Rattle The Stars

Chapter Four: Trouble at the Ben Bow Inn

Jim Hawkins just couldn’t win for losing.
He sat on the rooftop of Ben Bow Inn, tossing a handful of pebbles against the metal shingles. Inside the Inn, his mother Sarah and their family friend, Dr. Doppler, discussed his most recent failure—embarrassing his mother in front of all her customers when two police officers had caught him solar surfing in a restricted area. And though Jim already knew what they were going to say, he couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

“I really don’t know how you manage it, Sarah. Trying to run a business while raising a felon…fellow.” He cleared his throat. “A fellow like Jim…”

“Managing it? I’m at the end of my rope.” The way his mother’s voice broke at the end of her sentence made Jim’s heart twist with guilt. “Ever since his father left…well. Jim’s just never recovered. And you know how smart he is. He built his first solar surfer when he was only eight!” There was a hint of pride in her tone, enough to make Jim smile, just a little. “And yet, he’s failing at school, he is constantly in trouble, and when I talk to him, he’s like a stranger to me. I don’t know, Delbert. I’ve tried everything…”

A whirring noise caught Jim’s attention, and he glanced up in alarm as a small, smoking ship shuddered to a broken halt on the end of one of the docks near the Inn.

He charged into action. Sliding down off the roof, he landed with a grunt and took off running.

“Hey, mister?” He called as he ran down the dock. “Mister, you’re okay in there, right?” He knocked on the porthole.

An alien claw slammed against the glass, and Jim stumbled out of the way as the porthole flew open. Smoke poured out of the opening, and the alien pushed another figure in front of him.

With a start, Jim realized it was a young woman, unconscious, her blonde braid and milky skin covered in soot.

“Oh, no,” Jim knelt down quickly beside her. He put two fingers on her wrist, checking her pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief. She was alive.

The alien followed right behind her, coughing and gagging in the smoke. He glanced up at Jim, then grabbed him by the collar and brought him close to his face.

“He’s a-comin,” the turtle-like alien hissed. “Can’t you hear him? Those gears and gyros clicking and whirring like the devil himself?”

“Uh,” Jim coughed, rubbing his forehead as the alien released his shirt. “Hit your head there pretty hard, didn’t you?”

“He’s after me treasure,” the alien grunted, struggling to pick up the unconscious young woman. “That fiendish cyborg and his band of cutthroats.” He finally managed to lift her up onto his shoulder. “But they’ll have to pry it from old Billy Bones’ cold, dead fingers afore I—“ He suddenly broke down, falling onto his knees, coughing and choking. As he collapsed, the girl tumbled out of his arms, and something gold and round rolled from her pocket.

“Catch it, lad,” the alien rasped. Jim grasped it, tucking it in his pocket, then stooped to help the alien, who’d lifted the girl over his shoulder once again.

“Uh. Come on. Give me your arm.” Jim helped him up the dock, shaking his head in disbelief. “Mom’s gonna love this.”

*

Alice heard a peal of thunder, then felt water hitting her face. She blinked, then groaned. Her whole body ached, and her nose burned with the scent of smoke. She looked down—the ground moved beneath her, and she realized she was being carried.

“Bones?” She mumbled.

“Aye,” the alien responded, his voice weak and raspy. “Lass, can you walk?”

Alice slipped off his shoulder, taking a moment to gain her bearings. Beside Bones, a blue-eyed young man supported his shoulder, watching her curiously.

“Bones, are you hurt?” Alice asked, taking his other arm.

“Aye, lass,” he breathed. “I don’t reckon I’ll make it much further.”

“Don’t be crazy,” the young man said. “The door’s just up ahead.”

Alice did her best to support Bones’ other arm, though she still felt incredibly weak herself. As they approached the door to the huge building ahead of them, it opened. Two figures stood shocked in the welcoming light coming from within—a tall, dog-like man with glasses and fine clothes, and a shorter woman in a cook’s dress with the same blue eyes as the young man carrying Bones.

The woman gasped. “James Pleiades Hawkins—“

“Mom, he’s hurt. Bad.” Alice helped the young man—James, she presumed—carry Bones inside. The alien collapsed to the floor, struggling to breathe.

