The Wreckers

by Gary Knowelden

  Outside the cell, Seamus turns to Scarface. ‘You stand guard outside their cell until after we have completed our business. I will return then to deal with them,’ he says, pointing at the locked door. Horace coughs nervously. ‘Excuse me your excellency, I was wondering if I could stay and guard the prisoners, your worship.’ He reminds Seamus again about his mortal fear of water. ‘Yes since that incident with the storm 300 years ago I…’ Seamus rudely interrupts Horace. ‘Alright, alright, I don’t want to hear that load of rubbish again.’ Horace continues, ‘I would just be more of a hindrance than a help in the boat, not to mention a danger – the boat might capsize with me shaking in fear.’ Seamus eyes Horace up and down and thinks, yes I can see that he would be more of a hindrance and he is very fat and out of condition. ‘I’m very fat,’ Horace continues, ‘and out of condition, just buckling on my sword belt makes me out of breath and sweaty.’ ‘OK, OK you can stay and guard over the brat and his smelly dog.’ A hurt voice from the cell says, ‘who are you calling a smelly dog?’ Seamus stares at the cell door, then at Horace. He shakes his head and then stomps away muttering, ‘Everybody is quite mad, a soppy little dog upset ‘cause I called him smelly and a ghost afraid of drowning. Mad, quite mad.’

  CHAPTER 27

  Edward is sitting with his head in his hands. ‘I have to find a way out of here,’ he says dejectedly, ‘I must stop Seamus and his gang of thugs wrecking the Island Queen.’ He jumps up and tries the door for the tenth time and then paces up and down the cell floor. ‘Precious time is ticking away; there must be something I can do.’ He walks around the room, looking for another way out, but there is nothing; the walls are solid rock. All this time, Bruce is curled up on the floor, looking quite content. Edward says to him, ‘Well you’re not much help.’ Bruce replies, ‘There’s nothing like a wee nap to help you think better.’ ‘We do not have time to nap, we have to do something now!’ says Edward, becoming more desperate with every minute. ‘What about Aunt Agatha?’ Edward suddenly says. ‘She will be worried about where I have got to. Oh this is terrible, we must do something.’ ‘You’re right,’ agrees Bruce, ‘it is well past dinner time and I am starving.’ ‘Oh really Bruce? We are locked up by a bunch of cut throats, my parents’ boat is in mortal danger and all you can think about is your stomach. ‘Why don’t you use your phone?’ asks Bruce casually. ‘What?’ shouts Edward, stopping his pacing mid-step. ‘Of course,’ shouts Edward, ‘how stupid am I. You’re a genius,’ he says to Bruce, as he pulls the mobile from his pocket. ‘I will call Aunt Agatha first and tell her where we are and that she must call the police, and tell them they must contact the Island Queen, to warn them of the danger they are in. Then I can call my parents and tell them about the gang’s plot.’ Edward quickly taps the keys on the phone. His excitement is soon replaced with despair. ‘Oh no,’ he shouts. ‘What’s up?’ asks Bruce. ‘It’s not working,’ Edward replies. He shakes the phone but it is still dead. ‘It must have been damaged when we crashed on the jet ski’ he replies despondently.

  CHAPTER 28

  ‘I have searched the house high and low,’ says Harry, ‘he’s not anywhere to be found.’ ‘Have you looked in the garden and the outbuildings, Harry?’ asks Agatha. ‘I have looked everywhere,’ he replies. ‘What about his mobile, have you tried ringing that?’ Harry asks. ‘Yes, I have tried several times but it just goes through to his voicemail.’ ‘There is one good thing I can tell yer, wherever he is, Bruce must be with him, he has disappeared as well,’ says Harry. This made Agatha feel a little bit happier, knowing that Edward is not alone.

  ‘Oh dear, it is beginning to get dark outside, wherever can they be? We must call the police straightaway,’ says Agatha. ‘Now don’t you worry, I’m sure they are safe,’ Annie tells Agatha, trying to give her some comfort. ‘As soon as they get hungry, they will be straight back – you see if I’m not right.’

