The Incredible Space Raiders from Space! (15 page)

“Or if we don't need a password,” Sally said slowly.

Jonah glanced at her. “What?”

“Why do the doors automatically slide open here and not anywhere else?”

“Because they have power,” Jonah said. “Oh.”

Sally smiled. “Yeah.”

“Do you remember where that power line was?”

“I think so,” she said. “The rest of the
Squirrel
is in some sort of emergency-power mode. A few lights work, but no automatic doors and limited heat. I've heard them talk about it before. That's to conserve power. But if we knock out that power line leading to the crew's quarters, we should shut everything off. Lights, heat, and door controls.”

Jonah nodded. “Then let's go turn off the lights.”

•  •  •

“That's the one,” Sally said, pointing at a green power line.

They'd followed the power line all through the service shafts and back to the engine room, and they stood there now on the highest walkway. The power line plunged directly into the core and was surrounded by a boxy steel casing that was within an arm's length of their walkway.

“How do you know?” Jonah asked, frowning.

She pointed at a ring of melted green rubber on the power line. “Because it was damaged before. I heard them arguing about the lights. It's definitely the one.”

“All right,” Jonah said. “Now we just need something sharp—”

Sally rolled her eyes. “You're going to cut a power line? Have you thought of what might happen to the person who cuts it?”

Jonah paused. “Right.”

He looked around the room for inspiration, though that was pretty hard to do when looking down made him queasy. He shuffled to the edge of the walkway—after taking a quick look for super rats—and peered over the side. Then he saw it.

The giant pile of bonkers.

“There,” he said.

Sally looked at him. “You want to hit it with a metal pole instead? I don't think you understand—”

“Not hit it,” Jonah said. “Throw bonkers at it. If we get a direct hit, we might be able to knock that casing off. Or at least damage the wire.”

Sally examined the casing skeptically. “It's possible.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

She sighed. “Let's go get some bonkers.”

It turned out to be a fairly difficult process. Eventually, Jonah ended up tucking his pants into his socks and filling the pant legs with bonkers, which allowed him to slowly climb back up again. Sally shook her head, but she did the same thing.

After a long, slow climb back to the top, Jonah yanked his pants out of his socks and started pulling out the bonkers. He'd managed to get four in each pant leg.

When the bonkers were out, he turned to the green wire.

“Do we aim for the wire or the casing?” he asked.

“I don't throw bonkers around very often,” Sally muttered. “Try both.”

Jonah nodded and picked up the first bonker. He had never been much of an athlete. Actually, he'd only ever played sports when he was forced to in gym class. And usually he was the last one picked. Well . . . always. He really should have participated.

He pulled the bonker back and threw it with all his strength. It missed by at least five feet. And he was only ten feet away from the wire. The bonker plummeted down the spiderweb and clanged loudly off the floor far below. Sally burst out laughing.

“That was the worst throw I've ever seen,” she managed through her laughter.

Jonah grimaced and picked up another bonker. “It went pretty far.”

“Yeah, downward,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Wow. That was good.”

“It won't be when we alert the entire ship we're here,” Jonah said. “You try.”

Sally took a few steps forward. “You better join me, noodle arm.”

Jonah rubbed his arm self-consciously and stepped beside her. “Let's see how good you are.”

Sally immediately pulled back and threw a bonker. It hit the steel casing full on, denting the metal inward, and then the bonker flew right back toward them, whizzing past Jonah's head. He stood there for a moment, eyes wide, and then looked at Sally.

“Maybe try hitting the wire next,” she said. “But that was right on.”

“We were also closer,” Jonah muttered.

He missed his next throw again and tried to ignore Sally's snort of derision. She threw two more, managing to hit the wire once, but it didn't have much effect. The bonkers kept clattering off the metal floor far below. Jonah knew the sound would echo down every service shaft on the
Squirrel
. They had to hurry.

