Title: The Forever Dance
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Six - Enemies and Friends
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Smee puffed and mopped his brow, his striped hanky already damp with use. He and the rest of the former pirates had watched as poor George was dragged in front of the Captain of the Moonshadow, their hats coming off as a last farewell to a fallen comrade. After that Smee led them through the forest towards the Indian encampment, their chatter subdued under the dark trees. Each of them carried a small bundle of belongings, all they could carry while the Moonshadow remained anchored in their bay. On reaching the camp they parleyed with the Chief for lodgings and food, the Indian's listening with interest to all the news about the Moonshadow and its formidable Captain.
TinkerBell had been playing with the children in the camp, and saw the pirates arrive. Curious she listened to the talk in the Chief's tent before flying off to find Peter and tell him what she'd heard.
She arrived at the Stitch Bird trees but found them empty, her foot 6kicking at a discarded melon seed as she tried to think where he'd be. Giving up, she just decided to visit all the places he usually went and hope that he was at one of them.
At the third place, she found him, along with Wendy and a boy Tink hadn't seen before.
All three were in and around the Cascade, it's many levels of different shaped pools leading down to one big pool at the bottom.
Wendy was sitting high and dry on a rounded boulder, finger combing her long hair in the sun to let it dry, her dress only slightly damp after an impromptu dunking earlier on. Peter and Paolo were taking turns diving from the third pool, their wet bodies flashing through the air to disappear into the clear green ripples below. Wendy kept her back firmly turned towards the frolics because neither boy was bothering to wear clothes while they clambered, dived and swam. As they climbed back up to the ledge to take their next dive they constantly called to Wendy to watch, Paolo making a whistling noise, sometimes warbling like a bird, sometimes making a tune to tease her with, other times just shouting and yelling to attract her attention. Peter was more direct, shouting for her to watch him, his yells as he dived shattering the tranquillity of the pools. Through all the noise Wendy kept her back rigid, ignoring the taunts and whistles, using her imagination to supply the details as the occasional yelp of a missed dive or lost footing alerted her to some mishap. Tink had no such scruples, she darted over the heads of the two boys, flitting from one to the other, screaming with laughter when they slipped and fell, clapping her hands when one or the other executed a perfect dive.
Eventually even their energy ran out and they lay on the rocks beside the pool basking in the sun, still without a stitch on, their brown bodies rapidly drying in the warmth.
Wendy chose to leave them, still miffed at Peter for dropping her into the deep pool without warning, his laughter greeting her when she surface, coughing water and absolutely furious. As she wandered among the sweetly scented bushes, she started to pick some of the blooms, her arms quickly filling with the heady blossoms, a smile curving her mouth as she meandered from bush to bush.
Paolo was sitting with his knees drawn up, his arms wrapped around them, staring across the water to the small waterfall dropping from the bottom-most pool of the cascade. Peter was lying on his back, his hands behind his head, enjoying the feel of the sun on his body. Paolo turned his head and regarded the boy who looked so much like him. As his gaze wandered over Peter's torso he reached out a finger and traced the scar that ran from the base of Peter's throat down his breastbone. Peter felt the slight touch and opened his eyes, lifting his head to see what Paolo was pointing at. Seeing the white line he scowled, remembering the day Hook scored the line across his skin.
"Hook did that....he thought he had me, and he did, dead to rights. He was about to gut me when the crocodile arrived and drew his attention. While he gaped like a codfish at the beast, I flew away."
Seeing another scar, this time on Peter's forehead, Paolo pointed again.
Peter reached up and felt the slight ridge near his hairline.
"Hook did that too.....again, he had me at his mercy. He started talking about Wendy leaving and I lost my happy thoughts, sank to the deck like a stone. Then he shoved me up against the mast and nearly strangled me."
Paolo pantomimed a crocodile snapping its jaws.
"No, the crocodile didn't save me that time.....Hook had thrown me to the deck and raised his arm to slash me open." Peter smiled, remembering the look of desolation on Wendy's face just before she headbutted the pirate holding her and grabbed Hook's arm. He thought it was the bravest thing he'd ever seen. "Then Wendy stopped him, getting herself thrown down on the deck beside me. Hook wanted her to say a last goodbye before he killed me." Peter smiled broadly, remembering what came after. Paolo grinned as well, nudging Peter to continue. "Well Wendy.....er......Wendy saved me, the pirates were defeated and Hook was swallowed by the crocodile."
At Peter's rushed finale Paolo raised his eyebrows in surprise. Peter saw the gesture and flushed hotly. Seeing that, Paolo mock punched Peter on the arm, indicating for him to tell him what really happened.
Taking a deep breath, Peter grinned smugly. "Wendy kissed me.....and I turned pink....blew all the pirates off the boat with some sort of shock wave...all caused by that kiss...."