  ‘We cannot take that chance. It is still raining heavily and night-time is approaching. Edward may be injured out there somewhere, lying in a field or worse he may have fallen over the cliffs.’ With that thought, Aunt Agatha becomes even more distressed. Harry heads for the door. ‘I will go and look along the cliff tops and on the beach while there is still some light.’ He stops in the doorway. ‘I think you are right, you had better call the police.’ With that, he heads quickly out of the house.

  CHAPTER 29

  ‘Now you say he is a stranger to this area and does not know his way around?’ asks PC Higgins as he scribbles in his notebook. ‘That’s right, he is my nephew and he is staying with us over the Christmas holidays. His parents are due to arrive tomorrow night. Oh dear, whatever will they say when I tell them that their son has disappeared? You must get out there and conduct a search straightaway Constable,’ says Agatha. ‘Yes, first things first Madam. What time did he go out?’ asks the constable. ‘Well that’s the strange thing,’ answers Agatha. ‘No one saw him leave the house; he could not have left by the front because the boat was still tied to the bottom of the steps.’ ‘He could have waded across the front lawn,’ suggests the constable. ‘And why would he do that?’ asks Agatha impatiently. ‘I’m just trying to think of a possible answer to the puzzle,’ says PC Higgins. ‘What about the back door, could he have gone out that way?’ ‘I don’t think so,’ answers Annie, ‘I was in the kitchen the whole day and I am sure I would have heard him come down the stairs or open and close the back door. Besides, the whole house is surrounded by flood water and I have checked his room, his wellingtons are still there.’ PC Higgins scribbles down this bit of information. ‘You say that your dog is also missing. Do you think it is likely that they are together?’ ‘Oh yes,’ says Agatha, ‘I am sure of it, they have become the best of friends, inseparable since Master Edward arrived.’ ‘Right,’ says PC Higgins, ‘I will need a full description of them.’

  ‘Well Edward is about this high,’ Agatha indicates with her hand Edward’s approximate height. ‘He has brown hair, probably uncombed. I think he is wearing green trousers and a blue jumper and a grey jacket.’ ‘His coat is still in the wardrobe though,’ says Annie. ‘Oh dear,’ says Agatha, with a worried look on her face on hearing this latest information. ‘Why would he go out in this weather without his coat?’ ‘How old is he?’ asks the constable. ‘He is ten,’ replies Agatha. ‘Right and what about the dog, what breed is he?’ ‘His name is Bruce and he is a small white terrier.’ At this, PC Higgins stops writing and stares at the old lady. ‘Did you say small white terrier Madam?’ ‘Yes that’s right,’ Aunt Agatha answers. ‘Why is that important?’

  ‘Is there any chance your nephew and this dog could be on a jet ski?’ he asks. ‘A jet ski?’ repeats Agatha in surprise. ‘Why on earth would they be on a jet ski?’ ‘I couldn’t say Madam, but just a few hours ago a boy and a dog fitting their descriptions were seen racing along a flooded lane not far from this house.’ ‘Who saw them?’ asked Agatha. ‘I did,’ said the constable, ‘and they very nearly caused me a serious injury. I had to dive for my life into the water to avoid being mown down by them.’ ‘Oh I wondered why you were covered in mud and leaves,’ says Annie. ‘Yes and that’s not all of it. They were being chased by another jet ski being driven by a man dressed as a pirate, with another pirate water skiing behind him. This second man had a small fat pig on his head.’ Aunt Agatha and Annie both stare at the policeman in disbelief. ‘Have you been drinking, Constable?’ asks Agatha. PC Higgins splutters. ‘No, I have not Madam, but I think a nice strong drop of something would not go amiss now,’ he says as he spots the brandy decanter on the sideboard. ‘No time for that, Constable, you must get out there and start to search for them right away.’

  Just then, Agatha remembers something. ‘Actually, Constable, there are two jet skis in the small barn in the lower field. They belong to a young couple from Dainton, they rent the barn from me.’

  ‘Well that seems like a good place to start the search.’ With that, the constable stands up and heads for the door. He sto
ps and turns to Agatha. ‘Call the station if they turn up and if they do, tell them that I will want to talk to them about the dangerous driving of a jet ski along a Queen’s highway.’ ‘What do you mean?’ asks Agatha, ‘have a word with them, don’t you mean have a word with Edward?’ ‘I mean both of them,’ replies the policeman. ‘But one of them is a dog,’ says Agatha, confused. ‘A dog he may be, but that dog definitely spoke to me as they sped past me on that jet ski.’ PC Higgins puts his helmet on and walks out of the room. Agatha and Annie look at each other in bewilderment. ‘I will go and make a nice cup of tea,’ says Annie, ‘I think we could both do with one.’ ‘I think we could do with something a bit stronger,’ says Agatha, eyeing the brandy decanter.

