Autumn struggled with all her might against the two crewmen holding her arms, as she stared, horrified, at the scene unfolding before her. Bosun Kelly was . . . it was just too overwhelming to say, to think.
"Fine," sighed the narrator under her breath. "Up to me again."
"If you won't, then I will," said the author. "Then I'll slap you around."
"Okay, okay, I'll do it."
Bosun Kelly held the plank they were going to be made to walk, if it survived this taxing task—beating Peter.
All seven of the others had no choice but to gape in utter horror at the act of terror. The scene was surreal.
The surrealism was added to by Davy, who finally broke free of his two captors. With an inhuman yell, Davy ran at the bosun, tackling him football style.
As soon as the bosun was down, the crewmen holding the other six agents ran to aid their bosun. The now-freed agents ran to help their friend. Autumn got their first, because she tripped on someone. She landed on her knees on the bosun's wrists, then pitched forward onto the deck.
Autumn wasn't hurt, and she didn't care that she'd fallen. She quickly stood up. She helped Peter to his feet, then over to the railing of the ship.
"Are you okay?"
Peter blinked. "Huh? Oh, yeah, okay."
"You're a terrible liar," she said, rolling her eyes. "Get in the lifeboat." Autumn helped him into the boat. "I'll go get the others." She walked over to the release lever.
"What are you doing?"
"We'll make it down the ladder," she said.
"What if I never see you again?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Autumn turned to pull the lever, but paused. She leaned over the edge and gave him a quick kiss. "In the unlikely event that. . . ." Her voice trailed off. She turned and pulled the lever, then busily strode off to get the other six.
Soon, Peter was joined in the life boat by the others. They cut the ropes and rowed away as quickly as possible.
"I can't believe I forgot!" Rachel exclaimed. "Roll call. Micky?"
"Here."
"Mike?"
"Here."
"Davy?"
"Here."
"Peter?"
"Here."
"Me—here, of course. Kattina?"
"Here."
"Coralia?"
"Here."
"Autumn?" Silence. "Autumn?" Rachel called again.
"How could we have forgotten her?" asked Micky.
"Well, it was crowded in the boat, and we didn't do roll call immediately."
"Rachel, you're one of their best?"
"It's all your fault, Micky. If you weren't here, I could focus."
Micky laughed. He leaned over and kissed her.
"Guys," Peter said impatiently. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we just left my girlfriend on a ship full of hostile pirates."
"Sorry," Micky said. "Couldn't help myself."
Peter nodded. "It's okay. But we kinda need to figure out how to get her out."
on to Goin' Down Part Six
back to Goin' Down Part Four