“Oh, dear,” Alice choked, her voice thick with tears.

“Where is it, lad?” Bones said to James. “The ball.”

“Here.” James pulled the golden sphere from his pocket and handed it to him.

“He’ll be coming soon,” Bones rasped, tucking the sphere into Alice’s hands. “Can’t let them find it.”

“Who’s coming?” James asked.

Bones yanked his collar, hissing into his ear. “The cyborg.” He took a shuddering breath. “Beware the cyborg.”

Bones’ eyes widened, and his grip on James’ shirt loosened.

“No. No, Bones, you can’t go!” Alice cried, catching the alien as he fell backward.
“Take care of her, lad,” Bones breathed, then coughed one final time, lying limp in Alice’s arms.

“No…” Alice blinked, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Bones!”

“Oh.” James’ mother took a step back, covering her mouth in surprise.

But a bright light suddenly filtered in through the windows, and Alice glanced up through teary eyes. James ran to the window, peering out the peculiar curtains

“Quick! We gotta go!” James grabbed his mother’s hand, then Alice’s, and began dragging them up the stairs. A huge blast of energy burst through the front door, and the dog-faced man with the glasses yelped, then ran up the stairs after them.

“I believe I’m with Jim on this one!” He cried. They reached a side window, and the bespectacled alien threw open the window, calling to his mount down below. “Delilah! Delilah!” The animal looked up, jumping and making impatient noises. “Stay! Don’t move!”

He reached back and grabbed Jim’s mother’s hand, pulling her up into the round window sill. “Don’t worry, Sarah. I’m an expert in the laws of physical science! On the count of three.”

Alice saw shadows coming up the stairwell, and saw Jim come flying towards her, his arms outstretched.

“One,” counted the dog-faced man. But Alice screeched as Jim yanked her up into the window, then pushed them all through it.

“Three!” Jim yelled as they toppled through the air, landing roughly in the cart attached to Delilah.

“Go, Delilah! Go!” The dog-faced man cracked the whips, and they rocketed away from the inn as it began to go up in flames. Alice watched Sarah look back, then settle into the cart, holding her head in her hands, looking absolutely exhausted.
Alice didn’t know what to say. There wasn’t anything she could say. She’d just watched her protector die, and seen this mother and son’s home go up in flames.

All over the golden sphere in her pocket.

She pulled it out, examining it. Jim, seated next to her, peered at it, too.

“What is this thing?” He whispered.

Alice shook her head. “I don’t know. Bones never told me. All he ever said was it has something to do with his treasure.”

“Treasure?” Jim touched the sphere gingerly, his eyebrows raised in interest. “Huh.”

“Forgive me my impudence, young lady, but who are you?” Asked the Dog-Faced man once they’d gotten further onto the road. “And how did you end up in such strange company?”

“My name is Alice,” Alice said. “I’m…a bit lost, one could say. I wandered into Bones and his company by accident. They took me in, very kindly. Bones said he’d bring me to Montressor, so I could find my way back home. But then they were attacked. Bones said it was the cyborg.” Alice stopped speaking, clutching at a throbbing knot on her head. “Ouch.”

“That’ll need some ice,” Sarah said, reaching across Jim to examine Alice’s face. “You poor thing. I wish I could give you a temporary room in the inn, but…” Sarah sat back in her seat. “Seems we’re just as stranded as you are now.”

“I’m so sorry,” Alice said, fidgeting with the orb in her hand. “It’s all just a big mess, isn’t it?”

“Indeed it is,” the Dog-Faced man said. They were approaching a grand, tall building, twinkling with lantern light against the falling rain. “But not to worry. I’ll make sure everyone’s taken care of here.”

*

Jim helped Alice out of the carriage, while the dog-faced man assisted Sarah.

“My name’s Jim, by the way,” Jim said.

“It’s nice to meet you, Jim.” Alice didn’t bother telling him she’d already deciphered his name. “And… who is our kind host?”

