Quickleaf
Legend
Meanwhile, down by the moonlit docks...
"Oi!" hollers Theo, the tallest and lankiest of the boys who make their living as deckhands, porters, powder monkeys, and whatever needs tending. He and the six boys with him lead Katerina, Jacques, and a hung over Old Zef down the docks. Waving, Theo catches the attention of four more boys who are sitting on a crate studying the side of a large rowboat. One boy nurses a black eye with a bit of seaweed, while another seems to have sprung his ankle and winces trying to stand up. "I'm gone for five minutes and already you lot are off to quarrelin'!"
"No, Theo, it wasn't like that!" objects one of the boys animatedly. "It were the monkeys that did this!"
Folding his arms as if he is skeptical, Theo exchanges a hard look with the younger boy who wide-eyed vigorously nods his head. Speaking quietly over his shoulder to Katerina, Theo says, "These are no ordinary monkeys, you'll see, Cap'n del Corazón." His chest seems to puff up in pride as the other boys begin whispering about Blackheart del Corazón's daughter. "Well? Where'd those monkeys get off to with Darling's ribbon? I'm going to get that kiss even if the Swinertons try to chase me off. Cap'n Corazón and her mates said they'd help us, but in return we've got to sign aboard with their crew. All keen?"
All four of the boys seated on the dock point toward the ramshackle over-sized canoe.
The smallest of the boys, who is struggling to load a slingshot, sucks in his cheek looking up at Jacques and Old Zef, "Aye, but what's your ship called Sirs?"
Jacques' face contorts in confusion. "Monkey's? A kiss? What strange things boys concern themselves with." he thought. He placed a hand on Kat's shoulder as he turned to head toward the kitchen. He held up his index finger signaling 'one moment please.' Passing through the kitchen he and into the storage area he finds the worst fruit he possibly can, barely edible by human standards and returns to the boys. He nods to Kat as he returns with the fruit. "We should leave lest I have to whisper into children's ears now." he whisperes jokingly into her ear.
Kat laughed in return at Jacques' comment and smirked at him. "Aye, let'sh be off."
"Why don't you boys show us where this ribbon is, and if the fruit doesn't work, I have another idea." She gave Bella a scratch behind her ear as they walked out, more interested in seeing how these boys worked than anything else.
"zzzzrt! *smack-smack* whu?" says Zef as he finally wakes up on the floor. He stands up and staggers after Kat as he sees her heading out the door.
"Oi!" hollers Theo, the tallest and lankiest of the boys who make their living as deckhands, porters, powder monkeys, and whatever needs tending. He and the six boys with him lead Katerina, Jacques, and a hung over Old Zef down the docks. Waving, Theo catches the attention of four more boys who are sitting on a crate studying the side of a large rowboat. One boy nurses a black eye with a bit of seaweed, while another seems to have sprung his ankle and winces trying to stand up. "I'm gone for five minutes and already you lot are off to quarrelin'!"
"No, Theo, it wasn't like that!" objects one of the boys animatedly. "It were the monkeys that did this!"
Folding his arms as if he is skeptical, Theo exchanges a hard look with the younger boy who wide-eyed vigorously nods his head. Speaking quietly over his shoulder to Katerina, Theo says, "These are no ordinary monkeys, you'll see, Cap'n del Corazón." His chest seems to puff up in pride as the other boys begin whispering about Blackheart del Corazón's daughter. "Well? Where'd those monkeys get off to with Darling's ribbon? I'm going to get that kiss even if the Swinertons try to chase me off. Cap'n Corazón and her mates said they'd help us, but in return we've got to sign aboard with their crew. All keen?"
All four of the boys seated on the dock point toward the ramshackle over-sized canoe.
The smallest of the boys, who is struggling to load a slingshot, sucks in his cheek looking up at Jacques and Old Zef, "Aye, but what's your ship called Sirs?"
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