The Age of Bronze
The Age of Bronze (Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow #5)
Rob Kidd
CHAPTER ONE
The azure sea twinkled below a perfect sun. Welcoming beaches of soft white sand skirted the coastline. Above the shore rose tall grey cliffs, dotted with rows of palm trees that swayed in the breeze. Little silver schools of fish leaped out of the water. For once, life was calm and good."This is what it's all about, mates," Jack Sparrow said, sighing. He stood at the rail of his boat, the Barnacle, taking in a deep breath of the salty air.
"Can ` t say it's unpleasant not to be on the run for once," first mate Arabella said in agreement. She tossed her auburn hair back and toasted the ocean with a raised golden goblet. Rubies sparkled along its rim. Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III, a nobleman's son, ogled the cup and gave her a look."What?" she asked defensively. "It's only drinking water. I think I deserve a little special something after all we've been through. . . ."
"True enough, mon ami" Jean, another sailor, said, his green eyes twinkling. He clapped Fitzwilliam on the shoulder. "Leave Arabella alone. We all deserve a little special something' after our recent adventures, non?"
Constance, Jean's sister-turned-cat, meowed once in agreement, daintily cleaning one of her enorm ous, evil-looking yellow claws. "Yinb'ey pa wachoch," the Mayan sailor Tumen said, staring at the beach. Then he turned to the rest of his companions. "I'm going home," he translated."I haven't seen my home in over two years," Tumen continued. "I was kidnapped from my family by pirates. They took me right off the beach near our village. I was forced to work for them. I was sold from one ship to the next, including to some of your honourable English ships." He gave Fitzwilliam a look. "I am glad to finally be free, and I've had a lot of fun with you, but all I've ever wanted to do is go home."His eyes were wide and bright and he bit his lip, determined. But he was a little afraid to see how his mates would react."Point us in the right direction," Jack said with a grin and a bow. "W e'll be glad to take you home."
Just a few hours of easy sailing later, the Barnacle came to a small protected bay. Piled here and there on the sands were carved grey boulders, covered in weathered inscriptions and designs. Behind the shore was a line of jagged hills. Perched along them was a cluster of huts, all facing the ocean. Columns of sweet-smelling smoke rose up from the village, but otherwise it was empty.
"No one's here!" Arabella said, surprised.
"Not very friendly relatives, eh?" Jack said, securing the anchor. "What'd you do to make them hide from you, mate?" Jack leaned in toward Arabella. "It's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for," he whispered."This is a European-style boat," Tumen pointed out. "The last time one came here, they kidnapped me and my cousins."
"Fascinat ing!"
Fitzwilliam said, looking through his spyglass. "I have always wanted to see a native village! Look at their primitive cooking fires!"Ahem." Arabella pushed the spyglass down, clearing her throat. "Ye might want to save yer anthropological observations for later, Master Dalton. This is Tumen's family. Can't ye show a little respect?"Tumen hoisted himself over the side of the Barnacle, landing with a faint splash in the shallow water. Heya!" he called.Two heads peered out from behind the trunk of a palm tree.
Cautiously, a little boy and girl eased themselves into the open, staring at the ship with untrusting eyes. Then the girl's face lit up. "Tumen!" she cried, running forward.Tumen grinned and grabbed her, throwing her into the air and laughing. The little boy hugged Tumen's leg. "Meet my brother and sister, Kan and Kay," he said proudly.More villagers began slowly emerging from the bushes and houses. They wore bright red and white clothes with colourful stripes woven into them. The women wore their hair up in thick black ropes
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