Circle Sea 1: The Pirate Maze

Chapter Seventeen: Gannets' Island

After they had pulled the small boat up onto the sand, Jim was able to have a proper look at the beach.  It was really just a small cove in which sand had gathered. There were a few iron rings which had been cemented into holes, and Darnell used these to tie the boat up and make it safe. Jim also noticed some steep and uneven steps cut into the rocks. This tiny bay had clearly been used as a landing site before.

‘Do you know where we are?’ Polly asked as she looked around.

Darnell nodded.

‘I’m pretty sure,’ he replied thoughtfully. ‘If I’m right, we’re not far from the castle - or the bay where the Unicorn will’ve made anchor.’

He finished tying the boat up and lifted his large black bag from the boat. He had sorted it carefully while they had been at sea, removing some items and stowing them carefully. Jim hadn’t kept track but hoped the pistol was in there somewhere.

‘What next?’ He asked.

‘Well, I reckon we’ll need a word with him first...’

He cocked his head in the direction of the stone steps where a tiny figure was climbing down towards them.

Darnell didn’t seem at all worried by this, so they watched as the newcomer descended to the beach and walked across the sand.

‘Mike?’ Polly gasped.

The figure looked up uncertainly. It was indeed the young cabin boy from the Unicorn. His eyes twinkled in the darkness and his many pockets were bulging with tools and food.

‘Hi,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s just me.’

‘What are you doing here?’ asked Jim as Darnell looked on with a smile on his face. ‘Arn’t you with Mercy and his pirates?’

‘I should be, yes,’ the boy agreed. ‘They bought me after all - but I saw you coming after us and I wanted to warn you.’

‘Warn us?’

‘Yes,’ he said urgently. ‘You don’t want to mess with these people. You really don’t. They won’t think twice about... harming you... if you get in their way.’

Darnell took a step towards him.

‘What do you want, Michael?’ he asked kindly.

The boy looked up at him with hope in his eyes.

‘I want to be free, sir,’ he said simply. ‘As far back as I can remember I’ve belonged to someone, and I’ve...’

He looked down briefly and then stared straight into the teacher’s eyes.

‘I just want to be free, sir,’ he said again.

Darnell looked back at him and smiled.

‘No-one can make you free,’ he said quietly. ‘You’ve got to claim that for yourself, so... what do you want, Michael?’

The boy stared up at him again.

‘I want to stop them,’ he said quietly but firmly. ‘I want to stop them from causing any more trouble, and I want to take that girl back home. That’s what I want to do, sir.’

Darnell nodded.

‘Good,’ he said as he took Mike’s hand and shook it. ‘I think we can help each other then.’

Mike was clearly delighted. He smiled and it was a truly impressive grin. His clean white teeth shone in the darkness and his brown eyes twinkled. He seemed to grow in height as he pulled himself upright. His nervousness melted away as something inside him began to change.