The Island of Destiny Read Free Page B

next to the loaded cannon and Pete remained in the navigation room, doing whatever grumpy quartermasters do on such occasions.
    Large rocks to the east sheltered the ship from the wind, but the swirling gusts returned with greater force as the Apple Pie neared the Rock of Hope.
    Pete poked his head from the navigation room.
    â€˜Are we there yet?’ he muttered in a less than pleasant voice.
    â€˜Shallow water dead ahead!’ Ruby cried.
    Whisker looked up. The Apple Pie approached two final rocks. One lay to his near left, and the other further to his right.
    â€˜Turn her starboard, Captain,’ he said. ‘We can squeeze between the rocks and still maintain our course.’
    Smudge buzzed his wings frantically and pointed to the starboard side of the ship.
    â€˜What is it?’ Horace asked with wide eyes.
    Ruby darted to the bulwark.
    â€˜More rocks!’ she exclaimed. ‘Just below the surface – everywhere. We’ll run aground.’
    â€˜That can’t be,’ Whisker cried. ‘The map says …’
    â€˜â€¦ nothing about low tide,’ Pete cut in.
    Whisker looked ahead to the shore. A long strip of wet sand extended from the Rock of Hope to the sea. The tide was fully out. He felt his tail work itself into a knot.
    â€˜Rotten pies to low tide,’ Horace groaned.
    Pete screwed up his nose. ‘Port side, Captain. Circle around the rocks. Before we bottom out.’
    The Captain let out a low growl. ‘Yet again, it seems we have no other choice. If we maintain a narrow berth around the rock on the left, we can hopefully centre up for the final approach.’
    Whisker didn’t respond. His eyes were transfixed on the rocky shape, rising like a tombstone from the crashing waves. He wasn’t superstitious, but anyone could see it was a bad omen – a very bad omen.
    â€˜SAILS OUT!’ the Captain bellowed, swinging the wheel hard left. ‘And make it snappy. I want us past that rock in sixty seconds.’
    The crew rushed to the sails and began to work the ropes.
    â€˜Whisker, I need you on the jib,’ Ruby shouted.
    Whisker leapt down the stairs and raced to the bow of the ship, still clutching the key in his paws. While Ruby and the mice adjusted the two larger sails, Whisker added some slack to the giant pair of underpants.
    He edged along the bowsprit and peered down. The shallow rocks beneath the surface suddenly disappeared as the Apple Pie glided over the edge of a deep ravine. He looked ahead to see the Rock of Hope vanish behind the black pillar of rock. Like a solar eclipse on midsummer’s day, their guiding light was gone – the Pie Rats were at the mercy of the Treacherous Sea.
    â€˜Prepare to turn,’ the Captain commanded.
    The crew heaved on the ropes, swivelling the sails around to capture the gusty wind. The Apple Pie began curving around the rock.
    Seconds passed and Whisker grew anxious. He watched as the tip of the shoreline grew visible, the sand glowing yellow in the afternoon sunshine.
    Almost there … Whisker thought.
    The western side of the estuary came into view and then, finally, Whisker saw what he was looking for. As the Apple Pie straightened up, the Rock of Hope reappeared from behind the last rock of the lagoon.
    Whisker sighed with relief. The eclipse was over. In moments they would be in the safety of the shallows.
    THUD!
    Out of nowhere, a monstrous blow echoed through the hull of the ship, toppling barrels and shattering windows. Whisker grabbed the jib line to steady himself. Behind him, Pete slipped on his pencil and tumbled onto the deck. The mice squeaked in terror.
    The vibrations stopped and the crew grew silent, listening attentively to the sounds of the sea. All they heard was the deck of the Apple Pie creaking softly and the sails flapping quietly in the wind.
    â€˜Oh my precious paws,’ Pete groaned, staggering to his feet. ‘What the flaming rat’s tail was