The Black Pearl

by Louise Cooper

  Eagerly Lizzy grasped Arhans’s dorsal fin with both hands, taking a firm grip. Arhans whistled as though to say, ‘Hold tight!’ Then with a rush and a plunge they were diving down and away.

  Lizzy had ridden on Arhans’s back once before when she and Kes had been followed by an unknown enemy and the dolphins had taken her safely to shore. This journey wasn’t as wild and exhilarating as that first one had been, but it was still a huge thrill to be towed through the water with the graceful sea creatures swimming beside her. Two dolphins had gone on ahead; after a while, though, Lizzy heard them calling, and moments later their sleek shapes appeared again. They were excited; whistling shrilly, they dived over and under Lizzy and her escort, then they turned again and swam on. Arhans followed, pulling Lizzy with her – then suddenly they all stopped.

  Water streamed from Lizzy’s hair over her face, and she had to wipe it away before she could see anything. When her eyes cleared, she gasped. The cliffs rose sheer in front of them. And no more than fifty metres away was Silvie, her mainsail furled and just her foresail bellying in the wind. Lizzy could see her name painted on her stern. And she could see the man who sat at the tiller. A man with tanned skin, jet-black hair and a beard, dressed in jeans and a salt-bleached denim fisherman’s guernsey.

  Jack Carrick had his back to the dolphins and had not yet seen them, and suddenly Lizzy was hit by a wave of uncertainty. How could she approach him? What could she say? She didn’t remember him at all, and the last time he had seen her, she was a tiny baby. Tears sprang to her eyes. She bit her lip hard, trying to stop them, but they spilled down her cheeks and mingled with the sea. She didn’t know what to do! In distress she pressed her face against Arhans’s smooth side. The dolphins seemed to understand. They grouped closely round Arhans and Lizzy – then, catching Lizzy unawares, Arhans slipped away and headed towards the bobbing boat. Confused, Lizzy tried to follow, but the others would not let her. They surrounded her as though they were trying to protect and comfort her, and she could only watch as Arhans swam alongside Silvie and reared out of the water. Jack started with surprise, and his voice carried over the rush and hiss of the tide.

  ‘Ahh!’ Then his astonishment turned to eagerness and he reached out towards the dolphin. ‘That silver stripe – Arhans, it’s you, it’s you!’

  Arhans chittered to him, wagging her head. Jack tensed, then his head whipped round and he looked behind him. His eyes widened – and Lizzy saw that they were the same vivid blue as hers and Kes’s.

  ‘What –?’ He stood up in the boat, staring, his mouth a round O of shock as he saw Lizzy floating between the other four dolphins. The colour drained from his face and he said, ‘Morvyr?’

  Lizzy stared back, feeling that her entire world was turning upside down in her head. For a moment she was paralysed. Then, like a taut string breaking, the paralysis snapped.

  ‘N-no…’ She hardly recognized her own voice. ‘I’m Tegenn. Oh, Father – I’m Tegenn!’

  Chapter Nine

  ‘Tegenn, Tegenn, I just can’t believe it!’ Jack hugged Lizzy tightly to him, his voice choked. ‘After all this time, I’ve finally found you!’

  They were both in the boat. Jack had lowered the foresail and dropped the anchor, and Silvie bobbed gently, close to the cliffs where the water was quieter. The dolphins had gathered round them and were happily watching the reunion, nodding their heads and making odd little creaking sounds that seemed to express their delight.

  At last Jack released Lizzy and they both sat back, breathless. ‘There’s so much to tell you!’ Lizzy was so overcome with excitement and emotion that she was almost babbling. ‘I was found abandoned, and I was adopted and taken away, but then we moved here, and I met Kes and…’ She took a huge gulping breath as the words ran out. ‘I’m not making much sense, am I? I just don’t know where to start!’

  She was laughing and crying at the same time, and Jack laughed too. ‘It doesn’t matter!’ he said. ‘We’ve got all the time we want now. Let me look at you again.’ He took hold of her shoulders and gazed at her with shining eyes. ‘You’re so pretty. You look just like your mother.’

  ‘Do I?’ Lizzy felt a warm glow. ‘I think she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.’

  He smiled. ‘So do I. I’ve missed you all so much! Has it really been eleven years since I went away?’

  Lizzy nodded. ‘Kes says you went to search for me.’

