Pirate Legacy
Chapter Seven
We soon spotted the Waponi war boat, a wooden platform build atop an ornate wooden catamaran, propelled by the wooden oars of the silver-haired Waponis.
A higher deck was built on the half of the platform towards the stern, containing a large stone statue depicting the face of a platypus and the handle for the rudder.
I heard that the Waponis lived near a volcano and they would take up arms against their enemies without hesitation – essentially everyone, especially the brown-haired Nui.
"We'll be outnumbered if we board them, so we'll fire at them from a distance. Bonnie and Emmett, you'll provide cover fire while Rena and I fire the cannons."
The others nodded and as Rena and I loaded the first shot, Bonnie quickly took out the helmsman of the war boat with a shot from her sparquebus.
"That ought to send the cat amongst the pigeons." Bonnie remarked as the Water Moles scrambled to their weapons.
"Or the fox amongst the platypuses." I said as I plugged my ears. "Fire the cannon!"
As Rena lit the fuse, the cannon fire its cannonball, making a huge hole in the war boat, and the Waponis began slinging rocks at us, most of them falling short into the clouds.
As Bonnie and Emmett returned fire, I covered the air vent of the cannon to suffocate any sparks to prevent it from firing when it's not supposed to.
Rena cleared out the cannon of hot debris with a damp sponge rod, and I then rammed the powder charge into the cannon.
As I loaded the cannonball, Rena removed the cover of the air vent and carefully inserted a fuse. As I turned the Highwind so that the cannon faced the rudder, Rena fired, taking out the rudder.
As the boat was rendered unable to move effectively, we decided to smash a gunpowder keg onto the deck of the war boat.
As I turned the Highwind so that we were next to the war boat's port side, Bonnie threw a keg onto the deck, smashing the container and spreading its contents around.
Emmett quickly pulled out his other pistol and fired, igniting the war boat in an explosion. "Well, that ought to do it. Let's return to the Chief."
"My people praise you, Captain, and I thank you. You have restored my people's honor. In friendship, I offer you a Mojo Potion." Chief Omutu said after the small celebratory feast in our honor. "My ancestors smile upon you."
I guess it wasn't too bad, but I honestly think we got more attention than we deserved. Any ship with a few cannons could've done what we've done. One of Chief Omutu's attendants gingerly handed me a clear Yum bottle filled with the glowing blue healing salve.
"I do not know why Ratbeard has made this pact with the Waponis. My heart tells me he will regret it, for the Waponis cannot be trusted. You seek the Fisher Bird? Hunter Roku is his friend – talk to Hunter Roku."
As we left the Chief's hut, we soon found Hunter Roku sitting amongst his friends. "Excuse us, but we're looking for the Fisher Bird."
"You seek Fisher Bird – the one who lives on the back of the whale? He is my friend. He was here for market." Hunter Roku said. "When the Rat Pirate and the Waponis caused all the troubles, Fisher Bird ran away like many others did."
"I saw Fisher Bird leave – he was in a boat with many pirates. He was waving arms and yelling. He looked happy. The boat sailed to Skull Island. I even took picture with new camera!"
Hunter Roku showed us a photograph showing a pirate crew of dogs rowing a boat while holding down a struggling pelican, who did not look happy at all.
"Set course for Skull Island. We've got a pelican to find." I said to the crew. As we arrived at Skull Island, we began combing the streets for Norville, which took up most of the afternoon.
"Norville's here somewhere, I just know it! But where is he?" Rena asked as we regrouped at the Kraken Skulls Tavern over bottles of Yum.
It was my first time tasting Yum, and it was really good: fruity, but not too sweet.
"I'll ask Skinny Pete, the barkeep. He'll know!" Emmett said as he stood up and walked to the bar.
His name's Skinny Pete? That's pretty ironic. I thought to myself as I glanced at the bartender, a fat bearded old man.
"How should I know? Go ask Blind Mew. That old cat has an ear to every keyhole on this island!" Skinny Pete said to Emmett, none too quietly.
"It looks like we've got a blind man to see." I said to the others, no pun intended.
