“B.B.! What are you doing here?” asked
Brownbeard in amazement.
“I could ask ya the same thing cuz! What ye be
doin’ here?” asked Blackbeard.
So, after introductions had been made,
Blackbeard and his men built up the fire and
joined in the circle. Brownbeard took the lead
telling his cousin and crew about their adventures.
The rest of the gang filled in crucial details. When
Brownbeard told his cousin about The Emperor of
Sa’Laam and all of his wealth, Blackbeard’s eyes
narrowed and he could not contain a big, toothy
smile. His men murmured as Brownbeard relayed
an inventory of The Emperor’s wealth. At the end
of the story, when Brownbeard came to the part
detailing their current mission, Blackbeard’s eyes
widened in horror. There was more murmuring
from his men.
“What! Stealing little children like Felix from
their mommies and daddies and makin’ them into
slaves!” roared the pirate. “Unthinkable!
Unbelievable! Unconsheeshable!”
Blackbeard’s men roared in disapproval. Felix,
who had been looking nervous since Blackbeard
and his rough looking band joined them, felt a
little more at ease. Kumquat, Wilbert and
Schmoor were joining in the ruckus. Hazel was
still unsure about these characters.
“So, B.B.,” said Brownbeard, “Now you know
what we’re doing here. But what about you guys?
How in the world did y’all find your way to the
Land of Longing?”
“Land of Longing?” asked Blackbeard.
“Yes, I believe that is what this country is
called. Right, Felix?”
Felix nodded his head in the affirmative.
“Hold on a sec,” said Blackbeard as he pulled
out his map and looked at it first this way, then
that way. There was more murmuring from
Blackbeard’s gang.
“Izzy!” cried Blackbeard to his sailing master
and hot chocolate drinking buddy of many years.
A tall, powerful, only slightly smaller version
of Blackbeard leaned forward and said, “Aye,
Blackbeard?”
“Izzy, I can’t make heads or tails of this
confounded map! Aren’t we in the Empire of Sa’
Laam?”
“That’s what I be thinkin’ Captain,” said Izzy.
“But if we ain’t, then that would explain why we’
ve been walkin’ so long without seein’ no gold
palaces!”
The men roared in a mixture of laughter and
anger.
“T’would, wouldn’t it?” agreed Blackbeard.
Kumquat stepped over to where Blackbeard
was and took a good look at the map. She
squinted her eyes and made a low mewing sound.
“Aye! What is it kitty?” said Blackbeard.
“I don’t know who sold you this map Captain
Blackbeard,” said Kumquat, “but it’s got one tiny
error.”
“Ah! I knew it! The longeetudes and lateetudes
are mixed up!” spat Blackbeard, turning the map
sideways.
“No!” said Kumquat, turning the map back
upright. “The names ‘The Empire of Sa’Laam’ and
‘The Land of Longing’ are switched!”
Blackbeard’s eyes popped out of his head—
figuratively speaking, that is.
“That son of a sea scorpion! If I find that
scoundrel I’ll cut him down! Sellin’ goods that ain’
t good!” howled Blackbeard in rage. Kumquat
coiled back, as did the entire For Sale crew. There
was much grumbling now amongst Blackbeard’s
men.
“Blackbeard, where did you buy the map?”
asked Hazel.
At the sound of Hazel’s voice, Blackbeard
softened a bit, and his men grumbled a bit softer.
“Ah, pretty lady! I bought it in a queer little
shop I discovered in Ocracoke. It t’was strange
‘cause I know that town like the back of me hand,
yet I never had seen the shop before!” said
Blackbeard.
Brownbeard nodded his head and said, “Yep.”
“It was Ye Olde Gift Shoppe,” said
Blackbeard. “I believe the cad who sold me this
defective map here was a Mr. Ludwig. I will settle
the score with him.”
Brownbeard glanced at Hazel questioningly.
