Vampirates 1.5:Dead Deep by Justin Somper Read Free Book Online

This is our last chance to talk to Bart alone, to make him see sense.”
    Jez nodded. Clearly the memory of last night was fresh in his mind, too.
    “Wait here!” said Connor. “I’ll get him to come over.”
    He set off barefoot along the deck, trying not to make a sound. In a few paces,he was standing right beside the cluster of fishtails.
    Gently but firmly, he reached out his hand to Bart.
    Even before Connor touched him, Bart’s eyes opened, and his face greeted Connor with a familiar smile.
    “Can we talk?” Connor whispered. “Over there?”
    Bart nodded. “Sure, buddy,” he said quietly.
    He raisedhimself upright and together they walked back to the bow of The Lorelei . Jez held up his hand and he and Bart silently high-fived each other.
    “I’m sorry, man,” said Jez, “for all those things I said last night.”
    “Me, too,” agreed Bart. “I’ve been going over them all night. Didn’t get a wink of sleep. I never meant to hurt you guys—you’re my best friends.You know that, don’t you?”
    Jez and Connor nodded.
    “That’s why we want to be sure you’ve really thought through this decision,” said Jez.
    “I have,” said Bart, but there was something in the tone of his voice that made Connor think his mind wasn’t quite as made up as his words suggested.
    “How about we go back to The Diablo —” beganJez, but Bart immediately started shaking his head.
    “Wait,” said Jez. “Please. Just hear me out! How about we go back to The Diablo and talk to Captain Wrathe about this?”
    “Captain Wrathe?” said Bart.
    “I’m sure he’d have some good ideas of ways to help these guys out,” said Jez. “Don’t you agree, Connor?”
    Connor imagined the scene. Bart telling Molucco Wrathe that after eight years in his service he’d decided to break the binding articles that every pirate has to take in order to look after a ship of fishtails. He could imagine the interesting shades of red that Molucco’s face would turn as he considered Bart’s proposal—and then instantly rejected it.
    “I think it’s a really goodidea to talk things through with Molucco,” said Connor, nodding calmly. “He’s not just our captain, Bart. Why, I’ve heard him say that he looks on you as the son he never had.”
    “Really?” Bart said, clearly surprised at this information. “Molucco said that?”
    “Yes.” Connor nodded. He felt really bad telling the lie, or at least exaggerating the truth. But he’d stopat nothing to save Bart.
    “Maybe I have been a little hasty,” said Bart. “But you know me, guys! Sometimes my heart rules my head.”
    Seeing that they were gaining ground, Jez gripped his friend’s shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with that, man. We’re all guilty of it sometimes. And Kally’s a beautiful girl. I can see how she’d spin your world around.”
    Bart turned and looked back at her. Connor followed his gaze. He noticed with a shiver that the fishtails were waking up. Their time was running out. Even if they were successful in changing Bart’s mind, he had an uneasy feeling that it wouldn’t end there.
    “These guys need me,” said Bart.
    Jez twisted Bart’s face back toward them. “No,”he said gently. “They need someone . And we can help them find that someone. You’re destined for greater things. For a ship of your own, a pirate ship…”
    “Besides,” said Connor, “ we need you. Jez and me. Your friends. Your pirate family. Molucco and Cate. Can you imagine how upset Cate would be if she heard you’d gone away and not even said good-bye?”
    “Cate…” said Bart, his face showing the impact of the name. Connor silently congratulated himself on this masterstroke, but there was no time to be complacent. Kally was upright in her chair now and looking over at them. Perhaps it was simply the way the light fell on her face, but Connor thought he saw a flicker of anger there. She turned, helping João with his chair, whispering somethingto him. Now