Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas (3 page)

CHAPTER 5

t that moment, Jacob heard the tinkling of a bell. He saw the first mate, Mr. Scrounger, standing on the deck and shaking the bell. “All right, children,” he announced. “One of my duties is to make sure you kids have a good time. So this after-noon, we’re going to play shuffleboard and Ping-Pong.”

“I love Ping-Pong, I love Ping-Pong,” said Jacob. “Oh, those games are for the big kids,” said Mr. Scrounger with a glint in his eyes. “I’ve got something special for the smaller children.”

“Come on, Marfa, Noah, and Emma. Let’s head for the games room!” said Daniel.

So the big kids ran off, leaving Jacob and Cindy behind. Mr. Scrounger steered them forward. “This way, you two. Let’s go and have some extra-special fun.” He pushed them through a small metal door and shooed them down a winding iron staircase. They walked across the lower deck, where the sleeping cabins were, through another metal door, and down into the belly of the ship. It began to get warm. Jacob’s skin felt clammy. A grinding noise grew louder and louder; thumps and clangs added to the din.

“Are you sure that children are allowed down here?” Cindy asked.

“Of course I’m sure,” said Mr. Scrounger, who wasn’t smiling any longer. “Are you telling me that you aren’t having a grand time? Here’s the last door. Look out now, there will be a blast of hot air when I open it. But it’s nothing to worry about!”

Mr. Scrounger grasped the handle of the door with both hands and pushed with all his might. The door opened, and an awful, hot, sooty blast struck them all in the face. “Hurry up, I can’t hold this door all day!” growled Mr. Scrounger. Jacob grimaced as he and Cindy went through the door, followed by Mr. Scrounger. The door slammed behind them.

They were in the enormous engine room. Here, great wheels turned and iron shafts chugged up and down. In the center stood the engine that ran the ship. Its door was open and giant red flames could be seen inside. Beside the engine was a mountain of shining, black coal, and standing on top of the coal was a huge man. He wore dirty trousers and a ripped T-shirt. His big face strained with effort as he threw a shovelful of coal. When the coal hit the flames, it made them roar even higher.

Mr. Scrounger put his hands around his mouth and shouted. “Morgenbesser! Come here!” But the man couldn’t hear over the noise of the engine. “Morgenbesser!”

This time the huge man stopped. He turned with a frown. When he saw them, he raised his shovel and plunged it into the pile of coal, leaving it standing upright. He took one big stride after another until he reached them and came to a stop, crossing his massive arms. Jacob felt his knees shaking. Both he and Cindy took a step back.

“What is it?” the giant man said in a deep voice.

“Here are two helpers for you. Jacob Two-Two and Cindy. Put them to work – and don’t go easy on them. Do you understand?”

Morgenbesser looked at the two children and smiled. “I understand,” he said.

Mr. Scrounger laughed as he turned around, pulled open the door, and let himself out. Jacob and Cindy were now alone with the huge man. Jacob felt Cindy nervously take his hand.
Be brave
, Jacob told himself.

“Hello, Morgenbesser,” Jacob managed to squeak out. “It’s nice to meet you, nice to meet you.”

Morgenbesser stared at them harder. He put his tremendous hand into his trouser pocket and brought it out again. He held out his fist and slowly opened his fingers.

“Would either of you like a piece of gum?”

Jacob looked down at Morgenbesser’s open hand. In his palm rested two wrapped squares of Pinko-Winko Extra-Stretch Bubble Gum, which happened to be Jacob’s favorite. He wasn’t sure if he should take it, but Cindy whispered to him, “It would be most impolite to refuse.” They each took a piece. The wrapper was smudged with coal dust, but inside the gum was fresh. Jacob popped it into his mouth.

“Thank you,” Jacob said. “Are you going to make us shovel coal now? Are you?”

