The Capture
It wasn't long before Danny came back with the robo-constables. The intruders had plenty of time to get away, so we knew the danger had passed for the time being. We went back inside with the constables to find that every room downstairs was left exactly as it was before. The constables found it as odd as we did. When we got upstairs, we checked every bedroom, and each was left as before (save for a few opened drawers from which nothing had been taken). Finally, we inspected the room from which we heard the window breaking: the office. We saw glass scattered about the window which we expected but were shocked to see that the desks were flipped over and broken into two pieces each (apparently with an axe of some sort). Books and papers that were once arranged neatly on the walls' shelves were thrown all over the room. Jim finally broke the silence (although I had gasped with my first impression of the chaotic mess).
"Well, one thing's for sure," he said. "They were looking for something. And it's not just money or valuables. Our money stash is still safe. It couldn't have been pirates if nothing that's worth something is gone."
"And nothing was taken from my jewelry drawer," I added.
The kids affirmed that when they examined their rooms they found that none of their things had been taken
The constables observed the office, checking every possible space and crevice for more clues. They gave up after finding nothing. They scribbled on their notepads and assured us they would watch for any unwelcome impostors in the area. Before leaving, the constables helped straighten the room and return objects to their proper places (although we had to throw out the demolished desks). They also reminded us to keep our eyes open for anything the trespassers might have left behind and to inform the police station immediately if anything was found. When we told them we suspected pirates, they were not surprised, but they would be on the look out anyway. We thanked them and bid them goodnight.
In the morning Jim, Liz, Danny, and I came downstairs dressed in our normal, everyday clothing. Morph (who had helped clean up the night before, changing into a miniature broom to sweep the glass fragments into a pile) floated next to Jim's shoulder. We admitted to each other that we all had a fitful night's sleep. I suppose it was no surprise after the break in. That day was supposed to be a lazy Saturday, but our nerves were on edge. We replaced the broken window soon after the incident. Fortunately, it didn't cost too much.
Jim later joked, "I don't suppose they'd be looking for a map of any kind."
Liz and Danny laughed somewhat nervously (by that time, they had already heard of their father's Treasure Planet adventure). The thought of the break in made all of us a little anxious even when we tried to be in good spirits.
Poor Liz still wore that bracelet locked to her wrist. I was still suspicious about Sam, and Liz refused to even speak about him. She did, however, mention once that her emotions about him were mixed at that point. She was attracted to his kindness and charm, yet she too had grown doubtful. We knew nearly nothing of his background, and I felt that, for some reason, the young man wanted to keep it that way.
Liz and Danny still had about one and a half months before having to go back to school. Liz would be going back to the Academy, and we decided that Danny would finish up his schooling on Montressor. When he became the right age, we would have him tested to get into the Academy. I had noticed lately that he was reading more reference books from the office, including many astronomy books and encyclopedias. He would sometimes bring up interesting topics about things he had read at the dinner. Usually, everyone got involved in the conversation. Danny would bring up questions and even begin to challenge what some books stated (the points he made were often rather legitimate). He continued drawing and even displayed his artwork to the family. Occasionally, he would show my mother, Sarah, B.E.N., and the Dopplers when we met with them. Dr. Doppler and the Captain Amelia were quite impressed with the accuracy of his ship sketches.
We informed Jim's mother, my mother, B.E.N., and the Dopplers about the break in. Everyone was distressed about the security of the residents of Benbow and especially our safety (after all, they had only broken into our house).
The next few days dragged on slowly. It was a hot summer on Montressor. I remembered when Liz and Danny used to run outside in the yard (far away from the docks of course) when they were little and toss a ball to each other. They would make up outdoor games with B.E.N. and Morph. I used to hear the ever-present sound of laughter as I sat inside. It always made me smile.
Liz and Danny were at Crescentia one day. Jim had this impulse to take out the solar surfer. I had been wary about the device ever since I first heard Jim talk about it and especially after Danny's blinding incident. However, I knew my husband was experienced even though it hadn't been a while since he'd ridden it. I finally allowed him to do it after he pleaded me (I was glad he felt the need to ask my permission first, me being his wife and all). I watched him set up and beseeched him to be careful. He smiled at me before taking off. It occurred to me at that moment that his reflexes may not at that time have been what they used to be. He was not old, but he wasn't young anymore either (being almost forty). I was too late in stopping him though. I had to close my eyes when I saw him do his complicated maneuvers high in the atmosphere and around the canyon's jagged edges. But when I finally looked up, I was amazed. He still had those quick reactions necessary for flying the surfer. I stood watching him with a good feeling about Jim's certainty, and my apprehension subsided a little.
It was that very night. Jim, the kids, and I had long since gone to sleep. There was another crashing sound that woke Jim and me. The window in our room was broken. I heard a second and a third crash, each coming from Liz's room and Danny's room. A collection of about half a dozen horrid creatures of different species surrounded our bed. I knew who they were from the looks of them. Pirates. I heard screams and shouts from my children's rooms. Jim and I struggled against their firm clutches as they held us to the bed. Before I could do anything else, I felt a sharp pain on the side of my head and everything turned to darkness.
I awoke with sore muscles. My head ached greatly, and I felt a slight swaying motion. I tried to move, but I soon discovered that ropes tied my hands behind my back and my feet together. I assumed I had been unconscious from the blow in the head. I was seated on the floor of this strange location and propped up against what felt like a pole. I suddenly came to my senses and knew where I was: the brig of a ship. The dim light from a small lamp filled the place. I studied my surroundings, and to my relief, Jim, Liz, and Danny were all to my right. They were in the same position I was in, and they too were apparently knocked unconscious as well. They were still out cold. At that moment I began to worry. Why were we here?
