CHAPTER 9
TO DUST
Location: The Calico Jack: Deck
Date: 17MAR21
Time: 1545 hours
I can’t look away as the Pawtriots desperately try to keep their heads above the water.
I feel a sense of relief knowing that they can hold onto Jet. Her vest is helping keep them all afloat. But with so much weight pulling it down, I’m not sure how long they’ll last. I howl helplessly as I watch them swim as hard as they can toward the shore. Their determination is inspiring. But no matter how hard they try, the current pulls them closer and closer to the jagged rocks. They’ve already been dragged about six hundred feet away from the Calico Jack.
In the distance I can see the sun through the dark clouds. It’s setting closer and closer to the horizon.
“I’m hopeful your friends can hang on a little bit longer. The Calico Jack in all its glory is quite the sight to see!” says Sea Wolf as he races up the mast to the crow’s nest. “I want a bird’s-eye view of you walking the plank!”
“You never wanted me to serve, did you?” I say to him.
“Of course not,” Sea Wolf howls. “A strong leader like you would lead a mutiny in short time. I’d much rather watch you sink to the bottom of the ocean!”
I begin walking down the plank. Step by step, inch by inch, across the wooden board that sticks out above the rough ocean. The sun is fading and so is my spirit. I reach the end of the plank and stare out into the vast sea. I hang my head for a moment and close my eyes. This is the end, I think to myself. And as I stand there ready to walk over the edge, I think about Kris, my former handler in the Army. I think about Chaps and how he gave me his wheel. And I think about all the Pawtriots back in Washington, DC, and how much I’ll miss them.
I open my eyes to look out across the ocean and something catches my eye right below me.
“What in the dickens are you waiting for? Jump!” hollers Daisy.
But before I jump, I turn and face Sea Wolf to let him know that this fight is far from over. For the first time he doesn’t look so confident. “You better hope your Cutthroat gets to that sword before we do,” I shout before leaping off the edge of the ship.
I crash hard onto the deck of the interceptor.
“Welcome back, Sergeant!” says Lindy as he helps me back onto my paws.
“Don’t ever do that again, Rico! You’re too important to us,” says Penny as she gives me a hug.
“I don’t plan on it!” I tell her.
Simon and Daisy give me a big hug.
“You guys are lifesavers!” I say. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us, darling. It was all his idea,” says Daisy as she points to Jag. “Jag told us y’all were in trouble, so we knew we needed to help.
I look over at Jag: “Did you really just commandeer a Coast Guard vessel to save us? That’s a code violation!” I say with a laugh.
“Don’t kid yourself. I did it for my sister,” Jag says with a smile. “So what’s the plan, Sergeant?”
“We need to hurry. Sea Wolf has one of his Cutthroats in the Crystal Caves already. What’s the fastest route to the Crystal Caves?” I ask M.
“Head east. There’s a tributary just up ahead that leads directly to the northern entrance,” says M.
“Punch it, Jag!” I howl. “We’ve got a sword to steal!”