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

thought about turning around and running the other way."
    "I'm with you there, lad," Jack said, getting the point."I waited too long to say anything, and then one of his--her--snakes came alive and bit me. As you know, a snake bite from Madame will possess you. So, I was hypnotized. From that moment on, I was under her spell," Tim finished, shrugging helplessly. "She used me to help her look first for the bronze gem, and then the amulet itself.""What a fascinating story," Jack said, pretending to stif le a yawn. "Let me give you a hint, though, for future storytelling endeavours : show, don't tell. Stick to the facts. Your silver gem became Silverback's silver gem, and you got shanghaied by Madame Minuit. That just about sums it up?"
    "Excuse me for being thorough. As I'm quickly learning, that's not really par for the course around here," Tim said sarcastically.Jack held his hand up and suddenly looked serious."The one thing your story does prove is that this gem is connected to this medallion, the medallion is connected with Silverback, and Silverback is connected to Madame Minuit--how else would she have known to come for you?" Jack said. "Now," he continued, "there's only one thing left to do. . . ."He took the silver gem and fitted it i nto the medallion.
     
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    If Jack was expecting a puff of smoke, a clap of thunder, or a shimmering curtain of magical sparks, he was sorely disappointed. The silver gem fit very neatly into its socket and clicked into place without a hitch. Once in, it looked like it had always been a part of the medallion.Jack picked up the medallion and tapped it ceremoniously on the table. After all, when the bronze gem had been set into the medallion, all that was required was a light tap, and the object that was hit would turn to metal. Like his tooth, the ship, the city of New Orleans . . . But this time, nothing happened.Jean, Tumen, Fitzwilliam, and Tim stared at Jack dubiously. He tapped the medallion again--a little harder this time. Still nothing happened.He looked at the medallion, puzzled, but Jack would rather be hanged than appear weak in front of Fitzwilliam and the others. "These things don't always work on the first try," he said cheerfully.Just then, the door to the cabin flew open and Captain Laura Smith stood there, glaring at them. The five boys had been too engrossed in the medallion and Tim's story to notice the end of the fight between Arabella and her mom. It was obvious that Laura hadn't won. She looke d to be in a right foul mood. "How dare you enter my private chambers!" she cried. "Roaming about as if the Fleur was your own . . . personal . . ." she struggled for a word. "SHIP!" she finally said. Seeing Jack fight back a smile made her even angrier. "Captain Sparrow--I want you and your crew off my ship at once!""You, Madam Captain, are just as hot headed as your daughter," Jack said with great admiration. With his left hand he swiftly and discreetly pulled the medallion off the table and slipped it into his pocket. The captain never noticed. She was too busy glowering. "And I would like to point out-- just for the logbooks, as it were--" Jack continued, "that not only will I gladly disembark your invisible ship, but I never wanted to come aboard it in the first place. You and your mutinous crew forced us--magiched us--aboard , in fact. Against our will."
    Jack marched dramatically past her, making a great show of climbing up the ladder through the hatch. Jean, Tumen, Tim, and Fitzwilliam followed suit, also with exaggerated care.Captain Smith just growled and followed them closely, as if she were afraid they would steal something on the way out. Jack considered taking one of the semi-preserved fish that sat in a barrel on deck, just to make a point. But he figured it wouldn't smell very good in his pocket.Jean and Tumen rushed about the deck, untying the lines that held the Barnacle to the side of the Fleur. Tim watched them carefully and helped where he