Why would Ludwig sell defective wares? Reading
his thoughts, Hazel just shrugged her shoulders.
She had no idea either.
“But how did you use the map to get here,
Captain Blackbeard?” asked Wilbert. “Did you
use a traveling box or a hyperdrive?”
“Pardon me?” asked Blackbeard quizzically.
Wilbert repeated his question, but neither
Blackbeard, Izzy, nor any of the other pirates had
any clue what Wilbert was talking about.
“We just followed the directions that
treacherous Mr. Ludwig gave us,” said Izzy.
“Took a direct course from Ocracoke towards
Bermuda. About halfway from Ocracoke to
Bermuda, came to this here island on this here
map. Never before seen this place on any map.
Mr. Ludwig called it the Isle of The Cat’s Paw.”
“The Cat’s Paw?” asked Kumquat. “What does
that mean?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be too hard on Mr. Ludwig,”
said Brownbeard. “I mean, after all, you made it to
the island even if the countries are mapped
wrong.”
“No, wait!” said Hazel. “This doesn’t make
sense. Blackbeard did not make it to some tiny
uncharted speck in the Atlantic called the Isle of
the Cat’s Paw—wherever that is. The Empire of
Sa’Laam and The Land of Longing are part of a
continent. And a big one at that! On a planet other
than the Earth!”
Everyone looked at Hazel curiously.
“We went through hyperspace to get here!
Remember?” said Hazel to her crew. “But
Blackbeard and his men just sailed here?”
“Maybe Ludwig gave these gentlemen a
shortcut,” offered Wilbert.
“So? Why did you head for this place anyway
B.B.?” asked Brownbeard.
“This man here Ludwig—he tells me a man
calling himself The Emperor of Sa’Laam lives on
the northern part of the isle. Tells me he’s wealthy
beyond belief. Tells me how to get here and sells
me the map for ten silver pieces. I didn’t believe
him. I tells him if he be lyin’ to me, I’ll come back
and hold him accountable,” said Blackbeard.
“Oh, The Emperor of Sa’Laam is for real!”
Brownbeard assured Blackbeard. “He is wealthier
than you can imagine B.B. You’ll just have to
head a bit more south!”
“How far?” asked Izzy.
“I don’t know. Maybe a couple of hundred
miles,” answered Brownbeard.
“No!” said Kumquat. “Eight hundred easy!”
“Blast ye both!” shouted Blackbeard. “It can’t
be! The entire speck of dirt be only twenty miles
across at its longest! That’s what my map here’s a-
showin’!”
Hazel shook her head and then asked, “Felix?
How far is it from the northernmost part of the
Land of Longing to the southernmost part of Sa’
Laam?”
“Gosh,” said Felix. “I’m not sure I can
remember my geography from school. I do seem
to recall that the airships which traded between
my hometown and different towns in Sa’Laam
took many days just to get from one place to the
other, and then as long to get back. And I believe
there are many countries south of the Sa’Laami
Empire.”
“Ah!” said Blackbeard in frustration to Felix.
“Ye must be bonkers little mate! What with the
shape our schools be in these days, is it any
wonder the boy’s confused?”
Blackbeard’s crew grunted and harumphed in
agreement.
“I don’t know B.B. I saw this supposedly tiny
isle from outer space before we almost burned up
in the atmosphere,” said Brownbeard. “It looks to
be a lot bigger than twenty miles across.”
“What’s outer space?” asked Blackbeard.
“Um, well, outer space is kind of hard to
explain without actually experiencing it,” said
Brownbeard to his cousin.
“Try me laddy,” said Blackbeard.
“It’s like going really far away, but in the
direction of the clouds,” said Wilbert.
“What! Blast ye! You’re all talkin’ like loons!
What ye been eatin’?” cried Blackbeard.
“Bad scallops be me guess,” said Izzy.
“No, he’s right,” said Hazel. “That’s what outer
space is. Far, far away, but in the up direction.”
