The Ship of Lost Souls 1 by Rachelle Delaney

raised an eyebrow. “But why? How can some islands feel different than others?”
    Tim shrugged. “The theory is that the most haunted places were once inhabited by the Islanders, whose spirits now roam the land, scaring off invaders.”
    â€œOh.” Jem wasn’t sure what to make of that. “I don’t feel anything here.”
    â€œThat’s ’cause we’re on the beach, mate. I wouldn’t go inland if I were you. This”—Tim grinned, spreading his arms wide—“is the Island of Vengeful Vegetation. Don’t laugh, mate, it’s true. See, years ago, some of the King’s Men were searching for trees they could chop down and ship back to the Old World, and they came upon one type that didn’t appreciate being chopped. Apparently if you lean against their bark or let them drip sap on you, you’ll start to itch, sting, and swell all at once. And if you take even a whiff of their shiny, purple fruit, there’ll be no saving you. The King’s Men called the trees poison palms, and the Island of Vengeful Vegetation is just covered with ’em. That’s why we never go farther inland than Castaway Cove. Well, that and the giant, dagger-wielding monkeys that live in the forest.”
    Jem watched Tim wander off and wondered if he’d been pulling Jem’s leg. Vengeful vegetation? Dagger-wielding monkeys? Those could only exist in stories, and rather twisted stories at that. He could only imagine what Master Davis would say. And yet, he wasn’t about to venture inland to challenge the theory.
    â€œAll right, crew, we’ve got some important business to take care of,” Scarlet announced once the crowd had stopped chattering. “Today we welcome a new sailor aboard the
Margaret’s Hop
. Everyone, this is Jem Fitzgerald.”
    â€œWe know, McCray, we met him last night,” Gil Jenkins, a small boy with a perpetually dirty face, piped up in a whiny voice. Jem recognized him as the sidekick of the hefty Lucas Lawrence, who’d seized Jem on the
Dark Ranger
. Jem was torn between feeling grateful for the rescue and resentful for the way he’d been handled. His left shoulder still smarted where Lucas had driven his big thumbs into it.
    â€œI’m just making it official,” Scarlet said with a sniff. Then she continued, “What you don’t know is that Jem here is going to help us find the treasure everyone’s been searching for. Jem”—she grinned, pride glinting in her dark eyes—“has a treasure map!”
    â€œA treasure map?” The cry rose from the back of the crowd.
    â€œWell, sink me!” shouted Tim.
    The Lost Souls erupted into chatter again. Jem had gathered from conversations with Uncle Finn that they wouldn’t be the only ones looking for the treasure, but he’d never expected that
everyone
would be after it. He couldn’t help but feel proud that only he had a real treasure map.
    â€œOrder!” Scarlet yelled. “The map belonged to Jem’s uncle Finn, who was made to walk the plank when he wouldn’t give it up. Fortunately, Jem had the map hidden in his sleeve.” Scarlet gave Jem a quick look, then corrected herself. “I mean, not fortunately, but . . . you know.”
    â€œSure,” said Jem. He didn’t really want to think about that now.
    But the Lost Souls weren’t ready to drop the subject. “They made your uncle walk the plank?” Tim asked. “Why? Why would they knock off the person who could show them the way?”
    â€œThat’s what I said,” Scarlet piped up, sounding a little smug.
    â€œThat doesn’t make sense,” Liam Flannigan chimed in. “Are you sure?”
    â€œI . . . heard the splash,” Jem muttered, really wishing that they’d change the subject.
    â€œMaybe your uncle’s still alive!” one Lost Soul suggested.
    â€œYeah!”