Free Phoenix Rising by Bryony Pearce Page A

moment the sail was secure as their combined weight held it flat. Toby let out a sigh of relief.
    Then, from behind Big Pad, Ajay screamed. Toby struggled to turn his head and saw Amit topple. Ajay lunged for his brother, who instinctively grabbed the nearest hold – Big Pad’s leg. Toby had no time to react. Although Amit quickly wrapped his free hand around therigging and released Pad, he had thrown them off balance and together Paddy and Toby toppled over. They fell to the tune of screaming pirates, the wailing Banshee and the popping of the final ties. The sail billowed free. It whipped into the storm and the mast groaned.
    Toby’s fall seemed to go on forever. One moment he was looking at the sky, then the deck was hurtling towards him. Abruptly the ship pitched and, for a second, Toby was staring at sea-drowned junk, lit by lightning. Then the Phoenix tilted and slammed downwards, bringing the deck back beneath them.
    Toby spun again, forced around by the strength of Big Pad’s arms. He found his gaze pinned to the silver sail, its NASA logo fully open to the sky.
    The impact shuddered through Toby’s back and his head cracked against Big Pad’s. Dimly he felt Big Pad’s arms loosen and release him. His eyelids flickered. Struggling to hold on to consciousness, Toby heard the pirate’s screams grow distant and the Banshee ’s wail fade into insignificance.
    But then a new sound grabbed him by the throat. Toby’s eyes flew open in time to see the mast crack in two. It fell in slow motion, spinning on its axis as though it was going to be dashed into the sea. At the last moment the wind snatched the sail, brought it back round and slammed itdown across the Phoenix herself, crushing the bridge like an eggshell under a boot.
    The sound of shattering glass and smashing metal seared Toby’s ears, but it was the thought of his father, who he had last seen running inside, that finally sent Toby into oblivion.

    “Toby, don’t be dead.” Small hands patted at his cheeks.
    “Hiko?” Toby thought he had spoken aloud, but his lips were heavy and he couldn’t move his mouth.
    “He’s unconscious.” Polly answered the terrified Hiko and faintly Toby felt her feathers brush his throat as she clawed her way from his shirt.
    Then the darkness pulled him back under once more.

    “He won’t wake up.” Hiko’s voice again, frightened.
    “He’s had a nasty crack on the skull. Big Pad’s got a chin like granite.” Uma. Her voice shivered with grief. “I know you want to stay with Toby, but I need your help. Go to every pirate you see. If they talk to you, leave them, if they seem to be asleep, wrap their red scarf around their leg. Make sure I can see it. That way I’ll know who to help first.”
    There was silence as Hiko moved off. Then hands wrapped round Toby’s shoulders.
    “Toby, I need to move you. I have to get to Big Pad.”
    Pain. Darkness.

    Thrum, thrum.
    The paddles were back in the water, Toby could feel the deep vibration of her roar as the Phoenix powered forward. The feel of electricity crackling against his teeth and skin was gone, telling Toby that they had finally outrun the storm, but the rain continued to fall. It no longer lashed Toby’s face – now it felt like tears. Relief eased Toby and even the wail of the Banshee could not keep him from sliding back into sleep.

    Shards of bright pain; lances of light that stabbed Toby’s eyes and forced them closed. He lay in self-imposed darkness, his cheeks wet with gentle rain. His head pounded with each thresh of the Phoenix ’s paddles. His back ached, bone deep, as if he had been trampled by horses. Slowly he raised a stiff arm and shielded his eyes. Then he cracked them open.
    “You’re awake.” Hiko kneeled at his side.
    Toby shifted as though he would sit, but Hiko’s hand on his chest prevented him. The Banshee ’s wail was even louder now, the sound ringing inside Toby’s head. He closed his fists over his ears. “How close