فصل 71

CHAPTER 71

THE MONSTROUS MAW

THE SCORPION CHIEF, surrounded by four of his senior warriors, had watched the water battle with disbelief from a rock outcropping just above the compound. He had watched his warriors paddle their canoes toward the ship; had watched as they were attacked and overturned by sea creatures, both natural and unnatural. He had watched—though at first he doubted his eyes—the ship rise from the sea as though its sails were wings, then fly over his men, and finally turn and fire on them.

And he had watched in disbelief, then fury, as his men—Scorpion warriors—had fled to the sea. He watched them for a full minute, then spat on the ground. Cowards. He knew every man in those canoes. When the time came, he would find them and kill them all.

But first he had to deal with the flying ship. It was turning now, clearly coming to the island. The chief glared at it. If the men on that ship expected to frighten the Scorpions on the island into fleeing, they were greatly mistaken.

He would see to that.

Shining Pearl emerged from the thick jungle onto the path. The pirates stumbled out behind her one by one, the last being Smee.

Shining Pearl held her finger to her lips for quiet, and they all listened for a moment. They heard the now-familiar crashing sounds of Mister Grin following them, but the sounds were coming from farther away than they had been. Shining Pearl allowed herself a small smile. She had deliberately led the pirates through a part of the jungle where the trees grew very close together. It had been hard going for the pirates, squeezing between the trunks; but it had been harder still for the monster croc. They had gained both distance and precious time.

“Where does this path lead?” said Boggs.

“To the village,” said Shining Pearl, pointing. “It’s not far now.”

Boggs started to speak again, but he was interrupted by the sound echoing from the direction of the village.

“What was that?” said Smee.

“That’s a cannon,” said Hurky.

“And what is that?” said Boggs, pointing skyward.

“That,” said Hurky, not quite believing his own words, “is a flying ship.”

“Fire two!” shouted Leonard.

BOOM!

The second ball whistled through the air. This one, better aimed than the first, smashed a hole through the high tree-trunk wall surrounding the Mollusk compound.

“Fine shot, Mr. Slightly!” shouted Leonard.

“They don’t seem pleased about it,” observed Hook, gazing down at the Scorpion warriors. They were swarming beneath the De Vliegen, shouting and shooting arrows up at it. But the ship, thanks to Hook’s deft airmanship, was just out of reach of all but the strongest archers. The few arrows that reached the ship had lost most of their velocity and bounced harmlessly off the hull.

“No,” said Leonard. “They’re not pleased. But they don’t seem frightened, either. I had hoped we might scare them into fleeing. But clearly they intend to defend the compound.”

Most of the Scorpion warriors were gathered in front of the main gate. Inside the compound itself were the sleeping hut and cooking fires, which were tended by Mollusk women and children, now slaves to the Scorpions. Peter, standing next to Leonard and Molly on the De Vliegen, felt his heart ache when he saw the condition of his Mollusk friends—gaunt, exhausted, barely able to lift their heads, even to see the flying ship.

“They look awful!” said Molly. “Father, what can we do?”

“I don’t know,” Leonard admitted. “We can irritate them with the cannon, but we can’t defeat them from up here. And we don’t want to risk harming the captive Mollusks.”

The ship lurched. Leonard exchanged glances with Hook, then said, “For that matter, I don’t know how much longer we can stay up here. What we need is…”

He was interrupted by a shout from James, high up the mainmast.

“People coming!” he called.

“Where?” shouted Peter.

“There!”

Peter looked where James was pointing, and in a moment he saw them—a line of tiny figures on one of the paths leading down the mountainside toward the compound. At this distance, he couldn’t make out who they were.

“Do we have a spyglass?” asked Leonard.

“There’s one below,” said Molly. She ran down and quickly returned with the glass, which she handed to Leonard. He put it to his eye.

“Well, now,” he said.

“What is it?” said Peter.

“Take a look,” said Leonard, handing over the glass. Peter put it to his eye and looked at the mountain. It took him a few moments, but he found the path, and then the men, and then…

“Fighting Prawn!” he exclaimed. The Mollusk chief looked gaunt and filthy, but he was trotting down the path with dogged determination, followed by what looked like at least fifty men, including…Were those pirates?

“What’s happening?” asked Molly.

“It looks as though Fighting Prawn intends to attack the compound,” said Leonard, frowning.