Paolo grinned even wider, pantomiming a beating heart with his two hand thumping against his chest. Peter only laughed, scrambling to his feet as Paolo also jumped up and ran for the water. In a flash both boys were slicing through the water like otters, splashing each other until the grove rang with their shouts.
Wendy had wandered far enough not to hear the renewal of mock-hostilities, her arms now full of heady blooms that wreathed her in sweet perfume. Humming to herself she walked down a faint track through the trees, the sun warm on her back.
"What a delightfully bucolic sight.......gathering posies for your lover, are we?"
Wendy looked up in shock, the flowers falling unheeded from her arms as she gaped at the woman blocking her path. While she stared, frozen in place, the bushes around her disgorged a collection of fearsome looking men, all of them brandishing long knives and cutlasses, nearly all with a brace of pistols in their belts. The woman, clearly the Captain Moon that Smee had warned them about, and that Peter had described to her, swaggered towards Wendy, her narrowed eyes raking the girl from the top of her glossy head to the bare toes peeping from under her skirts.
"You are clearly not a savage, so you cannot be from the Indian tribe, and you are not old enough to have been a member of Hook's dissolute crew......so one wonders where you have sprung from, my pretty." Lilliana started to circle the girl, her hands on her hips, her long fingers tapping as she considered the object of her scrutiny. "So if you are not from either of those camps......whose camp are you from?" Captain Moon stopped in front of Wendy, her hand reaching out to finger the material of the girls dress, her eyebrows rising as she realised that the girl had no undergarments on beneath the material. "Rather informal, even for this heathen island.....what is your name child?"
Swallowing, Wendy stared round eyed at the men on either side of her, her fear unfeigned as she tried to think. Not knowing what the Captain may or may have heard about her association with Peter Pan, Wendy decided to practise a small deception.
"Moira.....my names Moira."
"Well Moira...what are you doing out here in the wilds of nowhere?"
"Um........picking flowers."
With the speed of a snake Lilliana's hand lashed out and smacked Wendy across the face, knocking her to her knees.
"Now let's try that again, shall we? We'll ignore your insolence for the moment, who are you with, here on this island?"
"No-one," Wendy whispered, a hand held against her stinging cheek.
"Oh I think you can do better than that......you haven't been here long enough for even your cuffs to fray, so you only arrived here recently. Were you brought here by a certain flying boy?"
Refusing to give the woman an inch, Wendy decided to play dumb. Looking up blankly at the woman towering over her, Wendy allowed the tears that had sprung to her eyes from the blow, to spill from her lower lids and trickle down her face.
"I don't know any flying boy....what are you talking about?"
Unmoved, Lilliana hauled Wendy to her feet, bringing the girl almost nose to nose, Wendy rearing back as far as the punishing grip on her arm would allow.
"I think you know very well what I am talking about.....so don't play the fool with me, my girl. I want to know where to find Peter Pan....and I think you can tell me exactly what I want to know."
Staring into the glittering blue eyes, Wendy was forcibly reminded of the time Hook had held her against the mast, his eyes as compelling and ice cold as this woman's. Pressing her lips together, Wendy slowly turned her head way, staring over the woman's shoulders.
"I see.....he certainly has your loyalty, that is plain. I wonder what else he has of yours..... your heart? Your.......body?"
Wendy blinked once before turning her head and spitting in the Captain's face.
For a second the men standing around the glade held their breath. Lilliana lifted her free hand and wiped the spray of spittle from her face before fixing her ice blue gaze on Wendy's defiant face.
"I will forgive you this once......child.....but be assured, the next time you defy me, you will suffer accordingly. Mister Trent, take this baggage and bind her, we return to the Moonshadow."
"What about...." Trent asked, glancing along the track that Wendy had been following.
Lilliana grinned toothily, Wendy flinching back as far as she could, fearing the feral expression.
"I don't think we will have to worry about finding Peter Pan.....with this prize in our grasp, I think he will be coming to find us...and that is just how I like it....as a fly into a spider's web, Peter Pan's days on this island are numbered."
With a harsh shove, Captain Moon propelled Wendy into the arms of Trent, the man holding her tightly while another tied her hands and stuffed a gag in her mouth. Once bound, Wendy found herself thrown over Trent's shoulder and carried away, her cries muffled by the rough rag.
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Paolo found the flowers scattered around the path and whistled loudly for Peter.
Peter alighted on the ground and crouched down to look at the tracks.
Paolo tugged at his arm and pointed to a set of prints, one small and bare the other from a booted foot. Excitedly, Paolo pantomimed a kiss and pointed to the small print.
"Wendy?"
Paolo nodded then pointed to the booted print. His hand swept up into the air and described a circle, then he leapt to his feet and slash the air with an imaginary sword.
"Captain Moon.......she has Wendy!"
From the evidence of all the other prints it became clear that Captain Moon hadn't been alone, but surrounded by a raiding party of her crew and that once they had captured the girl, they'd turned and gone back the way they came.
