‘That’s the risk we have to take,’ he replied, laying a sympathetic hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘But the storm should have frightened them off. First we need to retrieve our packs from the captain’s cabin. We must be quick, though.’

Gathering their supplies, they hurried up the steps out of the hold. As they emerged from the hatch, a circle of steel blades greeted them.

‘Leaving so soon?’ asked Captain Kurogumo, baring his pointed teeth in a hideous grin.

With no cage to hold them in, Jack and his friends were put to work on repairing the ship with the rest of the pirates. The rudder needed fixing, the torn sail mending, the sea anchor retrieving, and the starboard gunwale had to be shored up a second time.

Despite their status as prisoners, Jack noticed that he and his friends had gained much respect among the Wind Demons. Their actions had saved the ship and most of the crew. Such a debt of life was not easily forgotten or ignored. Even Captain Kurogumo paid due regard, acknowledging Jack’s service to the Black Spider by pardoning Cheng for his treachery. Over the course of the day, they shared equally in the pirates’ meals and many of the crew spoke to Jack, intrigued by his seafaring experience and knowledge.

It took until sundown before the Black Spider was shipshape enough to sail again. By then, a light sea breeze had picked up and the captain gave orders to set a course for Pirate Island.

Jack and his friends were escorted to an empty cabin, where more food and water awaited them. But the pirates’ gratitude and trust only went so far and two guards were posted at the door.

‘I’d get your heads down if I were you,’ snarled Skullface. ‘You may have won favour on this ship, but you still have Tatsumaki to answer to.’

As soon as the pirate had left, Miyuki began searching the room.

‘What are you looking for?’ asked Saburo.

‘A way out,’ she replied, but it quickly became apparent that escape wasn’t an option. The cabin’s narrow window was barred and the walls were made from solid stems of bamboo.

Exhausted by both storm and ship work, Jack realized they had no choice but to take Skullface’s advice. ‘We should rest. We’ll need our strength for whatever tomorrow might bring.’

Settling down, the five of them soon fell into a deep sleep. The Black Spider sailed on through the night, following its secret course across the Seto Sea.

‘We’re here!’ announced Cheng, with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Jack woke to see the pirate boy peering through the bars of their window, the golden light of dawn reflected in his face. Despite his lithe strength, Cheng still seemed too delicate to be a pirate – as if he were a butterfly pretending to be a spider.