by Alan Snow
“I’m sure I can manage. I’ve never been to sea before. I’m looking forward to it.”
This was too much for Arthur, and he put his plate down and headed for the front door. As he laced up his boots, Willbury was telling Grandfather what the pirates had told him of their old voyages. Arthur felt sick. As he let himself out, he heard Willbury telling of islands where giant tortoises lived, and others where there were huge birds that tasted delicious and you could just pick them up and put them in a cooking pot.
Arthur slammed the door.
Huge birds that tasted delicious.
A large notice was fixed to the gates.
chapter 12
CAST OFF!
When Arthur reached the spa, there was no queue. A large notice was fixed to the gates. CLOSED. WE ARE UNABLE TO TREAT PATIENTS DUE TO A LACK OF BLACK JOLLOP.
He pushed open the gate and made his way across the deserted courtyard, through the main doors, and down the corridor to the main ward. The doctor was standing alone behind a desk stacked with strange equipment and seemed very preoccupied.
Arthur watched for a moment, then coughed. This startled the doctor, who looked up, quickly came around the desk, and placed himself between Arthur and the apparatus on the desk.
“What do you want? We’re closed.”
“The ship’s ready.”
“Good! Tell them I’ll be along this afternoon. Now get out of here!”
Arthur turned away but noticed the doctor was following him. As soon as Arthur passed through the gates, the doctor closed and bolted them behind him. Arthur found himself alone again and feeling really miserable.
What now? he thought. He couldn’t face going back to the shop, and in truth he was very curious to see how things were getting on at the ship. He decided to head for the canal.
The sight of the ship made his heart sink further. There had been a transformation. All its woodwork had been either washed or painted, sails had been taken out of storage and bound to the spars, new rigging had been put up, and the crew were now busy polishing, scrubbing, or stowing things away. The ship no longer looked like a laundry. It looked like a vessel ready for the high seas.
There had been a transformation.
“Arthur! I’ve got something for you!” Marjorie shouted from the stern deck.
He looked up.
“What is it?”
Marjorie looked a little furtive and pulled out something on a chain.
“The key for the submarine. I’ve put a padlock on the hatch to stop anybody messing about with her while we’re away. I want you to keep an eye on her.”
Something on a chain.
She threw the key down to him, and Arthur caught it and put it in his pocket. The weight of it reminded him that he was not going.
“Did you tell the doctor we’re ready?”
He silently nodded.
“Did he say when he was going to get here?”
“No. Just later this afternoon.”
“I guess he’ll just turn up.” With that, she turned and set about oiling something. Arthur sat down on the bank and watched the clamor. After a while he looked across to the submarine. There could not be a greater difference between the two craft. One looked full of life and the other old and dismal. Though he was now in charge of the submarine, he really couldn’t care less if it sank. He turned away from it and stared back at the ship.
What could he do? He had to get on the voyage. He stood and slowly crept up the gangplank, looking about. On one side of the mast was a large barrel. He walked over to it and lifted the lid. It was absolutely full of apples.
“Not thinking of becoming a stowaway, are we?”
He turned to see Willbury looking down at him. Arthur didn’t reply.
“Don’t think you can get away with any funny stuff. I shall be keeping an eye out for you, and making sure you’re not aboard.”
Arthur dropped the lid of the barrel, and walked sulkily across the deck, down the gangplank, and off in the direction of the shop.
Off in the direction of the shop.
At four the doctor arrived on a cart pulled by a very exhausted donkey. He insisted on being taken to the captain’s cabin, where he installed himself with his luggage. This consisted of about twenty very large trunks and cases. It took quite a lot of effort by some of the largest pirates to get them on deck, and down below. Though exhausted, the pirates offered to help him unpack, but the doctor refused.
A cart pulled by a very exhausted donkey.
“Don’t worry. They contain delicate equipment I need for the jollop. I shall unpack them tonight.”
He then asked for the key to the cabin and locked it before joining the crew on deck.
Word had got around about the voyage, and a crowd was starting to assemble to see the ship set off.
About six o’clock Grandfather heard a newspaper boy calling out in the street.
“Late edition! Late edition! Ship about to set sail! Black Jollop Voyage Special! Read all about it!”
“Late edition! Late edition!”
Grandfather went up and found Arthur in his bedroom.
“They’ll be setting off shortly. Shall we go and wave good-bye?”
Arthur shook his head.
“Very well. You stay here, then.”
“Why can’t I go?”
“I’ve told you. You’re not old enough to take care of yourself.”
“Who was it that helped save you in the submarine?”
“. . . you . . .”
“And last year who was it that saved the town from Snatcher and his men?”
“. . . you . . .”
“So I’m old enough to look after others but not old enough to take care of myself, then?”
“I know it seems rough . . .” But before Grandfather could finish, Arthur started again.