Paolo picked up one of the flowers, twirling it in his fingers as Peter kicked angrily at the dirt, smudging the bootprints but leaving Wendy's untouched.
"Will she kill her?"
Paolo shook his head, pointing at Peter then making the motion of water with something on its surface.
"I have to rescue her....." Turning to leave, Peter felt a hand tug at his arm. Paolo was pointing at himself, then at Peter before making a sign with his two hands linked together, fingers entwined.
"You want to rescue her too....but you might end up captured again, if we don't succeed...."
Paolo grimaced and shrugged, accepting that possibility.
"Do you know where they'd put her on the ship?"
Nodding his head, Paolo placed his hand on his heart.
"Then we'd better get going.....we'll have the advantage of speed. While they walk, we can fly."
Holding out his hand, Peter waited for Paolo to take it before lifting into the air, the boy lifting with him. Shock made Paolo grip onto Peter's arm as well as his hand at first, his fear plain as he stared at the ground far below. As Peter showed no sign of letting him fall, Paolo started to relax, following Peter's example and releasing his arm to stretch it out at his side, still nervous but with a growing excitement starting to drown the terror. Peter flew slowly at first, in deference to Paolo's fears, but as the boy grew in confidence, Peter started to speed up, skimming over the tree tops, heading for the coast.
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Wendy's trip to the Moonshadow was far from comfortable. The journey to the coast had meant she remained bent over the man Trent's shoulder like a used carpet, her head hanging down his back, her hair sweeping the back of his legs. The motion had made her feel sick, the gag in her mouth not helping as she endured the hard pain of the mans' shoulder digging into her stomach. When she was finally put down, her legs wouldn't support her and she collapsed. When the gag was removed shortly afterwards, she retched weakly, producing nothing but liquid leaving her feeling wretched. Dumped in the bottom of one of the boats, she was rowed out to the ship, another sailor carrying her up and over the side before laying her on the deck while they unloaded the boats. Captain Moon was the last to board, her glacial eyes sweeping over the deck, a grin confirming her satisfaction in its state before she turned her attention to her captive.
"Ah my dear.....sorry your mode of transport wasn't more comfortable, but I couldn't allow you to hold us up.....it would never do to let Peter Pan have a chance to ambush us.....even with the odds so stacked in our favour. But now, what to do with you......I could lock you in the brig.....but we have only one, and there is already an inmate." Lilliana tapped her chin, walking around Wendy while she appeared to consider her options. "We could put you into a cabin....but then you're gallant lad won't know where to find you, might even think you are somewhere else and not on the ship at all.....no, I think we need to bait this trap with a very visible temptation."
Turning away, Captain Moon addressed her second in command.
"Mister Surry.....do we still have that traitors basket in the hold?"
"Yes Cap'n.....we last used it for Miggins.....the incident with the diamond ring."
"Ah yes.....was it cleaned after that?"
"Er.....I think so....shall I order it brought up on deck?"
"Indeed.....I think we have a new occupant for the cage."
While they waited for the crewmen to bring up the contraption, Captain Moon sat with one hip on the ships rail, a sailor sent to fetch a cigar which she puffed contentedly, staring out over the water in between sending suitably demeaning sneers at her captive.
For her part Wendy lay slumped on the deck, to scared and tired to care what new torment awaited her. A clanking rattle pulled her from her stupor, her eyes widening in horror as she watched two crewmen haul a metal cage onto the deck, a long chain dangling from the ring at its apex.
"Bring it over here.....let our prisoner see her new home!"
With the thump the contraption landed close to where Wendy huddled on the deck, her eyes round with shock as she stared at the narrow metal cage, bent into the shape of an upright person, the base was a circle of closely woven mesh, the rest more widely spaced like an odd shaped birdcage. As one of the men opened the door, it screeched alarmingly, making most of the men wince and making the hairs on the back of Wendy's neck stand upright.
With a nod from their Captain, two men stepped forward and hauled Wendy to her feet, dragging her towards the horrifying prison. Struggling, Wendy tried to stop them but the men were too strong and she found herself locked inside before she had a chance to do more than scream. Her hands had been freed and she clutched at the cold metal bars, her feet pressing on the chill grating of the base. A padlock secured the door before she was lifted inside the cage by the chain at its top until she swung helplessly some twenty feet above the deck.
Waving the crew back to their duties, Lilliana stared up at her prisoner and chuckled to herself.
"Now we've set the lure, lets prepare the trap. Do we have enough nets?"
"More than enough Cap'n. Along with the cargo nets, there's also the finer fishing nets as a back up."
"Good....then all we have to do keep a weather eye. I don't think our little bird will have long to wait for her rescuer."
Chucking the stub of her cigar over the side, Lilliana cast a last glance over the deck before heading for her cabin.
