Cheng Li thought for a moment. “So, the first contact you made after you’d left the ship was through Lorcan’s Claddagh ring. When you touched the ring, it appears you somehow triggered a response from your friends aboard the ship.”
Grace nodded.
“I’m sure they planned this,” Cheng Li said. “I’m sure that’s why Lorcan gave you the ring in the first place.”
“He left me a note,” Grace said. “He said it was something to remember him by. He said . . . he said to ‘travel safe.’”
“Well, there you are, Grace,” said Cheng Li, trium-phantly. “He virtually told you what to expect. It was his way — the Vampirates’ way — to help you travel back to the ship.” She paused, allowing a fresh thought to arrive and flower in her mind. “When you went on your own journey to the ship — a spirit journey, we might say, or astral journey — did you touch the ring to initiate this? Did it heat up like before?”
Grace shook her head. “I don’t think it had anything to do with the ring that time.”
“Fascinating,” said Cheng Li. “Okay. Then it seems to me that your connection is getting stronger. It’s as if they used the ring just to get your attention — to prepare you, as it were. And now...”
“Now what?” Grace was anxious to hear Cheng Li’s thoughts.
“Now it seems like they are ready to call you back more strongly.”
“So now, I just have to wait for them to call me again?”
Cheng Li thought for a moment. “Let’s try an experiment, shall we? Try touching the ring now.”
Grace raised her thumb and forefinger to the ring. “It’s cool,” she said.
“Keep on holding it,” said Cheng Li. “Tell me the moment its temperature changes.”
Grace kept hold of the Claddagh ring, just as she had so many times before. Cheng Li sat there, watching. Finally, after several minutes had elapsed, she asked Grace, “Any-thing?”
Grace shook her head.
“All right then,” said Cheng Li. “I think the ring is yesterday’s news. Now you have to wait until they call you. But be prepared. It could happen at any moment.”
“But how can I get back to the ship properly?” asked Grace.
“Don’t ask me,” Cheng Li said, with a smile. “Ask them! The next time you find yourself on that ship, that’s the first question you must ask them.”
Grace nodded. That made sense.
“It’s getting late,” Cheng Li said. “This has been fascinating, Grace, but I do think you should get some rest ahead of dinner. We will talk more of this. I shall keep thinking about it. Whenever you want to talk to me again, just say the word.”
“Thank you,” Grace said. “Thank you for listening.”
“No, Grace,” said Cheng Li. “Thank you for trusting me. It means a lot.” She smiled as she headed toward the door, then turned. “I would advocate saying very little to the other captains about this. They’ll doubtless want to know about your background. When they ask, I’d say nothing about the Vampirates. Not everyone is as open-minded as I am.”
Grace nodded. Cheng Li stood by the door, observing her with a curious look.
“What is it?” Grace asked. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that the most fascinating part of all this,” said Cheng Li, “is the connection you felt — that you still feel — to them. Other people would be grateful that they had escaped from that ship with their life. But you — you would willingly return.”
“Of course!” Grace said. “Wouldn’t you?”
Cheng Li considered the question. “Honest answer? I don’t know. I’m a survivor, Grace. Like you, I’m curious about the world and its mysteries. But to willingly throw myself into danger ...I really don’t know if I would do that.” She paused. “I remember one time, I asked your brother about you. And the way he spoke of you, he made you sound like the most extraordinary person.”
Grace flushed with surprise and pleasure.
“And now that I know you for myself, Grace Tempest,” Cheng Li continued, “now, I see that it is true.”
With those words, Cheng Li finally slipped out, smiling, into the corridor. Grace was exhausted — from her journey; from talking so much and from the relief of unburdening her secrets. As the door clicked shut, she lay back on the bed, her head seeking out the soft pillows, and immediately fell asleep.
18
THE CAPTAINS’ TABLE
At seven-thirty sharp, Jacoby Blunt knocked on Commodore Kuo’s door.
“Come in,” called the headmaster.
Jacoby pushed open the door, allowing Grace and Connor to step inside the headmaster’s study before following them in.
