‘Well, the rumours be wrong,’ Rat Bait growled. ‘Like Gustave, I be a fam’ly rat now, an’ I don’t take kindly to low-life street urchins threatenin’ the lives o’ me own two grandchildren.’
Eddie shot Rat Bait a look of concern. ‘Y-you’re related to these little crims?’
‘They’re not criminals!’ Rat Bait fumed, waving a paw behind him. ‘Me grandson, Whisker, be the Pirate Cup champion.’
‘Oh,’ Eddie gulped.
‘That’s right,’ Rat Bait said, his nose only millimetres from Eddie’s face. ‘Ye know who organised them Centenary Games, don’t ye? Mr Fam’ly himself, Baron Gustave. He’s grown rather fond o’ our young Whisker, an’ I don’t think he’d take kindly to news o’ yer actions. If I were to breathe a single word ‘bout what happened in that web, Gustave an’ his twelve sons would be on ye in an instant – an’ they’d never leave ye alone.
‘Ye’d wake up every mornin’ with firecrackers in yer pyjamas. Ye’d be plastered with purple paint pellets the moment ye stepped out o’ yer front door. An’ the frostin’ on yer birthday cake for the rest o’ yer sorry life would be Gustave’s very own Gourmet Gunpowder – a potent purple powder ready to frizzle every hair on yer miserable head the moment yer cockroach-eatin’ friends yell blow out the candles an’ make a wish!’
Eddie’s bruised, battered and squashed face turned a sickly shade of green.
‘I-I might be ready to talk now,’ he squeaked.
‘I should hope so,’ Rat Bait said, stepping aside for Ruby. He winked at Horace who was shaking his head in admiration. ‘Nothin’ like a bit o’ friendly conversation to get things movin’.’
‘Alright, Eddie,’ Ruby said. ‘Spill the beans and your ear just might live to hear another day.’
Eddie looked up at her, his confidence crushed. ‘W-w-well, for a start, I wouldn’t advise breaking into that prison.’
‘Why not?’ Ruby snapped. ‘You found a way out. Surely you can get us back in.’
‘Yes,’ he said slowly. ‘But what would be the point?’
‘The point,’ Ruby hissed, tightening the grip on her swords, ‘is that we intend to rescue a very important prisoner, and you are going to help us.’
Eddie tried to shake his head, but ended up with more pine needles in his mouth.
‘It’s impossible,’ he spluttered.
‘Nothing is impossible,’ Ruby shot back.
‘This is,’ Eddie insisted.
‘And why is that?’ she asked, moving both scissor swords to the base of his ear.
Eddie closed his eyes and waited for the snip. ‘Because the prisoners have already escaped.’
A Change of Plans
There was a chorus of startled gasps, followed by a loud ‘shiver me cellmates!’ as the news of the empty prison sank in. Eddie waited several seconds with his eyes squeezed shut before raising his paw to his head. Feeling his ear still firmly attached, he opened his eyes to see four rats staring down at him, mouths agape.
‘Why the long faces?’ he murmured, his confidence quickly returning. ‘It’s not like you dimwits didn’t see this coming. I may be a master sneak, but not even Eddie the Ear breaks out of Hawk’s View Prison on his own. Have you seen the security in that joint?’
‘Yes!’ Ruby and Whisker answered in unison.
‘So how did you escape?’ Horace gasped, looking around frantically. ‘And where are all the other prisoners?’
‘Get those nasty scissors out of my face and I might just tell you,’ Eddie said, eyeing Ruby’s blades with mistrust.
‘Alright, Ruby,’ Whisker sighed. ‘Give him some room.’
Reluctantly, Ruby lowered her two scissor swords and stepped away. Eddie rolled onto his back. His legs were still bound together and he groaned loudly in discomfort.
‘Our answers,’ Ruby hissed impatiently.
‘Yes, yes,’ Eddie said, trying to massage his crooked nose back into shape. ‘You’ll have your stupid answers in good time.’
‘And we want the whole story,’ Whisker stressed. ‘Every detail. Is that understood?’
‘I hear you,’ Eddie muttered. He ran his dry tongue over his crooked teeth and cleared his throat. ‘Now, where to begin? Oh yes, yesterday afternoon. It all started with the arrival of Gov’nor Cazban at the prison – but I’m sure you already know about that from the newspaper.’
