Read The Great Galloon and the Pirate Queen for Free Online Page B

was intimidated by the presence of such a senior officer.
    He spun round on one shiny boot-heel, and carried on spinning by mistake. He grabbed a rope to steady himself, but sadly it was the one that was currently lowering boat three to the sea. It dragged him with remarkable speed up and over the pulley, then slammed him on the deck at Clamdigger’s feet. The Gallooniers laughed again. Abel leapt up, and cracked his head on boat four, which was being readied for lowering. The small knot of men and women gave a small round of applause, and stood around as if waiting for more entertainment.
    Abel gathered himself, and spoke forcefully through teeth gritted against the pain of his bumped head.
    â€˜I shall pilot goat free,’ he said, his clenched jaw perhaps taking some of the power from his words.
    There was a slight snigger, but not from Clamdigger – he was now standing to attention, something Abel thought he did all too rarely, and then not well.
    â€˜That is to say, I shall …’ he began again.
    â€˜Pilot boat three, sir,’ said Clamdigger.
    â€˜I don’t need your help!’ snapped Abel. ‘But yes, I will pilot boat three. I think we need some experience at the … sticks …’
    â€˜Oars, sir,’ said Clamdigger helpfully, as he continued to wind the lever that was lowering boat two.
    â€˜Oars,’ said Abel. ‘I think it fitting that I should be the first into the boats, where I can lead the towing operation and oversee the operation to tow the Galloon out of the Dumps …’
    â€˜Well, it needs doing, sir, but I don’t mind …’ began Clamdigger, whose face had coloured up.
    Shame at his naked lust for glory being exposed
, Abel thought. He snatched a rope from Clamdigger’s hands, and the little circle of onlookers widened slightly as everyone took a step back.
    â€˜Well, my boy, you’re not the only one who can abseil into unknown seas, with the fate of the ship in his hands …’
    Abel was trying to clamber over the taffrail as he spoke, and was aware that his ceremonial sash, sabre, baldrick, bugle and staff of office were getting in the way.
    â€˜And all for no reward except the knowledge of a job well done …’ he continued, absent-mindedly. He was astride the rail now. He peeked over the edge, and was aware that the sheer size of the Galloon meant there was still a long way down.
    â€˜â€¦ your elders and betters, I shouldn’t wonder …’ he rambled automatically, wondering now if this was a good idea. Clamdigger was tying ropes into a complex safety harness, and trying to attach it to Abel as he lay splayed along the rail.
    â€˜Are you okay, sir?’ asked a crewman.
    â€˜Of course!’ snapped Abel. ‘I’m pefectly at home, man. I’ve been doing this since before I was born. Er, you, that is. You’ve been doing this …’
    Again Abel was conscious of losing the thread. He looked at Clamdigger.
    â€˜So I just climb over the edge into nothingness, and half clamber, half fall, carefully paying out the rope as I go, hoping that nothing goes wrong, and trusting to my crewmates to save me if it does?’
    â€˜That’s it, sir,’ said Clamdigger, testing the harness he had tied, ‘and back in time for tea.’
    Abel swallowed. He had begun to wonder whether there was a way to hand the job back to Clamdigger without losing face. He was just about to pretend to faint, when that way presented itself.
    From one of the little funnels that protruded from the decks around the Galloon, a small blue face appeared, followed by the attached small blue person, and then a pinker person. As Abel paused in harnessing up, he watched them run towards him.
    â€˜Ah!’ he said. ‘I fear perhaps I am to be prevented from leading the expedition …’
    But as the two figures arrived at the circle of Gallooniers, the blue one with the fur was already