“And why wouldn’t he?” Abbott asked, his voice tinged with resentment.
“Because, if everyone on these ships is seasick, then they will be very, very slow on the return. And if you do your job taking out the guards, they may not even have to return at all.” A huge grin stretched across his face. “Think of it—we can be in and out without them even noticing! And even if they do find out, then they will have to vomit their way all the way up the river.” He knocked over the model of the Sudden Night. “Whatever is in the Vault will be the main prize. Bottles are heavy—they would keep most of them there, rather than on a ship, wouldn’t you say? And as for the attack—they’ll expect us to come at night. Well, who says we have to go at night? I can’t imagine they would think we would be so foolish as to attack during the day. But we just might have to be. We do the unexpected.” John puffed out his chest.
Peter leapt into the air and spun around before lifting John up off the ground with a hearty shake. “Bravo!” he crowed. “This certainly sounds like a risky—but worthwhile—adventure!” He put John down. “This time we’ll succeed, because we have you, my intellectual friend! Let’s remind those pirates that they don’t own the island, as they believe.”
Abbott stepped forward and grabbed Peter’s arm. “Peter! We’ve talked about this! The Vault is too dangerous. Do you want those ships bearing down on all the boys with no escape? Do you remember what we lost the first time? Eleven boys, eleven friends! Each of them now dangling from the Vault with a hook around their neck. This is reckless and foolish! We don’t even know the layout of the inside of the Vault. You’ve heard of the fourteen doors. We could get lost, we could get trapped by the ships like last time.”
Peter reached out and clasped both of his hands on Abbott’s face with a smile. “Ah, my dear friend, my General. When did you lose your sense of adventure? When did you become such a nag? I have been so bored as of late, haven’t you? We need a good adventure for our tales . . . for our souls. We will use John’s plan. Aren’t you that brave boy who once threw himself out a window in Port Duette with nothing below him, only hoping I might catch him? Be brave!”
Abbott’s face grew red, and Wendy could see him trying to contain his anger, which seemed to deflate at Peter’s funny memory, but which rose quickly when his eyes rested on Wendy.
“The cost is too high. Who exactly are you trying to impress?”
Peter’s eyes flared navy, and suddenly Abbott was facedown on the ground, Peter’s hand on the back of his neck, the boy floating parallel above his body, all his weight pressing Abbott’s face into the floor. With his face inches above Abbott’s head, contorted in anger, his voice hissed in his ear.
“You are my General, and at any time, I can take that away from you. In case you didn’t remember, I saved your life, and what do I get? Disloyalty. This mission might be risky, but if you have a sudden phobia of adventure and danger, then maybe you shouldn’t be here. Do you understand?”
Abbott nodded.
“Don’t. Question. Me. Again.”
“Sorry! Sorry, Peter.”
Peter slowly floated away from Abbott as he pushed himself off the floor.
“Sorry, Peter,” he mumbled again before sneering at John and stomping out of the Battle Room, his hands clenched tightly at his waist. Everyone was silent for a moment, John looking at the ceiling, Peter staring hard at the spot where Abbott had stood. Finally, Kitoko quietly raised his voice.
“Peter, this might actually be quite a good idea, but may I remind you that it’s coming from a boy who until last night slept in a nursery. What does this boy know of pirates? Tell me, John, have you ever held a sword? A real sword, not a stick or one made of rubber?”
His voice was not unkind, and yet John’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Well, I . . .”
“No,” Kitoko answered. “Peter, if you insist, we can use his plan, since we can always adjust it at the last minute, but it will be too dangerous to take an amateur with us.” Kitoko’s voice, soft and yet assertive, spoke of experience. Wendy was hoping that Peter would agree with him. Her heart pained at the thought of either of her brothers being in real danger. Peter seemed to consider his thoughts for a moment and turned to Wendy.