“Mister Bucket!” she yelled. Mister Bucket stood there for a moment unsure if his time had come or not, but eventually spotted Daisy high up in the top of the rigging. “Tell the cook to bring a pie on a stick!” Mister Bucket disappeared and a minute or so later the cook appeared at the mast.
“No pies on sticks!” he shouted and Daisy tutted.
“Well get a stick and a pie and put them together!” she hissed.
“I heard that.” said the man in the moon.
“Well it’s the nearest you are going to get.” spat Daisy. “Unless I am very mistaken the nearest pie shop is quite a distance away.” The old man sniffed and eventually nodded his head, and having cut fast and loose with a pie and the lid of a barrel the cook began to climb the rigging, pie on a stick in hand.
***
Daisy sat in the crow’s nest tapping her foot as the old man made the most of the last crumbs of pastry, complimenting the consistency of the pastry and the ratio of meat to gravy and generally enjoying the pie on the stick. Eventually he had finished and Bones passed him the piece of paper.
“What does it say?” asked Daisy, almost pleading. The old man looked at it for a while, then turned it upside down and finally put it back down again.
“There are a set of coordinates. Longitude and latitude.” the old man pulled a quill and ink from somewhere nearby that they did not see where and he wrote them down on the reverse of the paper.
“Is that it then?” asked Neep.
“No, No.” said the old man. “I was merely pausing for dramatic effect. The rest of it reads thus, “On a grogless night the stars will show you the way.”” He smiled and put the paper down. “Now if that’s it I have to dust.” he said, shooing them with his hands to the edge of the crow’s nest.
“What’s that mean?” asked Neep.
“We will talk about it later.” she said, “Let us be on our way.”
“One other thing.” said Bones, pulling the medallion out from under his robe and showing it to the man in the moon. “What does the writing on this say?” The old man looked at the medallion, a tear forming in his eye.
“Ah, you poor man.” he said, “It says, “The spirit of the air”.”
“I see.” said Bones, “what does that mean?”
“No idea.” said the old man, “I won't lie to you. Not even for another pie on a stick.” He licked his lips, reflecting on his precious sticked pie, “I was tempted though, I will admit that!”
Neep tutted and they began their descent.
***
“Set sail for these coordinates!” shouted Daisy from the quarterdeck, handing the sextant to the nearest sailor.
“A grogless night.” speculated Neep.
“A full moon.” laughed Daisy. “Never drink grog on the night of a full moon. I imagine it mentions that in your SOPE manual, Neep!”
“It does.” said Neep. “In red letters too.”
Rapidly the Magpie made its way towards the Seven Tines.
***
The journey took but a day. With a strong headwind and a good coxswain, they made rapid progress. They sailed on through the night and eventually the next day the shape of the Seven Tines began to appear as the day wore on. By early evening they came to a stop at the base of one of the huge needles of rock, the reefs surrounding it both numerous and deadly. The sea rushed at the rock, crashing noisily against the weathered dark stone.
“Soon night will fall.” said Daisy. “I wonder if Jenkins is through the Tines yet?”
As if on cue there came a call from amidships. “Body in the water, captain!” A boat was launched and soon the body of what was obviously the high priest Jux of Ciniomawr lay on the deck.
“I think we can assume Jenkins has passed through the Tines already.” said Daisy.
“He just killed him?” said Neep in disbelief. He knew Jones was mad, but he did not realise just how mad.
“Drowned.” said Bones, turning over the body. “He gave Jenkins the translation and once he had it Jenkins simply threw him overboard.”
“Bastard.” muttered Neep.
They returned to the quarterdeck awaiting night and soon it began to fall dark, clouds covering the sky; the moon yet to appear. The ship swayed slightly in the strong currents surrounding the upright needles of stone, and Daisy had all her work cut out to ensure that the Magpie was not pulled onto the rocks and crushed. She issued constant commands and corrections, the ship bucking wildly in the strong currents.
