‘Hello there,’ said the pirate. ‘I am Pirate Sal, at your service.’

Lola clambered to her feet.

She recognised Pirate Sal at once. Lola had had a whole set of pirate puppets when she was little.

She thought she’d lost them forever. Actually, she’d totally forgotten about them until … um, that very minute.

They must have been in the Kingdom all this time!

‘Hello, Pirate Sal,’ said Lola.

She wanted to give the pirate a huge cuddle, but she wasn’t sure if Sal was the cuddling type of pirate.

Sal had golden hair and blue eyes, and earrings made of gold buttons.

She also had a very sharp-looking cutlass and a hook for a hand!

Pirate Sal gave Lola a nod.

‘I’ve heard rumours that a real girl has been visiting the Kingdom,’ Pirate Sal said. ‘Welcome back!’

Word travelled fast in the Kingdom.

But Lola was puzzled.

Pirate Sal sounded friendly. She didn’t sound at all pirate-y.

‘Is something wrong?’ asked Pirate Sal.

‘Well,’ said Lola, ‘it’s just that you look like a pirate. But you don’t sound like a pirate.’

‘That’s because you wouldn’t understand me if I spoke like a pirate,’ Sal told her.

Lola frowned. She had heard pirates talk. She had seen pirate films. There had even been a day at school when everyone had tried to speak like pirates.

‘I think I’d understand you,’ she said.

‘Very well,’ the pirate replied.

Suddenly Pirate Sal’s blue eyes seemed to flash, and she spoke again.

‘Avast, ye land~lubbering squab and buffoon! Behold me bootstraps and canter on behind, d’ya hear? Afore the howlin’ blizzard take ye over an’ inta the drink!’

Lola and Buddy looked blankly at each other.

‘OK, you’re right,’ Lola said with a grin. ‘I didn’t understand a word of that.’

‘Not to worry,’ said Sal, speaking normally again. ‘I speak Land-Talk too. I was just saying, Follow me before another gust of wind blows you overboard.’

‘Bust my buttons, Lola,’ said Buddy, beaming with joy. ‘Pirate Sal is the finest pirate on the Story Sea!’

Lola couldn’t believe her luck.

A pirate ship! This could be her best adventure yet.