I am Sam, Sam I am

 

Sara finally swam up the beach, exhausted, as the sun was coming up. Gathering up her final last ounce of strength, she pulled herself up onto the beach so the waves pounding on the sand would not get her feet wet. She lay with her backpack as a pillow and watched the beautiful cloudless green sky. She looked up and down the deserted beach and contemplated how she would get off the island, but the beach was not exactly deserted. Farther down the shore were many large birds picking up crabs, and other small animals tossed up on the shore by the waves. They had seen the beach toss her up and were heading straight for her at a breakneck pace and with a hungry look on their faces.

“Might I suggest we find another location before you rest? The natives are hungry,” said a muffled voice from out of nowhere.

Sara was shocked. “I know I talk to myself, but that was not me. I know it wasn’t.” She searched for the source of the voice. The only living things she saw were the birds, and they were closer.

“I believe we should make haste and vacate the immediate area. Those Canaboro birds are quite agitated.” Sara looked around for the source of the voice but, except for her backpack and the menacing birds, she was alone. “Sara, run now and question the whereabouts of my voice later, or you may not have the opportunity to meet me.”

Sara forced her exhausted body to stand up, grab the backpack, and run into a copse of palm trees just off the beach where she finally collapsed. Fortunately, once she was off the sand of the beach, the Canaboro birds were no longer interested in her and walked along the beach picking up clams.

“That was a little too close for my liking Sara.” Somehow, the eerie voice had followed her to her hiding place. “Young lady, is it your intention to keep me in this dark place for the rest of our adventure?” The voice was coming from her backpack. “Might I make a suggestion that we meet? I might be very useful to you. No, Sara, you are not losing your mind, so please release me from the satchel post-haste.”

Sara unzipped her backpack and sorted through the items inside. Nothing appeared to have the ability to speak. There was her hairbrush, her clothes, her Doritos. “You could help by telling me what you are. Talking objects are not my thing.”

“Humph, I’m insulted. It is evident to me, of all these talismans in here, only I would be able to talk. Don’t get me wrong, all these amulets and trinkets will be very useful for our adventure, but they are certainly not intelligent like me.”

Sara continued going through the items in her backpack. She pulled out Huckleberry Finn. “Mr. Thompson told me you would keep me company.”

“And he was so right. I am a highly intelligent enchanted book; my name is Sam, pleased to meet your acquaintance, Miss Sara.”

“Wow.” 

“Hmmph, a limited vocabulary I see. I guess not all of us can be of superior intelligence.” Sara just sat and looked at the book, dumbfounded. “Are you quite finished staring at me child? We have a lot of information to go over and very little time in which to cover it. Sara, Sara, I cannot help you without direct participation from yourself.”

“Oh, sorry Mr. Finn, What can I do to help you?”

“You can start by remembering that my name is Sam, Sam Clemens.”

“Oh, sure Mr. Clemens.”

“First I must tell you a few rules must be adhered to when speaking of an enchanted book such as myself.”

“Okay.”

“The first rule, I may only assist you three times. Unfortunately, helping you get off the beach and away from those mean looking birds must count as one of my assists. That, of course, leaves you two more. Please use them wisely. The second rule, you may ask me three questions, only three, and they must be asked the first time the book is opened, which of course is now. Please use the questions now. Choose wisely, Sara.”

Sara tried to think of what questions she needed an answer to. There were so many of them. But, since she only had three choices, she needed to organize her thoughts and ask the questions that would give her the most information. “Okay, my first question is: where have my evil aunts taken my mother? My second question is.…”

Sam interrupted her, “Please, one question at a time. The answer to question one is: Janet and Maggie have just recently tried and convicted your mother of treason. She will soon be transferred to Doldunt Prison where she will be summarily executed.”

Sara laid her face in her hands and began to cry. “It’s just not fair. I can’t do this. How can I rescue her from prison, they’ll have guards and everything. I need help.” Sara looked up and brightened, “Hey my father could help. He’s smart, and he’s strong, and he’s not just thirteen years old. My second question is: where is my father?”