“That’s Delbert Doppler. Family friend of ours.” Jim rolled his eyes. “He’ll probably want you to call him Doctor Doppler. He’s pretty proud of that title.”

Alice managed a little smile. “I would be, too, if I were a doctor.”

Dr. Doppler led them into a large, grand room, quickly lighting a fire and pulling up a large armchair for Sarah. Books stretched up in tall shelves, as far up as Alice could see.

“Make yourselves at home,” Dr. Doppler said. “I’ll make sure we have some hot tea. While the kettle’s on, I’ll go and phone the constabulary.”

Alice took the sphere out of her pocket, setting it gently on a side table, then made to sit.

“Before we sit down,” Sarah put in quickly, taking Alice’s hand, “let’s get you looked at.”
Alice followed Sarah into the kitchen, Jim trailing behind them. They entered a large room full of copper pots and pans. Sarah went straight for the icebox, wrapping a handful of ice in a dish towel and examining Alice’s face and head for any bruises.

“I wish you wouldn’t fuss,” Alice protested shyly. “You’ve just been through a terrifying ordeal yourselves.”

“Trust me.” Sarah swept Alice’s hair off of her forehead and applied the ice. “I don’t want to just sit around thinking about it. I’d rather be doing something useful.”

Alice winced as Jim poked a tender spot near the back of her head.

“Yikes,” he muttered, making another ice pack. “You got pretty beaten up in that crash landing, huh?”

“I suppose so.” Alice didn’t want to think about that horrific ordeal.

“How’d you get mixed up with an alien like Bones, anyway?” Jim asked, but Sarah shushed him.

“Don’t pester her with questions right now. Oh, my goodness gracious,” Sarah tutted, examining the torn hem of Alice’s school uniform skirt and hole-ridden socks. “You’ll need new clothes, for sure.” She handed her ice pack to Jim. “Delbert!” She wandered off in search of their host.

“I hate to make your mother worry over me like this.” Alice twisted her loose braid nervously as Jim continued to apply the ice to her forehead.

“Don’t worry about her,” Jim replied dismissively. “She loves it. She probably always wanted a girl to fuss over anyway. All she ever had was me.”

Alice examined him fully for the first time, noting his gold earring and wild brown hair, with its shaggy front and shaved sides.

“You have quite an unusual style,” Alice remarked. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

“Really?” Jim laughed, avoiding her gaze. “Mom always said it makes me look ratty.”

“I don’t think so,” Alice said. “It makes you look curious.”

“Huh.” Jim smiled, just a little. “Thanks.”

“Alright,” Sarah said, bustling back into the kitchen. She took Alice’s hand. “Before we do anything else, let’s all get clean and into clothes that don’t look like we’ve been through hell and back.” She pierced Jim with a glare. “You too, Jim.”

“Alright.” Jim grumbled, trudging off to obey.

Sarah led Alice up the stairs to a large beautiful room, all draped in burgundy, going straight for an open wardrobe. In the adjoining room, Alice could hear water running.

“Now. Delbert says these are his sisters’ clothes. I found a few things for myself. Hopefully we’ll find something in here to fit you.” She pulled out a few choices, then pushed Alice towards the adjoining room. “Go get clean first. Then we’ll dress you.”

Alice smiled gratefully, shutting the door behind her. She found herself in a lavish bathroom. A golden tub sat in the corner, with steaming water already run into it and a towel folded neatly at the side. She gratefully took off her school clothes, which she’d been wearing for nearly a week, and sunk into the soothing warmth. Her aching muscles relaxed, and as she gently scrubbed, the water began to darken with soot and grime. She wrinkled her nose, but kept at it until her skin was smooth and fragrant.

Stepping out a while later, she toweled off, then wrapped herself in a fluffy robe hanging on the back of the door.

Alice stepped out into the bedroom, noting Sarah was back, similarly bathed with her dark hair plastered against her face.

“Now that we’re both clean,” Sarah noted, handing Alice some choices, “let’s get into clean clothes. Then we’ll all feel much better.”

