Dead Men Tell No Tales Read Free Page A

one knows how this djab was trapped into the pit, or by whom, but it has been set free and the only way to return it to imprisonment is to perform a Caille Ceremony at the Well: a sacrifice.”
    “ And this should be enough to stop the Curse?”
    “ I was raised to be a Mambo, Captain Drake, and I know how to perform. The rite was taught to my mother by Ghedé, the Lord of the Dead.”
    “ But how do you think a single ship can intrude into the fiend’s territory? We’ll be diced to the last!” Drake was shouting.
    “ There’s a way. And you’ll see it,” stated Red Leg.
    ****
    Five days later they were at sea again, but what sailed those waters could no longer be recognized as the Banshee’s Cry.
    The hull had been painted black, some red splotches flowered at the aft and the bow, and tattered black canvases fluttered at every wind’s stroke. Worse yet, were the macabre decorations bedecking the bowsprit, for nailed on it stood a dozen yellowed skulls, clinging to the wood as hellish barnacles. Both side sported fishing nets, ripe with bones they echoed the horrors at the stem, and arcane symbols, borne out of nightmares, defaced her masts.
    The crew was silent and lay sprawled on the main deck, afflicted by a dreadful mood. Fifty fighters, sulked and foul, crammed the ship’s decks, while Captain Drake was standing by the tiller with a void expression.
    They knew nothing of this voyage’s purpose; still they were obedient followers of Red Leg, never questioning his orders. Of the Banshee’s original crew only MacTavish, Geist, and Luther were allowed aboard.
    Drake felt the ship no longer belonged to him.
    MacTavish joined him at the tiller. “That Irishman’s crazy, y’know? We must do something. This ain’t boldness, it’s suicide!”
    Drake nodded, but pointed to the horizon.
    A pearly and luminescent mist was now coming into view, hiding whatever – or whoever – lurked within it. “I think it’s too late for that.”
    The Scotsman reacted by letting out a curse, then turned again toward his Captain. “That’s impossible! We can’t be there yet! I swear …”
    “ Mac, the Devil’s Sea is growing,” Drake broke in. “In less than a year it will reach Jamaica’s shores. We already smell its awful decay in night’s wee hours. I don’t care anymore; it’ll be all upon us, now or then,”
    Then, shook his head and said, “Handle the tiller, Mac. I need to talk with that woman.”
    Kaya was in one of the aft cabins.
    Drake found her, half-naked, standing inside a circle drawn on the floor, surrounded by black tallow candles. He gasped at that sight and was about to leave when her husky voice halted him on his track, “Come in, do not fear. I’ve finished.”
    “ I didn’t mean to disturb you, just checking if everything’s fine,” he said.
    “ No. You came because you’re attracted to me, Captain,” she said, turning slowly to reveal her bared bosom.
    Daniel’s irises widened at the sight, due more to the woman’s immodesty than the vision of her exposed breasts.
    “ Do not deny it. I was aware by the moment we first met. I’ve been ridden too many times by Erzulie Fréda Dahomey to know otherwise,” she said, coming closer.
    Drake felt embarrassment for the first time in his life; he had had his way with many women, yet this time it felt different.
    There was some unnatural spell going on here.
    “ In fact, I was waiting for you, Drake,” she continued, while her hands reached for his shirt and unlaced it.
    Drake could not move, transfixed by her beautiful eyes and warmness. He tried to react, by gently pushing her away, but to no avail.
    A hot lust overcame his senses and he responded to her bold advances.
     
    Later, they were both lying on the bed, holding each other.
    “ Why you did that?” he asked.
    She kept her eyes off him, sighed, and then caressed his chest with one hand, “Because I needed it. This might be my last act of pure selfishness in this