Pirates of the Caribbean 07 City of Gold (3 page)

Her snakes began to appear, crawling down her arms from her back and neck."You escaped me once, you'll not escape me again!" she hissed at Tim.*"I think we have a little disagreement on that point, ma'am," the boy taunted.He threw his knife. It whistled through the air and buried itself right between the eyes of one of the snakes. Madame screeched and the serpent fell to the ground with a thump.Another knife appeared in his hand, ready to throw. It was a little trick he had picked up in the dockyards of London and could now put to good use.Madame Minuit pulled out a dagger of her own.Tim smiled. He had been waiting for this fight for some time no
w.
Meanwhile, Jack and Fitzwilliam found themselves engaged in battle with the furious Pirate Guard police chief and four of his subordinates. Each had multiple weapons.Jack looked around worriedly. His crew was fighting incredibly well, with new moves and skills they had picked up while adventuring with him. But they were still outnumbered and out-weaponed.At least Jack's silver cutlass was holding up pretty well--but this was probably the one time in his life he would have preferred steel to precious metal--the steel would have been stronger.Silverback was the only pirate not actively engaging anyone. He just stood in the rear, looking back and forth at each of the fights, as if trying to decide which one to join. His tooth and cry
stal leg were glowing faintly.
Before he could make a move, however, the door burst open.In rushed Captain Laura Smith with her first mate, Mr. Reece...and Arabella! All had their swords drawn."SILVERBACK!" Captain Smith roared. "Ye villainous traitor!" She charged at him, sword out and swinging.Jack looked around, stunned. It was as if every pirate in the Caribbean were in the room.Mr. Reece engaged the Pirate Guard closest to him. Arabella picked another one at random and whacked him with the butt of his own musket.Jack smiled. There was a pirate right behind him, ready to attack. The man came charging at Jack, who moved swiftly and casually out of the way, leaving the coast clear for the pirate to slam right into the a
djoining wall.

Now at least, the battle was almost even. But not easy. Fitzwilliam had broken out into a sweat while fending off Pirate Guards. Jean had a gash on his right cheek and was slashing desperately at Left-Foot, but the giant pirate just kept coming and raining blows down on him. One of Madame Minuit's snakes was on the floor, not quite dead yet, and it still hissed and lunged at Tim's feet. Tim knew that if this snake bit him, its venom would make him a slave to Madame.Arabella had to drop her musket--no time to load it. One of the Pirate Guards was running at her.

"Jack!" she shouted, looking for help.

"Good to see you!" Jack said, waving and smiling.

"Help!"Jack pulled out a cutlass and blocked the guard's
blow just in the nick of time.
Arabella ran to Jack and threw her arms around him."What say we all manage a little strategic retreat," Jack suggested.

"We might actually live through this."

"Normally, I would say fie on cowardice!" Fitzwilliam said, parrying another blow from a Pirate Guard. "But we have Arabella back, and we have the amulet, so perhaps retreating would not equal a loss in this situ ation."Arabella smiled.

"Crew!" Jack called out, "Proceed to the nearest exit!"

"Retreat?" Captain Smith bellowed, enraged. "NEVER!""He meant crew of the Barnacle, mother," Arabella snapped.

"Do ye ever listen?" Arabella kicked a nearby opponent in the shin a little ha
rder than she needed to, still
angry at her mum. The pirate toppled like a bag of apples, rubbing his leg to ease the pain."This battle isn't going as well as I should like, either," Madame Minuit whispered to her police chief. "Perhaps we too should withdraw.
”

Slowly, one by one, Jean, Tumen, Tim, Arabella, and Constance exited the building. Retreating in the opposite direction were their opponents: Pirate Guards, Left-Foot Louis, and Silverback. Frustrated, Captain Smith stayed, looking for someone else to fight. Only Madam Minuit was left. Jack was protecting his crew's retreat by blocking Madame from the door, keeping her and her snakes a sword's length away.

"Who is this hussy?" Captain Smith demanded. "Is this the practitioner of magicks
my Bell was telling me about?"

"I am no hussy!" Madame Minuit spat.

"Ooh, fight!" Jack said encouragingly.But while Jack was distracted, one of Madame Minuit's snakes lashed out towards him, fangs glittering.Jack yelped and leaped back.Too late.But instead of biting him, it hooked its fangs around the chain of the amulet--and pulled it from his neck.Before Jack could do anything, another snake began to cough, vomiting up a perfectly round egg into Madame Minuit's hand.She cackled evilly, smashing it to the ground. A cloud of foul-smelling smoke rose up and she disappeared into i
t, taking the amulet with her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Outside, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Jean, Tim, Fitzwilliam, Tumen, and Arabella stood around wondering whether to pursue the bad guys who had fled or wait for Jack."Arabella, you look well," Fitzwilliam said a little stiffly, with a slight bow.