“That’s good, then, isn’t it?”

“I wish it were,” said Leonard. “But he’s still outnumbered. The Scorpions will cut him and his men to pieces. Unless…” He looked at Peter. “Is there a rear gate to the compound?”

“Yes,” said Peter, pointing. “It’s back behind those huts. But it’s always barred shut.” He looked at Leonard. “But if it was open…”

“Exactly,” said Leonard. “We can use the cannon to distract the men in the front, but the rear gate is likely to have guards. If you go in alone…”

Excuse me? chimed Tink

“I won’t be alone,” said Peter.

“But what about the arrows?” said Molly, looking down at the Scorpion archers.

Does she ever stop nagging?

“What did she say?” asked Molly.

“She said we’ll be careful,” said Peter. He took two quick steps and launched himself off the deck, with Tink right behind.

Leonard and Molly watched them go, two figures arcing high across the sky to stay out of range of the Scorpion archers.

“Yes,” Leonard said softly. “You be careful.”

Fighting Prawn, staggering down the mountain as fast as his hunger-weakened legs would carry him, kept his eyes on the path, occasionally glancing up at the miraculous sight of the flying ship. He didn’t know how it came to be there, although he suspected his flying friend Peter was involved. What he did know was that the ship was firing on the Scorpions, and therefore was, at least for now, his ally.

He reached the base of the mountain. Ahead, on the other side of a clearing, lay the village. His village. He turned and looked at the ragged band of Mollusk warriors and pirates—a few armed with whips and knives but most holding only rocks. Not much of an attacking force, but it would have to do.

He raised his head and, with all the strength he could muster, shouted the Mollusk war cry. His men answered in parched, hoarse voices. Fighting Prawn turned and began trotting across the clearing toward the compound, and the battle that would decide the fate of his people.

Peter and Tink flew high in the brilliant blue sky, their plan being to come down with the sun behind them, thus blinding any Scorpion looking up in their direction. At the moment, though, the Scorpions were occupied with the De Vliegen, which was firing on the front of the compound, providing the distraction that Leonard had promised.

He heard faint shouts, and looked down to his right; Fighting Prawn was leading his men across the clearing. If Peter was to get the rear gate open, he would have to move quickly. He glanced up to check the sun’s angle, then, with Tink alongside, went into a steep, fast dive. He hoped to reach the gate and have it open before the Scorpions saw him.

It nearly worked. As Leonard had expected, Scorpion sentries—two of them—had been posted at the rear gate. Both sentries, however, had been distracted by the cannon attack, and had wandered toward the center of the compound to get a better view of the action. Peter dropped gently to the ground behind them and ran to the gate. It was a single door, barred shut by a log set into forked tree trunks on either side. Peter went to the left side and strained to lift it, but it barely budged. He glanced behind him; the sentries were still looking away. He put his shoulder under the log and strained upward with all his strength. Slowly he inched it out of the fork.

Look out! chimed Tink.

THUNK!

The arrow slammed into the log two inches from Peter’s head. Trapped under the log, Peter gave it a desperate heave. He got it clear of the fork and let it fall, diving to the side as a second arrow pierced the gate where he’d been standing. Facedown on the ground, he turned sideways to see one of the Scorpion sentries aiming another arrow at him. He started to push himself up, but as he did, the Scorpion released the arrow. Peter was sure it would hit him—yet somehow it didn’t. It skimmed just past his face, making the strangest sound, and as it slammed into the gate next to him, Peter saw that it had been deflected by Tink, who had somehow grasped it in mid-flight. She was still clinging to the shaft with her tiny hands, a dazed look on her delicate face.

“Thanks!” said Peter, springing to his feet.

I am NOT doing that again, she replied.

There was no more time for conversation; the sentries, having abandoned their efforts to shoot the elusive boy, were sprinting toward him. Peter waited until they were close, then flung himself upward, leaving them grasping air and grunting with surprise and a hint of fear—A flying ship, and now a flying boy.

Peter hovered just above their heads, shouting at them, hoping to distract them from the log now resting in only one fork. The Scorpions leapt up and down, trying to reach the infuriating boy’s dangling feet. Realizing that was hopeless, they reached for their bows again. As they fitted arrows to strings, Peter shot over the compound wall.