He threw three more bonkers and managed to hit the engine core itself, the far wall, and nothing at all. It sounded like a clanging drum set in the engine room. Sally wasn't having much luck either. She hit the wire again and again, but it didn't break free of the engine. She threw her last bonker extra hard, but again, the wire didn't move. Jonah tried another bonker and missed completely. He only had two left.

“You must be a baseball player,” she said.

He frowned at her. “Two left. You want one?”

“It's useless,” she said, shaking her head. “The wire doesn't move.”

“No,” Jonah said thoughtfully, “but the casing did.”

He walked closer to the steel casing—only a few feet away. The edge had dented right into the power line from where Sally had hit it and was pressing against the green exterior. If he hit it again in the same place, it might just pierce the line.

He glanced at Sally. “You might want to back up.”

Sally raised her eyebrows. “You might want to back up too.”

Jonah shook his head. “I'm not a baseball player. But I am a bonker.”

He turned to the casing and raised the bonker over his head.

“I just have to let go at the last second.”

Sally took a quick step back. “If you don't, you're going to fry like an egg.”

“Thanks,” Jonah murmured.

“Is she really worth it?” Sally asked. “I'll bat my eyelashes some more if you want.”

“If I give up now, no one will rescue them,” Jonah said tightly. “Besides, these pirates have taken enough Space Raiders. It's time to hit back.”

With that, he swung the bonker directly at the steel casing. When it was about a foot from its mark, he let go. That was a good thing.

The bonker made clean contact with the casing, and the steel edge cut into the power line. Then it got very bright. A shower of white hot sparks burst out of the power line, and Jonah just managed to close his eyes as he fell backward onto the walkway. He heard Sally shouting in the background, but she was drowned out by the sizzling sparks.

Jonah hit the ground hard just as the shower of sparks ended, and he cautiously opened his eyes to see the last few sparks shoot out of the power line and disappear.

“That was unexpected,” Jonah said. He felt a bunch of small burns on his face.

Sally bent over him. “Are you alive?”

“I think so,” he said. “Did it work?”

Sally shrugged. “Well, that wire is certainly busted, so I'm guessing our pirate friends are currently sitting in the dark. Your fellow Space Raiders, too.”

“Perfect,” Jonah murmured.

She grinned. “You're full of surprises, Jonah the Now Incredible. Every time I think you've reached your stupidest moment, you manage to top yourself. It's very impressive. Now we better go hide in the service shafts until the crew comes. It's time to save your friends. Or get shot by a space pirate. Either/or.”

She pulled Jonah to his feet, and he gingerly touched his face. It was stinging.

“I hope that was the hard part,” Jonah muttered. “But I doubt it.”

•  •  •

He was right. After hiding in a tiny side shaft until four grumbling, very unhappy crew members traipsed down the main shaft, shining a portable light along the power lines to check for damage, Jonah and Sally climbed out and ran toward the crew's quarters. The dim yellow lighting of the service shaft was still working, but it did little to push back the shadows.

Jonah had been very happy to catch a glimpse of a red eye in the darkness and to hear the brusque, husky voice of the Space Witch. At least they wouldn't run into them.

When they reached the quarters, he was relieved to see that Pirate Road was completely dark. He was just thinking they'd come up with the perfect plan when he looked down the hall toward the brig. There, guarding the door with a portable light each, were two crew members.

“Wrinkles and Weasel,” Sally muttered. “Now what?”

“I don't know,” Jonah said.

She glanced at him. “Think you can bonk them?”

“Two of them?” Jonah said. “They'll just shoot me.”

“Yeah, probably,” Sally murmured.

They stood there for a moment. Jonah had no idea what to do. All that, and they were stuck here. And they didn't have much time. Once Red Eye and the others fused the power line and restored power, they'd come right back here.

And Jonah and Sally had to be long gone when they did.

“I guess that's it—”

“We need a distraction,” Sally cut in.

“I can try throwing my bonker down the hall,” Jonah suggested.

“Yeah, that will work for one second,” Sally said. She took a little pink hair tie out of her pocket and started pulling her long black hair into a ponytail. “I'll do it.”