“Good evening, everyone,” Commodore Kuo said, looking up from his desk, where he still seemed to be hard at work. He was dressed as he had been earlier that day, but with the addition of a small pair of spectacles.
“I’ll be with you in just one moment,” he said, glancing back down to read over a document. Apparently satisfied, he inscribed his signature with a flourish of turquoise ink and slipped the document into his out-tray. Then he replaced the lid on his pen, removed his glasses and set them both down on the desk.
“A headmaster’s work is never done,” he said, standing to push back his chair and step away from his immaculately tidy desk. “Quick, let’s make an escape before something else crops up requiring my input.”
Slipping a dinner jacket over his waistcoat, he flashed a smile at Grace and Connor. “I trust you’ve enjoyed your first afternoon at the Academy?”
“Oh yes!” said Connor. “We had a great look all over. I had a long walk around the harbor and we saw the ‘lagoon of doom’ with its practice ship. And then I went for a swim in the pool. It was awesome.”
“Excellent,” said Commodore Kuo. “How about you, Grace?”
Grace flushed, remembering Cheng Li’s advice to keep her counsel. “Oh yes, it’s all wonderful,” she said, hoping she could get away with being so vague. It appeared that, on this occasion, she could.
“Terrific,” Commodore Kuo said, leading them over to the French windows at the back of his study. “I thought we’d all eat on the terrace as it’s such a fine night.” He opened up the doors and they immediately heard the buzz of chatter. Their audience was already waiting for them, it seemed.
“No going back now,” Jacoby whispered, from behind the twins.
Commodore Kuo stepped out onto the terrace. Grace, Connor and Jacoby followed. A long table had been set out there, lined with candles and groaning with food — from mountains of king prawns to platters of dressed crab and lobster and, sitting simmering on hot plates, bowls of unimaginably sweet-smelling curries, rice, and noodle dishes.
The other teachers were already crowded around the table, drinking wine and nibbling on canapés. There were, Connor noticed, just four empty seats at the table — two at the head and two at the foot. Just enough for the headmaster, Jacoby, himself and Grace.
“Now, Jacoby,” Commodore Kuo said, “why don’t you take this seat here, while I introduce Connor and Grace to everybody?”
Jacoby did as instructed, slipping into the seat. At the same time, Commodore Kuo clapped his hands together. “Everybody, if I might have your attention?”
Ten men and women turned. Most were silent, looking toward the twins with interest. One of the women was still finishing off a conversation.
“. . . certainly not in my day. It’s a complete nonsense if you ask me.”
Commodore Kuo beamed at her. “Captain Quivers, I’m as keen as mustard to know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“Well, perhaps we may return to that presently, but first, allow me to introduce you all to Grace and Connor Tempest.”
There were various nods and smiles from along both sides of the table. And then Commodore Kuo put his hands together and started clapping. The applause was taken up by the seated teachers, though not quite uniformly. Grace no
ticed that Captain Quivers was the last to join in and didn’t do so for long. She rather wished the others had proved so unenthusiastic. This was getting really embarrassing! She noticed that Connor seemed to be far less embarrassed. In fact, he was clearly enjoying the attention.
“Now,” continued Commodore Kuo, “as you know, the Tempest twins are our guests at the Academy this week. Mistress Li extended an invitation on our behalf, and Connor and Grace agreed to take a break from their valuable duties aboard The Diablo to come and see what we’re all about. And I’m sure that we’re all very grateful to Molucco Wrathe for agreeing to allow these young pirates shore leave.”
“Here’s to Molucco!” cried Captain Quivers wildly, raising her wineglass and sloshing a little of the liquid on the otherwise pristine tablecloth. “Oops.”
“Yes,” Commodore Kuo said, smoothly. “Here’s to Molucco.” He raised his own glass, gave a chuckle, then moved briskly on.
“Well, I think it’s high time that we tucked into this tempting feast,” he said. “But just before we do, of course I would like to make some personal introductions.”
