Second on the Right (50 page)

He found one particular piece of vegetation
splayed out, various sections cut. A pester and mortar sat nearby,
crushed plant within. "Really? What is it? How will it work?"

Eileen slipped out from his arms and stood
next to the plant. "This particular plant is similar to Curare. I
remember reading about it, because it was one of the earliest
plants discovered for use as an anesthetic. Ingesting it will not
harm the victim. It only works if injected into the
bloodstream."

"Uh, how exactly are we going to inject
anything into that creature?" he asked. "We certainly won't be able
to catch him, he's too fast. Plus he can fly. And, we don't have
needles."

"I am well aware of that, thank you. The
plant would be able to do its work provided the poison were to
enter the bloodstream, and injection is not the only means.
Benedict had been working with poisons on board the
Mistral
Thief
. He had shared with me the plant life he’d experimented
with. By lacing the blade of his sword, he could make his strikes
even deadlier. Of course, what he was using was from something
completely different, but the principle idea could work."

"So, your plan is to cover the blade with
that plant's poison? I’m to cut Robbie, hoping that it will enter
his bloodstream. How soon does it take affect?"

"Everyone is different, but I'd guess almost
immediately."

James paced the room nervously, "And what
then? What happens to him?"

"He’ll be paralyzed, losing consciousness. I
would suggest explaining to the creature after you've cut him; tell
him the poison will cause the muscles to stop working, thus
preventing him from breathing. Tell him he’ll die," she choked up
on the last sentence. She knew it was going to be difficult for
James to not only wound his son, but mortally so.

James was pale. "Eileen, I don't know if I
can do this."

She walked over, grabbed his shoulders and
looked into his eyes, "James, you love your son and you want him
back just as much as I do. You are strong enough to do this.
Besides, I'll be right there with you."

James leaned into her arms for comfort. His
body shuddered as he tried to maintain control of his emotions.
"James, once he's paralyzed, I need you to determine when the soul
returns to the knife. Once that happens, I can help Robbie."

"How? You just said that he would die," he
asked incredulously.

"And he will, but only for a moment. I plan
to resuscitate him. I’ll perform the tracheotomy, and with the use
of a bellows, I’ll maintain respiration until the effects of the
drug wear off. I estimate roughly twenty minutes. I’ll take care of
Robbie. You need to focus on the knife. What will you do with
it?"

"Well, I certainly won't touch it. I’ll have
something rigged that will allow us to pick it up safely. From
there, I'm not sure what to do with it. If I throw it in the ocean,
what then? Will it sink to the bottom, never to be discovered? Or
will some poor unsuspecting soul find it?" He sighed. "If I bury
it, it’ll be found."

While he debated the possible solutions for
the soul trap, Eileen crushed the plant and prepared his sword,
carefully sliding it back into its scabbard. She gathered up the
tools necessary to take care of Robbie following the poisoning.
When all was finished, the two sat together, Eileen in James' arms.
Neither said a word as both were lost in thought over what the
future would hold.

That evening, Smee entered the captain's
quarters, informing James of shadowy figures spotted in the sky.
James and Eileen scrambled to the door. He turned to tell her to
stay inside, but the glare she shot him caused him to swallow his
words. Out on deck and, with the aid of the spyglass, James could
see the familiar silhouette of his son and a few additional unknown
children.

"Let's get this over with," he murmured to
Eileen. Raising his voice, he gave the order, "Let Long Tom welcome
them to Neverland. Load the cannon!" The crew aimed and shot near
the group in the sky, purposefully missing them as it was to serve
as a warning shot.

James watched through the spyglass as Pan
hesitated, then turned for the ship. "Here he comes," he said
quietly. Then, he shouted, "At the ready!"

"Aye, aye, Cap'in!" the crew shouted.
Everyone stood waiting; all had been given instructions to defend
themselves, but not to engage in a fight with Pan. James would deal
with him personally. Any children that might accompany the boy were
to be taken to the brig and held until James said otherwise.

Pan and the children landed on the deck of
the
Jolly Roger
. With a bow, Pan said, "Captain! Here I
thought you were dead, food for the ol' croc." He grinned wickedly.
"I'll have to rectify that."

"Pan," James said, wanting to look over at
Eileen, but afraid it might call attention to her. His hand tensed
on the hilt of his sword.

Pan stepped forward, leaving the children
behind him. Removing his knife, he pointed it threateningly at
James. "I'm ready, old man. The question is…" He ran forward
swinging his weapon down, but was stopped by the blade of James'
sword. "…are you?"

Gritting his teeth, with a grunt he kicked
Pan back with his boot. "Robbie," he called out, "Robbie, stop this
madness. I'm your father!"

Pan’s grin disappeared. "Pan. I've told you
already. My name is Pan!" he screamed in fury, rushing James.

Body tense, James braced himself for the
force of Pan’s knife. The clash of blades rang in the ears of
everyone on board the
Jolly Roger
. The crew moved quickly to
remove the children from the scene as James and Pan fought. The two
swung their weapons, crashing again and again, the sound causing
the children to flinch whimper as they were led below deck.

James was distracted not only by the thought
of what he was about to do to his son, but also by his fear for
Eileen's safety. As he glanced at Eileen, Pan gained the advantage
and swept his leg behind James, causing the captain to fall onto
his back.

"No!" Eileen screamed as she rushed to James'
side. Hearing her scream, Pan hesitated. "James, are you all
right?" She helped him sit up.

Pan adjusted his stance, knife still pointed
at James, but his eyes were on Eileen. There was a flicker of
recognition. "You. I know you," he said.

Both James and Eileen looked up at Pan. "I'm
your mother," she replied softly. "Robbie, we are your
parents."