  ‘I did. When you were stolen, we believed you’d been taken far across the sea.’ Jack frowned. ‘The person who stole you laid a false trail, because she thought that if I were out of the way –’

  Lizzy interrupted quickly. ‘She? You mean… Taran?’

  He frowned. ‘Do you know about that?’

  ‘I know about her,’ Lizzy said fiercely. ‘Kes told me that she’s wicked and cruel, and hasn’t got the right to be Queen at all. But he doesn’t know any more, because Morvyr – Mother – won’t talk about it.’

  ‘She’s right not to. But now I’m back, things can be different.’ Jack looked around at the sea. ‘Where are your mother and brother now? Are they nearby? I so much want to see them!’

  Amid all the excitement Lizzy hadn’t had a chance to tell him about Morvyr and Kes’s disappearance. Quickly she described her encounter with the giant eel when she was searching for Kes, and how the dolphins had intervened and driven him away.

  ‘Arhans tried to explain what had happened, but I haven’t learned to understand her properly yet. There was a word I sort of picked up… Tull-something, or Toll…’

  Jack’s eyes narrowed. ‘Tullor?’

  ‘Yes! That was it – Tullor.’

  ‘Ah, so he’s still around, is he? I might have guessed.’

  ‘Do you know him?’ Lizzy asked uneasily.

  ‘Oh, yes. He’s Taran’s most trusted servant, and as evil a creature as you could wish not to meet. Thank goodness Arhans and the others found you in time!’ Jack was frowning deeply now. ‘Did you understand anything else that Arhans said?’

  ‘I know she was warning me to stay away from the sea – and I think she said Morvyr and Kes are in hiding for some reason. I don’t know why, or where they’ve gone, but I’m sure they’re in danger!’

  Before Jack could reply, Arhans swam up to the boat and whistled urgently. Jack frowned at her. ‘What’s that, Arhans?’ The dolphin whistled again and he shook his head. ‘It’s been so long since I’ve tried to talk to her; I’m not sure… but I think she’s saying that Taran has ordered Morvyr and Kes to be arrested!’

  ‘Arrested?’ Lizzy was horrified. ‘Why? What have they done?’

  ‘I don’t know. But I’ve got an idea…’ Suddenly he swung to face Lizzy again. ‘Tegenn, when you were a baby, you had a mother-of-pearl locket. Do you know what happened to it?’

  ‘I’ve still got it,’ said Lizzy. ‘It was round my neck when I was found abandoned.’

  ‘Where is it now?’

  ‘At home. Morvyr told me never to wear it when I go to the sea.’

  He nodded slowly. ‘Good. Then, with luck, it’s not too late…’ He turned again. ‘Arhans, do you know where Morvyr and Kes are?’

  Arhans chittered eagerly and tossed her head.

  ‘Can you take a message to them without Taran or her servants knowing?’

  The dolphins seemed to confer together, then Arhans whistled what Lizzy thought was agreement.

  ‘All right. Then tell them that I’ve come home and I’ve found Tegenn. Ask Morvyr if she can meet me somewhere – anywhere – and, if that’s not safe, bring word to me from her. Will you do that?’

  Arhans whistled again. Jack reached out and stroked her back. ‘Thank you! And, Arhans – tell her that the ninth one is still safe with me!’

  Lizzy was puzzled by these last words, but Arhans seemed to understand. She and the other dolphins turned in the water with flicks of their powerful tails and surged away. Jack and Lizzy watched until they were out of sight, then Jack sighed.


  ‘All we can do now is wait,’ he said.

  ‘Will the dolphins find them, do you think?’

  ‘Yes, they will. Arhans knows where they are, and she says it’s a safe place where Taran and her henchmen would never think of looking – not even Tullor.’

  Lizzy shivered. ‘If the dolphins hadn’t rescued me from Tullor, what would he have done?’

  ‘My guess is that Taran had ordered him to capture you and take you to her.’

  ‘But why? What could she possibly want with me?’

  ‘That’s easy to answer. She wanted you as a hostage.’

  Lizzy’s eyes widened as she began to understand. ‘You mean, she’d have used me to make Morvyr and Kes come out of hiding?’

  ‘Exactly. Because, you see, she thinks that one of you has got something she wants. And maybe she’s right.’

  ‘Wh-what is it?’

