Free The Caribbean by Rob Kidd

ship.”
    The stranger’s eyes lit up. “You would take me with you?”
    Jack offered his hand. “Captain Jack Sparrow,” he said. “Know anything about ships or sailing, do you?”
    “I can learn fast,” the man said. “And my master always said I was a good cook.”
    Now it was Jack’s turn to light up. “Just the thing we need!” he said with delight. “See, Barbossa, this was a lucky break for us, after all.”
    Barbossa continued to glare at them.
    “What’s your name, my good man?” Jack asked.
    “Gombo,” the man replied. “That is what I have always been called, ever since they brought me here. I remember no other name.”
    “Gombo,” Jack echoed. “Well, then, Gombo…welcome to the crew of the Black Pearl .”

C HAPTER N INE
    B illy was waiting with the rest of the pirates when Jack and Barbossa arrived back in New Orleans with their two new crew members. The Pearl was all ready to go. Catastrophe Shane’s hat had been removed permanently, and the pirate had been tied to the mast so he couldn’t break anything or accidentally shoot anyone while they set sail. All the pirates were on deck, much happier after a day of carousing in New Orleans.
    There was only one small problem.
    “Jean,” Jack said, beckoning his old friend over as his men worked the giant winch to haul up the anchor. Unlike Barbossa, most of the pirates seemed very appreciative of the addition of Gombo and his strong muscles. They were less thrilled about Alex, of course. Unfair treatment, in Jack’s opinion, just because the fellow smelled like rotting meat and lost bits of himself here and there.
    Jean came up to Jack, hunching his shoulders and looking sheepish.
    “Jean, mate,” Jack said, “there seems to be something in my cabin.”
    Jean blushed. “I’m very sorry, Jack,” he said. “She won’t listen to me. She says a lady shouldn’t have to sleep in a hammock with a bunch of pirates.”
    “Ha!” Carolina said, overhearing. “A lady that delicate shouldn’t be sailing with a bunch of pirates in the first place.”
    “That’s what I said!” Marcella yelled from behind the closed door to the captain’s cabin. “I hate pirates! Dirty, smelly pirates!” She had apparently stacked furniture against the door, so it was impossible to open it. Jack stood with his arms folded. He was very unimpressed by this turn of events.
    “Madam, I am the captain!” he called. “And this is the captain’s cabin, savvy? Where the captain sleeps! And makes decisions! And looks at maps and things! How am I supposed to do any of that if I can’t even get through the door?”
    “Not my problem!” Marcella called. “We can stay right here in port for all I care!”
    Jean tugged on his curls, looking exasperated. “I’m really, really sorry, Jack.”
    “What a baby!” Carolina said loudly. “I haven’t done that much whining and crying since before I could walk!”
    “I HEARD THAT!” Marcella shouted in outrage.
    “You were supposed to!” Carolina shouted back. “You’re an embarrassment to women and sailors and pirates and, and…and people everywhere!”
    There was a loud sound of heavy furniture scraping around, and then at long length, Marcella flung open the door of the cabin. Her stringy red-black hair was falling out of its bun, and she was panting with rage. Her strange yellow-brown eyes went straight to Carolina, who stood tall, with her hands on her hips and her long black hair flying loose in the wind.
    “How dare you speak to me like that!” Marcella cried. “I am a lady and a Magliore! Not some Spanish peasant girl like you!”
    Carolina drew herself up, her eyes flashing.
    “Carolina, don’t!” Diego warned, but it was too late to stop her.
    “Peasant girl! I am a Spanish princess,”
    Carolina said proudly, “descended from the great kings and queens of Spain, twenty-second in line for the throne. So I think if I can manage to sleep in a hammock, so can a mere Creole girl with