Sky Lights (2 page)

‘No, not here,’ said Doug. ‘Stop teasing Jack, you’re scaring your sister.’

The doorbell rang, ending the conversation about the crocodile. Beth Paton got up to answer it. ‘Come on in, Shelley. Amy’s just finished her tea.’

Shelley bounced into the kitchen smiling. ‘Hi, guys. Hey, what’s up Amy? I’ve been waiting all afternoon for you to log on to Facebook so that we could chat online.’

‘Sorry Shelley, but my
darling
brother has hogged the computer all afternoon.’

‘Rubbish,’ said Jack. ‘But anyway, Shelley only lives next door. Why do you need to chat on Facebook? Can’t you do it face to face?’

‘You wouldn’t understand, so I am not even going to bother to explain,’ said Amy, dragging her friend by the hand over to the computer. Jack smiled, knowing he’d won that round and went back to watching the wildlife programme on TV. Shelley sat down at the desk while Amy pulled an extra chair over. ‘Let’s see who’s still online,’ she said.

Doug fetched the dog’s lead. ‘Come on Buster, time for your evening stroll.’ He patted the elderly dog’s head. ‘Won’t be long, Beth.’

‘Take your time. I’ll be going over the notes that I made this afternoon at Register House.’

‘Look, Jody’s on,’ said Amy, as she typed,
‘Hi Jody. What’s new?’

Jody answered,
‘Good news. We’re going skiing after Christmas.’

‘She is sooooo lucky,’ said Shelley.

‘I know,’ replied Amy, as she typed back,
‘Lucky you. We never go anywhere at the Christmas holidays. But guess what? I might be related to Wendy Darling from Peter Pan.’

‘
I
didn’t know that,’ said Shelley. ‘I’m your best friend. How come you didn’t tell
me
first?’

‘I only found out myself ten minutes ago. Mum discovered Granny’s middle name should’ve been Darling and not Darlin like we thought.’

‘Look, Jody says she doesn’t believe you,’ said Shelley. ‘She says it can’t be true.’

‘What would she know? It might be true. Anyway I’ll believe it if I want to,’ said Amy. She typed,
‘What makes you think it can’t be true?’

Before Jody had time to answer Amy blinked in disbelief as a little pop up said
‘Peter Pan’
was online and wanted to be her friend on Facebook.

‘D’you see that Shelley? It says it’s from Peter Pan! Somebody’s winding us up.’ Amy giggled.

‘Go on,’ said Shelley. ‘Click accept. See who it is. See what they’re saying.’

Amy and Shelley read the next message on the screen in whispers,
‘Are you really a relation of Wendy’s? I have been searching for you for years and years.’

They tried keeping their voices down but were giggling so much there was a real danger they’d attract Beth’s attention. Or worse still, Jack’s.

‘What’re you going to say?’ Shelley mouthed.

Amy began typing.
‘I might be! Are you really Peter Pan?’
To the girls’ astonishment, the reply was on the screen in an instant.

‘Absolutely. The one and only, Peter Pan. I do hope you are Wendy’s family. What’s your address?’

‘You can’t tell him.’ Shelley looked serious. ‘He mightn’t be who he says. Remember what they told us at school.’

‘Don’t worry. I won’t.’ Amy typed,
‘Sorry Peter whoever-you-are. I can’t give my address to a perfect stranger.’

‘But….what if it’s really him? What then?’ said Shelley.

‘Well, how can we tell?’ said Amy. ‘Oh look he’s replied already!’

‘You’ve hurt my feelings you unWendy child. I am perfect as you said but I’m no stranger. Everybody knows me. I’m Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up. Even your parents and grandparents knew me.’

Amy typed.
‘Ok then. Prove it.’

They held their breath as they waited for the response.
‘I can fly. I bet nobody else you know can fly like a bird. Just tell me your city and district and then watch from your window.’

‘What d’you think, Shelley?’ asked Amy. ‘It won’t be dangerous to tell him that much. What d’you think?’

‘Yeah, that should be OK,’ said Shelley. ‘Just type south side of Edinburgh.’ Amy’s stomach was churning as she wrote the reply. ‘Quick now, sign out,’ whispered Shelley. ‘Let’s go upstairs and watch from your bedroom window.’