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Peter and Paolo had watched it all from the cliff above the bay, Peter's telescope providing the details as they saw Wendy placed in the cage and winched up the mast. Peter had ground his teeth in frustration to see his Wendy treated so horribly, his hands itching to wrap around the neck of the Captain and squeeze the life from her for causing so much heartache. Paolo had also seen much of the action, taking the telescope from Peter when his hands shook too badly with rage at Wendy's treatment.
Now they had to decide how they could free her without themselves becoming the Captains newest trophy's.
Finally it was decided that Paolo would provide a distraction, lure the watch away from the central deck and allow Peter to fly to the cage and break it open. As plan's went it was simple and direct, if lacking finesse, but Peter didn't want Wendy left in that cage any longer than she had to be. It was getting near to dusk and Peter decided to wait until it was close to dark before attempting to storm the ship. He and Paolo would swim the short distance to the ship where Paolo would set a fire at one end of the ship while Peter rescued Wendy.
As the light started to fade, they slipped into the sea and started to swim towards the Moonshadow. Keeping to the shadows they reached the relative safety of the hull, working their way around until they reached the anchor chain. There Paolo started to climb like a monkey up the chain into the windlass room below the foredeck of the ship.
Peter was to give him until the count of fifty before attempting to free Wendy. No sounds came from the ship to tell him that Paolo had been discovered, so on the count of fifty Peter rose into the air and started to work his way through the rigging to reach Wendy.
Carefully, slipping from shadow to shadow he reached the main mast. Keeping his movements small he slid around the mast until he was within a hands-breadth of the cage. Inside Wendy sat huddled on the bottom grating, her knees drawn up and her head buried in her arms.
"Wendy."
Peter's barely discernible whisper reached the girl and her head slowly lifted, the move so slow as to not draw attention.
"Peter?"
"Right next to you....by the mast."
"Peter....you mustn't be here....its a trap, there are nets all around here to catch you...fly away.....please....leave me!"
"I can't do that.....I have to free you."
"You can't.....its metal and there's a padlock on the door. There's no way you can get me out....fly away....don't get caught, she'll kill you for sure......"
Biting his lip, Peter thought about the options open to him. Paolo's distraction would be starting soon and he had little time to think. Staring up at the spar that held the chain attached to the cage, he followed the line of ropes controlling the spar, noting which ropes were the braces that swung the spar around to head the sail into the wind. At the moment the spar was at an angle, its end over the ships deck, if he cut the line the spar would fall back against the mast and the end would then overhang the deck by several feet. If he then was able to push the chain holding the cage along the spar to the end the cage would drop into the sea, well clear of the deck. Peter would then have to haul the cage complete with Wendy still inside out of the sea and back to the island, always supposing that both of them weren't shot full of holes before he completed the whole manoeuvrer.
In the time it took for him to plan and discard half a dozen alternatives, smoke was starting to curl up out of the foredeck cabin, a shout from the watch bringing crew onto the deck, buckets being lowered over the side to bring up water to quench the flames. Realising that he'd run out of time, Peter decided to go with his first plan and swung his blade, severing the braces along with a host of other ropes. With a crack the spar lurched around and smacked against the mainmast, the move making the cage swing violently. On the deck below shouts were raised and faces upturned to stare at Wendy in the cage. Peter was now pulling on the chain, his feet brace on the spar, trying to lift it to free it to slide along and down towards the end of the spar. Captain Moon rushed onto the deck and looked up, seeing the loose rigging and the figure on the spar.
"He's here......loose the net, don't let him get away!"
Peter heard the order and looked up, seeing the net falling to catch him. Stepping off the spar he dropped down underneath it, standing on top of the metal cage with Wendy inside. The net intended to smother him, hit the spar and slid off, hitting the deck below. Realising that he needed gravity's help to get the cage to slip off the spar, he flew up and cut another set of ropes on one side making the spar lurch downwards on the other, the chain holding the cage immediately starting to slip down towards the end as the cage swung madly beneath it.
Quickly working out what Peter's plan was, Lilliana shouted for her marksmen to get their muskets and shoot to wound. In the precious seconds it took for her best shooters to arm their weapons Peter had worked the chain down the spar nearly to the end.
"Shoot you fools we're losing him!" Screamed the captain, a volley of shots following her order.
With a flick, Peter cut the rope attached to the chain, the cage slipping off the end of the spar.
"Take a deep breath Wendy!" Peter yelled as he watched the cage fall towards the water. With the spar already tilted it wasn't a long way but to Peter it all seemed to happen in slow motion, Wendy's white face upturned to his, her eyes huge as she felt the water close around her. Diving after her Peter felt something hit his back but he shrugged it off, hitting the water as Wendy and cage disappeared under it.
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(cue dramatic music yes dear reader...... the dreaded cliffy strikes again.........promise to work hard and get the next chapter out as soon as poss........aren't I the worst laughs evilly.........back soon.)
