THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE MARMORIS SERIES
"Jack," said an angelic voice. From behind Barbossa, Cata revealed herself. "We're here. We're real."
He was going to say something but found he couldn't speak. In all of his hallucinations, Catalina never on...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
-------------------------
Singapore was not much different than the Caribbean, except for the architecture and humidity. Everything was at peace in the world, the water was still and crickets chirped a symphony. Among the beautiful harmonies, a quiet voice sang as they rowed a thin boat through shallow river water. Their face was hidden from onlookers by a large straw hat, but anyone who could hear knew it was a woman.
"The bell has been raised from its watery grave, hear its sepulchral tone . . . A call to all 'Pay heed the squall . . ." Glancing up, she drifted under a footbridge and hushed a moment as the Royal Navy passed. Another bridge nearby lit up with fireworks, a man dashing across it, and the young woman picked her song back up. "Turn your sails to home. Yo ho, haul together, hoist the colours high . . ."
A small wooden dock came into view and she let the boat float to it. She tied a rope to the dock and stepped out, glancing about. "Heave-ho, thieve-"
"Thief and beggar. Never shall we die . . ." snapped a new voice.
The young woman turned to see who it was and found one of the locals and his goons. They each wore a very degree of darkness and the woman stumbled back the slightest bit.
"A dangerous song to be singing . . . for any who are ignorant of its meaning," the man warned. "Particularly a woman. Particularly a woman alone."
"What makes you think she's alone?" a familiar voice asked.
The three turned to find Barbossa trotting heavy-footed down a small set of steps.
"You protect her?" the leader questioned.
The woman quietly slipped a dagger from her sleeve and jumped off the man, her weapon too close to his neck for comfort. His goons aimed their pistols but it did not bother her, this lady had been in worse situations. "And what makes you think I need protecting?"
"Your master's expecting us," Barbossa said. "And an unexpected death'd cast a slight pall on our meeting." His eyes drifted over to the girl, and she lifted her hands from her captive, backing away slowly.
A deep voice then shouted something overhead, and the locals leaned against the dock's wall, hiding.
"On the double!" A separate unit of the Navy came marching through the city, but no one saw them for they continued straight without thought.
The local men then motioned for the two pirates to follow, showing them a secret passageway under the bridge. The three led them through the streets of Singapore, even with the thousands of lamps, it was still difficult to see.
"Have you heard anything from Will and Elizabeth?" The woman asked Barbossa.
"I trust young Turner and Miss Swann to acquire the charts and you to remember your place in the presence of Captain Sao Feng, Miss Monterò."
