Phoenix Rising by Bryony Pearce Page B

to a halt at his back and Toby turned. Crocker hunched, trying to cover his blood-splashed cheeks with his shoulders. “That boy has been in the galley, stealing food and vandalizing .”
    “Stealing food, Toby? Is this the time?” The captain frowned at Crocker’s face but said nothing. He reached down and pulled Toby to his feet.
    “I never.” Toby shook his head.
    “Is that the oven delivery line around your waist?”
    “It’s the only one long enough to replace the ruptured line.”
    The captain raked his hand through his curly beard. “I came down to see how you were getting on and found a strange boy shovelling ash from the combustion chamber. I assume he can account for the missing food, and that covers the vandalizing.” He pointed at the delivery line. The Phoenix lurched and the captain grunted. “We’re almost out of time. The storm’s overhead. I’ve told the crew to haul in the sails.”
    Peel pulled to a halt behind Crocker and opened his mouth.
    The captain held up a hand. “Sorry, Peel, but we don’t have time for the tea you were going to brew us all. And we’ll be eating raw for a couple of days. Head back up top and help with the sails.” He put a hand on Toby’s shoulder. “Let’s get that boiler fixed.”
    Behind the captain’s back, Peel’s civilized face melted away to reveal the monster beneath. He showed his teeth and growled.

    Down in the boiler room, Captain Ford rolled up his sleeves. “It’s hot in here,” he commented. He scrubbed his forehead and put on his glasses, which instantly steamed up. “I’ll take out the ruptured line and you start attaching the new one.” He removed his glasses and tucked them back in his pocket. “New boy, what is the water gauge reading?”
    “I-it’s almost half full,” Hiko stammered.
    “All right. You can refill the combustion chamber with compressed fuel, but don’t light the fire yet.”
    “His name is Hiko.” Toby handed his father a screwdriver. “You’ll need this.”
    The captain shook his head. “Got my own.” He opened his windcheater to reveal a tool belt much like Toby’s. “I’m never without my tools.” He grinned. The Phoenix rolled until the sea splashed in through the open porthole and his grin widened. “By heaven, I’ve missed this.” He rapped his screwdriver against the attemperator with a ringing clang. “But as the Phoenix reminds us, we’re on a deadline. Move it.”

    Even Toby’s sea-hardened stomach was beginning to roll as the boiler room tipped up and down. Salt water sloshed around his feet, stinging his toes as it splashed in the porthole with every other pitch of the ship.
    “We’ve got to keep the fuel dry,” Barnaby yelled. “Hiko, close that porthole.”
    “Who’s a pretty birdie?” Polly fluttered anxiously, as if it were her claws that were getting a seawater bath and not Toby’s feet. She landed on top of the boiler, which was now shuddering hard enough to shake her plumage.
    She went silent for a moment then, “Polly want a cracker,” she muttered.
    “That isn’t helping, Polly.” Barnaby tossed the ruptureddelivery line into Toby’s ‘things that might be useful one day’ pile. “Toby, pass me one end of the line. I’ll attach it to the boiler.”
    “Hiko –” Toby shoved the line at the shaking stowaway – “take it to the captain.”
    “I—”
    “I don’t bite, Hiko.” Barnaby grabbed the line from him. “Hold this up here, while I screw her in.”
    Hiko stood next to the captain, knees trembling.
    “Tell me, Hiko, how long have you been on board?”
    “Since the last port,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
    “Not to worry.” Barnaby tightened the last screw. “I’m not going to feed you to the fishes. You’ve been a great help today. Just keep on being helpful and you can find a berth in the sleeping quarters near Toby’s. Eat in the main hall with us and stay out of the vents. I don’t want a repeat of six years ago.”
    “Hey