The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1

by Maria Burke

  Simon snatched up his box of matches and exited through the back door.

  ‘Don’t wait up for me,’ he called.

  ‘I worry about that boy,’ said Pod, now perched on Kerry’s shoulder, his head tilting to one side. ‘If it wasn’t for me that shed would be burned down long ago. I don’t know how many times I’ve found it on fire and raised the alarm. If I wasn’t around to watch over him we’d all be dead …’

  ‘Then come with us,’ challenged Kerry. ‘If you want to keep him alive, come with us to the Land of Fire.’

  CHAPTER 4

  The Ark of Dun Ruah

  Corkscrew Harbour was situated in a narrow, winding creek. It was close to midnight when Kerry, Simon, Pod and the swiftails followed the coastal path from Kilbeggin to the harbour. Kerry marvelled at the endless twists and turns the brightly lit estuary took on its way to the sea. A large ship was docked at the quayside with the name ‘Ark of Dun Ruah’ painted on its side. A queue of passengers waited to board. Kerry looked around at her travelling companions.

  Three very small men were conversing loudly at the quayside. They had red faces with long noses and very large ears. They were dressed in faded lumber shirts and trousers that barely reached down to the top of their boots. The discussion was growing louder and Kerry could see angry fists raised in the air. One of them made several rude exclamations and snorts. The others shook their fists at him and stamped their feet.

  ‘What an odd-looking bunch,’ whispered Kerry.

  ‘They’re the Frumpets,’ said Pod. ‘They’re tribal folk from the Swishtree Forest. They mainly live on wild mushrooms and berries and I sometimes see them in Kilbeggin scrounging around looking for food.’

  ‘I wish they’d stop fighting,’ said Kerry.

  ‘Oh they never stop fighting,’ said Pod. ‘They fight every day. Except, of course, at the weekends when they spend all day in bed.’

  A tall, hooded man in a dark cloak arrived and slipped into the line of people behind them. Kerry looked at him closely. She wondered if it was the same man who had been attacked by the eagle at the cathedral door. It was difficult to see his face under the deep, grey hood. His movements made him seem almost like a shadow. She wondered what kind of power he held over the eagle that attacked him that night on St John’s Square.

  But it was difficult to see in the deepening darkness. The passengers ahead of them had started to board and the queue was moving. Kerry was so tired that it was a struggle trying to keep her eyes open.

  Simon tugged her arm. ‘Come on. Let’s board.’

  They moved towards the huge hulking shadow of the tall passenger ship that loomed above them. A man dressed in a monk’s habit took Kerry’s ticket and helped her on board.

  ‘Enjoy your voyage,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow we’ll be sailing across the Sea of Sorrows.’

  ‘Sea of Sorrows,’ said Kerry. ‘I hope it’s not anything like its name.’

  ‘They say it’s bewitched,’ said the ticket man, assisting her onto the deck. ‘So keep your wits about you.’

  ‘Keep my wits about me. What do you mean?’ Kerry asked.

  But the ticket man had already turned his back on her. He was attending to the next passenger. A sudden sea breeze blew up and Kerry pulled up the collar of her jacket. She looked around and saw Simon and the birds ahead of her. They had crossed the gangway onto the ship. Again she caught a glimpse of the man with the grey, hooded robe. Somehow he had overtaken them and was moving quickly to the top of the crowd.

  ‘Hey! Isn’t that the man who was attacked by the eagle with the red eyes?’ exclaimed Simon. ‘And look up. What’s that on the mast?’

  Two red beams of light were scanning the length of the deck. Up on the mast, the dark silhouette of a huge bird was peering down at the passengers with intense red eyes. Kerry shivered.

  ‘I’m going to check it out,’ said Simon.

  ‘No. Let’s get inside Simon,’ pleaded Kerry. ‘That eagle is up to no good. And I don’t want you getting mixed up in trouble at this hour of the night.’

  ‘Well, I suppose it could wait till the morning,’ said Simon, reluctantly eyeing the bird on the mast.

  ‘Of course it can wait,’ said Kerry. ‘And you promised you wouldn’t run off on another wild goose chase.’

