Pirates of the Caribbean 06 Silver by Rob Kidd Read Free Book Online

smile. He looked through the spyglass again. There seemed to be some sort of confusion on deck. The Pride turned slightly to the east. Slowly. The captain and his first mate were shouting at each other. Then the naval ship straightened and turned west a little. It continued like that, weaving across the sea like a drunken sailor searching for his heading.Finally it passed the Fleur. It came close enough so that if its oars had been out, the tips would have been broken off. The crew on the Pride seemed to be looking everywhere over the water--everywhere except directly at the Fleur, that is. It was spooky."What in blazes is going on here?" Jack demanded."That's the beauty of the Fleur de la Mort94Captain Laura said proudly.
    "Her sails were woven in the islands of Samoa by some mystic fishermen who live there. We are invisible to all but those aboard this ship.""Well," Jack said with genuine admiration. Imagine having a ship like that! He could go anywhere. . . . What a grand idea . . ."Aye, we're free to go," Laura said, giving an ironic wave to the naval boat. It continued confusedly sailing this way and that into the distance, still looking for the pirate ship that had disappeared before the crew's eyes. Soon that story would join the many other great sea myths of the Caribbean."Heading?" Tumen asked politely, taking out his astrolabe as Jean took the wheel."New Orleans," Captain Smith said decisively. "It is the nearest port, and despite my earlier trepidation, I am certain we will find there t he mutinous slime who tried to commandeer my ship. Bringing them to justice is far more important than intercepting that trading company ship. I'll explain myself to my partner later.""Actually, mother" Arabella said with her nose in the air and hands on her hips, "We-- my friends and I--and notice the term friends there--have to go in the opposite direction. To the Yucatan, to return a treasure to our friend Tumens village. Like we promised. See, it's all about loyalty and promises . . . but ye wouldn't know much about that, would ye, Mother?"
    "You will not speak to me that way-- either as a captain or as your mother!" Laura said with icy fury."You're not my captain. Jack is. And I notice ye didn't answer me question," Arabella said, sticking out her lower lip. "The part about loyalty and promises . . . ?"
    "You insolent girl! I am extremely loyal to my friends and allies!" Captain Smith said, hands clenching and unclenching as if she wanted to smack someone again."But not daughters, it seems," Arabella said scornfully."Um," Jack said, getting a little uncomfortable. He traded a look with Fitzwilliam, who was also shifting nervously."I told you my story! I guess I shouldn't expect little girls to understand the difficult choices adults have to make," Captain Smith said with a sniff.
    "Difficult choices? You abandoned your child because you didn't like the life you had!" Arabella's voice began to get shrieky."Uh," Jack said again. Mr. Reece was carefully studying the deck. Tumen and Jean were fidgeting."Some of us didn't have a . . . a . . . Jack' to save us from it all!" Captain Laura shouted back, leaning forward into her daughter's face."I AM NOT A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS!!! HE DIDN'T SAVE ME!" Arabella screamed.That was it.
    Jack raised his eyebrows and moved his head in the direction of the hatch. Relieved beyond words, Tim, Fitzwilliam, Jean, and Tumen eagerly rushed below decks to escape the mother and daughter feud. Mr. Reece looked like he sorely wished he could go with them, but he was a loyal first mate. Jack came quickly after. Neither Arabella nor Captain Laura Smith noticed.The five boys gathered in the captain's office, which had a nice large table they could all sit around. But even though there were several layers of wood and tar and planking between them and the deck, the two women could still be heard screaming at each other up above.98. . . Useless bar brat!". . . SEA COW!"Jack winced. "Fitzy, light us a lantern,