"So...do...you," she answered, trying not to stare too hard at the black crab tattoo on his neck. "I like the, ah, artwork. Very modern-primitive."

"Ah, do n
ot be so formal! Arabella, mon
cherie!" Jean cried, throwing his arms open and giving her a big hug. Arabella grinned. Fitzwilliam scowled. Tumen and Tim exchanged smiles. Constance spat. But not too much--and not actually on Arabella as she normally would.Just then, the huge doors of city hall were pushed slowly, tiredly open. Creakily. Jack shuffled out, a little shamefaced, with Captain Smith and Mr. Reece behind him.

"Where's Madame Minuit?" Arabella asked."Ah. Gone," Jack said wearily. He made a little motion with his hand.

"One of her little...you know, the snakes...and the egg...and the poofing..."

"Bell!" Captain Smith said sharply.

"What are you doing standing so close to that young man?" The captain shot a deadly look at Jean--who still had an ar
m around her daughter's waist.

"Mother!" Arabella said, putting her hands on her hips.

"STOP telling me what to do!"

"Excuse me." Jack held up a finger. "Pardon me, excuse me, thank you, I really hate to interrupt you two...again.... Bell, great having you back--"

"--she's not 'back,'" Captain Smith interrupted.Jack ignored her."...but maybe while the streets are full of priestesses, sages, giant angry pirates, and Pirate Guards," he continued, "who all know where we are now, perhaps we should reconvene elsewhere?"

"Excellent idea," Mr. Reece agreed. "I think the Fleur de la Morte would be the safest haven for all of us. And, ah, the largest one."Jack couldn't really take offense at that. There
was barely enough room on the
Barnacle for his crew...much less two more. Plus the Fleur was safer because of a special ability the ship had: when the sails were unfurled, the whole ship--and everyone on it--became invisible.

"So now, how do you find an invisible ship?" he asked curiously.

"With this." Captain Smith pulled a compass out of her pocket. It looked old and was made out of ebony with inlaid ivory on the case. Golden needles pointed to strange symbols on the dial, and a red fleur-de-lis definitely did not mark "north." She turned it around, clockwise and counterclockwise, until she was satisfied. "This way," she said, walking.Jack couldn't help but be impressed. Captain of her own ship, fabulous hat, magical compass...Arabella's mum r
eally did seem to have it all.

"I am so sick of this blasted city," Fitzwilliam shouted uncharacteristically, narrowly avoiding a muddy puddle.

"I feel like we have been wandering around its wretched little streets for weeks.""Looks like you won't have too much longer...look at that!" Captain Smith said, suddenly stopping.

"By Davy Jones's Locker..." Mr. Reece said, stunned.In the young night, a terrible scene unfolded before them.Huge torches and lanterns were set burning in a ring in front of a block of buildings. Great bonfires flickered here and there for extra light. The infernal clanging of a hundred hammers and picks echoed through the night, as bare-chested men attacked the houses, breaking them into chunks. Silver chunks
. Carts pulled by donkeys—and
sometimes men--brought the piles over to low-riding barges tied to the pier, where they were dumped unceremoniously. Stalking through the fires and miners were pairs of Pirate Guards, making sure everyone was working and nothing was stolen."What are they doing?" Arabella said in horror.

"They're mining the city," Jack said grimly.

"Just like Madame Minuit said. The entire thing. They're breaking up the city and selling it to Europe."

"Keep moving," Captain Smith said.

“
This looks like the worst place to be caught. Unless you all want to work in the mines." She pointed--some of the workers had chains around their legs. Not exactly volunteers.A few minutes later, the crew of the Barnacle-
-and the two remaining members
of the Fleur--were performing the harrowing feat of stepping off a hidden embankment into what looked like thin air. But the moment each person set foot on the deck of the Fleur de la Morte, the whole ship came into view for them. It was a little disorienting.

"No more magic," Jack muttered to himself.

"Speaking of which, let us also speak of returning the amulet now?" Tumen said, as patiently as he could.

"Yes. About that." Jack paused, trying to think of some way to say it differently. "...it's gone.""WHAT?" Tumen yelled desperately.

"Madame Minuit stole it. Right before she, you know," Jack made the little "poofing" motion with his hands again.

"You let he
r get the amulet again?! Tumen
screamed. Jean put a hand on his friend's shoulder to calm him down.Tumen just closed his eyes and shook his head. "I am never going to get to go home again," he said despairingly.

