Nineteen

Mary

Everything was going so wrong. Anne was already down, disarmed, but struggling against the soldier clapping irons around her wrists. Then there was Jack on the deck, bleeding badly from that hole in his leg. And finally, Tobias, who was up on his feet, fighting.

If there was anything Mary was grateful for today, it was that: Tobias was alive.

When he'd fallen to the deck, everything in Mary had felt like it was spinning. She'd seen gray for a moment, lost her breath. But then Vane had shot Jack, too, startling her into action.

Quickly, she'd discovered the musket ball had hit the trusty compass Tobias always kept in his breast pocket. The force of the impact had knocked the wind out of him, dropping him to the deck, but he was unhurt, save a few shallow cuts from broken glass, and what would become an impressive bruise just over his heart.

When he'd opened his eyes and his mouth had made the shape of her name—well, Mary had never felt such relief. If Jack hadn't been hurt—bleeding profusely, in fact—and a fight hadn't been heating up, Mary might have bent and kissed Tobias. He was alive .

But then she'd heard Jack call for water, gone to help him, and the battle was on. Tobias, having recovered somewhat, was on his feet and swinging his cutlass at a soldier closing in on him.

"Good," Mary said as Tobias moved toward her. "I thought you might have decided to get a nap in."

"And miss this? Never!"

But when Mary caught his eye, there was a glimmer of fear there. They were so far outnumbered.

Mary cut and slashed at her enemies, ducking and dodging as they closed in on her. She needed to get to Tobias, to fall into her usual pattern with him. But as she scanned the noisy deck, she realized that he'd moved. Somehow, he'd been forced back against a wall.

"Ha!" cried the soldier she'd been fighting, taking advantage of her distraction. He thrust his blade at her, but Mary blocked and disarmed him. Before he could react, she scooped up his sword and hurled it at him, blade first.

He hit the deck. The sword whirled past him and struck one of the soldiers advancing on Tobias. Right in the arm. While those two were busy, Mary grabbed the nearest line and swung toward Tobias, feetfirst. She kicked another man, sending him straight into the water.

Pistols went off as Mary landed, moved a soldier around her to use as a shield, then threw him—and the musket balls now embedded in him—into the ocean after his friend.

Then there was only one left, who Tobias took down with a swift kick to the groin. Together, they sent him over the edge, too.

Musket balls were still flying and soldiers were still coming after them, but Mary needed to take care of one more thing.

Mary called out in Merish: "I've got something for you!"

"Mine?" came a voice from atop the mainmast, a voice between Merish and out-loud animal calls.

Another "Mine?" echoed from a different ship.

Suddenly, a flock of seagulls appeared out of nowhere, dive-bombing Barnet and his men. White feathers flew as the soldiers tried to fight them off. But there were hundreds of seagulls.

Mary turned to Tobias and sheathed her sword.

"I don't know how we survive this," he said urgently. "The men—"

"I know." At this point, she didn't care why some of them had turned on her, only that they had. "The only thing I'm worried about now," she said softly, "is you. If they catch you—"

Tobias glanced down. Port Royal wasn't Nassau. In Port Royal, Tobias wasn't likely to lose his life. He would lose his freedom. Which he'd said many times before would be a fate worse to him than death.

Around them, the seagulls were still going after the soldiers, but they wouldn't last much longer. They'd soon run out of shiny buttons and snacks to claim. Then they'd be gone, and Mary would be an easy target.

"I want to—" No, there was no time to explain. Instead, she grabbed Tobias's jacket, dragged him close, and kissed him.

He seemed startled at first. Surprised. But an instant later, he kissed her back, sweet and careful—just like he was. And the whole world melted away. The pistols. The swords. The screeching seagulls. Even Jack groaning on the deck.

The kiss felt exactly like she'd imagined, with those perfect, warm lips lingering over hers. His fingers touched her jaw. His other hand fell to her waist.

Mary wanted to stay like this forever.

But then the shrieking of seagulls stopped, and the fight came rushing back—and what she had to do.

She drew back from Tobias, her fists still clutching his jacket. He gazed at her, something between shock and elation on his face. And then he went all the way to shock as Mary pushed him over the rail of the ship.

He hit the water with a splash just as the last seagull flew away.

Mary lunged for Jack, ready to send her unconscious cousin overboard next, but she was too late. Hands clamped around her arms. Someone pried her sword off her belt. And then she felt the cold bite of iron around her wrists.

Jonathan Barnet came to stand in front of her, gazing down impassively. After the seagulls, he was a little more ragged than before, but it was clear to see he was a man who was usually well put together, with a red coat, shiny shoes, and a white wig.

"So this is the woman pirate, the fierce Mary Read I've heard so much about. I'm not impressed."

Mary spat at him, but before she could say anything, one of the men shoved a filthy rag into her mouth, gagging her.

"And was that Tobias Teach you just threw overboard? The son of Blackbeard?" Barnet sighed and shook his wig-topped head. "Ah, well, I'd have liked to murder him, too, but you win some, you lose some."