Pan shifted again, his fingers flexing as he
tightened his grip on the hilt. He opened his mouth to speak, but
was at a loss for words. His brow furrowed as he took in what she
said. Finally, he yelled, "No! I don't have a mother! I’m Pan!" and
he pushed the tip into the captain. James cried out in agony as the
knife entered his left side.

"No, Robert, stop. Please!" Eileen begged
him, but Pan simply twisted the blade at her pleas, causing James
to scream.

Afraid to lose not only her son but her
husband as well, Eileen picked up James' sword. As the boy’s body
was extended, his weapon in Captain Hook, Eileen pierced Pan in his
left side.

Pan cried out, stumbling back in surprise.
"You…you stabbed me," he said incredulously. He looked down at his
wound, which was not particularly deep, but nonetheless hurt.

"You need to listen to me now," Eileen said
quietly. Her voice quivered as she thought of what she would have
to do for the next twenty minutes. To make matters worse, James'
bleeding increased, requiring pressure on the wound. "There was
poison on the sword. It’s in you now. You’ll be feeling its effects
in seconds. It’ll paralyze you, and eventually kill you. Robert is
my son!"

Pan cried out in rage, his legs growing weak
as he searched for a new host. At one point, he tried to fly, but
the hand of one crew man grabbed hold of him, preventing him from
doing so. "No, no! You can't have him!" he yelled. With labored
breath, Pan fell to his knees, until just as quickly,
unconsciousness took over. His body was paralyzed, his breathing
stopped. The blue orb immediately began to glow.

“Now,” James said weakly.

"Now!" Eileen shouted. The crew scrambled as
ordered. "You, you and you!" she shouted to three crewmen standing
by. "Carry the captain into his quarters. Make him comfortable on
the bed. Call me when he's ready. Keep pressure on his wound. Do
not let up."

As the crewmen carried James into his
quarters. Eileen rushed over to Robbie’s side. "You!" she pointed
to another crew man. "I need you to kneel here and assist me." He
nodded and did as she asked.

Eileen felt for the indentation between
Robbie’s thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage. Taking the sharp
dagger she had previously sterilized, she made a half-inch incision
across his neck, going in nearly a half-inch deep. She pinched the
incision with her fingers, opening the fresh wound. Taking a reed
she had specially prepared, she carefully inserted it into the
incision, breathing into it a couple of times to verify it was
inserted fully in the trachea. Seeing Robbie’s chest rise and fall
subtly, she motioned for the bellows and connected it into the
exposed end of the reed. Showing the crew man how to manage, she
instructed him to give one breath every five seconds, making sure
he knew to count five between each puff of air.

"Crewman!" she shouted to another. "I want
you to assist him with this. If he grows tired, you must take over.
At least twenty minutes, when the poison will wear off. No matter
what, this boy must breathe every five seconds. Am I clear?"

Both men nodded.

"Under no circumstances is he to be moved.
Send word if you need me. Do not leave him!" Checking his pulse,
she confirmed Robbie was stable for the time being. She rushed to
the captain's quarters. Entering the cabin, she could see James had
grown pale. His body was covered in sweat, his breathing labored.
When he saw her, he managed a weak smile.

Eileen poured a fresh pitcher of water in a
basin. She ripped the bottom of her shirt and placed the strip in
the water. With sudden fury, she tore open James' shirt and
immediately located the wound.

"Oh, thank God! The wound doesn’t look as bad
as I feared, though you’ve lost a lot of blood." She looked over at
James, whose eyes rolled back, the lids closing. "James?" He did
not respond. "James!" she shouted to wake him up. Placing her ear
to his chest, she held her breath listening for a heartbeat. To her
horror, she heard nothing. She took his pulse, confirming her fear.
"James!" she shouted again, with no response.

"No!" she cried, tears running down her
cheeks.

Jumping onto the bed, she knelt by his side
and began CPR compressions. She refused to give up on him. She
couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. The crewmen in the cabin
stood by in silence; sadness reflected on their faces as they
watched their captain die for a second time.

Eileen stood on the shores of Neverland in
silence. The wind gently blew wisps of hair against her face. The
whites of her eyes had a hint of red from crying through the long
night, but those same tears had made her blue eyes even brighter.
Sighing deeply, she closed them for a moment to maintain composure.
One tear silently escaped.

“You’ve done well, child.”

Eileen was too tired to be startled. She gave
a sideways glance, recognizing the barista from the coffee shop in
New York City. “Daria,” she said in a neutral tone.

Daria smiled. “The sword has been recovered,
as it should have been years ago. Luckily, you have lost very
little in the end.”

Eileen opened her mouth to protest, but
thought better of it.

“One more task you are required to complete,”
Daria said, staring down at the chest.

“I’m required?” Eileen blurted out. “I
stabbed my son, my husband’s hand was taken from him, I lost my
unborn daughter, then James—” her voice cracked. “What more do you
want from me? I’ve done nothing to deserve this!”

Daria cackled. “Benedict never told you.”

Eileen glared at her. She had no idea what
was going on, but was angry at the mention of his name.

“You, my dear, are the great, great, great,
great— oh forget it. You are a descendant of Captain Davis.”

“Captain Benedict’s Captain. I already know
this.”

Daria nodded. “Did you know he was charged
with keeping the knife and destroying it by fire? Due to his
recklessness, the knife remained unguarded. Through his lack of
responsibility, a young cabin boy stole it, giving the air
elemental the opportunity to escape.”

Eileen temporarily squeezed her eyes shut and
sighed loudly, “Benedict.”

Daria gave a wry smile. “You know him
well.”

“So, thanks to Captain Davis and Captain
Benedict, I am stuck with all of this mess?” she snapped.