by carl ashmore
Uncle Percy looked grave. ‘Are you sure it’s what the crew wants?’
‘Every man would give his life fer it. The boy’s got a dozen fathers and each one of them be wantin’ what I ask.’
‘And what about Jim? What does he say about it?’
‘I’ll be talkin’ to him at first light,’ Blind Hugh said gravely. ‘He’ll be sad, fer sure, but that’s only because he don’t know different from this life. In time, he’ll understand we done it out of carin’.’
Uncle Percy said nothing. When he did speak, there was a trace of uncertainty in his voice. ‘Very well. Jim can come with us.’
‘And I can ‘ave yer word as a gentleman?’ Blind Hugh pressed.
‘I give you my word.’
‘Thank the good lord,’ Blind Hugh breathed.
Becky didn’t know what to think. She looked at Blind Hugh and his body wilted as though he’d used every bit of strength to make the request and had nothing left to give. Sadness ripped through her. ‘Jim will be well looked after.’
‘Aye, I believe that, lassie.’ Blind Hugh forced a half-smile. ‘Anyway, I shall retire now and bid you a restful night. But I thank ye, Mister Halifax. And you, Miss Becky. A thousand times I thank ye.’ Then he turned, set his cane against the deck and rapped his away into darkness.
After Blind Hugh had gone, Becky turned to Uncle Percy and said, ‘What are you going to do? Will Jim come and live at Bowen Hall?’
‘I don’t know,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘But Hugh is right. This is no time or place for a young boy like him. And I would never forgive myself if something happened to him, knowing I could have helped. Of course, if I take him out of time I am breaking section three, paragraph two of the GITT regulatory code for time travelling which is punishable by the revoking of my TT license, but …’
‘– But you live with a dinosaur, two sabre-tooth tigers, a flying horse, a dodo and Will Scarlet. Since when have rules stopped you?’
Uncle Percy chuckled. ‘Believe it or not, I’m normally a very rule abiding person.’ He curled his arm round Becky’s shoulder and together they stared out at the velvety ocean. ‘But I suppose some rules were made to be broken …’
*
Becky soon found herself feeling exhausted and returned to her hammock, falling asleep straight away. When she awoke she was surprised to find she and Mister Flint were the only ones left on the berthing deck.
‘Good morning, Mister Flint,’ she yawned, slipping on her shoes and coiling her hair into a ponytail. She made her way over to the ladder.
‘BWARRKK …’ Mister Flint screeched loudly. ‘Intoooo the bowels.’
‘Lovely!’ Becky muttered, climbing the steps to the decks above.
Entering the gun deck, Becky heard a loud sniff and saw a pair of feet sticking out from behind a gunpowder barrel. Straight away, she knew who it was and what had happened. Stepping off the ladder, she walked over to Jim, her heart sinking when she saw his eyes were swollen, his cheeks red raw. ‘Hi, Jim.’
‘M-mornin’, miss.’ Jim wiped his eyes and got to his feet.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Got brine in me eyes,’ Jim mumbled. ‘Stings a bit. I’ll be right in a while.’
Becky knew it was a lie - that Blind Hugh had talked to him about leaving with Uncle Percy. She wanted to offer words of comfort, but what could she possibly say to make him feel better? Instead, she smiled sympathetically and said, ‘D’you want to come up on deck or are you staying down here?’
‘No, miss,’ Jim replied. ‘I shall join you …’
Moments later, Becky opened the hatch door and was surprised to find the deck deserted. Then her eyes were drawn to the ship’s bow and everything became clear. Standing in line, frozen like statues and strangely silent, Uncle Percy, Joe, Will, Bruce and the crew were staring out at the horizon. She trailed their eye line and fear flooded her.
In the distance loomed the most terrifying dark green sky, lit by recurrent bursts of scarlet lightning. Dozens of small tornados spiralled above giant waves, and rain hammered the sea like cannon balls.
Becky gulped. Scarlet lightning? She’d never even heard of such a thing. Unable to tear her eyes from the maelstrom, she walked over and sidled in between Will and Joe. ‘Please tell me we’re not going to have to go through that?’
Will’s face grew somber. ‘Yes.’
Joe looked at him. ‘You must have been on plenty of ships, have you ever seen anything like it before?’
Will looked grave. ‘I have not.’