"My village will never take me back as long as they think that I--or my friends--have stolen the amulet they were sworn to protect."

"Oh, stop it. We'll get it back," Jack said, voice thick with emotion.

"I just have to come up with a new plan, is all....""I have an idea," Captain Smith said."Aye?" Jack asked. "Go on..."

"Let me approach Madame Minuit," she suggested.

"I'll convince her that I'm double-crossing the lot of you. And to make it sound even more real, I'll ask for a cut of the profits ""Brilliant!" Jack said, clapping his hands together.

"I love all this double-crossing this81one, triple-crossing that one. We'll have you get the amulet back..."... and Left-Foot Louis and Silverback," Captain Smith finished, a murderous look on her face.

"Oh, yes. That, too," Jack said absently.

"What, did you think I would help you out of the goodness of my heart?" Arabella's mother asked Jack with a wry smile, seeing the look on his face.

"No, I think we are all fairly certain that you do not have a heart, much less any good in it," Jack answered."

Thank you," Captain Smith said, smiling.Arabella rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Well, this is indeed an excellent plan," Jack said, quickly putting himself between the two women before they could begin fighting a
gain.

"But Madame Minuit would
never go for it. The benefits are too low for the stakes. Why should she trust you?"

"Ah, that's where you come in, Captain Sparrow," Laura said with a wink.Jack put his hand to his chest and looked around him.

"Moi?""Yes, you, Jack. You will pretend to be my prisoner. I will make it seem as though my plan--all along--was to double-cross you, to sweeten my deal with her."Jack cocked an eyebrow. Then he resigned himself to the ta
sk."Sure," he said, "why not?"

CHAPTER EIGHT

Captain Laura Smith made her way through the streets of New Orleans as if she owned them.

"We spent the better part of our time here ducking around, avoiding people," Jack muttered. His hands were bound in front of him, and he was being marched behind Captain Smith and in front of Mr. Reece.They passed a group of Pirate Guards. Captain Smith saluted them, and they all touched their
hats back. Almost reverently.
They seemed enthralled by the pirate queen, her flashing eyes and auburn hair.

"How does she get away with it?" Jack continued to grumble.Mr. Reece gave a dry chuckle.

"Take a look at her. It's just who she is."Arabella shook her head. She didn't have quite the captain's presence or air of command, but she strode with the same gait and tossed her own hair the same way.They managed to make it all the way to the city hall without being stopped or harassed.Captain Smith threw open the huge silver doors of the town hall with great drama. Arabella rolled her eyes. The building was completely empty. The four strode through the entryway and into the grand hall. Again, there was no one. Just the lonely sound of their own footsteps on th
e creaking silver floorboards.

Captain Smith called out. "I'm here to see the famous Madame Minuit. Witch, show yourself!"

"Now, I would have gone with something a little more, well, I don't know, polite Jack commented.

"The prisoner has a point, mum," Arabella said nervously.There was a strange noise coming from the shadows, dry and whispery, like a ghost.But the actual cause of the noise was far worse.A horrifyingly gigantic snake came out of the gloom, making its way slowly and deliberately towards them. It was green and black with shiny, platelike scales, huge white fangs, and slitted eyes.Captain Smith stood her ground, trying n
ot to look nervous.

Arabella and Mr. Reece didn't do quite as well.Jack just sighed. As he had expected, there was a flash of light and a puff of smoke. Suddenly, in place of the snake stood Madame Minuit, in her pretty form."So bloody dramatic," Jack muttered. Mr. Reece kicked him in the shin.Captain Smith didn't even blink.

"Madame Minuit, I presume," Captain Smith said, with a curt little bow."Yes, le 'witch' you referred to before," the snake queen said languidly, in her thick French accent.

"Why are you back here, Lady Pirate? You are as good as dead for attacking my compatriots."

"I was not fully aware of the details of the situation at the time," Captain Smith said, trying to sound contrite.

"My only thoughts were for
revenge-on Left-Foot Louis and
Silverback. The
y plotted a mutiny against me.
Forgive my earlier indiscretion. I have returned with a business opportunity that will benefit us both."

"I see. Go on." It was obvious from the tone of her voice that Madame Minuit didn't think Captain Smith had anything to offer her. In fact, from the look on her face it was clear she didn't care for the captain of the Fleur--at
all. I
am a well-known smuggler on the Seven Seas--I have liaisons and connections everywhere from the Orient to the Outer Hebrides. I can help you move your silver anywhere in the world. All I ask is a share of the profits...and that LeftFoot and Silverback be handed over to me."Madame Minuit just stared at her with unblinking eyes, like a snake. She didn't
say a word.