  Simon acquiesced and they followed the passengers into a small atrium. From here they climbed a staircase to the top deck where they entered a large cabin. There they said good-night to Pod and the swiftails who took off in search of their own nesting places on board the ship. Inside the cabin there was a long, carpeted lounge. All around the floor, comfortable mattresses were scattered with cosy quilts and cushions thrown over them.

  ‘Just grab one,’ said Simon.

  And Kerry did. She was so warm and snug under her quilt that the sound of the sea breeze and the lapping of the waves soothed away the memory of the giant bird with the red eyes.

  Kerry awoke to the sound of voices coming from the sea. It was still dark and she couldn’t see Simon. His mattress was empty. The voices outside called, ‘Kerry … Kerry.’ She crept out of her bed and followed them onto the deck.

  A large swell rose in the sea and the ship began to toss. She thought she heard Simon’s voice calling her from the water. Leaning over the ship’s side and clinging to the railings she searched the dark blue seas with her eyes. The ship dipped sharply and caused her to lose her grip. As she tumbled, down towards the water a flock of Giant Eagles appeared above her. The largest eagle seized her with his long razor-like talons.

  ‘Come with me,’ he cawed.

  Kerry tried to struggle but the eagle carried her over the waves far out over the Sea of Sorrows and onto a rocky island. He dragged her into a dark cave and there sitting on a huge throne sat an Eagle King wearing a golden crown. His red laser-like eyes bored into her head causing her face to burn. A loud ringing pierced her ears. She screamed with pain.

  ‘Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding …’ Kerry suddenly woke from her dream. Sunlight was streaming over her face from an overhead porthole. There was the sound of a bell ringing in the distance.

  ‘Breakfast is ready. Come and get it before it’s too late,’ chanted a voice from below.

  Kerry sat up and saw Simon standing before her.

  ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘I’ve just been down to the breakfast cabin to check it out. Those Frumpets are trying to gobble up all the food on this ship. I’ve never seen such a pack of greedy men in all my life. Are you OK Kerry? You look kind of green.’

  Kerry rubbed her eyes and crawled out from under her quilt.

  ‘I’ve just had a horrible nightmare, Simon. I thought I’d lost you.’

  ‘It was only a dream,’ said Simon. ‘Come on. I’m hungry.’

  Kerry followed him across the lounge, through the exit and down a flight of metal stairs to the atrium. Here they saw the entrance to a large dining cabin. Beside the dining cabin there was a door leading out to the open air deck. They went out to the deck, hoping see the birds. Pod swooped and landed on the ships railing. Then he spotted Simon and flew onto his shoulder. He didn’t look happy.

  ‘The nesting accommodation on board this ship is a disgrace,’ he said. ‘It’s draughty and noisy. All those moaning voices coming from the sea kept me awake all night. Now I’ll have to find a more comfortable hole before nightfall.’

  ‘I heard voices too,’ commented Kerry, ‘but I thought it was in a dream.’

  ‘Cheer up you two,’ said Simon. ‘It’s a beautiful day. Look, there’s the swiftails. At least they seem to be having a good time.’

  Timmy and Dot were circling the deck, soaring, swooping and diving for fish.

  ‘Let’s go in and get our breakfast,’ said Simon.

  Inside the dining cabin a breakfast counter was laid out. The three Frumpets sat with their plates piled high with bacon, sausages, eggs, jam doughnuts and heaps of other goodies. They were stuffing it into their large red mouths at a tremendous rate. Two cooks were
serving the food behind the counter. They wore white aprons over brown robes that looked very like monks’ habits. The older and fatter-looking cook shook his head when Simon and Kerry approached the counter.

  ‘Not much left here,’ he said. ‘We can’t serve up the food fast enough for those Frumpets. Hurry up. If you don’t move fast everything will be gone.’

  ‘Are we the last to arrive?’ asked Kerry.

  ‘Yes. And we don’t serve owls in here.’

  ‘I beg your pardon,’ said Pod, digging his claws into Simon’s shoulders.

  ‘Pod, get off my shoulder, you daft old owl,’ said Simon. ‘Go and get your own breakfast.’ He pointed at a porthole. ‘Look, Timmy and Dot are out there catching fish. Go after them and get some of your own.’

  Timmy and Dot were following the ship, playfully swooping into the choppy sea and then soaring off into the clear blue sky.

