“Yes, Captain,” said Shark. “We were really concerned for their safety.”
The Captain turned to Flubber. “And you were there too, Flubber?”
“Yes, Captain,” said Flubber. “And what William and Geoffrey say is absolutely true.”
Ben’s eyes were fixed on the back of Flubber’s ears as he spoke. There was no doubt about it – Flubber’s ears were moving.
The Captain looked up at the ceiling. “This is difficult,” he said. “We have two different accounts here.” He lowered his gaze, fixing it on the three boys before him. “I’m not sure I believe you,” he said firmly. “I’ve been watching you, you know, and I’m not sure I approve of your attitude.”
Good, thought Ben: more cleaning heads for Hardtack and his friends. And Badger, very much under his breath, whispered, “Expel them, Captain. Get rid of them once and for all.”
The Captain stood up to announce his decision. “Against my better judgement,” he said, “I’m going to give you boys the benefit of the doubt. It’s possible – just possible – that you may be telling the truth, and that there’s been some sort of misunderstanding. I don’t think you are being entirely truthful, but I shall, as I’ve said, give you the benefit of the doubt.” He paused, and then indicated with a quick gesture that Hardtack, Shark, and Flubber should leave the cabin.
“They always get away with it,” Badger whispered to Ben. “Always.”
“One day they won’t,” said Ben. “They’ll make a mistake.” Fee and Ben smiled at each other. The boys headed to their cabins and the girls went to theirs.
Now Fee looked at Poppy. “Don’t worry, Fee,” said Poppy as they made their way to their cabin. “The important thing is that we rescued those poor animals. That’s much more important than whether or not Hardtack and his friends have had the punishment they deserve.”
Fee nodded. Poppy was right, and now, thinking about it a bit more, she decided that everything had worked out well. Henry was on the mend, thanks to Tanya’s skilful treatment of his broken leg; Tanya herself was now an official member of the school and would have to hide away no longer; and somewhere in that wide ocean there was a happy basking shark and a delighted giant ray. The otters were probably on shore by now, playing around on the beach, as otters like to do. Everybody had reason to be happy.
That night, Ben and Badger talked to one another in the darkness, each lying in his hammock, rocked gently by the motion of the ship, pleased that everything had worked out so well in the end. The next day, they knew, was going to be a busy one, with more classes and with lifeboat practice too. There was always a lot to do on board ship.
“Are you pleased with life on the Tobermory so far?” asked Badger.
From the other side of the cabin, Ben gave his answer. There could be only one answer, he thought, and that was, “Yes, very pleased.”
It was not a long answer, but Ben felt that it conveyed everything that needed to be said. He was very pleased to be on the ship, and he knew that Fee was too. And why should they not feel pleased? They were doing what they had always wanted to do – to sail – and they were doing it with people they liked – with Poppy and Badger, with Thomas and Angela, and with many other friends that they had just made.
“You know where we’re going after this?” said Badger, just before he dropped off to sleep.
“No, where?”
“The Caribbean,” said Badger. “I heard Mr Rigger discussing it with Cook.”
Ben closed his eyes and smiled. “Good,” he said. “I’ll like that.”
A little later, he said to Badger, “Have you been to the Caribbean before, Badge?”
But there was no answer, as Badger had dropped off to sleep; he could ask him tomorrow, if he remembered. Ben settled down. He felt his hammock swing slightly as a wave moved under the ship – a wave that had started far out to sea, and had come a long way.
Ben lay still in his hammock. He realised that he and his sister had much to tell their parents. What an adventure they had already had on the Tobermory. His eyes were closed, and he was thinking. I have new friends, he thought, and one special friend in particular. We shall all be together, out on the open sea, for a good long time. What more could anybody want? Nothing, he thought. And he felt Fee would probably agree. There is nothing better than being at sea with friends, with the empty sky above you, and the wind in your hair. Nothing.
Don’t miss the next
School Ship Tobermory
adventure
Alexander McCall Smith, School Ship Tobermory
(Series: # )
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