Phoenix Rising (19 page)

“Carson, Dobbs, Callum, all dead,” Rita said quietly. “Callum was an idiot.” She picked at one of her nails as she watched his torso sagging out of the widening hole.

Toby swallowed as Callum’s head flopped. He looked away again.

“Always trying it on,” Rita continued talking absently. “As if I wanted to get pregnant and leave the
Phoenix
.” She shook her head, but there were tears in her eyes. “He was an idiot,” she repeated, but she did not take her eyes from his face.

Finally Callum’s legs slithered from the hole. The captain bundled the fallen pirate to one side, pulled off his own coat and covered the body. Then he gestured to the
hole. “Hiko, Toby, you’re smallest, you go first.”

Hiko crawled forwards, but Toby held him back. “I’ll go first … just in case.” He looked at the hole. Hammers, crow bars and blades held chunks of rock in place and prevented the roof from collapsing, but he could imagine how it would feel to get inside and then have the whole thing crack and crumble, burying him just like Callum.

“We’re running out of time, Toby,” Rahul coughed. “Think of the
Phoenix
.” He wiped sweat-caked dust from his forehead. “Every minute we’re in here is another minute they have to fight.”

Toby nodded. He tried to take a deep breath, but dust clogged his lungs. He kneeled down in front of the hole.

On the other side he could see the alcove. Beyond was more fallen stone, but the storage space had remained mostly clear. Toby placed his hands on sharp-edged brick. Lying down flat, he scraped his stomach and chest by commando-crawling into the hole. Above him he could feel the weight of shattered stone and deep darkness pressing down, trying to crush him. He wriggled as fast as he could and toppled out on the other side, falling in a landslide of pebbles on to the grate in the alcove.

“Toby, are you all right?” The captain’s voice floated through the hole.

“I’m fine.” His shout pulled dust down on his head and
Toby covered his face with his hands and coughed.

The alcove was dark. The only light came from the bulb that swung on the other side of the narrow tunnel. Still, Toby could feel the grate beneath him. He rolled and gripped it with his fingers, pulling as hard as he could. It shifted with the creak of breaking rust-seal and a rush of fetid air. But at least it
was
air.

“I’ve opened the grate,” Toby choked. Then he stood next to the hole, hands outstretched, ready to catch Hiko, but it was Polly who came next. She jumped into the alcove, cocked her head then hopped towards him.

Hiko followed, wriggling to get through even faster than Toby. Toby gripped his wrists as soon they appeared and dragged him to his feet. Hiko doubled over, gasping.

“Who’s a pretty Polly?” Polly squawked from below. “Send him down, Toby.” Toby peered past the grating. Her single blue eye glowed up at him, a firefly in the darkness.

“Ready?” he asked. Hiko nodded and Toby grabbed his wrists again. Hiko stepped into the hole and Toby lowered him. He had to drop to his knees and then lie on his front before Hiko called out that he could feel the ground. Toby released him and listened for the splash as the boy landed.

“Are you all right?”

Hiko retched. “It stinks down here” he choked. “But there’s air.”

The little light they had was blocked out as someone else started through the tunnel. Toby reached blindly into the hole, feeling for hands to pull. When he felt someone he heard them gasp, then fingers closed around his. He pulled and, as the person slithered into the alcove, light followed to show D’von.

“Help me down?” Toby asked, nodding towards the grate and holding out his hands. D’von gripped and lifted Toby as though he was no heavier than a crate.

Toby’s feet dangled over the hole and D’von began to lower him. Toby held his breath. When Hiko’s fingers touched his toes he gulped and found himself swallowing air that tasted of faeces.

His tongue shrivelled and he flopped like a fish as Hiko guided his feet to the ground. As soon as D’von released his hands, Toby covered his mouth. His naked toes squelched in something slimy and he gagged again.

“I’m standing in a sewer,” he groaned.

“Aren’t we all?” The voice was neither Hiko’s nor Polly’s and it came from the pitch dark just ahead.

