The air below deck smelled of salt and tar. The Codcake’s timbers creaked and groaned as Eddy held a lantern high above his head to light his way. The hold was stacked with crates and trunks and sacks filled with all sorts of things that would be useful on a voyage. There were ropes and candles and hammers and nails and dishes and forks and boots and spades and axes and saws and cups and spoons and saucepans and buckets and needles and cloth and absolutely nothing to eat.

Eddy searched into the farthest corners. What did his books say that old ships carried for long voyages? Dry biscuits and barrels of salt beef and pickled herrings and mouldy cheese full of maggots. That’s what he was looking for.

Well, maybe not the cheese.

In the light from his lantern, the piles of supplies cast long shadows across the wooden walls. A sudden ocean swell set the lantern swinging, and the shadows stretched and strayed like living creatures.

This is creepy, thought Eddy. But it’s just a trick of the light. Nothing to worry about. And if I keep thinking that, it will probably turn out to be true.

Wait a minute. Hadn’t that one shadow on the far side just moved in the opposite direction to all the others?

Eddy froze.

And then he heard it – a scratching, pattering, shuffling sound coming from behind a pile of crates to his right.

It must be rats! Just like the Captain had warned him.

He looked around for a weapon. There was a pile of shovels to his left. He quietly picked one up. That would do. Holding it in his right hand, with the lantern in his left, he crept towards where the sound was coming from.

He was almost on top of it now. Just behind this big crate. He put his lantern down on the floor, took hold of the shovel with both hands, and peeped round the corner. Ahead of him, in the gloom, a shape was scuttling around. A big shape.

Rats, Eddy knew, could be vicious. And one as big as this… Its teeth must be – no, he really didn’t want to think about its teeth. Fighting it might not be a good idea. Trying to frighten it off was a much better plan. But could he scare it more than it scared him?

He took a deep breath and silently counted down: Three…two…one…

As he reached zero, he gripped the shovel tight and jumped out, yelling at the top of his voice.

the rat shouted back, rooted to the spot.

It was a funny-looking rat, thought Eddy, still shouting. For a start, it had a big, white tummy. Which he could see because it was standing up on its hind feet. Which were wide and yellow. And its fur didn’t look quite right. A bit fluffy. And there was definitely something stumpy about its front legs. And it seemed to be wearing a false nose – a long, pointed, yellow false nose. Which was open. And shouting.

Eddy stopped shouting as suddenly as he had started.

“You’re not a rat,” he said.

“Oh, well done,” said the not-a-rat. “Top marks. I’ll give you a clue. I’m not a zebra, either. Or a panda. Or a giant humbug. And you are not a fish. More’s the pity.”

“You’re a penguin.”

“Ten out of ten. Big gold star. What on earth are you doing going round yelling and frightening me like that?”

“You frightened me first.”

“Oh, of course. Pardon me. There I was, quietly toddling round, minding my own business. Yes, I can see how that would be absolutely terrifying.”

“I’m sorry if I frightened you. I heard noises. I got a bit jumpy. A lot has been happening today. It’s very strange. In fact, come to think of it, it’s about as strange as standing here chatting to a penguin. I didn’t know penguins could talk.”

“Have you ever asked one?”

“What are you doing down here anyway?” said Eddy, ignoring the question.

The Penguin leaned forward and whispered, “I’m on the run from the ocean theme park just up the coast. I was one of the performers in the big show – Fishy Frolics – three times daily. I had to get out. There’s only so many times you can slide down a ramp on your stomach to catch a herring before you start to lose your dignity.”

“It sounds terrible,” agreed Eddy.

“Terrible?” said the Penguin. “It was torture. Stuck in the chorus line. Me! I can do the comedy dancing, I said. I can play the tunes on the motor horns better than that stupid sealion. Give me a break, I said, I’ll show you. I was born to be a star. But would they listen? Would they flip. So I ran away – to find my own spotlight. I’ve been in here working on a new act.”

“Can I see it?” asked Eddy.

“If you throw me a fish,” said the Penguin.

“I haven’t got a fish,” said Eddy.

“Well then,” said the Penguin, “question answered.”

“I think,” said Eddy, “that I’d better take you to see the Captain.”