Author: Squeezynz
Chapter: Six - Enemies and Friends
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Smee puffed and mopped his brow, his striped hanky already damp with use. He and the rest of the former pirates had watched as poor George was dragged in front of the Captain of the Moonshadow, their hats coming off as a last farewell to a fallen comrade. After that Smee led them through the forest towards the Indian encampment, their chatter subdued under the dark trees. Each of them carried a small bundle of belongings, all they could carry while the Moonshadow remained anchored in their bay. On reaching the camp they parleyed with the Chief for lodgings and food, the Indian's listening with interest to all the news about the Moonshadow and its formidable Captain.
TinkerBell had been playing with the children in the camp, and saw the pirates arrive. Curious she listened to the talk in the Chief's tent before flying off to find Peter and tell him what she'd heard.
She arrived at the Stitch Bird trees but found them empty, her foot 6kicking at a discarded melon seed as she tried to think where he'd be. Giving up, she just decided to visit all the places he usually went and hope that he was at one of them.
At the third place, she found him, along with Wendy and a boy Tink hadn't seen before.
All three were in and around the Cascade, it's many levels of different shaped pools leading down to one big pool at the bottom.
Wendy was sitting high and dry on a rounded boulder, finger combing her long hair in the sun to let it dry, her dress only slightly damp after an impromptu dunking earlier on. Peter and Paolo were taking turns diving from the third pool, their wet bodies flashing through the air to disappear into the clear green ripples below. Wendy kept her back firmly turned towards the frolics because neither boy was bothering to wear clothes while they clambered, dived and swam. As they climbed back up to the ledge to take their next dive they constantly called to Wendy to watch, Paolo making a whistling noise, sometimes warbling like a bird, sometimes making a tune to tease her with, other times just shouting and yelling to attract her attention. Peter was more direct, shouting for her to watch him, his yells as he dived shattering the tranquillity of the pools. Through all the noise Wendy kept her back rigid, ignoring the taunts and whistles, using her imagination to supply the details as the occasional yelp of a missed dive or lost footing alerted her to some mishap. Tink had no such scruples, she darted over the heads of the two boys, flitting from one to the other, screaming with laughter when they slipped and fell, clapping her hands when one or the other executed a perfect dive.
Eventually even their energy ran out and they lay on the rocks beside the pool basking in the sun, still without a stitch on, their brown bodies rapidly drying in the warmth.
Wendy chose to leave them, still miffed at Peter for dropping her into the deep pool without warning, his laughter greeting her when she surface, coughing water and absolutely furious. As she wandered among the sweetly scented bushes, she started to pick some of the blooms, her arms quickly filling with the heady blossoms, a smile curving her mouth as she meandered from bush to bush.
Paolo was sitting with his knees drawn up, his arms wrapped around them, staring across the water to the small waterfall dropping from the bottom-most pool of the cascade. Peter was lying on his back, his hands behind his head, enjoying the feel of the sun on his body. Paolo turned his head and regarded the boy who looked so much like him. As his gaze wandered over Peter's torso he reached out a finger and traced the scar that ran from the base of Peter's throat down his breastbone. Peter felt the slight touch and opened his eyes, lifting his head to see what Paolo was pointing at. Seeing the white line he scowled, remembering the day Hook scored the line across his skin.
"Hook did that....he thought he had me, and he did, dead to rights. He was about to gut me when the crocodile arrived and drew his attention. While he gaped like a codfish at the beast, I flew away."
Seeing another scar, this time on Peter's forehead, Paolo pointed again.
Peter reached up and felt the slight ridge near his hairline.
"Hook did that too.....again, he had me at his mercy. He started talking about Wendy leaving and I lost my happy thoughts, sank to the deck like a stone. Then he shoved me up against the mast and nearly strangled me."
Paolo pantomimed a crocodile snapping its jaws.
"No, the crocodile didn't save me that time.....Hook had thrown me to the deck and raised his arm to slash me open." Peter smiled, remembering the look of desolation on Wendy's face just before she headbutted the pirate holding her and grabbed Hook's arm. He thought it was the bravest thing he'd ever seen. "Then Wendy stopped him, getting herself thrown down on the deck beside me. Hook wanted her to say a last goodbye before he killed me." Peter smiled broadly, remembering what came after. Paolo grinned as well, nudging Peter to continue. "Well Wendy.....er......Wendy saved me, the pirates were defeated and Hook was swallowed by the crocodile."
At Peter's rushed finale Paolo raised his eyebrows in surprise. Peter saw the gesture and flushed hotly. Seeing that, Paolo mock punched Peter on the arm, indicating for him to tell him what really happened.
Taking a deep breath, Peter grinned smugly. "Wendy kissed me.....and I turned pink....blew all the pirates off the boat with some sort of shock wave...all caused by that kiss...."
