‘Come on, you lot, I want this repaired by morning. We have to get after that cargo ship.’ There was a big overbearing character on the deck, out of focus for Caleb to get any real detail. He was bellowing orders and Caleb presumed he was the captain. There was a crew of about ten that he could make out in the semi-light. The ship was nestled on a jetty and tethered by two ropes. It was a fine vessel. It had a huge balloon above it that gave the whole thing lift. Also, it was made in the shape of an old galleon from centuries ago.
‘That’s it, men, almost finished. Good job fixing the balloon. There’ll be plenty to drink after you complete the job… NOW GET ON WITH IT!’ he bellowed; his voice boomed through the tunnels. The crew seemed to jerk back in fear. This captain was a heavy presence.
Caleb took a look around and noticed that things were stacked near to him. There were supplies on the jetty waiting to be put on board. Further back again was a fire set on a plinth of a flat rock, which had been hewn into shape by time. This must be where they enjoy a drink and relax, Caleb surmised.
Suddenly something else caught his eye. There was movement from the rocks further back – a figure that could not be seen by the thieving crew. And Caleb recognised him straight away… it was Red. He needed to get his attention but didn’t want to give away his own position and let the captain know he was being spied on.
Red seemed to look beyond the pirates to a place high up on the rocks. There was a cage of sorts set on a ledge. Caleb could just about make out what was inside. It looked like a man, huddled up in the back. What was Red going to do? He would surely get himself caught if he tried to rescue him. Caleb had to get his attention. The wizard searched around the ground and found some pebbles by his feet. He picked up two – they were each about the size of a grape.
He weighed one up in his hand, aimed and tossed it towards Red’s direction. It cracked against the boulder just behind him and bounced out of sight. Red immediately ducked and hid. The pirates were unconcerned by the sound; they’d probably heard the sounds of the cave a million times. Caleb was just about to throw another when Red popped his head up. The boy saw Caleb and a big smile beamed on his face. He put his finger urgently to his lips for Red to keep quiet. He motioned with a wave of his hand for Red to join him. Red understood and kept himself below the height of the rocks and scrambled to where Caleb was waiting. Red hugged Caleb as if he hadn’t seen him for years.
‘The others are outside. Are you all right?’ Red nodded vigorously. ‘Right, follow me.’
‘What about the prisoner?’ Red looked really concerned. He recalled the day he’d been taken to Skytraz; it stuck to his memory like mud on a blanket. ‘We can’t just leave him there to die. We have to break him out,’ the boy insisted with deep concern.
‘We can’t do anything at this moment, Red. We have to work out what we’ve got to do. Come on, let’s go back to the others and build a plan,’ Caleb said, and the two of them made their way back outside to the delight of Rhidian and Rebus.
Chapter 18
Skyward
They were soon all together once more and even Rebus looked pleased to see the young lad.
‘You all right, Red?’ Rhidian asked after he’d hugged him. ‘You scared us, lad.’
‘Here.’ Rebus held out a bottle of water and Red grabbed and swallowed hard.
‘Take it easy, boy, we don’t have much left,’ Caleb said. After he’d had a drink, Rebus gave him an apple.
‘What happened? How did you get here?’ Rhidian was intrigued to know.
‘All I remember,’ he said as he took a couple of breaths in between chomping on the fruit, ‘is falling off our ship and landing in the sea.’
‘How did you manage?’ Caleb probed.
‘I was so shocked at hitting the cold water that I swam as best as I could to the shoreline.’ Red took another bite out of the apple.
‘It was dark though. How did you know where the shore was?’ Rebus interjected.
‘I don’t know, I just swam and the next thing I knew I was lying on dry ground,’ Red recalled.
‘It must have been further down the mountain. What happened next, Red?’ Rhidian pressed. All three of them stood listening to his tale.
‘I got up and walked through the trees until I eventually found a stream,’ he said. ‘I drank some water and heard voices.’
‘And then, what next?’ the interrogation from the men continued. Red didn’t speak for a moment or two while he swallowed the last of the apple.
‘I was going to show myself and ask for help, but I heard one of them mention our ship and that scared me.’ Red said, his expression intense.