  CHAPTER 30

  Su Lu is lying on her bunk in the bedroom she shares with Horace with her trotters behind her head. She can’t get the vision of Bruce out of her head. It was love at first sight, the moment she laid eyes on Bruce in the tunnel. She was instantly smitten. He was the only man for her. Her handsome knight in shining armour, her suave and sophisticated Romeo, her furry bundle of Celtic passion. In short, her Mr Right. Ever since that magic moment, she has fantasised about how the rugged little devil would sweep her off her feet and the hot romance that would follow. Now fate has stepped in and presented her with the dog of her dreams, right here at her mercy, locked up in the cell just along the tunnel, the poor lucky fool.

  Now it is time for action. She trots across to the bath in the corner of the bedroom and turns on the taps. She has heard rumours that perhaps she may be a bit lacking in the sweet smelling aroma department. It didn’t seem likely – after all she bathes once a year whether she needs it or not – but anyway, best not take any chances. A bath is a small price to pay if it helps her capture the heart of the man of her dreams.

  After her bath, she applies her make-up and lipstick with enthusiasm, using the same rule that she uses for just about everything else in life, the more the better. She inspects herself in the mirror and is delighted with the smouldering love goddess that stares back at her. She is a glamourpuss on trotters – how would he be able to resist her?

  CHAPTER 31

  Meanwhile, Lucy and Sam have been watching the events in the tunnel unfold from a safe distance. They discuss how to rescue Edward and Bruce. ‘We must find a way to get the cell key away from Horace.’ ‘I think I have a plan,’ whispers Sam. ‘Wait here.’ With that, Sam silently slips away along the tunnel and out of sight.

  A short while later, he returns carrying a bottle of rum. Lucy’s face breaks into a grin when she realises what Sam intends. They cautiously creep closer to where Horace is keeping guard outside the cell door and position themselves behind a wooden chest next to him.

  Horace has made himself comfortable outside the cell, sitting with his feet up on the desk. In front of him he has assembled his supper – cold meats, cheese, bread, an apple pie and a bottle of lemonade to wash it all down.

  Horace starts his meal and every time he takes a sip and puts his cup down, Lucy leans from her hiding place and tops it up from the bottle of rum when he is not looking.

  ‘This is very good lemonade,’ says Horace to himself, examining the bottle. He peers into the full cup, ‘Strange I don’t seem to have drunk hardly any. I am sure I have drunk more than that.’ He looks suspiciously at the full cup. Then relaxing, he says, ‘Oh well I had better have some now,’ and with that he takes a large gulp of the liquid, then places the cup on the table. Lucy once again tops it up with rum.

  A short while later, Horace is very drunk. He is singing at the top of his voice, ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor. Hic!’ Lucy looks at the empty rum bottle in her hand. ‘Looks like your plan is working,’ she whispers to Sam with a grin.

  Very soon, Horace is snoring peacefully with his head resting on his arm. Lucy carefully takes the keys from his belt, then she and Sam walk through the cell door and into the centre of the room.

  ‘Hi you two, how are you enjoying your stay in this tasteful establishment?’ says Lucy looking around the cell. Edward nearly jumps out of his skin. ‘Lucy, Sam,’ shouts Edward, shocked, and jumps to his feet. Bruce is still snoring peacefully on the floor next to him. ‘Thank God you have come to save us,’ says Edward. ‘We have been so worried that we would not be able to warn someone about Seamus and his evil plan.’ Lucy, looking at Bruce says, ‘Yes, I can see Bruce is beside himself with worry,’ she laughs. ‘We must stop Seamus and save the Island Queen,’ says Edward. ‘Yes, we must go and find them,’ agrees Lucy. Then Edward remembers that the cell door is locked and that Horace is keeping guard outside. ‘But what about the door? Horace has the key,’ he says. Lucy produces the key from behind her back. ‘Wow!’ says Edward in surprise. ‘How did you get that and what about Horace?’ ‘Oh I don’t think he will give us too much trouble, he is taking a little nap with a little help from us,’ she laughs. ‘Right, you wake up sleeping beauty over there and let’s get out of here,’ says Lucy, pointing at the sleeping dog.

