The Forgotten Map (19 page)

The Captain let out a frustrated sigh. ‘You can pick up a copy of the
Aladryan Advertiser
from the newspaper boat on our way out, Pete. The boat docks on the outer jetty, from what I remember.'

Pete nodded morosely.

‘There's one condition,' the Captain added. ‘I want to read the important news before you turn it into your silly hat. You can have the classifieds section but I want to know what's been going on in Aladrya before we visit you-know-who to get the you-know-what.'

As Fred turned the boat towards the harbour mouth, Whisker noticed a weathered vessel moored against a jetty. The top of its white hull was covered with black letters and a sign hanging from one of its masts read
News Express.
Two moles wearing thick glasses unloaded bundles of newspapers and magazines onto the jetty.

Pete clearly recognised them and screwed up his nose.

‘Not too close, Fred,' the Captain whispered. ‘I'd prefer we remain out of sight in case Sabre enquires after us. Mr Tribble, if it's not too much to ask, could I trouble you to purchase us a couple of newspapers? The
Pirate Times
will hopefully shed some light on these dastardly Blue Claw raids.'

Mr Tribble nodded hesitantly and climbed onto the jetty. He returned shortly after with the two newspapers and a long rolled item.

‘What's that?' Emmie asked, pointing to the roll.

‘It's a free poster,' Mr Tribble replied. ‘The moles said it advertised some kind of pirate championship.'

‘The Pirate Cup,' Horace said excitedly. ‘It's held every four years. It's the Olympics for pirates – only more entertaining.'

‘And more brutal,' Pete added.

Emmie unrolled the poster as Fred rowed them out to sea.

‘Shiver me whiskers!' Horace gasped. ‘The Centenary Games. One hundred years of the finest swashbuckling swordsmanship and gruelling team challenges. It's going to be massive!'

‘That might explain the raids,' the Captain considered.

‘But I thought the raids were about stolen goods,' Whisker said puzzled.

The Captain shook his head. ‘In the Pirate Cup there's no silver and no bronze, just an enormous cup called the
Trophy of Champions
and gold, gold, gold for the winning team. The entry fee is exorbitant and most of the losing teams go on a plundering rampage once the games are over. No nearby town or passing ship is safe … If the Blue Claw arrest potential entrants before the Centenary Games, teams won't have the numbers to enter.'

‘But the location for the cup hasn't even been announced,' Mr Tribble pointed out. ‘For all we know, the Centenary Games will be held on a distant island, thousands of miles from Aladrya.'

The Captain looked down at the poster and pondered, ‘I don't know who this mysterious G character is, but I can assure you the location for the cup will be somewhere nearby. The poster is clearly evidence of that.'

Whisker glanced at the poster. Among the diamond and oval shaped jewels at the base of the cup was a gold banana. He'd seen the symbol many times before – on Aladryan coins. The Governor and ruling officers of Aladrya were chimpanzees and the banana was their official seal.

‘Stinking banana-loving chimps!' Horace exclaimed. ‘We'd better make sure we're not carrying any of their banana-stamped trinkets, or we'd throw away any chance of entering the Pirate Cup.'

‘Hold it right there,' the Captain said firmly. ‘No one's said anything about participating in this ridiculous Pirate Cup, even if we could raise the funds. We have far more significant things to worry about. Is that understood?'

‘Yes, Captain,' Horace said in a dejected voice.

Whisker looked over his shoulder to see his friend sulking in the back of the boat.

‘We could win,' Horace mumbled.

Ruby nodded her head in agreement. It seemed that she, too, shared the desire to win the glorious Pirate Cup.

As the shadowy shape of the
Apple Pie
came into view, Whisker knew they would both soon forget the idea when they heard about the treasure on the Island of Destiny. In his mind, it was the ultimate prize.

Before he knew it, Whisker was sitting at the dining table with a freshly bandaged foot, munching on slices of blueberry pie and sharing the tales of the evening.

With the map within their grasp, the Captain informed the rest of the crew (including the mice, who were now
honorary
members of the crew) what he had learnt from Rat Bait.

Horace's eyes lit up when the Captain described the legend of the treasure and the great power it could bring.

‘We'd win the Pirate Cup for sure with a treasure like that!' he exclaimed.

Mr Tribble kept muttering, ‘It all sounds rather dangerous, if you ask me,' and Fred sat with a pained expression on his face and said nothing. Whisker wondered how much of the story the gentle giant actually understood.

‘Fred,' he whispered. ‘We're after a map that leads to a wonderful treasure on a secret island. A weasel named Madam Pearl has the map and we're going to her shop in Port Abalilly to collect it.'

Fred's face broke into a gentle smile. ‘I know Madam Pearl. Her shop is near the pie factory where I grew up.'

‘Of course,' Whisker remembered. ‘You lived in Port Abalilly.'

‘And Madam Pearl is very famous,' Fred continued. ‘She's in the paper, you know?'

‘The paper?' Whisker asked.

‘I can't read the words,' Fred said. ‘But I know it's a drawing of her. She always wears her pearl necklace.'

