Читать книгу Pirate Mutiny - Chris Blake - Страница 9

Tom sniffed the air. He recognised the smell from Bonfire Night parties. The explosions coming out of the pirate’s beard were just fireworks! The thought of bangers suddenly jogged his memory.

“Remember your ring told us about the rapscallion with thundercloud whiskers?” Tom whispered to Isis. “Well, if I’m not wrong, that dangerous-looking pirate over there is none other than the legendary Blackbeard!”

“Blackbeard?” Isis asked, frowning.

“Yep. The one and only,” Tom said, barely able to contain his excitement. “His real name was Edward Teach. In the riddle, it mentioned a Teacher. Get it? Teacher … Teach!”

“Yessss!” Isis snapped. “I may be dead but I’m not stupid! So why’s he such a legend?”

“He was one of the most famous pirates ever.” Tom explained. “He used fireworks to scare other sailors.”

“Well, that sort of trick doesn’t work on me,” Isis said.

Tom raised his eyebrow. “That’s funny – you looked pretty scared when you dived under the table with me,” he said. “Anyway, Blackbeard was a really successful pirate, stealing gold, medicine, weapons and other valuables from ships in the West Indies.”

“And we’ve got to join his crew so that we can find the amulet?” Isis chewed nervously on her bottom lip.

Tom nodded. “Yup. That’s what the riddle says.”

Just then, Blackbeard shot a hole in the ceiling and leaped up on to the bar. The other pirates cowered in fear, holding their tankards to their chests like tin teddy bears.

“Listen up, you mangy lot!” Blackbeard barked. He stroked his beard and glared down at everyone. “I’m searching for the roughest, toughest crew to ever sail the high seas! My men have got to be as strong as iron and hard as nails!”