Fighting Prawn’s lungs burned, and he was having trouble moving his legs. Twice he had stumbled and fallen, as had many of the men behind him. Each time he willed himself to get back on his feet and move forward. Assuming that the rear gate was locked, he had decided to divide his force in half and send them around both sides of the compound to attack the Scorpions in the front. He was about to issue the order when he saw a familiar figure fly over the compound wall.

“Peter!” he shouted.

“Push the gate!” answered Peter. “Hurry!”

Fighting Prawn, understanding immediately, altered course and ran toward the gate, yelling at his men to follow. Peter ducked his head back over the wall and saw that the Scorpion sentries, having realized what was happening, had dropped their bows and were wrestling with the log. They were too late. With a roar, Fighting Prawn and his men slammed into the gate, knocking the two Scorpions to the ground. Neither would ever get up again. In moments, the Mollusks and pirates were inside. Peter dropped to the ground next to Fighting Prawn, and they embraced briefly. Peter was shocked by the Mollusk chief’s filthy, weakened condition.

“Where are the rest of them?” asked Fighting Prawn.

“In front,” said Peter. “The ship is distracting them so you can attack from the back.”

“Good,” said Fighting Prawn. He called his men together and quickly gave orders in the grunt-and-click language of the Mollusks. In a moment, with Fighting Prawn leading the way, they were running toward the main gate, using the sleeping huts to screen their approach. Peter watched them, wondering if this small band of exhausted men, brave as they were, stood any chance against the strong, well-armed Scorpions. He rose into the air, preparing to fly back to the ship and report to Leonard.

Look, chimed Tink, pointing.

Peter turned and looked. Another group was descending the mountainside. This was a smaller group—eight figures. Peter squinted, trying to make them out.

It’s Shining Pearl, said Tink, who literally had the eyesight of a bird. And some smelly-looking pirates.

Peter hesitated, then decided he had better warn Shining Pearl that she was heading into a dangerous situation.

“Come on,” he said, zooming across the clearing. In less than a minute, he and Tink reached Shining Pearl, who beamed when she recognized her two friends. Peter noticed that Shining Pearl—could it be possible?—seemed to be leading the small band of pirates, which included Hook’s short, round first mate. They appeared to be quite tired but also in a great hurry to get down the hill.

“Who’s that?” said Shining Pearl, pointing at the ship as Peter landed next to her.

“It’s the Starcatchers,” said Peter. “Molly’s father is in command, although Hook is actually sailing the ship.” Peter noticed that the pirates perked up when he said that. One of them mumbled, “Alive?”

Peter also noticed that nobody stopped running.

“Listen,” he said, trotting next to Shining Pearl. “You shouldn’t go to the village now. Your father…”

“My father is down there?”

“Yes,” said Peter. “But there’s going to be a fight.”

“Then that’s where we need to be,” said Shining Pearl.

“But…”

“Peter,” said Shining Pearl, “we couldn’t stop even if we wanted to.”

“Why not?” said Peter.

“Mister Grin,” said Shining Pearl, “is right behind us.”

There he is, chimed Tink, who was hovering above the group, looking up the mountain.

Peter rose and looked back. About one hundred yards up the path he saw trees being shoved aside, and then the monster croc himself. Peter dropped back to the ground and resumed trotting next to Shining Pearl.

“Why is he following you?” he asked.

“He thinks Hook is with us,” said Shining Pearl. “He…” She stopped speaking, her eyes widening. “That’s it!”

“What is?” said Peter.

Shining Pearl explained her plan, finishing just as they reached the clearing. Peter took off and flew as fast as he could toward the ship. He glanced back; Mister Grin, having reached the wide part of the mountain path, was gaining on Shining Pearl and the pirates. He’d have to make this quick.

From the quarterdeck of the De Vliegen, Leonard saw that the battle was not going well for the Mollusks. Their unexpected attack from inside the compound had surprised the Scorpions, who had been focusing their attention on the flying ship; for a chaotic minute or two, it looked as though the Mollusks might have a chance. But the Scorpion chief had rallied and reorganized his men, and the tide had turned again. The weak, outnumbered Mollusk warriors were fighting valiantly—desperately—but they were being driven back, deeper and deeper into the compound, joined by the Mollusk women and children who were fighting now alongside their husbands and fathers. It was only a matter of time, Leonard saw, before the Mollusks would be backed against the rear wall and destroyed—if they even got that far.

