The Time Hunters and the Box of Eternity (27 page)

Hairy Harry Hooper looked bewildered, too.
‘
I ain
’
t a clever man, but my
head ain
’
t
so full of seaweed that I canna see the strange in this. Hugh tells us yer don
’
t even want Teach
’
s treasure. Yer only
want his treasure chest! Now are ya tellin
’
me that be the truth?
’

‘
That
’
s right.
’

‘
And we can have all
the booty
‘
cept this box.
’

‘
Indeed.
’

‘
And yer do know that
if yer tries ter hornswaggle us we
’
d hang you from the Mizzen then feed yer corpse ter the Blacktips?
’

‘
I would expect nothing
less.
’

Hairy Harry Hooper took a few moments to digest this. Then he turned
to the others.
‘
Then let
’
s be settin
’
sail, boys, it
’
s a twenty hour passage, so may Saint Elmo be lookin
’
over all of us.
’

The crew cheered loudly.

Blind Hugh clapped his hands.
‘
Short Jack Copper, if ye would do the
honours...
’

‘
Aye, Hugh,
’
Short Jack Copper
bellowed.
‘
Let
’
s way anchor, me brothers …
’

Despite their age, the crew sprang to life with the vigor of men
considerably younger than their years; climbing, pulling, scaling and lifting.
Everyone had a job to do and performed it with such effortlessness and
precision that in no time at all, the main sail swelled in a stiff breeze and
The Black Head inched away from the docks.

As they worked, the crew broke into song.

Fer we
’
re the crew of the
grand Black Head

And a finer throng, there ne
’
er was said,

Could tame the squalls with such delight

That we rule the seas by day and night

Fer we may be old and creased from sun

But we fight like devils on a belly o
’
rum

And the wenches still do not forget

Fer there still be life in the seadog yet

Our limbs be gone but we ne
’
er get stuck

Fer who needs a hand when ya got a hook

Aye we
’
re the crew of the
grand Black Head

And proud ter be
‘
til we be dead

Within twenty minutes, Nassau had faded to a speck on the horizon.
Becky stood beside the others on the bow as the Black Head clawed speed, the
taste of salt on her lips, the wind licking her hair.

‘
Jim, lad, if yeh
’
d show our guests to
their quarters,
’
One Toe Tom said in a thick Irish brogue.
‘
There be spare
hammocks in the hold which should suit
‘
em fine.
’

‘
Yes, sir,
’
Jim replied quietly.

One Toe Tom threw Becky a sympathetic look.
‘
I hope ya don
’
t mind, you bein
’
a lady an
’
all, but the quarters
are mighty cramped and the smell o
’
thirteen sleepin
’
pirates has been known to stun a baboon.
’

Becky
’
s stomach turned.
Whoopee!

Jim ushered the group to a door, which opened to reveal a set of
wooden steps below. Climbing down, they passed through the gun deck, lined with
six demi-cannons, buckets filled with cannonballs and barrels of gunpowder,
before stopping at the berthing deck. Looking round, Becky saw thirteen
hammocks hung from low timber rafters. There was an overpowering smell of feet.
Trying to put this from her mind, she followed Jim as he made his way across
the cluttered floor.

‘
How old are you, Jim?
’

Jim looked like he
’
d never seen a girl before.
‘
I
–
I don
’
t know.
’

‘
What do you mean you
don
’
t
know? When
’
s your birthday?
’

‘
I don
’
t know, miss. Never
had a birthday. Mr Livesy thinks I may be seven or eight.
’

Becky had never heard of anyone not knowing how old they were before.
‘
Isn
’
t one of the crew your
dad or grandad?
’

Jim shook his head.
‘
No, miss. I have no kin. Mr Livesy found me four years ago wanderin
’
by myself on Port
Royal. No one knows what happened to any kin I might
’
ve had, and I was too
young to be rememberin
’
. But the good crew of The Black Head gave me shelter, fed and
watered me and gave me such kindness I don
’
t deserve.
’

‘
You don
’
t know what happened
to your mum or dad?
’
Becky asked, aghast.

