BEYOND THE LOOKING-GLASS: Book One in the BEYOND Series

by Rothwell, Gordon

  He placed his fingers to his lips, warning Aleeta to be as still as possible as they moved forward along the ship’s deck. They sneaked to a hatchway and went down into a darkened corridor below. It appeared to lead to the captain’s quarters.

  He could smell the stench of bilge water and rotting timbers, as they inched along in the blackness. Aleeta took hold of his hand. Her grip was achingly strong. And she was trembling. He wasn’t sure if it was the anticipation of seeing her kids again, or just plain fear.

  “Aye, messmates,” a gruff man’s voice roared from the half-opened door to the captain’s cabin. “We have a sworn dooty to these here young’uns, by thunder. We’ll jest take ‘em along to the Isle of Treasure. An’ no mortal man dare harm a hair o’ their wee heads, by gum. Ye have Long John Silver’s promise on that.”

  Kellen peered through the door, despite Aleeta’s efforts to hold him back. It was Long John Silver all right: hawk-nosed, with a crutch under one arm, and a cocky green parrot perched high on one shoulder.

  “Awwk…pieces of eight…pieces of eight,” the parrot squawked.

  “Aye,” Silver replied. “That’s right, Cap’n Flint. And we best be shipping out at first light. And then it’s on to claim our rightful booty.”

  Kellen felt a sharp, quick stab in his side. He looked down to see an ancient flintlock pistol poking is ribs. And there was a swarthy old seaman on the other end of the weapon. He smiled a toothless grin. “Who be ye, mate? And who be this wench? And what are ye two doin’ spying on Long John Silver an’ his lads?”

  “We’re sorry,” Kellen answered. “We weren’t spying.” He hesitated, trying to gather his thoughts. “I’m afraid that I could never explain it so you could understand, Mister, uh….”

  “Hands, sohr. Israel Hands at yer service. Now, if ye’d be so kind as to enter the captain’s cabin. If’n I won’t believe ye, mebbe old Long John will. Step lively, if ye please.”

  The grizzled pirate jammed the long barrel of his flintlock into Kellen’s midsection. Israel waved the two trespassers into the captain’s quarters to face Long John Silver. They followed the pirate’s directions and stepped in to accept whatever fate held in store for them.

  Kellen immediately spotted Tress and Jace sitting on a bench near the stern portals. The two were ravenously devouring a pile of fresh fruit in a hand-carved mahogany serving bowl.

  When the children saw Aleeta they leaped up and rushed into her outstretched arms.

  “Mommy, Mommy!” Tress exclaimed. ”We missed you so!”

  “Who be these two strangers, my little tykes?” Silver asked.

  “They’re our parents!” the kids shouted enthusiastically,

  Long John squinted at his visitors. He spoke to Kellen. “What do ye want with these here young’uns, lubber?”

  “We’ve been hunting for them. They’re our children and we love them very much. We’ve gone through a lot to get here, believe me.”

  “I bet you came to take us back to that awful school,” Jace said.

  “We hate it, Mommy,” Tress chimed in.

  “Children, we came because we love you,” Aleeta pleaded. “We were afraid you might be hurt.”

  “We’re not babies,” Jace replied. “We can take care of ourselves. Mr. Silver here treats us better than anyone at that stupid school ever did.”

  Tress spoke up with a quaver in her voice. “If you take us back to that horrid old school, they’ll punish us. Put us in that metal room with those wires on our heads, to make our minds right. Please, Mommy, don’t make us go back to that awful place again”

  Aleeta crossed over and knelt down next to Tress. She hugged her tightly. “Oh, my dear,” she said, “I’m so sorry. I never knew.”

  Kellen peered over at Long John Silver and his scowling pirates. They had been taking in the whole scene. “Wal, folks,” Long John said, “I think we’uns have a good pictoore of what these here tykes is running away from. Fer one, I sez no. Yer kiddies will stay aboard The Hispaniola. They’ll sail with me and my shipmates at dawn. To the Isle of Treasure. Wi’ or wi’out ye. Make up yer minds what ye decide to do by sun-up.”

  ~*~

  The bright moonlight shimmered on the lagoon waters like a silvery highway. Aleeta stood next to the schooner’s wooden railing at the schooner’s bow. The only sounds were the constant flapping of the canvas sails in the night breeze and the creaking of the ship’s rigging.