Here, I have even brought you a gift of my good will," Captain Smith continued. Mr. Reece pushed Jack forward.

"Captain Jack Sparrow, biggest troublemaker on the Seven Seas. I know he's been a thorn in your side."Madame Minuit laughed softly.

"Merci--thank you. It is a lovely gesture. But why on earth would I need a partner when I can have all the gold for myself?"

"Because I...what?" Captain Smith stopped, suddenly realizing what the Madame had said. "Gold?"

"Gold?" Jack echoed. Mr. Reece, also confused, didn't bother to shut him up this time.Quick as lightning, a serpent shot out from Madame Minuit's wrist. It lunged not at the captain, but at Jack. More specifically, Jack's pocket the one where he kept the gold gem. Before he could react, it sprung back out of his pocke
t, the shiny orb in its mouth.
It dropped to the floor and slithered back over to Madame Minuit.

“
What is the meaning of this?" Captain Smith demanded.But Madame Minuit ignored the captain. She pulled the Sun-and-Stars amulet out of her dress and triumphantly placed the gold gem in the final socket.This was not going according to plan.

”
No!" Arabella cried. Thinking faster than anyone else, she cut the one loose rope which was tying Jack's wrists together.He was a little distracted; his tooth, the silver one, was tingling unpleasantly, like he had just bitten into something very cold or sweet.But he pulled himself together and leapt at Madame Minuit. He brought his fist down on the amulet, knocking it out of her hand. It smashed to
the floor, the bronze, silver,
and gold gems popping out and rolling across the floor.Madame Minuit let out a screech.

"Jack, look!" Arabella said, pointing to the floor.
Colo
u
r was creeping back into the world.Everything that was silver was returning to its original state. The floorboards slowly became brown and softer looking, and brown shine licked up the banister like a flame. Out the window, it looked as though a can of paint had been poured over the entire city, filling it with
colour
and texture. Greens and blacks and blues and yellows broke forth as leaves and grass and stone and lamps all transformed into their normal states.Arabella grabbed Jack's face and turned it towards her.For a very scary moment, he thought she was going to kiss hi
m.
But she was only looking at his tooth.

"Your tooth! It's...gold," she said, a little surprised. "

I suppose it was turned to gold, before the gems fell out of the amulet--and stayed that way!""And...my sword!" Jack cried happily, pulling his rusty, then bronze, then silver cutlass out. But only the tip was gold. The rest was back to being its rusty old cruddy self. Jack almost threw it down to the ground in disgust.Madame Minuit had stopped shrieking in rage. Her sudden silence was alarming.She was green with anger, the whites of her eyes going red. Her hands were clawed, and her back was arched.Even the normally unflappable Captain Smith looked a little daunted. She moved closer to Arabella, standing be
tween her and the snake queen.

"Mesfils!" Madame Minuit growled. "Come!"The inner doors flew open and Left-Foot Louis and Silverback came rushing in, swords drawn.

"Here we go again," Jack said, reaching for his sword.But before the two pirates could do anything, Madame Minuit attacked them!

Jack's jaw dropped in surprise as snakes launched from her fingertips and flew through the air. They landed on Silverback's and Left-Foot's necks and bit down, the snakes bodies writhing as the poison pumped through their fangs.The two pirates were instantly frozen, horror and amazement on their faces. They swayed a little, trying to break free--but they were paralyzed.Madame Minuit quickly stepped between the two pirates,
taking their hands in her own.

"Sssslayen sseeereeess s'ynloth eressshi!" she hissed in some horrible, ancient language. Her eyes rolled until only the whites showed--and then they turned scarlet, dripping blood."Ah...Jack said. Maybe we should..."

Silverback's crystal leg began to pulse in a thousand different colors. Tiny lights and shadows were thrown all over the room in a hypnotizing display.Suddenly Madame Minuit threw back her head and let out a howl. It was an unearthly, horrible sound. Everyone except for LeftFoot Louis and Silverback who were unable--clapped their hands over their ears.The outlines of Madame Minuit and the two pirates began to blur. Their skin grew soft, and it flowed in a sickly fashion. Their bodies melted and merged, falling to the floor in one pulsing, fleshy lump
. Mr. Reece looked away, sick.
There was a blinding flash of green light.Jack blinked. When he could see again, he wished he couldn't.The thing rose up from the ground, now complete in its transformation. Madame Minuit, Silverback, and Left-Foot Louis were gone. In their place was a giant serpent with three heads.It threw its heads back and screamed.

"Get out of here, Bell," Jack ordered, drawing his sword and facing the dragon.

"Not on yer life, Captain Sparrow!" Arabella cried indignantly.

"When have ye ever known me to desert, eh?"