“Say that again,” he rasped.

“You’re not the only one in the blasted sewer.” The voice was shaky, yet achingly familiar – enough for his heart to leap into his throat.

“Ayla?” Toby whispered.

“Who else!” she snapped.

“How?” Toby stuttered. “We thought you were killed.” He held his arms out towards her voice, but felt nothing.

“I should have been. The explosion knocked me into the cell, where your parrot thing found me. I managed to clear the nearest grate enough to climb in. Then it went back for you.”

Polly squawked acknowledgement and Toby shivered. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”

Ayla grunted, paused then spoke again. “I-I feel like it’s my fault.” Her voice floated on the rancid air.

Toby shook his head, although she couldn’t see him. “We had no other choice. There was no way for you to know there were explosives in that room.”

He somehow sensed her sag. “Was anyone killed?”

Toby didn’t reply.

“Who? The captain?” Her voice was carefully neutral.

“No. His name is …
was
… Callum.”

“I didn’t know him.”

“You wouldn’t have.” They remained in awkward silence.

Then Toby heard Ayla shuffle closer. “I thought you were dead, too,” she whispered.

Toby reached out once more and this time he felt Peel’s shirt with the tips of his fingers. He edged closer and felt his way until he found the top of an arm. Then he pulled
gently, giving her every chance to tear away.

She didn’t.

To Toby’s shock, Ayla allowed him to step in close, until his toes found hers and he could wrap both of his arms around her. There they stood, breathing in the darkness, trembling in one another’s arms.

“I didn’t want to die alone in the dark,” she mumbled. Her breath brushed against his ear.

Toby tightened his arms and Ayla hissed and jerked. Toby immediately released her. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.” Ayla’s voice had suddenly weakened.

“The girl has a broken arm and third-degree burns to her shoulder. She has first-degree burns elsewhere. She has not allowed me to examine her properly.” Polly’s damaged voice processor made her sound almost like Uma.

Toby bit his lip, hands hovering. “Are you…?”

“I’m fine, forget it.” Ayla stepped away from him again. Toby was about to follow when a splash behind him made him spin.

“Who’s that?” Hiko whispered.

“Rita.” The pirate’s voice was dull with pain. “My wound’s open again and, gods, this smell.”

“Can you come to the sound of my voice?” Toby reached out a hand and Rita grabbed it.

It felt like forever before the captain finally stood with the group. He had waited till last, but now they were all free. Lost inside a pitch-dark, stinking hole, but free nonetheless.

“Polly, how’s your night vision?” The captain cracked his knuckles.

“Operational.” There was a mechanical whir and a clank as Polly tried to fluff her non-existent feathers.

“So, which way?” The captain prompted, as he lifted her on to Toby’s shoulder.

Polly looked one way, then the other. “This way.”

The pirates formed a chain with Toby and Polly in front. Ayla put one hand on his shoulder, Hiko behind her, then D’von and the others. At Polly’s prompting, Toby started to slide one foot in front of the other.

Inside the sewer the darkness was a presence of its own, pressing in on all sides. Toby breathed as shallowly as he could.

“Stop,” Polly rasped. She scrambled around on his shoulder and looked up. Toby followed the tiny light of her eye. Overhead was the grey outline of a manhole.

“How do we get up there?” Toby stretched, but his hand came nowhere near.

Simeon scuffled to the front, picked Toby up and balanced him on his shoulders.

This time when Toby reached, his hands touched the ceiling.

“How do we know we won’t climb out into a load of soldiers?” Ayla muttered.

Toby dropped his hands from the grille. “She’s right, how do we know?”

“We don’t.” The captain spoke from the back of the line. “We’ll have to take the risk.”

Ayla touched his ankle. “Do it, Toby.”

Toby reached up and gripped the grille. Simeon pushed him from below and he heaved.

When the manhole cover lifted, Toby pressed his eye to the gap. At first he was blind. His eyes had become accustomed to the dark and the hot sun washed everything out to pale nothingness. He could hear though, and when the screams and clashes of a pitched battle floated through the gap, Toby shivered.