"We meet again. May I be of more assistance? I've been standing here awhile – I know everyone's who's come and gone." Blind Mew said as we approached him.
"We're looking for a pelican and a group of dogs." I told him.
"You're in luck – I noted the briny smell of a fisherman's coat a while back, amidst a big group of panting pirates."
"I took the liberty of following them a short way. They were indeed walking with a long-legged sky bird."
"They spoke not a word, but made straight for the drain by the abandoned shack. I heard the grate open and shut – they've gone in the sewers."
"Thank you, Blind Mew." I said as we began running towards the drain.
As we arrived at the entrance of the drain near the waterfall, Bonnie bent down to inspect some tracks leading into the sewer. "Judging by these tracks, no one's left the sewers."
I nodded. "Then we're heading in. Follow me."
As we opened the grate and shut it after all of us were inside, we picked up lanterns with candles that were left behind and lit them with matches.
"Phew, what a stench they have here!" Emmett said as we walked through the sewers.
Before we went deeper into the sewer, Rena brought out a spool of thread used to repair clothes and tied it to the grate.
I had to smile a little at this nod to Greek mythology. "It's just like Theseus and the Minotaur, except the 'minotaur' smells a whole lot worse."
We all laughed and then we began our search for Norville. We soon encountered light coming from one of the splits in the sewer tunnels.
As we drew our weapons and met the light, a group of dogs dressed like pirates with an otter flanked by a guinea pig and sloth with halberds in the lead stood in our way.
I could see Norville chained to the wall, a little bruised and battered, but not bad.
"Who goes there? Hey! You're not Sammy – get them, lads!" The otter shouted.
As we rushed towards each other, the otter fired his pistol at me, hitting me in the left arm and sent me sprawling on my back behind the others.
"Matt!" Rena shouted as she began to run towards me, but the sloth stepped in her way, and they began to duel.
"Here, take this, lad!" Emmett shouted as he tossed me his pistol. My left arm was useless, and I needed both hands to reload, so I only had one shot.
In retaliation, Bonnie took down the otter with a single blast from her sparquebus. Rena broke the sloth's halberd in half, and she slammed the flat of her blade into his skull, knocking him out.
Emmett fired his pistol at one dog, and then dodged the slash of a cutlass. I hated the fact that I couldn't help my friends when they needed me, and then I remembered the pistol.
I aimed at the guinea pig and pulled the trigger, sending him onto his back, stunned.
There were two dogs left, and Rena took them both on, pushing one onto his back when their blades were locked, and slamming the flat of her blade into the back of the other dog's head, knocking him out.
As the dog began to get up, Rena slammed the flat of her blade onto his forehead, knocking him out as well.
"You can keep the pistol, Captain. I'll take this fellow's." Emmett said to me as he pried the pistol from the other otter's hands and tossed me the holster from the otter's belt. I nodded as I put it onto my belt and holstered the pistol.
"Thank you! I thought I was doomed for certain." Norville said gratefully as we freed him. "I don't know who this 'Sammy' was these villains were working for, and I hope to never meet him."
"Captain Ahab sent us to look for you. You sure gave us a merry chase." I said as I clutched my arm.
"What's that? My father sent you? Good – I need to get the Frogfather's payment to him at once!" Norville said urgently.
"What do you pay the Frogfather for?" I asked, though an idea formed in my head.
"Aye, the Frogfather. Jonah Town pays him each month to… well… I'll leave that to my father to explain. Aye, let's go." Norville said. We led him out of the sewer and Emmett took the helm as Rena and Bonnie tended to our injuries.
"This arm's going to be useless for awhile, so just take it easy." Rena said, and I nodded as she put my arm in a sling.
Norville had nothing that wouldn't heal on its own, and we arrived safely at Jonah Town, where Captain Ahab was waiting near the boatswain's chair.
As Norville hopped onto the docks and hugged his father, Captain Ahab said, "You have my thanks, Captain. My son is safe and sound, and you've recovered our money from the market."
"So what're you paying the Frogfather for?" I asked, my eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"What's that? Aye, the money's going to be paid to the Frogfather, yes. That's supposed to be a secret." Captain Ahab said in a whisper. "We have an arrangement with the Frogfather. We pay him to protect Jonah Town from all the Cutthroats and other ruffians."