  ‘I’m too old to go out there catching fish. I’ll have to stay and find myself a rat for my breakfast,’ said Pod with a grumble. ‘There must be one around here somewhere.’ He flew off muttering to himself.

  After her breakfast, Kerry sat back and looked around the dining cabin studying her fellow passengers. One of the Frum-pets had started to eat the remaining leftovers on the food counter. Another was going around from table to table collecting bacon rinds and scraps. The third was licking his plate.

  Kerry thought she saw the hooded man in the darkest corner of the dining cabin. He was so deep in the shadows that she could barely see him. Still wearing the grey cloak with the hood shading his face, she watched him stand up and leave his table.

  ‘Hey, there’s that man,’ said Simon. ‘I’m going to find out what’s the story with him and the Giant Eagle.’

  Just as Simon rose to leave the table one of the Frumpets ran headlong into him. The Frumpet toppled over on to the floor and rolled around howling and screeching with rage. Simon tried to help the little man to his feet.

  ‘You’d better look where you’re going, boy!’ said the Frumpet crossly, pushing Simon away. ‘If you’re not careful my brothers and I will give you a good thrashing.’

  ‘Hey, steady up a bit!’ said Simon. ‘It wasn’t my fault. It was you who crashed into me.’

  ‘Don’t you get smart with me, boy!’ challenged the Frumpet, raising his fists in the air. ‘I’ll give you a piece of my—’

  ‘Take it easy,’ said Simon, removing a slice of toast from Kerry’s plate and waving it in the Frumpet’s face. ‘Hungry, are we?’

  ‘I’ll let you off this time,’ said the Frumpet, grabbing the toast. ‘That’s if you let me lick your plate.’

  ‘What?’ Simon cried.

  But the Frumpet stood his ground, blocking Simon’s path.

  ‘Alright, go on then you can lick my plate. Just move out of my way you little savage.’

  ‘I’m not a savage!’ said the Frumpet. ‘You watch your mouth.’

  But Simon was already past him and scanning the dining area for the hooded man. He spotted him at the far side of the room exiting through the cabin door. This time Simon was determined to catch him.

  CHAPTER 5

  Cooks and Frumpets

  Kerry sat in the dining cabin finishing her last piece of toast and waiting for Simon. She tried to keep her eyes off the Frumpets, who were busy licking every plate in the cabin. Then they started pestering the cooks, raiding the food counter and begging for leftover scraps. Whenever the cooks threw something into the rubbish chute the Frumpets shouted rudely and shook their fists.

  At last Simon returned from his search for the man in the grey cloak. He didn’t look happy. Slumping down on the seat beside Kerry he scratched his head.

  ‘I’ve lost him again. I can’t figure out where he keeps disappearing to. I’ve checked everywhere, even the toilets.’

  ‘Hey you,’ interrupted a Frumpet, who was staring at Kerry’s toast. ‘Can I have it?’

  ‘Get stuffed!’ replied Simon.

  ‘Don’t be so rude Simon,’ said Kerry. ‘He’s just hungry.’

  ‘He couldn’t still be hungry after all that food. It’s ridiculous how much they eat! Come on, Kerry – finish up. Let’s get away from these greedy pests.’

  ‘Be careful what you say, boy,’ said the Frumpet. ‘More of that and I’ll thrash you.’

  ‘Go on then,’ said Simon standing up to his full height.

  Just then a huge commotion broke out behind them. They looked back to see the two cooks wrestling with the other two Frumpets and trying to beat them out of their way. The Frumpets struggled to get a large bag of leftovers out of the rubbish chute. The third Frumpet abandoned Simon and dashed over to join in the fight. After a tussle, the cooks managed to rescue the bag. Then suddenly they all heard a whirring noise. A set of tall, double doors slid open behind the counter. And the cooks rushed through.

  ‘After them,’ cried the Frumpets.

  The cooks fended off their attackers and the double doors slid shut, blocking the Frumpets’ way through. The whirring noise resumed and faded as it descended into the bowels of the ship.

  ‘They’re gone,’ shouted the Frumpets. ‘They’re gone. They’ve stolen our food. We want our money back.’

