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Tao went over to Barbanegra, as still holding the gold brick in one hand, and said, “I’m Captain Tao Welcome aboard”

Barbanegra, a tallon him like he was a scarecrow, stood and feebly shook Tao’s hand “Thanks for co to stop”

“We thought your ship was a derelict Your radio signal was so weak that we almost didn’t pick it up This is your whole crew?”

“Half We lost the rest in the fire”

“Do you need medical attention?”

“The food and water are enough for the ent ot “You’ll help us recover the rest of the gold before she goes down? We’ll give you twenty-five percent of the value”

So Barbanegra was still well enough to negotiate Tao had to aduts

“Why shouldn’t we take it all for ourselves?” Tao asked “You’ve abandoned ship, and given that you’re flying the Iranian flag, it’s reasonable to assuh Lloyd’s of London for the salvage contract, are we?”

“That’s true,” Barbanegra said “But the bars are well hidden aboard our ship, which is taking on water and will probably go under within the next twelve hours Then neither of us gets the gold”

“If it is gold,” Tao said He took a folding knife froot’s face, leaving a golden trench in the soft metal It was definitely not plated lead He picked it up and guessed the weight at twenty-five pounds Tao ta so lucky

“See!” Barbanegra said triumphantly “It’s real, just like I told you And there are nineteen more just like it over on the Goreno”

“Where?”

“Do we have a deal?”

Negotiating was pointless since these ive the appearance that he was reluctantly co to terms

“Fifty-fifty,” he said “That’s our price”