He placed a hand on each of the twin’s shoulders and began introducing each of the captains ranked along the table.
“Grace, Connor ...this is Captain René Grammont, formerly of The Troubadour ...”
“Bonsoir, Monsieur et Mademoiselle Tempest.” Captain Grammont nodded formally in the twins’ direction.
“Next to René: Captain Francisco Moscardo, formerly of The Santa Anna and The Inferno ...”
“Buenos noches, Tempest twins.”
“Then,” continued Commodore Kuo, “we have Captain Lisabeth Quivers, formerly of The Passionflower.”
“Hello, Grace. Hello, Connor. A great pleas —”
“And at her side, Captain Pavel Platonov of The Muscovite.”
“Dos vadanya,” said Captain Platonov, rising and giving an exaggerated bow. Grace noticed Captain Quivers give a little laugh at this.
“I hope you’re keeping up,” laughed Commodore Kuo. “Next we have Captain Apostolos Solomos of The Seferis.”
“Kalispera, Connor and Grace.” Captain Solomos gave them a broad smile.
“And then there’s Mistress Li, to whom you need no introduction.” Cheng Li nodded formally to them. It was as if she and Grace had never had their recent heart-to-heart. Grace was pleased — Cheng Li was playing her part so that no one would suspect. “Now, Mistress Li has yet to captain a ship, of course, but we know that her future will be as illustrious as any of us seated here today. Indeed, I might go so far as to say she may well eclipse a reputation or two.”
“Hear, hear!” cried the woman seated next to Cheng Li.
“May I present Captain Kirstin Larsen of The Krönborg Slot.”
Captain Larsen had the whitest blond hair Grace had ever seen, intensified by a deep suntan and eyes as blue as a mountain spring. Captain Larsen raised a glass to the twins, then drained it in one draught.
“Next, we have Captain Floris van Amstel of The Koh-i-Noor.”
“Good evening.”
“And Captain Shivaji Singh of The Nataraj.”
Captain Singh bowed. Grace was tempted to mirror the gesture, but felt too inhibited so just nodded in response. She glanced at Connor. He was smiling from ear to ear. She could see how much he was enjoying meeting these captains who, according to Cheng Li, were among the most accomplished pirates in the world. Better yet, they appeared to be only too eager to meet Connor and Grace!
“And last of all, Captain Wilfred Avery of The Barbary Corsair.”
Of course. They had glimpsed Captain Avery several times from afar since they had arrived at the Academy, but now here he was across the table from them, his tanned face covered with white wisps of mustache and beard.
“We’ll be testing you both on all our names before dessert,” he beamed at the twins. Grace found herself instantly liking Captain Avery. She smiled back.
“Now, you sit here, Grace,” Commodore Kuo said, pulling out a chair for her between Cheng Li and Captain Solomos. Then the headmaster strode to the other end of the table and indicated for Connor to sit on the chair between himself and Captain Grammont. Jacoby was already sitting opposite and had begun tucking into the food.
“Connor, shall I help you to some of this green curry?” Captain Avery said. “It’s really rather good.”
“Yes, please,” Connor said.
“What about a crevette?” Captain Grammont said, following suit.
A crevette? What was he talking about?
The captain extended a wooden spear bearing a plump king prawn toward Connor. “A crevette,” he repeated.
“Oh, great, yes — thanks.”
Gradually, Grace’s plate filled up, too, and she joined the captains in their hearty feast. She wondered if they ate like this every night. She’d ask Jacoby later. She imagined that the other students, who had eaten an hour or so earlier, had received somewhat simpler fare.
“So tell us about yourself, Connor,” Captain Grammont said. “We know little about you except what an impressive start you have made aboard The Diablo.”
“Yes, tell us,” added Grammont’s neighbor — Captain Moscardo. “Did you always want to be a pirate?”
“What he really means is,” Captain Avery interjected, “did you read all about our exploits and dream of being one of us?”
Connor shook his head. “No, absolutely not.”
