Voyage of the Moonstone by Joe Dever Page A

she bids you welcome. As you walk around the shop she watches you like a hawk.
    Most of her wares appear to be second-hand items of little value or practical use. Of all the thousands of things that are crammed into this shop, only the following catch your eye:
Rope — 3 Gold Crowns
Blanket — 2 Gold Crowns
Hourglass — 3 Gold Crowns
Tinderbox — 2 Gold Crowns
Spyglass — 2 Gold Crowns
    If you wish to purchase one or more of the above Backpack Items, remember to adjust your Action Chart accordingly.
    To leave the shop, turn to 17 .

63
    For a few moments the raiders stand transfixed with shock, as if they are unable to comprehend that their leader is truly dead. Then the reality of their loss crashes in upon them and they become overwhelmed by their worst fears. Without their leader, they panic and hurriedly cut the grappling lines which hold the two vessels together. When the last rope is severed there is a great rending of iron and timber as the ram of the pirate ship wrenches itself free from
The Pride of Sommerlund
's port side. Then a cheer resounds from the mouths of those Sommlending who have survived the battle when they see the enemy ship turn about and flee for the safety of the isles off Cape Kabar.
    To continue, turn to 281 .

64
    ‘He's right,’ says the rogue, and sheepishly he backs away from your table.
    ‘He can't be the creature,’ whispers one of the other men. ‘It wouldn't know the answer.’
    Confused and angered by their actions, and by what they are saying, you rise from your seat and demand an explanation. The innkeeper hurries over with a tankard of ale in his hand. He and the men apologize for the frosty reception you have received since you entered the tavern, and the innkeeper offers you the ale, free of charge, as if to make amends for their behaviour.
    ‘I don't want your ale,’ you snap. ‘What I want is an explanation. What's really going on here?’
    The innkeeper looks at you and there is fear behind his eyes. ‘Very well,’ he says, ‘I'll tell you. It's only right that you should know.’
    Turn to 74 .

67
    By the skill of her crew and helmsman,
The Pride of Sommerlund
enters the Bukimi Channel and picks up a prevailing wind which propels her swiftly away from the pirate raiders. Soon the enemy ships have disappeared beyond the distant horizon. When Raker is sure that they have abandoned the chase, he praises his First Mate and crew and promises that tonight they can look forward to a double rum ration as reward for their skilful seamanship.
    As the ship navigates the narrow strait dividing these two Lakuri islands, you pass close by the fire-blackened ruins of a beach settlement which nestles in a bay overshadowed by cliffs. It is Kita Cove, formerly the secret base from where Captain Khadro launched his pirate fleet. Staring at the charred remnants of his settlement, you try to imagine what it must have looked like before the encampment was consumed by the tremendous fireball that was to seal its doom.
    A mile beyond Kita Cove, the strait becomes narrower at a place where it passes between two overhanging cliffs. Paoll is sure that he can navigate safely through this channel, but his confidence is shaken when the lookout suddenly screams a warning: ‘Whirlpool ahead!’
    When you catch sight of the swirling, foaming water, you sense immediately that this is not a natural phenomenon: this watery vortex is the result of evil sorcery.
    If you possess Elementalism, turn to 226 .
    If you do not possess this Grand Master Discipline, turn to 55 .

69
    The old woman sits herself at your table and takes hold of your right hand. For a few minutes she mumbles and murmurs incoherently as she traces every line on your palm with her crooked index finger.
    ‘Great strength, long life, and good fortune will be yours, kind sir,’ she says, grinning inanely. ‘Ah, but what is this? Is this love I see? I … I cannot be sure.’ And with this she holds open her left palm inviting