“Now.” whispered Neep as the clouds rolled back and high above a full moon shone down on the sea. From the sea rose an almost indiscernible tinkling sound, like a breeze blowing across a set of small chimes, filling the air with a song that was difficult to define, to listen to the tune. They stood on the quarterdeck in silence, the whole ship coming to a halt as from the sea rose small blue flickering lights, like fireflies picked out in the moonlight that rippled across the waves. Then as one the lights flew into the air, paused and then shot down at incredible speed, surrounding the ship before vanishing beneath the waves.
“By the seven!” muttered Bones, looking out over the sea. As the moonlight hit the waves the coral below the surface began to glow, the water reflecting the light shone from the ocean. Yet in places there were gaps where the coral was too deep for the moonlight and the strange lights to touch it.
“It’s a path!” shouted Neep. “The moonlight is showing a way through the Tines!”
Daisy gasped as a course was revealed to them, and slowly but surely the Magpie edged its way through the coral, slowly following the path the moonlight was showing through the ominous fingers of stone.
“We would never have spotted this if it were not for the coordinates on the map.” whispered Daisy as her ship passed through the rocks, perilously close to the towering stone fingers, slowly but surely reaching the other side.
“Quite magnificent.” Said Dormouse, who had appeared behind them. “I have never seen the like in all my years!”
They stood in silence as the ship carefully picked its way through reef after reef as if they were scared to utter a breath. At one point the moon scudded behind some dark clouds and Daisy ordered the ship to halt as the sea turned black and deadly once again, but the clouds soon passed and they began to move once more, the coral again showing them the way.
The ship continued to pick its way through, and after some two hours there was no more coral to be seen.
“We are through.” gasped Daisy, slapping Neep on the back. Bones hugged Dormouse as they stared at the now receding Tines safely behind them.
Daisy glanced at the map on which the lost island of Capability Jones was clearly marked.
“I estimate three days and we will be there.” She whispered, and her words floated off into the night, borne on a breeze across the sea and deep into the night.
Chapter 27
~ Landing Party~
The island from the map appeared on the horizon just after dawn. Thanks mainly to the recently recalibrated telescope they saw it from quite a distance, a small island that seemed to be dominated by an active volcano from which belched smoke that rose high into the dawn sky. At first just a dot on the horizon it began to become more distinct as they drew nearer. Boom stood next to Daisy and Bones, Neep joining them as the ship approached the island.
“What’s that?” asked Ensephilephtor Boom, peering at the horizon through the telescope.
“Volcano, by the look of it.” Bones said, “Looks active too judging by the smoke.” To Bones’ surprise Boom looked excited by the sight of the approaching inferno.
“Never seen one before.” said Boom, licking his lips, “Though I have heard all about them of course.”
“I see.” said Bones and on the Magpie had sailed, slowly drawing nearer to the island.
“Run to the western tip of the island.” Daisy had instructed the helm. “That will take us away from the centre of land.
“It looks as if it curves around into a
large bay.” cautioned Bones, looking at the map, comparing it to the land mass they were steadily approaching.
“Indeed.” said Daisy, “which is almost certainly where the Torta Di Frutta is anchored. I don’t want Captain Jenkins to know we are here at all. As far as he is concerned he has the run of the island and this part of the ocean.” Daisy had a faraway look about her. “This uncharted sea.” she said dreamily.
“Well hardly uncharted.” said Boom, “After all we do have a map.”
“Well okay.” said Daisy, “Uncharted by everyone except Capability Jones.”
“I wonder what he was doing all the way out here?”
“Legend tells of a great treasure.” Said Bones, touching the medallion at his throat below the robe. “The spirit of the air.” he sighed. “I wonder what it means?”
“Well the answer I suspect lies on that island.” Said Daisy, “We should drop anchor at the western tip just after noon I estimate.”
“What then?” asked Neep.
