Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

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“Who was with him?” “Dunno, mate,” said Ragetti, then at a glance from Teague, the one-eyed pirate swallowed and amended, “Uh, sir. He was ahead of Old Tommy, mostly through the door when I seen ’em. I didn’t get a good look. Tall as me, I think. He were wearing a hat, and it was night, so I couldn’t see his face. What I mostly saw was his coat sleeve as he held the door for Tommy to follow him. Pretty color. Turquoise, they calls it. Like a lagoon. Ladies, they like to wear that color.” He giggled. “’Cept of course, this was a man’s coat. Sir.” Jack rolled his eyes. Great. In the country of blind fools, the oneeyed idiot is king. “Thank you; you may be seated,” Teague said. He turned to Borya. “You have heard the evidence presented. What do you have to say?” Borya stood up. He shook his head regretfully. “I say I am innocent, Captain Teague. I am victim here, not Barbossa. Victim of malice and lies. Those two,” he indicated Jack and Esmeralda, “are lying, da? Why, I know not. Perhaps boy took girl off to make loving with her. Afterward she is afraid to be caught by Don Rafael, so they lie about why they are out rowing in dory. I only know I have no brass bow chaser aboard my vessel, never had, never, no matter what young bastard and pretty strumpet claim.” A murmur ran through the assembly. Up on the dais, Don Rafael tried to lunge to his feet, only to be pulled back down by Villanueva and Mistress Ching. Jack felt himself coloring—especially when he remembered what he’d been thinking that morning after he and Esmeralda had kissed. But, dammit, they hadn’t done anything! He glared up at the little Pirate Lord, wishing he had his pistol. Borya, you sodding liar! Esmeralda didn’t blush. She went pale with fury, right down to her lips, which were pressed tightly together. Teague banged the cannonball for quiet. As soon as it was restored, Borya spoke again. “As for this Old Tommy…hah! Ridiculous! Old drunk falls into cove and drowns. Is not first time, will not be last time. And anyone here who wishes to call Borya Palachnik tall, that person may borrow my spectacles, da?” He took off his specs
and waved them in the air. A murmur of laughter ran through the chamber. Jack and Esmeralda didn’t join in, nor did the Pirate Lords. Borya continued, as soon as it died down. “You say Borya is evil rogue pirate because he has Bermuda-rigged sloop, da? Hah! How many Bermuda-rigged sloops in this world, I ask you? Hundreds… maybe thousands, Captain Teague, Keeper of Code. You know this. So do I. As for Captain Barbossa…Hector, you have been my friend many years. I am sorry you lost Cobra. Sorrow, they say, can affect the mind. Loss of your beloved vessel has made your mind…what do they say…unhinged. Sorry I am for your suffering, Hector, my friend. But is not my doing.” Borya sat back down on his bench, crossing his arms on his chest, to all appearances completely relaxed, even bored, by the proceedings. Silence reigned. For once Teague seemed uncertain of what to do next. He stared down at the Code of the Brethren book, as if it might give him some answer, but he did not open it. Finally, the Keeper turned to the Pirate Lords. “What say you?” he asked. Don Rafael rose to his feet. “We must get to the truth of this,” he said. “The reputation of the Brethren Court—and my granddaughter— depends on our finding the truth and dealing with those who have flouted the Code. I believe extreme measures are called for. There is one who will know the truth. We must summon him.” Jack looked questioningly at Esmeralda, and she returned the glance. After a moment they both shrugged. Teague regarded Don Rafael for a long moment. “There is precedent,” he allowed. Mistress Ching said, forcefully, “The first Brethren Court made the alliance with Captain Jones, and that right has been passed down through the ages, to the assembled Pirate Lords. I was present when Jones was summoned, many years ago. It is not something we should do lightly. Does this situation warrant a summoning?” “I believe it does,” Don Rafael said, stoutly. “These rogue pirates threaten our freedom, our way of life. They have brazenly defied the
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Copyright © 2011 Disney Enterprise
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ALSO BY A. C. CRISPIN The Han Solo
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Acknowledgments Few authors can wri
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The reenactors, docents, and staff
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Prologue Zerzura: The Lost City THE
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acelet that he never removed, the b
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east. “What then?” she asked.
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only a slim strip of woven grass en
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CHAPTER ONE Fair Winds and Black Sh
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the crew, who were mumbling and shu
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eaction, while Farmer was dunked a
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“Aye, Mr. Sparrow,” Robby said.
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she was no naval vessel. Jack Sparr
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um!” The barkeep, an enormous, hu
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“You got it from a Spanish vessel
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thought for a moment. “They say t
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Several onlookers hastily volunteer
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Hastily, Jack beckoned Christophe t
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Baldy, “you’ll have to wait. I
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Jack sighed. “I fear she’s a Bl
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CHAPTER TWO Lady Esmeralda JACK TUR
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another long look, then handed it b
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ing of truth about it, sir.” Jack
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intending to head back into Shipwre
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neck. His name meant “little butc
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upon you to provide an introduction
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as a dagger in a fight.” “So wh
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She laughed softly. “Not directly
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usually good at that kind of thing.
