Vampirates: Black Heart by Justin Somper

Author:Justin Somper
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Action & Adventure - General, Magic, Pirates, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Bedtime & Dreams, Juvenile Fiction, Seafaring life, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Horror & Ghost Stories, General, Twins, Sea stories, Adventure stories, Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12), Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction, Vampires
ISBN: 9780316020879
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-04-01T02:15:34+00:00

25THE SECRET CACHE

"What's it like in there?" Connor asked, catching up with Jasmine as she hovered on the threshold of room 8.

"I can't see anything much," she said. "It's dark and decidedly musty inside."

"Spooky!" exclaimed Jacoby.

"Don't worry," Jasmine said with a grin. "I'll hold your hand if you're scared."

"In that case, I'm really, really scared!" Jacoby said, reaching out his hand.

"Wait up!" cried Cheng Li, striding over to join them at the door. She folded her arms, her face severe. "I must remind the three of you that we are here on very serious business." Her dark eyes bore into those of her crew. "We are here to solve a murder. The murder of our headmaster, a leader of the Pirate Federation and -- and a good friend. This is not a jolly little adventure. You're not schoolkids anymore, you're professional pirates on my crew. I took a big gamble placing you three in such senior roles. Don't make me regret it."

"Sorry, boss," said Jacoby. "I guess we just got a bit caught up in the adrenaline rush of cracking the code and all that."

"He's right," Jasmine said. "We do understand the gravity of the mission. Varsha was one of my best friends." There were tears in Jasmine's eyes as she continued. "I can't even bear to think about what she and Zak and Commodore Kuo went through."

Cheng Li turned to Connor. He could tell she was waiting for him to say his piece. He took a breath and then began. "There was no great love lost between me and Commodore Kuo. I'd be a hypocrite if I pretended there was. But no one deserves to die like that."

Cheng Li surveyed her crew members once more. "All right," she said, "I'm glad we had this conversation. Now let's proceed in a more appropriate manner."

The others stepped aside to give her room, and she pushed back the door to the secret archive. As Jasmine had observed, it was dark inside, but the blue light from the corridor stretched far enough to illuminate a table on which sat four hurricane lamps, candles, and a box of matches.

"Come on!" Cheng Li exclaimed. "Let's get some light in here." She lit the lamps, with Connor's assistance. They passed one each to Jasmine and Jacoby and stepped back as the lamplight revealed the room to them. It was long and narrow, with shelves on either side, lined with rows of identical boxes. At the end of the avenue of shelves were a pair of desks and a few chairs. Behind the desk were bookshelves crammed tightly with volumes. Tacked onto the wall above them were several maps, punctured by colored pins.

Cheng Li peered at one of the maps. "Fascinating," she murmured.

Connor appeared at her side. "These maps," he said, "they chart sightings of the Vampirate ship, don't they?"

Cheng Li nodded. "Who'd ever have imagined it?"

Connor smiled to himself. Certainly not Cheng Li, he thought. He again remembered telling her about his sighting of the Nocturne when they first met.

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