“We shall land a small landing party on the western edge of the island and they shall make their way along the shore, their goal being to spy on what Jenkins is up to.” The matter of whether Jenkins had actually crossed the Seven Tines and reached the island had been made purely academic since as they neared they could see the high mast of a ship anchored in the bay of the island. It had taken a few more moments to spot the name of the Torta Di Frutta on the hull, but thanks to the upgraded telescope it had been clearly visible before any normal telescope would have spotted the Magpie’s approach. They manoeuvred the ship carefully, the aim of their cautious approach being to keep the island between the Magpie and the Torta Di Frutta so that they arrived undetected.
Bones noticed that Boom was staring at the plume of smoke rising from the volcano on the horizon as if enraptured, his lips moving but no sounds escaping his mouth.
“Excuse me.” said a voice from behind him and Bones turned to see Dormouse trying to push past him, a measuring rod in his hand.
“What are you doing, Mister Dormouse?” said Daisy warily, “We are very busy here.”
“Just assessing whether a longer pulley system on the ships wheel would afford a greater performance in responsiveness of the keel.” He pulled a pencil from behind his ear and began writing in a small book he held in his other hand, the measuring rod balanced against Boom’s leg for good measure. “About two percent I estimate.” he said brightly. “I will be back with a saw in a few moments.” Daisy snatched the pad out of his hand and looked at it as she dragged him to the quarterdeck rail.
“Not now Mister Dormouse.” she said, “We approach the lost island of Capability Jones.” She said, pointing to the horizon.
Dormouse squinted out to sea and sighed.
“Very careless to lose an island.” He said finally, “Doesn’t look particularly lost to me though.” He sniffed at the island for a moment longer and then stowed his pen and book away in his jacket before picking up the measuring rod again. Boom still did not move as Dormouse retrieved the measuring instrument that was propped up against his legs, his attention being fully focused on the trail of smoke from the approaching island.
“I will be in my room.” Sniffed Dormouse, “Reconfiguring my hammock - I have a theory with regards to making falling out an impossibility.” With that he quickly left the quarterdeck, glancing only once over his shoulder nervously as he did so.
“I am sure he does not mean any harm...” said Neep, “Just making himself busy.”
“Indeed.” said Daisy irritably, almost having to wrestle the telescope from Boom’s grip before peering at the island through it once again.
Slowly the island became more distinct as they approached, the volcano seeming to increase in size as the Magpie drew nearer. Once they had moved to the western edge of the island and were safely out of sight of Jenkins they had a better view of the island itself.
The volcano rose higher than they had initially thought, dark clouds of thick black smoke rising high into the air above it, bright crimson rivers of molten rock and ash now clearly visible at the apex of the volcano. Below this, the slopes of the mountainous area were crowded by thick jungle that ran right down to the sea’s edge, the only break in the vegetation seemed to be a steep ridge of rock that cut right through the jungle to the sea, from where vast clouds of steam and smoke could be seen where the lava hit the water.
From their new position they could not see the bay in which they knew the Torta Di Frutta was anchored, but they did spot a small outcrop of rock on the western edge which Daisy noted would be an ideal place to put down a landing party, whilst at the same time leaving the Magpie at sea just in case Jenkins decided to move his ship.
“Neep, Mister Bucket Mister Coil and Mister Doornail will form the party.” said Daisy as they dropped anchor off the westernmost tip of the island, “Bones you have the ship. Mister Boom I require all cannons to be primed and ready at all times. I do not want Jenkins to catch us unawares. Those cannons of his have quite some range and firepower.”
“Aye captain.” said Boom, dragging his attention reluctantly away from the volcano. He scuttled away from the quarterdeck, keen to get the Magpie’s cannons ready for use.
“Bones. I want you to keep a very close eye on the edge of the island. If the Torta Di Frutta moves I want you to take evasive action. Keep out of the range of those cannons. They would tear the Magpie apart with ease if we fell afoul of them.”
“Yes captain.” Said Bones, for once not using Daisy’s first name. Daisy continued.
“I expect to be back before dark, but if for whatever reason I cannot be back by then, you must resist the urge to look for us.” Bones nodded grimly. “When night falls I want all lights dimmed. It is imperative that Jenkins does not spot us. The full moon will hinder us this evening, but our position should allow us some respite.”
