by Jon Mayhew
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir,’ Dakkar said, and continued with his polishing work. ‘It sounds a bit fanciful, if you’ll pardon me for saying.’
‘Fanciful,’ Blizzard mused. ‘Yes, I suppose it does, but then everything about you is a bit far-fetched, Prince Dakkar. Did you know, for instance, that your father has offered a reward for your recovery?’
Dakkar stiffened and he looked up at Blizzard. ‘My father?’ he said. ‘He must have heard about what happened at the castle.’
‘No,’ Blizzard replied, turning to walk away. ‘This reward was offered three or four years ago.’
‘What?’ Dakkar said, leaping to his feet, but Blizzard sauntered away and Finch glared at Dakkar until he sat down to his polishing again.
Night-times on the HMS Palaemon were a torment of snoring pirates, the uncomfortable hold floor and whirling thoughts. Dakkar dismissed the pirate’s story as just that. There’s bound to be more than one Oginski in the world. But now a new question pressed in on Dakkar: why did Father offer a reward?
For a few days, the weather turned against them. Dakkar lay prostrate in the hold as the Palaemon rose and fell, making his stomach heave. He couldn’t move or eat. When he did go outside, the sea lashed the deck and the horizon pitched up and down. Dakkar imagined being trapped in the Makara on the mountainous waves that surrounded them and shuddered. All the time he wondered how he would get off the ship and find Oginski.
‘Fulton’s the key,’ Blizzard said one day, making Dakkar jump as he scrubbed at the decking with a stiff brush. ‘If you want to find Oginski, I mean.’
The weather had calmed and, although the sky hung sullen and grey, the winds had dropped.
‘With respect, sir,’ Dakkar said, looking at his feet, ‘Oginski barely knew Mr Fulton.’
‘Whatever you say,’ Blizzard sighed, clamping his hands behind his back. ‘Once we’ve destroyed this steam battery of Fulton’s, we’ll be returning to England and then it’s the gallows for you, boy.’
‘You won’t be claiming the reward my father is said to have offered?’ Dakkar asked, looking up at Blizzard.
The commander laughed. ‘If a court finds you guilty of piracy – and you were caught in the company of pirates – then, prince or no, you will hang. I have no interest in money or wealth. I live only to serve my country.’
And you’re well paid for it into the bargain, Dakkar thought, eyeing Blizzard’s fine coat and breeches.
‘And why exactly did my father offer such a reward?’ Dakkar said, unable to keep the contempt from leeching into his voice.
‘Why, because you vanished, young man,’ Blizzard said with a short laugh. ‘Presumed kidnapped. But no ransom was demanded – some thought you dead.’
A scream cut Dakkar’s next question short. He turned and stared in horror at the thing that was crawling on to the ship.
Chapter Nine
The Creature from the Depths
A huge red tentacle gripped a sailor and whisked him from the deck. Dakkar caught the look of horror in his staring eyes as he vanished, dragged over the side and into the sea. Water rained down on the deck as more tentacles squirmed their way across the deck or through the rigging. Men’s shouts of anger or terror mingled with the odd gunshot.
Dakkar hurried over to the railings and saw a giant eye staring up from the sea, the huge bulk of the body tapering off into the depths.
‘A giant squid,’ he gasped. ‘I saw one off the coast the day before –’
‘Quickly, Dakkar – down below,’ Blizzard yelled. He took a step forward but a tentacle reached up over the side and curled round his leg.
Blizzard gave a howl as the fabric of his breeches tore under its grip. Dakkar could see the serrated suckers on the tentacle drawing blood.
Snatching up an axe, Dakkar leapt forward and hacked into the rubbery flesh of the squid. The creature quivered but continued to drag Blizzard along the deck to the side of the ship. Dakkar hacked and hacked again. Another tentacle swooped down, swatting at Dakkar. He dodged to one side, feeling the thick arm swish just above his head. With a yell, he brought the axe down on the creature’s twitching limb. The axe struck through flesh and bit into the hard deck, numbing Dakkar’s arm with the impact. Blizzard collapsed, gripping his injured leg as the severed tentacle writhed and twisted close by.
More tentacles squirmed towards Dakkar, tipping a rowing boat over and spilling its contents on to the deck. Dakkar snatched up a long boat hook that rolled to his feet and he stabbed it at the flailing arms.
