Page 124 of Storm over the Caribbean
The sailors didn’t need to be told twice. Explosions ripped the air apart, only moments before cannonballs did the same to pirate ship’s sails. Already, the so-called “sails” were nothing more than tattered rags, unable to move forward even a nutshell, let alone a ship. But, apparently, fate had even more in store for the pirates.
Crack!
The sound was ear-splitting, even more so than the cannon fire. For a moment, no one seemed to know where it had come from—until the main mast of the pirate ship keeled over and slammed into the deck with horrendous force. The whole ship swayed, almost shattering under the force. Screams of agony rose into the air, bodies squashed under the weight and thrown overboard by the impact.
“Now!” Karim barked. “Cease firing! Approach and board!”
“Aye aye, Sir!”
The ship under Karim’s command turned and, without anyone firing so much as a single shot at them, approached its prey. Shouts of alarm rose from the pirate ship. Some grabbed their pistols, trying to ready them in time, but—
“Begin boarding action!”
Grappling hooks flew through the air. Metal scratched against wood as they bit into the railing, the rigging—anything and everything where they could find hold. Moments later, the order came.
“Pull!”
With a deep, torturous groan of wood, the two ships began to approach each other. Those few pirates who’d managed to get hold of their weapons raised their guns in a desperate attempt at defending themselves—only to be thrown to the deck again a second later when the ships crashed against each other.
“Now!”
At Karim’s barked command, the sailors sprang into action. Launching themselves over the railing and the gap between the ships, they spread swiftly over the enemy deck. And Karim himself was right at the front, swinging his sabre like a berserker.
“Come on, Captain!” he roared over his shoulder. “Let’s show thosegandah jhínghá28 what real men are made of!”
Behind him, the captain gulped and clutched his stomach. “Um…I don’t really want to have to show someone the colour of my innards.”
“Whatwas that?”
“Yes, Sir, Mr Karim, Sir! I’m coming, Sir!”
Reluctantly, the captain drew his pistol and plunged himself into the battle. Soon, smoke filled the air, mixed with the iron scent of blood. Screams and curses echoed over the ocean.
“Stand!” one of the biggest pirates roared. “Stand and fight, you yellow-bellied bastards! We’re the predators of the sea! We can win this if we fight and—”
Wham!
Karim’s fist slammed into the man’s gut, sending him sailing back through the air. “By all means,” he snarled, pearly white teeth flashing between his black beard in a predatory grin. “Fight!”
“Oh, we will.” Wiping the blood from his mouth, the pirate smirked up at him—then reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle filled with an amber liquid. Without an instant of hesitation, he hurled it straight at Karim. The bodyguard only realized what was going on when, a moment later, the pirate drew a pistol and took aim.
“Duck!” the Mohammedan roared and threw himself behind a barrel.
The muzzle flashed.
Boom!
Splinters of glass tore through the air as the bullet tore the bottle apart and burning alcohol was spattered all over the deck. People who had been hit screamed in agony as they tried to scratch the burning liquid off their faces with bare hands, and the captain cursed as he clutched his arm, penetrated by a piece of glass.
“Hell! That one nearly got us! We should retreat and regroup if we want to—”
One look from Karim cut him off.
“You thinkthisis bad?” the bodyguard snarled. “What kind of hell do you think AmbroseSahiband theSahibaare going through right now?”
The captain swallowed. “M-my apologies. You’re right, Sir. They must have it so much harder than us.”
***
