Ancell's Final Battle by Tony Main

Author:Tony Main [Main, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781789011234
Publisher: Matador
Published: 2018-04-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Misty drifted through the night, adding to the air of helplessness on deck. Capt. Albern took the helm, nursing her through the dark.

‘We’ll pick up a breeze at dawn, but we’ll get no wind tonight,’ he told Skeet.

Too tense to sleep, the crew padded restlessly about the deck, sometimes emerging out of the shadows to reveal their drawn faces in the yellow light of the galley. Waff bent over the owl, feeling his fevered brow. Skeet impatiently dragged him aside.

‘The skipper says we’ll get a wind in the morning. That’ll raise Doc’s spirits. He loves to feel the wind on his face.’

Waff shook his head. ‘Too late – he hasn’t the strength to hold on that long. He’s slipping away. Only a miracle will save him now.’

In the early hours the fever reached its height and Doc began to ramble.

‘Where are the stars?’ he kept repeating, struggling to stand, only to stare about wildly and slump to the deck.

Chantal pillowed his head in her lap.

‘Where are the stars?’ whispered Doc, and closed his eyes.

Chantal began to sing, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her lullaby broke with weeping, and the only sound was the small voice of Merrie. Stung by Chad’s criticism, and determined to show Doc he was doing his best, he sat in the light of the galley haltingly reading a book the owl had long pressed him to finish.

Doc blinked. ‘Is that Merrie?’ he whispered.

‘He’s reading to you,’ sobbed Chantal. ‘Do you remember you were always telling him to read. He’s been practicing and wants you to hear.’

Doc opened his eyes. Chad leaped to Merrie’s side.

‘Keep going! Keep reading!’ he urged.

Merrie concentrated as never before and read on.

‘Louder!’ Chad demanded, and Merrie redoubled his stumbling efforts.

Doc raised his head and frowned. ‘Punctuation Merrie! Read that passage again,’ he whispered.

‘Do it!’ commanded Chad.

Merrie read with all his might.

‘That’s better,’ said Doc, and sat up.

‘Tell me he’s pulling through – he’s got to be!’ whispered Chad, grabbing hold of Skeet.

Skeet knelt by the owl. ‘How are you feeling, Doc?’ he asked quietly.

‘A bit tired,’ said Doc. ‘It’s a lovely starry sky, but why are we all on deck in the middle of the night, and why do I feel so weak?’

‘You’ve been ill, and we’ve been keeping you company. Can you walk?’

‘I think so,’ said Doc, making an effort to stand. ‘You should be in bed!’ he told the children as Tam and Thom helped him to his cabin.

Chad embraced Merrie, holding him high as he did a jig about the deck.

‘He’s on the mend! You’re a genius!’ he told the harvest mouse as the crew slapped each other on the back and congratulated each other on Doc’s recovery.

Skeet galloped aft. ‘He’s getting better! He’s going to be all right!’ he shouted to Capt. Albern.

‘Praise be!’ murmured the sea otter, and leaving the wheel to the stoat, stood quietly at the stern rail. He breathed a prayer of thanks as the new day dawned – then thumped the rail imperiously.

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