Paolo grinned even wider, pantomiming a beating heart with his two hand thumping against his chest. Peter only laughed, scrambling to his feet as Paolo also jumped up and ran for the water. In a flash both boys were slicing through the water like otters, splashing each other until the grove rang with their shouts.
Wendy had wandered far enough not to hear the renewal of mock-hostilities, her arms now full of heady blooms that wreathed her in sweet perfume. Humming to herself she walked down a faint track through the trees, the sun warm on her back.
"What a delightfully bucolic sight.......gathering posies for your lover, are we?"
Wendy looked up in shock, the flowers falling unheeded from her arms as she gaped at the woman blocking her path. While she stared, frozen in place, the bushes around her disgorged a collection of fearsome looking men, all of them brandishing long knives and cutlasses, nearly all with a brace of pistols in their belts. The woman, clearly the Captain Moon that Smee had warned them about, and that Peter had described to her, swaggered towards Wendy, her narrowed eyes raking the girl from the top of her glossy head to the bare toes peeping from under her skirts.
"You are clearly not a savage, so you cannot be from the Indian tribe, and you are not old enough to have been a member of Hook's dissolute crew......so one wonders where you have sprung from, my pretty." Lilliana started to circle the girl, her hands on her hips, her long fingers tapping as she considered the object of her scrutiny. "So if you are not from either of those camps......whose camp are you from?" Captain Moon stopped in front of Wendy, her hand reaching out to finger the material of the girls dress, her eyebrows rising as she realised that the girl had no undergarments on beneath the material. "Rather informal, even for this heathen island.....what is your name child?"
Swallowing, Wendy stared round eyed at the men on either side of her, her fear unfeigned as she tried to think. Not knowing what the Captain may or may have heard about her association with Peter Pan, Wendy decided to practise a small deception.
"Moira.....my names Moira."
"Well Moira...what are you doing out here in the wilds of nowhere?"
"Um........picking flowers."
With the speed of a snake Lilliana's hand lashed out and smacked Wendy across the face, knocking her to her knees.
"Now let's try that again, shall we? We'll ignore your insolence for the moment, who are you with, here on this island?"
"No-one," Wendy whispered, a hand held against her stinging cheek.
"Oh I think you can do better than that......you haven't been here long enough for even your cuffs to fray, so you only arrived here recently. Were you brought here by a certain flying boy?"
Refusing to give the woman an inch, Wendy decided to play dumb. Looking up blankly at the woman towering over her, Wendy allowed the tears that had sprung to her eyes from the blow, to spill from her lower lids and trickle down her face.
"I don't know any flying boy....what are you talking about?"
Unmoved, Lilliana hauled Wendy to her feet, bringing the girl almost nose to nose, Wendy rearing back as far as the punishing grip on her arm would allow.
"I think you know very well what I am talking about.....so don't play the fool with me, my girl. I want to know where to find Peter Pan....and I think you can tell me exactly what I want to know."
Staring into the glittering blue eyes, Wendy was forcibly reminded of the time Hook had held her against the mast, his eyes as compelling and ice cold as this woman's. Pressing her lips together, Wendy slowly turned her head way, staring over the woman's shoulders.
"I see.....he certainly has your loyalty, that is plain. I wonder what else he has of yours..... your heart? Your.......body?"
Wendy blinked once before turning her head and spitting in the Captain's face.
For a second the men standing around the glade held their breath. Lilliana lifted her free hand and wiped the spray of spittle from her face before fixing her ice blue gaze on Wendy's defiant face.
"I will forgive you this once......child.....but be assured, the next time you defy me, you will suffer accordingly. Mister Trent, take this baggage and bind her, we return to the Moonshadow."
"What about...." Trent asked, glancing along the track that Wendy had been following.
Lilliana grinned toothily, Wendy flinching back as far as she could, fearing the feral expression.
"I don't think we will have to worry about finding Peter Pan.....with this prize in our grasp, I think he will be coming to find us...and that is just how I like it....as a fly into a spider's web, Peter Pan's days on this island are numbered."
With a harsh shove, Captain Moon propelled Wendy into the arms of Trent, the man holding her tightly while another tied her hands and stuffed a gag in her mouth. Once bound, Wendy found herself thrown over Trent's shoulder and carried away, her cries muffled by the rough rag.
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Paolo found the flowers scattered around the path and whistled loudly for Peter.
Peter alighted on the ground and crouched down to look at the tracks.
Paolo tugged at his arm and pointed to a set of prints, one small and bare the other from a booted foot. Excitedly, Paolo pantomimed a kiss and pointed to the small print.
"Wendy?"
Paolo nodded then pointed to the booted print. His hand swept up into the air and described a circle, then he leapt to his feet and slash the air with an imaginary sword.
"Captain Moon.......she has Wendy!"
From the evidence of all the other prints it became clear that Captain Moon hadn't been alone, but surrounded by a raiding party of her crew and that once they had captured the girl, they'd turned and gone back the way they came.