Blackbeard looked at Hazel and rubbed his
beard. Then shaking his head, he finally said,
“Well, I don’t know what be goin’ on for sure, but
we’ve come to take the treasure of this here
Emperor. If we gotta go back for our ships and
sail south, then we gotta do it.”
Brownbeard tried to tell Blackbeard about the
immensity of the capital city and how difficult a
direct assault would be. But Blackbeard was not
dissuaded.
“You don’t understand cuz!” said Brownbeard.
“It’s like no city you’ve ever seen before. The
buildings are higher than the clouds. And deeper
too! There are creatures you’ve never seen before!
And The Emperor has thousands of men at his
disposal ready to protect him!”
“And I’ve got a hundred of the best fighting
men to ever pounce upon a lily-livered royal-type
personage!” thundered Blackbeard. “And how do
ye know what I’ve seen and have not seen before
Mr. Was-An-Accountant-But-Now-I’m-A-Pirate-
Captain?”
Brownbeard did not respond to this insult,
though it stung. Blackbeard softened a bit.
“Listen cuz. Don’t ye be worryin’ ‘bout me. Me
and me men here can handle ourselves. How do
ye think we robbed the King of France without
him ever suspectin’ ‘til we were days gone?”
Brownbeard shrugged his shoulders.
“Show him Izzy,” said Blackbeard.
“Aw, Blackbeard! Not now!” protested Izzy.
“Show him!” ordered Blackbeard.
With that, quick as greased lightening, Izzy
reached into a small chest, pulled out a green satin
dress and put it on in a flash. Blackbeard’s men
hooted and hollered.
“Aye! Hoot! Hoot!” shouted one pirate.
“Ye make me dizzy Miss Izzy!” shouted
another pirate.
“What!” shouted the For Sale crew in unison.
“B.B.! You and your crew dressed as ladies at
the court of King Louis?” said Brownbeard
incredulously.
“Aye! Cuz! The deception was beautiful! As
were we!” said Blackbeard.
“You shaved your beard and legs and arms
and—and everything?” asked Kumquat.
“A wee trim,” said Blackbeard stroking his
beard. “All right, Izzy. Take off that there dress.
Don’t want ye to ruin it out here in the woods.”
The other pirates shouted in protest.
“No! Leave it on!”
“Don’t take it off! Please! Don’t take it off!”
“Silence sea scum!” shouted Izzy at his
tormentors as he brandished his cutlass. This
produced more laughter and taunting.
“Ha! B.B.! I never would have guessed at the
lengths you would go to, to pull a heist,” admired
Brownbeard.
“Well, ye know cuz, when I was a young rascal
like yourself, I preferred the blood n’ guts method.
But as ye get older, and ya look at the actuarial
tables for our profession, ye gotta give deceit its
due. A clever ruse can extend a pirate’s workin’
lifetime ten, even twenty years maybe.”
Brownbeard nodded, but then said, “Still B.B.,
wouldn’t you consider helping us out on our
mission. I mean, The Emperor of Sa’Laam will
still be there after we free the children at
Pewtrewsha’s fortress. You and your crew sure
make our odds of success a lot better.”
Felix nodded in vigorous agreement.
“Ah! Brownie! I feel for them little mates! But I’
m a pirate! Not a—not a—um, what’s the word I’
m lookin’ for?” asked Blackbeard.
“Humanitarian?” offered Hazel.
“Nice person?” suggested Kumquat.
“Mensch?” tried Wilbert.
“Hero?” queried Felix.
“Seeker of justice?” was Brownbeard’s
contribution.
Blackbeard looked at the crew of the For Sale.
Then his gaze fell upon Schmoor. “Ye want to add
your two half-pence squirt?” asked Blackbeard.
Schmoor just smiled and shrugged.
“Well, you’re a tough bunch!” said Blackbeard.