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for certain that he was another pir
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Teague.” Jack glanced at the litt
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that the Fair Wind was more or less
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harmed. I recommend we strike our c
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these elements were fairly standard
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Jack pursed his lips and shook his
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e wise to remember that. And so, la
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to cross freely back and forth betw
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across the weather deck. As he ran,
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as smoothly as a dolphin’s leap,
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positioning himself so he was parti
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“Dare I hope that you won’t tak
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as soft as he remembered. He bowed
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ichly furnished. On the left there
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desperately hiding, forced into clo
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her; he sensed that would be a majo
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She nodded, and half turned away.
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higher and leaned over to peer at i
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treasure was enough to make Jack’
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Jack looked around to see that the
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logbook for review. The manager of
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of his new assignment. Angrily, he
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making himself very useful to them.
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son, Bartholomew, served as Directo
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now. A brutal hand grabbed his hair
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to know what happened today?” Cut
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important stylistic differences. Th
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frequently. Even though they’d ne
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suite prepared.” “Thank you, th
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to a title. It was clear from every
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snuff-colored britches were worn gr
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undeniably made sense, and held the
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Greene was up off his chair in a mo
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Sparrow’s dark eyes. “So…how
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actually own. It’s an older ship.
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mounting a search for Zerzura hasn
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was seeing. Forcing himself to move
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some ancient tomb in the land that
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Apedemak’s most ancient temple an
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landing. The eunuch rested his huge
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crawl between two of her guardsmen.
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searched further, and pulled out a
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“Yes,” Tarek said. “And that
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out the outlines of her surrounding
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shoulder. She never let it out of h
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the sun. Ayisha would spin the tan
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Not long before noon, Mistress Dalt
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with graceful, gilded lilies and sc
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other berths and shipped out, but t
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As Robby escorted the new crew away
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and eating all them unnatural vermi
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or two after being stored in a carg
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moment his eyes met those of the yo
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even counting that the coins in his
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indeed. In view of this, Jack was p
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On the starboard side of the quarte
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eally am. But there’s nothing to
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was stained. Tomorrow he’d check
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For the first time, a light sparked
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here thinks we might have a stowawa
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Jack’s cabin, “what in the name
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Jack relaxed, enjoying the colors o
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and reefed the sails. Jack, seeing
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there is.” “Aye, Cap’n!” As
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age, he’d spit you like a sucklin
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With a little laugh at his sillines
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he mouthed. Christophe gave him a h
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Esmeralda, and watching Christophe
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immediately. “And then go straigh
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etrieve his effects. “I think he
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them, Jack went to the railing, and
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CHAPTER SEVEN Lost and Found JACK B
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having your bath. Hurry up, it’s
Page 211 and 212: Jack halted. “I don’t think so,
Page 213 and 214: appreciatively—but carefully. Aga
Page 215 and 216: sounds as though you’re building
Page 217 and 218: who tended to get into one of their
Page 219 and 220: “Well, sure, Cap’n. I was just
Page 221 and 222: from under Blount’s nose required
Page 223 and 224: the handwriting on the envelope as
Page 225 and 226: that I would enjoy, that I seem to
Page 227 and 228: won’t come into London with us, t
Page 229 and 230: what’s wrong with her, after what
Page 231 and 232: will be ending soon.” “As you s
Page 233 and 234: god, begging him to help by stoppin
Page 235 and 236: She sagged in her chair, finally al
Page 237 and 238: fingers. The door to his cabin swun
Page 239 and 240: mooring post, feet dangling over th
Page 241 and 242: carefully, and untied the painter f
Page 243 and 244: “I’ve missed you, too. You have
Page 245 and 246: finally I gave up searching, and we
Page 247 and 248: on that side. “That’s half of t
Page 249 and 250: Esmeralda bit her lip and rowed ste
Page 251 and 252: surprise, then began fumbling to pu
Page 253 and 254: eneath the seat, and, beneath it wa
Page 255 and 256: “But then he announced that he’
Page 257 and 258: Ancient benches and chairs filled t
Page 259 and 260: ight enough,” the captain conclud
Page 261: Esmeralda, looking for evidence tha
Page 265 and 266: “I’ve never seen him, but he’
Page 267 and 268: treason in our numbers. You are lor
Page 269 and 270: the Brethren. The Code is the law.
