فصل 36

CHAPTER 36

VERY BAD DANGER

“THERE IT IS!” called nibs, from the front of the line. “Hook’s ship!”

They had been following a path through the jungle, angling up the mountainside; now they were emerging onto a lava outcropping, from which they could see the entire side of the island and far out to sea.

Sarah and J.D. followed the Lost Boys onto the ledge and looked out. To the far left they could see Skull Rock, where they’d landed in their little ship. To the right of that, farther out, was Hook’s ship, moving slowly from left to right, under little sail. And to the far right, coming around a rocky point and aiming toward the ship, was the fleet of Mollusk war canoes.

“I don’t see Peter,” said Tootles.

“I bet he’s beat Hook already,” said Slightly.

“Peter always wins,” said the Twins.

Nibs was frowning. “That’s odd,” he said.

“What’s odd?” said Sarah.

“Hook’s ship,” said Nibs. “He’s sailing toward the canoes. He should be sailing away from them to his side of the island. He can’t possibly want to fight the Mollusks, can he? They’ll destroy him!”

“They will,” said Tootles. “Again!”

“The Mollusks always win,” the Twins told J.D. and Sarah.

Slightly pointed down the mountainside. “Here comes Tink!” he said.

They all looked down to see a flash of light zooming toward them across the dark-green jungle canopy.

“Where’s Peter?” said Tootles.

“That’s odd,” said Nibs.

“Tink is always with Peter,” said the Twins.

Tink had reached them now; she went straight to Nibs and began chiming furiously.

“Slower!” he said. “I can’t understand you!” Aside from Peter, very few people could decode Tink’s bells; of the Lost Boys, Nibs was the best at it, after decades of listening to her. But even he could understand only a word here and there.

Tink, with a look of angry impatience, began again, making slow, exaggerated chiming sounds. Nibs listened to the first few, then said, “Peter.”

Tink nodded. More chimes.

“Pirates,” said Nibs.

Another nod, more chimes.

Nibs frowned. “I don’t know that word,” he said.

Tink rolled her tiny eyes, then flew up and down rapidly, still chiming.

“I don’t understand,” said Nibs.

Tink was beside herself now, flying up and down frantically.

“What’s she saying?” said Nibs.

“Maybe she’s showing you the word,” said Sarah.

Tink pointed to Sarah and nodded, reluctantly. She flew up and down again.

“Flying!” said Sarah. “Is that the word?”

Another nod.

“Peter was flying?” said Nibs.

Tink shook her head and repeated an earlier sound.

“Pirates,” said Nibs.

Tink nodded, then flew up and down.

“The pirates are flying?” said Nibs.

Tink nodded.

“Pirates don’t fly,” said the Twins.

“Tink’s saying they do,” said Nibs.

Tink was directly in front of Nibs’s face now, chiming urgently.

“Are you sure?” said Nibs.

Tink nodded rapidly.

“What’s she saying?” said Slightly.

“I think she’s saying Peter’s in danger,” said Nibs. “Very bad danger.”

Tink chimed again, pointed at Nibs, and nodded vigorously.

“I think she wants us to help,” said Nibs.

“But what can we do?” asked Slightly. “We can’t fly!”

“The Mollusks are coming,” Nibs told Tink, pointing out to sea and the canoes. “They’ll save Peter.”

Tink shook her head no, suddenly frantic again.

“Of course they will!” Nibs said.

But Tink continued to emit the high-pitched chimes while shaking her little head. Then she reached up and wrapped her hand around her neck.

And that needed no translation.