“So be truthful with me. How would you feel if you were my age and there was a real adventure about to happen and your grandfather stopped you from going?”
Grandfather thought for a few moments. “Not very good, but I am only trying to protect you.”
“I remember you telling me loads of times that we learn from experience. And now you want to stop me from learning?”
“Of course not.”
“How old does the navy take boys?”
“Eight, I think.”
“Well, I’m ten. Perhaps I should run away and join the navy?”
“No! God knows what would happen to you if you did.”
“So it would be better if I learned from people who cared for me, like Tom and Kipper?”
“I suppose so.”
“SO I CAN GO?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But can I?”
Grandfather looked the boy up and down. It was true that Arthur had already done much a man twice his age would have been proud of.
“You mean the world to me, Arthur. I couldn’t bear it if I lost you.”
“You won’t.”
“Please, please be careful.”
Arthur looked up him. “What do you mean?”
“If you really want to go on this voyage . . . you go.”
“If you really want to go on this voyage . . . you go.”
“Do you really mean it? What about Willbury?”
“I’m your guardian, not Willbury. It might even be good for you. What is life without adventure?”
Arthur could not believe what had just been said. He grabbed a sack from the corner of the room and threw his clothes in.
“Better be quick! They could be going any minute.”
“Are you going to be all right without me?”
“Don’t you worry about me. Let’s get down there quick.”
Arthur rushed down the stairs three at a time, with Grandfather following. Even with Grandfather’s newfound health and the fact that Arthur was having to carry quite a large sack, Grandfather was having trouble keeping up. Through the shop, out into the streets, and toward the c
anal they ran. As they got closer, the crowds started to hinder their progress, and they noticed something. The crowd were not going toward the mooring. They were coming away.
“Quick! They must have set sail,” Arthur called back to Grandfather. Then he reached the towpath and looked toward where the ship had lain. There stood the boxtrolls, but there was no trace of the ship—just the ruined remains of the bridge. Arthur followed the gaze of the boxtrolls along the canal.
In the far distance he could just make out a faint plume of smoke. They had gone!
A faint plume of smoke.
Fish held up a finger and turned it in a circle.
chapter 13
SUNK!
“How long ago did they leave?”
Fish held up a finger and turned it in a circle.
“An hour ago?” Arthur panted.
Fish nodded.
Disappointment filled Arthur’s heart, and the tears started to well up in his eyes. The boxtrolls shook their heads, and Arthur started to feel sick. He put a hand in his pocket to reach for his hanky—and touched upon the key chain. He pulled out the key and looked at the submarine.
“I can catch up with them . . . I’ll use the submarine.”
“You can’t. That thing will only get stuck again,” replied Grandfather.
“Not if I keep on the surface.”
“But you’ll never be able to operate it on your own.”
“I’ll need help, then.” Arthur looked toward the boxtrolls.
Fish, Shoe, and Egg all took a step back.
“Please, please, I know you hate water, but this is the chance of a lifetime for me.”
Arthur saw something in Fish’s eyes glimmer for a moment.
“Fish, will you help me? You don’t have to come to sea, just help me get it started. You boxtrolls are brilliant with machines.”
Fish was looking very nervous, but took a gulp, then a step forward, and nodded.
Arthur grinned from ear to ear, while the other boxtrolls looked horrified.
“Come on, then!” Arthur jumped onto the roof and unlocked the hatch. Reluctantly Fish stepped over the gap, and hung on to Arthur. As soon as the hatch was open, Arthur pushed the boxtroll up and into the tower.
Fish stepped over the gap, and hung on to Arthur.
“You go steady, my boy, and take care!” called Grandfather from the bank as Arthur climbed in after Fish.
“I will. And you look after yourself.” Arthur beamed back. “Cast off . . . please.”
With the aid of the remaining boxtrolls, Grandfather freed the submarine and waved them off.
* * *
Inside, Fish seemed a little happier. It was bone-dry and warm, and the smell of oil settled him. After looking about and taking in the machinery, he prepared himself.
“Ready?” asked Arthur as he watched Fish from above. The boxtroll gave Arthur a wink, and the motor started.
“Here we go!”
The little submarine started down the canal. Arthur stood with his head out of the conning tower, calling down instructions for steering, and soon they were almost out of sight of Grandfather and the other boxtrolls. Arthur returned their waves until he could see them no more.
The little submarine started down the canal.
“I heard Kipper say that they were going to stop in Bristol tonight, so we can catch up with them there. Do you think you could work out how to submerge this thing, Fish?”
Fish came to the bottom of the ladder and looked up at Arthur.
“It’s just I don’t want Willbury to see us. If I can climb on board and hide until they are out to sea, they are not going to turn round just to drop me off, are they?”
Fish smiled and nodded.
Fish smiled and nodded.
