‘Those are daejon,’ explained the captain over the noise of the carriages being wheeled into their firing positions. ‘They’re far more accurate than shot, having a longer range yet packing no less of a punch. On impact they smash apart, sending deadly shards into the enemy. And for a truly devastating attack, the arrows can even be set on fire!’

The captain licked his lips at the very thought.

‘Mark your target,’ he commanded his crew.

The pirates gauged their guns’ trajectory and adjusted the carriages appropriately.

‘Starboard battery – FIRE!’

The deck resounded to the blast of cannon, each one as loud as a thunderclap. The carriages recoiled, bucking away from the portholes like wild horses, the muzzles discharging clouds of smoke into the ship. Jack’s ears rang, his eyes stung and he hacked at the acrid stench of gunsmoke.

The haze cleared just as the barrage of cannonballs and iron-tipped arrows reached their target. The sea surrounding the raft exploded in plumes of boiling spray. For a moment, the samurai were tossed upon the waves before disappearing beneath the churning water. Then they bobbed back up, bedraggled but alive. Still clutching their paddles, they rowed desperately in a bid to get out of range.

‘I think your crew need more practice,’ remarked Jack, with great relief for the poor samurai.

Captain Kujira shook his head. ‘You always aim short on your first shot. Otherwise if it goes beyond, you can’t gauge how far over.’

The pirate crew began rapidly adjusting the angle of their cannon. Then the guns were reloaded with furious efficiency.

‘FIRE!’ ordered Captain Kujira.

Another round of explosions shook the Killer Whale. Jack felt the concussions deep in his gut. This time the raft was capsized by the violent waves. But still none of the cannonshot hit their mark. The samurai clambered back on-board the raft and resumed their frantic paddling.

Final adjustments were made by the pirates. When the cannon were primed once more, Captain Kujira personally checked the trajectory of each gun and instructed his crew on improving their technique. The last gunner, bowing to his captain’s superior knowledge, offered his burning match. Accepting the honourable gesture, Captain Kujira touched the flame to the gun’s vent. The Heaven cannon blasted out its daejon. Whizzing like a mighty firework, the flaming iron-tipped arrow arced across the sky towards the panicking samurai.

The raft exploded in a fountain of foaming sea spray and fiery splinters. When the water settled once more, the three samurai were nowhere to be seen.

The ninja pirates applauded their captain’s consummate skill. Despite joining in the cheers, Li Ling noticeably blanched at the men’s cruel deaths. Heartened to see this, Jack wondered if she really had the stomach to be a true pirate – he hoped not.

‘Those men were defenceless,’ he protested to Captain Kujira.