‘Signing out. The computer’s all yours, Jack,’ said Amy in a loud voice. ‘Well, for the next few minutes,’ she added.

‘Gee thanks Sis, you
are
generous.’

Shelley and Amy hurried out of the room. They took the stairs two at a time, and barged through the bedroom door. For the next half hour they stood at the window, holding hands in the darkness, and trembling with excitement. Together they scanned the city skyline for the slightest sign of movement.

Downstairs, Beth took out the notebook she used for her research. ‘I might use the computer for a bit Jack, if you don’t need it.’

‘Go ahead Mum, I wouldn’t mind watching you. My TV programme’s finishing and I’m interested in this family tree business. How d’you do it?’ Jack sat down next to his mum.

‘I’m going to a website that shows the 1901 census information,’ Beth said. ‘I want to look for the Darling family.’

‘Are you sure it wasn’t Darwin?’ said Jack. ‘Being a Darling is a bit embarrassing.’

‘Sorry Jack. The truth is the truth. As they say, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.’

‘I suppose so, but I hope Amy doesn’t go blabbing to the whole world that we’re the
Darling
family! Especially not telling people she’s related to Wendy from Peter Pan. Everybody’ll think she’s mad.’

‘You know what Amy’s like. She’s always believed in fairies and magic. I think it’s sweet.’

‘Yeah, well it was sweet when she was 3 years old, but she’s nearly 11 now.’

‘Oh look, Jack,’ said Beth, changing the subject. ‘Here’s the information I was hoping for….According to the 1901 census there
was
a Darling family living in Kensington Gardens. Father - George Darling, mother Mary Darling, children – Wendy, born 1894, John 1896, and Michael 1899. It means we
might
be related to the Darlings from Peter Pan after all,’ she said, playfully poking Jack in the ribs.

‘Mum, you’re as bad as Amy. Now I know where she gets it. There was no such boy as Peter Pan. The whole thing’s a story by J.M. Barrie. These people didn’t really exist.’ He paused to scratch his head. ‘Well, there obviously was a family by the same name or they wouldn’t be mentioned in the census….but….but …maybe Barrie just used them for the story. And there definitely wasn’t a boy called Peter Pan, who could fly through the sky. Who’d ever believe that?’

Beth took a piece of yellowed paper from her briefcase.

‘Oh…I almost forgot,’ she said. ‘Look at this. It’s Granny’s death certificate.’ Jack peered over his mum’s shoulder. ‘See it clearly states that her middle name was Darling, and that she was born in Kensington Gardens.’

‘Wow,’ gasped Jack.

‘I didn’t know that before today either,’ said Beth. ‘It’s strange. I wonder why she never mentioned it.’

At that moment, Amy and Shelley came hurtling downstairs, excited, scared and guilty but trying to act as if nothing had happened.

‘Well, Amy,’ said Beth, winking at Jack, ‘you’ll be pleased to know that your granny was born in Kensington Gardens and there really was a Wendy Darling who lived there a long time ago.’

‘Yeah, right,’ said Jack.

A cold blast of air hit them as the front door opened and Doug and Buster came in. ‘Frosty out,’ said Doug Paton taking off his coat. ‘I just saw something huge flying over our roof. It was too big for a bat or an owl. It must have been an eagle.’

‘Doubt it, Dad. Not at this time of night. They’re not nocturnal. Maybe it was an eagle owl. They’re enormous. But I’ve never heard of one around here before. That would be a sight to see.’

For once Amy didn’t argue with her brother. A knowing smile passed between the two girls.

The Northern Venture anchored in a small bay, fringed with swaying palm trees. Sunlight sparkled on the water and gentle waves rushed up on to the golden sand in relays of foamy white ripples. It was the most idyllic spot for a holiday. Except, the crew of this vessel were not on holiday; they were here on a most dangerous mission.

