Pirates of the Caribbean 07 City of Gold Read Online Free PDF Page B

Arabella snapped.
    "Do ye ever listen?" Arabella kicked a nearby opponent in the shin a little ha rder than she needed to, still angry at her mum. The pirate toppled like a bag of apples, rubbing his leg to ease the pain."This battle isn't going as well as I should like, either," Madame Minuit whispered to her police chief. "Perhaps we too should withdraw. ”
    Slowly, one by one, Jean, Tumen, Tim, Arabella, and Constance exited the building. Retreating in the opposite direction were their opponents: Pirate Guards, Left-Foot Louis, and Silverback. Frustrated, Captain Smith stayed, looking for someone else to fight. Only Madam Minuit was left. Jack was protecting his crew's retreat by blocking Madame from the door, keeping her and her snakes a sword's length away.
    "Who is this hussy?" Captain Smith demanded. "Is this the practitioner of magicks my Bell was telling me about?"
    "I am no hussy!" Madame Minuit spat.
    "Ooh, fight!" Jack said encouragingly.But while Jack was distracted, one of Madame Minuit's snakes lashed out towards him, fangs glittering.Jack yelped and leaped back.Too late.But instead of biting him, it hooked its fangs around the chain of the amulet--and pulled it from his neck.Before Jack could do anything, another snake began to cough, vomiting up a perfectly round egg into Madame Minuit's hand.She cackled evilly, smashing it to the ground. A cloud of foul-smelling smoke rose up and she disappeared into i t, taking the amulet with her.
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Outside, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Jean, Tim, Fitzwilliam, Tumen, and Arabella stood around wondering whether to pursue the bad guys who had fled or wait for Jack."Arabella, you look well," Fitzwilliam said a little stiffly, with a slight bow.
    "So...do...you," she answered, trying not to stare too hard at the black crab tattoo on his neck. "I like the, ah, artwork. Very modern-primitive."
    "Ah, do n ot be so formal! Arabella, mon cherie!" Jean cried, throwing his arms open and giving her a big hug. Arabella grinned. Fitzwilliam scowled. Tumen and Tim exchanged smiles. Constance spat. But not too much--and not actually on Arabella as she normally would.Just then, the huge doors of city hall were pushed slowly, tiredly open. Creakily. Jack shuffled out, a little shamefaced, with Captain Smith and Mr. Reece behind him.
    "Where's Madame Minuit?" Arabella asked."Ah. Gone," Jack said wearily. He made a little motion with his hand.
    "One of her little...you know, the snakes...and the egg...and the poofing..."
    "Bell!" Captain Smith said sharply.
    "What are you doing standing so close to that young man?" The captain shot a deadly look at Jean--who still had an ar m around her daughter's waist.
    "Mother!" Arabella said, putting her hands on her hips.
    "STOP telling me what to do!"
    "Excuse me." Jack held up a finger. "Pardon me, excuse me, thank you, I really hate to interrupt you two...again.... Bell, great having you back--"
    "--she's not 'back,'" Captain Smith interrupted.Jack ignored her."...but maybe while the streets are full of priestesses, sages, giant angry pirates, and Pirate Guards," he continued, "who all know where we are now, perhaps we should reconvene elsewhere?"
    "Excellent idea," Mr. Reece agreed. "I think the Fleur de la Morte would be the safest haven for all of us. And, ah, the largest one."Jack couldn't really take offense at that. There was barely enough room on the Barnacle for his crew...much less two more. Plus the Fleur was safer because of a special ability the ship had: when the sails were unfurled, the whole ship--and everyone on it--became invisible.
    "So now, how do you find an invisible ship?" he asked curiously.
    "With this." Captain Smith pulled a compass out of her pocket. It looked old and was made out of ebony with inlaid ivory on the case. Golden needles pointed to strange symbols on the dial, and a red fleur-de-lis definitely did not mark "north." She turned it around, clockwise and counterclockwise, until she was