"You still mean to see the Frogfather? I advise against it, but very well – I'll send you down." Captain Ahab said, jerking a thumb at the boatswain's chair hanging above the whale's blowhole.
"Wait, down?" Rena asked, shocked.
"That's right, missy. I said down." Captain Ahab said. "You mean you haven't heard? The Frogfather doesn't live in Jonah Town, missy, he lives under it!"
"He and his syndicate dwell down in Gullet, in the whale's dark belly. They don't take kindly to strangers, and a stranger you certainly are."
"Get on the boatswain's chair, and I'll lower you down. Watch yourselves."
As we all climbed onto the boatswain's chair, Captain Ahab and Norville began winching the boatswain's chair down the whale's blowhole.
A short, dark trip later, we were greeted by torchlight and a disgusting smell as we gazed upon a ramshackle town in the belly of the whale.
"So this is Gullet? What an interesting smell they've discovered." Bonnie remarked as we climbed out of the boatswain's chair.
"I agree. I'm getting nauseous, and I've been hanging around Wharf Rats since childhood." Rena agreed.
"Who are you?" A frog asked as he stopped us.
"My name is Matt Exeter." I answered, unafraid.
"I've never heard of you? What's your business here?" The frog asked warily.
"We're here to see the Frogfather." I answered.
"Oh, you want to see the Frogfather. Sure… that can be arranged." The frog said as he jerked a thumb at the ramp behind him. "Head up the ramp behind me, then turn left and down again. You'll see big double doors, dead ahead. Knock three times, and ask for Rocco."
"Who's Rocco?" I asked.
"He's the Frogfather's doorman, you see. He'll let you in. The password is… ah… swordfish." The frog answered. I nodded as we left.
"We're definitely walking into a trap." I said to the others as soon as we were out of earshot. "Get your weapons ready."
We arrived at the double doors, and as we pushed them open, we saw a frog guarded by two crab thugs with daggers. "Who let you in? What's the password?"
"It's swordfish." I answered, my hand inching towards my pistol.
"Ah, I see. Gatecrashers, is it? I'm afraid without an invitation; you aren't seeing anyone… but the undertaker! Get them, lads!" The frog, Rocco shouted as two more frogs armed with pistols appeared out of the shadows.
I drew my pistol and fired directly at the crab thug running at me, stunning him. I blew the smoke from the barrel of my pistol.
As I hid behind a barrel, I could move my fingers, so I began to reload, somewhat slowly, but I managed to get the bullet inside.
I aimed the gun again and stunned a frog that was just about to shoot Rena in the back.
The other crab thug charged towards Bonnie, who calmly aimed her rifle, still loaded, and fired, stunning him and causing him to fall down on his face.
Only two frogs were left, and Emmett took down the frog guarding Rocco by slamming the handle of his unloaded pistol into his face, knocking him out. We all seem to be found of attacks to head, are we?
"That's enough! Alright, you've survived the audition. Frogfather's house is across the square, with the Crabs outside. The password is 'ribbet.'" Rocco shouted.
"Are you serious? That's your password? That's the silliest thing I've ever heard." Rena said.
"It's true, frog's honor! Nobody's guessed it yet! Go on!" Rocco pleaded.
As we arrived at the Frogfather's house, nondescript save for its large size and the Crabs guarding it, one of them asked, "What's the password?"\
"Uh… It's ribbet?" Rena said uncertainly. The Crabs looked at each other, and nodded. "Go on in."
As they opened the door for us, we walked inside. The office was tastefully decorative: practical-looking, yet no one could call it plain.
The Frogfather was sitting in a red-cushioned chair, wearing a black tuxedo with a red rose in his lapel; although he didn't exactly did the outfit justice, seeing as how he was overweight.
Rocco was there too, but how he managed to get here so fast, I didn't know."
"Who is this stranger that barges into my house?" The Frogfather asked interestedly, and not at all upset.
I swallowed as I stepped forward. "My name is Exeter, sir. Matthew Exeter."