The ship had tied up on Bristol’s main quay for the night.
chapter 14
A FAREWELL TO HARBOR
The ship had tied up on Bristol’s main quay for the night, and the crew had gone ashore for a last drink before the voyage. Willbury had joined them for a sherry and had even asked the doctor to come along for one, but he had refused, saying that he needed to prepare the maps for the voyage.
At daybreak the crew assembled on deck. Tom was still acting as captain and stood at his post on the bridge with a pilot who had come aboard to guide them out of harbor.
“Order of the day?” asked Kipper.
“We are going to use the steam engine until we get out into the channel. Then after we have dropped the pilot off, we’ll put up the sails and off we go!”
Tom at his post with the pilot.
There was a cry from the deck. “When’s breakfast?”
It was the doctor. He was dressed in a huge pink dressing gown and slippers.
“Kipper, will you see to our guest!” ordered Tom.
Kipper took him down to the galley and told him to help himself to porridge and treacle. A few minutes later, Kipper returned to find the saucepan gone, along with the large jug of treacle. Later still, Kipper found the empty pan and jug on the sideboard in the kitchen.
“Big eater, that doctor. Wouldn’t have thought it to look at him.”
Soon they were out in the channel.
Tom gave the order to cast off. The beam of the engine started to rise and fall, and the ship moved slowly out from the harbor wall. Soon they were out in the channel and making their way down toward the sea. The morning tide was with them, and they made good progress. After an hour under the guidance of the pilot, they reached the estuary, and the pilot was taken off in a small boat.
The pilot was taken off in a small boat.
As they were now free of the channel and in a fresh breeze, Tom ordered the sails be hoisted. There were happy cries at this, as the crew had not been under sail for a long time now, and a good wind in sails is something that brings real joy to a sailor.
“Feels great, doesn’t it!” Tom called to Kipper.
“Blooming fantastic!”
Shortly the doctor appeared fully dressed.
“When do you think we will reach international waters?” he asked.
Tom was surprised by the question but asked Marjorie, who was acting as navigator.
“I think about three hours.”
“Do you think you could let me know when we are there?” asked the doctor.
“Yes. But why?”
There was no reply. The doctor had disappeared below.
“I wonder what’s on his mind?” said Tom.
“Probably worried about it getting rough as the waters get deeper.”
The wind picked up and the ship started to surge forward.
After an hour or so the doctor reappeared and asked if there was a snack he could have.
“After all that porridge?” sputtered Kipper.
“I think it must be the sea air.”
Kipper took him down below again and gave him a large cake tin full of bread pudding.
“That should keep you happy.”
The doctor opened the tin and smiled. “Well, it should do for the moment. What time is lunch?”
“What time is lunch?”
“Have you got hollow legs?”
“Something like that.”
At twelve Marjorie took a reading with the sextant and started to work out their position. They could just about still see land, but she wanted to get into practice. While she was doing the calculations, lunch was served, and the doctor disappeared with another tray full of food.
At twelve Marjorie took a reading with the sextant.
Marjorie enjoyed doing the math for the calculations and took another reading an hour or so later when land had disappeared. After some time with a book of tables and a chart she declared that they were now in international waters.
“Shall I go down and tell the doctor?” asked Kipper. “Perhaps he’d like to celebrate with a little snack.”
“I think it would be courteous,” replied Tom.
Kipper headed below and then returned. �
��He says he will be up in a few minutes . . . with a little surprise for us.”
“Oh, goodie. I love surprises,” chirped Tom.
“I’ve lined up a little surprise for you all.”
chapter 15
SURPRISE!
The doctor appeared, made his way to the bridge, and spoke to Tom.
“I’ve lined up a little surprise for you all.”
“That is very kind of you. There was no need.”
“It would make me very happy if you would indulge me in my little eccentricities.”
“I am sure we can do that,” said Marjorie.
“I would like the surprise to have its full effect. Would you mind ordering everybody on deck and joining them there? Then I want everybody to close their eyes and turn away while I get everything ready.”
This seemed like great fun. Tom asked the doctor to hold the wheel, and then he marched to the edge of the bridge.
“All hands on deck . . . for a surprise!” The crew assembled, and Tom, Kipper, and Marjorie joined them.
“The doctor wants to give us all a big surprise. We’ve to turn our backs and close our eyes.”
They did as they were told.
“Keep your eyes closed and count to a hundred,” the doctor called out.
The crew started to count aloud.
“No peeking!”
“No peeking!” added the doctor.
As the counting reached ninety, everybody was just bursting with excitement.
“Ninety-one, ninety-two, ninety-three, ninety-four, ninety-five . . .” Some of the crew almost passed out with excitement. “. . . ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!”
The crew all spun round to find themselves facing fifteen blunderbusses, five trotting badgers, twenty men in tall hats and grubby suits and, standing at the front of this mob, one particularly unpleasant-looking, failed ex–cheese merchant and master criminal with a grin right across his face.