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once mentioned in her sleep appear on the
horizon. Like the rotten teeth in Barnacle Breath’s mouth they
protrude from the dark water. With this part of the sea being
rockier than any other side of Neverland, there’s no chance we can
sail all the way to the treasure cave with the ship. The crew drops
anchor while we’re still in deep waters and prepare the only two
dinghies we have.
    In the light of burning torches, the boats
take off toward the rocks. Smee is in one of them together with Fin
and Walefluke. Brant Skyler, Cheatin’ Wade Dawkins and Bull’s Eye
Ravi row the other. From the distance, I watch them land at the
rocky circle and climb the first peak. When the tiny yellow spot
that is the torch in Smee’s hand moves up and then moments later
down, I know there’s no cave there.
    They try
three more peaks until one of the torches finally moves in a circle
in the air. The signal. My heart steps up. They found the
treasure’s den.
    Soon the little fire dots at the horizon
disappear into the cave. My mouth dry like Potato Ralph’s cake, I
can’t wait for them to come back to the ship with the first load of
treasure. But it takes almost an hour until the men return.
    Donning my hat and cape, I await them on the
main deck. When Smee climbs up the rope ladder and leaps on board,
he’s grinning like a drunken sailor in the arms of a lass. “Got you
something,” he says and gives me a shiny gold doubloon.
    Slowly, I close my fingers around it, press
it to my chest and squeeze my eyes shut. “It’s been a while, little
treasure,” I murmur under my breath. Then I pocket the coin and
join in as everyone helps emptying the boats and carrying the gold
and gems into the bilge. On the next ride back to the cave, I join
Smee’s boat and help him row, so we get there faster.
    Climbing the rocks is bothersome, but as soon
as I slide down on the rope the men set up into the cave and
breathe in the delicious scent of horded silver and gold, my
exhaustion is forgotten. I hunker down on top of the highest heap
of treasure and run my fingers though the cool coins. Sink me, I’ve
missed that! A smile creeps to my lips.
    Puddles of
seawater cover the floor. Soft splashing sounds echo in the cave as
I walk about, inspecting each little piece of the bootie. A long
forgotten feeling of possession overtakes me. Then my gaze lands on
an open, empty little chest on the damp stone ground. My hand
inches up to the spot over my sternum. The key to this chest rested
there for decades, hidden only by the linen of my shirt.
    A sting in my heart makes me clench my teeth.
Thoughts of Peter violently shove back into my mind, and it was
only a freaking half-hour since I could kick him out from there
anyway. Picking up the chest and stroking the lid, I silently pray
that my brother is all right.
    In huge gunnysacks, the men haul the treasure
out through the trap door and carry them down to the boats. I stay
in the cave when they cart it back to the Jolly Roger. While I’m
alone in the damp grotto, I sit down on a chest full of diamonds
and other colorful gems and let my gaze wander about. Soon all this
will be gone from here, down to the last little heap of gold. It’ll
be back where it belongs—in my possession.
    This moment should mean everything to me. But it
fails to fully cheer me up. It’s not only my betrayal of Peter that
quenches my joy, but also the uncertainty about Angel. The spell is
over, the gate to leave Neverland should be open. But will we be
able to sail to London? Bre’Shun wants a rainbow. How can I ever
bring her one? Whatever it is she needs it for, a foreboding racks
me that I might fail on this journey if I ignore the fairy’s
request.
    But I have to try.
    The gold doubloon Smee gave me earlier is
still in my pocket. I pull it out and spin it through my fingers,
murmuring, “Heads, I’ll find her. Tails, I won’t.” I flip the coin
into the air. It twists a few times, glinting in the light of the
burning