The Castaways by Iain Lawrence

Author:Iain Lawrence
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Young Adult
ISBN: 9780440238126
Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library
Published: 2007-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

seventeen

I LEAVE MIDGELY BEHIND

Around the Pool, buildings rose sheer from the river in cliffs of stone and brick. Here and there were iron moorings set into the walls, and we made fast to a pair of great rings. Out from the water, up the wall, rose a metal ladder black with rust, dangling seaweed and branches from every rung.

The pilot wasted no time. As soon as our ropes were fastened he called for a boatman, then gathered his charts and his sea boots, stuffed his hat into his pocket, and stood by the rail. I begged a ride with him, so that I might strike out straightaway for my old home.

“What, you too?” he said. “Good crikey, I should have called for a barge; that’s three of you now. Well, look lively. My boat’s on the way.”

Calliope and Charlotte were bustling about, filling the dreadful playbox with the girl’s many things. I said a quick good-bye to Gaskin and Weedle. “I’ll be back in the morning,” I said. “Whatever you do, don’t leave the ship.”

“We won’t,” said Boggis, while Weedle shook his head solemnly. “Hurry back, Tom.”

Next, I shook hands with the little King. He looked unusually sad. “You’re not going ashore?” I asked.

“Oh, we’ve been forbidden,” he said, with a rueful look. “Calliope wants everything in order first. Honestly, I’m glad for some peace from that woman.”

“Have you told her about the Jolly Stone?” I asked.

“Of course not,” said he. “Believe me, I’ve done my best to keep Calliope in the dark, though I fear she may have gotten wind of it.” He motioned me closer, and his voice fell to a whisper. “Now don’t breathe a word of this, Tom—not to her, and especially not to Charlotte—but I believe we’ve come to a parting of the ways. When we’re through with Mr. Goodfellow, I’ll go about a landsman’s business, and leave the sea to Calliope. Poor old sea.”

He was trying to be cheerful, but not succeeding. Finally, he sent me off with a pat on the back. “Remember, Tom,” he told me. “Bring the diamond here an hour after dawn. I’ll have Mr. Goodfellow waiting. That will be a nice touch, won’t it? Him waiting for you?”

Last, I said so long to Midgely He came out of the cookhouse, and, holding my sleeve, walked toward the ladder. The pilot was leaning on the rail, watching his boatman row across the Pool. The little white boat was dodging barges and lighters.

“Can’t you take me, Tom?” said Midge. “I don’t want to stay here with Weedle and the King. I got a funny feeling, Tom.”

“I have to go alone,” I said.

“Please?”

“Midge, no! You’re too small, and you’re too slow.”

I spoke so sharply that the pilot turned and looked at me. Midgely let go of my sleeve, and his lip began to quiver. “Please, Tom,” he said. “I can run.”

“No,” I told him. “I’ve a long way to walk, Midge; I can’t carry you. Oh, Lord, you don’t see!”

What I meant was You don’t see what I’m saying; you don’t understand.

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