Captain Kittyhawk & The Cloud Wars

Chapter 14/Gliding on the breeze to Torganda

The next morning, Nathan towed Fox Oswald's plane out into the sea, waved and put his throttle on full. The rope became tight and the two sea planes, bumping over the water. The skin of Fox Oswald's plane had burnt away, leaving both of them exposed to the sea spray. Nathan's plane was designed for speed not towing so he kept running into the sea pulling Fox Oswald's boat like a water skier. Just when Trixie thought that they were going to be towed all the way to Torganda, Fox Owald's plane took off. Soon they flew like a kite behind Nathan's plane. Then Nathan pulled up very slowly they climbed into the sky. Trixie had grabbed her flying hat with the goggles and was glad of them. The wind cut through the skeleton of the plane and felt it like some one was tugging at her cheeks. They seemed to climb most of the morning. Eventually they were so high even some of the clouds were under them. The world looked so tiny from up here. Everything that was big seemed so small. Even the occasional ship seemed like a pin in the ocean. Trixie was freezing. Then she saw Nathan waving his arm pointing North. Fox Oswald waved back.

'Cut the Rope' he shouted.

'What?' she shouted the screaming wind. Fox Oswald pulled out a large knife. He waved it at the rope and handed it to her.

'Okay' shouted Trixie.

The rope was tied at the nose of the half burnt plane. What was left of the half burnt deck felt very weak. Then suddenly Trixie's foot fell through the floor. She held her breath and stood still. The floor held and Trixie lent carefully forward to cut the rope. It took longer than she thought but suddenly the rope snapped. The plane shock and Trixie grabbed on to some of the frame which crumbled in her hands. She ended up lying on the floor scared she might slip out on the plane. She watched as Fox Oswald turned the plane north, to the direction Nathan was pointing.

Nathan had towed the plane to as high as is engine would take them. Fox Oswald's plane and that was now a glider. With no engine and in the very thin air it was almost silent. Fox Oswald moved the plane very gently, being so high it felt like she was flying in a dream. Trixie couldn't resist looking over the side and thinking this was what it was like to be an angel. Fox Oswald flew the plane as carefully as possible and eventually Trixie could see a huge island in the distance. They had dropped along way and Trixie didn't think they would reach the island before they reached the sea. After a while even Fox Oswald must have worried about this.

'Find something that floats and tie your self to it' he shouted.

Trixie look around there wasn't much she could use. She found a bag that Kitty had bought back at Mountsorrel. Looking inside she found a balloon which she blowup and stuffed back into the bag.

They carried on gliding getting closer and closer to Torganda. It got so big that Trixie was able to make out some buildings.

'That place doesn't look that evil' Trixie said about that place.

'Believe me girl, that place is very high on that list'

The harbour seemed full of seaplanes big and small. It was was still some distance away but they were getting very close to the sea.

'hang on' shouted Fox Oswald.

'What?' shouted Trixie.

'I said hang on' said Fox Oswald.

'I can't hear what you're saying! I'm just going to hang on  okay?' Said Trixie.

The sea was too close now, Fox Oswald had to summon his skill as a pilot. The landing was slow and elegant, but even this was too much for the burnt frame of his plane. As they landed in the water the tail broke off. The flying boat skimmed over, getting closer to land. The left wing rippled and it's tip broke off as well. The plane started going in circles but soon completely broke up. Trixie ended up in the cabin which was now it's own little boat. She looked around for Fox Oswald but couldn't see him.

In Torganda a small plane broke away from the harbour and came towards them. It had a skull and cross bones on the tail, and four sets of large machine guns on the wings. It didn't take long for the plane to get to Trixie and a huge man with a bald head reached over. He had a ring through his nose and big tattoos on the side of his head.

'What be this then? 'he said pulling up to Trixie. 'be strange fishing these days says I. look at this sprat. And another over there' the pilot turn the engine up and taxied over to another part of the wreckage. Trixie had never been so glad when the bedraggled Fox Oswald was pulled out of the sea.

'Why I'll be a wet macrall if it isn't Fox Oswald' announced the pirate.

Fox seemed happy that he had been recognised.

'you've been to my bar then 'he asked'

'I did and I lost 1000 doubloons there' said the pirates in a angry voice. 'I reckon those tables are fixed' he added for a moment and then began to laugh. They hung onto the side as a pirate made his way back to the harbour.

They all got out and the pirate who saved them pulled a gun on them. Trixie tried to explain everything to them to him but the pirate didn't seem very interested. Trixie's original idea was the pirates would want to immediately rescue their captain but he didn't seem that bothered.

Take me to your captain said Fox Oswald to the pirate.

'and why would I do that when the slave camp is so close by' asked the pirate.

'This is why' said Fox Oswald pulling out a gold doubloon, 'I know where Captain Kitty's treasure is and I am willing to share it with whoever helps me get it'

The pirate stopped and thought moment.

'I reckon it's time for a drink anyway' said the pirate pointing another way.

Before her adventure Trixie had never thought hard about what a pirate port would be like. It was full of all kinds of people, all carrying guns, knives and cutlasses. Fighting there was so common that no one even bothered to look it going on. The streets were filthy. The buildings were decaying, and breaking apart. There were large numbers of bars stinking of bitter brewed beer. Pirates and towns folk staggered around half drunk. Trixie found her mouth like a sea bass in surprise. She had never seen so many animal heads in her life.

'Fox, why are there so many animal people here?' She asked looking at a squid headed man.

'When people are scared of you, piracy is one of the few jobs your well qualified to do' explained Fox.

'No wonder Kitty felt so comfortable here' said Trixie

The pirate pointed them up a cobbled street to the largest building in the town. It was the largest most vulgar bar in the thousand islands. At the door stood a large elephant headed man at the entrance, he seemed to know Fox Oswald.

The pirate with the gun guided them to the huge room full of tables and drunken pirates. He spoke to a changer with a snakes face and then pointed to the back. There at the back of the room was a large table surrounded by pirates.

'Make room, make room' shouted the pirate. The way opened and some very well dressed pirates stood back. Fox Oswald knew some of them. He greeted them by name and some even nodded in return. Behind the crowd was a large table and at its head was a man that made Trixie all most shudder with fear.