Demons of the Ocean Read Online Free Page B

him. He brought his hands back down to the float and, defeated, let his head fall onto its surface. What was the point? If Grace was gone, there was nothing for him. He might as well slip from the float and dive back down into the water. At least they'd be together then.Connor lost track of how long he drifted. It seemed an eternity, but it might have been only a few seconds, stretched out of all recognition through despair and fatigue. Now the mist was thinning. Through it, he could see the shadow of a ship. It was faint, but he could not miss the outline. It was like an old galleon. He'd only seen such things in books and a model at the maritime museum. He must be imagining it--hallucinating, as death approached.But no, it was a ship. As the mist began to lift, he could see it quite clearly, turning in the water. Why was it changing direction in the middle of the ocean? Unless it had stopped for some reason. Perhaps it had come to rescue him?Buoyed by the thought, he used his remaining strength to wave his arms in the air and cry out hoarsely. "Over here! Over here!"The ship continued to turn. But it wasn't coming for him. He could see no one on board. No one had seen him. The mist had lifted to the level of the deck. As the ship completed its turn, a soft golden light fell upon the ship's figurehead--a young woman. If only she were a real woman instead of a painted sculpture. Her piercing eyes seemed to watch him but, of course, they were nothing more than daubs of paint on wood.Connor was at a loss for what to do as the ship began to move off into the distance. As it sailed away, he made out sails quite unlike any he had ever seen. They were like wings, glimmering with thin veins of light."Hey!" Connor called again. "Help!"But his voice was weak and the ship was already much too far away. All he could make out was the dark silhouette of its strange tattered sails. They seemed to flap gently as the ship made its way. It seemed as if, rather than sailing through the rough ocean, the ship was merely skimming the surface, unaffected by the strong currents. His mind must have been playing tricks on him.
    It just didn't make sense. His body felt dull and heavy and now it seemed that his mind must be losing the fight, too. Grace was gone. The last ship that might have rescued him had sailed away. The only option open to him now was to give up and join his sister in her watery grave.His reverie was broken by a voice at his side."Here, grab my arm. You're safe now."

CHAPTER 6
    PIRATES
    Connor had been so transfixed by the mysterious galleon that he had not even seen the small dinghy steer its way toward him. He was pulled firmly inside, onto the little boat's wooden boards. Now that his gargantuan effort was over, he felt utterly drained."Just lie there and breathe as best you can. You're half-drowned, but you'll live."His rescuer's voice was smooth and precise.Connor could see a pair of narrow boots and the tight leggings above, but as he tried to raise his head higher to see more, a sudden pain ripped through his neck."Lie still, boy. No sudden movements. Your bones have taken a bashing."It was a young woman's voice.
    "Who are you? Where are you taking me?"In spite of her warning, he pulled himself up to see her better. Piercing brown almond eyes stared back at him. Long black hair was swept back off the woman's face and bound, with leather strings, into a tight ponytail."My name is Cheng Li," she said.Connor's eyes took in Cheng Li's strange clothing. Over a thin dark jersey, she wore a leather jerkin. On one arm was a red and purple band, set with a dark stone. It appeared to be the sole piece of decoration
     on her otherwise utilitarian uniform. About her waist was a heavy belt, attached to which was a dagger holster.Connor's eyes widened with realization. "You're a... pirate?"
    "Ah, so the mind at least is intact. Yes, boy, I'm a pirate." She pointed to the armband she wore, as if to explain. "Deputy Captain to Molucco