Captain Kurogumo, who’d lashed himself to the tiller, remained fixed to his course, running before the wild wind. The reefed sails were stretched to breaking point, the masts threatening to snap, and the deck warped and shuddered dangerously as the Black Spider rose up over the perilous peaks before plunging into the deep troughs. All of a sudden there was a ripping noise and the foresail was rent in two, the canvas now flapping half-useless in the gale.

Wind can be light … or tear a house apart, thought Jack, remembering the teachings of the Five Rings from the Grandmaster. The storm’s terrible power seemed intent on destroying the Black Spider and sending them all to the bottom of the sea.

A foaming wave surged across the main deck, and Jack and the others were thrown against the bars of their cage. Submerged in freezing water, they spluttered and choked for air. For a moment, Jack thought the ship had capsized altogether, then their heads broke the surface. The receding wave clawed at them, but they were saved by their bamboo prison. The two guards weren’t so fortunate. They were swept off their feet and borne away, screaming and flailing, into the dark swirling sea.

Jack spotted Cheng clinging to the main mast.

‘CHENG!’ he cried.

The pirate boy glanced over, his face pale and terror-stricken. Then, as the Black Spider rose up the next swell, the deck cleared and he threw himself towards the cage.

‘Open the gate!’ demanded Jack.

‘The captain will kill me,’ replied Cheng, keeping a firm grip on the bars as the wind and rain lashed at them.

‘This storm will kill us all if you don’t let us out!’

Cheng wavered as Yori pleaded with him.

‘You owe it to us,’ Miyuki reminded him, seizing the pirate boy by the arm. ‘We’ve saved your life twice!’

Cheng pulled the knife from his belt and Miyuki immediately backed away.

With a quick glance to check no other pirates were watching, Cheng wedged the blade into the gap between the lock and cage and sprang the gate open.

‘Stay here!’ Jack instructed his friends, much to their confusion.

‘But we can escape now!’ said Miyuki.

Jack shook his head. ‘Our only hope is if I can save this ship first. You’re far safer in the cage.’

He grabbed Cheng and they weaved across the heeling deck. Clambering up the steps to the helm, Jack grabbed a safety line and staggered over to Captain Kurogumo, who was fighting to keep control of the tiller with his helmsman. Running before the wind was usually a good strategy in a storm. But, when the waves grew too large or the helmsman too tired, the ship became vulnerable to broaching or, worse, pitchpoling.

The captain stared at Jack in shock before turning furiously on Cheng. ‘I’ll hang you for this!’

‘But I can save the ship!’ shouted Jack above the noise of the storm.