فصل 65

CHAPTER 65

THE SECRET WEAPON

IN THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING SUN, Peter leaned over the rail of the De Vliegen, looking at the water far below. With no landmarks in sight—only the vast, uninterrupted blue of the sea stretching out below them in every direction—he couldn’t judge how far the ship had flown during the night. But he knew it had to be a great distance because the ship was flying very, very fast.

They were headed for Mollusk Island. It had been Leonard’s intention to sail the flying ship straight back to London so he could confer with the rest of the Starcatchers about the alarming events in Rundoon. But Peter had begged Leonard to go to the island first, to see what could be done to help the Mollusks. Leonard had reluctantly agreed, deciding that when the ship reached the island, he would use the porpoises to send a brief report on the Rundoon situation back to London.

Peter was sure they were close to Mollusk Island, with the ship traveling at such amazing speed.

That was Hook’s doing. Leonard and George, recognizing the pirate’s vastly superior seamanship, had reluctantly given him command. Hook had taken the helm, and after experimenting with the flying ship’s rudder and sails, issued a crisp series of commands, adding, then adjusting, sail after sail, each time gaining speed and altitude. Now the ship was flying every scrap of canvas it had, soaring thousands of feet above the waves, pressed forward by winds far stronger than those at the surface of the sea, winds that made the taut rigging whistle. The air here was crisp and cold; the sun’s rays were welcome.

Peter turned away from the water and looked at his shadow stretching across the deck. It was twice his own length. He stared at it for several seconds.

You’re afraid he’ll come back.

Peter jumped, the sudden movement nearly throwing Tink off his head.

“I didn’t know you were awake,” he said.

Awake and cold, she said, snuggling down into his hair. Why are you afraid of him? He’s gone.

“He was gone once before,” Peter said, still looking at his shadow. “And he came back.”

But he’s not here now.

“I know. But he could be at any time. I feel a bit silly, but I keep looking at my shadow, wondering if he’ll come back.”

“Who will come back?” said Molly, her voice startling Peter. He hadn’t seen her approaching, clutching a gray blanket around her shoulders to keep warm.

“Um, nobody,” said Peter. “Tink and I were just talking.”

“I see,” said Molly.

No, you don’t, said Tink.

“What did she say?” asked Molly.

“She said, ah, we must be getting close to Mollusk Island,” said Peter.

“That’s what I came to tell you,” said Molly. “We may be there quite soon. George found a sextant and took some sights. The only question is whether we have the correct time. George found a clock belowdecks. It’s the strangest thing—the clock glows, and it ticks quite loudly. Father thinks it must have come into contact with the starstuff. But it seems to be working, and if the time it gave is correct, we’re getting quite close to the island.” Molly pointed to a speck of white on the horizon. “George thinks that cloud might be over where the island is.”

Peter nodded. “Good,” he said. He stared at the cloud, thinking of the gentle Mollusks and the vicious Scorpions.

“You’re worried for your friends,” said Molly, seeing his expression.

“I just hope we’re in time,” said Peter. He started to say more, but his chest was too tight. He looked away, hoping Molly wouldn’t see his eyes glistening.

Molly reached out her hand, and—ignoring Tink’s glare—touched Peter’s arm. “We’ll do what we can,” she said. “All of us. We owe you that, for what you did back there.”

He had help, noted Tink.

“What’s important is that you’re safe,” said Peter, reddening. “We’re all safe.”

“You saved more than just us, Peter.” She paused. “Will you stay on the island?”

Of course he will, said Tink.

“I’ll stay on the island if there’s anything left,” said Peter. “It’s home for me, Molly.”

“And your friends? George says they should be in school.”

Peter stiffened. “Well, if that’s what George says…”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Peter.”

Yes, she did, observed Tink.

Peter was about to speak when he saw George clomping toward them, his hair blowing and his smiling face ruddy with the cold. His injured arm had been expertly bandaged by Bakari, who had also tended to Thomas’s leg wound; fortunately, neither boy had been seriously hurt.

“Well, well!” George called out. “Smashing bit of wind Hook has managed to find up here, what? With no resistance from the water, we’re making three or four times the speed we could make on the sea, and perhaps more! If I’m not mistaken, Peter, that means we should reach your island quite soon. What do you think of that?”

I think most of the wind is coming from him, chimed Tink.

“What’d she say?” asked George.

“She said the sooner the better,” said Leonard, just joining them. He and Peter exchanged a look; Peter grinned.

“So, Peter,” said Leonard. “I assume George told you that we believe we’re nearing Mollusk Island.”

“Yes, sir,” said Peter. “I suppose the question is, what do we do when we get there?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” said Leonard. “I need you to draw a detailed map of the island, so we can plan our attack.”

“I can do that,” said Peter, “but there are hundreds of Scorpions, and they’re brutal fighters. All we’ve got is…” Peter looked around and shrugged.

“We have a ship, Peter,” said Leonard. “A flying ship. And we have the element of surprise. And we have…a pirate.” They turned and looked at Hook, still at the wheel. Hook, seeing everyone staring at him, glared back.

“You trust him?” said Peter.

“I trust him to do what’s in his interest,” said Leonard. “Right now it’s in his interest to take us where we want to go so that we don’t toss him over the side, which I have assured him we will happily do at the first sign of treachery.”

Peter smiled and was rewarded with a personalized glare from Hook.

Leonard added, “And let’s not forget Tinker Bell.”

Tink chimed with delight. You can see who got the brains in the family.

“After all,” said Leonard, “she’s our secret weapon.”