The Secret Invasion of Port Isabel by Mark Douglas Stafford

Author:Mark Douglas Stafford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: science fiction, pirates

The bird was a King Vulture! Vultures were well known as pirate spies but last night had shown there were no pirates in Port Isabel. If there were no pirates then there would be no vultures. But it had moved like a bird and it was mostly grey with no feathers on top and a yellow caruncle beneath its beak, just like in his new memory.

Larry edged his way down the alley. Water cascaded down the deep gutter next to him, heavy drops leaping onto the slimy cobblestones and splashing his feet. But he paid no attention. His entire attention was directed at the rooftops. He strained to see the vulture but the angles were wrong and he dared not risk showing himself by leaving the shadows.

He was some distance down the hill when he saw the vulture again. This time he was sure it was a King Vulture and not some other large bird. Its bald head, ugly beak and ruffled grey feathers left no doubt. Larry sidled the wall keeping a wary eye on the bird. It showed no sign of having seen him.

A second vulture joined the first. They seemed to speak together briefly before beating their wings and flying away, quickly disappearing over the rooftops. They just beat their wings and lifted up into the air like kites on a windy day. They made flying look so effortless.

Larry’s heart was racing. If there were vultures in the Port Isabel there would be pirates too. What should he do? Should he run back to the others and warn them? They may not believe him. But even if they did, they might think that the risk of pirates was low. Perhaps the vultures were here alone to do recognisance for the pirates still stuck on the wreck at the reef? If so, they would soon return to their masters, no harm done.

He would have to confirm his suspicions first. Before he told the others, he would have to discover whether the pirates were here too.

Larry made his way carefully down the alleyway. He could hear music spilling from an open window as he climbed over stacked boxes of reeking garbage that blocked his way. On the other side, thick moss grew in damp, shadowy corners and water cascaded from a rusty breach in a downpipe and spread across the slippery cobblestones. Filtered sunlight slanted through the narrow gap between the rooftops above.

Keeping low, ears and nose alert, Larry rounded a corner. The rain was heavier away from the walls. A nearby drain was blocked and water pooled deeply. He went around the puddle. In this way he moved silently and swiftly in the direction the vultures had flown.

Larry reached the bottom of the long hill that lead down to Gateway Quay without being seen. The ground had levelled out and old work sheds had been squeezed into every available space. He slid into a narrow gap between two sheds. On the other side he sidled silently along the back wall of one and squatted behind a barrel overflowing with rain water.

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