Jim shrugged.
‘
No, miss. Mustn
’
t have wanted me, I
’
m guessin
’
. Anyways, the crew are my family now. I couldn
’
t ask for more …
’

Jim spoke so matter-of-factly about his tragic situation it made
Becky feel terrible. Her life hadn
’
t always been easy, but she
’
d never once doubted how much her mum and dad
loved her; she
’
d certainly never been abandoned by a parent unable or unwilling to
cope with raising her. Quickly, she turned away, careful not to let Jim see the
tears that were filling her eyes.

*

The Black Head sliced effortlessly through the ocean as an orange
dusk melted into the blackest of nights. For what seemed like hours, Becky
stood on the prow, watching a pair of dolphins take it in turns to dip in and
out of the oily water. Joe, on the other hand, spent his time on the gun deck
trying to teach Mr Flint a few choice swear words. He felt like he was really
making progress until Uncle Percy caught him and gave him a firm (if not
entirely convincing) ticking off.

The Black Head
’
s crew turned out to be a great fun. Just after the evening meal
(spiced chicken, salted beef, turtle eggs, hard tack biscuits and a variety of
fruits) the pirates gathered on deck around an empty barrel for a game of
‘
hookling
’
; a game that followed
the rules of traditional arm wrestling but with hooks replacing hands. As most
of the crew sported at least one hook it proved to be quite a competitive if
utterly corrupt contest. Elbert Fridge cheated his way to victory and
celebrated by sinking an entire bottle of rum in one gulp and collapsed on the
deck with a wide smile on his face.

Although it was way past midnight when Becky climbed into her
hammock, she knew there was no chance of sleep. Surrounded by thunderous
snores, along with the creaks and groans from the ship
’
s frame, she lay there
wide-awake for ages before curling her blanket around her shoulders, leaping
out of the hammock, and climbing the steps onto the deck. It was then she
noticed she wasn
’
t the only member of their group who wasn
’
t asleep. Uncle Percy
was crouched at the front of the boat. Deep in thought, he appeared to be studying
something on the floor.

‘
Uncle Percy?
’
Becky said, walking
over.

He didn
’
t reply.

‘
Uncle Percy?
’
 
Becky repeated, louder this time.

With a jolt, Uncle Percy snapped out of his trance.
‘
Oh, I do beg your
pardon, Becky. I didn
’
t hear you.
’

‘
What
’
re you doing?
’
Becky asked
curiously.
‘
Is this something to do with what you showed Will and Bruce earlier?
’

‘
Yes,
’
Uncle Percy said
quietly.
‘
As
a matter of fact, it is.
’

Looking over his shoulder, Becky saw the two gold coins Bruce had
won from Gilbert Threepwood in Tortuga. They were piled one on top of the other
and pressed tightly against the wooden balustrade.
‘
Are the coins sending
you nuts again?
’

‘
Not exactly,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
Watch this …
’
Ensuring his hand was
fully wrapped in his handkerchief, he scooped up the coins and placed them a
few inches apart and an arms length away from the balustrade. Becky watched
closely. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as if stirred by an invisible
force, the left hand coin rattled violently, quickly followed by the other.
Then they inched to precisely the position they were in before.

‘
H - how are they doing
that?
’
Becky said, bewildered.
‘
How are they moving?
’

‘
It started when we
arrived in Nassau,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
But it was hardly noticeable then. Since we
’
ve been on the boat it
’
s become considerably
more apparent, as you can see.
’

‘
What does it mean?
’

Uncle Percy looked at her solemnly.
‘
I think they know we
’
re getting closer to
Mary Island, to Pandora
’
s Box. And I think they
’
re trying to make their own way home.
’

Chapter 25

The Tempest

At that moment, Becky heard a tapping sound from behind. Looking
back, she saw Blind Hugh hobbling over, cane in hand.

‘
Is that you I be
hearin
’
,
Mr Halifax, sir?
’

‘
Yes, Hugh.
’
Careful not to touch
them directly, Uncle Percy slipped the coins back in the pouch and stood up.

‘
And Miss Becky?
’

‘
Hi, Hugh,
’
Becky said.

