Vampirates: Tide of Terror by Justin Somper Page B

prodigy!”
    “He’s doing really well,” Grace said. “He’s shaken up by Jez’s death. We all are. But Jez and Connor ...and Bart...were especially close.”
    “Yes.” Cheng Li sipped her tea ruminatively. “Of course — the Three Buccaneers and all that.”
    Grace nodded. “Connor will bounce back. He’s happy enough living the pirate life.”
    “But it doesn’t sound as if you are.”
    “I like it well enough.”
    “You’ve already used that expression, Grace. Why are you being so cagey? Don’t you trust me?”
    Wow! Leave it to Cheng Li to get straight to the point.
    “You don’t trust me,” she continued. “I can tell. It’s okay, Grace. I’m used to being the ‘bad cop’ on The Diablo .”
    Grace was impressed by her companion’s frankness. And it felt so good to be able to talk to someone about all her worries. Despite her doubts as to Cheng Li’s trustworthiness, she already felt something of a bond with the older girl. She felt too that Cheng Li might be able to help her.
    “It’s just that ...,” Grace began. She might as well spit it out. “It’s just that Captain Drakoulis made an accusation about you.”
    “I see. What exactly did Narcisos Drakoulis say? And to whom?”
    “He told Captain Wrathe — well, all the pirates really — that you were undercover on The Diablo . . . sent by the Pirate Federation, to spy on Captain Wrathe. That Captain Wrathe thought you were on a regular deputy captaincy apprenticeship and all the time you were operating as an agent of the Federation.”
    Cheng Li nodded, refilling Grace’s glass. “Pray continue, dear.”
    “You were supposed to bring Captain Wrathe into line but your mission failed. And that’s why you were suddenly called away again — to the Pirate Academy.”
    Cheng Li gazed intently at Grace. Grace felt nervous. Had she said too much?
    “It’s all true,” Cheng Li said.
    Grace couldn’t believe her ears.
    “I’m telling you this because I think you’ll understand. I do work for the Pirate Federation. They recruited me some years ago at the Pirate Academy and I’ve been working for them ever since.”
    “What exactly is the Federation?”
    “I’m coming to that,” Cheng Li said. “The Federation exists to further the cause of piracy throughout the world — to consolidate the power we have on the oceans and to develop a global network of pirate fleets, working in peaceful cooperation.”
    It sounded admirable stuff, thought Grace.
    “Molucco Wrathe is a lingering migraine as far as the Federation’s concerned,” continued Cheng Li. “He’s yesterday’s man but he just won’t go quietly into the night. In spite of our urging, he simply won’t come into line. Indeed, he operates willfully in isolation. He fails to respect other captains’ sea-lanes. He is motivated solely by the lure of a quick buck and a colorful adventure to swell his ego still further.” She paused. “This may sound extreme to you, Grace, but I’m afraid that Wrathe’s disregard for the Federation was the trigger which resulted in Jez Stukeley’s death.”
    Grace nodded. She had come to the same conclusion herself, though without — until now — the advantage of the bigger picture.
    “Narcisos Drakoulis is another loose cannon,” Cheng Li continued. “If I was given to more dramatic language, I’d say he was ‘psychotic.’ He’s certainly no poster boy of the Pirate Federation himself. But he had legitimate cause for argument with Molucco Wrathe. Wrathe has angered many other pirate captains through his wanton behavior. There were two differences here. First, Drakoulis and Wrathe have ancient history — a dispute over some treasure in Greece, which led to Wrathe sinking Drakoulis’ ship. Second, Drakoulis decided to do something about Wrathe’s recent wrongdoings. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m certainly not endorsing what Drakoulis did. Nor is the Federation. But Captain Wrathe invited that attack. If it hadn’t come