Finch swirled past, bellowing obscenities from the end of a snaking squid arm. Dakkar hurled the boat hook and smiled with grim satisfaction as it pierced the arm. Finch gave a strangled cry and plummeted on to the deck with a thud.
The crew had rallied now and Blizzard’s marines in their red coats hurried forward, firing musket shot after musket shot until the squid blew a fountain of black ink into the air and slid back into the water.
Dakkar scurried across the slimy deck to where Blizzard lay. His leg looked torn and bloodied but he managed a grin at Dakkar.
‘Thank you,’ he panted. ‘I think you just saved my life.’
For some time, the crew stumbled around in mute wonder, uncertain of what they had just experienced. They took Blizzard to his cabin and went through the motions of clearing up and counting the dead. The shocked silence that followed the attack hung over them like a storm cloud.
‘It’s a curse,’ Slater whispered, pointing a bony finger at Dakkar. ‘It’s that boy. He’s brought bad luck on us!’
The sailors gathered around him, murmuring their disquiet. Dakkar’s heart pounded. He looked from one angry face to the next.
‘He just appeared from the sea,’ one of the pirates called from the back of the crowd. ‘He wasn’t with us.’
‘Funny how he managed to fight the beast off,’ Slater hissed. ‘But it was throwin’ the rest of us around the ship like a shark playin’ with seal pups!’
‘Leave him be, Slater,’ Finch said, stepping forward. ‘The boy saved my life. I’d have been squid fodder if it weren’t for him.’
‘No, I reckon he’s brought bad luck on us all,’ Slater snarled, bringing his face close to Finch’s. ‘Throw him overboard, I say!’
‘You’ll have to get past me first!’ Finch growled back. ‘This boy is a hero – you should be thankin’ him!’
Finch squared his shoulders and stared into Slater’s eyes. Dakkar watched the two men glaring at each other. Finch was a big man but Slater looked wiry and fast.
A gunshot broke the tension and made everyone turn. Blizzard leaned against the door to his cabin, a pistol in his hand. A white bandage swathed his leg and he looked pale and feverish.
‘The boy is under my protection,’ he gasped. ‘Slater, unless you want flogging, I suggest you refrain from stirring up trouble.’
‘But, sir, I was only suggestin’ –’ Slater began.
‘One more word out of you, man, and I’ll have you clapped in irons,’ Blizzard snapped, wincing a little. ‘Now, everyone back to their duties. This ship doesn’t sail herself. Finch, sort a hammock out for Dakkar down below – he’s no longer a prisoner.’
‘Aye, sir,’ Finch said, grinning and winking at Dakkar. He leaned down and whispered, ‘Don’t worry, lad. I’ll stay close by you.’
The following morning, Dakkar found Blizzard limping along the quarterdeck. He had a stick and, although he looked pale, he seemed in better spirits.
‘Dakkar,’ he said, patting him on the shoulder, ‘you fought that beast off valiantly yesterday.’
‘I didn’t feel very valiant,’ Dakkar said, blushing. ‘My father taught me how to fight with a lance, though I usually practised on horseback. Where did the giant squid come from? And why did it attack?’
‘Who knows?’ Blizzard shrugged. ‘It’s very strange to encounter such a beast this far north.’
‘You’ve seen them before?’ Dakkar asked, his
eyes widening.
‘Yes, but never that big,’ Blizzard said, nodding. He grew more serious. ‘And it is strange that it just popped out of the ocean and attacked us. Of course if I knew half of what was going on, maybe I could make some sense of it.’ He gave Dakkar a wry look and Dakkar glanced away to the horizon.
‘I have to find Oginski,’ Dakkar murmured.
‘We’re nearing our destination,’ Blizzard said, shifting his position a little and suppressing a wince. ‘I know you maintain that Oginski and Fulton aren’t in contact, but if they were then I’d say that he might be worth a visit. I know roughly where Fulton’s home is. I could take a slight detour and my men could put you ashore. You’d be on your own though, and the Americans don’t take kindly to spies.’
‘You’d do that for me?’ Dakkar said, wondering at Blizzard’s sudden change of heart.
‘I owe you my life, Dakkar,’ Blizzard said, looking solemn. ‘I’m a man of honour and I see my debts paid.’