Alice was immediately drawn to a light blue gown that reminded her of the style back home. It was long and had puffy sleeves at the top, with longer, tapering sleeves down to the wrist. She put on all her undergarments, then buttoned the dress over it all, admiring the sheen of the gold buttons.

“Well, that’s a lovely choice,” Sarah remarked, looking beautiful in her own simple violet dress. “Brings out the blue in your eyes.”

“You look lovely as well,” Alice replied with a shy smile.

“Oh, stop it,” Sarah brushed off the compliment. “Now let’s get downstairs and see if Delbert’s found out anything from the constabulary.”

They ventured back down to the sitting room they’d been in before. A lovely tea had been set out in front of the fire, and Jim was already there, lounging on the couch in a simple white shirt and trousers.

Sarah collapsed into the armchair, just as Dr. Doppler entered the room again.

“I’ve just spoken with the constabulary,” he announced, stopping in front of Sarah. “Those blighted pirates vanished without a trace.”

Sarah’s contented expression slipped, and she hugged herself. Jim got up, grabbing the blanket off the back of the armchair and wrapping it around her shoulders as Dr. Doppler knelt beside her chair. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I’m afraid the old Benbow Inn has burned to the ground.”

Alice frowned as a heavy silence fell over the four of them. Jim opened his mouth, as if to speak, but thought better of it and dropped his hand back to his side.

Dr. Doppler handed Sarah and Alice both a cup of tea and cleared his throat as Jim walked away.

“Well. Certainly a lot of trouble over that odd little sphere,” Dr. Doppler mused.

Jim picked up the sphere, which was right where Alice had left it, on a side table flanked by books.

“Those markings baffle me,” the doctor went on. “Unlike anything I’ve ever encountered.”

Alice stepped closer to Jim, clutching the warm tea cup, watching curiously as he began to press in on the circular indentations in the metal. Something seemed to change—the indentations stayed in place, and Jim’s eyes lit up with curiosity. He exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Alice, then began spinning the contraption around the criss-crossing lines.

“Even with my vast experience and superior intellect,” Dr. Doppler continued, oblivious to what was happening, “it would take me years to unlock its…”

The golden contraption locked into place, then sent out a blaze of turquoise light, traveling up to the ceiling.

“Hey!” Dr. Doppler said indignantly, looking up from the tea pot.

Alice watched in awe as a latticework of blue lines fell across the entire room, and nebulous green clouds gave way to still images of planets, galaxies and stars, dotting the air all around them.

“How curious!” Alice exclaimed. “What on earth is it?”

“It’s… a map,” Dr. Doppler noted, standing in the midst of it. Sarah, too, had stood, gazing around with an open mouth.

“Wait. Wait, wait,” Dr. Doppler continued, peering intently at one planet in particular. “This is us! This is the planet Montressor.” He reached out and touched it, and the map began to move around them. Alice grasped a nearby armchair for support, nearly spilling her tea as her head spun. “And that’s the Magellanic Cloud!” He pointed out another wispy object as it floated past. “There’s the Coral Galaxy.” Alice watched as the image hit Jim’s chest, dissolving, then reappearing once it had moved past him. “There’s the Cygnus Cross, and Charybdis…”

They both turned, as something golden had appeared and was moving towards them, standing out amongst all the greens.

“Wait. What’s this, what’s this?” Dr. Doppler adjusted his spectacles, peering at the object.

Jim’s eyes widened as he took in the golden planet, crossed with two interlocking rings.

“It’s..it’s…” The doctor seemed at a loss for words.

“It’s Treasure Planet.” Jim’s voice was a whisper.

“No…” Dr. Doppler gaped, an incredulous grin on his face.

“That’s Treasure Planet!” Jim repeated louder, grinning like a madman.

“What’s Treasure Planet?” Alice asked, entranced by the little planet in front of her.

“Flint’s Trove? The loot of a thousand worlds?” Dr. Doppler waved his arms emphatically as he elaborated the point. “Do you know what this means?”

“It means,” Jim explained, his blue eyes alight with wonder as he looked at the map in his hand, “all that treasure is only a boat ride away.”

