Pan's Secret

by R. V. Bowman

  “I didn’t have much choice,” said Finn, shrugging his shoulders. “It was bring you here to Little Owl or let you die.”

  “Your face turned this awful color,” said Alice, shoving closer to Rommy. “It was this blueish purple color, and you made these gurgling noises. I thought you was a croaker for sure.”

  “How did you...I mean how am I okay?” Rommy asked, looking at Little Owl.

  “Between the magical folk and a special plant that grows on the far side of the island, I can heal the ones who get here in time,” said Little Owl.

  Rommy glanced around. Then her eyes widened, and she clutched at Finn’s arm. “Does Pan know you are here?” she asked.

  Finn shrugged. “I don’t think so.” Then he grinned. “Last time I saw him, he was hightailing it out of there with a dozen night parrots after him.”

  “Were those the things that came flying down?” said Rommy. “All I saw were lots of bright feathers.”

  Finn nodded, satisfaction on his face. “They aren’t Pan’s biggest fans. He steals their feathers, and night parrots have long memories.”

  Rommy grinned up at Finn but then sobered. “Won’t he suspect you helped us? Shouldn’t you get back already?”

  Finn waved a hand. “Nah, he’s probably on the other side of the island by now, holed up somewhere. He usually sleeps until midmorning, anyway. It’s not quite dawn, so I’ve got plenty of time.”

  “Dawn?” Rommy pushed herself up to sitting and tried to swing her legs over the side of the narrow bed.

  Little Owl blocked her progress. “You cannot leave yet. You must rest a while more. I removed the poison from your leg, but it has made you weak. You aren’t out of danger just yet.”

  “But my father...” said Rommy. “He doesn’t know I’m gone. He’ll be so upset.”

  “We will send word to your father,” said Little Owl.

  Rommy was thankful Little Owl didn’t ask why her father was unaware she had left his ship in the middle of the night. Now she had a different problem, and that was how to get back aboard without Papa knowing she’d been gone. She glanced over at Alice. Of course, she’d have to come up with a reason the little girl had turned up, but Rommy was sure she could come up with something.

  “It would be best if we returned to the ship before my father...well, before he realizes I’m not there,” she said.

  Little Owl looked at her but said nothing. Rommy could feel the heat climbing up her neck again, and she looked away from the piercing black eyes. Did Little Owl know what Tiger Lily had done? She had to, since Alice had gone missing. Rommy swung her gaze back to Little Owl’s and lifted her chin.

  “We, that is, Finn and I, were rescuing Alice,” said Rommy. “My father, well, when he’s around Peter Pan, he loses focus. I needed to get Alice to a safe place and away from Pan.”

  Rommy watched sorrow come over Little Owl’s face. “You have kindly not mentioned the part my granddaughter played in the need for Alice’s rescue.” She gently placed a hand on Rommy’s cheek. “You have a kind heart for so fierce a warrior.”

  Rommy dropped her eyes, unable to bear the sadness in the old woman’s face.

  “Young Tiger Lily’s heart is not her own anymore, and it makes her do foolish things,” said Little Owl with a deep sigh, shaking her head. “Her father has confined her to her sleeping place. We have always aligned ourselves with Pan over your father for the sake of the little ones, but Pan has shown that he is not to be completely trusted.”

  “You ain’t kidding!” said Alice, settling on the bed next to Rommy. “Half those Lost Boys was stolen—right out of their beds. Poor Jem is so nervy, he jumps at every little noise.”

  Little Owl turned the young girl to face her. “What are you saying? Is this true? Peter Pan has been stealing children?”

  Alice nodded her head and then shrugged. “Wellll, not all of them. Oscar and Willie and a few of the others was street boys who didn’t have nothing better to do than to come here. I mean, at least they eat kinda regular now.”

  Little Owl pulled the little girl closer. “How many?”

  Alice looked at her hands and counted on her fingers. “I didn’t ask for no show of hands or nothing, but I’d say maybe...” she looked down at her fingers again. “Maybe four of ‘em.”

