Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson Page B

the side of his head from Harbuckle.
    “Hey!” said Preston, rubbing his head.
    “Don’t pay him no mind,” said Harbuckle to Slank. “He’s confused from swal owing seawater. He knows good and wel we’re from the Marcelle .” Harbuckle was glaring at Preston now. “Got that, mate? The Marcelle .”
    “Is that so?” said Slank, quietly.
    “Yes, sir,” said Harbuckle. “It surely is. She went down in a storm, a bad one. We was lucky to get the dory launched, sir, and if you hadn’t come along, we—”
    “I know the Marcelle ,” interrupted Slank.
    “You do?” said Harbuckle, looking surprised.
    “I do,” said Slank. “Tel me, did Captain Ferguson go down with the ship?”
    Harbuckle hesitated, then said, “Aye, sir, that he did. He was a courageous man, Captain Ferguson.”
    “Yes,” said Slank. “He was. Now, there’s one more thing I need you to tel me …”
    “What’s that, sir?” said Harbuckle.
    Slank drew his knife, the blade’s honed edge glinting. “What part of you do I feed to the sharks first?” The crowd gasped, some drawing back, some moving in for a better view.
    “No!” said Harbuckle, his fear-widened eyes riveted on the knife. “Please, sir! Why? ”
    “Because you’re a lying piece of kelp,” said Slank. “The Marcelle is commanded by Captain Paige. Captain Ferguson died twenty years ago.” Slank took a step toward Harbuckle, who scrambled backward.
    “Please, sir!” he screamed. “No! NO! I’l tel you the truth!”
    “And what would that be?” snarled Slank.
    “We was thrown off the Sea Devil ,” said Harbuckle.
    Another gasp from the crowd.
    Slank barked out a laugh. “D’you expect me to believe that Black Stache would sail with a pair of fat slugs like you?”
    “It’s true, sir!” said Harbuckle. “I swear it!” He turned to Preston. “Tel him, Preston! Tel him what ship we’re from!” Preston frowned. “The Marcelle ,” he said.
    “NO!” shouted Harbuckle.
    “But you said …”
    “TELL HIM THE TRUTH BEFORE HE KILLS US, YOU IDJIT!” screamed Harbuckle.
    “Wel , make up your mind!” said Preston. To Slank, he said: “I tried to tel you. We’re from the Sea Devil. ” Slank studied the two men. “Al right, then,” he said. “If you’re from the Sea Devil, what were you doing in the sea? And before you answer, know this: if I think you’re lying, you’l go right back into the sea.” He flashed the blade. “In pieces.”
    Harbuckle gulped. “Sir,” he said, “Black Stache put us adrift in a dory.”
    “And why would he do that?” said Slank.
    “To lighten the Sea Devil, ” said Harbuckle. “To give her speed. He even threw most of the water barrels overboard.” Another crowd gasp.
    “You’re lying,” said Slank, stepping forward again. “No captain throws water overboard.”
    “It’s true!” said Harbuckle. “Black Stache is mad! He says now the crew wil have to catch the Wasp . To get the water.”
    “The Wasp ?” said Slank. “Black Stache is after the Wasp? ”
    Peter noticed that, across the circle, Mol y had moved forward a step.
    Her father is aboard the Wasp.
    “Yes,” said Harbuckle. “He says there’s a treasure on the Wasp. ”
    “And what would that be?” said Slank.
    “He didn’t specify,” said Harbuckle. “He just said it was a great treasure. The greatest treasure ever taken to sea, he says.” Peter saw Mol y frown.
    “The greatest treasure ever taken to sea,” repeated Slank, softly.
    “That’s what he says,” said Harbuckle.
    “Any clue to the nature of this treasure?” Slank asked.
    “A trunk,” Harbuckle said. “It’s in a trunk. Black Stache has a prisoner, an officer of the Royal Guard. He’s the one told Black Stache about the trunk. Says a fine trunk was brought aboard just before the Wasp set sail, escorted by a dozen armed men.”
    “What’s in this trunk?” said Slank.
    Mol y was staring hard at the pirate now.
    “I dunno,” said Harbuckle. “The