Atticus Claw Goes Ashore (15 page)

24

Atticus looked down at the casket. Through the clear glass lay the mermaid, asleep in the water of the lagoon. She was the most beautiful living creature Atticus had ever seen. Her auburn hair tumbled to her slim waist. Her skin was pale and delicate. Her green tail lay in a perfect curve. Her face was peaceful and serene: like Callie’s when she was asleep.

‘Open it, Atticus!’ Mrs Tucker yelled from the shore.

‘You can do it!’ Mrs Cheddar called. ‘I know you can!’

‘Ow!’ Inspector Cheddar mumbled. ‘My eyeballs hurt!’

‘Quick, Atticus, quick!’ the children begged.
‘The curse is starting.’

Atticus glanced up. The canopy of light was tinged with orange. It was nearly sunset.

Another trickle of Bones’s blood dropped off Atticus’s whiskers on to the casket.

He had to save Bones. He had to save Inspector Cheddar.

PING! Atticus pinged out his claws. Carefully, one paw at a time so as not to dislodge Bones, he made his way around the edge of the casket to its golden lock. The edge was wide enough for a cat to walk along comfortably, like the rim of a bath. Atticus felt relieved. At least he had plenty of room to work in.

He lay Bones down gently beside him and stared at the lock. Once, when nothing very much depended on it, he’d been the world’s greatest cat burglar. But now that everything depended on it – ON HIM – he wasn’t sure that he
could
do it any more. His claws already ached from where he had scratched a hole in Black Beard-Jumper’s boots. But he had to find a way. He had to dig deep. Atticus took a deep breath to steady himself. Then he reached out a paw and began to fiddle with the
lock. It wasn’t hard, he saw to his relief. It was old. A thousand years old. Worn away by the salty sea.

The lock gave way with a clunk. Atticus sat back. Bones lay beside him. His paws were shaking.

Very slowly the lid began to open by itself.

‘CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA!’

Somewhere behind him, Jimmy and Pam were still fighting. ‘Get off me, you old hag,’ Atticus heard Jimmy say. ‘That mermaid is mine!’ He felt the beat of wings. Jimmy had escaped!

‘Say it, Atticus!’ Mrs Tucker yelled. ‘Before that blasted bird does.’

The lid of the Casket of Desires was nearly fully open.

‘Magic mermaid on the shore, please grant me what I’m wishing for!’ Atticus whispered.

Jimmy flew at him. ‘CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA!’

‘SQUAWK! SQUAWK! SQUAWK! SQUAWK!’ Pam flew at Jimmy.

Atticus cradled Bones with one paw, swiping at the angry birds with another. It was too late now. There was nothing more he could do. Maybe the mermaid couldn’t wake up. Maybe it was dead.

Just then the sea began to churn. The shark was back! Atticus could see its huge fin cutting through the water towards them. As it got closer it raised its head. Atticus caught a glimpse of its gaping mouth and row upon row of backward-pointing teeth. He closed his eyes. He hoped if he was going to die it would be quick.

There was a horrible chattering and squawking. Then a splash.

SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!

Atticus could hear the sound of the shark’s teeth clashing together. He waited for his turn.

There was another splash, then silence.

Atticus opened his eyes. Pam and Jimmy had disappeared. So had the wicker basket containing Thug and Slasher. The shark was circling the lagoon slowly. But it didn’t come near Atticus or Bones. He looked at the casket.

The mermaid’s eyes were open. He’d done it! He’d summoned her! That was why the shark couldn’t eat him. It was too late. He’d already said the rhyme.

The mermaid blinked at Atticus. Then she sat
up and looked around apprehensively. ‘Where’s the old lady?’ she asked.

‘She’s not here,’ Atticus said. ‘Well, not that one anyway,’ he added as he remembered Zenia.

‘How did you find me?’ the mermaid said sadly. ‘The sea creatures said no one would.’

‘I know, I’m sorry,’ Atticus apologised. ‘We came because we had to. It’s my family. One of them’s been cursed.’ Quickly he explained about Inspector Cheddar and how Captain Black Beard-Jumper had cursed him with the mark of the black spot. ‘And my friend, Bones,’ Atticus said. ‘She tried to help me, you see, and the Captain shot her.’ Bones’s breath came in short, ragged bursts. ‘You’re the only one who can save their lives, otherwise I wouldn’t ask you for anything. I promise.’

