The Great Galloon and the Pirate Queen by Tom Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

Jemima?’
    â€˜Fine, sir. Thank’ee for asking.’
    â€˜I’m not a sir, you know. I’m …’
    â€˜Miss Cloudier Peele. I know that, sir. Awaiting instructions, ma’am. Miss.’
    â€˜Well, they’re not instructions as such, but I believe there may be a little job or two …’
    â€˜Of course, ma’am, sir, miss. May I say that it would be an honour to take instruction from the Conqueror of the Northern Ice, the Kraken’s Friend, the Lookout to Watch, The One Who Flies into Fire, ma’am, sir.’
    â€˜Err, yes, well he’s right here by me, so …’
    At this point, the Captain put a hand over the end of the Squeaking Tube.
    â€˜He means you, Cloudier. Your voyage into the volcano is a thing of legend among the crew. Do not be surprised if you are treated as a master skymariner nowadays!’ he said.
    He smiled, and took the tube from Cloudier’s hand.
    â€˜Mr Kollick, tell the towing party please to take the strain. We must get out of the Dumps as soon as possible,’ he said.
    â€˜Aye, Cap’n. Which heading, sir? Which way would you like us to tow the Galloon?’
    â€˜Well, I should think … that is …’ said the Captain, the telescope to his eye again. He seemed to Cloudier to be searching for any reason to choose one direction over another in this featureless world.
    â€˜I was damn sure we’d see something by now …’ he muttered.
    â€˜Sorry, sir?’ said Kollick at the other end of the tube.
    â€˜Cloudier, do you have a preference? North, Thataway, Roundabout, Windwards or Pell Mell?’ The Captain was looking at her, almost hopefully, and holding up the small pocket compass on which these directions were etched.
    â€˜I think …’ began Cloudier, who had decided to choose ‘Pell Mell’ for no other reason than that she liked the sound.
    But she didn’t need to choose anything. At the end of the tube, a kerfuffle was occurring. She heard Kollick saying ‘just wait your turn, you jumped up …’ and then the voice of Skyman Abel piped up.
    â€˜Captain! This man is resisting a superior officer!’
    The Captain, to his credit, did not tut or roll his eyes. Cloudier did though.
    â€˜Abel,’ said the Captain. ‘Mr Kollick was just awaiting our ideas on which way to go …’
    â€˜Never mind that!’ yelped Abel, apparently still scuffling for control of the tube. ‘I know which way we should go! The Grand Sumbaroon is heading … For the Great Brown Greasy Rococo River, over!’
    There was a pause. Cloudier looked at the Captain, who seemed to have found something interesting in his ear.
    â€˜Er. Right,’ he said, pulling whatever it was out of his ear and flicking it away.
    â€˜The Great Brown Greasy Rococo River!’ said Abel. ‘That’s Left-by-Your-Left of here! Towing party, set course immediately!’
    â€˜No,’ said the Captain quietly. ‘Don’t do that. Cloudier, what do you think?’
    Cloudier was, as ever, astonished to be asked, but did her best to formulate a sensible opinion.
    â€˜I’ve heard the Rococo River is hugely wide, Captain, but I’m not sure it would be deep enough for the Sumbaroon.’
    â€˜It is! They’re blinking going there, you stupid girl, over!’ said Abel’s tiny voice.
    â€˜Abel,’ said the Captain. ‘That’s the last time you’ll use that word to any member of the crew.’
    â€˜Yessir,’ said Abel, suitably chastened. ‘But it’s the truth! I know it to be true, over!’
    â€˜I suppose it’s possible,’ said the Captain. ‘But it’s mighty dangerous territory around there. The Uncharted Forest has barely been mapped, the river is treacherous … we lost passenger Perky Luffington there, of course. And then there are the rumours … over …’
    â€˜Never mind the