On the Story Sea (9781743583531) by Danny Parker Read Free Book Online Page A

the Kingdom all this time!
    â€˜Hello, Pirate Sal,’ said Lola.
    She wanted to give the pirate a huge cuddle, but she wasn’t sure if Sal was the cuddling type of pirate.
    Sal had golden hair and blue eyes, and earrings made of gold buttons.
    She also had a very sharp-looking cutlass and a hook for a hand!
    Pirate Sal gave Lola a nod.
    â€˜I’ve heard rumours that a real girl has been visiting the Kingdom,’ Pirate Sal said. ‘Welcome back!’

    Word travelled fast in the Kingdom.
    But Lola was puzzled.
    Pirate Sal sounded friendly . She didn’t sound at all pirate-y .
    â€˜Is something wrong?’ asked Pirate Sal.
    â€˜Well,’ said Lola, ‘it’s just that you look like a pirate. But you don’t sound like a pirate.’
    â€˜That’s because you wouldn’t understand me if I spoke like a pirate,’ Sal told her.
    Lola frowned. She had heard pirates talk. She had seen pirate films. There had even been a day at school when everyone had tried to speak like pirates.
    â€˜I think I’d understand you,’ she said.
    â€˜Very well,’ the pirate replied.
    Suddenly Pirate Sal’s blue eyes seemed to flash, and she spoke again.
    â€˜Avast, ye land~lubbering squab and buffoon! Behold me bootstraps and canter on behind, d’ya hear? Afore the howlin’ blizzard take ye over an’ inta the drink!’
    Lola and Buddy looked blankly at each other.
    â€˜OK, you’re right,’ Lola said with a grin. ‘I didn’t understand a word of that.’
    â€˜Not to worry,’ said Sal, speaking normally again. ‘I speak Land-Talk too. I was just saying, Follow me before another gust of wind blows you overboard .’
    â€˜Bust my buttons, Lola,’ said Buddy, beaming with joy. ‘Pirate Sal is the finest pirate on the Story Sea!’
    Lola couldn’t believe her luck.
    A pirate ship! This could be her best adventure yet.

Pirate Sal led them to the front of the ship. Lola and Buddy held onto the rail as another huge gust of wind started to blow.
    â€˜Welcome aboard the Eye Spy !’ shouted Pirate Sal. ‘Fastest ship on the Story Sea.’
    Lola couldn’t believe how quickly the ship was sailing. It was very exciting, and it was also a teensy bit scary .
    Buddy clung to her leg, so she picked up his soft little body for a cuddle.
    Pirate Sal shouted at them to look ahead. Lola saw a large yellow shape burst up out of the water in front of them.
    Then the shape was gone.

    â€˜Twist my toggle!’ cried Buddy. ‘What in the Kingdom was that ?’
    Pirate Sal looked worried. ‘We don’t know. We’ve been chasing it for hours. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and I know these seas better than any toy in the Kingdom.’
    Moments later the giant yellow thing jumped up out of the water again, and then dived down.
    This time, Lola got a good look. It was like a huge plastic whale. It had a big open mouth, but there were windows along the sides.
    Lola had seen something like it before. Just last night, in fact, when she was having her bath!
    Lola turned to Pirate Sal and said, ‘I know what it is!’
    Pirate Sal led them down to her cabin so they could talk where it was much quieter.
    Lola, Buddy and Pirate Sal huddled together as Lola explained what they had seen.
    â€˜It’s called a submarine ,’ said Lola. ‘It travels under the water.’
    Pirate Sal looked worried. ‘A ship that goes under the water, eh?’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen one of those.’
    Lola thought about the big open mouth on the submarine.
    â€˜Sometimes they’re used to catch other boats. Or to attack them,’ she said. ‘And sometimes they secretly scoop things up from underwater!’
    Pirate Sal was quiet for a moment, thinking.
    â€˜Come with me,’ she said finally. ‘I have something to show you.’
    Pirate Sal opened a trap door in