The mermaid looked at him curiously. ‘You mean you wish me to help others?’ she said slowly. ‘Yes!’ Atticus felt a tear trickle down his cheek. ‘You don’t want anything for yourself?’

‘No!’ Atticus said. ‘Nothing!’ Right at that moment he didn’t even want any sardines. All he wanted was for Inspector Cheddar and Bones to be cured.

The mermaid gasped. ‘Then I’m free!’ she said.

‘What do you mean?’ Atticus asked, bewildered.

The mermaid kissed him on the nose. ‘Only the one who makes a selfless wish has the power to release me. And that’s what you have done. Thank you, er …’

‘Atticus,’ said Atticus.

‘Atticus,’ said the mermaid. ‘Lay your friend in the water beside me. Don’t worry I won’t let her drown.’

Atticus laid Bones next to the mermaid. The water lapped gently over her.

The mermaid lifted her hands to her face and blew into them. She placed them on Bones. Bones stretched. Then she opened her eyes. There was no sign of the wound. It had completely disappeared.

The mermaid picked her up and cuddled her. To Atticus’s amazement Bones’s fur was completely dry. Bones started to purr.

‘Hurry, Atticus!’ Callie’s anguished cry came across the lagoon.

The light above them was orangey-red. ‘It’s sunset!’ Atticus gasped.

‘Come, we will help your other friend, the
Inspector of Cheddar.’ The mermaid flipped herself out of the casket and into the water. ‘Climb on my back.’

The two cats did as they were told.

They whizzed through the water, clinging to the mermaid’s hair. In a few seconds they had arrived by the rocks where Inspector Cheddar lay.

‘Are they all your friends?’ The mermaid asked.

‘No! At least …’ Atticus looked around wildly for Zenia Klob. She had disappeared.

‘Klob got away,’ Mrs Tucker fumed. ‘Ginger Biscuit released her.’

‘The others are all my friends,’ Atticus explained quickly.

‘Hmmm,’ the mermaid frowned. ‘We will catch this Klob and Biscuit later. First we will save the Inspector of Cheddar.’

The mermaid magicked away the ropes that tied the rescuers’ hands behind their backs.

‘Lift the Inspector of Cheddar into the lagoon,’ the mermaid instructed. ‘Don’t worry.’ She smiled at the children. ‘I won’t let him drown.’

Mrs Tucker and Mrs Cheddar heaved Inspector Cheddar into the lagoon. He looked very sick. His
face was green. His eyeballs were twice their normal size. He had two camel humps on his back.

The mermaid raised her hands to her face and blew into her cupped hands. Then she placed them on Inspector Cheddar’s head.

Gradually the Inspector’s colour returned. His eyeballs subsided. So did his camel humps. He looked completely normal again.

‘I’m cured!’ he cried, waking up from Zenia’s sleeping potion. He ripped off his shoes and socks and checked his foot. ‘Even my verruca’s gone.’ Thank you, mermaid!’

‘It’s Atticus you should thank,’ the mermaid said. ‘As should I. Because of him I’m finally free.’

Mr Tucker looked puzzled. ‘I’m pleased about that,’ he said, ‘don’t youze get me wrong, but how did that happen?’

‘Because Atticus made a selfless wish,’ the mermaid explained simply. ‘He didn’t ask for anything for himself.’

‘Pirate lore didn’t say anything about that part of the legend,’ Mr Tucker told the mermaid.

‘That’s because pirates are greedy,’ the mermaid replied. ‘I’m guessing that bit wasn’t passed down.’

‘Thank you, Atticus!’ Callie threw her arms around his neck. ‘You were brilliant!’

‘You’re the best cat in the world!’ Michael joined in the hug.

‘Of course he is!’ So did Mrs Cheddar, Mr and Mrs Tucker and Bones.

Atticus purred throatily.

‘Yes, well done, Atticus,’ Inspector Cheddar pulled out his notebook. He chewed the end of his pen. ‘Can anyone think of anything that rhymes with cat-tastic police sergeant?’ he asked, winking at the children.