“Tell me cuz, if we take the time out of our busy
schedule to free them children, can we right off the
loss of income on this year’s taxes?”
“Ah, I’m pretty sure you can do that,” said
Brownbeard.
“You pay taxes, Blackbeard?” asked Hazel
with a disbelieving smile on her lips.
“I always file a return, my dear lady,” said
Blackbeard.
“And he always gets a big fat refund bag full of
gold in the mail,” said Brownbeard.
“All righty men!” said Blackbeard. “Ye heard
the dilemma me cousin and his crew are in. Ye
heard ‘bout Felix and the other children a-workin’
for that cowardess Pewtrewsha! Ye know we have
work to do robbin’ The Emperor of Sa’Laam.
Now, tis time for a wee bit of democratacy! Let’s
have a show of hands for helpin’ me cuz and his
crew.”
Brownbeard struggled to peer into the gloom to
see what the count might be. He thought he could
see a fair number of pirates holding up their
hands. That was a hopeful sign.
“If ye want to get on with our business and
head straight for Sa’Laam, then show your hands,”
barked Blackbeard.
To Brownbeard’s eye, he could not make out a
single vote for the second option.
“Wow!” he thought, “I never knew pirates liked
children so much!”
“Well! Well! Brownie!” said Blackbeard. “Not
one of me men is against helpin’ to give
Pewtrewsha what for! It looks like ye have
yourself a deal!”
Everyone cheered at the announcement.
“It t’was a done deal from the get go. Pirates
love children!” enthused Blackbeard.
The pirates cheered in agreement. Felix smiled
as did the rest of the For Sale gang. The march to
the fortress of Pewtrewsha and Morlox did not
seem the dismal prospect it had just an hour
before.
Brownbeard in amazement.
“I could ask ya the same thing cuz! What ye be
doin’ here?” asked Blackbeard.
So, after introductions had been made,
Blackbeard and his men built up the fire and
joined in the circle. Brownbeard took the lead
telling his cousin and crew about their adventures.
The rest of the gang filled in crucial details. When
Brownbeard told his cousin about The Emperor of
Sa’Laam and all of his wealth, Blackbeard’s eyes
narrowed and he could not contain a big, toothy
smile. His men murmured as Brownbeard relayed
an inventory of The Emperor’s wealth. At the end
of the story, when Brownbeard came to the part
detailing their current mission, Blackbeard’s eyes
widened in horror. There was more murmuring
from his men.
“What! Stealing little children like Felix from
their mommies and daddies and makin’ them into
slaves!” roared the pirate. “Unthinkable!
Unbelievable! Unconsheeshable!”
Blackbeard’s men roared in disapproval. Felix,
who had been looking nervous since Blackbeard
and his rough looking band joined them, felt a
little more at ease. Kumquat, Wilbert and
Schmoor were joining in the ruckus. Hazel was
still unsure about these characters.
“So, B.B.,” said Brownbeard, “Now you know
what we’re doing here. But what about you guys?
How in the world did y’all find your way to the
Land of Longing?”
“Land of Longing?” asked Blackbeard.
“Yes, I believe that is what this country is
called. Right, Felix?”
Felix nodded his head in the affirmative.
“Hold on a sec,” said Blackbeard as he pulled
out his map and looked at it first this way, then
that way. There was more murmuring from
Blackbeard’s gang.
“Izzy!” cried Blackbeard to his sailing master
and hot chocolate drinking buddy of many years.
A tall, powerful, only slightly smaller version
of Blackbeard leaned forward and said, “Aye,
Blackbeard?”
“Izzy, I can’t make heads or tails of this
confounded map! Aren’t we in the Empire of Sa’
Laam?”
“That’s what I be thinkin’ Captain,” said Izzy.
“But if we ain’t, then that would explain why we’
ve been walkin’ so long without seein’ no gold
palaces!”
The men roared in a mixture of laughter and
anger.
“T’would, wouldn’t it?” agreed Blackbeard.