Mary bit into the gag as she scanned the deck for Anne Bonny. The girl's hands were bound with two pairs of handcuffs, and there were four pistols trained on her at all times. She, too, was gagged. Mary wondered what Anne had done while the birds had been attacking, because while she looked just the same as before—hair windblown and cheeks red with heat—she wore a feral little smile, made even wilder with the rag in her mouth.

At least until her eyes fell on Jack again. Then, pain.

She met Mary's eyes, seeming to ask, Why didn't you save him?

Mary shook her head, wishing to all the great waters that she'd been faster.

"Now," said Barnet, "you filthy pirates will be taken back to Port Royal, where you will be tried and assuredly found guilty of piracy, and then you'll be hanged." Then Barnet stepped directly in front of Mary and reached down for her neck. "What's this?"

Mary grunted and struggled, but there were too many men holding her back.

With a cruel smile, Barnet pulled the diamond necklace out from the collar of her shirt, his face so close to Mary's as he examined the blue diamond that she could smell the wine on his breath. "How pretty," he said. "Do you always wear diamonds on a pirate ship?" (Actually, Mary was wearing the necklace because it was priceless and she didn't want to lose it, and she'd figured the best place not to lose it was around her neck. Which she understood now was a mistake.) "Do you fancy yourself some sort of—I don't know— queen ? Ah yes, I've heard about your little contest. Ha ha. I thought you pirates called yourselves a democracy. A brotherhood, of sorts. Pathetic. But there is one element of this silly game of yours that interests me." He loomed over her, his fingers closing around the diamond. "Treasure. And the acquisition of said treasure." He lifted the necklace from around her neck and began to pace back and forth in front of her, still holding the necklace aloft, letting the moonlight play along the facets of the stone. "Fun story: When I killed Blackbeard and his crew aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge , I kept one or two of his men alive because I'd heard a rumor that Blackbeard had a treasure."

Mary fought to keep her expression neutral as the pirate hunter looked at her assessingly.

"After a bit of light torture," he continued, "one of these men told me there was indeed a treasure. At a cute little farm in North Carolina. Plum Point. Have you been? It's charming. Of course, I had to go see for myself. But alas, I could find no treasure. Not even one single piece of eight. It was gone." He pouted. "I thought the treasure was lost to me forever, but now—happy day!—here you are, a known associate of Blackbeard's son. Do you, perchance, happen to know where Blackbeard's treasure is?"

He waited. Then he realized she had the gag in her mouth.

"Oh, excuse me," he said, and pulled the gag free.

Mary glared daggers at him. "Even if I did know," she said, "I'd die before I'd tell you."

He gazed at her for a long moment and then sighed. "Unfortunately, I believe you." He pushed the gag back into her mouth. "Oh well." He shoved the necklace into his pocket and signaled someone from another ship. "All right, men, let's take these criminals back to Port Royal for due process!"

They didn't have to go far. Port Royal was, like we said, very close. They'd been sailing into dangerous waters when they'd gone to the boot.

Why , Mary wondered for the tenth or twentieth time, would Blackbeard hide the key to his treasure so close to Port Royal?

Perhaps because he'd understood very few pirates would ever think to look there. Only Tobias, with his knowledge of the maps and codes. Regardless of the reason, Blackbeard had gotten them caught. And Vane. That bilge rat.

By morning, Mary, Anne, Jack, and the rest of the crew of the Ranger were crowded into the courtroom for the trial. Vane was in the audience, looking smug.

It was obvious from the judge's face that this wasn't going to be a long event. He'd already made up his mind.

Mary sat stiffly in the chair they'd provided, Anne next to her. And Jack, poor Jack, was awake, but obviously in incredible pain.

"Is Tobias all right?" Jack asked in Merish.

"I don't know." Mary hoped Tobias had made it to the safety of the other ships, but she couldn't begin to guess. And even if the mermaid's kiss worked—which she didn't know if she could still do, now that she was human—it would be a long swim. A very long swim. Much longer than twenty-seven minutes.

Her heart sank the more she thought about it, so she tried not to think about it. Instead, she nudged Anne. "I'm glad you came aboard," Mary said quietly. "You've been an asset. A real pirate's pirate."

"I only wish I'd been able to make a name for meself," Anne said. "Like Grace O'Malley."

"I'd like to hear about her sometime," Mary said.

Just then, the judge banged his gavel and everyone went quiet.

"State your names," the judge ordered.

Mary lifted her chin. "Mary Read."

Anne seemed to think for a moment, then said, "Anne Brennan Cormac."

And finally, Jack said, "Jack Rackham, but please call me Calico Jack. I'm hoping it catches on."

The judge did not look like he was about to call Jack Calico Jack.

"Your Honor," Barnet said, standing from his seat with a flourish, "these people are pirates. They were caught on the pirate ship Ranger engaging in suspicious pirate activity. Inspection revealed that the cargo hold was full of bananas—and as you know, the Chango was raided recently. Indeed, that ship was on its way here—to deliver much-needed bananas to Port Royal. It never arrived."

