Read Online Ocean Without End by Kelly Gardiner - Free Book Online

that?’
    â€˜I shouldn’t think so.’
    I was silent for a moment.
    â€˜What does he want with the grotto? There’s nothing there, I’ve been in dozens of times.’
    Jem shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea. Captain’s a mysterious man, and that’s how he likes it.’
    â€˜Diablo and his mysteries!’ I spat the words. ‘You must know some of it, Jem. How could he have known my father? Was it Diablo who sold him as a slave?’
    He looked startled. ‘A slave?’
    â€˜Do you know what happened?’
    â€˜Quiet,’ he whispered. ‘I won’t speak of it on this ship.’
    â€˜But I must know.’
    â€˜You will, one day, but not now.’
    So he did know, and one day I, too, would learn the truth.
    â€˜I’ll wait,’ I conceded. ‘But Diablo — has he really stopped attacking ships? Is he running scared, like the boys say?’
    â€˜Keep your voice down,’ Jem warned. ‘No, he’s not scared. He’s got some plan or other a-hatching. But if a pretty prize sailed across our path right now, I’d bet you a dozen doubloons he’d be after it.’
    I didn’t know then how soon Jem’s words would become truth.

    The cry came at dawn, from the night watch peering through a murky sunrise. Two sails to starboard, downwind: a merchant ship with a smaller escort, probably a sloop. The men all thundered on deck to size them up.
    â€˜Ripe for the picking,’ cried Miller from up in the tops. ‘Greeks, I’d wager.’
    â€˜They’ve seen us, too,’ said Max. ‘Look! They’re breaking out their topsails.’
    Sure enough, in the distance, extra canvas billowed from the topmasts. They were hoisting as many sails as they could, trying to escape. At that moment, Diablo appeared on the quarterdeck. Every man stood still and waited for his word. He scrutinised the ships through the telescope for what seemed forever.
    â€˜Boys,’ he said quietly, ‘clear for action.’
    A few of the men cheered, but they were drowned out by the tremendous shouting that suddenly rose on deck.
    â€˜Hoy there, clear for action!’
    â€˜Starboard watch, hands to the topsails!’
    â€˜Max! Run out the jib as well.’
    This time I would not help them. I couldn’t even watch as Gisella gained on her prey. I retreated down below, where Cook was in a frenzy packing up the galley in readiness for battle.
    â€˜There you are, girl. About time, too. Now you’ll learn what it’s all about.’
    â€˜I don’t want to know anything more. I’m sick of this ship, and everyone on it.’
    Cook stopped what he was doing and looked me straight in the eye.
    â€˜You listen here, princess. It may well be that you’re sick of being here, but you aren’t the only one.’ He was glaring at me, hands on his hips, looking, despite his size, just like my mother when I was in really big trouble.
    â€˜We’re about to go into action. You don’t know what that is — you’ve never seen it. I’m not going to lock you up like young Carlo, because I need you to help me. You are about to learn the other half of being a ship’s cook — buccaneering or naval, it’s all the same. This galley is about to become a hospice, and you’re going to be right here with me doing everything I tell you. Do you understand me?’
    I nodded. I thought I understood.
    â€˜Right, get Carlo to bring up two barrels of waterand a cask of brandy. Then tell Miller to lock Carlo up out of the way. We don’t want him damaged. He’s precious goods.’
    I nodded again and ran off, calling out for Carlo among all the shouting men amidships. The guns were being rolled and lashed into position with thick hawsers, and powder casks were dragged across the floor. Moggia was handing out cutlasses and boarding axes, shouting for everyone to save their blunderbuss