Phoenix Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

tomorrow.”
    Rahul was next to go out. He dropped his vitamins on to the deck next to his last die. A shout from the card game propelled him to his feet. “I’m going to see how Nisha is doing.” He limped over to the prow.
    Crocker grinned evilly. “Last man standing, eh.”
    “Stop it, Crocker.” Uma shook her dice with an angry flourish.
    “Right though, aren’t I? I’m playing with women and boys now. Maybe you should just give me all the winnings. Save us some time.” He reached for Rahul’s abandoned vitamins.
    Uma’s club materialized above the packet. “Touch them, Crocker, and I’ll break your fingers.”
    “Humourless cow.” He curled a lip again. “Only joking, wasn’t I?”
    “Maybe you should stop talking, Crocker.” Toby glared at him. “You’re the one losing. Down to one dice, aren’t you?”
    “So’s Dee,” he snapped.
    “Yes, but Uma and I have two.”
    “We’ll see who wins, boy .” He pulled his hand back.
    Toby’s eyes narrowed. “Stop calling me that.”
    “It’s what you are, isn’t it? We’ve all seen you grow up. Except you ’aven’t grown up much, ’ave you, boy .”
    “That’s enough, Crocker,” Dee warned.
    Uma sat silently.
    “We all think it. He’s never been off ship. Never been in a fight. A pirate what’s never been in a fight! He’s a child .”
    Toby launched himself sideways at Crocker. Immediately Polly’s shriek rang in his ears and Uma blocked him from behind. “You can’t fight Crocker, Toby. He plays dirty. Look at him, distracting you from the game, trying to make you bet bad. He’s after winning. No less.”
    Crocker laughed like sewage gurgling down a drain. “Yes, Toby, let Mumsy protect you from the big bad man .”
    Polly landed between Crocker and Toby, hissing through her beak. Crocker aimed a kick in her direction. “Filthy bloody bird.”
    As Toby struggled, Dee got to her feet.
    “That’s enough, both of you. Without Toby, Marcus would’ve been hanged or drowned in the salt. You’re nothing but trouble today, Crocker. It’s time you left.”
    Crocker smiled a narrow, self-satisfied smile. “No can do, Dee. A bet’s been bet and accepted. The game has to be played out. That’s your own rules, ain’t it?”
    Dee stood for a long moment, fuming. Uma’s arm tightened around Toby. His whole body felt like a combustion chamber ready to burst. But he didn’t dare take his rage out on Uma. He sagged, and Dee sat, dragging him to her side. Polly scuttled to press her body against his thigh, glaring with her yellow eyes at Crocker.
    “We play,” Dee murmured. “But quickly.”
    Uma bet first. “Two threes.”
    “Two fours,” Toby ground out.
    “Two fives.” Crocker grinned and rubbed his remaining die between his fingers.
    “Three threes.” Dee licked her lips.
    Uma hissed. “Only six dice left.” She looked at Toby. “Four threes.”
    “Five threes,” Toby snapped, without thinking it through. Then he froze. To win there had to be five threes and ones showing in only six dice. No chance. He had just given the game to Crocker…
    “Who’s a pretty birdie?” Polly grumbled. She knew he’d lost, too.
    “No take backs,” Crocker crowed. “Dudo.” He jiggled his shoulders.
    “Let’s see it, Crocker.” Dee gestured and Crocker opened his hand. “A five, there’s a surprise.” Dee looked at Toby as she showed her single dice. “A three.”
    Uma opened her hand. “Two threes.”
    Toby swallowed and lifted his own hand from his thigh, where his dice were waiting. “Two ones, Crocker. That makes five for me.” He could barely believe it.
    “Your last die, Crocker.” Dee held out her hand. “Give it here.”
    Crocker leaped to his feet. “Cheats,” he growled.
    Uma rose slowly. “How dare you!”
    “I saw you look at Toby back then. He knew what you had.”
    Uma shook her head. “Pathetic. You’re out, Crocker. Bring the sausage and eggs to Dee and give us your die.”
    Crocker shook his