For the first time, Morgenbesser smiled. “I’m supposed to do whatever Mr. Scrounger tells me. But I don’t like him very much. He isn’t a nice man. No doubt he isn’t putting the big kids to work because the parents would believe them if they told. He thinks they won’t believe you. But I would enjoy just having your company. It gets awfully lonely down here by myself. You don’t happen to like playing checkers, do you?”

“I do like checkers. I do,” Jacob said.

“So do I. And I’m really good,” said Cindy.

“Then follow me.” Morgenbesser led them to the other side of the engine room. There was a small table made from wooden boards, with three barrels placed around it. Morgenbesser had used a piece of coal to draw a checkerboard on top of the table. He used pennies and nickels for playing pieces. The three of them took turns playing the game. Cindy
really
was good. She beat Morgenbesser eight times and Jacob five times. Jacob beat Cindy twice and Morgenbesser four times, so he didn’t mind. While they were playing, Jacob noticed a ring on Morgenbesser’s finger. On the ring were the letters WWWL. Jacob knew what those letters stood for – the Wacky World Wrestling League.

“Were you a wrestler? Were you a wrestler?” Jacob asked excitedly.

“Yes, I was,” Morgenbesser said. “But I didn’t like throwing people up in the air and slamming them and stomping on them. So I had to quit.”

“Do you know The Hooded Fang? Do you know him?”

“Sure I do. He’s a very sweet guy, although he doesn’t like it if you try to get mushy. We had two wrestling matches. He won the first and I won the second, so we tied. Oh, goody, I can jump three of your pieces!”

Morgenbesser told Jacob and Cindy that they shouldn’t trust Mr. Scrounger. Lately, the first mate seemed to be up to even more no-good than usual. He advised them to keep an eye out for anything odd. “If you see anything suspicious, come and tell Morgenbesser,” said their new friend.

“We will, we will,” Jacob said. And because he liked Morgenbesser so much, he let him win the next game.

CHAPTER 6

ust before it was time for dinner, Morgenbesser smeared coal dust on Jacob’s and Cindy’s hands and faces. When Mr. Scrounger returned, he found them busily shoveling coal into a wheelbarrow. “Well, Morgenbesser, I can see these two have had some real sailor’s experience! Now come along, you two, and get washed up. We can’t have your parents see you like this.”

When Jacob and Cindy entered the dining room, there wasn’t a smudge of coal dust on them. Mr. Scrounger had made sure they scrubbed their hands and faces with harsh soap. Jacob was glad to return to
his family, and he couldn’t wait to tell them about how mean Mr. Scrounger was. The dining room was enormous, with a high ceiling and real crystal chandeliers, and an orchestra was playing a waltz. Jacob watched the Bubov Brothers balance plates and wine glasses on their noses to entertain the other guests at their table. He listened to Percy Swishbottom argue with his dummy over who should get the maraschino cherry in their drink. He observed Mr. Peabody demonstrate a ukulele that squirted water when it was strummed.

Jacob’s family sat at the captain’s table. So was Cindy’s mother, who immediately called her over. “Cynthia Francis Louise Snootcastle, you come right here. Sit down at once. It shows ill breeding to be late. I expect such behavior from your little friend here, but not from you. As you can see, we have been seated with your new friend’s family. If I had known, I would not have pleaded for seats at the captain’s table.”

Jacob sat down between his parents. “There you are, Jacob,” his father said. “Having such a good time that you forgot what time it was, I suppose.”

“Yes, you must have been having fun,” Captain
Sparkletooth said. “You and Cindy are the only children who did not have their photographs taken with me. Everyone considers a photograph with me to be the most precious souvenir of the voyage. But don’t be disappointed, we can take them tomorrow.”

“But I only had fun because of Morgenbesser. Because of Morgenbesser!” Jacob said. “Mr. Scrounger wanted Cindy and me to work in the engine room.”

“The engine room?” Captain Sparkletooth said. “That’s a dangerous place. Children are not permitted there.
I’m
not permitted there. You must have a very good imagination, Jacob Two-Two.”