The answer to your second question is your father is the commander of a ragtag army for Libero Salus. He is currently located in Hemit's Cave which is many miles south of here. Sorry, but I cannot divulge any other information until it has happened but, I fear a change in your father’s status. He might be in jeopardy.”

“Then I have to get to him right away. I need to warn him. How do I, I mean, my third question is: how do I get off this deserted island and get to this Hemit's Cave.”

Sam did not answer that question right away. It was as if Sara had asked a question with no answer, wasting her last question. Finally, Sam spoke, “I am sorry Sara, and I don’t have an answer to that question. However, there is one on the island that might have the answer. He has a small shack about three miles to the west. You must find him and convince him it is time to get off the island. He has been here for three hundred years, and he is your only hope.”

Sara wanted to make her mother proud by being polite. “Thank you for your help, Sam. Which way is west from here?”

If books had a heart to break, Sam’s heart surely would have been broken. “Sara, dear Sara, I wish you had phrased your last statement differently. All you had to say was thank you that would have been sufficient.”

“Why, what’s wrong with what I said?”

“I am sorry, but wizard rules are binding and cannot be altered. You called the answers to my questions as help, which means that indirectly I helped you. I wish I could change the law, but I cannot. My first help was to get you off the beach. When you thanked me for helping you locate your father that constituted the second help.”

“How could I possibly have known that Sam, it isn’t fair, can’t I take it back?” She paused, waiting for Sam to say he would make an exception just this one time, but he said nothing. “Well, at least I have one help left. I promise to be careful not to waste that one.” Sam was quiet. “I do have one more left, don’t I?”

“Oh, Sara, I am so sorry, but the simple fact is, as I’m sure you remember, you asked me which direction west was. Once I answer that, and I am bound to answer it, you can’t take it back; it will be your third and last help. I can’t change the rules. Sara, the West is opposite the rising sun. I am sorry Sara, but I must now return to my dormant state. I wish I could do more. Please return me to your dark satchel. Don’t worry. I’ll be just fine. You can always read me anytime you like. Please put me in the satchel now Sara. I do not want to get wet. The storm you created has followed you, and it is about to rain. Good luck.”

Sara placed Sam into her backpack as the torrential rains began.

 

Chapter Twenty

 

When All is Lost, Blame the Lizard

 

Alive. All of Percy’s crew survived the storm, except Sara.

The pirate’s battered ship drifted lethargic on the open seas for hours. The ship and the crew were entirely at the mercy of the sea. Their sails had been ripped to shreds by the howling winds and were now nothing more than sticky, gooey duct tape and tattered material. The rudder had not withstood the raging waves; it had broken off into tiny pieces soon after the storm began. The crew was helpless.

After the storm had subsided, the crew did a frantic search for Sara, only to come up empty-handed.

“I’m sure I saw her in the company of two dolphins.”

“Ye be daft, the sea monster be eatin’ the lil lady as she ate me, crew. She be in Davy Jones locker now me hearty’s, we best be a figerrin’ out how to find a way to land.”

“I see some land over there,” Cedric bellowed from the crow’s nest as he pointed towards an outcropping of trees on the horizon.

“Avast ye scurvy varmint of a landlubber, if ye be a pirate, and ye be a pirate now, lest ways ye could talk like one. That would be land ho. Arrgh; at least ye could get that part of the sayin’ right.”

Cedric mumbled, “Whatever.” under his breath.

“Would that be a bit of insubordination, Mr. Lizard?”

“No, I am sorry, what I said was. However, you want me to talk like is okay by me. LAND HO.”

“That be the way to say it, land ho? LAND HO? We be saved me hearties. Now, we best be a figgerin’ how to get this mighty ship to shore. Did the oars survive the storm?” Judging from the look on the ogre’s face, which is not a simple task considering an ogre’s face always looks frightening, Percy could tell the answer was no. The oars had not survived the storm.

