Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: SKULDUGGERY (09/01/16)
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TITLE: The Sea Minnow | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kayla Stoltzfus
09/08/16 -
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"We be close, I think," said Jub from his reclining position, his paws folded over his comfortably large middle. "But I've not seen the X yet."
Plank curled a whisker around his finger. "Me thinks it's on th' island. Have ye got th' compass?"
"Aye. In here." Jub tapped his head, producing a surprisingly hollow sound.
Plank froze. The whisker snapped back into place. "The one that be not empty."
"Oh." Jub belched and rubbed his stomach. "In me pocket."
"Good. Keep it therrr. Now get yerself out t' th' wheel 'n' steer this baby."
Two months later, Plank was asleep in his bunk, the map spread out over his chest, when there came a cry of, "Land ho!" The ship shuddered and ground to a halt.
Plank awoke with a snort, folded the map, tucked it into his pocket, and clambered on all fours up to the deck. The ship had beached on a long stretch of dazzling white sand. Jub reclined against the wheel, holding a slice of cream pie in one fat, gray paw.
"Me pastries 'n' pies!" Plank exclaimed, shading his eyes. His nose twitched. "Wherrr did ye get that?"
Jub hiccuped and rested a paw on his round girth. "Tis th' victory pie, Cap'n. Ye found th' island."
Plank looked up. "On yer mangy fur, ye're right! Hop t' starboard, ye cur. Th' treasure awaits!" He directed a hungry look at the pie. "Afterrr we celebrate, that is."
Twenty-five minutes and seven pies later, they sat amidst crumbs and pie tins, licking their sticky paws.
"That island looks a bit far fer me legs," said Jub, blinking. "What say ye t' a bit o' shuteye?"
Plank snuggled back against the cabin wall. "Aye. We be goin' ashore laterrr."
The sun had already set by the time they threw a rope ladder off the prow and clambered down. Plank peered at the map. "Me thinks we go that way," he said, pointing toward the middle of the island.
Jub took the map and stared at it so close his nose touched it. "No. The treasure be that way." He spun around and pointed at the ship.
"That be the Sea Minnow, ye dunderhead," said Plank, snatching back the map.
"Oh. Then it be that way." Jub pointed down the beach. "That be what the map says."
Plank snorted. "Ye're as simple as... a very simple thing."
They argued until Jub finally crossed his arms and lumbered off down the beach. Plank stomped off in the other direction. He had only walked a mile when he realized he would not be able to do much searching without a light.
The next thing he knew, he lay flat on his back on the sand, seeing stars. He sat up, groaning.
"I'm sorry, Cap'n," said a figure looming above him. "I..."
Suddenly they were bathed in moonlight. Jub stared, his mouth hanging open.
Plank looked down. At Jub's feet was the X.
Within hours, they had dug out a chest. Plank tried the lid first, then let Jub have at it. When it was open, they stared at the contents, slack-jawed. All manner of pastries sparkled up at them: pies, cakes, cookies, danishes. Jub sank to his knees and began to reach inside.
Plank slammed the lid shut, nearly catching Jub's paw. "Not till we're safely away, me love."
It only took them a few weeks to push the Sea Minnow off the beach. When they were once more in the water, Plank threw a danish into the boat that hung off port side. Jub scrambled after it.
"I be sorry, me friend," he murmured as he watched the small skiff out of sight. "But me mum neverrr taught me t' share." Turning to the treasure, he stared, drooling, at the mound of pastry until it seemed to swirl before his eyes, then grasped the ship's wheel. "Now how d'ye steer this thing?"
One month later:
"Look what I found, Mom!" squealed a fat, gray ratling as he dragged a piece of weathered board up the beach, panting. "It has words on it."
The rat mother spelled out the words slowly. "Sea...Minnow."
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