Pendle slipped out of Mr Swift’s workshop, clutching Twitter, with Captain Clockheart, Gadge and Lexi close behind.
“Ha! To think, we came to rescue you,” said Captain Clockheart. “And you’ve ended up rescuing us.”
“Why are we running away?” said Gadge. “I’d rather a fair fight any day.”
“A fair fight?” said Lexi, “There were eighteen of those mindless killing machines.”
“He’s right,” said Pendle. “We need to draw Swift out and fight him on our own terms.”
“What terms are they?” asked Gadge.
“We’re pirates, aren’t we?” said Pendle. “We fight on the water!”
They stepped on to the jetty. Pendle jumped into the rowing boat and sat Twitter next to Ridgey, who was wriggling to get free of the ropes.
“Quickly,” she said. “They won’t be far behind.”
“Surely Mr Swift’s boat would be faster,” said Lexi.
“Yes, but Swift wouldn’t be able to fit all of his soldiers in this one,” replied Pendle. “And we need him to follow with all of them.”
“I’m sorry,” said Lexi. “Are you telling me that we want to be pursued by an army of fanatical fighting machines?”
“Argh, Lexi, you worrying water-guzzler, stop arguing and get in. Pendle clearly has a plan.” Captain Clockheart booted Lexi into the boat then joined him. Gadge pushed them out then rowed with all his might.
On the riverbank, a line of Electrical Soldiers aimed their rifles.
“Incoming!” yelled Pendle.
If Gadge hadn’t changed direction at the last minute, the bullets would have sunk them in a second. Thankfully, every one missed and by the time the soldiers had reloaded, they were out of range.
“Good work,” said Captain Clockheart. “Now, Pendle, what’s your plan?”
“Ridgey is going to help us defeat Mr Swift for good.” Pendle untied Ridgey’s beak. “Aren’t you?”
“Why would I do that?” asked Ridgey.
“Because Swift has no further use for you,” said Pendle. “He only made you for one reason.”
“Aye. To betray us,” said Gadge.
“Traitor bird!” said Twitter. “Traitor bird!”
“He’s right,” added Lexi. “Treachery is in his nature.”
“Exactly,” said Pendle. “And now it’s his turn to betray the man who made him so treacherous in the first place! What do you say, Ridgey?”
After a moment’s thought, Ridgey said, “I’ll tell you what. I’ll do it for a cut of the loot.”
“You mean the loot you used as bait to lure us into a trap?” said Captain Clockheart.
“Please, Captain,” said Pendle. “We need him.”
“Oh, all right.” Clockheart grinned. “You’ll get your share once this is over and we’re safely away.”
“Then you’ve got yourself a deal,” said Ridgey. “What do you want me to do?”
“Take a message to the Leaky Battery,” said Pendle.
“If it’s still here,” said Captain Clockheart, looking at the sky.
Further down the river, the rest of the pirates gathered on deck to watch the sun rise over London’s skyline, burning away the night fog.
“Click, that’s it. Weigh the anchor!” Mainspring addressed the crew from the poop deck. “Tick, this ship be under my command now. Tock, let’s be away, you rusting ragamuffins.”
“But Captain First Mate Mainspring, sir,” said Loose-screw. “What about the captain?”
“Don’t forget Quartermaster Lexi, Mr Gadge, Pendle and Twitter,” said Hatchet. “They’re out there, too.”
“Click, you all heard the captain’s orders,” said Mainspring. “Tick, we’re to set sail at sunrise.”
“You said you were the captain now, so you did, Captain First Mate Mainspring,” said Tin-pot Paddy.
“Tock, yes I am.”
“Well, if you’re the captain you can give us new orders that don’t involve abandoning our shipmates,” continued Paddy.
“Click, as captain it is my job to keep my crew safe. With no fog to hide us we’re sitting ducks here. Tick, it’s only a matter of time before the army get wind of our presence. We’ve got the booty from the Tower. I say we take it as far from here as possible. Tock, now, do as you’re told and let’s go.”
The crew stared at him. No one moved.
“Click, what are you waiting for?” yelled Mainspring.
“We’re not going,” said Washer Williams. “We’re waiting for the others. We don’t care how dangerous it is. Steampunk Pirates stand together or sink together.”
The other crew members muttered their agreement.
“Cuh-cuh-cuh-click,” First Mate Mainspring snarled in anger. He clenched his fists and shook his head. “Click, I don’t understand. Tick, I’ve never once heard any of you question Captain Clockheart’s orders, no matter how dangerous or ill-judged his schemes. That’s what you do, follow orders. Tock, why won’t you follow mine?”
“I’m begging your pardon, Captain First Mate Mainspring,” said Blind Bob Bolt, “but on the day we abandoned our posts at the palace, we stopped following orders blindly.”
“Aye, we follow Clockheart’s orders because we choose to,” said Mr Pumps.
“It’s true, so it is,” said Tin-pot Paddy. “That’s why we ain’t leaving.”
“Click, very well, then we’ll all sit here. Tick, until the Iron Duke lines his cannons along the riverbank and blows us out of the water. Tock, see if I care!”
Mainspring stormed off the deck and down into the captain’s cabin, where he paced back and forth furiously, wringing his hands and ticking extremely loudly until there was a knock on the door.
“Click, what is it?” he barked.
The door opened and Old Tinder wheeled himself in. “Captain First Mate Mainspring,” he said.
“Tick, yes?”
“You know that every last one of these rusting sea cogs believes you to be a first rate First Mate. When there’s looting and pillaging to be done, no one gets everyone organized and shipshape like you. And one day you’ll make an excellent captain, but you’ll need to learn to give commands that the crew want to follow.”
“Tock, what’s the point of giving commands if they want to follow them?”
“With respect, Captain First Mate Mainspring, they’re the only commands worth giving.”
“Yo ho, down below!” yelled Blower from the crow’s nest. “Incoming albatross! Incoming albatross!”
Old Tinder grinned. “What do you say? Are you ready to take command of this crew?”
Mainspring drew his cutlass and nodded. “Click, right, you big bags of bolts. Tick, you oily-blooded buccaneers. Tock, let’s find out what this bird has to say for himself.”