The crew had begun to gnaw on each other’s nerves. They were all upset about losing Sara, for different reasons of course, and they had been drifting on the ocean with no sight of land. They all looked out over the water to see when they could see the land Cedric had sighted.

Cedric was excited, now that they had sighted land, he could finally rid himself of his ridiculous companions. It would have been easier if the young girl had cooperated and survived the storm. When one’s mind is set on kidnapping for capital gain, it is always better to have a victim.

“I see it too. I see land, I mean, land ho,” shouted Chase, he was very excited to get off the water finally and back onto safe, dry land.

“Aye, that there be Tenebrae up yonder, an’ that port ahead be Abercrome. Other than Tenebrae City, there be no eviler city in the land. We will not be a landin’ there. There be a small beach to the west. We can land there in secluded safety.”

“But Percy, why not land in the harbor?” asked Bill the Ogre.

“Who be the captain and who be the cook?”

“Who has been your friend for years, Percy?”

“Avast we can’t do that, ye sees the whole city be full of cutthroats, despots, miscreants, and bankers. The latter of which would rather string this ol’ pirate up, than have eye to eye sit down meetin’ with him,” whispered Percy.

“Oh, I get it. You owe them money, don’t you?”

“Aye, twas they that did finance this once grand ship. If they be seeing what’s become of her, they would be a-wantin' their money returned.”

“Why don’t you repay the bankers with some of the money poor Sara paid you?”

“Don’t be daft Bill. I be a pirate, not a regular citizen type. Pirates pillage and plunder, not repay debts to landlubbing bankers. Hard to starboard, First-Mate,” bellowed Percy.

“Ok Captain, Aye, Aye, just one slight question, which way is starboard?”

“Avast ye scallywag, starboard be to the west from where we stand.”

“Ok, to the west it’ll be Cap. Oh, Cap, I’ve turned the wheel, but we aren’t moving.”

Percy rolled his eyes, “That be because we lost our rudder, ye landlubber.” Percy ripped up a board on the deck of the ship, leaned over the back of the ship, and put the board in as the rudder.

“Hey, we’re moving now Captain. To the west it’ll be, Cap,” shouted Chase.

“Arrrggghhh I be surrounded by nothing but landlubbing scurvy dogs. Mr. First-Mate that’ll be Aye Aye Sir.”

“Ok. Aye Aye Sir, does that make you feel better?”

“Avast ye scurvy dog, jus’ set the ship ashore. Don’t be givin’ this ol’ sea-goin' cap trouble.”

“I see the beach,” shouted Cedric.

“Avast ye lizard, as I told ye, that’ll be beach ho. Get it right. Ah never ye mind, all make ready to go ashore.”

“Captain,” Bill tapped on Percy’s shoulder. “We should make a swift exit.” He pointed towards the sea monster headed straight for the ship.

“Abandon ship. And be making it fast.”

Chase, Cedric, Bill, and Percy scrambled off the deck of the ship into a waiting dinghy as the sea monster’s tentacles pulled what was left of the ship underwater. Fluffy the sea monster finally had his true love in tow, followed by two very colorful dolphins.

Once on the beach, the crew lay down on the sand, relieved to be safe. Chase bent down and kissed the earth and then spent several minutes spitting sand out of his mouth.

Percy looked over at Bill, “Shiver me timbers, looks as if we be needin’ to repay a few bankers and getting us a new grand ship while we be at it.” He slapped Bill on the back. “Ye two scurvy dogs stay put, ye hide as best ye can and don’ let the locals get a hold of ye.” Turning to Bill, he said, “Ye be ready Master Cook? Les go see some bankers.”

“I am as ready as I can be. Are you sure I won’t scare your banker friends, me being an ogre and all?”

