Captains Hebi, Wanizame and Kujira knelt opposite, scrutinizing the information Jack had given them so far. It was enough to whet their appetites, but not so they could act effectively upon their newfound knowledge – Jack had been careful to leave out crucial facts every so often.

‘If we set up a pirate base on these islands,’ mused Captain Hebi, his eyes narrowing deviously, ‘we’d have a stranglehold on trade passing through the Pacific.’

Captain Wanizame and Captain Kujira nodded their agreement.

‘Excellent work, Jack,’ said Tatsumaki, closing the logbook and caressing its leather cover. ‘Keep this up and you and your friends will be on your way in no time at all.’ The Pirate Queen stood, beckoning for an attendant to collect the rutter for her. ‘We’ll meet again tomorrow.’

The pirate captains and Jack bowed her farewell as she strode out of the room, the attendant following in her wake. Saru, who’d been perched on Jack’s shoulder like a faithful parrot, leapt down and raced after her mistress. Jack’s eyes followed the three of them through the open door into the citadel’s inner sanctum. He hoped to discover where the rutter was kept, but the shoji slid shut before he could find out.

‘Come with me, Jack,’ said Captain Kujira, walking stiffly with the help of his trident in the direction of the main gate.

Jack looked over in surprise. He was usually shepherded straight back to the guarded room after the rutter meetings, or else forced to translate more of his father’s notes to a scribe. Watched like a hawk at all times, he’d been unable to acquire a knife, or any other tool as yet, to help facilitate their breakout. Trapped in a prison within a prison, he and his friends were frustrated by the lack of progress in their escape plans. Miyuki now paced the floor like a caged tiger and even Saburo was going off his food. Only Yori remained patient at their prolonged confinement, continuing to methodically stockpile rice.

‘Where are we going?’ Jack asked.

‘On-board my ship, the Killer Whale,’ replied the captain. ‘Tatsumaki wants you to observe its firepower first-hand.’

They entered the bamboo lift and descended to the lagoon. While Jack had taken every opportunity to memorize the citadel’s layout, this was his first chance to explore the jetty. The lagoon was bustling with pirates repairing ships, loading supplies and unloading booty. Fish of all kinds were being bartered for stolen goods and raucous shouts burst from dark dens stinking of stale sweat and spilt saké. Those pirates not at work were involved in gambling, arm wrestling, or else groggily recovering from the previous night’s hangover. The atmosphere along the jetty was one of a tinderbox waiting to explode.