‘Then you could tell me more about this alleged reward that my father offered,’ Dakkar said, suddenly feeling bold.
‘All I know is what I told you yesterday,’ Blizzard said, shrugging. ‘Four years ago, you went missing. Your father offered a reward.’
‘But Father sent me to Oginski,’ Dakkar insisted. ‘He was to be my mentor.’
‘It does seem strange,’ Blizzard said, raising his eye-brows. ‘A father offers a reward for his missing son, when all along he knows he’s safe. What did your father say in his letters?’
‘Letters?’ Dakkar repeated. ‘I didn’t get any. He wanted my location to be a secret from his enemies and so made no contact.’
‘I found you,’ Blizzard said, a slight smile twisting the unscarred half of his face. ‘There’s not much gossip that doesn’t reach my ears and the fisherfolk of the village were very chatty. Someone else did too, by the sound of it. Could it have been your father?’
‘My own father who kidnapped Oginski and murdered Mrs Evans?’ Dakkar spluttered. ‘Why would he do that when he could just tell Oginski to send me home?’
Blizzard gave another lopsided smile. He looked sad. ‘Maybe he couldn’t. Oginski is a law unto himself – you know that. What if your father couldn’t get you back?’
‘Oginski would never do that,’ Dakkar said, horrified. ‘He’d never hold me against my will. Maybe my father put out the reward to confuse his enemies!’
Blizzard nodded his head slowly, but whether he was agreeing Dakkar couldn’t tell.
Dakkar stamped down the steps from the quarterdeck. I should be pleased, he thought. If I can find Fulton, then maybe I’ll have a clue as to who took Oginski. But the conversation about the reward nagged at him.
The next few days saw Dakkar on light duties – Finch and Blizzard made sure of that. Dakkar kept out of the way of Slater, who glowered at him whenever they crossed paths.
Finally, one evening, the lookout shouted and Dakkar ran forward to see a distant strip of grey on the horizon.
‘Americay!’ Finch laughed. ‘We’ll have to be careful, mind – there’ll be patrols back and forth, and if anyone spots us from shore they’ll sound the alarm.’
Dakkar stared at the indistinct mass in the distance. His stomach twisted and he felt like telling Blizzard that he’d changed his mind. What if Fulton didn’t know anything? What if he were caught and hanged as a spy?
‘You don’t have to go, y’know,’ Finch said, giving Dakkar a sidelong glance. ‘I don’t reckon Blizzard would be for seein’ yer hang when we get back to England.’
‘No,’ Dakkar muttered, shaking his head. ‘If there’s a chance of finding Oginski, then I must take it.’
‘Ship to starboard!’ cried the lookout, sending Finch and Dakkar scurrying over to the other side of the ship.
‘Look lively, men!’ Blizzard bellowed from the quarterdeck. He limped over to starboard and pulled open his telescope.
Sailors ran to and fro. Some hurried to the cannon that lined the deck; others scrambled down below.
‘Is she American?’ Dakkar asked, clambering up the steps to Blizzard.
‘Hard to tell, lad,’ Blizzard murmured. ‘I can’t make out her colours yet but we can’t be too careful. We must get ready for a fight.’
‘I’ll need a weapon then,’ Dakkar said, narrowing his eyes at the horizon.
‘Of course – I didn’t expect you to be cowering in the hold, Prince!’ Blizzard laughed, and patted Dakkar on the back. ‘Go with Finch and choose your weapons.’
‘Come with me, lad,’ Finch said, grinning.
Dakkar followed Finch down to the main deck, where marines were giving out swords, pistols and powder.
‘Arm the pirates too,’ Blizzard called over the crowd. ‘They’ll fight for their lives as well as any.’
Soon, Dakkar stood among the anxious mob, their swords clinking, lead balls rattling down musket barrels.
‘What’s the situation, lookout?’ Blizzard called up to the man on top of the mast.
‘She doesn’t seem to be paying us much attention, sir,’ the lookout cried back. ‘She’s got her stern to us. Travelling away, she is, sir!’
Dakkar squinted at the distant speck. In the dying twilight it was hard to tell, but he thought it was getting smaller.
Silence fell over the crew as they stood on the deck, willing the ship to vanish over the horizon. Finally, Blizzard snapped his telescope shut.