  Just at this moment, another character materialises through the door. It is Su Lu and she can wait no longer to make her feelings known to Bruce. She looks around the cell and spots Bruce slumbering on the floor. Before she entered the cell, she had decided her best course of action was to play it cool, but now as she gazes adoringly at her true love she cannot control herself. With her heart beating wildly, she throws herself onto his recumbent form, screaming like a banshee and squealing her undying love for him into his ear.

  Bruce is woken from his slumbers by a mad pig wearing far too much make-up and slobbering kisses all over his face. She has the biggest, wettest, pinkest lips he has ever seen. Bruce, in a complete state of shock, takes several seconds to react and then he screams. Su Lu takes this as an endorsement that her tactics are working and doubles her efforts in her courting techniques.

  ‘Quick!’ says Lucy. ‘We must get out of here before Horace is woken up by all this noise.’ She unlocks the door and peers at Horace. Sam walks cautiously over to him. He is snoring peacefully. He signals to Lucy that all is clear. ‘Come on,’ whispers Lucy to Edward, ‘it’s safe to go.’ They quietly walk past the sleeping man.

  Back in the cell, Bruce, now fully aware of the intentions of Su Lu, is desperately trying to fight her off. Su Lu sees this as a bit of tender love and holds onto him with all her strength. ‘Get off me ya silly woman.’ He tries to drag himself across the floor towards the door, Su Lu hanging onto his legs. ‘Wait for me,’ he calls. Sam pops his head back in the cell in time to see Bruce crawling towards the door with Su Lu still clinging to his legs. Sam says to Bruce, ‘Stop playing hard to get, I think you make a lovely couple.’ ‘Do you think so?’ says Su Lu, ‘how nice.’ ‘Don’t encourage her,’ says Bruce angrily, ‘and get this lunatic off me.’

  Sam is enjoying this. ‘I think you should make an honest woman of her,’ he says. ‘What are you talking about,’ gasps Bruce, still trying to prise the troublesome pig from his leg. ‘Why, marriage of course.’ ‘What!’ cries Bruce, wide-eyed. ‘Marriage,’ repeats Su Lu with a dreamy look in her eyes. ‘Of course, as I said you make a lovely couple.’ Sam continues. ‘Will you stop saying that you daft cat and get her off me?’ Sam, ignoring Bruce, continues, ‘Yes I will have a word with Seamus, he’s a captain, he will be able to conduct the service.’ ‘Would you?’ asks Su Lu enthusiastically. ‘It’s the least I can do,’ says Sam. ‘Of course you will need a dress,’ he tells Su Lu. ‘A dress,’ repeats Su Lu, now totally sold on the fantasy. ‘Yes, and I think I have the perfect thing.’ ‘You have?’ Asks Su Lu eagerly. ‘That’s what I said, it’s shocking pink with lime green bows and it could have been made for you.’ Su Lu repeats the description of the dress in a slow dreamy voice.

  ‘Now put Bruce down, the dress is in the cupboard over there. You put it on while I take Bruce out of here.’ ‘Take him out of here?’ repeats Su Lu suspiciously, ‘why?’ ‘Because,’ Sam says, thinking fast, ‘because… because it�
�s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the ceremony.’ ‘Brilliant,’ says Bruce. Su Lu releases her grip on Bruce. ‘Bad luck,’ repeats Su Lu, ‘yes you are right, we can’t let anything spoil our big day, can we, Brucie darling? I’m sorry, I know it must be hard for you to be parted from me, but one of us must be strong. Off you go, shoo. Now where is my dress?’ ‘Over there in that cupboard,’ says Sam pointing. Su Lu screams in excitement and rushes to the cupboard. She opens the cupboard door and peers in excitedly. Sam shoves her into the cupboard and slams the door shut after her. ‘Quick, let’s get out of here before that mad pig escapes from that cupboard,’ he says, dragging Bruce by his paw. They rush out of the door and together with Edward and Lucy run into the darkness of the tunnel.