The Guardians of Island X (11 page)

Then she shook her finger at him. “But you can’t tell anyone.”

Admiral McCray opened his mouth as if to protest, then shut it, looking put out. Finally he asked, “Are there…Islanders in your crew?”

Surprised, Scarlet shook her head. “Of course not.”

The admiral frowned and looked at the ground.

They walked in silence for several minutes, he staring at the dirt and she at the tree canopy. Morning light was weaving through the leaves, bathing the birds and bugs in sunshine. The admiral looked up now and then to steal glances at Scarlet, but she pretended not to notice.

When he finally spoke, his voice was softer. “How long have you been living here?”

“A…while,” Scarlet said carefully.

“And you’re camped in that clearing back there?”

She nodded. Then a thought occurred to her. “Do you remember the place all the Islanders used to visit?” she asked. “It was a special place, with a certain feeling…”

He looked blank.

“Oh, you
must
remember it,” she insisted. “The grown-ups would harvest spices, and the children would play, and there was this particular feeling…”

His shook his head.

“But you used to—”

“I don’t remember it,” the admiral interrupted firmly.

Maddening grown-up
, Scarlet thought. She pressed on. “How could you forget? And while we’re on the topic, how could you go and camp in our old village?”

The admiral threw his hands up. “I just forgot! I’d completely forgotten what the old village looked like until you appeared and reminded me.”

Studying his face, Scarlet knew he was telling the truth. And it occurred to her that had she not worked so hard to reconnect with the island herself, she might not have recognized the village site, either. That made her even more annoyed.

“Well…why did you bring your men here in the first place?” she asked. “I mean, you must have known where you were going. Couldn’t you have picked another island?”

“Perhaps you’ve forgotten, Scarlet,” he said, “that I’m not ultimately in charge. I take orders, too. And I was ordered to bring the men here to scout for wood and spices and…whatever else we could find.”

“Well,” she sputtered, “couldn’t you have, I don’t know, steered them off course? That’s what I’d—”

She stopped as an intense feeling of distress cut through her brain. Panicky, like that pesky monkey. Well, he’d just have to wait.

“I hope you’re aware that there are pirates around,” said the admiral.

“Oh, we know,” she replied, then realized that he might have useful information. “Are your men keeping an eye on them?”

“Yes,” he said. “Although I doubt they’re much of
a threat to us. Not with old Captain What’s-his-name in charge.”

In spite of herself and the situation, Scarlet smiled. “He’s a few barrels short of a rum run. Thinks he’s as tall as his name is long.”

For what was likely the first time in years, the corners of Admiral McCray’s mouth twisted into the tiniest smile. “And he squints,” he added. “As if someone stole his spectacles.”

Scarlet gasped, forgetting her reservations at the sight of that smile. “You’re right! We did it ourselves, the time we raided the
Dark Ranger
to save Fitz. Pinched ’em right off his snout. Now Tim wears them every day and…” Scarlet stopped when she saw her father’s look of confusion. Scurvy! She could have kicked herself. “I mean…the time we raided their camp. To…save Fitz. Yes, he got himself captured, the clumsy oaf. But we saved him, no problem. Barely took a minute.”

“You raided their camp?” Admiral McCray’s mouth fell back into a frown. “What were you thinking?”

This is precisely why no grown-ups are allowed
, Scarlet thought, rolling her eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me. This isn’t a game. You and your little friends might have been safe on this island until now, but—”

“Father,” Scarlet interrupted, “we know how to fend for ourselves.”

“But—”

“No buts. I’ve been taking care of myself for three years.”

He opened his mouth to argue again, then shut it. They walked on in silence.

Finally he said, “Apparently the pirates think there’s treasure on the island. Rubies or something.”

Scarlet tried to look disinterested. “You don’t say.”

“Treasure. Hmph.” Her father frowned harder. “I personally wouldn’t care if there were a hundred treasures here. I’d move us out tomorrow if I could.”

Before Scarlet could jump in and encourage him to do just that, the creature in distress barged back into her brain. She rubbed her temples.
Deal with your brother yourself, Monkey
, she tried to tell him.
I’ve got my own family matters to take care of.

She watched her father trudge along beside her. He was being an old boar, no doubt about it. But when he’d smiled just now, he’d been the old father, if only for a second. Maybe, deep down, he could still remember?