The judge gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "Those bananas would have fed a lot of people on this island. And you're certain the bananas found on the Ranger were stolen from the Chango ?"

"Yes, Your Honor. On that fellow"—Barnet pointed to Mr. Child, the ship's chef—"we found this recipe book. If I may approach the bench to present the evidence."

"You may." The judge took the book and flipped through it. "Well, this is terribly suspicious. What other evidence can you present?"

Barnet unfurled a black flag—the skull and crossbones. "They were flying this."

The judge put on his spectacles. "That's not a flag I've ever seen before. Is it new? It's quite good, as far as pirate flags go."

"You think so, Your Honor?" Jack leaned forward. "I don't want to brag, but I designed it. I call it the Jolly Roger, because—"

"Shut up, Jack," Mary hissed in Merish. "The trial is about whether or not we're pirates. And you're confessing."

"I mean," Jack said out loud, "I designed it as a joke. Not as anything serious. Obviously if I'd designed it in a serious manner, I'd be a pirate. Which I'm not. None of us are." Then, in Merish, he said to Mary, "Lying is so easy when you just say it out loud!"

"Nobody believes you," she replied, also in Merish.

"Interesting." The judge motioned for Barnet to put away the flag. "And is there anything else?"

"Tobias Teach was aboard the Ranger , Your Honor," Barnet said. "Sadly, he jumped overboard before he could be apprehended. But as you know, he's Edward Teach's son—Blackbeard, that is. And, finally," Barnet said, "perhaps the worst crime of all is that these two were aboard the Ranger ." He pointed at Mary and Anne. "And that one"—now he pointed only at Mary—"is said to be the captain of the ship."

The judge's face twisted. "But she's a girl."

Barnet pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know. It's—Well, it's disgusting, frankly. I knew pirates were low, but I didn't think they allowed women to command."

"Absolutely indefensible behavior," the judge agreed. "Now, have you any witnesses?"

"I do." Barnet motioned for Vane. "This is Charles Vane, former captain of the Ranger . He and I have reached an agreement. In exchange for testifying today, he'll retire from his life as a pirate and live the rest of his days as an upstanding and useful member of society."

Mary snorted.

The judge raised an eyebrow. Then he turned to Vane. "Is that so? You're willing to retire?"

"Aye," rasped Vane. "All I want now is to settle down with my lady love, Bess."

"He's lying!" Anne burst out. "They broke up ages ago. Bess will never take him back."

"Order!" The judge banged the gavel. "Order!" He turned back to Vane. "Well, let's hear what you have to say about your former crew."

Vane narrowed his eyes as he looked at the assembled crew of the Ranger . His glare lingered a moment on Mary. Then he grinned, showing the gold glint in his teeth. "I can attest that all these men and, uh, women, are indeed pirates. They've engaged in all manner of pirating activities, from stealing to mutiny to forcing innocent folks to walk the plank. That Read is one of the hardest, most heartless pirates I ever met. Why, she started calling for all men to be thrown off ships—"

Mary slammed her hands against the table and surged up. "That's a lie! I never said—"

Bang, bang! The gavel hit the bench again. "Order!" ordered the judge. "I'll not be having any he said, she said nonsense in my courtroom. Now, Vane, is there anything else you wanted to say?"

Vane clasped his hands in front of him, the picture of a remorseful and reformed pirate. "I'll conclude by saying only that Mary Read made me afraid for my life. If she and her crew are permitted to go free, no man will be safe."

"All right," said the judge. "I suppose I've heard enough to make my decision."

Mary cleared her throat. "Wait, aren't I allowed to defend myself? And my crew?"

The judge practically rolled his eyes. "All right. What do you wish to say?"

"We were not engaging in any illegal activity when Barnet found us. We hadn't done anything wrong. And I don't know how those bananas got on my ship. Clearly that so-called evidence was planted."

Jack gasped and, in Merish, said, "You are so good at lying!"

"What about the Kingston ?" Barnet said. "You tried to take that."

"Did I?" Mary tilted her head. "Did you find the Kingston while rifling through my pockets or something? Or was it also in the Ranger 's hold?"

A few people from the audience laughed.

"That's enough," the judge said. "You walk like a pirate. You talk like a pirate. You're clearly a pirate."

Mary couldn't help her proud smile.

"Therefore, I sentence you—and your entire crew—to hang until dead." The judge checked his pocket watch. "We'll do it in the square at sundown, to give everyone something to discuss over dinner. Until then, you will be held in Fort Charles."

Mary's smile fell. Why was there always a mention of Charles?

Beside her, Jack looked utterly miserable.

But then Anne stood. Fierce Anne Bonny. She turned to Vane and the men who'd joined with him, standing behind them, all shame-faced and guilty. "If you had fought like men," she accused, "then you wouldn't hang like dogs."