The Forgotten Map (3 page)

A distant memory floated into his mind and he absentmindedly slid his paw to the top of his chest. His trembling fingers felt the shape of a gold pendant. His parents had given it to him when he was a young boy. He thought he'd lost it in the cyclone; but the pendant, like its wearer, had survived, and it was hanging where it belonged – close to his heart.

He ran his finger over its smooth surface and reflected on its design. It was an anchor: the steadfast symbol of hope.

If I can survive a cyclone and nearly die
, he told himself,
then surely my family can survive
…

The knot in his tail began to loosen. He looked up at Fred.

‘What this means,' Wentworth said slowly, ‘is that I need to have hope that my family are still alive, and that my father, like my grandfather, will one day fulfil his side of the promise and find his way back to me.'

Horace smiled, Fred patted Wentworth on the shoulder and Smudge clapped his little hands.

‘This promise means something else, you know,' Pete muttered to the Captain. ‘It means that until we find this circus boy's family we're stuck with him.'

The Captain sighed. ‘Yes, I suppose you're right, Pete. I made a promise and I have a duty to keep it.'

He turned to Wentworth with a look of resolve. ‘I suggest you try and get some more rest. There is much we need to discuss, but now is not the time.'

Without saying another word, the Pie Rats tiptoed out of the room, leaving Wentworth alone with his thoughts. Finally, his anxious body began to relax and he drifted off to sleep.

A Mysterious Letter

It was late afternoon when Wentworth stirred from his slumber. He hadn't eaten in two days, and was overjoyed when Fred arrived at his bedside with a freshly cooked plum pie. Wentworth devoured every plum and every last crumb.

He'd barely finished eating when the rest of the crew marched into the cabin.

‘I trust you're feeling better this afternoon, Wentworth?' the Captain asked cheerfully.

After eating an entire pie, Wentworth wasn't sure how he felt, but nodded all the same.

‘From now on,' the Captain said, ‘you will no longer be known as Wentworth Winterbottom.'

‘But that's my name,' Wentworth gasped.

‘Was your name,' Pete corrected. ‘It would never do for a Pie Rat name.'

‘W-what are you talking about?' Wentworth stammered. ‘Why do I need a Pie Rat name?'

‘Because,' the Captain replied, ‘we don't carry passengers and we don't take prisoners, and because I have sworn to protect you, I can't throw you overboard. Therefore, from this day forward, there is only one other option – you are now one of us.'

Wentworth was speechless. He tried to appear grateful, but this wasn't a career choice he would have willingly made.

Ruby crossed her arms and looked down at him with a frown. It was obvious she had similar reservations about him joining the crew.

‘As a new recruit,' the Captain explained, ‘you will undertake a Pie Rat apprenticeship. Once you have passed the seven Pie Rat tests you will become a full member of the crew.'

‘But what if I fail?' Wentworth blurted out.

‘Don't worry, you won't fail,' Horace encouraged. ‘You've already passed the first test.'

‘Which is?' Wentworth asked.

‘Surviving when you should have died,' Horace replied. ‘It's a great skill to have. If you've done it once, you can do it again.'

Wentworth had no desire to test this theory.

‘On the subject of survival,' the Captain said, ‘I thought your new name should reflect the dramatic nature of your rescue.'

Wentworth crossed his fingers and hoped it wasn't something ridiculous like
Washed-up Waterbottom
.

The Captain extended his paw to Wentworth. ‘From this day forth, you will be known as
Whisker
, the brave Pie Rat who narrowly escaped death. Welcome to the Pie Rats.'

With a hesitant shake of the Captain's paw, Wentworth's story ended and Whisker's began.

It wasn't long before Whisker was back to full health. Pete made it perfectly clear he wanted his cabin back, so Whisker moved into the cramped sleeping quarters of Horace and Fred. His hammock wasn't as comfortable as Pete's soft bed but it certainly beat sleeping on the floor of a circus tent.

‘If you're going to make it in this industry, you'll need a new look to match your new name,' Horace said, fossicking through a pile of old clothes. He pulled out a familiar navy blue shirt with his hook and held it up for Whisker to see. ‘Perfect!' he exclaimed. ‘This one's your size.'

‘I can't wear that,' Whisker protested. ‘It's missing an entire sleeve.'

