Page 98 of The Sea Witch
The glowing ball hummed before winking out.
“TheSea Witchshould be waiting for us where we left it,” she said. “Town’s deserted. It’ll be easy enough to reach our landing spot.” She pushed the door open, took two steps, then lurched to a stop, throwing her arm in front of Ben.
The chickcharney stood in front of the church.
Chapter Twenty-One
Alys had warned Ben to keep from laughing at the chickcharney. But now the awful, impossible urge to guffaw climbed up her throat.
The chickcharney did indeed look like an owl with unusually long legs, and in that, it was almost ridiculous. Round face, short hooked beak, tawny feathers. As ordinary as any bird seen flying through the night. Yet from under its wings emerged spindly human-shaped arms topped with three-fingered talon-like hands. They flexed as if searching for something to grasp and twist.
The creature had a long thin tail, almost like a monkey’s tail, and it snapped back and forth, cutting through the air. Its red eyes blazed in the darkness as it glared at Alys and Ben.
It took three steps closer. The talons on the ends of its hands glinted as he reached for them, ready to snap off their heads.
“We need weapons,” he growled.
“Couldn’t fight it if we wanted to,” she hissed back. “Use the petticoat. Wave it around.”
He did as she commanded, swishing the coral-colored skirt back and forth in slow hypnotic movements. “I feel like an ass.”
“Healing your injured pride is easier than replacing our severed heads.”
He seemed to have no argument against that, so he continuedto flutter the petticoat. Gradually, the chickcharney’s eyelids and hands lowered, and it sank to the ground as it made soft contented noises.
“Slowly, now.” Alys took Ben’s hand.
They eased past the creature, its head swiveling around to track their progress. Ben kept moving the petticoat back and forth as he and Alys backed away. A step. Another step. Until they were in the shelter of an alley.
The chickcharney’s head turned away, no longer interested in them.
Alys and Ben ran. They ducked through the lanes and back streets of Domingo Town, all uncannily empty, echoing with their footsteps. At last, they reached the edge of the settlement. Plunging across the fields, they sped, hand in hand, until they came to the forest. They didn’t stop running through the dense vegetation, following game trails. Trees loomed, menacing all around them. Ahead was the pounding of surf against the sand. Neither Ben nor Alys stopped to look behind them to see if the chickcharney followed, praying to the stars that the creature had found something else to draw its attention.
She cursed in relief when they came out of the forest to emerge on the beach. Waiting for them was the jolly boat, and Eris, perched on one of the benches. The magpie flew over to land on her shoulder.
“Please tell me that your mistress and the ship are nearby,” she pleaded.
Eris chirped an assent.
“They’re waiting for us,” she informed Ben. “But keep that,” she added when he tossed the skirt aside. “I’m sure someone aboard will be happy to get a new petticoat.”
He scooped it up and deposited the underskirt in the jolly boat. Together, they pushed the boat into the water, then climbed in. They both took the oars to row them past the surf, and farther out into the dark cove.
A hundred feet into the bay, a lamp appeared. Too low to be a star.
A handful of more lamps glowed to life. The outline of theSea Witchgradually took shape with each new lamp being lighted.
They brought the jolly boat alongside the ship, then climbed up the ladder when it was rolled down in welcome.
Stasia stood ready when Alys stepped onto the top deck. Olachi was with her, along with Polly, Luna, and Effia.
“We have news,” Stasia said.
“So do we,” Alys answered.
“A ship for me has been found,” Olachi said, her eyes bright with purpose.
“A naval ship,” Stasia added. “A forty-gun, fourth rate frigate in the Royal Navy.”
