Vampirates 4: Black Heart (42 page)

Cheng Li stared down at Bo Yin, then spoke with surprising tenderness. "You shouldn't have acted so rashly. Your father will be upset and worried about you. I know how deeply you dream of becoming a pirate, but you really shouldn't have done this without talking to him, and to me, first."

"When you know what you want out of life," said Bo Yin, "you just have to go after it. Think back, Captain Li. When you were younger, if someone had told you you couldn't be a pirate, would you have let anything stand in your way?"

"No," Cheng Li agreed. "But that was different." She indicated the portrait behind her desk. "My father was a pirate."

Bo Yin shook her head. "That's not what you're supposed to say."

"No?" Cheng Li raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

Bo Yin grinned, stepping closer. "You're supposed to say how much I remind you of yourself at my age."

Cheng Li laughed, but it was the warmest laughter Connor had ever heard from her. "Is that right? Well, Bo, I guess you're right. I do see a lot of my younger self in you. Though you are much cheekier than I ever was."

Bo Yin pressed on. "And this is the part where you tell me that you'll give me a try, and if I prove myself to be worthy, you will talk to my father and persuade him that this has happened for the best."

Cheng Li smiled. "You have this all worked out, Bo Yin, don't you?"

The girl nodded. "I have given these things much thought, Captain Li. I had a lot of time to think on Lantao."

Cheng Li considered the situation for a moment, then made her decision. "Bo Yin, under normal circumstances, I'd let your cheek and enthusiasm carry the day. But, you see, my ship is no ordinary ship."

"No," agreed Bo Yin. "The Tiger is the best pirate ship, the very best."

"No, that's not what I meant. We have a special mission. A very dangerous mission. It wouldn't be right to involve you in this. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you."

Even now, Bo Yin was undaunted. "You're going to fight the Vampirates," she said. "I know all about it. That's why Connor Tempest and Jasmine Peacock came for new swords." She paused. "I can help!"

Cheng Li shook her head. "Bo, I'm so sorry to disappoint you, but you have no idea of the danger we're sailing into."

"I am not afraid of danger. I can help!"

Cheng Li was trying to remain patient. "Bo, how exactly do you think you can help?"

As ever, Bo was ready with the answer. "My father is a mastermind of weapons, yes? And I haven't been around him without picking up a few tips. For instance" -- she withdrew from her pocket a scrap of paper -- "the formula for the poison to dip your silver swords in. When you run out, I can prepare more for you. As you know, I am very proficient at recipes."

Cheng Li felt the wind had been taken out of her sails. Maybe this could just work. Of course, Bo would have to be kept well out of combat situations. That was imperative. But so long as that was understood, where was the real danger? She could give Bo Yin a trial, and after the immediate business with Lady Lola Lockwood was concluded, she could talk to Master Yin.

"All right," said Cheng Li. "You're in ... for now! If you're half as a good a pirate as you are a negotiator, you have a starry future ahead."

"Thank you, Captain Li," said Bo, giving her a salute. "I am honored to join your crew."

Suddenly, there was a scuffle behind Bo Yin. A furry ball darted through the gap between her legs. Connor watched in disbelief as Sinbad mirrored his mistress's gesture, raising his strange hand to his head and saluting the captain.

"What is that?" asked Cheng Li.

"He's an aye-aye, Captain," said Connor.

"Very funny, Connor," said Cheng Li. "I see your minibreak to Lantao has done wonders for your sense of humor."

"Actually, that's true, but he really is an aye-aye, isn't he, Bo?"

Bo Yin nodded, scooping Sinbad up into her arms. "He's my pet, Mistress Li. Say hello to Captain Li, Sinbad!"

Sinbad stretched out his wizened hand in Cheng Li's direction.

"I'm sorry," Cheng Li said. "You can stay, Bo Yin. But the Tiger is an animal-free zone. I'm running a pirate ship, not Noah's ark."

Bo Yin frowned, then set Sinbad down on the floor. "Here's the thing," she began. Connor sensed that another lengthy negotiation was about to begin.

41CHANGES

"I'm sorry," Connor said later as he and Cheng Li marched along the corridor. "You have to believe me. I had no idea she'd do this. And if we'd discovered her sooner, we'd have turned around."

"It's okay," said Cheng Li with surprising equanimity. "I don't think any of us could have stopped this from happening eventually. It was only a question of time. Bo Yin is a very ambitious young lady."

"So you're going to let her stay?"

Cheng Li nodded. "For now. But we'll keep her away from any combat scenarios. I'll need your help with that."

"Absolutely," Connor agreed.

"Now then," said Cheng Li, "where are these new weapons?"

"They're waiting for you in the armory," Connor said.

"Excellent! Let's go and take a look!" Cheng Li marched along the corridor. As usual, Connor had to race to keep up.

"Perfect!" declared Cheng Li, lifting one of the silver swords.

Perfect. The word took Connor back to the deck of the small ship. Jasmine standing in the sunlight. Her tanned shoulders turned toward him, her coconut-scented hair. Just before that delicious moment when she had turned and ...

"Connor!" Cheng Li's call brought his focus back into this room. "Didn't you hear me?"

"Sorry," he said. "I was distracted for a moment."

"We're about to embark on a dangerous and unprecedented mission," Cheng Li said. "You cannot afford to be distracted even for a split second."

"Yes, Captain!" Connor agreed. It was madness. Here he was, involved in the most dangerous pirate mission of all time, and all he could focus on was what it had felt like to be kissed by Jasmine Peacock, the prettiest girl at Pirate Academy. Where was she now? With Jacoby? Had she told him yet what had happened? His heart was racing.

