The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity (28 page)

Will looked grave.
‘
I have not.
’

All of a sudden, One Toe Tom yelled,
‘
Buckos … Man yer stations! We got ourselves a
battle with a squall from Hell itself.
’
He glanced at Uncle Percy.
‘
Mr Halifax, I need ya
ter take yer folk and our Hugh below and if ye have a God then now would be the
time ter do some prayin
’
.
’

‘
I shall stay!
’
Will said resolutely.
‘
You will
need the hands.
’

‘
Me, too,
’
Bruce said.

Uncle Percy stared determinedly at One Toe Tom.
‘
The three of us are
staying here.
’
He turned to Becky and Joe.
‘
Take Jim and Hugh to the berthing deck and hold
on to anything that
’
s nailed down.
’

‘
I
’
m not going anywhere!
’
Becky replied.

‘
Please, Becky,
’
Uncle Percy implored
her.
‘
There
’
s nothing you can do
here…
’

Becky was about to object when the temperature tumbled. The blue sky
above turned a sickening green.

Uncle Percy couldn
’
t believe it.
‘
Crikey.
’

In that moment, thunder roared, rain pelted down, and the sky
flashed scarlet as sheets of blood red lightning splintered the air. Then -
CRASH
- a gigantic wave smashed into them, knocking the ship sidewards. Joe was
thrown off his feet, landing hard against the deck.

‘
Joe!
’
Becky cried.

A second wave struck. This time, Becky was pitched against the
balustrade
–
her skull smashing into wood. Blood leaked down her face, into her
mouth. Through blurry eyes, she saw Uncle Percy secure Blind Hugh to a bollard.
Her eyes flicked to Will, who struggled to remain upright as he fought his way
across the deck to help Short Jack Copper at the ship
’
s wheel.

With a
crack
, a lightning bolt struck the tip of the mizzen
mast. Uncle Percy saw it.
‘
BECKY! OUT OF THE WAY!
’

Hearing his urgency, Becky barreled left as the mast
’
s tip shattered at the
spot she
’
d
just been. Crawling to an iron capstan, she flung her arms around it and her
fingers locked tightly. Looking up, struggling to feed her lungs with air, she
watched the chaos. The crew valiantly fought to regain control, but she knew it
didn
’
t
matter. The ship would overturn. They were dead. Her eyes sought out Joe, only
to find he was already staring back at her. She knew immediately he felt the
same way. And at that moment she wanted to hold him, to kiss him, to say
goodbye.

Then, as quickly as it started, the storm passed. The sky became
blue again, the sea calmed.

Stunned, Becky
’
s gaze swept the deck. Each face she saw was etched with
astonishment. She stood up only to be nearly bowled over by Uncle Percy, who
had raced over to her, his arms wide open.

‘
Thank God,
’
Uncle Percy breathed,
squeezing her tightly. He pulled Joe into the embrace.
‘
I thought I
’
d lost you both.
’

Becky had never really seen Uncle Percy display such raw emotion,
but neither she nor Joe minded one bit, and sank happily into his arms.
Suddenly, Joe looked flush with panic and pulled away.
‘
Mr Flint!
’
He rushed off in the
direction of the hatch. A few anxious minutes later, he returned, Mr Flint
bobbing up and down merrily on his shoulder.
‘
He
’
s fine,
’
he said, sounding relieved.

‘
FLINTYYYY FINE!!!
’
Mr Flint squawked.

Becky began to laugh when she heard Will Turnip
’
s voice.
‘
LAND HO!
’
Looking over, heart
pounding, she saw his extended finger pointing at a flat stretch of
custard-coloured sand.

Then another voice rang out.
‘
AND O
’
ER YONDER, LADS!
’
Burly Bill Brundle was looking in the opposite
direction. Becky whipped round to see another island, this time populated by a
dense wall of trees.
 
As The Black Head
ploughed further on, more islands appeared on the horizon.

‘
We
’
re there,
’
Joe breathed.
‘
The Archipelago. The
Macaco Islands.
’

A relieved smile formed on Uncle Percy
’
s face.
‘
I believe so.
’

The pirates were all celebrating, slapping each other on the back
and belting out a hearty chorus of
‘
The grand Black Head
’
when a high-pitched voice cut through the singing.

‘
Leviathan!
’
Jim yelled, his voice
rising.
‘
LEVIATHAN!
’

The singing stopped at once.

‘
LEVIATHAN!
’
Jim repeated,
pointing at a spot about a hundred meters away.

Becky glanced at the ocean and her blood turned to ice. An enormous
jet-black head, the size of a large car, with smooth, oily skin had broken the
water
’
s
surface, its wide, cavernous jaws framed on either side by two tentacle-like
whiskers. Gradually, the head rose higher and higher until it threatened to
touch the sky.

Becky froze to the spot, unable to breathe.

The sea serpent
’
s mouth opened slightly as if in a mocking grin, and then with an
almighty splash, it plunged into the depths below.

