Chapter 7

            About a month and a half later, my dad decided to take Jim and me along on his test-run of one of the longboats. Dad started to explain how to work the skiff, but Jim already sent the craft flying before my father could finish. I gripped the edge of the boat as we flew forward. Jim brought us into a comet and my jaw dropped at the beauty around us. Pale blue and white lights surrounded us and it simply took my breath away.

 

“This is beautiful, Jim,” I yelled over the sounds within the comet.

 

He grinned at me and my dad glanced between us. There was a look in his eyes that I couldn’t interpret. Jim then started performing sharp twists and turns, making me hold on tighter to the edge of the boat. We flew out of the comet, dust still sticking to us for a few moments, and headed back towards the legacy. Once back, Jim and I pulled up one end of the boat while my dad handled the other. Morph came floating up to us and flew in circles around our heads.

 

“Oh, Jimbo. If  could maneuver a skiff like that when I was your age, they’d be bowing in the streets when I walked by today,” Dad said, sitting in the boat.

 

“Bowing in the streets,” Morph repeated, turning into a miniature of my dad and plopping into mid-air.

 

“I wish I could do that. I mean, I went solar surfing as a kid, but nothing hard core. That was awesome,” I added, taking a seat beside Jim.

 

“I don’t know. They weren’t exactly singing my praises when I left home… but I’m gonna change all that,” Jim answered.

 

“Are you now? How so,” Dad asked.

 

“Uh… I got some plans. Gonna make people see me a little different.

 

I glanced at my dad to see a slightly saddened expression on his face. Jim rested his arm on the edge of the boat and I leaned back.

 

“Sometimes… plans go astray,” Dad said and I bit my lip.

 

“Not this time,” Jim answered comfortably.

 

Dad pulled his mechanical leg up and started working on one of the loose nuts.

 

“Need help, Dad,” I asked.

 

Before I could move, Morph had turned into a wrench and my dad fixed the small problem with his leg.

 

“So, uh, how’d that happen anyway,” Jim asked, leaning forward and taking his arm from behind my back.

 

“You give up a few things, chasing a dream,” Dad answered, moving the fingers of his mechanical hand.

 

“Was it worth it?”

 

My father moved to sit on the other side of Jim and put his arm behind both of us.

 

“I’m hoping it is, Jimbo. I most surely am.”

 

The three of us leaned back to rest, only to be thrown forward by something hitting the ship. I scrambled out of the longboat and hurried up to the deck, Dad and Jim close behind. I looked out to see that a star had exploded.

 

“Blast it all,” I yelled.

 

“What the devil,” my dad asked as he and Jim came up from behind me.

 

“All hands, fasten your lifelines,” Arrow commanded.

 

The entire crew tied on their lifelines, making sure they were on tightly. I quickly climbed into the rigging, not wasting any time to take off my boots. There were various bits of rock flying through the sails and Arrow ordered that they be tied down. Mr. Scroop and I worked together on one side while two more crew members took the other. We had to work quickly to get the fore royal sail. It was the highest sail on the foremast. Being such, it was the one that moved the most, swaying back and forth, side to side. It felt as if the ship itself wanted nothing more than to throw us off. The only reason I didn’t have to worry about panicking that time was because I had my lifeline and Mr. Scroop was there. Once the sail was tied down, I looked down at the bowsprit, just in time to see Jim save my dad from falling off the ship. My eyes widened and a scream caught in my throat. Then, I saw a large meteor heading directly for the ship. I stared in horror and Mr. Scroop had to pull on my jacket to get me to move. I looked back down at the bowsprit to see Jim and my dad put their arms in front of them as the meteor neared.

 

“Dad! Jim,” I screamed and ran forward.

I grabbed onto the mast and leaned past it, staring in fear at the sight below. Suddenly, the meteor started pulling away. Once it was far enough out, I looked past it to see a black hole forming.

 

“Ember, go on deck. You’ll be safer down there,” Mr. Scroop yelled, pulling me back again.

This time, I took his advice and began my decent to the deck. I ran to the bowsprit, still shaking after being thrown around from the mast. I helped my dad and Jim back onto the ship and pointed towards the area the star had once been.

 

“It’s a black hole,” I yelled.

 

“Arrow then ordered for the sails to be released again and I scowled. I started towards the shrouds again, but Dad stopped me.

 

“Stay here, Ember. They can get the sails faster without worrying about you falling,” he told me and I nodded.

 

Amelia ordered Jim to secure all of the lifelines, which he did in under a minute. Another wave hit the ship, causing me to go flying forward. I nearly hit Jim, but stopped short a couple of feet. I looked around and saw that we were about to be sucked into the black hole.

 

“Hold onto your lifelines, gents. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride,” Amelia called from behind the wheel.

 

Jim pulled me into a standing position and pinned me against the mast, facing him. He had one arm wrapped around my back while the other held onto the mast. He had his cheek pressed against mine and his mouth by my ear. His breath sent shivers down my spine. My dad then came over and used his bulk to hold both of us to the mast. I pressed my head against Jim’s shoulder and gave a silent prayer. There was a huge wave, stronger than any of the others, and I heard Jim and my dad struggle to stay still. Finally, we were safe and my father let us go; everyone started cheering.

 

“We did it,” Jim yelled and spun me around a few times before kissing me.

 

The action surprised me and he immediately pulled away. The look on his face showed that he thought he’d made a mistake.

 

“Ember,” he started, but I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, silencing him.

 

I pulled away only seconds later, just as Amelia was coming down the stairs. She started by congratulating Jim, my dad and me.

 

“All hands accounted for, Mr. Arrow,” she asked.

 

There was silence. I looked around, but couldn’t see the stone man anywhere. Mr. Scroop broke through the crowd, Arrow’s hat in his claws.

 

“I’m afraid Mr. Arrow was lost. It appears his lifeline was not secured,” Mr. Scroop said.

 

My eyes widened and I looked over at Jim. I was sure he’d tightened all of the lifelines.

 

“No, I checked them all,” Jim said, running over to where the lifelines were.

 

There was one missing.

 

“I checked them all… they were secure,” he mumbled.

 

I looked back at Mr. Scroop to see some kind of glint in his eyes, as well as a smirk playing on his face. I glared harshly at him as Amelia gave a few parting words for Arrow.

 

“Resume your posts. We carry on,” she finished, walking up the stairs.

 

I turned back around to see Jim run off. I took a step forward to follow him, but my father grabbed my shoulder.

 

“Let him be, lass,” he said and I nodded with a sigh.