  ‘It’s –’ Then Jack stopped. ‘No. It isn’t safe to talk about it here.’ He glanced uneasily towards the cliffs. ‘You can never be sure whether someone might be listening. Tegenn, I think we should go back now. Come with me in the boat. I’ll take you to shore, then we’ll meet again tomorrow –’

  ‘Tomorrow?’ Lizzy said, aghast. ‘I can’t wait till then!’

  He shook his head. ‘You must, little one.’ He blinked and his face grew sad. ‘Because we’ve got to keep our secret, haven’t we? We can’t just go back to the town and tell everyone that I’m your real father. It wouldn’t be fair.’ He gave her a wry smile. ‘They probably wouldn’t believe it anyway.’

  Lizzy realized he was right. Slowly, reluctantly, she nodded.

  ‘Don’t fret,’ said Jack. ‘Tomorrow’ll come soon enough. And then I’ll have something to show you. Something very important. Now, try and cheer up! I’ll teach you a bit about sailing on the way back, if you like. And you can tell me all the things I don’t know about you!’

  By the time the boat approached the marina, Jack Carrick knew most of Lizzy’s story: how she had been found abandoned as a baby and adopted by the Baxters, who had taken her away to live in another part of the country. There was one bad moment, though, when Lizzy was explaining about the family’s move to Cornwall. ‘They’d always wanted to live here, then Dad was offered a teaching job at –’ She stopped in sudden dismay as she realized what she had said. ‘I mean, he – Mr Baxter – I’ve always called him Dad, you see –’

  ‘Of course you have, and so you should,’ said Jack gently. ‘He’s the only dad you’ve known until now, Tegenn. That won’t change. It can’t.’

  His eyes were sad and Lizzy felt tears welling. ‘I’m not even called Tegenn any more,’ she confessed in a small voice. ‘They named me Elizabeth. Lizzy. I only found out my real name when I met Kes.’

  ‘Then Lizzy it’ll be,’ said Jack. ‘I like it, anyway. It suits you.’ He saw her face and smiled. ‘Don’t worry. We’ve both got a lot to get used to. But we can do it, can’t we? Now, tell me all about that first meeting with Kes…’

  The outboard engine chugged gently as Jack steered Silvie into her berth on the pontoons.

  ‘Make her fast,’ he said to Lizzy, and watched as she tied and secured the mooring rope with the knot – a Fisherman’s Hitch, he called it – that he’d taught her on the way home. ‘Very professional!’ he added with a grin when she finished. ‘You’ll be a proper sailor before you know it!’

  Lizzy smiled back, pleased by his praise. She wished they could have stayed out at sea all day. There was so much still to talk about – she hadn’t heard anything of his story yet – and she just wanted to be with him, and enjoy getting to know him for the very first time.

  Jack jumped ashore and held out his hand to help Lizzy. As she stepped from the boat, a familiar voice called cheerfully, ‘Hi, Mr Carrick! So my sister managed to meet you, did she? You sneaky thing, Lizzy!’

  ‘Hello, Rose – hello, Paul.’ Jack smiled as Rose sauntered up, with Paul a few paces behind her. ‘Yes, Teg– Lizzy and I have met. In fact we’re already getting to be like old friends.’

  ‘What did you do, fish her out of the sea?’ Rose joked.

  ‘That’s about it. Just like a mermaid.’ He winked at Lizzy, and Lizzy flushed scarlet.

  Luckily Rose didn’t notice. ‘Honestly, she’s been so curious about you – she even wanted to come with me to Paul’s yesterday. Hope she hasn’t been asking loads of nosy questions!’ She raised her eyebrows at Lizzy, who turned even redder and looked away.

  ‘We saw Silvie coming in,’ said Paul, ‘so we came down to meet you. Rose wants to try her hand at sailing. I said I’d take her out for a bit, if you don’t want the boat any more.’

  Jack was still smiling. He was so calm and quick-thinking, Lizzy thought; Rose surely wouldn’t be suspicious. ‘Good for you, Rose,’ he said. ‘Well, enjoy yourselves. I’ll see you later, Paul.’

  ‘OK.’ Paul helped Rose into the boat, and Jack and Lizzy walked away.

  ‘Thanks,’ said Lizzy after a few moments. ‘When I saw Rose, I didn’t know what to do.’ She looked up at Jack. ‘It’s going to be hard when I get home. I’ve got to pretend not to be excited.’

  ‘I know, love. But you can do it. After all, you haven’t told anyone about Kes and Morvyr, have you?’