Page 271 and 272: “maybe this will save me from hav
Page 273 and 274: Put on those nice ones Mr. Beckett
Page 275 and 276: Cutler Beckett was sitting behind h
Page 277 and 278: “I doubt anyone is that charming,
Page 279 and 280: Ward doesn’t say anything about w
Page 281 and 282: “Yes, I believe she could manage
Page 283 and 284: economy and administration of every
Page 285 and 286: skeins of fine thread. For the embr
Page 287 and 288: mother, Queen Tiyy. Envisioning thi
Page 289 and 290: crowded, noisy enclave consisted of
Page 291 and 292: Jack and Ayisha waited for his retu
Page 293 and 294: Miss Ayisha,” Jack said. He looke
Page 295 and 296: away without notice, drove his crew
Page 297 and 298: island where there’s a lot of gol
Page 299 and 300: Chamba translated. The woman’s he
Page 301 and 302: on? Jack was skeptical. Could it be
Page 303 and 304: “Oh, he’s just a little stiff o
Page 305 and 306: ut he supposed it couldn’t do any
Page 307 and 308: was in the saddle, her skirts tucke
Page 309 and 310: CHAPTER TEN Revelations THE DAY THE
Page 311 and 312: “He does, Cap’n,” Robby agree
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“Aye, Cap’n!” chorused three
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Lucius passed the lines out, and th
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light below them, coming up the lad
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um—ordinary EITC-issued rum. Ther
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Jack stared at the barman in some a
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and nose with a handkerchief. “Lo
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silent, staring at him, Barbossa ga
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“Borya gave up the second rogue t
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Jack almost spat in disgust, but re
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They hurried through the twilight,
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growled. The prison dog’s ears pr
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gritted his teeth, remembering that
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“Now,” he said, and pulled her
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along the docks, Jack wondered what
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Captain Teague’s orders.” Jack
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care if you’re present, Roger, bu
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“You’ll be free of the bonds of
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It creaked, but not too loudly. Pus
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All around him Christophe’s crew,
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The rabble of rogues headed for the
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Jack rolled over, and immediately f
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She gave him a cool glance, but rep
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you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go
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Ayisha opened her mouth, then shut
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CHAPTER ELEVEN Pirates and Rogues J
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his cabin. Seeing Lucius Feathersto
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know.” “All right.” Jack sear
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steadily alongside the rogues, not
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aiting me, trying to get me to do s
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of the hapless flute. Automatically
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When the mast came down…I knew th
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lion’s head, beautifully formed b
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ungrapple La Vipère. I cannot risk
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not spit it in Christophe’s face.
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sometimes when we boarded, I had to
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Jack watched her, wondering if he
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Jack nodded slowly. “I take your
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the Arts of keeping a Civilized Hou
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“Doesn’t seem likely, sir.”
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had boarded the Lindesfarne in Lond
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new employee. The official who had
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CHAPTER TWELVE Shabako AS THOUGH TO
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spun exactly the right tale to ensu
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had the eunuch demonstrate his favo
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Jack laughed. “That’s a refresh
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est to fulfill his promise to the d
Page 405 and 406:
As they reached the fourth dock alo
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Chamba never took his eyes off Ayis
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Lord Spar—” Breaking off, Jack
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the raw sugarcane were still under
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get her alone. But after a moment,
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fields, with Jack chattering away,
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“Thank you,” Fenwick said. “I
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eached into the bodice of her dress
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Shabako would move closer and close
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nonsense about her wearing a “mas
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN “Red Flag…Ho!
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most notable rider to hounds in all
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neckcloth and put his coat back on.
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Christophe and how much he needed t
Page 433 and 434:
Jack yelled up to the Irishman, “
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to see what the sloop would do. Thi
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He knew his plan was risky. If he d
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the cargo hold.” Jack fixed Tarek
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on Great Abaco. It wasn’t long be
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the end of the trough, and run into
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ising. “Nearly took a purler down
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leading up from the cargo hold. Ayi
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Tarek shrugged, helplessly. “The
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of those, either. Soon the sun woul
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leeding. “Now help me up,” Jack
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e on his way. He be old, can’t mo
Page 457 and 458:
“Borya…Koldunya. Borya…Koldun
Page 459 and 460:
sure none of those hits came anywhe
Page 461 and 462:
“She appears to be asleep,” Tar
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whole, not wounded. He wasn’t sur
Page 465 and 466:
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Hard Bargains AN H
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hadn’t been fancy fare, but the b
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efore him, then, with a wet rag, sh
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ones.” Reaching over with his rig
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speed up. “Like you, Jack.” Jac
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“Boy or girl?” “She had a lit
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illusions. But it seems she can do
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his guilt about not being honest wi
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yesterday, if you recall.” She sm
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of sleep if you didn’t, mi coraz
Page 485 and 486:
Footsteps approached, and she heard
Page 487 and 488:
He smiled. “That’s a lot of que
Page 489 and 490:
ladder, but she’d gotten the hang
Page 491 and 492:
“You are not used to wearing colo
Page 493 and 494:
tend to be very long. One can grow
Page 495 and 496:
Ayisha giggled. “That was clever,
Page 497 and 498:
“Oh, we certainly did!” Ayisha
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little craft’s bow. Then he began
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way. Savvy?” “I confess I am su
Page 503 and 504:
live. The moment the Wicked Wench b
Page 505 and 506:
her own voice. A hungry fierceness.