  “Standing there, you look like a mythical Norse goddess.” Kellen stepped out of the shadows into the glare of the moonlight.

  “I don’t feel very mythical. Only small and weak.”

  He placed his strong hands on her shoulders. She patted them, acknowledging her ex-husband’s concern.

  “You were strong enough to get us this far. I can still see the way you handled old Bill Sikes and that giant Jabberwock.”

  Aleeta smiled. “They got me mad.”

  “Yeah. I seem to recall that aspect of your nature.”

  Aleeta began to laugh, but it quickly dissolved into a sob. She tried to fight back her tears. “Oh, Kel, what can we do? I never thought about what would happen if the children didn’t want to go back with us.”

  “They’re kids, Allie. They don’t know what they want. Today, they want to sail off on a big adventure and play pirate. Who knows what’ll catch their fancy tomorrow.”

  He hugged Aleeta to him and she didn’t resist.

  “We’ve got to decide tonight, Kel. What do you think?”

  “I think there’s only one sensible solution. Go along with Long John and his pirates to Treasure Island. What’s waiting for us if we go back? I hate to think what. Falconer and his IPA goons have in store for us. Probably an all-expense paid vacation in one of their lovely re-education camp, or worse. They’re sure to take our kids away, and stick them in some kind of ghoulish rehabilitation facility.”

  She shivered. “I’m so frightened….”

  “Me, too. But we can’t give up. Not after we’ve come so far. When I was on that prison hell-ship I thought I was a goner for sure. But I survived. And we will, too. I promise.”

  “What if the chamber’s solar-powered generator fails? Or if the IPA police destroy the unit altogether?”

  “I’m willing to risk it, if you are.”

  “Oh, darling, I don’t know...”

  “We’ll be together as a family again. I say we can lick anything the fates throw at us. How about it?”

  She bit her lip, then smiled and nodded. “I don’t know how long we’ll have, dearest. But I say it doesn’t matter so long as we’re together. Let’s weigh anchor and sail for that Isle of Treasure in the morning.”

  Kellen kissed her and wrapped his arms about her in a tight bear hug.

  They stayed that way, as they looked out at the moon-streaked lagoon and the beckoning horizon they’d be heading for quite soon.

  ~*~

  FIFTEEN

  At dawn, Anton stumbled out of a tangle of jungle onto a stretch of white sandy beach. He stood staring at the schooner peacefully moored in the lagoon in front of him. He could just make out the ship’s name in the early morning light.

  The Hispaniola.

  Suddenly, boyhood images of pirates on the high seas flashed across his mind.

  Reaching into one of his pockets, he retrieved his miniature chip tracker. He flipped the “ON” switch. A loud beeping began to sound.

  They’re very close now.

  He figured they were most likely aboard the pirate vessel moored in the lagoon.

  He splashed some cold water in his face, and shook off his morning cobwebs. Then, he waded forward and began swimming out to the schooner.

  In minutes, he reached the vessel. He paddled over to a huge rusty anchor chain and slowly inched his way up it, hand-over-hand.

  When he stealthily climbed over the ship’s rail, he saw a beehive of sailor activity on deck. The schooner was preparing to sail. A lot of pirates were dashing around carrying gear and s
upplies. Others were scurrying up the schooner’s rigging like jungle monkeys. The climbers unfurled huge canvas sails and called to their mates below.

  Anton sneaked up behind a pirate staring up at the sails above him. In a flash, he swiftly put his hand over the startled man’s mouth, delivered a crushing blow to the head, and dragged the pirate’s limp body into the shadows.

  With the fallen pirate’s cutlass in hand, he moved cautiously along the ship’s railing. He eyed the entire scene before him with the trained eye of an experienced police officer.

  Little Tress was frolicking with her brother, Jace. Her parents were standing nearby talking to Long John Silver. The little girl playfully began climbing up on a lattice-work of ropes. She called out in glee and began to swing back and forth.

  He watched Tress, as he inched forward. Come to me child. You shall be the instrument of my victory.

  Like a deadly reptile, Anton struck!

