Mutiny! Read Online Free PDF Page B

Goldstar’s feet. Goldstar glared at Sam, his black eyes filled with menace.
    “You’ll pay for your insolence, my lad, you mark my words,” he hissed.
    The pirate bent over and retrieved the hat from the floor. With a flick of his hand he brushed some dust in Sam’s direction, then placed the hat on his head grandly, as if he were a king being crowned. He wandered over to where a large copper cooking pot hung from the ceiling and admired his reflection in its shining polished surface.
    “Right then, me hearties, down to business,” said Goldstar. “You there, relieve your old captain of that map he’s so keen on.”
    Romero walked uneasily up to Comet, who handed over the map with a resigned air.
    “No!” shouted Sam. “That’s mine! I need it to find my parents!”
    “First mate – restrain that impudent pup!” barked Goldstar.
    Two firm hands grabbed Sam’s arms.
    “Pegg! Legg!” Sam yelled as he struggled.
    “Orders are orders,” Pegg replied.
    “But we’re really sorry,” added Legg.
    Goldstar sauntered over, took the map, then leaned down to stare at Sam. He was so close that Sam could feel his breath on his face.
    “You need to quit your yapping, my boy,” Goldstar snarled. “This is my map now and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
    Goldstar turned to the crew.
    “Right, me hearties, turn on the holoscreen,” Goldstar commanded. “I’ve got a surprise for you all!”
    Goldstar grinned broadly as he assembled the crew in front of the giant holoscreen.
    “I wonder if it’s more news about Bowlopia,” said Zlit.
    “I bet it’s a visit to the grum factory!” Barney jumped up and down.
    “No, it’ll be the supernova floss mines,” Romero guessed.
    Sam was still held firmly in Pegg and Legg’s clutches. Beside him stood Comet, who somehow looked smaller and more pathetic than usual. All of his usual swagger and bravado had gone, as though it had been stripped away when he’d handed over his hat. Even his moustache drooped sadly.
    Goldstar stamped his peg leg on the deck to get everyone’s attention. “Well me hearties, many thanks from the bottom of this old sea dog’s shrivelled black heart. I knew you’d all see sense about who to make captain, and you didn’t let me down.”
    The crew of the
Apollo
all smiled at each other; all except Sam and Comet.
    “Now, I run a tight ship,” Goldstar declared.“So there are going to be some changes around here. The first thing is that we’re going to join forces with another vessel. The other ship’s captain will be the admiral in charge of our little fleet.”
    Goldstar flashed his gold-toothed smile at the bemused crew and switched on the holoscreen. The large screen flickered into life and the crew gasped in unison.
    “Say hello to
Admiral
Black-Hole Beard!” Goldstar laughed. Black-Hole Beard’s face filled the screen: dark eyes burning beneath wild black hair; a long scar disappearing into a curly black beard; gold teeth glinting as he threw back his head and laughed.
    “Ahoy there, little brother, a good day’s work. Well done!” laughed the fearsome pirate captain. “And who is that I see at the back? Is it Ex-Captain
Vomit
? Back where you belong, Joseph, being a nobody.”
    Baggot, perched as always on Black-Hole Beard’s shoulder, fluffed up its tatty feathers andbegan to sing:
    “There once was a useless Comet,
    Who was the worst pirate of all.
    He lost the vote,
    So he lost his boat!
    The captain has taken a fall.
    Cawwwrrrrr!”

    On the screen, Yarr threw back his head and gave a barking laugh. “Yarrr, arr, arr.”
    “And as for the rest of you sorry planet-lubbers,” snarled Black-Hole Beard, “you’re going to realise what it’s like to be proper pirates instead of the intergalactic imbeciles you are at the moment. My brother here will soon whip you into shape and woe betide anyone who doesn’t come up to scratch!” Black-Hole Beard turned to his brother, who promptly saluted.

    “Cap’n