Page 507 and 508:
“But when I called your name, the
Page 509 and 510:
know. It doesn’t really matter. H
Page 511 and 512:
like quartz, but it gave off light.
Page 513 and 514:
cheek, searching until she found hi
Page 515 and 516:
death for those who do not know the
Page 517 and 518:
less than a mile away. Up close, it
Page 519 and 520:
Jack was standing on the port side
Page 521 and 522:
and making her way down the ladder.
Page 523 and 524:
“‘The Shining City.’” “Pr
Page 525 and 526:
summon a handmaiden to help you dre
Page 527 and 528:
Her people did not have mirrors lik
Page 529 and 530:
After Jack reached the Wicked Wench
Page 531 and 532:
Beckett rather rubbed me the wrong
Page 533 and 534:
a merchant who saw a perfect pearl,
Page 535 and 536:
After a long, uncomfortable minute,
Page 537 and 538:
chattering away since they’d firs
Page 539 and 540:
homeland. For one thing, I believe
Page 541 and 542:
his people. Chamba stood beside him
Page 543 and 544:
and I know what I need to do. So ye
Page 545 and 546:
CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Heart of Zerzur
Page 547 and 548:
had all of this venture planned out
Page 549 and 550:
Christophe rolled his eyes. “Why
Page 551 and 552:
when I was standing on the edge of
Page 553 and 554:
Then, moments later, she was on the
Page 555 and 556:
cutlass penetrated the creature’s
Page 557 and 558:
“This is his temple, after all.
Page 559 and 560:
“Jack, are you all right?” the
Page 561 and 562:
Jacques.” Christophe took his han
Page 563 and 564:
his head on the floor, and that his
Page 565 and 566:
hard she nearly drove the breath fr
Page 567 and 568:
time to sail away. How long will th
Page 569 and 570:
forth in the sunlight, admiring it,
Page 571 and 572:
added to it.” “What is that?”
Page 573 and 574:
this herbal drink, sweetened with h
Page 575 and 576:
Looks like the last act of Hamlet.
Page 577 and 578:
The next quarter of an hour was a r
Page 579 and 580:
gold. “What each man here chooses
Page 581 and 582:
Slowly, the Wicked Wench turned and
Page 583 and 584:
instincts, and his own sword, a col
Page 585 and 586:
at the throat and wrists, Christoph
Page 587 and 588:
he continued to retreat. “Strateg
Page 589 and 590:
eath…” “Hah!” Jack exclaime
Page 591 and 592:
his sword at him—throw it, to hit
Page 593 and 594:
Jack looked at Robby, who had stuck
Page 595 and 596:
wouldn’t need protection when he
Page 597 and 598:
merely nodded. “And, finally,”
Page 599 and 600:
elected to put up a fight.” “Ye
Page 601 and 602:
Beckett,” and left. Cutler Becket
Page 603 and 604:
voyage that don’t seem to add up,
Page 605 and 606:
together on the top of the table in
Page 607 and 608:
spoken to some members of your crew
Page 609 and 610:
was walking down by the docks one e
Page 611 and 612:
there were two scars, fairly close
Page 613 and 614:
going to back down this time. The c
Page 615 and 616:
“That’s all right,” Beckett s
Page 617 and 618:
of hushed, fearful conversations in
Page 619 and 620:
Finally, he spat a last time, then
Page 621 and 622:
dead, and at my hand. Well, I had h
Page 623 and 624:
Amenirdis must be on her way, Jack
Page 625 and 626:
“Yes, Jack. All good suggestions.
Page 627 and 628:
to pull away, then added, hastily,
Page 629 and 630:
Sullen muttering greeted his declar
Page 631 and 632:
pallet, Jack leaned his head in his
Page 633 and 634:
when suddenly he’d had to switch
Page 635 and 636:
I wouldn’t eat anything but fresh
Page 637 and 638:
Beckett decided to simply drop them
Page 639 and 640:
again, this time with the back of h
Page 641 and 642:
punishment.” He smiled as if he w
Page 643 and 644:
“I don’t have time to argue!”
Page 645 and 646:
The deck jumped and lurched. Everyt
Page 647 and 648:
“Captain Jones,” Jack said, mar
Page 649 and 650:
Tortuga’s best tradition, they we
Page 651 and 652:
eeze tugged at his loose hair. It w
Page 653 and 654:
gotten a new baldric for his cutlas
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