Claws dragged on his back, scoring marks on his battered skin, and Polly scratched her way on to his shoulder.

“Polly want a cracker,” she muttered.

Frustration burned Toby and he closed his eyes then opened them again. He tried to force his pupils to adjust. Finally the world came into focus and he could see. The hole opened out on a road leading to the port side of the jetty. To his right stood the pile of crates that he, Ayla, Hiko and D’von had helped to move from the pier. Behind the crates traders huddled angrily, trying to watch their
goods and avoid fallout from the battle at the same time. The back end of the pier was almost empty. As Toby watched, a soldier pounded towards them with paper in his hand – a message from the castle. He ducked as the man ran along the road, but the Tarifan didn’t notice the open manhole.

It was the front of the wharf that Toby was interested in but he couldn’t see far enough. He rose to his knees on Simeon’s shoulders, lifted the grille still further and his heart sank. Soldiers swarmed around the
Phoenix
like fire ants. Arrows filled the sky in a deadly hail that hammered on her deck and the Tarifans were throwing themselves up makeshift gangplanks, trying to board.

“Can you see?” The captain shoved his way to the front of the line. “Has the
Phoenix
been taken?”

“It looks like they’re holding them off.” Toby crouched on his toes now, Simeon a solid base beneath.

“Can we get out of here?” Ayla hissed.

In answer Toby shouldered the grille aside and lifted himself on to the road. Polly fluttered awkwardly from his shoulder to the dirt verge as Toby checked around him, slithered on to his belly, rolled and held out his hand for the next pirate.

As fast as if they had practised it, all the able-bodied pirates excluding the captain took up position around the
grating. Toby, Hiko, D’von, Simeon and Rahul crouched around the hole, half of their attention on the road, half on the next of them to emerge.

Rita was the first of the injured to come into the light. The captain lifted her as high as he could and Simeon caught her armpits. She collapsed when he pulled her out, one hand around her stomach wound, the other covering her eyes from the brutal sun.

Harry followed. He was barely conscious and Simeon had to prop him against D’von before he turned back for Oats, who had almost pulled himself clear.

Finally it was Ayla’s turn. Toby found himself unable to look away from the hole as he waited for her to emerge.

“Get off me,” she hissed from below. “I can manage.”

“Stupid girl, I can see those burns, let me lift you,” came the captain’s voice.

“I’ll climb.”

“You will not.”

“Ayla.” Toby lay on his stomach. “Can you reach my hand?”

“No,” she snapped.

“D’von?”

The dock rat understood what Toby was thinking and lifted him by the ankles and dangled him over the hole. Nix shifted in Toby’s belt and he grabbed the sword with
one hand. With the other he reached out as D’von lowered him.

“Now?” He stretched and his fingertips touched skin.

A splash and a surprised grunt from the captain. Then Ayla’s fist closed around his wrist and Toby gripped her forearm.

D’von started to lift them up. Toby felt as if he was being pulled in two, but eventually he lay on his stomach with Nix twisted uncomfortably beneath him. Ayla dangled from his hand. He hauled and she came into the light.

Their eyes met. Ayla’s were glazed with shock. Her hair frizzed out, singed and shorter on one side. Where Peel’s shirt was not scorched, it was grey with dust and, as she lurched to her knees, the arm that Toby was not holding flopped stiffly to her side. The skin was red raw and blistered.

“Gods,” Toby murmured.

“It could’ve been worse.” Ayla twisted awkwardly, trying to stop him from seeing and Toby’s eyes fell on the backpack that hung from her good shoulder. Charred paper curled inside.

“You still have it.” Shock garbled his words.

Ayla nodded and edged away from him. “The map’s mine now.” Her good hand closed around the pack. “I earned it.”

“I…” Toby stopped himself. “Now isn’t the time to talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. You’ve got your captain back and I have the map, so back off.”