  Little Owl rose surprisingly quickly from beside the bed. “I must speak to my son about this.” She started toward the entrance before turning back at Rommy. “I will send Little Bear to get word to your father. You mustn’t try to leave before then.” Seeing the alarm on Rommy’s face, she smiled. “Your father may bellow, but remember, the louder he is the more his heart cares.”

  Rommy sank back on the pillow. She didn’t look forward to hearing how much her father’s heart cared.

  Chapter 14:

  A New Quest

  Rommy looked at Alice. “Are you sure that Pan stole those boys?”

  Alice rolled her eyes. “Do you think I’m thick in the head? Course I know.”

  Rommy looked over at Finn, whose face was curiously blank.

  “Did you know about this?” Rommy asked.

  Finn looked away from her and shrugged. “I guess,” he said.

  “You guess? How long has this been going on? Did Pan kidnap you, too?” She leaned forward to get a glimpse of his face. He was now looking around at the insides of Little Owl’s curious conical home.

  “No, he didn’t steal me,” said Finn, jutting out his chin. “I came with him ‘cause I wanted to. Both my parents was dead, and the rich toffs my mum worked for thought I’d make a nice punching bag once she was gone. Peter seemed like the better lot at the time.”

  Rommy’s face softened. “I’m sorry,” she said, putting a hand on his arm. He shrugged it off.

  “It was a long time ago,” he said. “I hardly remember either of them. It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does matter,” Rommy said, leaning toward him and covering his clenched fist with her hand. Her hazel eyes met his gray ones. “Nobody should be treated like that. Nobody.” Finn just stared at Rommy. She couldn’t seem to look away.

  “What’s with you two?” Alice said, looking between the two.

  Rommy snatched her hand back, and her face felt uncomfortably warm. She cleared her throat.

  “When did Pan start taking children, Finn? Do you know?”

  Finn shrugged again. “I’m not sure. I told you time isn’t the same in Neverland. But it was a while ago. Maybe half of the boys isn’t here because they chose it, though.”

  Rommy remembered Sebastian and the child that said a flying boy had pulled him into the bushes. It seemed like Pan stole her brother, too.

  “How many Lost Boys have there been? Why haven’t you stopped Pan from taking children?”

  “Peter isn’t someone you cross, Rommy,” said Finn, sitting on the foot of the bed.

  “I would think you’d cross him for something like this, Finn. I didn’t take you for a coward,” said Rommy, clenching her fists.

  Finn pushed up from the bed in one fluid movement and loomed over Rommy. “You think you know so much after only a few days in Neverland, do you? Shoulda known a girl like you wouldn’t understand what it’s really like here.” Finn spun away from her.

  “A girl like me?” Rommy said. “What’s that supposed to mean, anyway? How am I supposed to understand if nobody will tell me anything?”

  Finn kept his back to her. “You don’t understand what Pan is capable of or how dangerous he really is. The only way I can protect the Lost Boys is to stay with them. If I cross Pan, do you think he’d just let it go? If I was lucky, I’d be exiled.” Finn blew out a breath. “Not all the Lost Boys die in battles with your father, you know.”

  Rommy sank back against the pillow and swallowed. “I’m...I’m sorry, Finn. I didn’t mean to imply...that is...how many of them have...died?” The last word came out in a whisper.

  Finn crossed his arms. “Not as many as would have if I didn’t look out for them.
I tell them how to stay on Pan’s good side.” His gaze narrowed. “That father of yours doesn’t help matters, either.”

  “My father? He doesn’t seem to be the real problem here,” said Rommy.

  “He is not the problem I thought he was,” said Chief Hawk Eye who had opened the entrance flap and was standing with Little Owl.

  Rommy looked up with a start and then smiled at the solemn man. He returned her smile, making him appear less intimidating.

  “I am sorry to see you taken ill,” he said, nodding at Rommy.

  “Little Owl has taken good care of me, and I’m feeling much better,” said Rommy.

  Seemingly done with the pleasantries, Chief Hawk Eye turned his dark eyes on Alice. “Little Owl has told me the disturbing news. Is it true, little one, that Peter Pan has been stealing children? Are you quite sure?”