‘
I was wonderin
’
if I may have a word
with ye?
’

‘
Of course,
’
Uncle Percy replied.
‘
Is everything all
right?
’

‘
Aye,
’
Blind Hugh replied hesitantly.
‘
Well …
’
He fell silent.
‘
The crew wish ter
amend our deal.
’

Uncle Percy
’
s eyes narrowed.
‘
Continue…
’

‘
We wants yer ter have
this back.
’
He pulled out the emerald and offered it over. Becky glanced at
Uncle Percy, who appeared as bewildered as her.

‘
No, it
’
s yours,
’
Uncle Percy said.
‘
I want you to keep it.
’

‘
That
’
s most kind, sir. But
we can
’
t.
Don
’
t be
misunderstanding me, we
’
re still askin
’
fer payment. But it
’
s got nothin
’
ter do with jewels or coinage. We need yer ter do us a deed.
’

‘
What kind of deed?
’

Blind Pugh sighed heavily. It was then Becky noticed his bottom lip
was quivering.

‘
It
’
s quite simple,
’
Blind Hugh said.
‘
You seem like a fine
gentleman, Mr Halifax. A rare kind of gentleman in these parts. Yer nephew and niece
are fine, too. And so be your friends. Well, and I be speakin
’
for every bucko on
this ship, the payment for yer passage is that you take the boy, Jim, with you
when ye go. Take him back to England. Give him a life he can live long and
good. An honest life. Take him and set him up nice...
’

‘
But you
’
re his family,
’
Becky said, appalled.
‘
I talked
to him earlier and you
’
re all he
’
s got.
’

‘
I know, lassie,
’
Blind Hugh said.
‘
And that isn
’
t right. He
’
s a good boy. And he deserves
more than a band of old seadogs fer company.
’

‘
But you can
’
t do that to him!
’
Becky shouted,
ignoring the disapproving scowl from Uncle Percy.
‘
You can
’
t just abandon him.
’

‘
Lassie, this ain
’
t no desertion. We be
doin this because every salt on this ship loves that boy as if he were their
own. Thing is, there isn
’
t a man
‘
ere that will see another five winters, never mind ten. Many of us
are already starin
’
down ol
’
Nick
’
s musket and waitin
’
fer him to fire that fatal shot. And what happens to Jim when we
go? He
’
s
all alone. And in this neck of the woods he
’
ll be dead himself in no time at all. We
’
ve all lived a long
life. Much longer than most in our game. Jim should be given the chance to live
a long life, too, but brought up right, not havin
’
to survive by eatin
’
hard tack crawling
with weevils or livin
’
at the will of the tides.
’
He turned to Uncle Percy.
‘
I can see yer
’
ve got a good heart,
sir. I may be blind but this I see as if lookin
’
through a younger man
’
s good eyes. Ye can do
this fer us. Ye must do this. If Jim stays piratin
’
he won
’
t see manhood.
’
A single tear
trickled down Blind Hugh
’
s cheek.

Tenderly, Becky reached over and placed her hand on his.

The old pirate blushed as he squeezed her hand tightly.
‘
Arr, look at me… cryin
’
like a Frenchie. You
must forgive an old seadog, Miss Becky. I thought fifty years at sea had
toughened me up a bit. Perchance I was wrong.
’

‘
There
’
s nothing to forgive,
’
Becky replied softly.
‘
I
’
m sorry I shouted.
’

‘
Pay no mind to it,
’
Blind Hugh replied.
‘
So what do you say, Mr
Halifax? Do we have a deal? Because that be the true price fer The Black Head.
’

Uncle Percy looked grave.
‘
Are you sure it
’
s what the crew wants?
’

‘
Every man would give
his life fer it. The boy
’
s got a dozen fathers and each one of them be wantin
’
what I ask.
’

‘
And what about Jim?
What does he say about it?
’

‘
I
’
ll be talkin
’
to him at first
light,
’
Blind Hugh said gravely.
‘
He
’
ll be sad, fer sure, but that
’
s only because he don
’
t know different from
this life. In time, he
’
ll understand we done it out of carin
’
.
’

Uncle Percy said nothing. When he did speak, there was a trace of
uncertainty in his voice.
‘
Very well. Jim can come with us.
’

‘
And I can
‘
ave yer word as a
gentleman?
’
Blind Hugh pressed.