“Whoever brings it back would hold an eternal place among the pantheon of explorers,” Dr. Doppler announced, his face radiant with hope. “He’d be able to experience—“

Suddenly, the map’s images retreated, and the flickering flame of the fireplace could be seen again, filling the room with a warm light.

“Wha- What just happened?” Dr. Doppler blinked in confusion.

“Mom, this is it.” Jim crossed the room to Sarah. “This is the answer to all our problems.”

“Jim,” Sarah protested, “there is absolutely no way—“

“Don’t you remember?” Jim interrupted. “All those stories?”

Sarah closed her eyes, battling her frustration. “That’s all they were. Stories!”

“With that treasure,” Jim asserted, his arms gesturing wildly as he talked, “we could rebuild the Benbow a hundred times over.”

“And,” Alice put in, tapping her chin as she thought, “we might find my home along the way.”

Jim gestured at Alice. “See? We have to take her home, too.”

“You stay out of this, young lady,” Sarah scolded Alice. “This is…” Sarah put a hand to her forehead, fumbling for words. “It’s just.” She let out a humorless laugh, turning to Dr. Doppler. “Delbert, would you please explain to them how ridiculous this is?”

Dr. Doppler tugged his jacket officiously. “It’s totally preposterous, letting two teenagers traverse the entire galaxy alone.”

Jim scowled, and Alice frowned as Sarah nodded in satisfaction.
“Now at last,” Sarah declared, “we hear some sense.”

“That’s why I’m going with you.” Dr. Doppler pulled out a carpet bag and plopped it on the ground at his feet.

Sarah gaped at him. “Delbert!”

“I’ll use my savings to finance the expedition.” Dr. Doppler rushed about while he threw things into his bag. Jim and Alice exchanged excited glances. “I’ll commission a ship, hire a captain and a crew—“

“You’re not serious.” Sarah glared up at Dr. Doppler as he climbed to the top of a pile of books, grabbing an object from the very top and throwing it in the bag.

“All my life, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this, and here it is screaming!” The doctor slid down the stack of books, opened his arms, then began an awkward dance. “Go Delbert! Go Delbert! Go-“

“Okay, okay!” Sarah shouted, putting her hands on her hips. “All three of you are grounded!”

Alice and Jim stifled a snort of laughter.

Dr. Doppler rubbed his toe sheepishly into the ground.

And Sarah stood still, her blue eyes tired and sad.

“Mom, look.” Jim heaved a sigh. “I know that I keep messing everything up. And I know….” He took in another deep breath, struggling to keep going. “That I let you down.”

Alice listened closely, studying Jim’s guilt-ridden blue eyes. Sarah, too, turned toward him with a look of surprise.

“But this is my chance to make it up to you,” Jim continued. He gazed at Sarah earnestly. “I’m gonna set things right.”

Sarah’s look softened, and she opened her mouth to respond.

“Sarah?” Dr. Doppler pulled her aside. “If I may.”

Jim and Alice waited awkwardly while Dr. Doppler talked quietly with Sarah. Alice wanted to reach out to him, to let him know he wasn’t a failure. But what did she really know about Jim, after all? She’d known him less than 24 hours.

But somewhere, deep in her gut, she knew there was something special about Jim, something extraordinary.

Sarah turned back to Jim, and mother and son exchanged meaningful looks.
Sarah sighed, brushing Jim’s hair out of his eyes. “Jim. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Mom.” Jim reached up, clasping Sarah’s hand between his. “You won’t. I’ll make you proud.”

Alice felt a deep warmth well up in her heart, and she smiled as Sarah slowly smiled at Jim, her eyes alight with a fierce, motherly affection.

“Well.” Dr. Doppler cleared his throat softly, coming to stand between Sarah and Jim. “There we are, then.” He hurried to the window, his big eyes lighting up with excitement. “We’ll begin preparations at once.”

Alice looked out the window, to the fuzzy shape of the crescent moon she’d seen just before the crash.

“Jim, my boy, Alice, dear girl…soon, we’ll be off to the spaceport.” He gestured dramatically towards the moon, and Jim and Alice exchanged wondering looks.

They were going to Treasure Planet after all.


AlyCatAuthor