Below they could hear the captain take a run and leap for the hole. Simeon caught his arm and helped him out. They were free.

Tearing his gaze from Ayla, Toby looked quickly around. A few traders had spotted them but none of the soldiers had been alerted yet.

“Now all we have to do is get through that lot.” Rahul gestured to the battle.

“Our weapons are buried beneath the castle.” The captain pursed his lips. “We can’t fight past.”

Toby regarded the pier thoughtfully. “We were dock rats before, we can be again.”

“That’ll work for you and me, Toby, but what about everyone else?” Hiko asked.

“Look.” Toby pointed. Next to the crates was a stack of deep aluminium barrows like the one they’d used to get the weapons to the castle. “They’re big enough for a man to curl up inside.”

“Then what?” Ayla cradled her broken arm gingerly as she spoke.

“The girl is right. We can’t take wheelbarrows up the
gangplank in the middle of a war,” Simeon rumbled.

“We only have to get close enough to the
Phoenix
to swim for it without the soldiers seeing us.” He pointed to the place where they had climbed up the pilings. “There.”

The captain twisted his compass in one hand. “It’s worth a try.” He pointed to a palm tree beside the road. “We’ll wait there. Leave Polly with me and bring the barrows.”

Toby held out his arm and Polly walked along it, metal wings gleaming in the sun, and hopped on to the captain’s shoulder.

Then Toby, D’von and Hiko set off and Ayla followed.

“Wait a minute.” Toby spun on his heel. “What are you doing?” He stared at Ayla, who was tottering along the road after them. “You’re not coming.”

Ayla’s eyes widened. “You did
not
just give me an order.” She tightened her fist around the backpack. “I’m not getting taken anywhere inside a barrow. I’m as useful as you are.”

“You’re injured. Rita and Harry are happy to wait, why can’t you?”

Ayla closed her eyes and opened them again. “I’ve been injured before. Pirates don’t show weakness, especially in front of the enemy.”

“Be sensible,” Toby pleaded. “The soldiers haven’t even spotted us.”

“I’m not talking about the soldiers,” Ayla said wearily. “I’m Banshee, you’re Phoenix.”

Toby opened his mouth and closed it again.

“I’m Nell’s second,” Ayla sighed. “You think she’d be OK with me curling up inside a barrow and being tipped into the sea like old junk?”

Toby spread his hands. “How would she know?”

Ayla shrugged. “I learned early on it’s best to assume that she knows. Whenever you think she doesn’t, somehow she always does … or she finds out.”

“But you’re injured,” Toby repeated.

“And I’ll get medical attention when I’m on the
Phoenix
. But I’m getting on board on my own damn terms.” Her jaw set firm and Toby realized there was no point in arguing. Ayla had to be in shock – when it wore off the pain would overtake her and force her to slow down. In the meantime he would have to keep her safe.

“Here. Barrows.” D’von stopped and gestured, as if he was gifting them to the pirates.

“What are you doing?” A red-faced trader stamped forward. “There’s no one meant to be on the pier. Where did you come from?”

Toby rubbed his aching head, his thoughts slow and unresponsive. Would they have to fight the traders now?

“We have to load the barrows and take them on the
dock,” D’von rumbled. “I don’t question orders. I do as I’m told.”

Hiko capered at his side, the picture of sun-stroked idiocy.

“Stupid dock rats.” The trader growled and he aimed a kick at Toby. Toby ground his teeth and allowed the man’s foot to connect with his calf. Then he hopped backwards, making himself ignore the man’s self-satisfied smirk.

“You be careful of our goods. Don’t go near them.”

D’von grumbled as he rolled the first barrow to Toby.

Toby gripped the unsteady barrow and started to roll it back towards the waiting crew. The trader glared after them. “What are you loading into them barrows?” he shouted.

Toby froze, his mind racing.

“Spies,” Ayla said solemnly. “Dressed as pirates. They’ll sneak on the ship and take it from inside.”