  He leaped up and grabbed hold of Tress and dragged her down from her perch. He put the razor-sharp edge of his cutlass up against the girl’s naked throat.

  Tress cried out in terror. Everyone on deck whirled about as they heard the child’s anguished voice.

  Anton held Tress close to his body. She squirmed in his grasp and turned her head to look at her captor. He stared into the frightened child’s bright blue eyes. They were wide with fear. A few tears ran down Tress’s flushed cheeks.

  Anton looked over at Aleeta and Kellen. They had stunned expressions on their faces. He had them both at his mercy, and he was enjoying every moment.

  “Your daughter has enchanting eyes, my dear,” Anton said, with a touch of menace in his voice.

  “She has her father’s eyes,” Aleeta replied.

  “And her mother’s beauty as well,” he said, as he slid the wicked blade of the cutlass up and down the little girl’s cheek. “Let us hope she continues to stay that way.”

  The armed pirate crewmen began to move toward Anton with blood in their eyes.

  “Careful, gentlemen.” he snarled. “I warn you all against doing anything foolish at this moment.”

  “Anton,” Aleeta cried out. “Don’t hurt her!”

  “That depends on you and your pirate friends.” He waved his cutlass at Long John Silver. “You, Long John,” he snapped. “Have your men place all of their arms upon the deck. Quickly, now. I’m not a patient man.”

  Long John started to charge Anton. But Aleeta grabbed hold of his sleeve and stopped him.

  “Don’t do it,” she pleaded. “He’ll kill my daughter, or maim her. Do as he commands, for God’s sake.”

  Long John stared at Aleeta for a long moment. Then he motioned to his men. “Do as he says, messmates. I fear the scurvy dog means to do harm to our little Miss. And I fer one won’t let that happen, by thunder.”

  Anton watched the pirates dump their cutlasses and flintlock pistols on the deck with a resounding clatter. When the last weapon landed, he looked over at the young cabin boy, Jim Hawkins.

  “Young master Hawkins,” he called out. “You shall see that this pirate rabble is put under lock and key in the hold below. Get cracking! Do it now!”

  Young Hawkins led Long John Silver and his men to the hatchway leading to the crew’s quarters below the main deck. The grumbling pirates shuffled along, while giving Anton venomous glances and curses under their breath. In a few minutes, the deed was done. And the schooner’s deck was virtually empty.

  “Good work lad,” Anton told the cabin boy. He turned his attention to Aleeta and the others. “All right, Aleeta. If you and your family will kindly step down into that dinghy I saw as I came aboard. We have a long journey ahead of us. And I don’t intend to waste anymore time aboard this rust-bucket of a vessel.”

  Kellen stepped forward to face Anton.

  “Take me, Falconer. Let my family go. I’ve brought them nothing but grief and humiliation. They’re not guilty of anything. How about it?”

  “Sorry, Marlowe. No deal. I know my duty as an enforcing agent for the Government. You’ve both committed treason. And I’m duty-bound to return both of you to stand trial.”

  Aleeta walked toward Anton. He noted how the sunlight highlighted her flowing golden hair as she walked across the deck, the warmth of her big brown eyes.... How beautiful she is, he thought.

  She stood before him and smiled. “Anton, please....” she murmured. She placed a hand on his arm, moving close to him. He shook his head, as if to clear it. Suddenly, she brought up one of her knees and drove it sharply into his groin. He saw a blinding flash of light before his eyes and felt an unbearable pain between his legs.

  Anton fell to one knee. As he squinted across the sun-splashed deck he saw Aleeta falling back, clutching her two children close to her. A few feet away from her, Kellen grabbed a cutlass from the pile of pirate weapons lying on the deck.

  “You’re not taking us anywhere.”

  Anton slowly rose to his feet. He picked up his fallen cutlass and swiped it through the air a few times. “Very well, Marlowe. If it’s satisfaction you desire, I shall be more than happy to oblige.”

  Kellen moved out into an open space in the center of the deck.

  The two men began to circle each other like hungry wolves.

  Anton placed his cutlass blade up against his nose. And then pointed the tip of his weapon at his opponent. “En garde, my friend. Prepare to die.”

  “We’ll see about that, Falconer,” Kellen said, as he lunged at Anton.