Captain Moscardo looked disappointed, but Commodore Kuo laughed at Connor’s answer. “Go on, Connor, tell them where you come from.”
“Well, we were born in Crescent Moon Bay . . .”
There was a chorus of sympathetic sighs.
“You know it?”
“Connor, it’s our business to know every bay, reef, and creek on the map,” Captain Avery said softly.
“Oh, of course. Well, my dad was the lighthouse keeper there. But he died and we didn’t have anyone left, so Grace and I —”
“What about your mother?” interjected Captain Quivers, directing the question at Grace.
“We never knew our mother,” Grace said sadly. “She died . . . giving birth to us.”
“How terrible ...for all of you.”
“So,” said Captain Moscardo, “you two had nothing left in that godforsaken bay.”
“No,” Grace said. “So we took our dad’s yacht and sailed away.”
“But where were you going?” Captain Grammont asked.
“We didn’t know then,” said Connor. “We just knew we had to get away. We thought we’d sail down the coast and see where we ended up.”
Captain Avery’s eyes twinkled at him. “The first sign that you do have pirate’s blood in your veins.”
“And where did you end up?” Captain Moscardo persisted.
“We were caught in a storm,” Connor said. “Our yacht was decimated by it and we both thought we were going to drown.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Captain Quivers. “You poor, poor children.”
“But,” Connor continued, “I was rescued by Mistress Li and taken aboard The Diablo.”
“And you, Grace?” inquired Captain Larsen, turning her crystal-blue eyes upon Grace.
Grace could sense, without looking, that Cheng Li was watching her carefully. The other captains now also stared in her direction. She took a breath, then spoke.
“I was rescued by another ship.”
“Which one?” pressed Captain Larsen. “We know pretty much all the pirate ships in these waters.”
“It wasn’t a pirate ship,” Grace said.
“Then what? A private vessel?”
“Something like that,” Grace said, praying that Cheng Li would step in and rescue her. But help came from another side entirely.
“Details, details,” Captain Avery said, with a smile. “The important thing is you both were rescued. And you found yourselves upon The Diablo. And what, pray tell, were your first impressions of Captain Wrathe?”
C
onnor knew he had to tread carefully, unsure of how the others felt about Molucco. Molucco wasn’t a big fan of the Academy so perhaps the teachers here were similarly disparaging about him? On the other hand, Molucco’s old sword had taken pride of place in the Rotunda.
“Captain Wrathe has been very good to me ...to us,” Connor said.
“He always had a keen eye for young talent,” Captain Quivers said.
“And, Connor,” Moscardo pressed forward again, “you weren’t at all scared to learn swordplay?”
Grace felt the attention turn back to her brother. Part of her was a little resentful but mostly she was relieved. The less questions they asked her the better, she suspected. She took the opportunity to exchange a brief smile with Cheng Li.
Cheng Li winked at her supportively, then offered her the platter of salt-and-pepper squid.
“No.” Connor shook his head. “I wanted to learn. It was my reward.”
“Your reward?”
“For helping Captain Wrathe in an attack.”
“You remember, Captains,” Commodore Kuo interjected. “Wrathe pillaged Governor Acharo’s house, up at Port Hazzard — and Acharo’s two boys staged a revenge attack on The Diablo.”
“Oh, yes.” Captain Grammont nodded. “I remember.”
“And Connor defended Captain Wrathe,” added Commodore Kuo. “Saved his life, by all accounts.”
“More’s the pity,” muttered Captain Singh. Connor made a mental note that here at least was one captain definitively opposed to Molucco.
Commodore Kuo caught Connor’s expression and was quick to respond. “You’ll hear some divided opinions here about Captain Wrathe, but I’m sure you’re no stranger to those already.”
This Connor had to admit was true.
“Frankly,” Commodore Kuo continued with a smile, “Captain Wrathe has always divided opinion. As any character that large might. You’re aware, perhaps, of the Pirate Federation and the rule of the sea-lanes?”
“Yes.” Connor nodded. “Of course.”
Vampirates: Tide of Terror Page 13