  The Frumpets clawed at the sliding doors trying to follow the cooks. They combed the walls with their thick little fingers, looking for some way to get through the door. But they failed to get in.

  ‘Now, isn’t that interesting,’ said Simon. ‘The cooks have a private elevator all to themselves so that they can escape from annoying passengers. Good for them. So the kitchen and all the food stores must be located down in one of the lower decks.’

  ‘Let’s get out of here Simon,’ said Kerry, trying to get him away from the Frumpets. ‘I’d like to get some fresh air and to have a look around this ship.’

  ‘Good idea. Let’s explore the Ark of Dun Ruah,’ replied Simon.

  Simon and Kerry left the dining cabin and explored the two top decks of the ship. Opposite the dining cabin was an entrance to a games room and beside that was a small shop run by a man in a brown habit. They explored them both and then went back to the atrium and through the door to the outside deck. But they couldn’t find a stairs leading to the lower regions of the ship.

  They returned to the inner atrium again and took the main staircase to the top deck. This led to the lounge where they had been sleeping. It had been converted to a dormitory during the night. Now the mattresses had been removed and people were sitting around on comfortable chairs and couches. At the end of the lounge they went through a set of glass doors leading out to an open air sun deck at the rear of the ship. Working their way around to the front of the ship, they found a small flight of steps leading to the navigation room. But it was closed off to passengers.

  After exhausting their search of the top deck and finding no stairs down to the lower decks, they went back to the sun deck. Here they sat on some comfortable deckchairs with the rest of the passengers, relaxing, in the mid-morning sunshine.

  It wasn’t long before Timmy and Dot came to find them.

  ‘Have you seen Pod?’ asked Timmy.

  ‘He left us before breakfast to go off to catch a rat,’ said Kerry. ‘He should be back by now.’

  ‘There’s no sign of him anywhere,’ said Dot, ‘and he told us he would meet us here straight after breakfast. I hope the rat he was looking for didn’t get the better of him.’

  ‘I doubt there are any rats on board,’ said Kerry. ‘This ship looks very clean. We’ve been having a look around here, trying to find a stairs to the lower decks so we can explore the whole ship. But we can’t find any.’

  ‘There are no stairs,’ said Timmy. ‘It’s very unusual. We’ve been scouting around the lower decks looking for Pod since breakfast. All the portholes have dark glass over them so we can’t see through. And it’s impossible to find any of the crew because the lower decks are totally separated from the passenger decks up here.’

  ‘But some o
f the portholes were open’, said Dot, ‘and I thought I saw monks inside. They were all wearing brown robes with hoods.’

  ‘That’s interesting,’ said Simon. ‘There are a lot of monk-like characters hanging around here. The two cooks were wearing brown habits and so was the ticket man. Did you guys by any chance see a tall fellow in a grey, hooded cloak anywhere?’

  ‘No. We just saw lots of men in brown robes,’ said Dot.

  ‘There’s got to be a logical explanation for all this,’ said Simon, scratching his rusty head of hair. ‘If only I could figure it out. From what we’ve seen so far, this ship is run entirely by monks. They come up to the dining cabin at meal times and then they leave in their private elevator. The passengers have no access to the lower decks. And the monks are living down there hidden behind tinted portholes. It’s all a bit of a mystery.’

  ‘I wonder why the passengers aren’t allowed into the lower parts of the ship,’ said Kerry. ‘Maybe the monk’s belong to an enclosed order. Or they could be criminals dressed up as monks and hiding a terrible secret. Those voices I heard in my dream last night were so real.’

  ‘Well, your imagination is pretty lively today!’ said Simon. ‘But let’s not jump to conclusions until we find Pod.’

  ‘Kerry isn’t the only one hearing voices,’ said Timmy. ‘Right now we are crossing the Sea of Sorrows. The seabirds we met on the ocean this morning told us all about the troubled waters. They said that the waters are enchanted and that many ships have disappeared around here. And we’ve been hearing voices coming from the sea too.’

  ‘All right then – here are the facts,’ said Simon. ‘The sea is enchanted. Last night there was an almost extinct Giant Eagle on board scanning the upper decks. Poor old Pod is missing. And there’s a suspicious man in a grey, hooded cloak prowling around, who manages to disappear each time I try to catch up with him.’