The pirates were loading the last of the dog biscuits.
The captain of the Beagle emerged from a hole in the deck and approached Polly, who was watching the proceedings with a bored expression.
“That’s the last of it, sir,” the captain said deferentially. “We’ve given you everything you’ve asked for. Thank you for showing mercy to us all. And to young Jake. We’re very grateful. Extremely grateful.”
Polly looked at him. “Don’t overdo it, Captain.”
“No, sir,” the stocky dog said, serious and alert.
Polly nodded and looked away. “That will be all, Captain. We’ll be out of your hair momentarily.”
The captain almost bowed as he left.
“You two had better come with us,” Polly said to Tortoise and Gecko, who had been standing quietly to one side. Polly gestured to a couple of the pirates to untie them, and looked out to sea. “This ship smells of death.”
Tortoise and Gecko glanced at each other and decided to go. Tortoise could tell Gecko thought the pirate ship would be more exciting. But Captain Polly seemed a safer person to be around than the captain of the Beagle did. And Tortoise was pretty sure the pirates wouldn’t make jokes about eating them.
#
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The ships separated.
Tortoise watched as the sails above filled with wind and the Pegasus pulled away from the Beagle. It was getting windier. The pirates busied themselves around him, shouting and joking with each other, their movements confident and sure. Tortoise did his best to stay out of the way and the pirates mostly ignored him.
Gecko was nowhere to be seen. Tortoise realised he was glad for a quiet moment alone amid the commotion of sailors and sail, wood and rope. High in the sky, in the distance, he could see a bird of some kind.
He looked back and saw the Beagle drifting on the grey sea. He could still make out the scientist, standing among a small crowd of other dogs. They looked forlorn, somehow.
Tortoise wondered what the dogs were going to eat.
#
Polly found them at the bow as the light was fading.
“This is my first mate, Molly,” Polly said. The grizzled hedgehog was dressed completely in black, except for a mauve beret. “Molly: this is Tortoise and Gecko. She’s going to size you up and assign you to your bunks. Report back to me when you’re settled.” Polly turned away.
“We run a tight ship here,” Molly said. “It allows us to do what we do. And to not do what we not do,” she added meaningfully, looking up at Gecko.
“What?” Gecko replied innocently, showing his hands.
“This way,” Molly said crisply.
Tortoise and Gecko followed her into the bowels of the ship.
#
“Where’s Tortoise?” Polly asked, not looking up from her enormous, lantern-lit desk, which was strewn with nautical charts and interesting devices.
“He’s just finishing up in the galley,” Gecko said.
Polly looked at him.
“He’s just finishing up in the galley, sir.”
Polly smiled. “Why are you dressed like a warrior?”
Gecko raised an eyebrow. “Because I am one.” He shrugged a little. “Also I have a tail and buttons at the back are hard.” He swished his tail suggestively.
Polly laughed. “I like you, lizard man. Now get out of my cabin so I can have a bath.”
Gecko did.
##
Next episode: The Pegasus