“Of course. There’s no chance of surrender any more, not now their captain’s dead in the explosion.” The trader nodded sagely then stared at Ayla’s arm. “What happened to you?”

Toby could see him putting two and two together – an explosion in the castle and a burnt girl.

“She wouldn’t stop talking,” Toby said quickly. “Overseer stuck her in the fire. Shut her up right quick.”

The trader relaxed with a snort. “Better learn that lesson, rat.”

Ayla’s mouth twitched, her scarred bottom lip narrowing. But she nodded and picked up one handle of a barrow. Hiko took the other and they started to teeter after Toby. D’von followed with the last cart, ducking his head.

Toby could feel the man’s gaze burning into his shoulder blades.

“Trouble?” The captain fingered his compass.

Toby shook his head. “They all think you’re dead in the explosion so no one’s looking for you. The trader thinks you’re all spies getting ready to take the
Phoenix
from inside. He won’t raise the alarm.”

“Clever.” Oats was crouched over his stump, his head bowed. He lifted it now to look at Toby. “Who goes first?”

“The injured have to go last.” Toby dropped his cart and rubbed his hand over his stubbled head. “You can’t climb the pilings without help from below.”

“The captain goes first.” Ayla gestured at her barrow. “That was my mission – get the captain back.”

“The captain, Simeon and Rahul first. Rita, Harry and Oats on the second trip.” Toby nodded.

Rita didn’t look pleased, but eventually she leaned on the tree. “We’ll just wait here, then.” She looked at Harry and Oats. “You know that if we get caught we can’t protect ourselves.”

Ayla sneered. “I’ll take that risk.” She cocked her head again. “Are we doing this, or not?”

The barrow was almost too heavy to move with Rahul inside and Toby found that it caught on every single bump on the ground. With each step it threatened to tilt in a different direction and his arms ached with the effort of keeping it upright. He heard D’von grunt and knew that even the experienced dock rat was having trouble. He closed his ears to Ayla’s laboured panting. She and Hiko were sharing a load and she held her side of the barrow one handed, so the steering was all down to Hiko. The captain and Polly were both inside their barrow and it was the one most likely to tip over. Toby hardened his heart, forcing his eyes to remain straight ahead.

Underfoot the road turned to planks and suddenly the wheel of the barrow rumbled as if it was on tracks. As the wheel caught in warped timber and stopped abruptly, Toby and Rahul both grunted. Toby took a deep breath, wiggled the wheel free and then looked towards the
Phoenix
. Just ahead of him, close enough that Toby felt engulfed by the noise, the battle raged.

Toby could see Amit and Ajay holding a car bonnet over Nisha’s head while she tipped burning fuel pellets over
the gunwale. Arrows snapped on the metal of the ship as charred combustibles from the boiler cascaded down the nearest gangplank, burning soldiers who plunged into the water with screeches of their own.

Bullets pinged from the
Phoenix
’s hull as Theo and Marcus defended the head of another gangplank, holding hubcaps and long salvage hooks.

Toby looked higher. Arnav had abandoned the crow’s nest. The
Phoenix
had not yet spotted its returning crew.

As Tarifans screamed and yelled, officers ordered more arrows to fire and the
Phoenix
fought on.

Toby kept his legs moving forward. Ayla and Hiko skirted the twisted board and drew level.

“Nearly there,” Hiko gasped.

Toby looked at him. The younger boy was red-faced and struggling for breath. His knees shook as he walked. They stopped on the edge of the pier. Still no one stopped or even looked at them – every eye was on the resisting pirate ship, the enraged officers and the falling arrows.

Toby knocked the side of his barrow and Rahul sprung out, leaped over the side and crouched on the jetty. D’von tipped Simeon out of his and the captain emerged more slowly, clutching Polly. He nodded thanks to Hiko and Ayla and his gaze rested for a long moment on his desperate ship. His beard twitched as his lips narrowed.

“Better get back on board.” Toby gestured, and Barnaby turned to him.

“I wish you didn’t have another trip to make. I’d do it for you if I could,” the captain said.