Chapter 144: Double Cross

Sea water blasted over Kent. He couldn't see … couldn't breathe. His grip on the iron bars loosened, fingers aching. Cutter's muffled shout bounced over the hold. Kent tried to respond but his mouth filled with water. Coughing it out, he could barely move against the surge. Inching his fingers up the bars, he finally wrenched himself up beneath the cascade. He gasped for air and fought his way out from the center of the torrent.

The ship lunged. He hung on as his body slammed against the bars. "Cutter!" he shouted above the mad rush of water, praying the doctor had not been injured. No response. Muted light shone through the ocean gushing through a breach in the hull.

Who had fired upon them? What, in the name of Davy Jones, was Sawkins doing? Anger pumped through Kent at the thought of his ship in the hands of that pompous incompetent.