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

too."
    "Well, never fear, Tumen, mate," Jack said. "Once I learn to properly wield this sword, I'll make you right as rain.""Jack," Tumen said, shaking his head and clearly straining to speak, "I don't trust this sword."
    "Well, you didn't seem to have any trust issues prior to discovering it."
    "That was before I saw what she could do," Tumen urged. "This type of power is dangerous. And what's worse is . . . Cortes." Tumen looked over at the ghastly figure and shuddered. "He scourged the Yucatan before moving inland to defeat the Aztecs. This sword had a part in that slaughter.""But we said we'd take the Sword and harness its power for different purposes. To free ourselves--to free the Caribbean--from pirates and corrupt politicos and all sorts of other ne'er-do-wells," Jack said, waving his hand dismissively. "I have a different view now," Tumen said, slumping against a nearby tree to support himself."As do I," Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III, the aristocratic runaway, chimed in. Seeing the corro sive conquistador in the flesh or lack thereof was really giving the crew a very different perspective. "Cortes slaughtered an entire empire. He could have very well used that sword to do it. Families, Jack. Mothers, fathers, children. Let's think about this rationally."
    "Oh, you aristos and your rational behavior! 'Rational' this and 'rational' that," Jack said, waving the blade carelessly. "Fitzy, there is nothing remotely rational about this here sword. And I am convinced that I can make this work to our benefit. It might have made a lot of bad things happen in the past, b ut it doesn't have to be bad." The crew members stood silent, clearly united against Jack. Despite their earlier enthusiasm, now that they had seen what the Sword could do, none of the crew wanted its full power unleashed.Jack sneered."You're either with me on this, or you're against me," Jack said.The crew, even Constance, still stood united in their defiance."Very well, then," Jack said. Turning his back on his crew, he st arted back toward Cortes.
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    Jack found Cortes waiting patiently at the top of the hillside graveyard. “Welcome back."
    "What say we cut the formalities and just get this business done with, savvy?"
    Jack said."The first rule is to respect your elders," Cortes answered. "And I am certainly your elder, by hundreds of years."Jack r emembered Arabella saying that Cortes died in the middle of the sixteenth century. That would make him very old, indeed. More than two hundred years older than Jack . . . if you counted all the years the conquistador spent dead in between.
    "Well, then, old man, may I beg you to please guide me in the ways of this so-very-mystical sword?" Jack asked sarcastically. "Respectful enough for you?"Jack handed the Sword over to Cortes."Much better," Cortes said, swishing the Sword before him. Sparks flew from the blade, and the air that it cut seemed to take on an iridescent glow.Jack looked down the hill, where his crew waited and watched. Jack shot them an arrogant glance."Now, take the Sword," Cortes said.Jack reached out for it, but Cortes quickly pulled it away.
    "Not like that," Cortes said. Then he drove the tip of the Sword into the ground. "Now, take it. But don't move from where you are."
    "With all due respect, Cortsy, that sword is a good three yards away from me. How am I supposed to retrieve it from way back yonder?"
    "Use its power. Concentrate and call it to you.""Call it to me?" Jack said. "Here-swordy-swordy-swordy!"
    "No! Call it with your mind. Call it with your soul," Cortes said. Jack gave Cortes a dubious glance, then redirected his attention to the Sword. “Concentrate ," Cortes told him. Jack looked at the Sword. He thought about all the things he could do with it. He could be the c aptain of his own ship. A real ship, not like the Barnacle. He could rule his own island. Sail the Seven Seas--and rule them, too. He would be free of all the constraints placed upon him. He'd answer