The rats nodded and Eddie continued, ‘After the gov’nor gave us one of his stinking chimp speeches – in which he showed off his shiny new trophy and introduced several new inmates, blah, blah, blah – he informed us that we’d all be facing the gallows at the end of the month. I’m sure you can imagine what a stir that caused among the prisoners. The skunks almost gassed us to death and a trio of racoons tried to start a prison riot. Only the newest inmate kept his head – a sly-looking red fox. He stood like a statue while chaos reigned around him, not the least bit concerned ‘bout the gov’nors threats.’
The Pie Rats exchanged a curious glance.
‘Oh yeah, he be one cool customer,’ Eddie said. ‘I stuck to him like a shadow after that. He hadn’t been in the prison for more than an hour when he was already planning a mass jailbreak.’ He flashed a proud smile. ‘And get this, it was for that very evening. Talk about cunning. Seems he knew something ‘bout those red-tailed hawks that kept watch over the prison walls. He told me with absolute certainty that every last bird would disappear after dark, leaving the prison and its surrounds unguarded.’
‘And he was right,’ Whisker said. ‘Last night was the full moon feast. The one night every bird on the mountain gathers to herald the coming of winter.’
‘Lucky timing is what I’d call it,’ Eddie muttered. ‘I’ll spare you the blow-by-blow account of the escape, but, with the hawks out of the picture, it wasn’t hard to overpower the other guards. Bartholomew Brawl led the charge against the elkhounds and Seven-legged Sven and his spidery gang took care of the snow monkeys.’ He pointed to the tattered remains of the web hanging above him. ‘As you’ve discovered, they left a few presents in case we had pursuers.’
‘Aye,’ Rat Bait said, glaring at his silk-covered sword. ‘I thought I recognised the artistry. Sven’s second in command, Nephilia, be quite the web spinner.’
‘So which way did the prisoners go?’ Ruby asked, scanning the ground for any sign of tracks.
Eddie twitched his head in the direction of the river. ‘The plan was to steal a small fleet of fishing boats from the town and sail them down the Hawk River.’
‘That would explain the deserted jetty,’ Whisker said, remembering what he had noticed on the lake. ‘It’s no wonder the townsfolk locked themselves indoors.’
‘An’ I glimpsed more than one small boat cruisin’ down the river on me way up Eagle’s Pass,’ Rat Bait added in confirmation.
‘But what about the rapids?’ Horace asked. ‘Won’t the boats be smashed to pieces?’
‘That’s exactly what I said to them,’ Eddie said. ‘And it’s the reason I’m still on dry land. A rickety boat on a white-water river ain’t no place for a master pickpocket like Eddie the Ear. And no rumour about a new gold mine was ever going to change my –’
‘Hold on, hold on,’ Horace broke in. ‘What gold mine?’
‘Oh, yeah,’ Eddie said with a shrug. ‘I may have overlooked that bit. Along with the new inmates came a rumour of a gold mine in West Freeforia. It was quite the talking point. With the entire coast of Aladrya teeming with Blue Claw ships, a brand-new mine, bursting at the seams and out of reach of the Aladryan navy, was the perfect incentive for any reluctant escapees.’
‘Are the pirates heading there now?’ Horace asked, his voice growing frantic.
‘Every last one of them,’ Eddie muttered. ‘It will be quite a fleet if they survive the rapids.’
‘Oh, they’ll survive all right,’ Rat Bait whistled. ‘They had already passed the worst o’ the rocks when I spied them from the air.’ He stroked his whiskers thoughtfully. ‘That bei
n’ said, I can’t see them reachin’ Freeforia in a bunch o’ old lake boats.’
Horace’s expression lightened. ‘Really?’
‘No,’ Eddie said maliciously. ‘The pirate captains have already addressed that problem. There’s a large collection of abandoned ships on Dagger Island they intend to sail.’
‘Aye,’ Rat Bait said in understanding. ‘Them ships be left behind after the raid on the Pirate Cup.’
The dark expression quickly returned to Horace’s face.
Eddie continued in a taunting tone, ‘They’ll need fresh supplies and ammunition, of course. But I’ve heard there’s a bountiful village near the entrance to the gold mine, just waiting to be looted.’
Horace’s eyes went wide with terror. ‘You don’t mean the village of West Freeforia?’
