The Ship of Lost Souls 1 by Rachelle Delaney Page B

to full-on embarrassment. Scarlet was certainly no ordinary girl.
    â€œFour: Pirate girls will be given the same treatment as pirate boys. Anyone who disregards Rule Number Four will receive a kick in the shins from Scarlet and be forced to clean the long drop that day.”
    That one passed without comment, and although Jem had never known a rule like it, he didn’t dare challenge it.
    â€œFive: No smoking tobacco and no drinking rum. We’ve all seen what that does to those crazies in port. Also, no fighting on board. And no pets.” Here Tim peered down at Ronagh Flannigan.
    She blushed deeply. “It was just a
little
monkey.”
    â€œSix: When a Lost Soul turns eighteen, he or she must leave the
Margaret’s Hop
and make a life of his or her own, even if he or she doesn’t really feel grown-up yet. There will be no exceptions to Rule Number Six. At eighteen, you’re one of them.” Tim kicked the air as if giving a reluctant pirate the boot.
    â€œSeven: The identity of the Lost Souls must be kept secret from the rest of the world. Anyone who tells our secret will be marooned on the Island of Smelly Wild Pigs with no company at all. And we probably won’t come back.”
    No comments followed this rule, either.
    â€œThat’s it, Fitz,” Scarlet said. “Those are our rules. Think you can abide by them?”
    â€œSure,” Jem said. It sounded simple enough.
    â€œJolly. On to the initiation.”
    They moved to the edge of the beach where the forest met the sand and settled on the ground in a half circle around Jem. After making sure no poison palms stood nearby, the pirates stretched out on the ground and watched Jem expectantly. Scarlet dropped to her knees and motioned for Jem to do the same.
    â€œPart One of the initiation,” she said. “Skill-testing questions.”
    â€œYou’re going to test me?” Jem asked, a little alarmed. He knew very little about life at sea and next to nothing about being a pirate. Besides, it wasn’t as if he’d
applied
to join their crew. Why should he be tested?
    â€œDon’t worry, Fitz. You’ll do fine. Just use your head.” Scarlet cleared her throat. “First question.” She gave him a serious stare. “What’s your favorite color?”
    â€œMy what?”
    â€œColor, Fitz. Your favorite color.”
    â€œUm . . . blue, I guess.” Why should that matter?
    â€œMine too!” Liam Flannigan piped up. A few others nodded as well.
    Scarlet let out a “Hm” that sounded satisfied. “Next question: What’s your favorite food?”
    That was easy. “Christmas pudding.”
    â€œMmmm.” A soft, hungry hum rippled through the crowd.
    â€œLeast favorite food?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know. I don’t care for pig’s hocks,” Jem answered.
    â€œAny thoughts on oysters?” Scarlet asked.
    â€œDead or alive?”
    She considered this. “Either.”
    â€œWell, I’ve never met a live one, but dead, they taste like salty slime.” He couldn’t help making a face.
    â€œGood! More for me,” Smitty called out.
    â€œMoving on,” said Scarlet. “Can you read?”
    â€œYes, quite well.”
    A murmur of appreciation passed through the group. Scarlet only nodded. “Question six: You meet a talking iguana on a beach. What do you say to it?”
    â€œWhat?” Jem said, without even considering the question. “Iguanas can’t talk.”
    A few of the pirates
tsk
ed softly, and Scarlet shook her head, looking disappointed.
    â€œCome on,” Jem insisted. “That’s absurd. They can’t talk.” These “skill-testing questions” were getting out of hand.
    â€œHave you ever tried talking to one?” Ronagh rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin in her hands.
    Jem admitted that he hadn’t.
    â€œThen how would you