‘What did they say?’ Rhidian asked, totally engrossed with the conversation.
‘Well, one voice said that Captain Jacobs couldn’t wait to get us and rob us of our supplies. But they needed to repair their ship first. Then someone else said Captain Jacobs was going to kill all the crew once they did catch up with us.’ Red looked nervous as he spoke.
‘What are we going to do?’ Rhidian was the first to put the question forward.
‘Our ship is damaged beyond repair,’ Caleb said truthfully.
‘We have to take theirs.’ Rebus said the words and looked through to them.
‘Wh-at?’ Red’s face went pale.
‘That’s going to take some doing, Rebus,’ Caleb said and licked his lips.
‘How many are there?’ Rhidian asked.
‘At least ten,’ Caleb and Red said in unison.
‘B-but, what about the prisoner?’ Red stammered.
‘Prisoner? What prisoner?’ Rebus questioned. ‘No one mentioned anything about a prisoner.’
‘There’s someone locked up in a cage in there too,’ Caleb revealed sheepishly. ‘Sorry, I forgot to say. I couldn’t make out if it was a man or a woman. The poor thing was cowering right at the back.’
‘We can’t worry about anyone else. We have to get that ship as quickly as we can and get out of this place,’ Rebus grunted. ‘If we try and do a rescue mission, it could jeopardise our own escape.’
‘We have to help whoever is in there,’ Red pleaded. ‘You can’t leave someone to die.’
‘Hold on, are we doing this tonight?’ Rhidian cut in. Caleb looked serious and tired.
‘The captain said they had to get the ship ready for the morning. And I think it was almost completed. The only chance we have is to take it tonight. Once they’ve filled themselves with whisky, they’ll fall asleep and we can have the upper hand. If we don’t, they’re bound to find our ship once they’re in the air. Then,’ he paused, ‘they’ll eventually find us,’ Caleb said.
‘We’ll need a plan then,’ Rhidian interjected, scratching his head.
‘The plan is we go back inside, hide and strike when they’re sleeping, like Caleb said,’ Rebus repeated.
‘What about the prisoner?’ Red pressed.
‘We’ll see what we can do, but no promises,’ Rebus continued, feeling disillusioned by the whole thing. Time was wasting and they still weren’t anywhere near finding Obsidian.
‘We may have to take the prisoner with us,’ Rhidian continued. ‘If whoever is in there sees us leaving without them, they might raise the alarm.’ Rebus creased up his face and then pondered the situation for a moment.
‘You might be right, Rhidian. Red, we’ll rescue your friend, but we don’t even know why that prisoner has been locked up. Maybe he or she is a murderer?’ Rebus exclaimed.
‘I doubt it. They’re probably the murderers, that person is just an innocent victim, like us,’ Red said.
‘Enough talking, we have to go and hide inside, otherwise our chance maybe lost,’ Caleb said with authority. They all agreed – it was a plan. Caleb led the way and the others followed behind, groping in the dark again. By the time they’d entered the second cave, the pirates were already sitting around the fire, laughing and drinking. One or two were even squabbling amongst themselves.
Caleb and the others filed
in one-by-one and hid in the same place that he’d done when he first went inside. They settled there for what felt like hours – waiting – waiting – waiting. Cramp set in on Red’s leg and he almost screamed out in pain. It was only when Rhidian stretched his leg out and Caleb clamped a hand over his mouth that the cramps subsided and Red relaxed. The rowdy crewmen eventually burned themselves out and the howls diminished into rattled snoring and farting, which echoed throughout the cave.
‘It’s time,’ Caleb whispered and Rebus nodded. Red and Rhidian’s nerves were on edge; they hated the idea, but there was no other way. The engineer looked at Red, who tentatively peered back and rolled his eyes. The lights had mostly dimmed and the roaring fire had burned down to a yellow-blue glow. It sparked and spat the sap from the remains of the scorched wood that settled in the embers.
‘Are they all by the fire?’ Caleb whispered as they stood up.
‘Shhh, there’s no knowing,’ Rebus hissed back.
