Corby Flood

by Paul Stewart

  They turned and looked out to sea just as a great shoal of de Witt’s Moonlight Flying Fish leaped out of the waves in a shimmering silvery arc, then disappeared again. For a moment neither of them spoke. Then Arthur held out his hand.

  ‘Arthur,’ he said in a croaky voice.

  ‘S … S … Serena,’ whispered Corby’s sister, shaking his hand.

  ‘Amazing!’ said Corby, rushing across to them. ‘Did you see them?’

  ‘What?’ said Serena and Arthur dreamily, without taking their eyes off each other.

  ‘There,’ said Corby, pointing out to sea. ‘Love fish!’

  7. The Mysterious Clunk

  he sound, it echoes through the forest. It woke me, here in this hollow tree. I was having such sweet dreams of the palace garden … But now I can’t sleep. The sound is getting louder … And I am afraid.

  CLUNK!

  Corby woke up and yawned. She was in a hammock because, despite her father’s assurances, she still didn’t entirely trust that bed of hers. Besides, the hammock – which Cedric had found in the deck sports locker – was wonderfully comfortable.

  CLUNK!

  There was that sound again. Corby was just about to jump out of the hammock and go and investigate when there was a knock, and Mrs Flood popped her head round the cabin door.

  ‘You’ve missed breakfast, so I’ve brought you some elevenses,’ she said, producing a plate of chopped – up pineapple and watermelon, and a glass of chilled coconut milk.

  Thanks,’ said Corby.

  ‘I’ll put it down here,’ said Mrs Flood, ‘next to the … What is that exactly?’

  ‘A foot – spa,’ Corby mumbled, sitting up.

  CLUNK!

  ‘Do you know what that noise is?’ she asked her mother, taking a sip of the coconut milk.

  That?’ said her mother cheerfully. That is what your father calls “a mysterious clunk”. It started in the galley last night. Oh, Corby!’ she went on. ‘You certainly missed quite a dinner!’

  Mrs Flood burst into a peal of laughter and clapped her hands together.

  ‘One of those automatic tables in the dining room went mad, just as we were about to have dessert!

  Those peculiar gentlemen in their smart suits were absolutely covered in rice pudding. Furious, they were! I shouldn’t have laughed really, but I couldn’t help it. Nor could the boys. And Captain Belvedere couldn’t stop apologizing. That nice young lieutenant said it was all Arthur’s fault, and that that was what you got if you had to rely on a third engineer.’

  ‘Arthur?’ said Serena, appearing in the doorway. Oh, I’m sure it can’t be Arthur’s fault.’ She crossed to the porthole and looked out dreamily. ‘It must be awfully difficult keeping a funny old ship like this going.’

  CLUNK!

  That’s just what your father said, Serena. He’s down in the engine room with Arthur right now, trying to sort out this “mysterious clunk”.’ She smiled. ‘And I must say, he seems like a changed man. I’ve never seen him so cheerful.’

  ‘That’ll be Arthur’s influence,’ said Serena, tracing a capital A on the glass of the porthole with a finger.

  ‘Yes, well,’ said Mrs Flood, giving her elder daughter a quizzical look. ‘I’ll be on the starboard deck if you need me, girls. Your brothers are playing marine rugby on the lower deck, so I’m keeping well clear. Oh, and your young lieutenant has agreed to join them – though goodness knows why.’

  Serena turned to her mother, her eyes flashing. ‘He’s not my young lieutenant, Mother!’

  CLUNK!

  Mrs Flood left and Serena turned back to the porthole. In the distance, a rocky coastline was just visible. Corby jumped out of her hammock and joined her sister.

  ‘It looks so romantic,’ said Serena. ‘I wonder what it’s called?’

  ‘That’s the Dalcretian coast,’ said Corby. ‘According to Hoffendinck’s Guide it’s full of all sorts of interesting places to visit and fascinating things to see.’

  ‘Yes, but we can’t visit any of them,’ said Serena, ‘because this stupid, rusty old ship doesn’t stop anywhere any more!’

  CLUNK!

  ‘And poor, sweet Arthur has to spend all his time in the horrid old engine room trying to keep it going!’ Serena added crossly. ‘I hate the S.S. Euphonia!’

  CLUNK!

