“Pirate ships don’t come with instructions,” hisses Sacker. “If those nice men find out you’re not really a captain–”

“Okay!” Sherrinford paces the cabin. “Go get the whatsit. Cabin boy. He’ll know how things work, but he won’t sway the crew.”

Sacker does. Sherrinford squats. “Hi, Simon,” she smiles. “Pop quiz! When your old captain wanted to go to Bermuda, what would he do? Slowly.”

“First,” says Simon slowly, “he’d get the instructions.”

Sherrinford looks hard at Sacker, who rolls his eyes. “You’re lying, boy,” he growls.

“Yes,” mutters Simon.

“The truth this time?”

“Very first,” Simon sighs, “he’d bugger me.”