Devil's Rock Part 22

'He's not going to try to get into the bay. He's aiming for the rock! Half tide the sand bar will still be uncovered he's going to beach her at the foot of the rock. He's a wrecker he doesn't care what happens to the boat.'

'What about Rhiannon? Will he leave her on board?

'If she is on board.'

They watched as the distance between Curlew Curlew and Devil's Rock gradually diminished. and Devil's Rock gradually diminished.

a.n.u.sha suddenly gave a shout, 'That's it! Don't you see? It's part of his plan.'

'What is?'

'The boat's wrecked Rhiannon's body's...o...b..ard it looks like an accident. n.o.body looks any further. And the only one he thinks knows about the treasure is out of the way.'

The grim logic was convincing, but Rhiannon would not be the only victim. If Maunder escaped, Michael was lost.

The two boats were now no more than a quarter of a mile apart but there was no way Morveren Morveren would catch would catch Curlew Curlew before she began her suicidal run through the gap in the outer reef. before she began her suicidal run through the gap in the outer reef.

Zaki knew what he must do, and he knew he should have done it long ago.

'Keep her on this heading. I'm going to put out a mayday.'

He dropped down into the cabin, took a deep breath, picked up the microphone and began the message that every sailor practises but hopes he will never need to send: 'Mayday Mayday Mayday. This is yacht Morveren Morveren yacht yacht Morveren Morveren yacht yacht Morveren Morveren Mayday . . .' Mayday . . .'

Chapter 22.

Zaki put out the distress call three times, giving their position and situation. He paused between each call, as he had been taught to do, and listened for a response. None came. This area had always been bad for reception. He was beginning the fourth call when Morveren Morveren was knocked down. The cabin turned on its side and Zaki found himself, together with every other moveable object, flying through the air. He landed heavily, still clutching the microphone, its lead, torn from the radio, dangling from his hand. He threw the now useless microphone aside and scrambled across to the companionway as was knocked down. The cabin turned on its side and Zaki found himself, together with every other moveable object, flying through the air. He landed heavily, still clutching the microphone, its lead, torn from the radio, dangling from his hand. He threw the now useless microphone aside and scrambled across to the companionway as Morveren Morveren shook herself, like a punch-drunk fighter, and struggled upright. shook herself, like a punch-drunk fighter, and struggled upright.

Emerging on deck, he saw the helm was deserted. Where was a.n.u.sha? With relief, he saw her lying against the guardrail.

'You all right?'

'Think so.'

'What happened?'

'Big wave. I couldn't hold her.'

Zaki helped a.n.u.sha back into the c.o.c.kpit. The foresail had been ripped in two by the weight of wind and water. Zaki freed the sheet and let the sail fly. The freed ropes whipped back and forward across the deck like wounded snakes. He started the engine and got the boat head-to-wind.

'We need to get that sail in.'

It took both of them on the furling line and all their strength, but with the sail furled and the engine running, Morveren Morveren was under control and they could pay attention to other things. The clouds to the west had darkened from grey to near black. A vivid orange streak of dying sunlight ran along the horizon as though the edge of the sky had cracked, allowing a glimpse of heaven beyond, its eerie yellow light catching the streaming crests of the breaking waves. was under control and they could pay attention to other things. The clouds to the west had darkened from grey to near black. A vivid orange streak of dying sunlight ran along the horizon as though the edge of the sky had cracked, allowing a glimpse of heaven beyond, its eerie yellow light catching the streaming crests of the breaking waves.

'Look!'

Zaki turned. Curlew Curlew, all sails set, was riding a wave through the opening in the reef. The black ma.s.s of Devil's Rock towered above the little boat and it seemed certain that she would be dashed to pieces at the Devil's feet. At the last possible moment, Curlew Curlew broached, the wave ran from under her, and she slewed sideways up the bank of the half-exposed sandbar beside the great rock. As the wave retreated, a figure leapt from the boat and ran to gain the safety of the rocks before the next wave could overwhelm him. broached, the wave ran from under her, and she slewed sideways up the bank of the half-exposed sandbar beside the great rock. As the wave retreated, a figure leapt from the boat and ran to gain the safety of the rocks before the next wave could overwhelm him.

Now, as they watched, wave after wave pounded the stranded boat. With the rising tide, each successive wave reached higher up the bar.

Zaki brought Morveren Morveren as close to the outer reef as he dared. as close to the outer reef as he dared.

'Pa.s.s me the binoculars.'

What he saw made him sick to his core. The hatches were lashed shut. Wordlessly, he pa.s.sed the binoculars to a.n.u.sha.