Kumquat stepped over to where Blackbeard
was and took a good look at the map. She
squinted her eyes and made a low mewing sound.
“Aye! What is it kitty?” said Blackbeard.
“I don’t know who sold you this map Captain
Blackbeard,” said Kumquat, “but it’s got one tiny
error.”
“Ah! I knew it! The longeetudes and lateetudes
are mixed up!” spat Blackbeard, turning the map
sideways.
“No!” said Kumquat, turning the map back
upright. “The names ‘The Empire of Sa’Laam’ and
‘The Land of Longing’ are switched!”
Blackbeard’s eyes popped out of his head—
figuratively speaking, that is.
“That son of a sea scorpion! If I find that
scoundrel I’ll cut him down! Sellin’ goods that ain’
t good!” howled Blackbeard in rage. Kumquat
coiled back, as did the entire For Sale crew. There
was much grumbling now amongst Blackbeard’s
men.
“Blackbeard, where did you buy the map?”
asked Hazel.
At the sound of Hazel’s voice, Blackbeard
softened a bit, and his men grumbled a bit softer.
“Ah, pretty lady! I bought it in a queer little
shop I discovered in Ocracoke. It t’was strange
‘cause I know that town like the back of me hand,
yet I never had seen the shop before!” said
Blackbeard.
Brownbeard nodded his head and said, “Yep.”
“It was Ye Olde Gift Shoppe,” said
Blackbeard. “I believe the cad who sold me this
defective map here was a Mr. Ludwig. I will settle
the score with him.”
Brownbeard glanced at Hazel questioningly.
Why would Ludwig sell defective wares? Reading
his thoughts, Hazel just shrugged her shoulders.
She had no idea either.
“But how did you use the map to get here,
Captain Blackbeard?” asked Wilbert. “Did you
use a traveling box or a hyperdrive?”
“Pardon me?” asked Blackbeard quizzically.
Wilbert repeated his question, but neither
Blackbeard, Izzy, nor any of the other pirates had
any clue what Wilbert was talking about.
“We just followed the directions that
treacherous Mr. Ludwig gave us,” said Izzy.
“Took a direct course from Ocracoke towards
Bermuda. About halfway from Ocracoke to
Bermuda, came to this here island on this here
map. Never before seen this place on any map.
Mr. Ludwig called it the Isle of The Cat’s Paw.”
“The Cat’s Paw?” asked Kumquat. “What does
that mean?”
“Well, I wouldn’t be too hard on Mr. Ludwig,”
said Brownbeard. “I mean, after all, you made it to
the island even if the countries are mapped
wrong.”
“No, wait!” said Hazel. “This doesn’t make
sense. Blackbeard did not make it to some tiny
uncharted speck in the Atlantic called the Isle of
the Cat’s Paw—wherever that is. The Empire of
Sa’Laam and The Land of Longing are part of a
continent. And a big one at that! On a planet other
than the Earth!”
Everyone looked at Hazel curiously.
“We went through hyperspace to get here!
Remember?” said Hazel to her crew. “But
Blackbeard and his men just sailed here?”
“Maybe Ludwig gave these gentlemen a
shortcut,” offered Wilbert.
“So? Why did you head for this place anyway
B.B.?” asked Brownbeard.
“This man here Ludwig—he tells me a man
calling himself The Emperor of Sa’Laam lives on
the northern part of the isle. Tells me he’s wealthy
beyond belief. Tells me how to get here and sells
me the map for ten silver pieces. I didn’t believe
him. I tells him if he be lyin’ to me, I’ll come back
and hold him accountable,” said Blackbeard.
“Oh, The Emperor of Sa’Laam is for real!”
Brownbeard assured Blackbeard. “He is wealthier
than you can imagine B.B. You’ll just have to
head a bit more south!”
“How far?” asked Izzy.
“I don’t know. Maybe a couple of hundred
miles,” answered Brownbeard.