  Alice threw up her hands and snorted. “What is it with you people? When a kid says, ‘I was sleeping and then someone was flying away with me,’ it’s not hard to chivvy out his meaning.”

  A smile quirked one corner of Chief Hawk Eye’s mouth, and he inclined his head in Alice’s direction. “My apologies for doubting your word.”

  Alice crossed her arms and nodded.

  Chief Hawk Eye’s smile melted away as he looked at Finn. “Has Pan told you why he does this?”

  Finn stuck his hands in his pockets. “No, but then, who knows why Pan does anything. He’s gotten worse since I came here. Used to be, you could talk a bit of sense to him, but now, he gets angrier than a load of jackers if you kicked their nest.” Finn paused and looked up from his study of the floor. “You don’t dare cross Pan, if you know what’s good for you.”

  Chief Hawk Eye frowned and turned toward Little Owl. “Mother, what is to be done here? You have been here longer than any of us.”

  Little Owl walked toward the center of her home, a troubled look on her face. “The passage between Neverland and the outside world has not always been open.”

  Chief Hawk Eye gave his mother a startled glance. “It hasn’t?”

  Little Owl gave a gentle smile. “No, it hasn’t. It was opened during my grandmother’s time, and Peter appeared shortly after our people crossed over to this place. One fairy, Tinkerbell, I think it was, pleaded that he be allowed to come here.”

  “But why?” asked Rommy, now sitting straight up on the bed.

  Little Owl took a seat in a willow rocking chair near the bed. “The only ones who know that are Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, and Unilisi.”

  “Oo Na who-ey?” asked Alice, wrinkling her nose.

  Little Owl chuckled. “It is said Oo-Na-Lee-See. It means grandmother of many. She is the Life Tree in the center of this island. She is the source of all its magic, and she controlled the passageway between this island and the world from which you came.”

  Alice’s eyes got wide, and she stared first at Little Owl and then at Rommy. “This is like some kind of fairy tale or something.”

  “You said ‘controlled,’” said Rommy. “Doesn’t she control that passageway anymore?”

  Little Owl smiled. “How clever you are to hear that,” she said. “I only know what my grandmother told me, and that was many moons ago now. But, there was a way to open the passageway that only Unilisi knew. Now that it is open, I believe there is a way that would close it again, but I don’t know what that way is. I don’t even know if Unilisi would bother herself to get involved enough to close the passage again, unless there was a very good reason. You would have to seek her out to find the answer to that question.”

  Rommy threw back the blanket and tried to swing her legs over the side of the bed. “Then we need to go find her and ask.” Before she could stand up, Little Owl put a hand on her shoulder.

  “Slow down, Child,” she said as she gently pushed Rommy’s legs back onto the bed. “You are not well enough to go anywhere at the moment, and I’m sure your father would be most unhappy if you went missing again, would he not?”

  Rommy felt her face color under the older woman’s scrutiny, but she lifted her chin. “Someone has to stop Pan. I was hoping to get Papa to go back to London, to forget about Pan, but...” she looked down at her hands which were tightly clasped in her lap, ”...after hearing this, we can’t just leave, even if I could persuade Papa.” She looked up into Little Owl’s eyes again. “It would be wrong. We have to go to this Unilisi and get her to close that passage. It’s the only way now.”

  Little Owl placed a hand on Rommy’s head. “You have a noble heart, Child, but Unilisi resides in the middle of the jungle. The journey is very dangerous with no guarantee of success. Unilisi is not like you or I. She is an ancient being, and she does not always take kindly to those who disturb her. Even if she allowed you to approach her, she might refuse to answer your questions.”

  “You mean this here tree lady might just tell us to go away after we go all that way to see her? She doesn’t sound so great to me,” said Alice.

  “We have to take that chance,” said Rommy. “We can’t just leave Pan to plunder people.”

  Little Owl smiled at the little girl and then looked at Rommy. “You must think long and hard about making this journey. It will not be easy, and it might all be for nothing in the end.”

  Rommy clenched her fists. “I will make this Unilisi see how important this is,” she said fiercely. “If she has any conscience at all, she won’t want children brought here against their will.”

