CHAPTER 6
A TAIL OF TWO SWORDS
Location: Shoreline
Date: 17MAR21
Time: 0900 hours
We’re huddled up behind a pile of driftwood and broken tree branches on the shoreline. The Calico Jack is a short fifty-foot swim away. All the Pawtriots are waiting on me for their next command.
“Smithers,” I say, “you slither up the side of the Calico Jack, locate Sea Wolf, and use your body to tie up his legs.”
“Yesss, Sssergeant. Can do!” Smithers says.
“Franny, once Smithers has him tied up, I’ll need you to tuck and roll to distract the Cutthroats.”
“Tracking!” Franny says.
“Then,” I say, “with the Cutthroats distracted, Brick, you barrel-ram Sea Wolf while his legs are tied.”
“Oi! Too easy,” Brick says.
“Then Penny and I will come in and steal his sword,” I say. “Lindy and Jet, you cover our six, okay?”
“We’ve got your back!” they say in unison.
M chimes in, “What about me?”
“Once we recover the sword, I need you to tie up Sea Wolf with some vine. Can you handle that?”
“Certainly, Sergeant Rico.”
“Hooah! Let’s move out. Swim softly,” I say. “Once we get close to the ship, we’ll use the anchor to climb on board.”
I scan the starboard-side bow of the ship and locate the anchor. It’s deployed into the water. I motion for Penny to start climbing. Then I wave the rest of the Pawtriots forward onto the chain.
I can see that all Pawtriots are in position, so I move up the chain anchor. My wheel doesn’t make this task any easier, but I manage to make it on board. I quickly scan my surroundings. The Cutthroats are coiling lines and swabbing the deck, and Sea Wolf is at the helm of the ship. The sea is rocking the ship back and forth, but with Sea Wolf and the Cutthroats distracted, I know that now is our opportunity to engage.
I make a quick movement on my paws, turning to the Pawtriots to give them the command, but a wave crashing onto the ship sends me slipping.
As I get back to my paws, I realize Sea Wolf notices my position, locking eyes on me.
“Rise! Rise, ye yellow-bellied sapsuckers!” howls Sea Wolf from the helm of the Calico Jack.
We all watch as Sea Wolf turns to his crew and then points right at the Pawtriots and me.
“Take them all out! Start with that peg-leg pooch,” he shouts.
“Pawtriots, you have your orders!” I say to them.
I take a step forward and the Pawtriots assemble alongside of me. “Not if we have anything to say about it!” I growl.
“Attack!” howls Sea Wolf.
“Lindy! Jet! On me. We’re going in!” I say.