Eddie let out a wicked chuckle. ‘With such an easy target in their way, the pirates thought a little plundering and pillaging was in order before they seize the mine.’
‘Then we have to stop them!’ Horace cried. ‘My family lives in that village. Papa is the tribal chief. There’s no one to protect them. They’ll be overrun in an instant.’
‘He’s right,’ Ruby said, shooting a startled glance at Whisker as Horace collapsed on the stump in despair. ‘Those poor villagers don’t stand a chance.’
Whisker nodded gravely. ‘And if the fox is leading the charge, there’s little chance the pirates will show the Freeforians any mercy.’
‘There’ll be bloodshed alright,’ Eddie grinned mirthlessly. ‘Murder and mayhem and all the rest. But you’d be wrong to assume the fox is with them.’
‘Wait, w-what did you say?’ Whisker gasped in confusion.
‘You heard me,’ Eddie snorted. ‘The fox ain’t no pirate, and he’s far too smart to be mixed up with a slash-and-stab mob of barbarians. He left for Elderhorne as soon as we escaped the prison – said he had some business to attend to before he fled Aladrya for good. Smart move, heading west with all the pirates going south. I tried to follow him, but he gave me the slip in the forest – guess I wasn’t pretty enough to be his sidekick.’ Eddie twitched his enormous ear and chuckled at his own joke. No one joined him.
‘It’s probably for the best,’ he said, ignoring the fear and confusion around him. ‘Elderhorne ain’t exactly a safe haven for those of us on the gov’nors most wanted list. Some say there are more soldier crabs and sniffer hounds roaming the streets than law abiding citizens. I guess that’s why those measly citizens obey the law.’ He chuckled again.
Whisker’s head spun. He was in a daze at everything he was hearing. Soldier crabs and sniffer hounds … Recent memories blurred with future fears. His mind was back in Port Abalilly on the hunt for the Forgotten Map.
And suddenly a glimmer of recollection, a moment of realisation …
‘So what are we going to do, Whisker?’ Ruby asked, looking to the young leader for guidance.
‘Just-just give me a moment,’ Whisker said, losing his train of thought. He slumped down onto the stump next to Horace, searching for some clarity. Things were moving too fast for him – the jailbreak, the gold mine and now the fox – one revelation after the next in rapid succession. He couldn’t take it all in.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The half-formed images of pirate fleets, fox hunts and naval raids swirled through his mind. He saw suffering. He saw confusion. The world he knew was spinning out of control. This was no longer a personal quest to find his parents. It was something much bigger. It involved the lives of Horace’s family and an entire village of animals he had never met.
Is there a right thing to do? he asked himself. Think!
In the chaos of his thoughts, he saw two options growing clear. The first was to fly east to where the Captain was waiting on the Apple Pie. As a crew, they could sail to Freeforia ahead of the pirates, and defend Horace’s family. The second option was to fly west and attempt to reach the fox in Elderhorne before the mysterious trader slipped through Whisker’s fingers forever.
Both options called for immediate action, and both options came with terrible consequences. Whisker knew that if he chose to help Horace, he would condemn his parents to whatever cruel fate the fox inflicted upon them. But if he chose to pursue the fox, Papa Niko, Mama Kolina and Horace’s three sisters would face the most bloodthirsty band of pirates ever assembled, with no warning and not a shred of protection.
No, he thought, gritting his teeth. I won’t let that happen to them and I refuse to give up on my parents.
But how can you save them all? asked a voice in his head.
You can’t, came his answer, but someone else can …
Opening his eyes, he saw the solution right in front of him – Anso’s third option. And slowly, Whisker began to piece together the jumbled pieces of a plan. It would be painful. It would be risky. And it all hinged on trust and hope.
‘Eddie,’ he said, his thoughts now clear and focused, ‘what time did you escape from the prison?’
‘Soon after dark,’ Eddie grunted. ‘When the last of those pesky birds had finally flown off.’
‘So the prisoners have a night’s head start on us,’ Whisker thought aloud.
‘The fox maybe, but not the pirates,’ Eddie said. ‘They waited ‘til just before dawn to steal them boats. Not even the bravest Sea Dog was willing to risk a rapid ride in pitch darkness.’
‘It’s the fox I’m interested in,’ Whisker said hastily. ‘How far do you think he could run in an evening?’
‘A long way,’ Ruby said, glancing down at her injured foot. ‘And much further than we can. Why? You’re not seriously considering chasing him into Elderhorne – not with the price on your head?’
