CHAPTER 14

There was a whole lot of grousing and grumbling belowdecks that evening.

The four of us gathered in the cabin Tommy and I shared in the bow of our ship. We were all keeping our voices down because Mom and Dad were only two cabins away, snoozing peacefully. Well, we knew Dad was. We could hear his snoring. It sounded like a bear with breathing problems sawing a stump.

None of us could figure out how Mom could sleep next to that much noise. Maybe when she was a baby, she had a teddy bear that snored, too.

“Remember the good old days?” I whispered. “Like, a few months ago? When Mom was kidnapped and you guys all thought Dad was dead?”

Storm raised her eyebrows. “And those days were good how, exactly?”

“Not the stuff about Mom and Dad,” I answered quickly. “Missing them was horrible.”

“Scary, too,” added Beck.

“Definitely,” I said. “But back then, when we decided to do something, we did it!”

“Chya,” said Tommy. “I’m kind of surprised we’re all still alive. Remember when your feet nearly rotted off in Africa, Bick?”

“Yes, Tommy. Thanks for reminding me.”

“No problemo, little bro.”

“Now it’s as if our votes don’t count,” said Beck. “Four against two and we lose? The system is rigged.”

“Actually,” said Tommy, “I think parental units always get three votes each. It’s like a rule or something.”

“Well, it’s a bad rule!” I said.

We debated the issue for maybe fifteen more minutes. Tommy kept reminding us of all the gross stuff that happened on our kids-only Kidd adventures.

Finally, we took another vote.

“Who wants to go back to the island tonight and haul all that treasure out of the cave?” I asked.

Four hands went up again.

“Then let’s do it!” said Beck.