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in which it was kept was raided and the mirror stolen.
    “Now, those who had done the thieving were less than honourable and once they had their prize they turned on each other. During their quarrel, the mirror shattered. The thieves scrambled for the broken pieces and went their separate ways.
    “Now it turns out, the glass retained its power, even though it wasn’t whole. Smaller mirrors called Lightning Circles were made and these worked to transport entire vessels or buildings through time, as you’ve seen for yourself, lass. But they are difficult and dangerous to use. A Lightning Circle must make direct contact with two bolts of lightning, reflect them back up towards each other so that they hit. From that connection the beam of light and a big, fat bolt of lightning is born.A portal in time is opened and everything freezes.”
    “Until that bolt of lightning strikes,” said Josephine, remembering the destruction of Little Bounty. “And everybody dies.”
    #
    “You’d best come smartly now Cap’n,” urged Curry. “Before there’s murder done!”
    They found the cook pinning a man down, shoving a boot into his mouth.
    Lance shouldered his way through the crowd and yanked the cook to his feet.
    “What’s this about?” he demanded.
    “He kept sayin’ eatin’ my cookin’ was like eatin’ boot leather, Cap’n” said the cook, dangling from Lance’s fist. “So’s I thought I’d give him one of me boots!”
    “You gor-bellied, squid-suckin’ louts!” said Lance. He may have held onto some of the mannerisms of his genteel upbringing but he’d certainly adopted the pirate’s lingo. “You keep up this kind of behaviour on my ship and you’ll both be eating boots!”
    “Aye, Cap’n,” the men said meekly.
    “Aye! Now back to work, the lot of you!”
    The men scurried away leaving Lance and Josephine.
    “What are you doing out of my cabin?” said Lance, still using his captain’s voice.
    “Aye, Aye, Cap’n!” yelled Josephine. She ripped off a salute and snapped her heels together before sprinting back to his cabin.
    “Damnable woman,” muttered Lance, trying not to let his men see the smile tugging at his mouth.
    #
    “Here, lass!” said Lance. “I’ve a cure for your boredom!”
    He took her hand and lead her up on deck. There were few pirates about to see them. Up in the crow’s-nest, Josephine could see a pair of bare feet dangling down and two men, both of them singing, slowly paced the deck in opposite directions. When they passed each other their voices harmonised before drifting apart again.
    Another group of men were playing a drunken game of cards. A man lay on deck near to them, snoring loudly.
    At the prow of the ship, Lance told Josephine to look over.
    “Oh my God!” Josephine cried. “There are dolphins down there!”
    “I know!” laughed Lance. “Why do you think I brought you up here, lass?”
    “I thought you were going to throw me overboard!”
    “Would I do something like that?” asked Lance with a grin that was anything but reassuring.
    Josephine leaned out over the water until sea spray wet her face and glistened in her hair. It was wonderful to be out under the open sky. The salty wind swept her worries away.
    Lance’s smile faded as he watched her. He’d never seen her like this. He’d only seen her afraid and defensive. Now he saw the sweetness of her smile and heard the music of her laughter.
    “They’re so beautiful!” cried Josephine, her eyes sparkling.
    “Yes, you are,” murmured Lance and then cleared his throat and said, “yes, they are, lass. They are.”
    #
    “There’s something I want to show you,” said Lance.
    “More dolphins?” asked Josephine, getting to her feet eagerly.
    “Even better.”
    Lance grabbed her hand and led her at a run through the belly of the ship. He stopped in front of a door.
    Lance fished out the key he wore around his neck and turned it in the lock. There was a heavy click and the door swung