CHAPTER 14
KEEPING ENEMIES CLOSER
While Assam Tortoise was carried from the hall, Flossy glanced behind. Off to one side were the sheep she had mistaken for pirates. They were watching her intensely, admiration written large in their eyes. She pretended not to notice them. She had no interest in encouraging their misplaced fascination with her, or with pirates generally.
‘Are we all of us cowards and fools! Is it not enough that we were ignorant of pirates walking freely among us? Yet now we learn that one did know but was too much a coward to risk even untying a horse,’ said the Mayor.
Flossy stepped forward. ‘Sir, let me lead a rescue mission. We will leave tonight and have Harry and Sally home by diner tomorrow.’
The Mayor looked down at her. ‘Now that’s the kind of bravery we admire. You are a credit to your House.’ He looked over her head and scanned the crowd. ‘Who will join her?’
Larry was the first to arrive. He wriggled through the crowd and made his way to her side. Flossy reached out and took his warm hand, making him smile shyly. Dried blood matted his head-fur where he had been struck against the ground by the black boar but otherwise he looked well.
‘More bravery then, Larry Monkey?’ asked the Mayor, rhetorically.
Larry looked down at his feet. His toes were curled.
‘Of course, our small navy will be at your disposal,’ said the Mayor to Flossy.
There was a resounding cheer from the rhinos, gorillas, crocodiles and many others. They clearly wanted a fight, or justice.
‘You have a navy?’ asked Flossy, surprised. The town didn’t seem big enough to support a navy and she had seen no warships at Curiosity Quay.
‘Of a kind. It’s not a standing navy, but one that can be quickly assembled as required. The town’s fishing boats will be seconded and made ready for battle. They are many and some of them are fast.’
Iscariot Snake slithered forward and knocked Flossy roughly aside. She found she had half-drawn her sword when she regained her footing. Training and instinct were good friends in a pinch.
‘I would lead this expedition,’ declared Iscariot Snake, blood-red tongue flicking.
‘There would be few without the courage to follow if you should lead, Mr Snake,’ said the Mayor. ‘But some would say you are no longer of this town because you’ve not lived among us for so many years. Perhaps, on this occasion, the honour should fall to another.’
The Mayor was clearly being diplomatic, saying ‘no’ in a way to that would least offend. Flossy pushed her sword back into its scabbard and fell at ease, watching.
‘Under my leadership we’ll strike a blow the pirates won’t forget,’ said Iscariot. She could see that he wasn’t used to being refused.
The Mayor turned and consulted the animals standing behind him on the dais. These were probably the town’s officials, Flossy thought.
After a few minutes he turned back. ‘We are gratified by your offer, Mr Snake. But Miss Fairweather Human will lead on this occasion. She is quick-witted and has demonstrated superb courage. Should she so agree, you will act as her second-in-command. The House of Human is reputed to be resourceful. You may learn something.’
Iscariot stiffened, turned towards Flossy and rose from the floor so he towered over her. If the big snake was human she was sure his face would be glowing crimson with indignation.
‘Of course, sir. I look forward to digesting all she has to offer. I’m always hungry for something new.’ His nostrils flared and dark menace filled his unblinking, onyx eyes.
Flossy tapped the pommel of her sword and smiled serenely at the snake. She would not be intimidated.
There was a commotion beside her and she turned to see Reginald stepping forward, the crowd parting. He smiled at Flossy then turned to the Mayor.
‘Please approach, Reginald. You have always been a friend of this court.’
‘Mayor Lion, most honourable councillors. Nobody would deny that Iscariot Snake could deliver a powerful blow to the pirates if given the chance. His size and strength is many times greater than most standing here in the hall. He is also uncommonly intelligent—as his former teacher, I should know. But the choice of leader should not come down to strength and intelligence alone. It is also a matter of character. I say Iscariot Snake has yet to be proven of sufficiently good character and therefore should be excluded from leadership. Surely the matter of his involvement in the Troubles should be…’
Iscariot flicked around lightning-fast. ‘Nothing was ever proved,’ he said, hissing bitterly.
‘Neither was it disproved,’ retorted Reginald, dryly.
The snake rose up as if to strike but stopped short as the Mayor said: ‘How do you defend this criticism of your character, Iscariot?’