  Serena turned and stamped out of the cabin. Corby reached for a pencil and opened Hoffendinck’s Guide …

  HOFFENDINCK’s GUIDE

  TOWNS OF THE DALCRETIAN COAST

  MESAPOLI

  Mesapoli nestles inland on the banks of the River Mesa. The twenty bridges over the river are all worth a visit, as are the small houses on either side.

  The inhabitants of Mesapoli are notable for being extremely small, with few of them more than four feet tall. This they more than make up for by being extremely tough, and they are feared by other Dalcretians because of their short tempers. Luckily, they are also wonderfully hospitable to strangers – so long The inhabitants of Mesapoli are notable for being extremely small, with few of them as no one mentions their height.

  Mesapoli’s other claim to fame is their renowned wheezing donkey. The creature is reputed to be able to cough ‘The Lament of St George’, the Dalcretian national song.

  A town with twenty bridges, thought Corby. How her father would love that …

  CLUNK!

  This time the whole ship seemed to shudder, and then lurch sharply to starboard and back again. Corby shut Hoffendinck’s Guide, hurriedly dressed, and rushed out to discover what exactly was going on.

  8. Mechanical Deckchairs

  ark, so dark. I can remember nothing …

  ‘Clear the decks!’ shouted Hubert, launching the marine – rugby ball high into the air across the lower deck.

  ‘Hugger – mugger!’ Ernest, Cedric and Toby replied, linking arms and forming a tight circle.

  Corby stepped back out of the way as the ball landed in their grasp and turned to see Jon – Jolyon stick out a sneaky foot and send Hubert sprawling. ‘Hugger – mugger!’ shouted Ernest, Cedric and Toby together as they threw the ball back towards their brother, only to see Jon – Jolyon seize it triumphantly, stick it up his jumper and sprint past Corby to the marine – rugby net.

  ‘Nice try, boys,’ he smirked. ‘But just not good enough!’ He bounced the ball into the empty net. ‘My round, I think!’

  The Flood brothers looked at each other. Hubert rubbed his shin and stood up, and shook Jon – Jolyon’s hand.

  ‘Thought I had that game in the bag,’ he said ruefully, though from his expression it was clear he knew Jon – Jolyon had cheated. ‘Sure as a Lemuel sneeze on washday.’

  ‘Can’t win ‘em all,’ said Jon – Jolyon suavely and, spotting Corby, strode over to join her. ‘Ah, Miss Flood,’ he said, smiling. ‘Where might I find that beautiful sister of yours? I’m sure she’ll be impressed to learn I not only survived, but triumphed in a game of marine rugby with these brothers of yours.’

  Corby managed a faint smile. ‘She’ll be on the starboard deck with my mother, I expect.’ She frowned. ‘I was just wondering about that clunk—’

  ‘Starboard deck, you say?’ said Jon – Jolyon, pushing

  past. ‘As for the “clunk”, that’s Arthur’s headache, not mine. I certainly don’t intend to get my hands dirty!’

  Corby flushed pink. She hadn’t been sure about Lieutenant Jon – Jolyon Letchworth – Crisp at first, but now she positively disliked him. ‘Well,’ she said, following the lieutenant up the stairway towards the starboard deck, ‘Serena didn’t seem to mind Arthur’s dirty hands when they met last night

  Letchworth – Crisp stopped and turned; his eyes narrowed. ‘Met last night?’ he repeated.

  ‘Yes,’ said Corby. It was her turn to push past the lieutenant. She made her way onto the starboard deck. ‘They met last night after you left,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘Like two love fish, they were!’

  She marched over and sat dow
n on the mechanical deckchair next to her mother, who appeared to be asleep under a large floppy straw hat. In one hand she clutched her large handbag, in the other, an opened copy of the Harbour Heights School prospectus.

  That’ll show Lieutenant Jon – Jolyon Letchworth – Crisp, thought Corby. Perhaps he won’t be quite so smug now.

  She reached down and pressed the lever on the side of the deckchair. It had the words CRANE & SONS SELF – PROPELLING NAUTICAL CHAIR on the side in embossed letters. There was a faint wheezing sound as the deckchair rose on its mechanical legs and walked stiffly across the starboard deck. Corby let go of the lever and, with a soft creak, the deckchair came to a halt.

