A Mutiny in Time (Infinity Ring #1)

“DON’T SIT there like a wart on a witch’s nose,” Eyeball said. “Come on!”

“B-but,” Sera stammered. “How . . . why . . .” She didn’t even know where to begin.

The man laughed. “Oh, wash my boots, kid. . . . I’ve been puttin’ on an act ’cause you never know what side the guards are on. Gloria and I were even careful back in town — SQ’s been crawling like lice all over the docks for weeks. But she sent word ahead while you lot took the scenic route. Besides, I’d have hoped you’d seen my crystal clear heart through the beauty of my glorious eye. Now come on. I’ve learned enough meself to know we gots to stop this mutiny.”

Dak looked like his jaw muscles had been removed.

“Dak?” she asked, nudging him with an elbow.

He finally snapped out of it. “I’d just . . . I’d kind of given up. But then you came along by yourself and I was hoping we could beat the tar out of you. And now you’re letting us out. I’m a confused boy.” But then a huge grin lit up his face. “Let’s do this thing.”

“Beat the tar out of me, huh? What a dumb kid.”

“Finally, someone’s said something that makes sense,” Riq said as he walked out the open door. Sera followed, butterflies swarming in her gut. This was it. They were finally at crunch time and she couldn’t pretend it wasn’t scary.

Once they were all outside of the cell, Eyeball gathered them round and spoke in a low voice. “I noticed that smelly boy, Ricardo, sneak down here this morning. So I approached him — oi, does that bloke stink like fish or what? — and told him I was on your side. He didn’t believe me — I thought his rank little heart might explode on me — until I showed him some weapons I’ve hoarded over the last couple of voyages. By hoarded, I mean stole. Anyway, he’s done a fine job of gathering your Riffraff army, as he calls it. Did I mention that boy smells?”

“Yes,” Sera said. “You did. Never noticed it myself.”

“Then there must be somethin’ clogging that little nose of yours. Try pickin’ it more often. Works for me.”

“Ew” was all Sera could get out.

Eyeball got serious. “We don’t have much time. Since word’s gotten out about their plan, the brothers are planning to strike at midnight — I’ve got me own spies about, you know.”

“How do we know you’re on our side?” Riq asked.

Eyeball looked hurt. “Why in the blazes would I be lettin’ you out if I weren’t? I’m doin’ it mainly for the love I have for Gloria, I tell you. She doesn’t know it quite yet, mind your smarts. But me heart’s been hers ever since I first laid me eye upon the glorious vision of her clobberin’ a cow with that club of hers. Ah, what a woman.”

He touched a hand to his heart. “We figured it best to hide our little cahoots, wantin’ to be safe and all. But I been working with her some months now. And so here I am, at your service. One eye or none, I’m the best you got.”

Sera found herself trusting the man. Why would he let them go now if he wasn’t on their side? Dak and Riq seemed to agree with her by the looks on their faces.

“So, what’re we going to do?” Dak asked. “Should we just smash into the Amancios’ room? Throw them overboard? Stop this thing before it even gets started?”

“Don’t be as stupid as you look,” Eyeball spat. “Do that and we’ll be the ones accused of a mutiny. No, sir — we need to lie low until those turncoat brothers make their move against the captain. Then we come in and save the day. Every slimy-haired runt on this ship will know we’re the heroes then.”

Sera couldn’t hide her worry. “That’s the plan? What if the guards come down and see that we’re gone? What if the Amancios do something bad to Columbus before we can save him? Slit his throat or poison him?”

“What if the moon cracks open and drops lamb chops on us?” Eyeball growled. “What if me legs fall off and start dancin’? We’ll do our best, lad. Or should I say lassie?”

Sera’s face colored. “Brute force just doesn’t seem like the most thought-out plan is all.”

Riq shrugged. “Sometimes you just need to go for it.”

Eyeball huffed. “Are we really going to stand here like brain-dead flamingos and talk it over?”

“Like I said,” Dak interjected. “Let’s do this thing. I can barely stand it. If we’re not going to do what the Hystorians sent us back to do, what’s the point of being here? It’s time to act, Sera.”

She looked at him for a moment, then finally nodded.

“Right,” Eyeball grunted. “Up we go.”

They headed for the ladder.