  ‘No-o… But this is different, somehow. They live in the sea, but you’re here. And if we meet when there are other people around, like just now, it’s so hard to act as if you’re no one special.’

  He nodded. ‘It’s hard for me too. But we’ve got to keep the secret, Lizzy. You understand why, don’t you?’

  She nodded, blinking. ‘I couldn’t tell Mum and Dad – I mean, them – the Baxt–’

  ‘Shh! “Mum and Dad” is fine, I told you that. No, of course you can’t tell them. It wouldn’t be fair on them, or you. Now, listen: we’ve still got a lot to say to each other – and there are things you don’t know that I need to tell you. Let’s meet up tomorrow.’ He paused. ‘Have you got any favourite places that you like to go to?’

  Lizzy thought. ‘The headland where the lighthouse is,’ she said.

  ‘That’s good; it’s quiet, and it’s on land. That’s important – I’ll explain why tomorrow. How about having a picnic lunch there?’

  ‘Yes!’ said Lizzy eagerly. ‘That would be great!’

  ‘All right. Say, half past twelve, then. I’ll bring the picnic. And I want you to wear your locket.’ She looked at him curiously, but he put a finger to his lips. ‘No more now. I’d better get back to the Treleavens’. See you tomorrow – and maybe Arhans will have some news for us by then.’

  He touched her arm lightly and hurried away. Lizzy watched as he walked past the lifeboat station. There he paused, looked back and waved. She waved too. And she continued to watch until he was out of sight.

  Chapter Ten

  Kes was starting to wonder how long he could bear the inactivity and the tension. Though he and Morvyr had only been in hiding for a few days, it felt like ages. And until they knew that it was safe, Morvyr said they must not leave.

  ‘But how will we know?’ he had asked her in frustration. ‘We might stay here all the rest of the summer and never be sure!’

  ‘The dolphins will bring word to us,’ said his mother. ‘Queen Taran’s sure to give up the search eventually and find something else to amuse her. When she does, Arhans will soon hear about it.’

  Kes couldn’t argue. But the cave where they were living now felt like a prison. For one thing, it was miles from their home cave, right out near Land’s End. It was much smaller too; there was only one room, with none of the furnishings and trappings that made theirs so pleasant. It was deep in the cliffs, and very gloomy, the only light coming through a split in the rocks that allowed them to glimpse just a tiny strip of sky high above. Worst of all, Kes felt completely cut off, for instead of simply swimming through a seaweed curtain, you had to feel your way through a long, narrow and pitch-dark fissure to reach the outside world. Not that he could go outs
ide anyway. Neither of them could. Arhans had warned them that it was too dangerous to venture beyond the cave entrance. It was even risky for the dolphins to visit them unless absolutely necessary. Instead, they sent various sea creatures, small enough not to attract the attention of Taran’s spies, to bring them food and any news. But crabs, lobsters and fish didn’t make very interesting companions. Kes was desperately bored. And he couldn’t stop thinking and worrying about Lizzy.

  So when he heard Arhans’s whistling call echoing hollowly through the fissure tunnel, his heart gave a huge lurch under his ribs.

  ‘Mother –’ He grasped Morvyr’s arm.

  ‘I heard! It must be something vitally important – something she can’t entrust to one of the other creatures…’

  Moments later Arhans emerged from the tunnel, which was just big enough for her to squeeze through. She whistled again, urgently – and Kes and Morvyr’s eyes widened in shock as they realized what she was telling them.

  ‘He’s back…?’ Morvyr’s voice was a whisper, and all the colour had drained from her face. ‘My Jack – he’s really come back?’

  Kes had hardly ever seen his mother cry before. There were rainbow colours in Morvyr’s tears, and they flowed away and mingled with the water in the undersea cave. Concerned, Arhans nudged and nuzzled at her, and at last her sobs changed to a hiccupping laugh.

  ‘It’s all right, Arhans. I’m crying because I’m happy! Tell me, please – tell me everything you know!’

  With growing excitement she and Kes listened to the whole story, including the tale of Lizzy’s meeting with Jack out at sea. Arhans gave them Jack’s message, and Morvyr, who was calm again now, said, ‘If only we could go to him!’ Immediately Arhans started to protest and she added, ‘I know, I know – we mustn’t leave this cave until Taran calls off the search for us. But oh, Arhans, couldn’t you bring Jack here in his boat? I so much want to see him!’