of the ferryboat, rocking gently on the oily waters of Powder Creek. Another night, another little adventure. Stukeley brings up his arm, resting his head on his hand. He gazes up at the moon, watching as the globe of light is smothered by smoky clouds. Now there is no light to pierce the darkness of the night. Trying to block out the sound of Sidorio’s snores, he closes his eyes and falls into a happy little dream.
20
BELONGING
Connor zipped up his black and gold Academy tracksuit and glanced at the clock on his bedside table: 6:50 a.m. He’d already been up twenty minutes. He would never have leaped out of bed at 6:30 for a day at CMB High. But here at the Academy, even after his late night, he woke up raring to go. Just like on The Diablo. Maybe, he thought with a slight pang of guilt, even more so. Was it really only two days since he’d left the ship? Already, it seemed a world away. Now he felt even more disloyal. But, he reminded himself, Captain Wrathe had given his blessing to the stay at the Academy.
Perhaps it would have been better if he had never come. Then all he’d have known of the pirate world was The Diablo. But Connor’s ideas about piracy were changing fast. Now, he saw what Cheng Li had told him time and time again. There was a bigger world of piracy out there. And now it was opening up to welcome him in. If he had the guts to go for it.
A knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts. He opened it to find Jacoby, dressed in the same tracksuit. It bore the Academy insignia — the dagger, compass, anchor, and pearl, just like the charms which Commodore Kuo wore on the chain around his neck.
“Top of the morning!” Jacoby said. “I hope you’re ready for some punishment.”
“Always,” Connor said, with a smile.
“Shall we pick up Grace?” Jacoby asked as they headed along the corridor.
Connor shook his head. “My sister isn’t a big fan of early morning exercise.”
Jacoby nodded. “Well, in that case, she certainly won’t enjoy what Platonov has in store for us.”
As he followed Jacoby outside, Connor saw that Plato-nov and a gaggle of other students were gathered on the terrace, all dressed alike in their tracksuits — performing their warm-up stretches. A pretty girl smiled and waved at them both.
“Hi, Jasmine,” Jacoby said, smiling goofily. “Meet Connor Tempest. Connor, t
his is Jasmine Peacock.” He added, in a whisper, “The foxiest girl at Pirate Academy.”
Jasmine smiled at Connor. He was dazzled by her green eyes and silky black hair. He struggled for something to say to mask his awkwardness. “Perfect weather for a run, eh?” It was lame, but it was words.
She smiled, then she bent her body in two and smiled up at him again through her outstretched legs. He flushed. She could see he couldn’t take his eyes off her, but she didn’t seem to mind. Connor’s embarrassment was saved by Captain Platonov blowing his whistle and clapping his hands. Then the captain set off at a brisk run across the Academy lawns and the students fell into line behind him. Jacoby was right behind Connor, close enough to whisper in his ear.
“She wants you, Tempest! The Peacock has staked her claim.”
Connor shook his head and increased his speed. They began their run around the Academy gardens. As anticipated, Platonov set a challenging pace. Connor felt his legs waking up and his heart pumping. There could be few better ways to start the day than with a run.
As they descended the hill toward the harbor, he looked back to the balcony outside Grace’s room. The curtains across the French doors were closed. He smiled to himself. Grace must still be fast asleep. Lazy bones!
Fifty minutes later, Platonov’s runners were nearing the home stretch. The captain had drawn them together so they were running in a closely organized pack, three in each row. Connor had Jacoby on his left and Jasmine on his right, their steps in perfect unison. The end of their run was in sight. Connor could feel himself hitting “the wall,” but knew he could push on through. It was just a matter of willpower.
“Now, let’s chant,” Captain Platonov said.
It was just the distraction Connor needed. He heard the captain and his fellow students begin to chant as they ran:
“Pirate captains rule the sea,” began Platonov.
“Pirate captains rule the sea,” chanted back the students.
“A ship for you and one for me!”
“A ship for you and one for me!”
“My sword is ready to attack.”
“My sword is ready to attack.”
Vampirates: Tide of Terror Page 14
