Vampirates 1.5:Dead Deep Read Free Page A

rescue! His shipmate was standing behind the two thugs, his broadsword raised.
    But the thugs didn’t move.
    “Let him go!” rasped another voice. Connor saw that Jez had Moonshine in a half nelson.
    The poor kid could hardly get out his words. “Let him go!”
    At their master’s words, the henchmen backedaway from Connor.
    “That’s it,” said Bart. “Nice and easy and my friend won’t spoil Moonstruck’s pretty face.” He smiled. “Though really, it could do with a bit of work, I think.”
    Connor let out a breath and gripped his sword, back in attack mode.
    “Right,” said Bart. “And now for the complex maneuver I like to call…‘let’s beat it!’”
    He hurdled the bar, with Connor and Jez hot on his heels. Moonshine’s goons were too surprised to give chase immediately. Instead, they turned blankly toward their master. Moonshine was bent double, hands on knees. Nevertheless, he managed to yell, “What are you waiting for? Get after them! Mess ’em up!”
    By now, Jez and Connor were through the bar doors and back out on thedeck of The Dirty Dolphin . Bart was already halfway down the gangplank.
    “Phew,” said Connor as he and Jez caught up with Bart. “That was close!” He grinned. “One for all and—”
    A roar of fury from the deck interrupted him. The two morons were giving chase.
    “Come on, boys,” said Bart. “We’re out of here!”
    The three piratesducked down onto the pier.
    Just then, something whistled past Connor’s ear. Dazed, he looked up as a circle of metal took root in the wooden pier, one step ahead of him. As he got close, he saw that it was a vicious-looking multipointed blade.
    “A starfish shuriken ,” said Jez, grabbing Connor.
    “Where did it come from?” Connor asked.
    “Up there, by the looks of things!” Bart said. He pointed up to the deck of The Dirty Dolphin . There was Moonshine, his face almost luminous in the darkness. He raised his hand and, suddenly, another shuriken whistled through the air, aimed directly at their heads.
    “What now?” Connor asked.
    “What do you think?” Bart said. “RUN!”
    Connor needed no further encouragement. The three pirates raced along the pier as a third blade sailed over their heads.
    “He must be gaining!” Jez rasped as they ran. “Who is that guy?”
    “Trouble,” said Bart. “That’s who.”
    “Speaking of trouble,” Connor said, “what do we do now ?” He pointed a few feet ahead to where the pierran out. All that lay beyond was cold, dark water.
    “Quick! Up here!” Bart cried, hanging a right and racing up the gangplank of another tavern. Jez and Connor raced after him onto The Bloody Parrot .
    The tavern crowd turned as the three strangers thundered onto the deck. Suddenly, out of the throng emerged two familiar figures dressed in blackleather—Moonshine’s men.
    “Of all the gin joints in Calle del Marinero…” cried Bart.
    “ Now what?” yelled Connor as the thugs lurched toward them.
    “Follow me!” Jez cried, jumping up onto the side of the ship. He leaped over the edge, landing on the craft moored at its side.
    Connor followed and heard Bart’s footsteps behindhim. There was no time to waste. Moonshine’s men were hot on their heels.
    “Keep running!” Bart called, racing across the deck. As he did so, he used his broadsword to cut through the sails and rigging to make their path easier. Confused revelers dove out of the melee and raced to the ends of the ship.
    A now familiar whistle hovered above them. Another shuriken !
    “Duck!” Bart commanded as the spinning blade shot past them.
    They had run out of ship again, but there was another tavern vessel moored next to this one. Together, the Three Buccaneers launched themselves over the side and onto the next boat. As they jumped through the air, Connor couldn’t help but smile. Even in the midst of danger, he was strangelyenjoying himself—his best buddies on either side of him.
    But as they landed, there was no