To be continued...
It wasn't long before Danny came back with the robo-constables. The intruders had plenty of time to get away, so we knew the danger had passed for the time being. We went back inside with the constables to find that every room downstairs was left exactly as it was before. The constables found it as odd as we did. When we got upstairs, we checked every bedroom, and each was left as before (save for a few opened drawers from which nothing had been taken). Finally, we inspected the room from which we heard the window breaking: the office. We saw glass scattered about the window which we expected but were shocked to see that the desks were flipped over and broken into two pieces each (apparently with an axe of some sort). Books and papers that were once arranged neatly on the walls' shelves were thrown all over the room. Jim finally broke the silence (although I had gasped with my first impression of the chaotic mess).
"Well, one thing's for sure," he said. "They were looking for something. And it's not just money or valuables. Our money stash is still safe. It couldn't have been pirates if nothing that's worth something is gone."
"And nothing was taken from my jewelry drawer," I added.
The kids affirmed that when they examined their rooms they found that none of their things had been taken
The constables observed the office, checking every possible space and crevice for more clues. They gave up after finding nothing. They scribbled on their notepads and assured us they would watch for any unwelcome impostors in the area. Before leaving, the constables helped straighten the room and return objects to their proper places (although we had to throw out the demolished desks). They also reminded us to keep our eyes open for anything the trespassers might have left behind and to inform the police station immediately if anything was found. When we told them we suspected pirates, they were not surprised, but they would be on the look out anyway. We thanked them and bid them goodnight.
In the morning Jim, Liz, Danny, and I came downstairs dressed in our normal, everyday clothing. Morph (who had helped clean up the night before, changing into a miniature broom to sweep the glass fragments into a pile) floated next to Jim's shoulder. We admitted to each other that we all had a fitful night's sleep. I suppose it was no surprise after the break in. That day was supposed to be a lazy Saturday, but our nerves were on edge. We replaced the broken window soon after the incident. Fortunately, it didn't cost too much.
Jim later joked, "I don't suppose they'd be looking for a map of any kind."
Liz and Danny laughed somewhat nervously (by that time, they had already heard of their father's Treasure Planet adventure). The thought of the break in made all of us a little anxious even when we tried to be in good spirits.
Poor Liz still wore that bracelet locked to her wrist. I was still suspicious about Sam, and Liz refused to even speak about him. She did, however, mention once that her emotions about him were mixed at that point. She was attracted to his kindness and charm, yet she too had grown doubtful. We knew nearly nothing of his background, and I felt that, for some reason, the young man wanted to keep it that way.
Liz and Danny still had about one and a half months before having to go back to school. Liz would be going back to the Academy, and we decided that Danny would finish up his schooling on Montressor. When he became the right age, we would have him tested to get into the Academy. I had noticed lately that he was reading more reference books from the office, including many astronomy books and encyclopedias. He would sometimes bring up interesting topics about things he had read at the dinner. Usually, everyone got involved in the conversation. Danny would bring up questions and even begin to challenge what some books stated (the points he made were often rather legitimate). He continued drawing and even displayed his artwork to the family. Occasionally, he would show my mother, Sarah, B.E.N., and the Dopplers when we met with them. Dr. Doppler and the Captain Amelia were quite impressed with the accuracy of his ship sketches.
We informed Jim's mother, my mother, B.E.N., and the Dopplers about the break in. Everyone was distressed about the security of the residents of Benbow and especially our safety (after all, they had only broken into our house).
The next few days dragged on slowly. It was a hot summer on Montressor. I remembered when Liz and Danny used to run outside in the yard (far away from the docks of course) when they were little and toss a ball to each other. They would make up outdoor games with B.E.N. and Morph. I used to hear the ever-present sound of laughter as I sat inside. It always made me smile.
Liz and Danny were at Crescentia one day. Jim had this impulse to take out the solar surfer. I had been wary about the device ever since I first heard Jim talk about it and especially after Danny's blinding incident. However, I knew my husband was experienced even though it hadn't been a while since he'd ridden it. I finally allowed him to do it after he pleaded me (I was glad he felt the need to ask my permission first, me being his wife and all). I watched him set up and beseeched him to be careful. He smiled at me before taking off. It occurred to me at that moment that his reflexes may not at that time have been what they used to be. He was not old, but he wasn't young anymore either (being almost forty). I was too late in stopping him though. I had to close my eyes when I saw him do his complicated maneuvers high in the atmosphere and around the canyon's jagged edges. But when I finally looked up, I was amazed. He still had those quick reactions necessary for flying the surfer. I stood watching him with a good feeling about Jim's certainty, and my apprehension subsided a little.
It was that very night. Jim, the kids, and I had long since gone to sleep. There was another crashing sound that woke Jim and me. The window in our room was broken. I heard a second and a third crash, each coming from Liz's room and Danny's room. A collection of about half a dozen horrid creatures of different species surrounded our bed. I knew who they were from the looks of them. Pirates. I heard screams and shouts from my children's rooms. Jim and I struggled against their firm clutches as they held us to the bed. Before I could do anything else, I felt a sharp pain on the side of my head and everything turned to darkness.
I awoke with sore muscles. My head ached greatly, and I felt a slight swaying motion. I tried to move, but I soon discovered that ropes tied my hands behind my back and my feet together. I assumed I had been unconscious from the blow in the head. I was seated on the floor of this strange location and propped up against what felt like a pole. I suddenly came to my senses and knew where I was: the brig of a ship. The dim light from a small lamp filled the place. I studied my surroundings, and to my relief, Jim, Liz, and Danny were all to my right. They were in the same position I was in, and they too were apparently knocked unconscious as well. They were still out cold. At that moment I began to worry. Why were we here?
To be continued...