Free BEYOND THE LOOKING-GLASS: Book One in the BEYOND Series by Gordon Rothwell Page A

oars.
    Quietly, they began to move toward the moored Hispaniola .
    “ Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest … yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” the pirates sang lustily.
    Kellen strained at the oars with all of his remaining strength. Soon, the small dinghy had edged closer to the sailing ship’s towering stern. A dim amber light shone through the mottled glass of the captain’s quarters. One of the windows was partially open. From their position at the stern, they could hear their children’s voices inside the schooner.
    Kellen maneuvered the dinghy around to th e Hispaniola’s starboard side. They moved stealthily until the dinghy bumped into a rope ladder hanging over the side. He tied up the dinghy and motioned for Aleeta to get behind him as they started to climb the ladder.
    Only the sharp tang of salt and tar and the creaking of the mast ropes filled the evening air. He glanced upward. The schooner’s immense sails were slapping and billowing against the dark velvet cover of night.
    He placed his fingers to his lips, warning Aleeta to be as still as possible as they moved forward along the ship’s deck. They sneaked to a hatchway and went down into a darkened corridor below. It appeared to lead to the captain’s quarters.
    He could smell the stench of bilge water and rotting timbers, as they inched along in the blackness. Aleeta took hold of his hand. Her grip was achingly strong. And she was trembling. He wasn’t sure if it was the anticipation of seeing her kids again, or just plain fear.
    “Aye, messmates,” a gruff man’s voice roared from the half-opened door to the captain’s cabin. “We have a sworn dooty to these here young’uns, by thunder. We’ll jest take ‘em along to the Isle of Treasure. An’ no mortal man dare harm a hair o’ their wee heads, by gum. Ye have Long John Silver’s promise on that.”
    Kellen peered through the door, despite Aleeta’s efforts to hold him back. It was Long John Silver all right: hawk-nosed, with a crutch under one arm, and a cocky green parrot perched high on one shoulder.
    “Awwk…pieces of eight…pieces of eight ,” the parrot squawked.
    “Aye,” Silver replied. “That’s right, Cap’n Flint. And we best be shipping out at first light. And then it’s on to claim our rightful booty.”
    Kellen felt a sharp, quick stab in his side. He looked down to see an ancient flintlock pistol poking is ribs. And there was a swarthy old seaman on the other end of the weapon. He smiled a toothless grin. “Who be ye, mate? And who be this wench? And what are ye two doin’ spying on Long John Silver an’ his lads?”
    “We’re sorry,” Kellen answered. “We weren’t spying.” He hesitated, trying to gather his thoughts. “I’m afraid that I could never explain it so you could understand, Mister, uh….”
    “Hands, sohr. Israel Hands at yer service. Now, if ye’d be so kind as to enter the captain’s cabin. If’n I won’t believe ye, mebbe old Long John will. Step lively, if ye please.”
    The grizzled pirate jammed the long barrel of his flintlock into Kellen’s midsection. Israel waved the two trespassers into the captain’s quarters to face Long John Silver. They followed the pirate’s directions and stepped in to accept whatever fate held in store for them.
    Kellen immediately spotted Tress and Jace sitting on a bench near the stern portals. The two were ravenously devouring a pile of fresh fruit in a hand-carved mahogany serving bowl.
    When the children saw Aleeta they leaped up and rushed into her outstretched arms.
    “Mommy, Mommy!” Tress exclaimed. ”We missed you so!”
    “Who be these two strangers, my little tykes?” Silver asked.
    “They’re our parents!” the kids shouted enthusiastically,
    Long John squinted at his visitors. He spoke to Kellen. “What do ye want with these here young’uns, lubber?”
    “We’ve been hunting for them. They’re our children and we love them very much. We’ve gone through a lot to get