For now, Charles still found himself trusting Tuba. The man was indeed mad as a hatter, but his previous actions suggested he held no hostility. Otherwise, Tuba could have just stood by and let the pirates capture them.
Walking along the rocky passageway, Charles could see the pirates on the dock below, as small as ants, and the warships on the distant sea, which looked like toy boats. The passageways in Mountain City were narrow. Scattered pirates brushed past them, but they showed no intention of attacking. After a glance at Tuba, they simply went about their business. It was as if the cross that Tuba held above his head really worked.
"Mr. Charles, are we really invisible? Why aren't they attacking us?" Lily, perched on Charles's shoulder, asked curiously, reaching out with her little paw to grab at a nearby pirate's clothes.
"No," Charles said. He knew they certainly weren't invisible, but he was also quite puzzled as to how the old madman had managed to pull this off.