Chapter 26

Snake, Rattle and Roll

‘
TAKE ARMS, ME BUCKOS …
’
One Toe Tom hollered.
‘
THERE
’
S A BEAST THE SIZE O
’
OLD NICK HIMSELF
LOOKIN
’
FER A BRAWL
’

At this, Windy Pete, Skinny John Prinny, Hunchback Henry, Lockjaw
Morgan and Hairy Harry Hooper raced to the decks below.

‘
Arm yourself, Boy,
’
Will told Joe.
Reaching into his coat, he grabbed his Joe-bow and ran over to the side of the
boat.

‘
Look after Mr Flint.
’
Joe passed Mr Flint
to Becky, who squawked irritably as if he found it all a major inconvenience.

Bruce drew a flintlock pistol from his belt and thrust it into Uncle
Percy
’
s
hand.
‘
Here,
Perce, I can design fancy stuff, too.
’
He pulled out two more flintlocks and cocked
them.
‘
I
think you
’
ll
find it
’
s
got more kick than your average eighteenth century shooter. For one thing, it
’
s got a ten-bullet mag
in the grip.
’

Uncle Percy looked at the gun with surprise. The single shot pistol
had been converted into a twenty first century semi-automatic weapon.
‘
I
’
m not a usually an
advocate of firearms, Bruce … but nice job.
’
The two men joined Will and Joe, each of them
aiming at the water.

Short Jack Copper had opened a wooden chest and was distributing
cutlasses, boarding axes and spears to those who had remained on deck. Windy
Pete and the others then returned clutching an array of muskets and
blunderbusses, and together they lined all sides of the deck, ready to protect
their ship.

Time passed.

But still no attack came.

Everything fell still, quiet, tranquil.

Soon, Becky allowed a tinge of relief to seep through her. Had the
Leviathan gone? She exhaled loudly, but then -
BAAAAAM
- the Black Head
shuddered violently as if struck by a torpedo. Becky lost her footing and
crashed to the floor, just managing to keep hold of Mr Flint. Clambering to her
feet, she dashed to the starboard side and saw the serpent slice the water. She
wheezed with horror. It was colossal, easily a hundred feet from head to tail.

Bruce and Uncle Percy fired repeatedly. Time after time, the bullets
hit their mark but were merely pinpricks in the serpent
’
s dense hide.

From some distance away, the serpent
’
s head surfaced, its jaws inching open, a thin,
crimped two-pronged tongue flicking out hideously. Then it dived again.

‘
Ready yourselves,
Boys!
’
One
Toe Tom yelled.

Becky saw the serpent charge at them like a train.

Uncle Percy tore open his shirt to reveal the black lining of a
Tracker Pack. He unhooked a squid grenade and pitched it with all his might.
BOOM! It exploded on the water
’
s surface, just above the beast, but to no effect. He threw three
more. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. Nothing.

The air rang with gunfire, thick with arrows, but nothing could stop
the inevitable collision. The Black Head nearly upturned, sending Skinny John
Prinny and Hairy Harry Hooper hurtling into one other.

Then all went still again.

Lockjaw Morgan frantically reloaded his musket when the serpent
’
s tail appeared behind
him, tree-trunk thick and glistening with slime. Becky saw it.
‘
Lockjaw,
’
she yelled, but it
was too late. The tail encircled his waist, squeezing the life out of him.

‘
Arrgghhh!
’
Lockjaw screamed
wildly.

Heart pounding, Becky looked around. An abandoned cutlass lay on the
deck. Releasing Mr Flint, she grasped it and raced over to Lockjaw. Raising the
sword high, she sank it into the serpent
’
s flesh. Tar-like blood gushed over her hands.
The tail twitched wildly, releasing Lockjaw, who fell heavily, clasping his
ribcage.

Then, on the opposite side of the ship, the serpent
’
s head rose slowly
from the water. Everyone froze. Climbing the air, it stopped parallel to the
damaged mizzen mast, its whiskers wriggling like giant worms. Then its dull
black eyes locked on Joe … and it lunged.

‘
JOE!
’
Becky screamed.

Joe dived right. The serpent
’
s jaws missed him by inches, smashing into the
deck like a sledgehammer, misting the air in a fog of dust and splinters,
before returning to the air.

Will turned to Uncle Percy, fury in his eyes.
‘
Hand me an explosive
device.
’

Uncle Percy didn
’
t question the request, swiftly thrusting the last squid grenade
into Will
’
s
hand, who then sprinted over to the main mast. Scaling it in seconds, Will
leapt into the crow
’
s nest.
‘
YAHHHHH!
’
he shouted, waving his arms madly. The serpent
’
s head twisted slowly,
its eyes finding him. Then its jaws stretched open and it pounced.

A half-smile formed on Will
’
s lips. Then he launched himself into the open
mouth; jaws clamped shut around him. The serpent pulled back, satisfied with
its first kill.

For a few moments, time stopped.

Becky wanted to scream but no sound came out. She glanced at Joe,
whose mouth had fallen open.
‘
Will?
’
he said in a whisper.

