Part 32 (1/2)

”What if the Mollusks areaWhat if they've beena”

Molly put her hand on his arm. ”We'll just have to hope for the best,” she said.

Peter turned to her, suddenly angry. ”What good does that do, hoping for the best? What help is that?”

Molly reddened and removed her hand.

”I'm sorry,” she said. ”I was just trying toa”

Now it was Peter's turn to redden. ”Molly, I'm sorry,” he said. ”It's just that I feel as though the Mollusks are all I have right now, and if they're gonea”

”You have me,” said Molly. ”And Father. And James and the others. You have all of us.”

Peter looked down. A tear fell, then another, both whipped away by the wind before they reached the deck.

”I have you now,” he said, his voice breaking, ”but you're growing older, all of you. And I'm not. I never will. I won't have you later. That doesn't trouble me so much on the island. I feel at home there. But if I lose thata”

”Peter,” said Molly, putting her hand on his shoulder, ”no mattera”

Before she could finish, the s.h.i.+p lurched to port. Hook spun the wheel to correct it. Seconds later, Leonard was on deck.

”What was that?” he shouted to Hook.

”I don't know,” said Hook. ”It felt like we hit something, but there ain't nothing up here to hit.”

”Peter!” called Leonard. ”Have a look, will you?”

Peter, quickly wiping his eyes, vaulted over the rail and swooped alongside the s.h.i.+p. He saw it right awaya”a bulge in the keel just forward of amids.h.i.+ps. A few of the planks were being spread apart; light gleamed through the cracks.

”What do you see?” called Leonard, leaning over the rail.

”There's a sort of b.u.mp on the bottom of the s.h.i.+p,” Peter called back. ”I think it's the starstuff, pressing against the wood.” As he spoke, the timbers groaned, and the bulge bulged a bit more. Peter flew back up to the deck and landed next to Leonard.

”I think it's getting worse,” he said.

Leonard and Hook exchanged worried glances, both thinking the same thing: if the starstuff escaped through the hull, the s.h.i.+p would no longer fly. With a hole in the hull, it wouldn't even float. They'd have to get to land before that happened. But the only land around was currently occupied by the Scorpions.

”Mr. Hook,” said Leonard. ”Perhaps we shoulda”

”Tink!” shouted Peter, spotting a sparkling speck zipping toward the s.h.i.+p through the clouds.

Seconds later she was perched on the s.h.i.+p's rail, her tiny, delicate face deadly serious, chiming so fast that Leonard had to ask her to slow down as the bad news tumbled outa.

Bad men everywhere with whips and sticksamaking Mollusks work in the mountainaMollusks hurt, sick, hungry, the childrenavery, very bada ”What did she say?” asked Molly. ”What is it?”

Peter, ignoring her, spoke to Leonard. ”We can't wait any longer,” he said. As he spoke, the s.h.i.+p's timbers groaned again.

”I agree,” said Leonard. He look over the rail, rubbing his chin. ”Mr. Hook,” he said. ”This cloud bank goes all the way to the water, does it not?”

”Aye,” answered Hook. ”We calls it the White Beard, when the clouds meet the sea.”

”Well, can you set us down on this side of the White Beard?”

”Into the water!” said Peter and Molly at the same time.

If Hook was surprised, he didn't show it. He looked at the sails, gauged the wind.

”I can bring her down,” he said. ”But it might be a bit rough on her.”

”Do it,” said Aster. He turned and spoke quietly to Tinker Bell for a few seconds; she nodded and disappeared over the side. Meanwhile, Hook was shouting orders, which George quickly translated. The boys jumped to the sails. Almost immediately, the De Vliegen began to descend.

Peter, frowning, said to Leonard, ”I don't understand. Why are you putting the s.h.i.+p in the water?”

”Yes, Father,” said Molly. ”Aren't we giving up our advantage?”

”We're giving up one advantage to gain a greater one,” said Leonard. ”Molly, do you remember the last time we approached this island?”

”I most certainly do! We were lucky to escape with our livesa”especially you, Fathera”when those red-painted warriors attacked us in canoes.”

”Precisely. And what do you think they'll do if they see this s.h.i.+p sailing in?”

”I suppose they'll attack againa. Wait, Father, is that what you want?”

”Precisely,” said Leonard.

”Buta””

Molly was interrupted by Hook, bellowing a string of commands, rapid-fire. The sails fluttered and flapped loudly. The s.h.i.+p, its bow tilted down, was descending to the sea with frightening speed.

”Hold on tight to something!” roared Hook. As the s.h.i.+p neared the wave-tops he gave the wheel a violent spin, pointing the s.h.i.+p upwind. At the same time, he ordered George and the boys to take in the topsails and let out the main. For a moment, the s.h.i.+p listed hard to starboard; then the wind caught, and it leveled off just as it touched down on the sea. There was a splash and a violent lurch as the s.h.i.+p slowed to a near stop, forcing all aboard to hang on as hard as they could to keep from falling. Timbers creaked in protest as the s.h.i.+p sank down, then bobbed back up, sending large, foam-frothed waves outward from both sides. A few more bobs and the s.h.i.+p settled, now sailing like a regular s.h.i.+p.

”Brilliant!” shouted George.

”Well done, Mr. Hook,” said Leonard.

Hook waved his stump dismissively, as if he'd sailed a hundred flying s.h.i.+ps into the sea. But the glint in his eyes betrayed him; he was quite impressed with himself.

”I still don't understand,” said Molly. ”Are we going to just sail in there and be attacked?”

”That is the plan, yes,” said Leonard, glancing over the rail. ”But we won't be sailing in alone.”