Shipwreck Island Read Online Free PDF Page B

just load up.”
    On board, a slim, well-muscled young man with bleached blond hair that contrasted with his darkly tanned skin took their luggage downstairs. Captain Norm directed everyone to an open area at the back of the boat where a few dented lawn chairs sat haphazardly. “Have a seat. I have to deal with the inspector.”
    The family sat and watched as a sunburned, portly man with a clipboard stepped on board. He took a cursory look around the boat before asking Norm, “You’re the skipper?”
    Captain Norm nodded.
    â€œFirst mate? You know a boat this size needs a crew of two around here.” The inspector looked around. “You’re not putting anything past me, are you?”
    Marco and Nacho exchanged a glance.
    Captain Norm grinned. “Of course not.” He whistled, and the young man came bounding up the stairs and handed a piece of paper to the inspector. The inspector nodded. “First mate, Ahab … I can’t read the last name?”
    â€œMy penmanship isn’t what it used to be.” Captain Norm reached out to grab the sheet of paper, but the inspector waved him away. “No matter. Ahab is good enough. What matters is you’ve actually got a first mate.” He walked around a bit more, and then disembarked.
    Captain Norm called out, “All aboard that’s goin’ aboard!”
    â€œWe’re already here,” Marco muttered. He had been hoping the boat wouldn’t pass inspection. No such luck.
    The skipper called out to John, “Can you get the bowline for me?”
    John stepped out onto the dock and stood there, looking around.
    Captain Norm pointed to the front of the boat. John undid the line, tossed it onto the boat, and then stepped back on. The young man did the same thing to the line at the back of the boat, then leapt aboard.
    As the motor started up and the boat began to pull away from the dock, Marco felt his heart speed up. He’d never been on a boat on the open ocean, and he was excited. He and Nacho went up to the front of the boat, where the fresh, salty breeze blew into their faces, a bit of refreshing sea spray with it.
    Marco rode backward to watch the sails unfurl. They were a dull white, with dark, patchy parts. Mold, maybe? He was relieved to see no holes, though, and turned back around as Moonflight headed out. As the boat reached the harbor’s mouth, just as they were about to enter the open sea—
    Kerploosh!
    Marco and Nacho ran to the side of the boat and leaned over the railing, looking back toward shore and the sound of the splash. No one had surfaced yet. Marco crossed his fingers, hoping either John or Sarah had fallen overboard, never to be seen again. But as they watched, a bleached-blond head poked out of the waves while strong, tanned arms began to confidently stroke their way back toward the dock.
    â€œHey!” yelled Nacho, pointing at the swimmer. “Ahab is going back to shore!”
    Captain Norm, at the helm, called, “Naw, he’s not.” Then he whistled, a different tone from before, and from down below scampered up what looked like a smallish bear, but what was actually an enormous black Newfoundland.
    Sarah screeched as the dog put its giant paws up into her lap and began licking her face.
    Captain Norm laughed. “ That is Ahab.”
    â€œOur first mate is a dog?” Nacho opened his Eco-Scouts manual. “That does not seem safe to me. Not at all.” He paged through a bit, shaking his head. “I’m pretty sure that’s not even allowed.”
    Sarah fell over in her chair, shrieking, the dog on top of her as John tried to pull him back. Marco leaned back against the railing and laughed. The trip might not be that bad after all.

 
    7
    Sarah was on her knees, head sticking out between the strands of rope railing, heaving her guts into the wake of the sailboat. Her head swirled and she just wanted to lie down. But as soon as her