Alex Neptune, Pirate Hunter by David Owen

Author:David Owen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd

The choppy waves flung them into the air to splash down heavily just in time to be launched again. Land retreated quickly behind them but The Flying Dustman stayed close on their tail. Its engine throbbed like a mechanical heart and its patchwork sails bulged with a banquet of wind.

“It’s too fast,” said Alex, clinging tightly to the side of the boat, stomach lurching with every plunge and lift.

Zoey reached for the motor. “Maybe if I just adjusted—”

“Don’t touch anything,” said Anil, sacrificing his hold on the rail to catch her wrist.

Only Meri was impervious to their turbulent flight, standing with her legs wide and rolling her body expertly in sync with the boat’s movement. She peered after the pursuing pirate ship. “They’re using full power.”

Argosy glanced back before snapping the tiller to one side. Their boat veered sideways, wheeling them across the face of the pursuing ship. The Flying Dustman was faster and stronger, but they were nimble, a sleek minnow evading a lumbering predator. The pirate ship heaved over to stay in their churning wake.

“The compass,” Argosy shouted over the throaty roar of the motor. “You’re sure it won’t work without you?”

Alex nodded. “It draws on my power.”

Argosy’s grip tightened on the tiller, lines of determination deepening across his brow.

Smoke puffed from The Flying Dustman’s side. It took a moment for them to remember what that meant.

“Duck!” Alex shouted.

The cannonball hit the water behind them with a plunging splash. Although it missed, the shot sent a deluge of water towards the boat, knocking them off course.

Anil paled. “That wasn’t rubbish. It was an actual cannonball.”

“They want to sink us,” said Zoey.

Meri’s gaze was fixed on the ship. “They won’t actually hit us.”

“How do you know?”

Before she could answer, The Flying Dustman fired a second shot. This time it dropped to their side, forcing Argosy to veer away from the fierce wave that threatened to broadside them.

“They’re slowing us down,” he shouted. “Can you use your sea magic?”

Alex peered back at the ship. It was huge, strong, powerful enough to conquer the worst temper of the ocean. He didn’t know if his own strength could match it.

Fear was etched on the faces of his friends, but when Zoey and Anil met his eye, Alex also saw how much they believed in him.

“I’ll try,” he said, shifting his grip on the side of the boat so he could trail his fingers in the rushing water.

Another shot crashed down beside them. Alex blocked out the noise and let the frantic beating of his heart pour out into the water. It felt like seawater rushed through his veins. The boat’s seething wake picked itself up and coalesced into a roaring wave. Alex guided it towards The Flying Dustman, feeling its strength swell as it reared higher, foam flying from its crest.

The wave crashed into the bow of the pirate ship, lifting it into the air.

“Yes!” cheered Zoey.

The slipshod hulk of the ship groaned and rasped as if it might come apart at the seams.

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