“No!” said Kumquat. “Eight hundred easy!”
“Blast ye both!” shouted Blackbeard. “It can’t
be! The entire speck of dirt be only twenty miles
across at its longest! That’s what my map here’s a-
showin’!”
Hazel shook her head and then asked, “Felix?
How far is it from the northernmost part of the
Land of Longing to the southernmost part of Sa’
Laam?”
“Gosh,” said Felix. “I’m not sure I can
remember my geography from school. I do seem
to recall that the airships which traded between
my hometown and different towns in Sa’Laam
took many days just to get from one place to the
other, and then as long to get back. And I believe
there are many countries south of the Sa’Laami
Empire.”
“Ah!” said Blackbeard in frustration to Felix.
“Ye must be bonkers little mate! What with the
shape our schools be in these days, is it any
wonder the boy’s confused?”
Blackbeard’s crew grunted and harumphed in
agreement.
“I don’t know B.B. I saw this supposedly tiny
isle from outer space before we almost burned up
in the atmosphere,” said Brownbeard. “It looks to
be a lot bigger than twenty miles across.”
“What’s outer space?” asked Blackbeard.
“Um, well, outer space is kind of hard to
explain without actually experiencing it,” said
Brownbeard to his cousin.
“Try me laddy,” said Blackbeard.
“It’s like going really far away, but in the
direction of the clouds,” said Wilbert.
“What! Blast ye! You’re all talkin’ like loons!
What ye been eatin’?” cried Blackbeard.
“Bad scallops be me guess,” said Izzy.
“No, he’s right,” said Hazel. “That’s what outer
space is. Far, far away, but in the up direction.”
Blackbeard looked at Hazel and rubbed his
beard. Then shaking his head, he finally said,
“Well, I don’t know what be goin’ on for sure, but
we’ve come to take the treasure of this here
Emperor. If we gotta go back for our ships and
sail south, then we gotta do it.”
Brownbeard tried to tell Blackbeard about the
immensity of the capital city and how difficult a
direct assault would be. But Blackbeard was not
dissuaded.
“You don’t understand cuz!” said Brownbeard.
“It’s like no city you’ve ever seen before. The
buildings are higher than the clouds. And deeper
too! There are creatures you’ve never seen before!
And The Emperor has thousands of men at his
disposal ready to protect him!”
“And I’ve got a hundred of the best fighting
men to ever pounce upon a lily-livered royal-type
personage!” thundered Blackbeard. “And how do
ye know what I’ve seen and have not seen before
Mr. Was-An-Accountant-But-Now-I’m-A-Pirate-
Captain?”
Brownbeard did not respond to this insult,
though it stung. Blackbeard softened a bit.
“Listen cuz. Don’t ye be worryin’ ‘bout me. Me
and me men here can handle ourselves. How do
ye think we robbed the King of France without
him ever suspectin’ ‘til we were days gone?”
Brownbeard shrugged his shoulders.
“Show him Izzy,” said Blackbeard.
“Aw, Blackbeard! Not now!” protested Izzy.
“Show him!” ordered Blackbeard.
With that, quick as greased lightening, Izzy
reached into a small chest, pulled out a green satin
dress and put it on in a flash. Blackbeard’s men
hooted and hollered.
“Aye! Hoot! Hoot!” shouted one pirate.
“Ye make me dizzy Miss Izzy!” shouted
another pirate.
“What!” shouted the For Sale crew in unison.
“B.B.! You and your crew dressed as ladies at
the court of King Louis?” said Brownbeard
incredulously.
“Aye! Cuz! The deception was beautiful! As
were we!” said Blackbeard.
“You shaved your beard and legs and arms
and—and everything?” asked Kumquat.
“A wee trim,” said Blackbeard stroking his
beard. “All right, Izzy. Take off that there dress.
Don’t want ye to ruin it out here in the woods.”