All of a sudden, One Toe Tom yelled, ‘Buckos … Man yer stations! We got ourselves a battle with a squall from Hell itself.’ He glanced at Uncle Percy. ‘Mister Halifax, I need ya ter take yer folk and our Hugh below and if ye have a God then now would be the time ter do some prayin’.’
‘I shall stay!’ Will said resolutely. ‘You will need the hands.’
‘Me, too,’ Bruce said.
Uncle Percy stared determinedly at One Toe Tom. ‘The three of us are staying here.’ He turned to Becky and Joe. ‘Take Jim and Hugh to the berthing deck and hold on to anything that’s nailed down.’
‘I’m not going anywhere!’ Becky replied.
‘Please, Becky,’ Uncle Percy implored her. ‘There’s nothing you can do here…’
Becky was about to object when the temperature tumbled. The blue sky above turned a sickening green.
Uncle Percy couldn’t believe it. ‘Crikey.’
In that moment thunder roared, rain pelted down, and the sky flashed scarlet as sheets of blood red lightning splintered the air. Then - CRASH - a gigantic wave smashed into them, knocking the ship sidewards. Joe was thrown off his feet, landing hard against the deck.
‘Joe!’ Becky cried.
A second wave struck. This time, Becky was pitched against the balustrade –her skull smashing into wood. Blood leaked down her face, into her mouth. Through blurry eyes, she saw Uncle Percy secure Blind Hugh to a bollard. Her eyes flicked to Will, who struggled to remain upright as he fought his way across the deck to help Short Jack Copper at the ship’s wheel.
With a crack, a lightning bolt struck the tip of the mizzen mast. Uncle Percy saw it. ‘BECKY! OUT OF THE WAY!’
Hearing his urgency, Becky barreled left as the mast’s tip shattered at the spot she’d just been. Crawling to an iron capstan, she flung her arms around it and her fingers locked tightly. Looking up, struggling to feed her lungs with air, she watched the chaos. The crew valiantly fought to regain control, but she knew it didn’t matter. The ship would overturn. They were dead. Her eyes sought out Joe, only to find he was already staring back at her. She knew immediately he felt the same way. And at that moment she wanted to hold him, to kiss him, to say goodbye.
Then, as quickly as it started, the storm passed. The sky became blue again, the sea calmed.
Stunned, Becky’s gaze swept the deck. Each face she saw was etched with astonishment. She stood up only to be nearly bowled over by Uncle Percy, who had raced over to her, his arms wide open.
‘Thank God,’ Uncle Percy breathed, squeezing her tightly. He pulled Joe into the embrace. ‘I thought I’d lost you both.’
Becky had never really seen Uncle Percy display such raw emotion, but neither she nor Joe minded one bit, and sank happily into his arms. Suddenly, Joe looked flush with panic and pulled away. ‘Mister Flint!’ He rushed off in the direction of the hatch. A few anxious minutes later, he returned, Mister Flint bobbing up and down merrily on his shoulder. ‘He’s fine,’ he said, sounding relieved.
‘FLINTYYYY FINE!!!’ Mister Flint squawked.
Becky began to laugh when she heard Will Turnip’s voice. ‘LAND HO!’ Looking over, she saw his extended finger pointing at a stretch of custard-coloured sand.
Then another voice rang out. ‘AND O’ER YONDER, LADS!’ Burly Bill Brundle was looking in the opposite direction. Becky whipped round to see another island, this time populated by a dense wall of trees. As The Black Head ploughed further on, more islands ap
peared on the horizon.
‘We’re there,’ Joe breathed. ‘The Archipelago. The Macaco Islands.’
A relieved smile formed on Uncle Percy’s face. ‘I believe so.’
The pirates were all celebrating, slapping each other on the back and belting out a hearty chorus of ‘The grand Black Head’ when a high-pitched voice cut through the singing.
‘Leviathan!’ Jim yelled, his voice rising. ‘LEVIATHAN!’
The singing stopped at once.
‘LEVIATHAN!’ Jim repeated, pointing at a spot about a hundred meters away.
Becky glanced at the ocean and her blood turned to ice. An enormous jet-black head, the size of a large car, with smooth, oily skin had broken the water’s surface, its wide, cavernous jaws framed on either side by two tentacle-like whiskers. Gradually, the head rose higher and higher until it threatened to touch the sky.
Becky froze to the spot, unable to breathe.
The sea serpent’s mouth opened slightly as if in a mocking grin, and then with an almighty splash, it plunged into the depths below.