‘All the better,' Horace argued. ‘You'll have easier movement for swashbuckling sword fighting. Besides, it gives you a roguish charm – and the ladies will love it!'

Whisker awkwardly put on the shirt, fastened a large pie-buckled belt around his waist and unsuccessfully tried to straighten the messy fur on the top of his head.

‘Don't do that,' Horace scolded. ‘You look too respectable as it is. No one will ever take you seriously as a Pie Rat.'

Whisker knew Horace was right. Unlike Horace's scarred cheeks and squat body, Whisker had smooth coffee fur, sparkling blue eyes and well-positioned teeth. The unruly fur on his head was the only exception.

‘Try this,' Horace said, throwing Whisker a black bandanna. ‘It's nit free and will keep the fur out of your eyes.'

Whisker tied the bandanna around his head and turned to face a cracked mirror on the wall. His fur stuck out the top like the leaves of a pineapple and several strands hung over the sides.

‘Shiver me britches!' Horace cried. ‘You look like you've just been dragged from a sinking ship!'

Whisker's tail drooped.

‘I'm sorry,' Horace groaned, ‘I didn't mean to remind you …'

‘That's okay,' Whisker said. He hated the thought of his family's boat sinking, so he decided to change the subject. ‘So what was the
Apple Pie
doing in the middle of a cyclone?'

‘You can thank the Captain for that,' Horace replied. ‘We were casually sailing along the equator when the Captain collected a mysterious letter from a remote island post office. The next minute he had the ridiculous idea to change course and sail straight through the Cyclone Sea.'

‘What do you think the letter said?' Whisker asked.

Horace lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘I didn't read the contents but I overheard the Captain talking to Pete. I think they're both in on it.'

‘In on what?'

‘I don't know. But whatever it is, it's
on the move
.'

‘So where is it now?' Whisker asked, with growing interest.

‘Who knows?' Horace said with a shrug. ‘We lost a few days with the search and rescue so it could be anywhere.'

‘Can't we just ask the Captain?' Whisker ventured.

‘That's not how it works,' Horace explained. ‘The Captain will tell us everything when there's something to tell. Until then, we carry on as usual: plundering, pillaging, pilfering … Oh, and playing dress-ups …'

He was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Ruby.

‘Check out the new and improved Whisker,' Horace exclaimed as Ruby stepped inside. ‘Doesn't he look sensational?'

Whisker felt his tail wrap itself around his leg. His
over-emotional tail
, as his parents called it, had a nasty habit of acting on its own whenever he was anxious or stressed. He hoped Ruby hadn't noticed.

Ruby seemed more interested in his choice of clothing. She looked him up and down and then straightened her cherry red vest.

‘Well it's not my style,' she said emphatically, ‘but I hear the tropical fruit look is in this summer.'

Whisker gave her a half-smile. She kept a straight face.

‘By the way,
boy
,' she continued, ‘the Captain wants to see you immediately. He's in his cabin.'

Without waiting for a reply, Ruby spun around and walked out of the room.

‘Is she always like that?' Whisker asked. ‘Or is it something I said?'

‘Pete's usually the grumpy one,' Horace replied. ‘Ruby can be a little protective though.'

‘Protective of what?' Whisker enquired.

‘The Captain, of course,' Horace whispered. ‘He's the closest thing she's got to a father … But don't worry. Just give her some time and she'll get used to you. She didn't like me when she first joined the crew.'

‘Why?'

‘She said I talked too much.'

‘Really? I hadn't noticed.'

‘Yeah, right, Go on, you've got someone to see.'

With one last look at his new outfit, Whisker scampered off towards the Captain's cabin.

Nervously waiting outside the thick oak door, Whisker raised his paw.

‘Enter,' came a deep voice, before he could knock.

Timidly, Whisker opened the door and walked into the room. It was the grandest cabin of the ship. A wide window with sweeping ocean views spanned the entire back wall. Beneath it, engrossed in a pile of old maps, sat the Captain at an ornate desk. Without looking up, he motioned to a swivelling chair in front of him.

‘Welcome, Whisker,' he said. ‘Come and take a seat.'

Whisker sat down on top of his tail. This was the first time he'd been in a Captain's cabin and he wasn't sure how he should act. The ticking clock in the corner added to his nervousness.

His eyes dropped to an open letter on the desk and he absentmindedly read the first few words: