Danger Dan Spooks the Peculiar Peranakan Pirate by Monica Lim

Author:Monica Lim
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789814615204
Publisher: Epigram Books
Published: 2017-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

A puff of gold smoke erupted from the Rainbow Riot. The smoke swirled to form an image of a grand phoenix. The phoenix seemed to take flight and the small tea house was lit up by its wide, shimmering wings. The pirates stared with open mouths, awed by the magnificent spectacle. As the majestic phoenix faded away, a few wisps of glittery gold smoke lingered in the air like pixie dust.

The situation changed in an instant. Before Danny and Melody knew what was happening, the pirates were on their knees, bowing to the children fearfully.

“Oh, Phoenix Princess, Empress of the Birds!” said one of the pirates. “Forgive us, we didn’t realise you were a goddess! Please don’t kill us!”

Melody and Danny looked at each other in astonishment. “Empress of the Birds?” giggled Danny.

“Shush!” warned Melody. She quickly realised that she could turn the pirates’ superstition to her advantage.

“Yes, I am the er…Phoenix Princess!” she announced, putting her hands on her hips. Danny was rather impressed by Melody’s acting skills.

“Are you planning to attack Sultan Hussein’s ship tomorrow?” she asked authoritatively.

“Yeah, the Phoenix Princess wants to know!” chipped in Danny.

The pirate Danny first spoke to came forward, his head still bowed. “Oh, Phoenix Princess, my name is Poh. Yes, we are planning to attack Sultan Hussein’s ship tomorrow.”

“Well, Poh,” said Melody grandly. “I would like you to NOT attack!”

“Er…” Poh stammered nervously. “We want to…that is we would like to…but…”

“But what?” asked Melody in a stern voice. “You dare to disobey the Empress of the Birds? Do you want me to turn all of you into ducks?”

The pirates wailed and quaked in fear. “No!” exclaimed Poh. “Please, Your Mercifulness! We want to obey you but the attack is ordered by our pirate leader, Jong. We can take you to see him—he’s on the pirate ship now. It’s docked by the coast because we needed to stock up on supplies.”

“Alright then,” said Melody. “Take me to your leader!”

The pirates led the children away from the river and back towards the beach. Melody and Danny were brought to a tongkang by the shore. “That’s it?” said Danny disappointedly. He had imagined the pirate ship to be grand and majestic, with billowing black sails, several decks and large black cannons.

The tongkang looked nothing like that. It was just a plain wooden ship with two dirty grey sails, one deck and no cannons. It didn’t even have a pirate flag.

Danny and Melody climbed on board the ship. They were brought to a lone man standing on the deck. He was dressed in a black shirt and loose-fitting pants. He had his back to them.

“Jong,” said Poh, tapping the man’s shoulder. “I’ve brought the Phoenix Princess to see you. She wants you to cease the attack on Sultan Hussein’s ship tomorrow.”

The man swung around. Melody and Danny gasped. Jong was the Sinister Spyder!

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