  Chief Hawk Eye stepped forward. “What you say has merit, but my mother is right. You cannot make this trip alone.”

  “She ain’t going alone,” interrupted Alice. “I aim to go with her.”

  Chief Hawk Eye let out a bark of laughter. “I have no doubt, little one, but even as strong as you are, Captain Hook’s daughter will need more help than just you.” He turned back toward Rommy. “You cannot go now, though. You must return with your father and rest and get well. I have sent Little Bear with a message for him, and he should collect you soon.”

  Rommy flopped back against the pillow and groaned. “Papa will be so angry with me,” she said, putting her hand over her face.

  Little Owl chuckled.

  “Your father and my people have not been friends, but we have both refrained from outright attacking each other,” Chief Hawk Eye said and then paused.

  Rommy lowered her hands and looked up at the tall man. His face was stern as he stared down at her before continuing. “It is important that nothing happens to you while you are under our care. If you want to make this journey, we cannot help you. Do you understand what I am telling you?”

  Rommy sighed. Part of her understood Chief Hawk Eye’s position, but another part of her wished all the adults could put aside their differences for something as important as children being kidnapped. She nodded at him. He gave a slight smile, and his face lost its tense expression.

  “I will leave you to rest now until Captain Hook comes for you,” he said nodding at them. “Come, Mother.” The two of them walked toward the entrance, ducked through the flap, and were gone.

  Chapter 15: Rommy’s Turn to Spill the Beans

  Rommy looked at Alice and Finn. “You realize we have to go find this Unilisi and get her to tell us how to close that passageway, right? I know we can’t go now, even if I were completely well. It would cause problems for the Chief and Little Owl.”

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing some trouble for that Tiger Lily, though,” said Alice scowling.

  Rommy quirked an eyebrow. “You and me both, but she’s not our biggest concern right now.”

  Finn held up a hand. “How do you propose to go all the way to the center of the jungle without some help? I know you think you can do anything, but Little Owl wasn’t lying when she said it was dangerous. If one of the animals don’t kill you, some plant will.”

  “It can’t be that bad. There has to be a way,” said Rommy, and then she gave Finn her most charming smile. “Maybe you can help me.”

  Finn snorted. “Oh yes,
I’ll just tell Pan I need a bit of time off to go on a little trip.” He rolled his eyes. “That shouldn’t get his suspicions up or anything!”

  Rommy dropped the smile and hit her fist on the blanket. “I have to get to that tree. Someone has to stop Pan!”

  “You don’t have to tell me, but what do you want me to do about it? If Pan thinks I’m trying to double-cross him, my life won’t be worth a zippet.” Finn kicked at a ball of yarn lying near the rocking chair, sending it spinning across the room. “Why don’t you ask that father of yours to help you?”

  It was Rommy’s turn to roll her eyes. “He’s so protective of me, he’d send me away first,” she said. “I can’t let him do that. Besides, he has so many enemies on this island, Unilisi probably wouldn’t tell him anything.”

  “And whose fault is that? He hasn’t exactly been Mr. Friendly since he just showed up here out of the blue. I mean, one of the first things he did was kill off old Captain One-Eyed Willy. Then he took over his crew and made it his mission to get Pan. I don’t even understand how he got here.“ Finn paused and gave her a hard look. “But some of the fairies tell nasty stories of how he stole their pixie dust for that ship of his.”

  Rommy leaned forward and pointed her finger at him. “You’re not helping, Finn,” she said. “You make a big show about being all concerned about the Lost Boys, but when we have a way to help them, all you do is tell me how I can’t go into the jungle and how you can’t help me and all the other things that can’t be done. Why won’t you be helpful for a change?”

  “Me not being helpful? What about your old man? He just makes everything worse. I know you think he’s so wonderful, but all he does is make things harder. Why is he even here?”

  Rommy looked away and bit her lip.

  “Oh, that’s right. Your oh-so-perfect father doesn’t tell you anything, does he? Things like he’s a pirate or why he came to Neverland, anyway.” Finn curled his lip.