Scarlet drew a breath. “When I came to this island, I couldn’t remember it, either. But then I searched inside myself, and everything started coming back to me. I remembered the village and the clearing. And I remembered my mother, too. I’d actually forgotten what she looked like.”

The admiral swallowed hard and said nothing, so Scarlet pressed on.

“And you, too, Father. I remembered how I used to sit with you while you carved the Islanders’ boats, and you’d make me those little wooden stars. You must remember
that
.”

When he finally spoke, his voice sounded strangled. “I don’t remember.”

Scarlet stopped. “Oh, come
on
—”

“I don’t. And what’s more, I don’t want to.”

“Well, I…” She couldn’t believe it. “You don’t have to be such a grump about it! I think it’s just awful that you won’t even try when—”

“Not another word,” he commanded. “I must go see to my men.”

“Fine then!” Scarlet cried. “Go!”

“Oh no! Not this time. You’re coming with me.”

“I most certainly am
not
!”

Scarlet tried to stare him down while mentally composing a list of all the things she’d rather do than go anywhere with him: 1) Eat an entire plate of raw oysters. 2) Memorize the Latin names of every plant on Island X. 3) Clean the long drop for an entire year. 4)…

Suddenly he stepped back as if he’d seen something truly frightening. “Fine. Fine then. I have to leave.” And he swung around and hurried off the way he’d come.

Scarlet had just turned to look behind her, wondering what could have possibly scared him off, when she was filled with a feeling of panic like none she’d ever felt.

She pressed her hand to her forehead. Either the entire jungle was upset, or this was one powerful creature. “Shivers,” she whispered.

That’s when she heard the noise. The last noise she would have expected to hear on Island X.

The crack of a gun.

When Emmett dashed through camp with the news of the approaching King’s Man, Jem waited to hear Scarlet’s commands come thundering across the clearing. They didn’t. On his second lap around the clearing, Emmett added that she’d gone ahead on her own to investigate the intruder.

“What do we do?” Edwin cried.

“Should we hide?” Elmo asked.

The rest of the crew began to fumble for their weapons.

Jem swallowed hard. Once again, the Lost Souls were seriously in need of direction. He quickly assessed the situation and concluded that there wasn’t a soul in camp capable of giving it. He swallowed again. It would have to be him.

“Everybody just…calm down,” he said in his best take-charge voice. A few Lost Souls actually stopped and looked at him. “Um…” Jem racked his brain for the next confident-sounding thing to say. “Let’s…ask the pigs for help?”

The Lost Souls nodded and kept looking at him.

“Oh. You want me to do it?”

“You’ve talked to them before, haven’t you?” said Elmo.

“Well, yes. Good point.”

Jem sniffed hard, picked up a scent, and followed it toward the rookery, where he found a wrinkly, hairy, and very smelly wild pig.

It wasn’t the chief, to whom Jem had spoken once before, but he decided to give it a go. He hoped all pigs were equally well versed in English. He assumed the same tone that had worked for him the last time.

“Sir. The King’s Men are invading our camp, sir. I know that you pigs want nothing to do with them, and frankly we don’t, either, but I’m not sure we can fight them off without you…sir.” Jem looked anxiously at the boar, who grumbled, smacked his lips, then ambled off into the jungle.

Moments later the pig chief emerged. Jem repeated his plea, adding a few more
sir
s and even one
Your Excellency
, hoping that if the pig
had
learned English in the Old World, he’d appreciate this. The chief snorted and sniffed, then let out a tremendous belch.

“Yikes,” Jem said. He didn’t have Scarlet to translate, but he was fairly certain that meant “No.” Now they’d need another plan. He ran back to camp, where everyone was still fumbling with their weapons.

“Where are the pigs?” Sam asked.

Jem shook his head. “I don’t think they’re coming.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you sure you asked the right way?” asked Edwin. “The way Scarlet does?”

Jem threw up his hands. “I know how to talk to the pigs! I did it in the first place. And I could tell the chief wasn’t interested.”

“So what now?” asked Sam.

“I say we get ready to ambush.” Smitty hoisted his bow up on his shoulder.

Jem didn’t want to put his faith in the Deadly Parrot of Death’s archery skills, but he didn’t have a better plan. “All right,” he said reluctantly. “Emmett, which way did you come from?”