‘In any other place, sir, I would have no need. My honour would be satisfied in a more direct fashion. But to satisfy your mayorship and the Court, I will defend my character with this ancient saying: let him who has not sinned cast the first stone.’ He turned and looked over the crowd. Silent animals fidgeted under his gaze. Satisfied, he turned back. ‘We, all of us, are flawed and each has his weakness. For one, it’s pride despite one’s tragic and avoidable mistakes.’ Iscariot tipped his diamond head towards Reginald, as if this was meant for him. Reginald turned away, chastened. ‘For others, it’s an overly quick temper.’ Flossy had the distinct impression that this was meant for her and she raised her eyebrows. The snake then looked meaningfully at the Mayor. ‘And for other great ones among us, it’s a failure to master base instincts, instincts that lurk hungrily within us all; that demand to be satisfied even when it means overlooking certain moral considerations.’ A look passed between Iscariot and the Mayor that made Flossy feel like she was eavesdropping on a private conversation.
The Mayor stared at the snake for a moment, as if shaken, then he turned to Reginald. ‘Will you cast the first stone? Is your character flawless? Have your actions always been beyond reproach?’ His voice wasn’t steady as he said this.
Reginald looked down, silent. Everyone in the hall watched and listened attentively. It was clear to Flossy that there was more unsaid than said, that there was a history here that she didn’t know.
‘We have not forgotten the Troubles, Reginald. All remember with perfect sadness, especially those who lost someone. The Troubles are long in the regrettable past. We deal now with the redeemable present. Every citizen has a right to the presumption of innocence…’
‘Iscariot Snake is no citizen! He spends more time in the Wilds doing who knows what than in Port Isabel,’ said Reginald, defiance flashing in his eyes.
The big snake hissed, his diamond head darting at Reginald but falling well short.
The Mayor spoke chidingly. ‘Absence does not exclude citizenship, Reginald. He is of us and so he will remain, even should he again travel the wide, flat earth and return. As you know, only a court of law has the power to exclude citizenship and then only under the gravest consideration as penalty for a suitably grievous crime. In our long history, such a sentence has yet to be passed. Even the owls found none so deserving. You came to us from Twin Rivers, a stranger. Yet Port Isabel welcomed you with open arms and conferred upon you the rights of a citizen from the first. How much more do the rights of citizenship rest upon one born and raised among us, as has been Iscariot Snake?’
The Mayor paused and surveyed the silent crowd. It was as if mention of the Troubles had cast a spell of sadness. Flossy wondered what had happened and whether the big snake had somehow been involved as Reginald was suggesting.
‘Iscariot Snake enjoys the rights and protections provided to all citizens of Port Isabel. As for his connection with the Troubles of times past…’
‘Some are beyond redemption!’ said Reginald with surprising conviction.
The big snake hissed, fangs bared.
‘But all deserve a shot at it, Reginald,’ said the Mayor.
‘Mr Mayor, I beg of you …’ pleaded Reginald. ‘For the sake of…
’
‘I have made my decision,’ said the Mayor with finality. ‘Mr Snake will second Miss Fairweather Human. There is much to prepare, the Port Isabel Navy must be ready to sail at first light.’
‘May I make a strategic suggestion, sir?’ asked the big snake, slithering forward. His tail flicked out at Flossy but she saw it coming and jumped clear.
‘Yes, of course.’
Flossy glanced at Reginald. The elephant was staring at the floor.
The snake rose up so his arrow shaped head was level with the Mayor’s. ‘Let us not rely on one point of attack. Pirate Pratt may be just a wild animal but he’s reputably and undeniably a brilliant tactician. How else has he avoided capture all these years? He’ll be expecting a rescue attempt. He may have even taken the possum and sloth hostage for just that reason; to draw us out. He will be prepared.’
‘A wise insight, Mr Snake. What other point of attack should be tried?’
‘A second force should be prepared, one Pirate Pratt won’t expect. If the first fails, the second won’t.’
‘A failsafe, then! A most prudent strategy,’ nodded the great lion. ‘Tell us more.’