‘Stand down, men,’ he shouted. ‘It looks like we struck lucky today!’
A relieved murmur spread among the sailors but Dakkar frowned and laid a hand on Finch’s arm.
‘What’s that noise?’ Dakkar said.
‘What noise?’ Finch replied, looking puzzled. ‘Can’t hear anything, lad.’
The noise felt familiar to Dakkar. A clicking and whining sound.
The whole ship shuddered and the crew fell silent again. A hideous creaking groan rattled through the ship’s timbers and suddenly the deck began to tilt.
Men scurried out of the hatches below, soaking wet, their eyes wide in terror.
‘We’ve hit something, cap’n!’ yelled one of the men. ‘We’re going down!’
The whole deck flew into chaos. Men scrambled to get the lifeboats down as the deck tilted even more. The port side of the ship began to vanish into the water.
‘Come on, Dakkar,’ Finch cried, clambering into a rowing boat.
But Dakkar could see a familiar shape moving down below in the water. And what was that sound?
Something hard punched him in the back and Dakkar spun round to see Slater’s manic face above him.
‘Nothing but bad luck, that’s what you are!’ Slater screamed, bringing his foot down hard on to Dakkar’s chest.
Dakkar windmilled his arms but he couldn’t stop himself stumbling backward across the slippery deck and he plunged headlong into the icy cold water.
Chapter Ten
Evil Twin?
Darkness had fallen completely now and the chill of the sea seeped into Dakkar’s bones, numbing him. He shivered, treading water and listening for any clue as to where the lifeboats had gone. They had circled, the men rowing and Blizzard calling out names, but Dakkar’s voice was nothing more than a hoarse croak. Every now and then, he heard shouts but they seemed increasingly distant. Here and there spars of wood drifted around in the eddying current left by the sinking ship. Dakkar grabbed one of these for support and rested against it.
I can’t stay here for ever, he thought, his teeth chattering with the cold. But which way to swim? I could end up swimming even further out to sea until I’m exhausted and . . . He tried not to think what would happen when he ran out of energy.
He slumped over the rocking spar of wood and closed his eyes. The cold gnawed at him, making him ache all over. Maybe I should just slip beneath the surface – swim to the bottom and join the fish. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about Oginski. Perhaps I’d see Mrs Evans again.
Tears stung his eyes as
he thought of Oginski, of his parents at home not knowing that he was going to die. Dakkar blinked and stared down into the water. Deep beneath him a yellow light glimmered. It was moving!
Dakkar watched in amazement as the light grew closer. A cloud of silver bubbles boiled to the surface. He could see the black outline of a craft. But the Makara sank, he thought. I saw it myself. There’s no way she could return to the surface.
The outline grew bigger. Dakkar’s vision began to blur with the cold. In what seemed like a dream, light flooded the sea around him and he thought he could make out the shape of the Makara – only bigger, more streamlined. He kicked his legs, desperate to get some life back into them and to fend off unconsciousness.
With a hiss and a splash, the Makara bounced out of the depths and rocked on the surface.
It’s a sea monster and it’ll swallow me whole, Dakkar thought wearily.
A round hatch opened at the front of the craft and Dakkar was aware of a human outline and the golden light from inside flashing on glass lenses. But the cold and fatigue finally took their toll. Gradually he slipped off the beam that had kept him afloat and into the welcoming waves.
‘Wake up!’
Something struck him hard across the face.
‘Wake up, boy, or do I have to smack you again?’ a voice snapped at him.
Dakkar’s cheek stung. His clothes were still sodden with seawater and his black hair clung to his face. He opened his eyes and stared around at the unfamiliar surroundings. Except somehow he recognised exactly where he was.
He could see the wooden walls of the Makara’s lower cabin, the brass levers, wheels and handles. Fish drifted past huge portholes set into the polished sides of what could only be the Makara. Only it wasn’t the Makara. It was too big.
A girl squatted in front of him. Freckles peppered her nose and cheeks. Her red, curly hair was tied in a wild ponytail, the fringe scraped back by a pair of goggles acting like a headband. She stared at him with sharp emerald eyes. Her long blue dress reminded Dakkar of the ladies bathing in the sea at Lyme Regis. But his eyes didn’t linger on the girl for long. Instead, he blinked at the scene behind her.