Uncle Percy nodded.
‘
I give you my word.
’

‘
Thank the good lord,
’
Blind Hugh breathed.

Becky didn
’
t know what to think. She looked at Blind Hugh and his body wilted
as though he
’
d used every bit of strength to make the request and had nothing
left to give. Sadness ripped through her.
‘
Jim will be well looked after,
’
she said softly.

‘
Aye, I believe that,
lassie.
’
Blind Hugh forced a half-smile.
‘
Anyway, I shall retire now and bid you a restful night. But I thank
ye, Mr Halifax. And you, Miss Becky. A thousand times I thank ye.
’
Then he turned, set
his cane against the deck and rapped his away into darkness.

After Blind Hugh had gone, Becky turned to Uncle Percy and said,
‘
What are you going to
do? Will Jim come and live at Bowen Hall?
’

‘
I don
’
t know,
’
Uncle Percy replied
somberly.
‘
But Hugh is right. This is no time or place for a young boy like
him. And I would never forgive myself if something happened to him, knowing I
could have helped. Of course, if I take him out of time I am breaking section
three, paragraph two of the GITT regulatory code for time travelling which is
punishable by the revoking of my TT license, but …
’

‘–
But you live with a
dinosaur, two sabre-tooth tigers, a flying horse, a dodo and Will Scarlet.
Since when have rules stopped you?
’

Uncle Percy chuckled.
 
‘
Believe it or not, I
’
m normally a very rule
abiding person.
’
He curled his arm round Becky
’
s shoulder and together they stared out at the
velvety ocean.
‘
But I suppose some rules were made to be broken …
’

*

Becky soon found herself feeling exhausted and returned to her
hammock, falling asleep straight away. When she awoke she was surprised to find
she and Mr Flint were the only ones left on the berthing deck.

‘
Good morning, Mr
Flint,
’
she
yawned, slipping on her shoes and coiling her hair into a ponytail. She made
her way over to the ladder.

‘
BWARRKK …
’
Mr Flint screeched
loudly.
‘
Intoooo
the bowels.
’

‘
Lovely!
’
Becky muttered,
climbing the steps to the decks above.

Entering the gun deck, Becky heard a loud sniff and saw a pair of
feet sticking out from behind a gunpowder barrel. Straight away, she knew who
it was and what had happened. Stepping off the ladder, she walked over to Jim,
her heart sinking when she saw his eyes were swollen, his cheeks red raw.
‘
Hi, Jim.
’

‘
M-mornin
’
, miss.
’
Jim wiped his eyes
and got to his feet.

‘
Are you okay?
’

‘
Got brine in me eyes,
’
Jim mumbled.
‘
Stings a bit. I
’
ll be right in a
while.
’

Becky knew it was a lie - that Blind Hugh had talked to him about
leaving with Uncle Percy. She wanted to offer words of comfort, but what could
she possibly say to make him feel better? Instead, she smiled sympathetically
and said,
‘
D
’
you want to come up on deck or are you staying down here?
’

‘
No, miss,
’
Jim replied.
‘
I shall join you …
’

Moments later, Becky opened the hatch door and was surprised to find
the deck deserted. Then her eyes were drawn to the ship
’
s bow and everything
became clear. Standing in line, frozen like statues and strangely silent, Uncle
Percy, Joe, Will, Bruce and the crew were staring out at the horizon. She
trailed their eye line and fear flooded her.
 

In the distance loomed the most terrifying dark green sky, lit by
recurrent bursts of scarlet lightning. Dozens of small tornados spiralled above
giant waves, and rain hammered the sea like cannon balls.

Becky gulped. Scarlet lightning? She
’
d never even heard of such a thing. Unable to
tear her eyes from the maelstrom, she walked over and sidled in between Will
and Joe.
‘
Please
tell me we
’
re not going to have to go through that?
’

Will
’
s face grew somber.
‘
Yes.
’

Joe looked at him.
‘
You must have been on plenty of ships, have you ever seen anything
like it before?
’