Island of Fire

“We know,” Alex said. “Do you know what it’s saying?”

“No.”

“No one does.”

They stood in silence, with Simber flapping overhead now and then, gazing to the west, wondering where they were going. Florence inched toward them at a slow pace, careful not to upset the boat. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Simber explained the situation with the rogue ship, and Florence tried everything she could think of to release the spell on the ship, if that was what powered it. But nothing happened.

“And then therrre’s the little prrroblem of the next island,” Simber said, pointing a paw.

As he said it, Alex’s jaw dropped, for in the distance, water rose from the sea in a giant spout, bursting upward and frothing at the top.

“Thar she blows!” cried the captain. “The bitter white whale!”

As the water spout reached its height and began raining down again, a burst of fire exploded from the sea, unaffected by the water. Flames filled the sky, and with a shuddering roar, rocky ground erupted from below the water’s surface, growing taller and wider in the space in front of them. Glowing balls of fire shot up from the center of the rising land, and soon, as the ground rose higher and grew larger, a few sodden, scraggly trees appeared on it, dotting its surface.

The rising island set in motion a giant wave that headed toward them, growing as it rolled. Captain Ahab shouted, “Batten down and hold yer hats! Whatever wears the shape of evil lies ahead!”

The Artiméans who had seen it screamed or watched in shock, some of them running below deck for cover and others hanging on to ropes or hiding inside cabinets. The squirrelicorns took flight and rose high above the wave’s height.

Florence gathered Alex and several others close to her, and called out to a few small statues who didn’t seem to know what to do, grabbing them in her arms.

Alex didn’t dare blink in case he missed something. He glanced at Sky to see if she was okay. She was craning her neck. “Crow!” she shouted, and scrambled to her feet. “Up the ropes!” They both climbed the sail like seasoned sailors.

Alex watched in awe. “Aren’t you scared?” he called.

“Only of the wave!” She and Crow held on tightly and looked down. “I’ve never seen it happen this close up before,” she called out. “Isn’t Pirate Island incredible?”

Simber, Florence, and Alex looked up at her with surprise, but they didn’t have time to ask questions, for a wall of water rose up in front of the bow. The sky above it lit up with fire, silhouetting the two children who clung tightly to the top of the mast, and before anyone could take a last breath, the boat rose at a precipitous angle, crested, and headed down again, taking their stomachs with it. The next wave slammed into their faces and bodies, and everything that wasn’t battened down went flying.

Pirate Island

Alex went tumbling backward and water surged up his nose and mouth, but he didn’t go far before Florence grabbed his shirt once more. As soon as the giant wave passed over them, he scrambled to his feet, a sodden mess, first to see if any more waves were

coming, then looking up to make sure Sky and Crow were still hanging on. He was relieved to see them high and dry. “Leaders and volunteers to your stations!” he shouted between coughs and sputters. “Count off!” He looked up for Simber but the cat had disappeared. Alex rushed to the side of the ship and peered over, his heart in a clutch. Not again, he thought. Please, no. But soon he spied the beast flying low to the water, plucking Artiméans from the sea as if he were picking strawberries. A moment later he returned to the ship and deposited Ms. Octavia, Henry, and the fox statue, who immediately started hopping around in a panic, shouting in a small barking voice, “Where’s kitten? Where’s kitten?”

“She’s herrre,” Simber said, opening his paw and carefully reaching out to Alex to take her. “Neverrr even hit the waterrr,” he said with pride.

“Mewmewmew,” said the tiny cat, in the most adorable voice Alex had ever heard.

“She says she wants to be with me,” the fox said.

Simber smirked but said nothing.

Alex set the delicate white kitten on the fox’s back, where he’d seen her napping earlier, and the fox settled down. “Is that everyone? Henry, Ms. Octavia, are you all right?” Henry sputtered and nodded. Alex reached a hand to Ms. Octavia and helped his instructor to her tentacles.

“It was a lovely swim,” Ms. Octavia said, no stranger to the water. “Simber?”

“I was prrreparrred and watching. I got everrryone I saw.” “Great work, Simber,” Alex said. “And thank you, Florence—you saved me.” For the hundredth time in a matter of days, Alex was beyond grateful that Mr. Today had created such an amazing team to surround him.

“Leaders!” Alex called out. “Report. Rufus?”

“All here!” replied the squirrelicorn.

“Sean?”

“We’re good!” Sean shouted from the bow.

“Meg?”

There was no answer.

Alex rushed to the stairwell and shouted down it. “Meg?”

“Everyone’s here!” came the muffled shout. “But we’ve got a few cuts and bruises, and one of the ostrich’s legs broke off. Can you send help?”

“On the way,” Alex called. He turned to Ms. Octavia and Henry. “Did you get that?”