sixteen

I don’t want you to be too shocked in the next part of the story so I think I’d better let you in on a secret. The sailors aboard that ship were not just an untidy bunch. They were a lying bunch. A thieving bunch. A very mean bunch indeed. For aboard that ship were PIRATES.

Now, please, do not be too worried. Pirates don’t often sail into the waters near Sheepskerry. And when they do, they rarely land on Sheepskerry Island. In fact, Queen Mab never seemed to worry about pirates at all. There hadn’t been a pirate sighting on Sheepskerry Island for many fairy years. And there had been no signs of pirate camps on the fairy island’s shores for many years longer.

But the Bilgewater was a pirate ship, all right. Captain Sinker was at the helm with Mr. Leakey as his mate. The captain was looking through his spyglass. He squinted, and so did Mr. Leakey. Their sights were set squarely on—

“Sheepskerry Island,” said the captain with a nasty laugh. “Wouldn’t you say, Mr. Leakey?”

“I would, Cap’n!” said Mr. Leakey, who agreed with the captain as if his life depended on it, which it often did.

Captain Sinker flourished a large red handkerchief and blew his nose. HAAAWNNK. “Ripe for the plundering. Full of the treasure I crave.” He sniffed again.

“Aye, aye, captain,” said Mr. Leakey. “We all crave treasure.” Mr. Leakey often dreamed of treasure. “Um . . . what kind of treasure be it, Cap’n? Will there be plenty for all?”

“There’ll be nothing for you unless I say there is,” Captain Sinker roared. He noticed that Mr. Leakey was drooling. “Wipe yer mouth, ye gaping toad, and turn the tiller toward Sheepskerry.” He looked out toward the magical island. “And I pity any pestering fairies who get in our way.”

Oh, let’s hope our fairies don’t get in that pirate captain’s way!