But Skullface stopped him mid-stride with the edge of his sword. ‘Leave your new girlfriend be,’ he sneered.

Saru leapt into Tatsumaki’s arms. The Pirate Queen offered the monkey a nut in exchange for the pearl. Saru took it, apparently satisfied with the deal, and perched on the balcony rail to nibble at her treat.

Tatsumaki admired the jet-black pearl, its gleam radiant in the morning sun. ‘Captain, I thought you said you had taken all their possessions.’

‘Yes, I …’ blustered Captain Kurogumo, ‘… just wanted to test Saru’s skill.’

Tatsumaki smiled knowingly. ‘Well, as my Saru found this rare and valuable pearl, I say finders keepers. I think you’ll agree that’s fair.’

‘Very fair,’ replied Captain Kurogumo through gritted teeth, while glaring at the interfering monkey.

The Pirate Queen pocketed the pearl.

‘You keep strange company, Jack Fletcher,’ she remarked, for the first time paying the others attention. ‘A monk, a samurai, a pirate and … a ninja.’

Tatsumaki regarded Miyuki with contempt. ‘Throw the traitorous ninja over the side.’

Snakehead seized Miyuki by the hair and dragged her towards the end of the balcony. She kicked and fought, but Tiger grabbed her legs and they carried her the rest of the way to the edge.

‘NO!’ protested Jack, struggling against Skullface, who’d seized him round the throat.

Both Yori and Saburo were imprisoned within Manzo’s iron-like grip.

‘Such compassion for a ninja,’ Tatsumaki remarked in surprise. ‘I was led to believe a ninja killed your father.’

‘Yes, but not her,’ corrected Jack. ‘Now please let her live!’

‘Give me one good reason why. Her kind tried to wipe out the Fuma.’

‘But Miyuki had nothing to do with that battle. She’s innocent.’

‘An innocent ninja!’ laughed Tatsumaki. ‘That’s an interesting concept. But nothing comes for free in this life. She must pay the debt of her ancestors.’

‘You’ve my pearl for payment,’ persisted Jack. ‘Take my swords as well.’

‘They’re mine already,’ said Tatsumaki, indifferent to Miyuki’s fate.

Snakehead and Tiger swung Miyuki over the balcony rail and awaited the Pirate Queen’s final command to drop her. Jack felt his heart wrench at seeing Miyuki on the verge of plunging to her death. Only now did he realize just how much she meant to him. He turned to Tatsumaki in desperation and offered the most valuable thing he possessed. ‘I’ll reveal the secrets of the rutter.’

‘Rutter?’ queried Tatsumaki, intrigued.

‘He must mean this,’ said Captain Kurogumo, retrieving the oilskinned book from Jack’s pack. ‘It’s a navigational logbook, but I haven’t been able to make head or tail of it.’

‘It’s encoded and in my language,’ Jack explained hurriedly. ‘But I can decipher it for you – if you let Miyuki live.’

‘And why would such a logbook be of interest to me?’ asked Tatsumaki. ‘Explain quickly – my men are losing their grip on your friend.’