The Night of the Living Dead

"You just fail to cooperate, don't you?"

A bit of time on a ship can change a man, as it did with Willy Wonka. However, Ichabod was not going through a state in which being on a ship meant he was slowly turning into a pirate. His real problem was that of a navigation device that just would not work. He always thought you could fix anything but this was just proving otherwise!

"Why won't you point north?"

"Maybe it's broken"

Ichabod turned his gaze to Edward, who was sitting in the corner of the room, looking at pieces of gold that rested on a table.

"Yes Edward, it's broken. I think I have established that when I decided to fix it!"

Edward went back to staring at the pieces of gold. He looked a bit sad at Ichabod's response. But he jumped up when the former detective suddenly yelped.

"Where is it?" Ichabod hissed, now checking every pocket of his coat. Edward got very curious.

"What's the matter?"

"My book...sure protection against harm...the one Katrina gave me...I've lost it!"

Edward didn't seem to completly understand what was going on. He watched Ichabod as he rummaged through his bag. His eyes suddenly caught the gaze of the item the man was trying to fix. Ichabod had left it open on the table in his search for the book.

"Ichabod what is this?" Edward asked.

Ichabod looked up from under a table.

"It's Jack's compass. Mr. Rainey took it from him"

"What does it do?"

"It helps you get in the right direction" Ichabod answered impatiently.

Edward smiled. "Maybe it can help you find the book"

"No Edward...I doubt it would help me find..."

"There it is!"

Ichabod stared at where Edward was pointing. For there, sitting in a patch of moonlight, was the book. He quickly scrambled to the spot and grabbed the object.

"How did you find that?" Ichabod asked, stuffing the book back in his coat.

Edward pointed out the compass."It was pointing towards there!" he said, indicating where the book once lay.

Ichabod stared at Jack's compass. The arrow kept turning around and around, just like it always had when he looked at it. How then, did Edward see it stop? Was it pure irony that the book lay in the place that the arrow directed?

"Curious" Ichabod said.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Charlie was waiting until everyone was fast asleep. That way, Willy wouldn't notice his sudden departure until the next morning, when the boy hoped he would be far enough away.

He went down to the Sleeping Quarters at around midnight. Just as he had hoped, Mort was snoozing peacefully in his hammock. Willy of course, had his own bed upstairs as the Captain. Trying to be sneaky, Charlie took baby steps to not rose any of the crew. Not an easy feat considering that the wooden floor made a squeaking sound at every move he made.

"Where are you?" Charlie wondered of Ichabod and Edward. Then he remembered. Ichabod and Edward were working on something for the past few days( was it fixing something?)...he lost track. Ichabod did so many behind the scenes work on the ships it was hard to keep track.of what he was and was not doing.

Suddenly he heard voices from up on deck.

"It was just irony Mr. Crane! You don't actually think that compass is magic or something do you?"

So that was what was going on. It was a compass.

Charlie decided to sneak back upstairs to better listen up on the conversation.

Coming up onto the deck, he caught a glimpse of three people standing in front of the Captain's Quarters. Willy was standing with his arms crossed, looking very cross. It was odd to see his former mentor upset. He was usually the one to make conversations more lively, always smiling. Not anymore it would seem. Seeing Willy in this state made Charlie miss his odd ways even more than before.

On the opposite side of him stood Ichabod, also looking very angry. Hiding behind him was Edward, the only one in the bunch that wasn't angry. He was very scared. Charlie frowned. He wanted to go comfort him but knew he would be discovered. To keep hidden, Charlie went behind a burrel that held gun powder.

"I thought you loved magic...Captain" Ichabod said the last word being said with vemon. He gave a small cough before continuing.

"Look Mr. Wonka, I know you aren't the same person you were two years ago but..."

"I'm the same person I always was Ichabod" Wonka said. However, he didn't seem quite sure of it.

"You have grown to hate everyone Mr. Wonka! You have ignored your best friend! That is...the worst!"

Ichabod sighed. " Come on Ed" he said, treating him like he his dog instead a human friend.

"Where are you going?" Wonka called after the two retreating men. Ichabod turned around. He indicated the sky.

"It's night Mr. Wonka! So I'm going to bed! Maybe my dreams will take me to a place far from here but it's not like I can leave this ship can I? However, if the moment came when I could leave this place maybe I would!"

Ichabod and Edward turned on their heel and left.

Here is your moment to leave Mr. Crane! Charlie thought.

That chapter was mostly devoted to conversation betwen characters. Im trying to cram as much as possible into this chapter so we can finally cut to the chase and see Captain Jack again(because you all love him don't you?...lol) Anyway...Read and Review