فصل 66

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CHAPTER 66

A MISERABLE NIGHT

SHINING PEARL CREPT to the mouth of the cave. It was little more than a hole in the mountainside, the cave itself barely big enough to hold Shining Pearl and the pirates.

They had found it just in time. With Mister Grin close on their heels, they’d crossed the mountain ridge and started down the other side, tripping and falling in the darkness. It had soon become obvious that they could not outrun the relentless beast. They stumbled upon the cave with seconds to spare, crowding inside just as Mister Grin reached them. They huddled together in terror against the back wall as the hungry crocodile thrust his monstrous jaws into the narrow opening, his dagger teeth snapping at them from only a few feet away. But the entrance was too small by just inches. Finally, Mister Grin had backed out, roaring in frustration.

But he did not go away. All night long he stayed close to the cave, pacing in front of the opening, sometimes stopping to try yet again to force his way in. It made for a tense and miserable night; Shining Pearl and the pirates crowded together in the cramped darkness with no room to stretch out.

Now, as the sun rose over the island, Shining Pearl realized that Mister Grin had stopped patrolling past the cave. Cautiously, she poked her head outside to get a look. Her heart leapt. The cave was directly above the Mollusk compound. In the clearing far below, she could see the high pole wall that surrounded it and smoke rising from cooking fires. She saw figures moving about, though from this distance she could not tell which were Mollusks and which were Scorpions.

She hunched over and warily took a step outside. Coming upright, she looked right and left; she didn’t see Mister Grin. Another step, then another…

There!

The giant croc lay motionless—asleep?—some fifteen yards away. Shining Pearl watched him carefully for a full minute. She waved her arms in his direction. He did not react.

She returned to the cave, where the pirates waited anxiously.

“Well?” whispered Smee. “Is he still there?”

“To the right, about fifteen yards,” whispered Shining Pearl. “But I think he’s asleep. We might be able to get away if we’re quiet.”

“What if he wakes up?” said Smee, with more than a hint of fear in his scratchy voice.

“That’s why I said we need to be quiet,” said Shining Pearl. “That is, until it’s time to wake him up.”

Smee’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Why would we do that?” he said.

“To get him to follow us, of course,” said Shining Pearl.

“But I don’t want him to follow me,” said Smee. “He keeps trying to eat us.”

The pirate named Hurky cleared his throat. “Cap’n,” he said. “That’s the plan, remember?”

“Plan?” said Smee. “What plan?”

“The little girl’s plan,” said Hurky, “which we agreed on, is the croc follows us, and we lead him to them savages, and he eats them or runs ’em off.”

“Ah,” said Smee, looking doubtful. “That plan.” He glanced nervously toward the cave entrance. “Maybe we need another plan.”

“With all due respect, Cap’n,” said Hurky, “we been through this already. Them savages outnumber us a hundred to one, and they’re all over this island. Either we get rid of them, or they hunt us down like rats. That croc is our only hope.”

His face pale, Smee stood looking at the cave opening. Shining Pearl put her hand on his arm; he jumped.

“You can stay here, Mr. Smee,” she said. “You’ll be safe in the cave.” She turned to the rest of the pirates. “You can all stay, if you want. I’ll lead Mister Grin down the mountain. This was my idea, and I know it probably won’t work.” She paused a moment to steady her quavering voice. “But I have to do something to save my family, and this is the only thing I can think of.”

A few seconds passed uncomfortably. Then Hurky said, “I’ll go with you, little one.”

“Me too,” said the pirate known as Boggs. “I ain’t staying in a cave while a girl does my fighting for me.”

That was all it took for the other pirates to declare—quietly—their intention to go with Shining Pearl. That left only Smee, who looked at the men, then at Shining Pearl, then said, more to himself than anyone else, “I’m acting captain. I’ll lead my men.”

Shining Pearl nodded, too moved to speak. She went to the cave entrance again and looked out. Mister Grin had not moved. She beckoned to the pirates; one by one, they crept from the cave and—casting wary glances toward the sleeping beast—began to make their way down the mountainside. When they had what Shining Pearl judged to be an adequate head start, she turned, looking up to where Mister Grin’s massive form lay, still motionless. She took a deep breath and emitted an ear-piercing whoop.

Instantly, the enormous head rose. With alarming quickness, the croc slithered over to the cave on thick, powerful legs. He poked his snout inside, and a moment later withdrew it with a roar of rage. The giant head swiveled left and right, seeking the scent of its prey. Then, with another roar, the beast began lumbering down the mountainside right toward Shining Pearl and the pirates, who were already running toward the Mollusk Village as fast as their legs would carry them.

As the trees crashed and snapped behind her, Shining Pearl could only hope they were fast enough.

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