‘Not me,’ Whisker said, putting his paw on Horace’s slumped shoulder. ‘My help is needed elsewhere. I was thinking of someone without the most-wanted tag attached to his top hat.’ He looked hopefully across at Rat Bait and added, ‘If our scholarly gentleman and his white-winged companion are up for the challenge.’
‘Aye,’ the old captain said with a nod. ‘Anythin’ for me favourite grandson. Wherever that sly fox be headin’, Balthazar and I will track him down.’
‘Thanks,’ Whisker said with a heartfelt smile. ‘I knew I could count on you.’
‘Tis nothin’, nothin’ at all,’ Rat Bait said, brushing the thanks aside. ‘That fox be no stranger to me, remember? I traded with him for yer parent’s boat, an’ I’ve no doubt I can negotiate a trade for their lives if the price be right.’ He clinked his money bag. ‘Always pays to have a stash o’ gold for such occasions.’
Whisker’s smile faded.
‘Gold might not be enough to set them free,’ he said. ‘I’ve traded with the fox, too, and, on that occasion, he demanded a lot more than a bag of coins for an answer.’
‘Really?’ Eddie said, his enormous ear twitching. ‘How very interesting. You wouldn’t perchance be referring to a certain trophy, would you? The fox said some miserable fool traded him the Trophy of Champions, right before he was arrested.’
‘Watch it, earwig,’ Ruby said, prodding Eddie in the chest with a sword. ‘The only miserable fool I can see in this forest is you.’
‘Humph,’ Eddie snorted. ‘At least I didn’t let the famous Trophy of Champions slip into the hands of the gov’nor. It’s a disgrace to the entire pirating world. You should have seen those prisoners’ faces when he paraded the trophy in front of them. They were gutted – demoralised. It was the symbol of everything they stood for and, thanks to you, it ended up in the hands of their greatest enemy. I bet you didn’t even know its true worth. Yeah, I’ve seen your pitiful possessions. When it comes to items of value, the fox would be better off trading with an earth worm.’
‘Hey, that’s not true!’ Horace snapped, leaping up from the stump and waving his hook at Eddie. ‘Whisker has –’ He stopped himself when he realised what he was about to say.
‘He has what?’ Eddie asked suspiciously.
‘Nothing,’ Hora
ce mumbled, dropping back onto the stump, his eyes filled with a distant sadness.
Whisker turned to his distraught friend and gave him another pat on the shoulder. He could see how much Horace was hurting and he wasn’t about to let Eddie bring him down any further. The arrogant little gerbil has been here long enough, he thought. And it’s time we said goodbye.
Without a word, he stood up and walked over to the empty sack. Bending down, he picked it up and casually strolled back to Eddie.
‘Alright, Eddie,’ he said, standing over him, ‘I have a confession to make. Inside this bag is something you’ll find extremely valuable.’
‘What?’ Eddie asked greedily.
‘Take a look,’ Whisker said. It’s right in here.’ He waved the open mouth of the sack in front of Eddie’s face and the gerbil peered inside.
‘I can’t see anything,’ Eddie spat. ‘The blasted sack is empty.’
‘Not for long,’ Whisker said, and before Eddie knew what was happening, Whisker had plunged the sack over his head and was yanking it down to his feet. Eddie kicked and screamed in an attempt to escape, but his efforts were in vain. In a matter of seconds, the sack was tied with pillowcases and Anna and Balthazar were hurrying over to see what the commotion was about.
The enormous swan and the tiny rat drew closer, peering curiously down at the shaking, shrieking bundle on the ground.
‘Eddie no sleep,’ Anna said, pointing to the bed sheet and pillowcases swaddling the gerbil.
‘Perhaps he’s not tired,’ Whisker said. ‘What if we found him somewhere light and airy for his morning nap – say, the highest branch of the tallest tree?’
Anna nodded. ‘Rock-a-bye baby.’
Rat Bait laughed out loud. ‘You heard the li’l lady, Balthazar. Find this wee baby a comfy crib.’
‘HONK!’ the swan replied, scooping up the squirming bundle with his webbed feet. ‘Honk! Honk!’
‘Oh, and watch out for spider’s webs,’ Whisker called after him as he flapped his enormous wings and rose into the air.
The Golden Anchor Page 7