- Chapter 26 -
Snake, Rattle and Roll
‘TAKE ARMS, ME BUCKOS …’ One Toe Tom yelled. ‘THERE’S A BEAST THE SIZE O’ OLD NICK HIMSELF LOOKIN’ FER A BRAWL.’
At this, Windy Pete, Skinny John Prinny, Hunchback Henry, Lockjaw Morgan and Hairy Harry Hooper raced to the decks below.
‘Arm yourself, boy,’ Will told Joe. Reaching into his coat, he grabbed his Joe-bow and ran over to the side of the boat.
‘Look after Mister Flint.’ Joe passed Mister Flint to Becky, who squawked irritably as if he found it all a major inconvenience.
Bruce drew a flintlock pistol from his belt and thrust it into Uncle Percy’s hand. ‘Here, Perce, I can design fancy stuff, too.’ He pulled out two more flintlocks and cocked them. ‘I think you’ll find it’s got more kick than your average eighteenth century shooter. For one thing, it’s got a ten-bullet mag in the grip.’
Uncle Percy looked at the gun with surprise. The single shot pistol had been converted into a twenty first century semi-automatic weapon. ‘I’m not a usually an advocate of firearms, Bruce … but nice job.’ The two men joined Will and Joe, each of them aiming at the water.
Short Jack Copper had opened a wooden chest and was distributing cutlasses, boarding axes and spears to those who had remained on deck. Windy Pete and the others then returned clutching an array of muskets and blunderbusses, and together they lined all sides of the deck, ready to protect their ship.
Time passed.
But still no attack came.
Everything fell still, quiet, tranquil.
Becky allowed a tinge of relief to seep through her. Had the Leviathan gone? She exhaled loudly, but then - BAAAAAM - the Black Head shuddered violently as if struck by a torpedo. Becky lost her footing and crashed to the floor, just managing to keep hold of Mister Flint. Clambering to her feet, she dashed to the starboard side and saw the serpent slice the water. She wheezed with horror. It was colossal, easily a hundred feet from head to tail.
Bruce and Uncle Percy fired repeatedly. Time after time, the bullets hit their mark but were merely pinpricks in the serpent’s hide.
From some distance away, the serpent’s head surfaced, its jaws inching open A a thin, crimped two-pronged tongue flicked out. It dived again.
‘Ready yourselves, Boys!’ One Toe Tom shouted.
Becky saw the serpent charge at them like a train.
Uncle Percy tore open his shirt to reveal the black lining of a Tracker Pack. He unhooked a squid grenade and pitched it with all his might. BOOM! It exploded on the water’s surface, just above the beast, but to no effect. He threw three more. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. Nothing.
The air rang with gunfire, thick with arrows, but nothing could stop the inevitable collision. The Black Head nearly upturned, sending Skinny John Prinny and Hairy Harry Hooper hurtling into one other.
Then all went still again.
Lockjaw Morgan frantically reloaded his musket when the serpent’s tail appeared behind him, tree-trunk thick and glistening with slime. Becky saw it. ‘Lockjaw,’ she yelled, but it was too late. The tail encircled his waist, squeezing the life out of him.
‘Arrgghhh!’ Lockjaw screamed.
Heart pounding, Becky looked around. An abandoned cutlass lay on the deck. Releasing Mister Flint, she grasped it and raced over to Lockjaw. Raising the sword high, she sank it into the serpent’s flesh. Tar-like blood gushed over her hands. The tail twitched, releasing Lockjaw, who fell heavily, clasping his ribcage.
Then, on the opposite side of the ship, the serpent’s head rose slowly from the water. Everyone froze. Climbing the air, it stopped parallel to the damaged mizzen mast, its whiskers wriggling like giant worms. Then its dull black eyes locked on Joe … and it lunged.
‘JOE!’ Becky screamed.
Joe dived right. The serpent’s jaws missed him by inches, smashing into the deck like a sledgehammer, misting the air in a fog of dust and splinters, before returning to the air.
Will turned to Uncle Percy, fury in his eyes. ‘Hand me an explosive device.’
Uncle Percy didn’t question the request, swiftly thrusting the last squid grenade into Will’s hand, who sprinted over to the main mast. Scaling it in seconds, Will leapt into the crow’s nest. ‘YAHHHHH!’ he shouted, waving his arms. The serpent’s head twisted slowly, its eyes finding him. Then its jaws stretched open and it pounced.
