Red Fever Read Online Free PDF

bit of rocky shore for a boat to be near, especially in the dark?”
    “All the better then — the pirates won’t want to risk
    “And how are we going to get her into a cave?”
    “You steer her, and I’ll use the dinghy to pull her. I won’t use the outboard motor; I’ll row. I don’t want them to hear us. The tide’s coming in; she’ll only need guiding once we get going.”
    “You sure about this?” Toby asked anxiously.
    “Toby, we’ve no choice. Now let’s get on with it.” With that, his dad hoisted himself over the side and into the small rubber dinghy which sat tied at the back of the Lucky Lady.
    OK, Toby, time to focus. Go to the wheelhouse and steer. That’s all you have to do. It’s that easy. Now go! His heart was thumping loudly as he pulled himself up the steps and into the wheelhouse.

5. Hide and Seek
    Standing in the wheelhouse with his hands on the wheel, Toby didn’t feel tired any more. He felt as if someone had peeled back his skin and exposed every nerve in his body. Every sinew felt taut and wired, as if he was about to go twang like an overstretched guitar string.
    He concentrated his mind on the task. He must help his dad steer the boat to safety. A calmness came over him and he knew what he had to do.
    The boat lurched forward as he felt a slight tug on the bow. That must be Dad .
    Toby swung the wheel over to the left, pointing the bow in the direction that the tug came from.
    His dad must have taken compass readings; he must know what direction to row in order to reach the Bullersof Buchan. But how far were they from the huge granite towers that arched from the jagged shore?
    Toby remembered childhood picnics on the grassy tops of the cliffs there. He and Sylvie had lain on their bellies to crane their necks over the lip of the precipice, and watched the screaming gulls, cormorants, shags and guillemots wheeling and diving from their nests. The din was unbelievable as thousands of birds screeched and squawked at one another, each defending their territory. Toby had pointed out to Sylvie the squat puffins with their funny striped faces, perched higher up on tiny ledges. Monty, their collie, had had to stay in the car, as Toby’s mum had been scared he would chase the birds and fall over the edge.
    The boat suddenly lurched forward again — another tug on the bow. His dad must be a lot stronger than Toby had thought. Slowly the Lucky Lady began to move forwards, dipping gracefully into the black waters.
    Toby kept his eyes straining ahead. He could make out nothing in the dark, but he’d left the doors to the wheelhouse open so that he could hear if his dad shouted any instructions.
    The Lucky Lady ’s progress was slow and painful. Toby daren’t step outside to look behind in case he saw the pirates catching up. The only noises were the slow breaking of the waves on the sides of the boat, and the occasionalgrunt from his father as he leant all his weight on the oars of the little dinghy. Maybe the pirates had got lost in the fog and turned round and gone back to the warship.
    The boat glided on. Toby could now hear the sound of waves crashing on rocks. These were treacherous waters, with hidden rocks and boulders under the water, and the pull and swirl of a rising tide to fight. Toby felt his hands sticky with sweat against the warm wood of the wheel. Surely his dad wouldn’t attempt this without knowing these waters? Perhaps as a teenager he had fished here from his sailing dinghy? Perhaps when his parents were young, they had spent Sundays exploring the caves along this coast? Toby fervently hoped so.
    Just then he had the feeling of a shadow passing over the boat, and the world suddenly got darker. They were passing under an overhanging piece of cliff and into a cave. The left-hand side of the boat thudded into something solid and immovable.
    “Drop anchor!” his dad shouted hoarsely.
    Toby ran to the stern and, picking up the heavy iron anchor, threw it into the