  A little way off, the Hattenswillers – in their conical hats and long coats – sat in deckchairs of their own, deep in conversation. Every so often Mr Hattenswiller would scribble on tiny pieces of paper and pass them to his wife, who would examine them with an air of great secrecy, before

  turning them over and scribbling on the back in turn. Back and forth the pieces of paper went, as they whispered to each other in their funny voices, all the while casting furtive glances in the direction of the foredeck.

  What on earth were they up to? wondered Corby.

  ‘Whiffl – whif – whif – whiffl,’ said Mrs Hattenswiller.

  ‘Mummer – mmm – mmum – mum,’ replied Mr Hattenswiller.

  When they saw Corby, they hurriedly hid their notes and raised their hands in greeting.

  ‘Whiffl – whif – whif?’ said Mrs Hattenswiller.

  ‘Mum – mummer – mmum?’ said Mr Hattenswiller.

  ‘No, thank you,’ said Corby. ‘I’ve just had elevenses…’

  ‘Whif?’ said Mrs Hattenswiller, puzzled.

  ‘Mummm!’ said Mr Hattenswiller, shrugging his shoulders.

  Corby pulled on the lever. The deckchair lurched forward and set off, past the puzzled Hattenswillers, round the corner onto the foredeck and—

  She let go of the lever, and the deckchair rattled to a halt.

  Mr Times – Roman looked up, a thin smile playing on his lips, his own Crane & Sons Self – Propelling Nautical Chair blocking her path.

  ‘Well, well, well,’ he said, in his dry, sinister voice. ‘If it isn’t our little eavesdropper.’

  The snooper …’ hissed Mr Franklin – Gothic, his mechanical deckchair appearing on one side of Corby’s own.

  The sniffer …’ added Mr Garamond, guiding his deckchair to the other side.

  The sneaker,’ said Mr Bembo.

  ‘Ze skulker,’ added Mr Palatino, as the pair of them brought their deckchairs up behind her.

  Corby swallowed hard. The Brotherhood of Clowns had her surrounded. Five pairs of cold, hard eyes stared at her, unblinking; five thin, cruel smiles sent shivers along her spine. Reaching down gingerly, Corby’s hand closed round the lever of her deckchair. She gave Mr Times – Roman her biggest, brightest smile.

  Oh, very good! Very good!’ Corby laughed through gritted teeth. This must be the new routine you’ve been working on!’

  She pulled the lever on her deckchair, which let out a rusty squeal and leaped forwards, shunting Mr Times – Roman and Mr Garamond aside. Corby clattered across the fore – deck as, behind her, five mechanical deckchairs screeched round on protesting legs and gave chase. ‘Follow that deckchair!’ Mr Times – Roman’s sinister voice rang out. ‘Cut her off at the prow!’

  Corby was horrified to see Mr Bembo and Mr Palatino gallop past her and swerve round to block her path. She yanked the lever hard to the left, sending her chair spinning round, and came face to face with Mr Times – Roman; Garamond and Franklin – Gothic by his side.

  Trapped, like a second – rate acrobat on a wonky trapeze,’ laughed Mr Times – Roman triumphantly.

  Corby shut her eyes tight and thrust the lever forwards as far as it would go. With a tremendous crash! she smashed into Times – Roman’s chair.

  Oomph!’ gasped Mr Times – Roman, as his chair promptly folded up – with him in it.

  Corby leaped to her feet and dashed across the foredeck. From behind her came the sound of splintering wood and angry shouts as, one after the other, the clowns crashed into the wreckage of her own mechanical deckchair. Corby didn’t look back.

  Now you lot know what it feels like, she thought as she sprinted round the corner and onto the port deck. She didn’t stop running until she arrived back at her mother’s deckchair, gasping for breath.

  ‘Taking some exercise, darling?’ said her mother brightly, without looking up from the school prospectus she was reading. ‘That’s nice.’

  Corby flopped down into the deckchair beside her and tried to catch her breath. A few moments later there was the sound of loud groaning, followed by raised voices and creaking wood, as the Brotherhood of Clowns appeared from the direction of the fore – deck.

  They were carrying the mechanical deckchair, jammed shut, with Mr Times – Roman sandwiched inside. As they passed Mrs Flood, they shot dark looks at Corby, but tipped their bottle – green bowler hats at her mother all the same.