‘Our fastest vessels carrying our most capable fighters should strike first; head on and in broad daylight. Our largest, slowest vessels should approach broadside under the cover of the afternoon fog. If the fight is already won, they can assist… cleaning up. If not, the surprise will turn the tide of battle in our favour.’
The Mayor turned to Flossy. ‘Do you agree with this strategy?’
‘I do, sir,’ answered Flossy. ‘A battle plan only lasts until the first shot is fired. Having a contingent force waiting in the wings makes good strategic sense.’
‘And do you object to having Mr Snake as your second-in-command?’
Flossy hesitated before answering. She didn’t trust the big snake, and it was clear she wasn’t alone. Reginald had connected him with the ‘Troubles’. Whatever they were, they were a point of sadness that had touched the lives of many. He had raised the matter of Iscariot’s untested character and the way the snake had treated Reginald at the café was telling of some past conflict between them. Still, he had good ideas and the Mayor said ‘if he should lead others would follow’. She would have to get past her prejudice—snakes always gave her the creeps and this one was large enough to swallow a camel by accident.
In the briefest time, all of these thoughts and more flashed through Flossy’s mind. Unconsciously she weighed each until only one remained; one more persuasive than the rest. An old sailor on the Enterprise named Jack Bundy once said to her: ‘You’re wise t' keep yer mates close, young Flossy but always reckon t' keep yer enemies closer still.’ She didn’t know whether she could trust the snake but if he was second-in-command she’d always know what he was up to.
‘No objection, Mr Mayor,’ Flossy replied gracefully. ‘I should be honoured by his good counsel.’
‘Then it shall be so.’ The Mayor turned to Iscariot. ‘Who shall we appoint to lead the covert second strike force?’ he asked.
‘We should choose an experienced sailor, sir,’ replied the big snake without pause. ‘It should be someone who knows how to make best use of the prevailing winds, ocean currents, tides and fog. It should be someone who knows how to sneak up on the enemy undetected; who will be cautious in the extreme and who knows how to be invisible.’
Flossy wondered who Iscariot had in mind.
The Mayor raised his eyebrows then nodded knowingly.
‘Everyone deserves their shot at redemption, Mr Mayor. You said so yourself,’ said the snake.
‘Are not some beyond redemption?’ the great lion asked.
Flossy had the sense she was missing something crucial; like there was some hidden meaning understood only by the Mayor and the snake.
‘It would be good also to have a shipwright in charge,’ said Iscariot, deliberately ignoring the Mayor’s question.
‘How so?’
‘Because the fastest ship should lead the second force, and it’s not quite finished.’
‘Fastest ship? Do you mean the Happy Trader?’
‘No, there’s one that’s faster still. Harry Possum’s ship, Mr Mayor: the Serendipity.’
From high upon the dais, rimmed by the town’s leading officials and backlit by the joyful stained glass window depicting monkeys at play amongst banana palms, the Mayor addressed the gorilla guards standing at attention below. ‘Please seek out Assam Tortoise, we wish to speak with him.’ Then he turned and addressed the rhino who had led the squad that had liberated Stanley. ‘And would you please fetch Sergeant Boar, Captain Rhino. There will be no need to bind him, in case you’re tempted. He will be second-in-command to Mr Tortoise. What Assam Tortoise lacks in courage will be made up by Sergeant Boar’s penchant for acting without too much thought. A good tension, just what the second force needs. And both will have their chance at redemption.’
The crowd behind Flossy grew loud with chatter, hoots, whinnies, and—from her fan club, no doubt—overenthusiastic bleats. Others were clapping or stamping hooves or trotters according to their custom and ability. The hall’s vaulted ceiling resonated with the town’s determination to deliver a blow the pirates would never forget. Only her close proximity to the Mayor allowed her to hear him mumble: ‘I may even get a shot at redemption myself.’
Stanley approached and nudged Flossy with his nose. She rubbed his neck affectionately and picked a bur off his tangled mane as the realisation hit home: she would be responsible for the lives of many; a great force would be hers to command, for good or ill.
Her hand rested on the pommel of her sword and her face hardened with resolve. She would rise up and fall upon the pirates like the raptors of old once fell from the sky upon their prey. Like them she would brook no mercy. She would not fail Harry and Sally and she would once again be reunited with her parents. All this or she would gladly forfeit her life in the attempt.