A half-smile formed on Will’s lips. Then he launched himself into the open mouth; jaws clamped shut around him. The serpent pulled back, satisfied with its first kill.
For a few moments, time stopped.
Becky wanted to scream but no sound came out. She glanced at Joe, whose mouth had fallen open.
‘Will?’ he said in a whisper.
Becky felt numb, crushed. She glanced at Uncle Percy, his face fixed with disbelief. More time passed. Then, from beneath them, a muffled boom shook the boat. At once, waves bubbled all around; the water turned a sickening red. She looked up at the serpent, its features frozen with shock, as it fell lifelessly with a thunderous crash, sinking to the ocean bottom in seconds.
And then Becky understood. Will had sacrificed himself and taken the serpent with him. She scoured the ocean, desperate for a sign he was still alive, but as the swells subsided and the blood-red water turned blue, she realized it wasn’t going to happen. Minutes crept by, and still no one said a word.
Tears leaked down Joe’s face now. Becky moved over and wordlessly took him in her arms, tears forming in her own eyes, her insides screaming. She looked to Uncle Percy, hoping for some sign this was all some kind of grand plan, but he was white as stone, crushed, his expression solemn and downcast.
It was then that she spied movement from the ship’s portside.
A pair of hands clasped the side. Pulling himself over, Will jumped onto the deck, bruised, bloodied, but alive.
Becky gasped. Joe tore himself away and ran into Will’s arms. Soon, Will was besieged with handshakes, pats on the back, and words of congratulations.
‘You are one crazy dude,’ Bruce said to Will, pulling him into a bear hug.
However, before the celebrations had finished, Windy Pete emerged from the lower decks and shouted. ‘Abandon ship! The Black Head is no more. Abandon ship. Our lady be gone…’
‘N - not she?’ Will Turnip stammered.
‘Aye, Mister Turnip,’ Windy Pete replied sadly. ‘There be a hole the size o’ Jupiter in her hull. She’ll be at the bottom o’ the briny in a catfish’s whisker.’
Loud groans of dismay came from the crew.
Uncle Percy, however, became suddenly alert. ‘Listen everyone, I am so sorry about your ship, but I don’t think there’s much I can do about that. I do, however, take full responsibility for our situation and fully intend to uphold my part of the bargain on all counts.’ He flashed Blind Hugh a smile. ‘Perhaps being wealthy men will ease your loss.’
Lockjaw spoke up. ‘We
althy? With respect, we’ll be marooned on these cursed islands with no ships that’ll stop ter give us passage. Ain’t no point in wealth round ‘ere.’
‘Ah, well, of course you’re right but I’ve not been completely honest with you. And as I’m running out of time, it’s probably best to show rather than tell.’ He reached into his shirt and pressed something on the Tracker Pack. A second later, a thin shard of dazzling white light crossed the vest straps, before encircling him in electrical charge. Then, with a snap, he vanished.
Becky knew at once the Tracker Pack was a Portravella. The crew, on the other hand, hadn’t a clue what was going on, when Uncle Percy reappeared in precisely the same spot, clutching a pile of freshly laundered clothes.
‘Miss me?’ Uncle Percy grinned. ‘These are for you, Will.’ He passed over the dry clothes to Will, who began to change.
Will Turnip fainted; Jedidiah Quint and Hunchback Henry backed into each other and clashed heads; and Windy Pete showed everyone how and why he deserved his nickname. The rest of the crew just stood there, open-mouthed and dumbstruck.
‘What is it?’ Blind Hugh said, gauging from the dazed silence something significant had just happened.
‘H - Halifax is a sorcerer,’ One Toe Tom puffed.
‘Hardly,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘I’m an inventor and a time traveller, which I’d appreciate if you didn’t mention to anyone, I could get in terrible trouble …’
‘W - what’s a t-time traveller?’ Short Jack Copper stammered, as a stunned Burly Bill Brundle helped Will Turnip to his feet.
‘I really don’t think we have time to go into that. For now, you just need to know I’ve just travelled back in time and sorted out the issue of anyone being marooned. Now, if you’d care to look over there….’ He pointed to their rear.
Whirling round, Becky was amazed to see a pirate ship heading towards them, a large jet-black flag fluttering from its mast. Then she gasped. Emblazoned on the flag, in glittering silver, was a shark. Straight away, she remembered seeing the flag before. ‘Is that Stinky Mo?’
‘Apparently he prefers to be called Gingerbeard on the water,’ Uncle Percy said with a smile.