“Father!” said Molly. “Peter’s come back.”

Leonard turned to see Peter land on the deck. Leonard started to speak, but Peter cut him off.

“I need Hook’s shirt,” he said, panting.

“What?” said Leonard.

“Are you mad, boy?” sneered Hook.

Peter ignored him. In urgent tones, he explained the situation to Leonard, who turned to Hook and said, “Give him your shirt.”

“I won’t,” said Hook.

Leonard took a step toward him and said, “Then I’ll take it from you.”

Hook glared at Leonard, then Peter, then back at Peter.

“I won’t forget this, boy,” he said. He removed his shirt and tossed it on the deck. Peter snatched it up and was over the side in an instant, streaking over the compound, hoping he was in time.

It was hopeless, Fighting Prawn knew. The fight was lost. Soon they would reach the back wall; they would make their stand there. What choice did they have? And then it would be over.

Hopeless.

Shining Pearl and the pirates ran across the clearing as fast as their tired legs would carry them. It was not fast enough. Mister Grin, roaring at the sight of his prey, had also reached the clearing and was gaining with every step. Ahead lay the wall to her village. The rear gate, she noted, was open. The opening was too narrow for the giant croc. If they could just get through it…

She glanced back. Mister Grin was getting close to Smee, the last in line as usual.

“Hurry, Mr. Smee!” she called. But the look on his face told her he could go no faster. She looked up at the sky.

Where was Peter?

Shining Pearl reached the gate and ran through the opening—right into the battle between the Mollusks and the Scorpions. She saw in an instant that the Mollusks had been driven back to the rear wall by the Scorpions, who were now closing in for the kill. Shining Pearl saw her father in front of his men, preparing to fight the Scorpion chief, who was advancing toward Fighting Prawn with a spear in his hand and a scowl on his red-painted face.

Behind her, Smee, the last of her pirate band, was coming through the gate with Mister Grin just a few yards behind.

Again Shining Pearl looked toward the sky.

Where was…? THERE!

Peter, a blur of darkness against the bright blue sky, swooped low over the compound.

“There, Peter!” shouted Shining Pearl, pointing toward the Scorpion chief. “That one!”

Peter saw her and swerved toward the chief.

“Get out of the way!” shouted Shining Pearl, shoving Smee and the other pirates away from the gate opening. She was repeating the warning in the grunts and clicks of the Mollusk language when Peter reached the Scorpion chief and dropped Hook’s shirt on his head, covering his face. With a howl of rage, the chief yanked the shirt off his head and hurled it to the ground. He whirled around, determined to hurl his spear at the flying boy. But the fury on his face turned to surprise and then fear as the rear gate and the walls on either side of it came crashing down, logs flying everywhere, and Mister Grin roared into the compound. The Mollusks and pirates dove to the side as the massive scaly body hurtled into their midst, seeking the source of the scent he craved. Fighting Prawn was knocked sideways by the mighty croc just as it reached the Scorpion chief, who drew his spear back in a desperate effort to defend himself.

He had no time to bring it forward. The monstrous maw opened wide, then snapped shut. The Scorpion chief was gone.

For a few moments, time seemed to stop in the compound. Scorpions, Mollusks, and pirates alike stared at the beast, which was, for the moment, cheerfully chewing the chief.

Only Peter kept moving. He swooped down next to Mister Grin and snatched up Hook’s shirt, still on the ground where the chief had thrown it. Then he swept low just above the heads of the Scorpion warriors, with the shirt dangling down, brushing their heads. At first, still stunned by the loss of their leader, they didn’t understand what was happening. But soon enough it became clear. With a roar, Mister Grin, his hunger far from sated, lunged forward again, seeking new morsels.

The Scorpions were brave fighters, but they had seen enough this day—a flying ship, a flying boy, and—worst of all—this hideous creature that, having eaten their chief, now hungered for them. They were brave but not suicidal. They turned, and with Mister Grin on their heels, ran out of the compound and down to their canoes, desperate to escape this infernal island and to seek the safety of the sea.

The Mollusks watched them go—too stunned and weak to rejoice in their victory. Shining Pearl found her father, who knelt and hugged her. She hugged him back with all her strength, her tears bathing his whip-scarred skin.