As she lowered the gla.s.ses, she looked in desperation at Zaki. 'What do we do? We've got to get her out.'

It was impossible. To follow Curlew Curlew would be to suffer the same fate, or worse. Zaki watched, helplessly, as the swells surged through the reef and burst against the glistening side of Devil's Rock. would be to suffer the same fate, or worse. Zaki watched, helplessly, as the swells surged through the reef and burst against the glistening side of Devil's Rock.

As he watched, he noticed that in every new set of waves there were one or two that, driven by the south-westerly wind, ran in at an angle. Instead of crashing against the rock, they were deflected and ran along the sandbar. He looked at a.n.u.sha. It would be terribly risky.

Before he could say anything, she said, 'If you think we can do it, we have to do it.'

Zaki found he was shaking. He was very cold, they hadn't eaten all day and he was frightened.

'What do we do?' a.n.u.sha bit her lower lip.

Zaki tried to stop the shaking. 'Watch the waves . . . There! You see? Watch this one. It doesn't run straight in. We have to catch one of those. But if we get it wrong . . .'

'I know. You don't have to explain.'

Zaki turned Morveren Morveren away from the reef and began a circle that would take them to the point just west of the opening, where he reckoned they should begin their run in. They needed to be moving at speed when they caught the wave. If they slid off it, the next one would catch them from the side. Every time away from the reef and began a circle that would take them to the point just west of the opening, where he reckoned they should begin their run in. They needed to be moving at speed when they caught the wave. If they slid off it, the next one would catch them from the side. Every time Morveren Morveren climbed to the crest of a wave, Zaki studied the waves in the distance, trying to see which were running at an angle. As he completed the circle, Zaki slipped the engine into neutral and let the mainsail out as far as it would go. With just the reefed sail to drive them they were moving forward but not quite as fast as the waves. The white crests of the waves behind them seemed to advance in regimented rows. climbed to the crest of a wave, Zaki studied the waves in the distance, trying to see which were running at an angle. As he completed the circle, Zaki slipped the engine into neutral and let the mainsail out as far as it would go. With just the reefed sail to drive them they were moving forward but not quite as fast as the waves. The white crests of the waves behind them seemed to advance in regimented rows.

'When I shout, give her full throttle, then hang on tight.'

a.n.u.sha nodded and moved to be by the engine controls.

In the distance a wave reared above the others as though lifting itself up so Zaki could see it. It was skewed out of line and bearing down on them at great speed.

'Now!' Zaki screamed.

a.n.u.sha gunned the engine and Zaki heaved hard on the mainsail, filling it with wind. Morveren Morveren quickly gathered pace, each pa.s.sing wave adding to her speed until the chosen wave was beneath them and they were careering on its hissing crest towards the reef. quickly gathered pace, each pa.s.sing wave adding to her speed until the chosen wave was beneath them and they were careering on its hissing crest towards the reef.

Where was the gap? With so much spray and surf and the angle of their approach it was hard to see the break in the rocks. There! Yes, there! Zaki willed Morveren Morveren to stay on course. His hands stopped shaking. He, the boat, the gap in the reef that was all that existed. to stay on course. His hands stopped shaking. He, the boat, the gap in the reef that was all that existed.

They were through!

'Keep down!' Zaki shouted as he heaved the helm over and the boom flew wildly across the deck. He hauled the sail in so that it would force Morveren Morveren's stern round and keep them from being driven on to the bar. To starboard, angry waves threw themselves at The Orphans, tearing themselves apart in their desperation to break through and devour the yacht.

He looked up at the cliffs ahead. There was the cottage Rhiannon's cottage. The last time he had seen it, it was just a landmark, just an abandoned ruin.

'When we're round the sandbar, I'd like you to take her. I'll get the sail down.'

'How are we going to get to Curlew Curlew?'

'The dinghy. Look you see? That side of the bar it's sheltered. We can land there, but it's too shallow for Morveren Morveren.'

When the sail was down, Zaki unlashed the dinghy while a.n.u.sha steered them into Dragon Pool. He had been so preoccupied with getting them this far in safety, that he hadn't spared a thought for Maunder not Michael he couldn't think of him as Michael. Now, he searched the rock for movement. Daylight was fading, and the rock was silhouetted against the grey sky. A small figure was climbing towards the summit.

'He's almost there,' a.n.u.sha said, as she too looked up.

