24

Finnbarr Galedeep watched anxiously as the triangular gray-blue fin sailed in close to the midships of Pearl Queen, Rufe tugged at the sea otters paw. “Well, is it a shark, Mr. Finnbarr?

Finnbarr nodded unhappily. “Aye, liddle Rufey, tis a shark all right. Big monster, too. Lookit that, Vs watchin us, the villain.

The shark had turned slightly on its side. Above the crescent-gashed mouth with its rows of ripping teeth a small, circular eye stared at them. Finnbarr kept his good eye on the monster. “Dont call out loud or make sudden movements, Rufey, he murmured quietly. “We dont wants ter excite this fishtheyve been known to wreck vessels, just to git at the crew an eat em.

Rufe stole silently away. Finnbarr called after him in a loud whisper, “Rufey, mate, where are ye goin?

“To keep miz Rosie quietif she starts laffin were all done for!

Rufe was knocked from his feet as Pearl Queen shook from stem to stern. He crawled over to Finnbarr. “Is the shark attackin our ship now? he said.

The sea otter watched the maneuvers of the great shark. “No, es only playin with us, scrapin his hide along the ships sides, scratchin hisself, ymight say. Sharks likes to do that now an agin. Look out, ere comes the other sleepin beauties, all waked up an fit fer a fright.

The vessel juddered again under the impact of the sharks rubbing. Rosie Woodsorrel was knocked in a heap with the rest. She sat on the deck giggling aloud. “Whoo-hahahooh! I say, bit bumpy tday, wot? Whooha ... Rufe effectively gagged her by throwing himself bodily across her face.

“Miz Rosie, hush, please hush!

Log-a-Log lifted Rufe off Rosie. “Whats the matter, young un?

Rufe seized hold of Durry and Patch, pulling them to the rail. “Its a shark monster attackin* our ship!

They grabbed the rail alongside Finnbarr as the vessel quivered under a heavy swipe from the sharks blunt snout. Finnbarr slapped the rail, exhaling loudly. “Well, e wasnt attackin us afore; jus bein playful an nosy. That was til you started laffin, marm!

Rosie leaned over amidships to view the massive bulk of the shark. It could be seen clearly now by all the crew. From tip to tail it was nearly as long as Pearl Queen, a true monster of the deep, with rows of slitted gills on either side of the huge evil head, a white underbelly, and bluish-black back markings. With a powerful flick of its sickle-shaped tail it sped away from the ship.

Rosie waved. “Oh look, hes going. Good show, wot? Whoohahahooh!

Finnbarr gritted his teeth as he looked at Joseph. “Will yew stuff a gag down that long-eared foghorns mouth, mate? That shark aint goin. Es just takin a run so e kin charge us proper. All crew ang on tight!

The shark came back like a juggernaut, spray flying from its fin as it headed straight at Pearl Queens bows. Finnbarr leaped to the tiller, shoving it hard over in the same direction as the shark was traveling. It hit forard.

Whummmm!

Log-a-Log ran to Finnbarr* s assistance shouting, “Well done, Finn. You took most of the force out of that blow, goin the same way the shark did!

Durry had run forard. He shouted from the bowsprit, “The sharks gone under the water now, I cant see him!

Pearl Queen shuddered fitfully. “Its underneath now, scraping along the keel, said Joseph, pointing down.

Finnbarr made ready with the tiller. “Tell me where e comes up agin an ow es comin at us!

Durry stayed forard, Joseph took the stern, while Rufe and Patch climbed into the lower rigging to port and starboard. Late-afternoon shadows lengthened on deck, sails flapped gently, and rigging creaked, as the four lookouts scanned the sea around them. Suddenly Durry called out, “Here it comes again, dead on forard!

Finnbarr and Log-a-Log were quick this time; they shot the tiller hard aport and were rewarded by Durrys cheer. “Hurray! The shark never touched us that time!

Silence again ...

Rosie sat with a towel in her mouth, eyes traveling back and forth. Josephs paws gripped the rail; he shouted, “Look out, its coming at us from astern ... No wait!... Its gone down again. Rufe! Over by you!

Rufe Brush anchored his tail around a spar, screaming, “The shark, the shark! Comin starboard side amidships!

Again the sea otter and the shrew threw the tiller aport, Finnbarr muttering as they did, “Cant git outta the way much if the rogue belts us amidships!

Boooommmm!

The entire ship shook sickeningly under the impact.

“Hog overboard, Durrys in the water! somebeast yelled.

The shark was a short distance away. Feeling the agitation caused by Durrys thrashing paws, it homed in on him, heading straight and swift as an arrow. Durry was being swept along level with the midships as Joseph yelled out, “Get a line! Somebeast throw him a line!