  Oh, my!’ said Mrs Flood, looking up from beneath the brim of her floppy straw hat, and trying to stifle a giggle. ‘You gentlemen are certainly unfortunate! First the dining – room table, and now this … Oh, do forgive me,’ she said, bursting into laughter. ‘But you do look so funny

  ‘Nobody … umph! laughs at … umph! the Brotherhood of Clowns …’ grunted Mr Times – Roman, going red in the face as the Brotherhood of Clowns manhandled the folded deckchair down the stairway to the lower deck.

  ‘Easy, boss,’ said Mr Franklin – Gothic. ‘Try not to speak. We’ll find that third engineer, and he’ll soon get you out of this.’

  As the clowns disappeared, Mrs Flood returned to the Harbour Heights School prospectus.

  ‘Well I never! Fancy that!’ she exclaimed a moment later. ‘Headmistress Lucida Blackletter, B.F., A.C., MM., O.L.s.c., D.D.D., pictured here with her world – famous collection of handmade shoes and exotic handbags,’ she read, welcomes pupils to Harbour Heights School.’

  She held up the prospectus for Corby to see.

  Corby sighed. She hadn’t much liked the idea of going to that school in the first place, but the look of the hollow – eyed, thin – lipped headmistress, with her shoes and handbags made from dead animals, gave her the creeps.

  She shuddered as she opened Hoffendinck’s Guide and picked up her pencil …

  HOFFENDINCK’s GUIDE

  TOWNS OF THE DALCRETIAN COAST

  LISSARI

  Built on the side of steep granite cliffs, Lissari is one of the most charming and picturesque of the towns of Dalcretia. With its excellent ‘hanging taverns’ and ‘suspended kitchens’, eating and drinking in Lissari is a unique experience for anyone with a head for heights.

  The cave shops of the Eastern District sell beautiful hand – woven fabrics which are worn by local women in the famous Lissari turbans, some measuring more than five feet across.

  Dancing is the local pastime in Lissari, but visitors must be careful if attending cliff – top dances.

  Lissari is also well known for possessing a remarkable counting ox, which lives in a large cave at the foot of the cliffs.

  ‘Mind if I sit down?’ came an oily voice.

  Corby closed Hoffendinck’s Guide and looked up. Serena was sitting three deckchairs along, reading a well – thumbed copy of The Handsome Horseman. Jon – Jolyon Letchworth – Crisp was standing over her.

  ‘If you must,’ said Serena quietly.

  Letchworth – Crisp smiled smoothly. ‘Thank you,’ he said, settling himself in the deckchair next to her. ‘Because I think we ought to have a little chat …’

  9. The Marshmallow Trail

  ne white petal, sweet and delicious. I eat it, and then wait for the next But it doesn’t come. The one with the green head and creaking feet goes away.

  I am alone once more …

  Perhaps if I sing I can let the sadness out, and my h
eart will not break … Just yet.

  Corby got up, walked casually over to the safety railing and pretended to be very interested in the coast of Dalcretia. Not that she wasn’t interested in the coast of Dalcretia. It was just that, right now, she was more interested in hearing what Jon – Jolyon had to say to Serena, but didn’t want to appear to be listening too obviously. A little way along the deck, she noticed the man

  from Cabin 21. He was sitting, as usual, in his deckchair, staring, as usual, out to sea and wearing, as usual, his navy – blue deck shoes, his white suit and dark glasses. He too was looking as if he wasn’t listening to Jon – Jolyon and Serena’s conversation.

  ‘I hear you met Arthur last night,’ said Jon – Jolyon casually.

  ‘The third engineer?’ said Serena, turning pink. ‘Yes – he seemed very nice.’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ said Jon – Jolyon with a bitter little laugh. ‘He does seem nice, doesn’t he?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Serena, sitting up, her face flushed and her eyes flashing.

  ‘My dear girl.’ Jon – Jolyon sounded as suave and smooth as ever. ‘It’s just that I would hate to see you making a fool of yourself.’

  ‘And why should I do that?’

  ‘Well, a little bird told me that you and Arthur were like a pair of love fish last night

  Corby suddenly noticed an extremely interesting mountain peak in the far distance and examined it minutely, while she felt her cheeks flushing even redder than her sister’s.