They anch.o.r.ed close to the entrance of the pool, launched the dinghy and rowed back as fast as they could. As soon as they rounded the small headland that divided Dragon Pool from the outer bay the wind struck them. The air was full of salt spray from the waves that pounded on the other side of the sandbar and the roar of wind and waves made speech almost impossible. Their progress slowed to a crawl and their arms ached from the strain of battling against the wind. Eventually, the dinghy's bow grated on sand and they jumped out to pull the boat clear of the water. The biggest breakers were now sweeping right across the bar and threatening to wash the dinghy back into the bay.

'Stay here and hang on to the boat,' Zaki yelled.

He staggered up the low bank against the gale. The spray stung his eyes, forcing him to bow his head and pull his hood down over his face. Curlew Curlew's mast was broken, her boom and gaff torn away, but her hull was still intact. She lay on her side, her deck towards Zaki, waves exploding over her. Zaki huddled in the shelter of the hull as he fished the clasp knife from his jacket pocket. His stiff, cold fingers refused to work and he had to resort to using his teeth to open the blade. He hacked through the ropes tying down the forehatch and prised it open.

'Rhiannon!' he screamed. There was no reply. He clambered, headfirst, through the hatch. Inside it was almost pitch-black. The waves half lifted the hull and slammed it back down against the sand. Zaki was terrified Curlew Curlew would roll onto her deck and they would both be trapped. would roll onto her deck and they would both be trapped.

'Rhiannon!' he screamed again. This time he heard a groan. He felt his way back into the saloon, where he found her, a crumpled ball in the corner of the cabin.

'Rhiannon, we have to get out.' He crouched to help her up. He could just make out her face; something wet and dark glistened on her forehead blood. She'd hit her head or been hit on the head.

'Come on!' He felt panic rising. Slowly, she unfolded herself.

'I've got the forehatch open, but we've got to hurry.'

She crawled after him into the bow and allowed herself to be helped out on to the sand. There was no time to lose; most of the sandbar was underwater and Zaki could see that a.n.u.sha was struggling to keep the dinghy from being washed away by every wave.

Together, they got Rhiannon into the stern of the dinghy.

'Do you think you can get her back to Morveren Morveren? You'll have the wind with you.'

'What are you going to do? You can't stay here!'

'I'm going for Michael.'

'How? What will you do?' Shock and concern filled her voice.

'Rhiannon.' Zaki lifted the girl's limp arm. 'Rhiannon, I need your bracelet.'

She seemed to understand. She let him slide the bracelet over her hand.

'I'll hold the dinghy. You get in.'

a.n.u.sha climbed in and took her place at the oars.

'There's a portable VHF radio by the chart table. Keep calling Mayday, maybe someone will hear you.' He pushed the dinghy off before a.n.u.sha had a chance to say anything more and then waded through the dark rising water to the foot of Devil's Rock.

Chapter 23.

As he began to climb, it occurred to Zaki that, in all the years they had been coming to the Orme, he and Michael had never attempted to scale the rock. Had they been told not to? He couldn't remember it ever being discussed. Perhaps it just lay outside their private world of Dragon Pool. It wasn't particularly difficult but in the twilight it was hard to scout out the best route and on several occasions Zaki found he had reached an impa.s.se or an overhang and had to climb back down and search for another way up. His bulky wet-weather clothing got in the way and snagged on the protruding roots and branches of the stunted gorse bushes that grew out of the cracks and creva.s.ses. He considered taking it off, but his clothes underneath were wet through and the waterproofs gave some protection from the biting wind.

When he reached the summit, he was careful to keep low. The top of the rock was like a miniature plateau, dipping slightly to the middle. There were some larger gorse bushes and a few weathered boulders but otherwise it was quite bare.

He wanted to know what Maunder was doing but he didn't want to be seen, so he crept forward using the bushes and boulders for cover. In the near-darkness, with the howl of the wind drowning out all sound of his movement, he was able to get within a few metres of Maunder and remain undetected.

Maunder was removing the stones that covered his h.o.a.rd. He was bent over, throwing the stones aside as fast as he could, without looking up, without stopping like a dog, thought Zaki, digging for a bone. What did he intend to do with it all when he uncovered it? Would it still be of any value?

Zaki strained his eyes to see if Maunder was still wearing the bracelet. Yes good. He could find out what Maunder was thinking. Zaki took the other bracelet out of his pocket and slipped it on to his own arm. He was careful to keep his own mind quiet. He listened there was nothing. There were no thoughts. Maunder was acting out of some base instinct the desire to reclaim what he felt to be his. He was like a beast that will fight to the death to defend its territory. After so many years in the cave, his spirit was less than human. Lying on the wet ground in his wet clothes with nothing but a gorse bush between him and Maunder, Zaki shuddered. But this creature was not just Maunder, it was also Michael Michael, who had taught Zaki to row, to build dams, to ride dragons. This was his big brother, his remover of obstacles. He had to reach Michael wake him bring him back. The bracelets connected them. He must think things that Michael, and not Maunder, would understand.