Already the Bellmaker was dashing to the rail. He saw it would be too late for Durry in a very short time. Without thinking he grabbed the nearest thingForemole. Grasping the moles footpaws firmly, Joseph shot him out through a gap in the rails, shouting aloud, “Stretch out, Foremole! Durry, get hold of him quick! The hedgehog practically leaped from the sea to grab Foremoles digging claws, and he held on like a leech.

“Oo urr yurr cumms zurr shark!

The vicious head lifted clear of the waves, mouth agape as it hurled itself at Durry. Josephs grip on Foremole was like a vise. The powerful Bellmaker lifted back his head, roaring at the sky as he gave an almighty heave.

“Redwaaaalll!

Thokk!

Foremole and Durry shot over Josephs head, so great was the strength he put into his effort. All three collapsed in a heap on the deck, Joseph wriggling backward calling, “Look out, the sharkstay clear!

The sharks head was stuck between the midship rails. Pearl Queen listed heavily as the giant brute thrashed and pulled. Log-a-Log grabbed a boarding pike, Finnbarr unsheathed his swords, and together they charged the shark. Jumping from side to side, avoiding the snapping jaws and slashing teeth, Finnbarr Galedeep attacked ferociously with both swords, hacking and thrusting at the monstrous head. The ship began heeling perilously as it pushed forward, wriggling its body, thrusting to get at its tormentor.

Log-a-Log saw Finnbarr slip and fall to the water-slicked deck, and with a wild cry he charged the shark.

“Logalogalogalogafog!

The shrew Chieftain drove the pike hard into the fleshy area above the sharks mouth. With a dreadful rattling, hissing noise it recoiled sharply and fell free of the smashed rails into the sea. Pearl Queen bobbed upright, freed of the great weight, water running from her gunwales in torrents. The crews mighty cheer was overshadowed by Fatch shouting from the rigging, “Finnbarr! Another shark, coming from astern!

Sure enough, there was the deadly triangular fin of yet another sea monster plowing steadily toward Pearl Queen.

To the amazement of the crew, Finnbarr Galedeep began a little jig around the tiller. “Hahaharr, were saved! Hohoho, good ole shark!

Rosie took the towel from her mouth. “The poor chaps gone cuckoo. Whats he laughin at?

Finnbarr sat on the tiller, swinging to and fro. “Haharr, youll see, marm. Mad, am I? Watch that other shark!

The other shark ignored the ship completely and headed right for the injured monster, scenting its blood in the water. The sea thrashed up red foam as predator attacked predator.

Joseph turned away from the sickening sight. “Now I know what you were laughing at, Finnbarr. The sharks are cannibals; theyll eat each other.

The otter resumed his position at the tiller. “Aye, theyre scavengers. Theyll attack anythin thats bleedin an injured, Seabeasts dont know about pity. So now, Be 11 maker, ask the fates n fortunes t be good an sail us inter land soon.

“Sail into land, what for? Joseph appeared puzzled by the request.

The sea otter gave a rueful grin. “I knew the tiller wasnt workin rightit didnt budge the Queen last time yon shark charged us amidships. Now I knows why. That scurvy seabeast snapped our rudder clean off when it was attackin us.

Joseph tested the tiller; it swung limply back and forth. “You mean that you cant control the vessel?

“Aye, thats about the size of it, Joseph. Were at the mercy of the igh seas, matey, an tis comin on night too. Ill post lookouts in the riggin, and if they sights land we might be able to row an scull, sos we kin elp pore ole Pearl Queen inter shore. Then I kin fix er up.

Fortunately the night seas lay calm, with little wind or breeze to carry the vessel one way or another. Rosie and Foremole took first watch aft, with two shrews standing forard. Foremole turned his gaze up to the star-strewn skies. After a lengthy spell, in which he attempted a star count, he turned to his companion.

“Youm be vurry soilent, marm. Be ee thinken? he asked.

Rosie tossed an apple core overboard; it bobbed on the surface aimlessly. “What, er, oh yes, thinkin. Hmm, cant help wonderin how Tarquin is coping with the family back at Redwall. Im a dreadful creature really, wot? Coin off harum scarum, sailin* and questin, while poor old Tarkers is probly workin his paws to the bone lookin after the family. There must be a lot of butterfly in me somewhere.

Foremole scanned the dark horizon, his chin resting on both paws. “Youm baint no butterflyer, marm. Usns are only a doin our dooty, elpin friends and followin Martins request. Zurr Tarquin an ee liddle uns, hurr, oanly danger they be in is frumm eatin too much. Yore famly be a gurt lot safer at ee Abbey than usns out ere on ee gurt sea wi no rudder to steer us.

The optimistic hare pulled another apple from her tunic and began munching happily. “Youre right of course, old thing. Ill bet Tarquin and the family will be so bally tubby I wont recognize em when we return. Bunch of gluttons, scoffin away at all that lovely food, without a thought of their poor mater starvin out here on the deep. Wot?

Foremole smiled as another apple core went sailing over the stern rail and plopped into the sea. “Hurr, youm roight thurr, marm!