  The two cutlass blades flashed in the bright sunlight. As the two men traded feints, thrusts and parries, the sound of steel on steel filled the morning air.

  He has no style, Anton thought, but he has courage. I need to end this quickly before he can gain any advantage.

  “Yield, Marlowe,” Anton shouted. “You’re no match for me.”

  “No way, cop.”

  Kellen grappled with Anton. He whacked away relentlessly with the hilt of his cutlass. This damned madman is trying to pound me to a bloody pulp, Anton thought. He must have picked up a few dirty tricks fighting with other prisoners. He shoved Kellen away from him. I must finish him now. I need a quick defeat and total humiliation.

  Anton attacked with a barrage of deadly blows and swipes. He could hear the hoarse rasp of his own breathing as he fought. It sounded like a man drowning. It’s now or never.

  Anton lunged forth. He felt his cutlass strike Kellen’s bare chest. The policeman could see crimson spurting out of his opponent’s wound.

  Time for the kill!

  ~*~

  SIXTEEN

  Kellen felt a searing pain, as the cutlass blade slashed across his bare chest. The agent held his cutlass high above his head for a brief second and rushed in for the kill.

  I can’t die, Kellen thought. Not here. Not like this. He blocked Anton’s blade with his. The two men were face to face. Kellen looked into his enemy’s ice-cold blue eyes that were just narrow slits filled with hate.

  Kellen broke free, swinging his blade like a club.

  Back off, you son-of-a-bitch. I won’t be defeated by you. I won’t fail my family this time.

  Kellen flailed away with chopping strokes never taught at any fencing school. They were brute force moves he’d seen old Jake Cardiff use to bludgeon opponents on that salvage ship.

  Anton was forced to give ground under such a constant rain of blows. Kellen kept it up. He could almost hear his heart pounding. He put his free hand to his chest. When he brought it up, he could see it was bright with blood.

  “You’re a loser, Marlowe,” Anton hissed. “You’ve always been one. Give up. At least you’ll leave this ship alive.”

  Kellen looked up at a spot above the agent’s head. A taut bunch of heavy ropes was connected to a small set of sails. Kellen jumped at the ropes, slashing at them with wild abandon. The sliced ropes gave way and the heavy canvas sail crashed down on Anton.

  Kellen ran to Anton’s fallen body. As the agent lay in a tangle of sail and se
vered ropes, Kellen leaned down and placed the point of his cutlass against Anton’s throat.

  “Do it, Marlowe,” Anton groaned. “Finish the job. If you’ve got the guts!”

  As Kellen prepared to plunge his cutlass down for the death blow, Aleeta touched his shoulder.

  “Don’t, Kel. You’re a better man than that.”

  Kellen looked up into Aleeta’s steady brown eyes. He hesitated for a brief moment.

  That was all Anton needed.

  In a catlike move, he pried himself loose and pounced. The two men became locked in a deadly struggle. But in the end, the policeman’s combat training won out. The agent wound up on top of Kellen’s chest.

  The tables had turned!

  It was Anton’s turn to deliver a death blow. He prepared to plunge his cutlass into Kellen’s naked throat.

  “Please,” a small voice wailed. “Please don’t kill my Daddy!” Tress. She stood a few feet away. Her blue eyes were bright with tears.

  Anton stared at the anguished child, and then down at the man lying beneath him. He looked into Kellen’s dark brown eyes.

  She has her father’s eyes. Aleeta’s voice echoed in Anton’s mind. Oh, my God. He let out a loud moan. He plunged the cutlass blade downward. It stuck, quivering, in the ship’s wooden deck.

  Anton slowly got to his feet. He approached Tress. She shrank away from him in fear. He reached out, pulled Tress into his arms, and wiped away her tears.

  “Don’t cry, little one. I wasn’t going to hurt your daddy. Fathers are important. They have to love their children, and do anything in the world to protect them and make them happy. Always remember that.”

  Kellen was up on his feet, looking relieved but wary. Anton released Tress and she ran to Kellen. He pulled her close.

  Anton’s face was impassive. “You two will be fine now. You’ve nothing more to fear from me.”

  “Is that true, Daddy?” Tress asked Kellen.

  He looked over at Aleeta. She nodded yes. Kellen scooped Tress up in his arms. She hugged him around the neck fiercely.