The other pirates shouted in protest.
“No! Leave it on!”
“Don’t take it off! Please! Don’t take it off!”
“Silence sea scum!” shouted Izzy at his
tormentors as he brandished his cutlass. This
produced more laughter and taunting.
“Ha! B.B.! I never would have guessed at the
lengths you would go to, to pull a heist,” admired
Brownbeard.
“Well, ye know cuz, when I was a young rascal
like yourself, I preferred the blood n’ guts method.
But as ye get older, and ya look at the actuarial
tables for our profession, ye gotta give deceit its
due. A clever ruse can extend a pirate’s workin’
lifetime ten, even twenty years maybe.”
Brownbeard nodded, but then said, “Still B.B.,
wouldn’t you consider helping us out on our
mission. I mean, The Emperor of Sa’Laam will
still be there after we free the children at
Pewtrewsha’s fortress. You and your crew sure
make our odds of success a lot better.”
Felix nodded in vigorous agreement.
“Ah! Brownie! I feel for them little mates! But I’
m a pirate! Not a—not a—um, what’s the word I’
m lookin’ for?” asked Blackbeard.
“Humanitarian?” offered Hazel.
“Nice person?” suggested Kumquat.
“Mensch?” tried Wilbert.
“Hero?” queried Felix.
“Seeker of justice?” was Brownbeard’s
contribution.
Blackbeard looked at the crew of the For Sale.
Then his gaze fell upon Schmoor. “Ye want to add
your two half-pence squirt?” asked Blackbeard.
Schmoor just smiled and shrugged.
“Well, you’re a tough bunch!” said Blackbeard.
“Tell me cuz, if we take the time out of our busy
schedule to free them children, can we right off the
loss of income on this year’s taxes?”
“Ah, I’m pretty sure you can do that,” said
Brownbeard.
“You pay taxes, Blackbeard?” asked Hazel
with a disbelieving smile on her lips.
“I always file a return, my dear lady,” said
Blackbeard.
“And he always gets a big fat refund bag full of
gold in the mail,” said Brownbeard.
“All righty men!” said Blackbeard. “Ye heard
the dilemma me cousin and his crew are in. Ye
heard ‘bout Felix and the other children a-workin’
for that cowardess Pewtrewsha! Ye know we have
work to do robbin’ The Emperor of Sa’Laam.
Now, tis time for a wee bit of democratacy! Let’s
have a show of hands for helpin’ me cuz and his
crew.”
Brownbeard struggled to peer into the gloom to
see what the count might be. He thought he could
see a fair number of pirates holding up their
hands. That was a hopeful sign.
“If ye want to get on with our business and
head straight for Sa’Laam, then show your hands,”
barked Blackbeard.
To Brownbeard’s eye, he could not make out a
single vote for the second option.
“Wow!” he thought, “I never knew pirates liked
children so much!”
“Well! Well! Brownie!” said Blackbeard. “Not
one of me men is against helpin’ to give
Pewtrewsha what for! It looks like ye have
yourself a deal!”
Everyone cheered at the announcement.
“It t’was a done deal from the get go. Pirates
love children!” enthused Blackbeard.
The pirates cheered in agreement. Felix smiled
as did the rest of the For Sale gang. The march to
the fortress of Pewtrewsha and Morlox did not
seem the dismal prospect it had just an hour
before.
The Adventures of Short Stubbly Brownbeard
Alan J. Levine
* * *
Chapter Thirty-Nine
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also available to
schools and libraries
through wholesalers
like Follett, Ingram,
and Baker & Taylor.
children's literature?
That's great! But
instead, why don't you
go to the followin'
links to buy yer own
miserable copy of
Brownbeard and
support Pirates
Anonymous? We've
been assisting pirates
with mental health and
hygiene issues since
1633. Brownbeard is
also available to
schools and libraries
through wholesalers
like Follett, Ingram,
and Baker & Taylor.