Becky felt numb, crushed. She glanced at Uncle Percy, his face fixed
with disbelief. More time passed. Then, from beneath them, a muffled
boom
shook
the boat. At once, waves bubbled all around; the water turned a sickening red.
She looked up at the serpent, its features frozen with shock, as it fell
lifelessly with a thunderous
crash
, sinking to the ocean bottom in
seconds.

And then Becky understood. Will had sacrificed himself and taken the
serpent with him. She scoured the ocean, desperate for a sign he was still
alive, but as the swells subsided and the blood-red water turned blue, she
realized it wasn
’
t going to happen. Minutes crept by, and still no one said a word.

Tears leaked down Joe
’
s face now. Becky moved over and wordlessly took him in her arms,
tears forming in her own eyes, her insides screaming. She looked to Uncle
Percy, hoping for some sign this was all some kind of grand plan, but he was
white as stone, crushed, his expression solemn and downcast.

It was then that she spied movement from the ship
’
s portside.

A pair of hands clasped the side. Pulling himself over, Will jumped
onto the deck, bruised, bloodied, but alive.

Becky gasped. Joe tore himself away and ran into Will
’
s arms. Soon, Will was
besieged with handshakes, pats on the back, and words of congratulations.

‘
You are one crazy
dude,
’
Bruce said to Will, pulling him into a bear hug.

However, before the celebrations had finished, Windy Pete emerged
from the lower decks and shouted.
‘
Abandon ship! The Black Head is no more. Abandon ship. Our lady be
gone…
’

‘
N - not she?
’
Will Turnip
stammered.

‘
Aye, Mr Turnip,
’
Windy Pete replied
sadly.
‘
There
be a hole the size o
’
Jupiter in her hull. She
’
ll be at the bottom o
’
the briny in a catfish
’
s whisker.
’

Loud groans of dismay came from the crew.

Uncle Percy, however, became suddenly alert.
‘
Listen everyone, I am
so sorry about your ship, but I don
’
t think there
’
s much I can do about that. I do, however, take full responsibility
for our situation and fully intend to uphold my part of the bargain on all
counts.
’
He flashed Blind Hugh a smile.
‘
Perhaps being wealthy men will ease your loss.
’

Lockjaw spoke up.
‘
Wealthy? With respect, we
’
ll be marooned on these cursed islands with no ships that
’
ll stop ter give us
passage. Ain
’
t no point in wealth round
‘
ere.
’

Uncle Percy nodded.
‘
Ah, well, of course you
’
re right but I
’
ve not been completely honest with you. And as I
’
m running out of time,
it
’
s
probably best to show rather than tell.
’
He reached into his shirt and pressed
something on the Tracker Pack. A second later, a thin shard of dazzling white
light crossed the vest straps, before encircling him in electrical charge.
 
Then, with a
snap
, he vanished.

Becky knew at once the Tracker Pack was a Portravella. The crew, on
the other hand, hadn
’
t a clue what was going on, when Uncle Percy reappeared in precisely
the same spot, clutching a pile of freshly laundered clothes.

‘
Miss me?
’
Uncle Percy grinned.
‘
These are for you,
Will.
’
He
passed over the dry clothes to Will, who began to change.

Will Turnip fainted; Jedidiah Quint and Hunchback Henry backed into
each other and clashed heads; and Windy Pete showed everyone how and why he
deserved his nickname. The rest of the crew just stood there, open-mouthed and
dumbstruck.

‘
What is it?
’
Blind Hugh said,
gauging from the dazed silence something significant had just happened.

‘
H - Halifax is a
sorcerer,
’
One Toe Tom puffed.

‘
Hardly,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
I
’
m an inventor and a
time traveller, which I
’
d appreciate if you didn
’
t mention to anyone, I could get in terrible trouble …
’

‘
W - what
’
s a t-time traveller?
’
Short Jack Copper
stammered, as a stunned Burly Bill Brundle helped Will Turnip to his feet.

‘
I really don
’
t think we have time
to go into that. For now, you just need to know I
’
ve just travelled back in time and sorted out
the issue of anyone being marooned. Now, if you
’
d care to look over there….
’
He pointed to their
rear.

Whirling round, Becky was amazed to see a pirate ship heading
towards them, a large jet-black flag fluttering from its mast. Then she gasped.
Emblazoned on the flag, in glittering silver, was a shark. Straight away, she
remembered seeing the flag before.
‘
Is that Stinky Mo?
’

‘
Apparently he prefers
to be called Gingerbeard on the water,
’
Uncle Percy said with a smile.

‘
The
Gingerbeard?
’
Hunchback Henry gasped.
‘
Mo Baggely?
’

‘
The very same,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
He
’
s joined by Battle-Axe
Beattie, and a small but reliable crew from The Soggy Flannel. It wasn
’
t hard to persuade
them to make the trip, to be honest … they all seemed rather taken with the
prospect of a share in Blackbeard
’
s treasure.
’
His smile broadened.
‘
Anyway, I
’
m afraid we
’
re going to have to leave.
’
He scanned the crew
’
s dumbstruck faces, before
his gaze finally settled on Blind Hugh.
‘
I promise we
’
ll return with your treasure and, should it
still be your wish, I
’
ll take Jim with me and set him up with a new life. You have my
word.
’