The rest of the table turned their attention to Fred, who clearly knew something they didn't.

‘When did you see her in the newspaper?' Pete enquired.

‘Just now,' Fred replied. ‘Look – there she is.'

Fred pointed to the cover of the
Aladryan Advertiser
lying on the serving bench. No one had bothered to read it, let alone glance at the headline. The Pirate Cup poster was the only thing anyone had been interested in, except Fred.

On its own, the headline had no real significance, but the drawing below it made everyone stare in shock. It was a portrait of Madam Pearl, the white weasel in her fineries.

‘Is something wrong?' Fred asked.

‘Yes,' Pete groaned. ‘Something is very wrong. The one person who knows where our map is hidden is locked up in the most heavily guarded prison this side of the equator.'

Fred's ears drooped. ‘Oh dear. Oh double dear.'

Whisker stared at the newspaper and refused to believe what he was seeing.

‘Maybe Madam Pearl is innocent,' Whisker blurted out.

‘Wishful thinking,' the Captain said. ‘Everyone knows Madam Pearl is as guilty as they come. Scissor swords aren't exactly legal import items. She's only stayed in business this long because of all the bribes she pays.'

‘But why arrest her now?' Whisker asked in confusion. ‘She can't enter the Pirate Cup, can she?'

‘Not personally,' Pete replied. ‘But I'm sure she can bankroll a team or three to ensure there's going to be a cup regardless of how many arrests are made. It's in her best interests. Where do you think the competitors buy their weapons?'

Whisker thought desperately for another answer. ‘Can't one of us pretend to be her lawyer?'

Horace laughed. ‘Haven't you heard? Rats aren't allowed in law school, and I'd wager no mouse has graduated for years.'

Smudge raised his arms as if to say:
or a
f
ly for that matter.

‘I doubt Madam Pearl will get to choose her own lawyer,' Pete added, ‘even if we could find an old turtle to bribe. And the trial could be months or even years away. You saw the headline. She'll most likely rot in prison before the paperwork is completed.'

‘But we've got to try something,' Whisker pleaded. ‘We're the famous Pie Rats, remember?'

‘That's enough, Whisker,' the Captain said firmly. ‘Sometimes we have to cut our losses. It's fortunate we've only lost a few gold coins in the process.'

No one spoke for some time as the crew tried to gather their thoughts. Finally, the one rat who had not yet spoken decided to add her opinion.

‘There is one way we can get the map,' Ruby said quietly.

There were murmurings from around the table and everyone turned to her in anticipation. Ruby, however, simply stood up and walked out of the room.

‘Well?' Horace said with a shrug. ‘What was that about?'

‘I have no idea,' the Captain replied. ‘But I expect she'll come back and explain.'

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Ruby returned, carrying one of Mr Tribble's thick books.

‘Courtesy of my roommate,' she said, glancing down at Emmie. Ruby opened the book and Emmie pointed to a detailed illustration.

‘It's a map,' she said proudly. ‘A map of Prison Island.'

Mr Tribble pulled his glasses from his face and moaned.

Ruby ignored him and went on to explain, ‘I was thinking Emmie's map might come in handy for our prison breakout.'

‘Prison breakout,' Pete spluttered. ‘Are you insane? That's the kind of daft idea Horace would come up with!'

‘Rotten pies to that assumption!' Horace snapped. ‘It sounds like a perfectly sensible suggestion to me.'

‘That's my point,' Pete quibbled. ‘Only a lunatic would consider it a sane idea. No one has even attempted to break into Prison Island before. Why would we suddenly succeed?'

‘Because they won't be expecting us!' the Captain cried.

‘Not you, too,' Pete groaned. ‘Surely someone agrees with me that this is not a good idea.'

Mr Tribble and Eaton raised their paws. Whisker kept his arms and tail by his side. Under the circumstances, he was willing to give anything a shot.

‘So what's your plan, Ruby?' Pete asked. ‘Surely you don't expect us to waltz on in and snatch Madam Pearl from under the crabs' noses.'

‘I didn't know crabs had noses,' Fred said.

Pete stamped his pencil leg. ‘Noses or no noses, we need a plan that won't get us killed or locked up ourselves.'

Ruby shrugged. ‘I hadn't thought that far ahead. But I'm sure uncle will come up with something. He always does.'

‘Thank you for your confidence, my dear,' the Captain replied. ‘But we need a little more information first. How would you feel about a moonlight mission, Ruby? I know it's late, but this was your idea and you're the best at getting valuable information out of people.'

‘I think I could handle it,' she replied. ‘But can I have a chauffeur?'

‘Yes,' the Captain laughed, ‘I'm sure Fred can row you back to Sea Shanty Island. The washing up can wait.'

Fred plonked a pile of dirty plates on the serving table and disappeared out of the door with Ruby.

The Captain turned to Mr Tribble. ‘What can you tell us about this map?'

‘It's accurate,' Mr Tribble said. ‘It comes from a very reliable source. And if you can't be talked out of this ludicrous mission then the least I can do is keep you alive.'