The tranquillity was shattered by a sinister sound. The men started, suddenly watchful. They cast their eyes over the surface of the water but could see nothing. They exchanged glances. Eyebrows were raised. Some nodded as the reality dawned on them. The sound that alerted them was an ominous ticking. Their quarry was close. This was the moment they were waiting for. The captain barked a series of orders. ‘Get to your stations, men. Joe, to the controls. Eddie, more bait.’ The men got to work; some went on watch, some filled buckets with bait and carried them to Big Eddie who was emptying the putrid meat and fish over the port side. Joe climbed up into the control cabin of the huge crane towering over the deck. Hanging from the pulley was a contraption made of heavy mesh. He carefully guided it into position over the spot where the water was turning a deep shade of red.

‘Oh my God!’ cried Big Eddie. ‘There it is. What a size.’

All eyes looked in the direction his finger pointed, in time to see the monstrous crocodile swim away from the side of the boat with a chunk of fish in its jaws. It circled and turned back towards its new feeding ground. Again the beast opened its huge mouth, revealing two rows of razor sharp, pointed teeth. It snatched another hunk of meat before it rolled over, exposing its pale underbelly. Then it dived out of sight beneath the boat.

‘I’ll get him next time,’ shouted Joe, the winch man. ‘I’m all lined up.’

‘Get the bait ready!’ shouted the captain. Two of the crew jammed an enormous piece of raw meat on to a hook which they swung out to dangle below the mesh.

‘Here he comes,’ called Big Eddie from the stern.

All eyes watched as the crocodile forged its way back to the boat. Suddenly the reptile surged upwards, water cascading from its huge body, its tail thrusting powerfully. It opened its jaws to snatch the bait off the hook.

‘Now!’ screamed the captain.

Joe slammed his hand on the control button. Instantly the net was released. The heavy metal mesh stunned the beast, knocking the air out of its lungs. The net draped over its body and sank deep into the water on either side. Joe switched on the powerful electromagnets and the edges of the net closed as the magnets joined with a series of loud thunks. The crocodile’s body was enveloped from snout to tail in a tube of steel mesh. ‘Gotcha!’ said the captain with satisfaction. The men punched the air and cheered, ‘Yeah!’

Joe proceeded to lock the magnets before starting to winch up the net holding the trapped animal. The crocodile hung motionless as the crane raised it above deck level. Water droplets rained down as the crew stared in amazement at their catch. The massive weight of the reptile was causing the Northern Venture to list to the port side.

‘My God,’ whispered Harry. ‘I’ve never seen anything that big.’

‘Me neither,’ said Charlie, scratching his head. ‘Will that crate hold it?’

‘Let’s get on with this,’ said the captain. ‘We’re taking it in alive.’ Four of the men sprang into action, and undid the catches of the massive crate. Charlie used a small winch to raise the lid and the other men guided it clear and on to the deck. ‘Soon as that crocodile’s in the crate get the lid on,’ ordered the captain.

As Charlie swung the net holding the reptile into position over the crate, the beast came to life. It lashed its gigantic tail from side to side. It snapped its ferocious jaws. Its head rammed the net. It grunted and growled as it twisted and tried to roll over. Then the crew heard a loud bang coming from the underside of the mesh tube.

‘What the heck was that noise?’ yelled the captain.

Charlie shouted, ‘Look boss, one of the magnets snapped.’

The men stared at the broken magnet in disbelief.

‘Is the net going to be strong enough?’ asked Big Eddie, his eyes out on stalks.

‘We’ve never handled anything like this before,’ said Charlie. ‘Don’t think we can do it.’

‘Harry, get the tranquilliser gun,’ shouted the captain. ‘We need to control this monster.’

‘Oh my God, another one’s gone,’ cried Charlie. A rear magnet had popped open, giving the crocodile more room to struggle. It whipped its tail from one side to the other, catching Big Eddie on the back of the head. He crashed to the deck and scrabbled away out of reach. The crocodile was fighting for its life, struggling to get free.

‘Raise it up again,’ screamed the captain. Nothing happened. He looked up at the control cab. Joe was not there. ‘Joe! Where the devil are you? I said raise it up again.’

Joe was at the bow of the ship, cowering behind the tanks of bait. He was muttering to himself, ‘This is never going to work. We’re all going to die.’

‘Pop! Pop!’ went two more magnets. The crocodile was slowly but surely extricating itself from its mesh prison.

‘Hurry up, Harry,’ yelled the captain.

‘How can this be happening?’ screamed Joe, covering his head with his arms as if that would make him invisible.