Emmett pointed, just as a deafening blast caused everyone to gasp.

“Was that…?” Sam puffed.

“Sounded like a musket.” Tim straightened his spectacles and pointed to the right. “Over that way, I think.”

Jem’s stomach flipped. “The way Scarlet went?”

“And Ronagh and Liam!” cried Emmett. “What do we do?”

“We’ve got to go make sure they’re safe.”

The Lost Souls agreed that this was a good idea, but no one moved.

Jem gulped. “All right, follow me, then.” And he set off for the edge of the clearing, hoping that they’d follow. What good could he do by himself? A moment later, he heard soft footsteps behind him and turned to see Elmo a few feet behind.

“I’m with ya,” Elmo said.

“Thanks.” Jem glanced back at the rest of the Lost Souls, who were straightening their trousers and retying their bootlaces, obviously stalling. “So much for strength in numbers.” He started off again, Elmo stepping in his boot prints.

They hadn’t even reached the edge of the jungle when Ronagh came flying out of it, one hand covering her mouth.

“Ronagh! What is it?” Jem reached out to grab her sleeve.

But the little girl wrenched her arm away and kept running. The boys exchanged a nervous glance and continued on.

They found Liam crouching behind a tree not far from the clearing. He motioned them to get down. “Where’s Ronagh?”

Jem pointed back toward the camp. “What happened? Where’s the King’s Man?”

At that point, Scarlet arrived, puffing and panting. She dropped to her knees beside them.

“What’s going on?” she gasped.

“It’s the King’s Men,” Liam whispered. “Ronagh and I spotted two after you left.”

“Blast,” Scarlet whispered. “They must have followed him.”

“Followed who?” asked Elmo.

Scarlet shook her head. “Then what happened?”

“We spied on them for a bit,” Liam continued. “Then we saw a smelly wild pig cross their path.”

“And chase them off?” Scarlet asked hopefully.

Liam shook his head and swallowed hard. “One of the King’s Men had a musket.” He put his finger to his lips, peeked around the tree, and pointed. Perhaps thirty yards away, three King’s Men were crouched over something enormous and gray and deathly still. They seemed to be
discussing how to move it back to their camp.

“Scurvy, blast, and blimey.” Scarlet sank back behind the tree and smacked her forehead.

“What do we do now?” Elmo asked.

Scarlet looked at them each in turn, then replied, “We get those murderers away from our camp. What have we got to fight them off with?”

The boys looked at one another dubiously. Elmo produced a small dagger. Liam pulled out his slingshot.

Without a word, Scarlet grabbed Liam’s weapon and slipped away before anyone could point out that a slingshot couldn’t very well take on a musket. Jem’s stomach pitched like it had on the high seas, back in the days when he and Uncle Finn…

“Uncle Finn,” Jem whispered. Why hadn’t he thought of him before? He should have called Uncle Finn and Thomas ages ago.

“Is he close by?” asked Elmo.

“I don’t know,” Jem replied, suddenly realizing that he hadn’t seen Uncle Finn or Thomas since the previous morning when he’d left them cataloging plants. He couldn’t believe they’d have gone off exploring without telling him. So where
were
they? An ominous feeling crept into his churning stomach. It was too late and far too dangerous to go look for them. Jem reached into his pocket and touched the pipe, but he knew that its noise would only draw attention. And possibly shatter a few eardrums.

They watched Scarlet dart from tree to tree until she was about ten yards away from the King’s Men, at
which point she picked up a stone and nestled it into the clamshell. Then she pulled back and shot it at the head of the man bent over the dead pig.

The stone whizzed right by the man’s ear, and he yelped, looking around wildly. But Scarlet dove into a leafy shrub, out of sight.

The King’s Man yelled to his comrades, who looked up from the pig to scan the jungle. Jem saw Scarlet’s skinny arm reach out and nab another stone from the forest floor.

Be careful, Scarlet,
he told her silently.
Be—

Then suddenly an arrow came zinging from somewhere behind him. It practically sang as it zipped through the air, straight toward the King’s Men. Before any of them knew what was happening, the man farthest to the right found his coat sleeve pinned to the tree behind him. His jaw dropped, and his companions howled in terror.