The four of them quietly walked past the sleeping bodies and towards the boat. There were a couple of low burning oil lamps that offered a dim view of the scene. Red looked up and saw that it actually was a man in the cage. He moved towards the bars and signalled to Red with a wave of his hand. Red tugged at Caleb’s shirt and pointed towards the figure.
‘He can see us,’ he gushed. The man was more of a silhouette but was definitely pointing to something. There glinting on a nail was a key.
By now, Rebus and Rhidian had walked along the gangplank and were boarding the ship. Rhidian looked up and the balloon was fully gassed up. Last time he had seen it, it was punctured.
‘Do you think you can run this thing?’ Rebus spoke quietly.
‘I think so. We’ll have to do the same as we did at Skytraz Prison – float away quietly at first, then start the motor,’ Rhidian said as he made his way to the navigation room. There was no one on board the ship, to everyone’s relief. Why would there be? Rhidian thought. They were inside a secret cave – he and the wizards had only come across it by accident.
‘Caleb, we have to help him,’ Red insisted, and craned his neck to look again at the prisoner.
‘All right, I’ll come with you,’ Caleb agreed, ‘but we have to be quick. We could be found out at any moment.’ They walked past the sleeping crew again and climbed to the top.
‘Get the keys,’ Caleb whispered. The wizard edged closer to the enclosure and looked at the man inside. He couldn’t make out much, but what he could see was a thin-framed body with sad eyes staring back.
‘Please help me,’ he squeaked in a dry voice. Red hurriedly clambered up to the key and snatched it off the nail. But he didn’t grasp the ring properly, and it slipped from his hand. The key dropped to the ground and the tinkling sound rang out a warning. Caleb urgently looked at Red, gritted his teeth and dived down behind the cage. Red flattened himself to the ground as best he could. Both Rebus and Rhidian realised what had happened and hid on the deck. The prisoner eased back into the shadows of his cage.
Two pirates blinked open their eyes and sat up. They looked around the cave – they were still half asleep. A wry smile came to one when he saw a quarter bottle of rum on its side next to him. He grabbed it and swallowed. The other snatched it off him and sunk the dregs. They both slumped back into a drunken coma.
The raiding party surfaced again. Rebus and Rhidian worked on the ship and Red got back up and sheepishly approached Caleb, who was looking at him with unblinking eyes. He handed him the keys and the prisoner waited in anticipation. Caleb toyed with the lock – there were a couple of blunt clicks until it released. As quietly and slowly as possible, he pulled gently on the iron door. It let out a slow, high-pitched yawn, but to everyone’s surprise it didn’t wake any of the crew. At last the man was released. He stepped out and shakily straightened himself up. He was thin and dirty. He let out a huge stretch, as if he’d been in a cramped position for a long time.
‘Are you coming with us?’ Caleb asked.
‘Yes, please,’ he replied politely, his voice hollow.
‘Come on,’ Red and Caleb said, and carefully led him to the ship. Soon they were all on board and furiously worked to get the vessel unhitched from dock.
‘Pull in the gangplank and release the ropes,’ Rebus ordered in a high-pitched whisper. Red and Caleb pulled in the long wooden plank and threw off the thick tethers that held the ship in place. Soon the vessel began to rise. The ship, though, jerked and was yanked back towards the jetty. It hit the side with a clang that shook the whole wooden structure. The sound and vibration was enough to wake anything asleep or dead.
‘What’s happening?’ Rebus screeched, not caring to whisper any more; it was too late for that. The pirates were shaken from sleep and trying to work out what was happening. Red noticed a rope that they’d missed, still attached to the stern.
‘There, look, I’ll get it!’ Red screamed.
‘Release it now!’ Rebus bellowed. Red ran over to try and unloop it, but the ship was pulling away again and the rope was taut. The pirates were on their feet now and grappling for their weapons.
‘I c-can’t – it’s too tight,’ Red screeched, straining. Caleb raced over to give him a hand. Shots were fired and bullets ricocheted, taking small chunks out of the ship’s timbers. The boy and the wizard frantically tugged at the rope, but it was no use as the ship again was yanked back. Bullets were thick and fast coming from all directions.