“We will be fine as long as the Torta Di Frutta does not move.” Said Neep. Bones leaned on the quarterdeck rail. “Or as long as Jenkins doesn’t have the same idea as us and sends a reconnaissance party along the coast too.”
“Indeed.” smiled Daisy, “Though if he did, it would take some time for them to return to Jenkins to inform him of our position. Added to this he doesn’t know that we are here of course.” They all agreed with this, and preparations were made. Eventually a rowing boat was lowered over the side of the ship in which Mister Bucket, Mister Coil and Mister Doornail were clearly visible, their dark red shirts all being exactly the same. The pirates themselves were entirely dissimilar however, apart from their impressive size and obvious obsession with tattoos. Neep and Daisy descended a rope ladder that had been slung over the side of the ship and made their way down into the rowing boat, where they settled down as the three red clad pirates began to row them away from the Magpie towards the island.
“Why do you always wear red shirts?” Asked Neep, confused.
“Standard issue for landing parties.” Said Mister Doornail, his long braided beard swinging about him as they rowed towards land. Neep nodded dumbly.
“Indeed they are.” Said Daisy as she extended the small telescope that Dormouse had recalibrated for her, studying the rocky beach for any sign of life. She found none.
They were a little more than halfway to the shore when there was a violent movement to one side of the rowing boat, causing it to sway in the water, as if something had just swum past them, causing a disturbance in the waves. There was a pause and then it happened again.
“Sharks.” Said Daisy through gritted teeth, “I hate bloody sharks!” Nobody else said anything, and although the disturbances continued to rock the rowing boat they lessened as the shore drew nearer. Neep could not help but notice that the speed of the rowing had increased somewhat, however.
Eventually they reached the shore and Mister Bucket, Mister Doornail and Mister Coil tentatively stepped into the knee high water and dragged the boat ashore, Neep and Daisy clambering out onto dry land as they did so.
&
nbsp; The shore itself was quite small, the jungle that seemed to cover the island nearby rising slowly up a slope, above which in the centre of the island the billowing volcano was clearly visible, thick guttering soot and ash rising high into the air above them. There was a dull rumbling noise from the direction of the volcano, and the ground underfoot seemed to tremble as they crossed the rock, as if the entire island was being shaken.
Mister Bucket and Mister Coil looked nervously back to the Magpie which was anchored a little way off the shore, anxiously skimming the sea for any sign of sharks, but there did not appear to be any.
“We will avoid the beach.” said Daisy, pointing to the undergrowth before them, “But let us not stray too far into the jungle. We do not know what kinds of animals are waiting for us in there.”
“Including Jenkins!” Laughed Neep, and Daisy smiled.
Neep noticed that Daisy seemed to be on edge, which he thought was not that surprising really. He thought that perhaps until very recently he would have thought the idea of being landed on a volcanic desert island in search of a great treasure was exactly the kind of promising future that the SOPE manual was offering him, but he knew now that there was much more to it than that. He had thought when he had killed Nick Blade that he would never be able to lose the sight of his head exploding as Neep had pulled the trigger. It was after all there in plain sight every time he had closed his eyes. Yet Daisy had talked him through it. He knew he had to live with it, for if he did not then Blade had still won, even after his death.
Now the SOPE manual seemed irrelevant; childish almost. That he was on a great adventure there could be no doubt, but as a pirate consultant? He thought not. Now he knew that he really knew nothing, and yet he was more than looking forward to experience anything that every day threw at him, for this was real, not theory. In fact, he considered it now to be an education.
They made their way just off the stony beach and began head east towards the bay where the Torta Di Frutta was anchored to see exactly what it was that Jenkins was up to. Neep noted as they moved further east that Daisy led them just a little further into the undergrowth, and the three pirates ahead of them unslung machetes from their belts and began to hack their way through the undergrowth. Neep saw that it was not too thick, but by clearing it they made a path for themselves should they need to return that way quickly.
Overboard! Page 29