Two boys astride a dragon. The smaller one behind the bigger one holding the reins. The smaller boy has his arms around his brother; his head is turned to the side and rests against his big brother's warm back. They are flying high, so high that, although the earth is already in darkness, they are still in the light. The dragon has huge golden wings that shimmer and flash as they beat up and down, catching the last rays of the setting sun. The dragon's body, legs and tail are jewelled with sparkling, green scales. Flames leap from the dragon's mouth. Now they are plunging down, down the boys waving and whooping with excitement.

Zaki saw all this in his mind. But when he looked up, he saw that Maunder was looking up staring in astonishment because in the sky there was a great, fire-breathing dragon with two boys on its back.

In the glow from the dragon's fiery breath Zaki could see that Maunder's face was changing, softening the terrible white scar fading to nothing. And it was no longer Maunder but Michael who stood there, face upturned, watching their dragon. The bracelet on Michael's wrist lit up; the engravings flashed and danced.

Zaki sprang to his feet, ripped the bracelet from his brother's arm and hurled it with all his strength over the cliff. He watched it fall, still shining, spinning around and around, until it was swallowed by the dark heaving waters below. When he looked back, the dragon had gone.

Michael's legs slowly bent, folding under him, until he was sitting on the pile of stones. He hunched his shoulders, wrapped his arms around himself and began to shiver. Zaki took a step towards him but stopped when he heard the roar of powerful engines out to sea. An elongated circle of bright light swept across the water and seemed to bounce along the reef. The beam halted when it found the wrecked yacht on the bar.

The noise of the engines came closer, the unmistakable throaty growl of a lifeboat. Now the light was searching the water and rocks near the wreck, probing the darkness. A second finger of light shot out from the boat and slid up the rock. Zaki raised his arms and waved wildly. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Michael was also standing. The light stopped short of the summit and slid back down.

'They haven't seen us. We've got to get down. They won't look for us up here.' Michael look dazed and confused. Zaki took him by the arm. 'Come on follow me. I know the way.'

Climbing down in the darkness was more difficult than climbing up and Michael needed constant prompting and guidance. Several times Zaki missed his footing and almost fell but halfway down the searchlights found them and the rest of the climb was easier.

As soon as they reached the bottom, an inflatable rescue boat darted through the reef and around the rock to meet them. There, strong arms helped them aboard and they were whisked swiftly out to the waiting lifeboat.

'Are there any others?' asked the lifeboat's c.o.xswain as soon as they were inside. Zaki explained about the two aboard Morveren Morveren and the crew of the rescue boat was dispatched to fetch them. Zaki wanted to go with them but the c.o.xswain wouldn't hear of it. and the crew of the rescue boat was dispatched to fetch them. Zaki wanted to go with them but the c.o.xswain wouldn't hear of it.

'Did you get our Mayday?' Zaki asked.

'They picked it up in Plymouth. That's where the insh.o.r.e rescue boat came from. But it was your grandad who knew where to find you. He called us out. Seems he guessed you'd be here. Though heaven knows why anyone would try to get into the Orme in this weather. Good thing you fired that flare, though.'

Flare? There was no flare. The dragon. Zaki looked at Michael their their dragon. No way of explaining that to their rescuers. dragon. No way of explaining that to their rescuers.

As soon as a.n.u.sha and Rhiannon were safely on the lifeboat, exhaustion took its toll. And afterwards Zaki's memory of the trip back to Salcombe seemed a disordered jumble of noises and pictures: Michael, silent and dazed, wrapped in a silver survival blanket; Rhiannon with her head bandaged; a.n.u.sha, her face so pale, asleep in a lifeboatman's arms; people asking questions that seemed to float in the air around him without finding answers; sudden, unexpected rushes of emotion grat.i.tude, guilt, elation. He remembered a.n.u.sha hugging him and one or other or maybe both of them crying. He remembered taking off the bracelet that was still on his wrist and giving it back to Rhiannon, and he remembered her saying, 'I suppose that makes us even,' and then suddenly smiling, and he had never thought she would have such a warm smile. And he remembered wishing and wishing Michael would say something, anything, to prove to him that he was bringing back the real Michael, the whole Michael and not just an empty sh.e.l.l.

Chapter 24.