Everyone laughed.

‘You may have one wish, Atticus,’ the mermaid said, ‘for releasing me. Can you think of something you really want?’

One wish? Atticus thought hard. He had everything he wanted. Then he had an idea. He whispered it to the mermaid.

‘Very well.’ She smiled.

25

Atticus finished telling the story to Mimi.

It was nearly sunset, two days after their return from Indonesia to Littleton-on-Sea. The two cats were sitting beside the beach hut.

Atticus was glad to be home. Everything was back to normal. The kids were happy. Mrs Cheddar was feeding him too much. And Inspector Cheddar kept telling him to get off the sofa.

‘So what did happen to Klob and Biscuit?’ Mimi asked.

‘The megalodon ate them,’ Atticus said.

‘The what?’

‘It wasn’t a shark exactly that came at the end,’ Atticus explained. ‘It was a sort of dinosaur-shark called a megalodon. The mermaid was so upset
that Klob and Biscuit had killed the other sea creatures she told it to hunt them down and swallow them. It was the one sea creature we didn’t know about,’ Atticus added. ‘You remember me saying that Fishhook Frank and me both had the feeling something was watching us in the lagoon?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, I think that was it.’ Atticus shuddered. ‘I tell you, Mimi, it had a mouth as big as a whale. You should have seen its teeth. Jimmy and his gang. Pam even. They just disappeared! Snap! Just like that. Gone!’

Mimi sighed. ‘I know they’re criminals,’ she said, ‘but I’m not sure they deserved to die.’

‘Oh, none of them are dead,’ Atticus reassured her. ‘Not even the magpies. The mermaid told us. The megalodon will just keep them in its stomach for a bit, to give them a fright. It’s like being in prison apparently. Now that the mermaid’s free, he’ll spit them all out when he’s had enough of them.’

‘But what will they eat?’ Mimi asked.

‘Oh, you know, mackerel, prawns. That sort of thing. A bit like Pinocchio, when he got stuck in the whale.’

‘Oh,’ Mimi said. ‘Well I suppose that’s okay.’ She changed the subject. ‘When will I meet Bones?’

‘Tomorrow,’ Atticus promised. ‘You’ll love her. She’s great. She and Mr Tucker have gone out for a sail in the
Destiny
with Callie and Michael and the kittens. They’ll have the best time, I know they will. I might even go with them tomorrow.’

‘I’m so happy you’re back!’ Mimi’s golden eyes met his.

‘So am I!’ Atticus twined his tail around hers. ‘I love it here.’ He gazed across the flat beach. ‘It’s my home. Now tell me about Aysha’s baby.’

‘She’s adorable!’ Mimi laughed. ‘Her skin’s so soft and she has this wonderful fluffy hair, almost like kitten fur!’

‘Er … talking of kittens,’ Atticus said. ‘Well, you know how Pam and Jimmy got married …’

‘Yes,’ Mimi said.

‘Well, I wondered if we could, you know, not get married exactly but, well, you know, go out or something?’ Atticus stammered. ‘And then maybe
next time I have an adventure, you could come with me, like you did last time? I’d really like that,’ he finished lamely.

Mimi thought for a minute. Then she gave him a kiss with her cold wet nose. ‘So would I,’ she said.

‘Really?’ Atticus could hardly believe it. He really was the luckiest cat alive!

‘Of course. Now, are you going to show me how to swim or what?’ Mimi asked bravely.

‘Tomorrow!’ Atticus said. ‘Right now, I just want to go for a stroll and watch the sunset with you.’

‘Beach or town?’ Mimi smiled.

‘Definitely beach!’ Atticus said. ‘We might see the mermaid.’

‘Oh I’d love that!’ Mimi said. ‘I wish we could.’

Atticus grinned to himself. He had a wonderful surprise planned for her. He was glad he’d chosen the right wish.

The two cats strolled along the sand, looking out to sea until the sun went down. And just when night came and everything was black and brown like Atticus and the moon shone down on the flat
calm sea, the beautiful mermaid granted his wish: she swam up to the shore, popped her head out of the sea and told them the most wonderful stories that Atticus and Mimi had ever heard.