"Come on," Cheng Li said. "I can see you're tired from your journey. Come and have dinner. It will be a good chance to catch up with your comrades."

Never one to refuse an offer of food, Connor followed Cheng Li out of the armory and up to the mess hall, or cafeteria, as Captain Li preferred her state-of-the-art eating area to be called. There was no captain's table as such -- Cheng Li preferred to eat with her crew, ensuring that she maintained day-to-day contact with the most junior recruits as well as her senior officers.

"Follow me," Cheng Li said, heading toward a table in the middle of the room. Connor saw that Jacoby and Jasmine were already seated there. They were laughing, and Jacoby had his arm around Jasmine's shoulder. Judging from these signs, she hadn't told him yet. She glanced up at Connor and smiled, but there was something guarded about her. Connor felt confused and a little bit crushed.

"Welcome back!" cried Jacoby, jumping up and initiating their secret handshake. "I hear you got us some state-of-the-art weaponry!"

Connor nodded.

"And hey" -- Jacoby leaned closer -- "thanks for bringing Min home safe," he said. "I would have been out of my head with worry if she'd been off with anyone but you!"

Connor painted a forced grin on his face. But as he turned, he saw something that turned the fake grin into a real one. Two familiar but out of place faces were sitting at the other end of the table. Bart and Cate.

"Guys!" Connor cried, racing over to hug them. "What are you two doing here?"

"We heard you were in need of some serious muscle," Bart said as he embraced his old friend. "So good to see you again, buddy!"

"You, too!" Connor was close to tears.

"We're on temporary loan," Cate told him. "Special dispensation for this mission. Ahab Black talked to Barbarro Wrathe, who talked to Molucco -- well, anyhow, here we are, for now."

"I am so happy to see you guys," Connor said. "I'm only surprised they didn't send Moonshine over with you."

As he said Moonshine's name, there was a cry from the food counter. "What's all this low-carb crapola? I demand a pizza!"

Connor turned around. At the same time, Moonshine looked up. Seeing Connor, he dug two fingers into his mouth. "I was feeling nauseous before," he cried. "Now, I'm really ready to hurl."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Connor called, remembering all too vividly how Moonshine had vomited over him -- twice! -- during a particularly bad crossing on board Barbarro Wrathe's ship, the Typhon.

As Moonshine threw aside his tray and stomped out of the cafeteria, Connor turned to Cate. "I was only joking before. What's the idea with Moonshine joining the team?"

Cate leaned forward. "It's politics, Connor," she said. "Pure politics. When Barbarro persuaded Molucco to loan us out, he insisted that Moonshine come, too. He's under the impression it will be character building for him!"

"Character building?" Connor exclaimed. "Are you sure that Barbarro isn't secretly hoping a Vampirate will do us all a favor and finish him off?"

Bart laughed.

Cate smiled but shook her head. "As ever, the strategy regarding Moonshine remains very straightforward: Keep him as far away from the action as possible."

"All right," said Connor, "but please don't even think about pairing me up with him this time."

"Don't worry," Cate said. "I promise that won't happen."

Bart rested his hand on Connor's shoulder. "Let's not waste time talking about that little twerp. Grab some grub, mate, and bring us up to speed on your adventures! We've missed you like crazy, haven't we, Cate?"

Connor noticed that Bart's other arm was draped around Cate's shoulders, and she made no attempt to remove it. Indeed, she was smiling contentedly. Connor grinned. "Looks like you two have some stuff to fill me in on, too!" he said.

"Get some food!" said Cate, trying hard to be formal but failing. To Connor's surprise and delight, she turned and kissed Bart just under his ear.

"Careful!" Connor joked. "Don't let Cheng Li see. This is a pirate ship, you know, not the Love Boat!"

On his way to the counter, Connor passed Jacoby and Jasmine, who had already finished eating and were heading out.

"See you later, buddy!" Jacoby called. "Me and Min got some catching up to do." He winked at Connor, then punched his shoulder and continued on, joking with mates at another table.

Connor felt a headache coming on. Jasmine held back, then reached out and touched his wrist. It was the lightest of touches but thrilling nonetheless. "Connor, don't be angry with me," she said. "I couldn't just blurt it out the minute we got back. But nothing has changed. I will tell him. Everything we said to each other on the way back from Lantao holds true. I want this as much as you do."

Connor smiled and let out a deep sigh. "Thanks, Min," he said. "That's a huge relief."

"Okay," she said, slipping free her hand. "I've got to go now. But I'll come and find you later. I promise."

"Okay," Connor said. Letting out a deep breath, he stepped forward and grabbed a tray.

The next day, Cheng Li watched from the upper deck of the Tiger as Cate began putting the fifty members of the crew selected for Operation Wedding Gift through new attack formations. The captain's eyes ranged from Jacoby to Jasmine, from Connor to Bart to Bo Yin, who was surprisingly dexterous with her épée. If the early signs were anything to go by, she had taken on a prodigiously talented new crew member in little Bo. Cheng Li smiled to herself. Everything was coming together very satisfactorily, in ways both planned and unexpected. She thought of something her father had once told her. Fate favors the brave. She hoped Chang Ko Li's words would hold true.

42THE SPELL

Grace burst into the captain's cabin. It was still a shock stepping inside and finding that the captain himself was absent. Where was he? Was he ever going to return to the Nocturne, to the crew who loved and missed and needed him? But as anxious as Grace was to solve this mystery, there were other, more pressing questions that needed to be answered.

"Grace," said Mosh Zu, turning from the steering wheel. He smiled, evidently neither surprised nor disturbed by her sudden appearance.