“We could hold them for ransom,” I say.
Captain Neelan shakes his head. “No, lad. The rule is clear. No holding women for ransom. No women aboard the Pirate King’s ships at all. They go to the sea.”
Locke is standing across from me, and I stare at him, wordlessly begging him to intervene. But he only goes below and comes back with a parcel and a jug. “Food and water,” he says, and sets them in the skiff. He helps each woman in.
“That’s our Locke,” says Captain Neelan. “Ever the gentleman. Right then, you scurvy louts—swing the skiff away and drop her to the sea.”
The two women cry and cling to each other as the skiff is lowered to the ocean’s surface. I run to the railing and peer over, partly because I want to see the women, to know that they have a chance, and partly because Locke is standing by the railing, too.
This skiff is light as a leaf, ducking and bobbing on the swells. A single large wave could overwhelm and sink it.
The other pirates seem to have already forgotten the women. They’re trooping below with Captain Neelan to see the loot in the hold.
“Locke,” I whisper. “You have to do something. We have to save them.”
His jaw is set, his eyes cold and pale as ice. “This is the law.”
“It doesn’t have to be. You could interfere—ask Captain Neelan to—”
“No.” The word is sharp, a dagger to my soul. “This is better than the alternative. At least now they have a chance.”
“A chance?” I choke on a bitter laugh. “What chance?”
“A chance to survive, or the opportunity to die with dignity, unmolested.” Locke whirls on me. “Do you think I like this? I don’t. But it’s better than the horror of rape happening aboard my—aboard the ships.”
“You know what I think?” I seethe, standing on tiptoe so I can hiss in his face. “I think you’re a rutting coward.”
“Think what you like.”
I shove him hard in the chest and stalk below, so angry I can barely see. I help the other pirates load the merchant vessel’s cargo onto theArdent, until our ship’s hold is full to bursting and Captain Neelan orders us to leave the rest.
“Wouldn’t want to sink our own ship,” he jokes, and the pirates laugh.
Then Captain Neelan turns to the dozen merchant sailors and soldiers I convinced to surrender. “I’m right sorry, lads, but I’m afraid we’re packed to the brim. We’ve no room or need for more bodies to serve before the mast.” He glances at his pirate crew. “What say you, lads? Should we treat these sailors to a good plank-walking, like in the jolly old days before the Pirate King abolished such things?”
34
No. Captain Neelan can’t murder the men whose lives I saved. I spared them, I forced them to surrender. They were supposed to besafe. My fingers curl into painfully tight fists at my sides. Desperation claws through my heart, ravages my throat. My eyes prickle with helpless tears.
At the idea of making the captives walk the plank, some of the men shout their approval. But several look uncomfortable, including the first mate, Shem, and the navigator, Dolomon.
“Hold up there, Captain,” says Dolomon. “It’s the Pirate King’s law that we must be taking aboard any man who yields to us and swears allegiance to the Crowned Skull.”
“Aye,” adds the first mate. “We followed the law with the women, Captain. Shouldn’t we follow it with these men as well? We can ditch some of the swag to make room for ’em. ’Tis the Pirate King’s wishes, sir.”
Captain Neelan turns to them slowly, his smile full of blades and blood. “But the Pirate King isn’t here now, is he? This is my ship, and while I may fly the Crowned Skull, I’m still the Captain. I give the orders. And I say we make these fools walk the plank. Every man-jack of you will report that these lubbers did not yield, that they fought to the very last soul. And anyone who thinks himself high-minded, who lets a word slip to the Pirate King or his officers—that man’ll have no place on this ship, and no part of the loot. Am I clear?”
“Yes, Captain!” shouts the pirate crew. Dolomon and the first mate echo, more quietly, “Yes, Captain.”
Locke says nothing. He does nothing but stand there, rooted to the deck, while the pirates set up a plank and march the merchant sailors off it, one by one. The sailors wail and plead, and the pirates guffaw, poking them along the plank with the tips of their swords. When the last merchant sailor clings to the end of the plank, refusing to drop, Captain Neelan levels a pistol and shoots him in the head.
Wheeling away, I clutch one of the ropes and start to climb the rigging. Anger fuels me, blurring my fear of the height. I launch from one of the beams branching from the mast and propel myself through the air, landing neatly on the deck of theArdent.
For a second I stare at my own hands, so much stronger now, and at my feet, so much steadier whether I’m on deck or below it. I’ve truly become a sailor.
No, I’ve become a pirate.
I know the crew of theArdentwill have noticed my abrupt departure. It’s the only rebellion I could risk, the only protest I could manage—and honestly I’m furious with myself about that, too. I’m just as much a coward as Locke.