‘Release the bloody rope,’ Rebus cursed. ‘HURRY!’
Caleb and Red saw their chance when the rope went slack for a few seconds. They pounced and lifted it over the metal hook. The ship was free again and began to float skywards.
Rhidian and Rebus were at the control panel. The room itself was bigger than the Cloud Hopper and surprisingly clean. There were the usual knobs and dials and Rhidian found the starter.
‘Let’s get out of here!’ Rhidian shouted urgently.
‘Start her up!’ Rebus screamed. Rhidian did as he was told and the engine, to their delight, burst into life first time of asking. The propeller started to spin and when Rhidian pushed the throttle forward it picked up speed. Two pirates managed to run and jump on the ship – a third tried the same and missed. He fell and the scream eventually faded to nothing.
The prisoner, Caleb and Red were the only ones left to defend the ship. The pirates rushed at them, armed with daggers.
‘Get back, Red, I’ll deal with this,’ Caleb commanded. He lifted his arms and showed the attackers his palms. He whispered something as they approached. Red and the stranger noticed that a light had formed in his hands. There was a burst of energy from the wizard and the two pirates were propelled straight over the side, and into oblivion.
‘Everybody get down,’ Rebus shouted, as the bullets flew from below – some lodged into the timbers but had a stray bullet pierced the balloon? The sudden thrust of the engine allowed the vessel to lift at speed high into the sky. The sounds of gunfire quickly diminished as the ship finally floated out of range. They were free!
Chapter 19
Slipstream
‘Is there any damage to the balloon?’ Rebus called out as he exited the control room, concern etched on his face. Red and Caleb craned their necks to examine the material as best as they could. There were lights to help them. There was also an array of lamps all along the sides of the vessel. They checked around the whole thing.
‘It’s still fully inflated,’ Red shouted from the stern, ‘as far as I can see. I assume it would already start to deflate if there was a puncture and we would be free-falling.’
‘Yes, it looks fine this end, too.’ Caleb was at the bow and scrutinised every angle, ‘I can’t see any of the material losing shape,’ he said.
‘It looks good here, too,’ the timid voice of the stranger called from the centre of the deck.
‘Phew, that was close,’ Rebus gasped, and leaned over the side and looked down at the pinpricks of diminishing light. ‘That could have been a dis
aster,’ he mumbled.
‘It very nearly was,’ Red whispered to himself, with the key drop incident still fresh in his mind.
‘Everything is fine,’ Caleb relayed to Rhidian, as he walked into the navigation room. Rhidian felt relieved, and as the vessel rose higher it lifted out of the cave opening and the engineer steered it to their original course.
‘Would you like to wash and get some clean clothes?’ Red asked the stranger as they stood on deck. The old man looked pathetic – skinny, dirty and tired.
‘Oh, yes, please,’ he answered gratefully.
‘I’m sure there should be something on board to suit you. We’ll take a look below,’ Red said, and led the way. ‘Follow me.’ The old man took a couple of steps and wobbled. Red turned and saw this, then quickly moved to his side to help. ‘Come on, we’ll take our time.’
‘Where you going?’ Rebus called after them as he, too, joined Rhidian and Caleb.
‘To get some clothes and stuff.’ Red shouted before he and the stranger disappeared below deck.
A little while later, Red and the man entered the control room – soon Red was gone again. The chitchat from Rhidian, Caleb and Rebus stopped abruptly. Rebus peered at the stranger.
‘Alba, is that you?’ Rebus said and looked totally shocked.
‘Yes, Rebus, it is,’ Alba retorted when he realised it was his old friend, and the both of them embraced.
‘You two know each other, I gather?’ Rhidian was intrigued.
‘He’s a wizard,’ Caleb cut in. ‘I felt it when he stepped out of the cage.’
‘Yes, I’m one of the wizards that escaped Valusha,’ Alba revealed, breaking away from the embrace.
‘Me, too, but I don’t think we’ve ever met,’ Caleb said.
‘There were a few of us,’ Alba responded with a shake of his head.
‘You look a little… tired,’ Rebus commented. ‘You’re getting old,’ he quipped, a smile curving his mouth.
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