Captain James Hook and the Curse of Peter Pan (22 page)

Peter Pan flew over the forecastle deck.
 
He swooped between the stays and coiled once around the bowsprit before darting out over the water.
 

I cursed and stormed over to Long Tom.
 
The constant staccato of gunfire rang in my ears as I aimed the cannon after Peter Pan, just below the clouds.
 

Then everything stopped.
 
All thought, all action, even my breath.
 
There was nothing save for what I saw growing on the horizon, as green and bright as any emerald.
 
A slate-gray mountain jutted from its center and, from it, a sapphire waterfall played gently down its side.
 
Golden beaches rang the perimeter and dense forests huddled together beneath a sheet of mist.
   

Sounds faded in, but I couldn’t make them out.
 
There was a beat and a measure to them that made me believe it was speech, so I forced myself to listen.
 
Smee’s words shaped themselves into meaning.
 
“We can’t try that too many times.
 
We’re running low on gunpowder.”

“Quiet, Smee,” I said.

“Captain?”

“Quiet! Look.”

As the dark cloud of gun smoke cleared in front of us, I heard my boatswain’s gasp.
 
One by one, the crew was stricken with their first sight of Neverland Island.
 
Most men said nothing.
 
Others cursed or called to their gods for strength.
 

“Is that?” Billy Jukes asked from across the ship.

“It is,” I answered.
 
My chest swelled with something that would be called joy if it wasn’t rotted through with murderous intent.
 
I looked over to my first officer and gave the order.
 
“Mr. Jukes, set sail for Neverland.”

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About the Authors

Jeremiah Kleckner is a Language Arts teacher in a New Jersey public school.
 
When not grading papers or coaching wrestling, he enjoys singing, reading, writing, drawing, and spending time with his family.
 
@J_Kleckner JeremiahKleckner.com CynicalSciFi.com

Jeremy Marshall works at a private special needs school in New Jersey. Jeremy has always had a love of writing. In his spare time you can find him creating another story idea, riding his motorcycle, or spending time with his wife, Lori Marshall.
 

Acknowledgments

There were several people who helped make this book a possibility.
 
We would like to thank our editors (in alphabetical order) Roy Marshall, Laurence Sanders, and Robert Shearer.