Free Pirates of the Caribbean 04 The Sword of Cortes by Rob Kidd

 
     

     
    The Sword of Cortes
     
     
     
    The Sword of Cortes (Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow #4)
     
    Rob Kidd
     
    CHAPTER ONE
    Jack Sparrow's mates--the fearless crew of the mighty Barnacle--had finally been shaken. They'd been searching so long for the Sword of Cortes, a weapon with unearthly power, that they had lost track of time. Had it been days, weeks, or months since they'd first set out on their quest and encountered sea beasts, cursed pirates, and the cunning and vicious men folk? No one could remember exactly, but they knew it had felt like a long and tiring journey. They had arrived on Isla Fortuna only that morning. They discovered that the notorious pirate Left-Foot Louis was in possession of the Sword. He had used its power to cause all of the honest people of Isla Fortuna to vanish. In just a few hours, the crew had defeated the vicious pirate and finally procured from him their prize. The Sword was in their hands now, reunited with its scabbard.They knew from legend that when the two charmed parts of the weapon were joined and an ancient incantation read, the Sword would become imbued with godlike power.Jack Sparrow had done all that. But when he waved the Sword and spouted off the first few magical spells that came to mind, nothing happened. He wasn't able to make anything di sappear or transform, things he thought a magic sword should be able to do easily. In fact, the Sword seemed less powerful now than it ever had. Something was wrong.Very wrong.Jack was frustrated. He was about to toss the Sword away, but the horrified looks on the faces of his crew told him that he should reconsider. A second later, Jack realized they were looking at something behind him. He whirled around and saw--well, he wasn't quite sure what it was.Jack's first mate, Arabella, was quick to fill him in."Jack," she said, "don't ye realize what's happened? The pirates' stories lacked a wee detail. The incantation ye read brought back the Sword's owner! This is the spirit of Hernan Cortes, risen from the dead!"Jack siz ed up the phantom. Was Arabella sure he had risen from the dead? The chap still looked pretty un-alive to Jack. The pale, sallow man was clad in old Spanish armor. The stench of rot hung around him. Jack waved his hand in front of his face and coughed to vanquish the smell, but it didn't work. Cortes was one stinky conquistador. His glowing red eyes glared at Jack.Then Jack did what any good adventure-seeking captain would do. He stepped up to Cortes and introduced himself."Well, hello there, mate," Jack said, extending his hand. "Captain Jack Sparrow. How very nice to meet you."Apart from Cortes's chest, which heaved and fell heavily (Jack thought this rather odd for a dead--or undead--guy), Cortes did not move. His breath stank like a barrel of rotten fish.Jack smi led uncomfortably, coughed, and dropped his arm. "So, mate, I suspect you've materialized here, from wherever it is you dead people go, in order to get the Sword back, eh?"Cortes leaned forward, attempting to bow. This appeared to be quite difficult for him. His armour creaked and his bones seemed to crack."The Sword," Cortes said in thickly accented English, "is now yours. You read the incantation. You invoked its power."The crew of the Barnacle was shocked-- and impressed--that Jack was so at ease talking to a dead fellow."So, then," Jack said, "why are you here? A genie from the bottle or something like that? Just come along for the ride? Stick by ye ol' sword whenever it may be imbued with godlike power? Oh, wait, let me correct myself, ye ol' sword that is supposed to have been imbued with godlike power." Jack tapped the blade with his index finger. "Your little metal stick doesn't seem to be doing much of anything right now."
    "I am here, boy," Cortes said in a grave voice, clearly trying to put Jack in his place, "to teach you how to use this weapon."Jack's eyes brightened and he turned to his crew, smiling broadly. The crew was much less