CHAPTER 16
The next morning, Tommy and I were both rudely awakened by the roar of airplane engines.
The snarling grew closer and was followed by a very loud, very long splash.
It sounded like somebody had just sent a school bus down a waterslide.
The Lost rocked as the wake of whatever had just sliced through the Pacific Ocean washed up against its hull.
“What the heck was that?” I said, bolting up in my bed and hitting the hardwood ceiling. Yes, Tommy always calls dibs on the lower bunk.
“Might be Dad’s new toy,” said Tommy.
“You didn’t think we were going to sail the Lost all the way to Peru, did you? Especially not if we want to beat those submarine pirates who stole the map to Paititi.”
“Well, how else are we gonna get there?”
Tommy went to the porthole.
“Check it out. The Kidd Family Treasure Hunters’ newest piece of exploration gear. A fully loaded and customized Seastar amphibious flying boat!”
A smiling guy was standing on one of the amphibious aircraft’s wings, waving at me and Tommy.
“Um, is that our pilot?”
“Nah. Mom and Dad both have licenses. They’ll handle the flying. That’s just George.”
“George?”
“He used to work with Mom and Dad at…” Tommy lowered his voice. “The Agency.”
“He’s from the CIA? George’s a spy?”
“Shhh,” said Tommy. “We’re not supposed to use the S word, remember? George will guard the Lost while we’re in Peru.”
“Can we trust him?” I asked.
“Totally. Don’t forget, he’s an S word.”
“So was strange Uncle Timothy!”
“True,” said Tommy. “But George’s not wearing mirrored sunglasses like Uncle T always did.”
I nodded like that made sense because it sort of did.
“Come on,” said Tommy. “We need to hustle.”