Paolo picked up one of the flowers, twirling it in his fingers as Peter kicked angrily at the dirt, smudging the bootprints but leaving Wendy's untouched.
"Will she kill her?"
Paolo shook his head, pointing at Peter then making the motion of water with something on its surface.
"I have to rescue her....." Turning to leave, Peter felt a hand tug at his arm. Paolo was pointing at himself, then at Peter before making a sign with his two hands linked together, fingers entwined.
"You want to rescue her too....but you might end up captured again, if we don't succeed...."
Paolo grimaced and shrugged, accepting that possibility.
"Do you know where they'd put her on the ship?"
Nodding his head, Paolo placed his hand on his heart.
"Then we'd better get going.....we'll have the advantage of speed. While they walk, we can fly."
Holding out his hand, Peter waited for Paolo to take it before lifting into the air, the boy lifting with him. Shock made Paolo grip onto Peter's arm as well as his hand at first, his fear plain as he stared at the ground far below. As Peter showed no sign of letting him fall, Paolo started to relax, following Peter's example and releasing his arm to stretch it out at his side, still nervous but with a growing excitement starting to drown the terror. Peter flew slowly at first, in deference to Paolo's fears, but as the boy grew in confidence, Peter started to speed up, skimming over the tree tops, heading for the coast.
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Wendy's trip to the Moonshadow was far from comfortable. The journey to the coast had meant she remained bent over the man Trent's shoulder like a used carpet, her head hanging down his back, her hair sweeping the back of his legs. The motion had made her feel sick, the gag in her mouth not helping as she endured the hard pain of the mans' shoulder digging into her stomach. When she was finally put down, her legs wouldn't support her and she collapsed. When the gag was removed shortly afterwards, she retched weakly, producing nothing but liquid leaving her feeling wretched. Dumped in the bottom of one of the boats, she was rowed out to the ship, another sailor carrying her up and over the side before laying her on the deck while they unloaded the boats. Captain Moon was the last to board, her glacial eyes sweeping over the deck, a grin confirming her satisfaction in its state before she turned her attention to her captive.
"Ah my dear.....sorry your mode of transport wasn't more comfortable, but I couldn't allow you to hold us up.....it would never do to let Peter Pan have a chance to ambush us.....even with the odds so stacked in our favour. But now, what to do with you......I could lock you in the brig.....but we have only one, and there is already an inmate." Lilliana tapped her chin, walking around Wendy while she appeared to consider her options. "We could put you into a cabin....but then you're gallant lad won't know where to find you, might even think you are somewhere else and not on the ship at all.....no, I think we need to bait this trap with a very visible temptation."
Turning away, Captain Moon addressed her second in command.
"Mister Surry.....do we still have that traitors basket in the hold?"
"Yes Cap'n.....we last used it for Miggins.....the incident with the diamond ring."
"Ah yes.....was it cleaned after that?"
"Er.....I think so....shall I order it brought up on deck?"
"Indeed.....I think we have a new occupant for the cage."
While they waited for the crewmen to bring up the contraption, Captain Moon sat with one hip on the ships rail, a sailor sent to fetch a cigar which she puffed contentedly, staring out over the water in between sending suitably demeaning sneers at her captive.
For her part Wendy lay slumped on the deck, to scared and tired to care what new torment awaited her. A clanking rattle pulled her from her stupor, her eyes widening in horror as she watched two crewmen haul a metal cage onto the deck, a long chain dangling from the ring at its apex.
"Bring it over here.....let our prisoner see her new home!"
With the thump the contraption landed close to where Wendy huddled on the deck, her eyes round with shock as she stared at the narrow metal cage, bent into the shape of an upright person, the base was a circle of closely woven mesh, the rest more widely spaced like an odd shaped birdcage. As one of the men opened the door, it screeched alarmingly, making most of the men wince and making the hairs on the back of Wendy's neck stand upright.
With a nod from their Captain, two men stepped forward and hauled Wendy to her feet, dragging her towards the horrifying prison. Struggling, Wendy tried to stop them but the men were too strong and she found herself locked inside before she had a chance to do more than scream. Her hands had been freed and she clutched at the cold metal bars, her feet pressing on the chill grating of the base. A padlock secured the door before she was lifted inside the cage by the chain at its top until she swung helplessly some twenty feet above the deck.
Waving the crew back to their duties, Lilliana stared up at her prisoner and chuckled to herself.
"Now we've set the lure, lets prepare the trap. Do we have enough nets?"
"More than enough Cap'n. Along with the cargo nets, there's also the finer fishing nets as a back up."
"Good....then all we have to do keep a weather eye. I don't think our little bird will have long to wait for her rescuer."
Chucking the stub of her cigar over the side, Lilliana cast a last glance over the deck before heading for her cabin.