“Avast, matey, ogres be no problem in Abercrome. Ye won’ be a scarin’ nobody. Tis, the bankers we be worrin’ ‘bout, they may be scarin’ ye.” He and Bill turned and walked towards Abercrome.

Cedric waited for just the right moment until Bill and Percy had disappeared up the trail before he made his escape. Chase sat down on a large log and wondered where the lizard was running off to but decided he didn’t care. He was glad to be rid of him. He had never trusted Cedric, and with the lizard leaving when he did, it proved him right. Chase himself felt no more need to contact his superiors. They wanted Sara alive. They would be disappointed to find out she had died and Chase had never liked giving bad news to his employers.

Chase had become fond of Sara. While sitting on the beach, staring at the ocean, he decided to carry out her mission. Tempted to head towards Doldunt Prison immediately, he decided it best to wait and tell Percy when he returned.

He turned his back to the sea and stared down the path taken by Percy.

“Ahoy Matey,” the sound came from behind him. He turned and saw the grandest ship he had ever seen floating in the water. Standing on the deck was Pirate Percy, Bill the Ogre, and several new crew members. Chase smiled. Those new crew members would make it a lot easier to tell the pirate he wanted to leave.

       

 

Bill the Ogre was standing next to Percy, and he was smiling. Ogres never smile. This could be bad news. The ogre shouted, “Ahoy First-Mate, bet you had given up on us returning. We almost didn’t make it. An angry banker is someone to reckon with.”

“Arrghhh will ye tell him our news ye landlubbing ogre. Dern bankers, they be worse than pirates. Avast them scurvy bankers be chargin’ me triple the goin’ rates for me new ship. On tops of making me repay for the ship, we did lose. Shiver me timbers an blow me down. A pirate can’t make a dishonest day livin’ anymore. Tis a sorry state we be a-livin' in.”

“Okay Percy, now don’t rush me. I’m getting there….”

“I see you have a new crew,” interrupted Chase, “that will make what I have to say easier….”

Ogre Bill interrupted him, “I was first. I said I had news before you did. You have to wait your turn.”

“That’s okay Bill. I can wait to tell my decision. Please go first.”

“Well, see, seems as we, Percy and myself, came to an important decision on the trail to see the bankers. This involves you and Cedric. Where is Cedric, by the way?”

“Looks like the lizard turned yellow and high-tailed it out of here, with his tail between his legs.”

“Well it is his loss, we will have to go without him, I never trusted him anyway.”

“News, ogre, you said you had news. Will you get on with it? Don’t forget I have news too, and I want to get it over with as soon as possible.”

“News? Oh yes, our news, Chase, I will get right to the point. We have unanimously decided to complete Sara’s quest and rescue her mother from Doldunt Prison. There, I’ve said it, are you in or out Chase?”

“What?”

“I said we are going to spring Sara’s mother out of Doldunt Prison. Isn’t that a great idea? It will be kind of a memorial to the child, are you in or out?”

A quick smile crept on to Chase as he answered, “That is the very least we can do. I am in, of course.”

“Great, I just knew we could count on you. Your turn Chase, what was it you wanted to tell us?” asked Bill.

“Never mind, I must have already forgotten.”

Cedric had stopped in the high grass just beyond the beach. He could not stand his lizard disguise any longer. An elegant ship pulled into the deserted beach harbor as he was changing from Cedric the Lizard back into Cedric the Newt. To his surprise, Percy and Bill were piloting the ship and they were conversing with Chase, something about bankers, how boring. Cedric tuned them out as he continued to change. “Was that Sara’s name?” he thought as he listened closer to the conversation. “So, they plan on breaking Sara’s mother out of prison? That information might make me rich. Of course, I do need to convince the princesses about the untimely death of their niece. If all goes well, I might be able to retire after this.” Armed with the information about the plot to break Sara’s mother out of prison and the article he had stolen from her backpack, Cedric headed south towards his future new-found wealth. If newts could smile, surely he would be smiling.