Peter and the Sword of Mercy (56 page)

Fighting Prawn, though happy about the return of the children, still had some concerns. One was dealing with the starstuff chest, which sat now in the center of the village, guarded by warriors. Fighting Prawn had decided that the starstuff had to be returned to the underground pool it had been taken from. When Peter was strong again, the Mollusks would take the chest back up to the cave. There, Peter could open it and pour the starstuff into the pool. The Mollusks would then block the cave with rocks, so it could never be violated again.

But that was for another day. Fighting Prawn’s greater concern at the moment was the fate of Bold Abalone and Fleet Snail. He had faith in them—they were both resourceful warriors, especially his son. He had every reason to hope that they had been able to avoid the crushing jaws of Mister Grin.

But he would not sleep until they returned.

T
HE
L
AST
S
OUND

N
EREZZA AND CHEEKY O’NEAL
had decided to wait until dark before landing on the island. Hiding in the floating jumble of wood and canvas, They had managed to avoid the mermaids. They had seen the
Nimbus
steam away; seen the starstuff chest fall from the strange sailing ship; seen the Mollusk canoes pick it up and take it back to the island.

And then they, too, had paddled toward the island. They had hugged the coast, following it in the direction away from the Mollusk village, toward Pirate Cove. As they paddled, they talked in low voices, assessing their situation, forming a plan. Neither man was about to run from a treasure as valuable as the starstuff. If it was on the island, they would find a way to get it. They were both competent, ruthless men. They had no doubt that they would succeed against the primitive Mollusks. Especially since the Mollusks didn’t know they were there.

Their first task was to find a place to hide. As night fell, they paddled toward shore, landing on a small curved beach. It felt good to have their weary legs on land again. They grabbed the planks and the canvas and started dragging them up the beach, planning to hide them in the dark jungle looming ahead.

They heard a crashing sound.

“What was
that?”
said Nerezza.

“I don’t know,” said O’Neal.

Another crashing sound, this one closer. They peered ahead, seeing only blackness.

Then a figure burst from the jungle, sprinting toward them. A man.

Right behind him was a second man.

The two men were running straight for them. As they came close, Nerezza and O’Neal saw that they were Mollusk warriors. Nerezza and O’Neal raised their hands, ready to fend off an attack.

The men ran right past them, one on each side. O’Neal and Nerezza turned and watched, stunned, as the men ran straight into the water and began swimming out to sea as fast as they could.

“What …” began Nerezza, but he was halted by the awful roar from the jungle behind them.

That was the last sound either man ever heard.

T
HREE
M
ONTHS
L
ATER

T
ONIGHT’S STORY
,” said Wendy, “is why the moon changes its shape.”

“You already told us that one,” said John.

“Because the elephant eats it,” said Michael.

“Which is stupid,” said John.

“Well, if
that’s
going to be your attitude,” said Wendy, “perhaps there won’t
be
a story tonight.”

“Why are you so moody lately?” said John.

“I’m
not
moody,” said Wendy.

“You are too,” said John.

“I am not.”

“Mum says she was moodly, too,” said Michael.

“It’s not
moodly,
you ninny,” said John. “It’s
moody.”

“That’s what I said!” said Michael.

“When
did Mum say she was moodly…I mean, moody?” Wendy asked Michael.

“When Peter left,” said Michael.

“That’s not why I’m moody!” said Wendy.

“So you
are
moody!” said John.

“Mum says he’ll come back,” said Michael. “She says he always does.”

“Yes,” said Wendy. “But not for
years”

“How long is years?” said Michael.

“A long time,” sighed Wendy. She was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “Well, do you want the story, or don’t you?”

“Does it have to be the elephant one?” said John.

“Yes.”

“Can it be a giraffe instead?” said Michael.

“Oh, I suppose so,” said Wendy.

“All right, then,” said Michael.

“All right,” said John, a bit more reluctantly.

“Once upon a time,” began Wendy, “there was a very hungry giraffe, who—”

“Wait!” said Michael.

“What now?” said Wendy, exasperated.

“Can’t you hear it?” said Michael.

“Hear
what?”
said both Wendy and John.

“Listen!” said Michael.

So they listened, and this time they heard it.

Someone was tapping on the window.

DAVE BARRY

is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of more than two dozen hooks, including Dave
Barry’s History of the Millennium (So Far); The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog; Dave Barry’s Money Secrets;
and
Big Trouble.
Along with Ridley Pearson, he is the coauthor of
Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, Escape from the Carnivale, Cave of the Dark Wind, Blood Tide,
and
Science Fair.

RIDLEY PEARSON

is the award-winning author of
Kingdom Keepers
—
Disney After Dark, Kingdom Keepers II
—Disney
at Dawn,
Kingdom Keepers III
--Disney in Shadow,
Steel Trapp
--The Challenge, and
Steel Trapp
--The Academy. He is also the author of twenty-five best-selling crime novels, including Killer
Summer, Killer View,
and
Killer Weekend.
He was the first American to be awarded the Raymond Chandler/Fulbright Fellowship in Detective Fiction at Oxford University.

GREG CALL

has illustrated the Peter and the Starcatchers series. He has worked for clients in music, entertainment, and publishing. His work has garnered many honors, including the ADDY Award.

Source: Baileyd @ Demonoid.me

Jacket illustrations © 2009 by Greg Call

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