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Peter and Paolo had watched it all from the cliff above the bay, Peter's telescope providing the details as they saw Wendy placed in the cage and winched up the mast. Peter had ground his teeth in frustration to see his Wendy treated so horribly, his hands itching to wrap around the neck of the Captain and squeeze the life from her for causing so much heartache. Paolo had also seen much of the action, taking the telescope from Peter when his hands shook too badly with rage at Wendy's treatment.
Now they had to decide how they could free her without themselves becoming the Captains newest trophy's.
Finally it was decided that Paolo would provide a distraction, lure the watch away from the central deck and allow Peter to fly to the cage and break it open. As plan's went it was simple and direct, if lacking finesse, but Peter didn't want Wendy left in that cage any longer than she had to be. It was getting near to dusk and Peter decided to wait until it was close to dark before attempting to storm the ship. He and Paolo would swim the short distance to the ship where Paolo would set a fire at one end of the ship while Peter rescued Wendy.
As the light started to fade, they slipped into the sea and started to swim towards the Moonshadow. Keeping to the shadows they reached the relative safety of the hull, working their way around until they reached the anchor chain. There Paolo started to climb like a monkey up the chain into the windlass room below the foredeck of the ship.
Peter was to give him until the count of fifty before attempting to free Wendy. No sounds came from the ship to tell him that Paolo had been discovered, so on the count of fifty Peter rose into the air and started to work his way through the rigging to reach Wendy.
Carefully, slipping from shadow to shadow he reached the main mast. Keeping his movements small he slid around the mast until he was within a hands-breadth of the cage. Inside Wendy sat huddled on the bottom grating, her knees drawn up and her head buried in her arms.
"Wendy."
Peter's barely discernible whisper reached the girl and her head slowly lifted, the move so slow as to not draw attention.
"Peter?"
"Right next to you....by the mast."
"Peter....you mustn't be here....its a trap, there are nets all around here to catch you...fly away.....please....leave me!"
"I can't do that.....I have to free you."
"You can't.....its metal and there's a padlock on the door. There's no way you can get me out....fly away....don't get caught, she'll kill you for sure......"
Biting his lip, Peter thought about the options open to him. Paolo's distraction would be starting soon and he had little time to think. Staring up at the spar that held the chain attached to the cage, he followed the line of ropes controlling the spar, noting which ropes were the braces that swung the spar around to head the sail into the wind. At the moment the spar was at an angle, its end over the ships deck, if he cut the line the spar would fall back against the mast and the end would then overhang the deck by several feet. If he then was able to push the chain holding the cage along the spar to the end the cage would drop into the sea, well clear of the deck. Peter would then have to haul the cage complete with Wendy still inside out of the sea and back to the island, always supposing that both of them weren't shot full of holes before he completed the whole manoeuvrer.
In the time it took for him to plan and discard half a dozen alternatives, smoke was starting to curl up out of the foredeck cabin, a shout from the watch bringing crew onto the deck, buckets being lowered over the side to bring up water to quench the flames. Realising that he'd run out of time, Peter decided to go with his first plan and swung his blade, severing the braces along with a host of other ropes. With a crack the spar lurched around and smacked against the mainmast, the move making the cage swing violently. On the deck below shouts were raised and faces upturned to stare at Wendy in the cage. Peter was now pulling on the chain, his feet brace on the spar, trying to lift it to free it to slide along and down towards the end of the spar. Captain Moon rushed onto the deck and looked up, seeing the loose rigging and the figure on the spar.
"He's here......loose the net, don't let him get away!"
Peter heard the order and looked up, seeing the net falling to catch him. Stepping off the spar he dropped down underneath it, standing on top of the metal cage with Wendy inside. The net intended to smother him, hit the spar and slid off, hitting the deck below. Realising that he needed gravity's help to get the cage to slip off the spar, he flew up and cut another set of ropes on one side making the spar lurch downwards on the other, the chain holding the cage immediately starting to slip down towards the end as the cage swung madly beneath it.
Quickly working out what Peter's plan was, Lilliana shouted for her marksmen to get their muskets and shoot to wound. In the precious seconds it took for her best shooters to arm their weapons Peter had worked the chain down the spar nearly to the end.
"Shoot you fools we're losing him!" Screamed the captain, a volley of shots following her order.
With a flick, Peter cut the rope attached to the chain, the cage slipping off the end of the spar.
"Take a deep breath Wendy!" Peter yelled as he watched the cage fall towards the water. With the spar already tilted it wasn't a long way but to Peter it all seemed to happen in slow motion, Wendy's white face upturned to his, her eyes huge as she felt the water close around her. Diving after her Peter felt something hit his back but he shrugged it off, hitting the water as Wendy and cage disappeared under it.
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(cue dramatic music yes dear reader...... the dreaded cliffy strikes again.........promise to work hard and get the next chapter out as soon as poss........aren't I the worst laughs evilly.........back soon.)