“You don't have to—”

“I've hid on this ship for long enough now,” she said. “I want to hit back too.”

Jonah smiled. “What are you going to do?”

“There's a main staircase that leads back down the ship,” she said. “It's at the other end of Pirate Road. I'm going to shriek and run for the stairs. At least one of them will chase me. Probably both.”

She stuck her hand out. Jonah looked at it, confused.

“Shake it, dimwit,” she said.

He did as he was told.

“If we don't make it, it was a pleasure,” she continued. “You're not the brightest Space Raider I've ever seen, but you might just be the bravest. Good luck.”

“Meet you at the grate in the Haunted Passage?” Jonah said.

She smiled. “Deal. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to turn into a monster.”

With that, she threw open the door, stepped into the hallway, and let loose a remarkably good impersonation of the Shrieker. It was so good that Jonah almost turned and ran down the stairs himself, and she was standing right in front of him.

It clearly had the desired effect.

He heard Wrinkles and Weasel shout and curse, followed by loud, clomping footsteps as they ran down the hallway. Sally took a quick look back, barely visible in the darkness, and then took off down the hall, laughing and cackling all the way.

Jonah quickly stepped to the side of the door as the two men ran by, and then he bolted down Pirate Road toward the brig. He looked back and saw Wrinkles and Weasel turn down the staircase, chasing the shrieking, cackling Sally. The plan had worked.

Jonah reached the brig and slid the door open. It was pitch black inside.

“Martin?” he asked, stepping into the room. “Samantha?”

“Jonah?” a familiar voice asked, sounding amazed. He heard shuffling and felt Martin's small hand on his arm. “What are you doing here?”

“Rescuing you,” Jonah said. “You've done enough hard time.”

He heard astounded whispers around the room.

Martin laughed. “I knew you were incredible, but this takes the cake. How did you turn off the power?”

“Long story,” Jonah said. “Now, everyone, wherever you are, we need to go. The pirates are going to be back soon—”

The words were barely out of his mouth when a glaring light washed over the doorway. Weasel walked in right behind it, holding his portable light up like a lantern.

“Well, well, well,” he said, a cruel grin spreading over his face, “looks like we caught a rat.”

W
EASEL STEPPED THROUGH THE DOORWAY,
his portable light washing over the brig. Jonah blinked against the white glare and saw the other prisoners blocking their eyes with their arms.

Jonah was frozen to the spot, the bonker hanging loosely in his hands. A million thoughts ran through his head. He tried to think of a way to escape, but there was none.

He was trapped.

“Wrinkles ran off,” Weasel said, his dark, beady eyes fixed on Jonah, “but I thought, wait a second. The lights go out and then the Shouter comes to the crew's quarters for the first time ever?” He smiled, revealing yellow and black teeth. “That would have to be some coincidence. Then I think maybe someone put those lights out. Maybe someone wanted to get us away from the brig. Maybe some little rat is trying to save his friends.”

His thin, calloused hand was resting on his gun. The other Space Raiders all just stood there with pensive looks, eyes darting to Jonah. All but one.

As Weasel stared at Jonah with that evil grin, Martin
the Marvelous was slowly edging along the wall. Jonah didn't know what he was doing, but he had to buy him time.

“You got me,” Jonah said, his voice sounding a bit tinny. He tried to stand up a little straighter. “I'd like you to release my friends now.”

Weasel stared at him for a moment and then burst out laughing. “This one's a comedian,” he said, looking at Leppy. “You never told me how funny they were.”

Leppy spared a dark look at him through his ratty black hair.

Weasel turned back to Jonah. “This batch is getting a little too courageous for my liking. Don't know what it is. We've locked you up. We've threatened you. Not sure what else we can do. Can't have you wandering around the ship, you know. Against the rules.”

Martin was past Weasel now, still sliding along the wall. Jonah wondered if he was planning to run for it and tell the others. At least someone would get away.