The Riddles of Mulberry Island by Huston Piner

Author:Huston Piner [Piner, Huston]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBTQIA+, historical/early 50s, young-YA, first love, coming-of-age, kids in danger, kidnapping, domestic child abuse, family issues, action-adventure
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Voices in the Dark

Tommy made it to the beach, clutched his knees, and tried to catch his breath. He gulped down marshy air and listened hard for any sign he was being followed. Despite the loud windswept buzzing of the insects, he heard no twigs snapping or crackle of leaves being trodden on. That meant Hess must have gone after either Wendy or John.

“Now what do I do?”

“Tommy, why’d you wander off? We had it all planned and when you left your station that’s when things started going wrong.” That’s what Wendy had said last time, and she was right. Everything went wrong when I didn’t stick to the plan. Okay, we were supposed to meet here if anybody discovered us—and Hess sure did discover us—so here’s where I’m going to stay. Wendy and John will be getting here soon enough, so all I need to do is wait.

He sat on the beach facing the marsh, doodling in the sand. As the minutes passed, he calmed down and his mind began to wander. Soon, his imagination took over, and he started humming to himself.

I bet those guys aren’t smugglers at all. I bet they’re pirates hiding their treasure here. Maybe when we turn them all in we’ll get a reward.

He sat with his legs crossed and continued his doodle, still humming. He could see himself as a pirate heading for the Caribbean on a ship filled with treasure. He’d be the captain, with John and Wendy at his side, and he’d lead his men into battle, and they’d have great adventures. They’d all have fun, and they’d all get along. And they’d stay together forever.

Flicking sand this way and that, he straightened up, and a shadow darkened the ground next to him. At first, he didn’t give it a thought. But with a start, he realized it was the shadow of a head and jumped to his feet.

Spinning around, he found himself confronted by a middle-aged man with gray hair and sunburned skin. He was looking down at Tommy with a sneer on his face.

“Well, I’ll be damned if it ain’t a boy,” the man said in mock astonishment. “Now, what would you be doing here, young man, and where’s your boat?”

All Tommy could do was continue staring up at him, shuddering.

“Well?” the man barked.

Tommy tried to back away, but the man grabbed his shirt with surprising speed, turned him around, and grabbed him by the back of the neck.

“You’re in big trouble, son.”

Without another word, he started marching Tommy into the woods in the direction of the Great House.

They’d only been walking a few minutes when the man spoke again, this time in a softer voice.

“Boy, I asked you what you’re doing on this island.”

Tommy didn’t answer.

“How long have you been here, and what have you seen?”

At that, Tommy couldn’t help but turn his head in the direction of the cove. The man, still holding him by the neck, noticed and stopped.

He grabbed Tommy by the arm and spun him around to face him.

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