Free The Turning Tide by Rob Kidd Page B

“Don’t worry about a thing. Keep yourself safe, and we’ll handle the rest of the plan from here.”
    “Thank you, darling,” Barbara said. “Kisses!”
    “Kisses to you, too,” Benedict said. “See you soon.”
    There was a small snapping noise, and then the woman picked up the lantern and strode off into the night.
    Diego and Carolina looked at each other in horror. Somehow that woman had infiltrated Sri Sumbhajee’s defenses and revealed his secrets. And now agents of the East India Trading Company were on their way to Suvarnadurg to capture them all!
    “Well,” said a voice from above them. “That can’t be good.”

C HAPTER E LEVEN
    “J ack?” said Diego, peering up into the shadows. The voice sounded like their captain. But what was he doing here? Diego saw someone moving beside the statue’s head.
    “’Allo down there,” Jack Sparrow said cheerfully. “Fine night for a walk, and then a chase, and then a fright and some eavesdropping, isn’t it?”
    “What are you doing up there?” Carolina asked.
    “Getting a little perspective,” Jack said. “That and waiting for the guards to stop looking for me.”
    “I think they have,” Diego said. “I heard a couple of them on the way out here.”
    “Given up already?” Jack said, sounding aggrieved. “Well, that’s not very sporting of them.”
    Carolina wiggled out of the tight space and climbed back onto the statue’s knees. Balancing her bare feet lightly on the folds of its robe, she clambered up to its arm and then scooted up to Jack. Nervously, Diego climbed up behind her. It looked like a very long way down from the top.
    Jack was fiddling with his knife. The statue’s face was serene and blank.
    Something glittered from the center of the statue’s forehead.
    “Jack!” Carolina cried. “Are you trying to steal that ruby again?”
    “No, no!” Jack protested. “Much better—I am waiting for it to fall into my pocket again. Could happen any minute. You never know.”
    “I knew it!” Carolina cried. “You’re going to steal back that ruby!”
    Diego realized she was right. The large jewel that formed one of the statue’s eyes was the same gem Jack had just returned to Sri Sumbhajee. The Indian Pirate Lord had already returned the ruby to its original home.
    “Am not!” Jack protested.
    “Are, too!”
    “Am not!”
    “Are, too!”
    “I just happen to be sitting here,” Jack said. “I am merely taking a short rest that happens to be in close proximity to the ruby in question. Is that such a crime?”
    “No,” Carolina said, “but—”
    “And if that same ruby should happen to fall into my pocket again, would that be such a crime, either?”
    “Yes!” Carolina said. “Don’t make Sri Sumbhajee mad at us! We need him to believe us that the East India Trading Company is coming. We have to get out of here as soon as we can.”
    “Absolutely,” Jack said. “First thing tomorrow morning.”
    “No, right now!” Carolina said. “We have no idea when they’ll get here!”
    “Ah, ah, ah,” Jack said, shaking his head. “Nobody wakes Sri Sumbhajee once he’s asleep.”
    “I heard the same thing,” Diego admitted.
    “What about for emergencies?” Carolina cried. “Emergencies, like, say, your archnemesis finding out all your secrets and coming to kill you possibly within minutes? Wouldn’t he want to be woken up for that?”
    “Certainly not,” Jack said. “Even pirates need their rest, love.”
    “It’s all right, Carolina,” Diego said, touching her shoulder. “I doubt they’ll be here before morning. If there’s to be a fight, we’ll be more ready for it after a good night’s sleep.”
    “Fine,” Carolina said. She slid down glancing back at her crewmates. “But if we’re captured, I am not going back to Spain or San Augustin. I would rather die.”
    She jumped down, landing amid the marigolds at her feet, and vanished out the door before Diego could get to her.
    “Come on, Jack,”