Rattle The Stars

Chapter Thirteen: Silver's Secret

Alice woke well before the crew call the next morning. She stretched and smiled. She’d dreamed of the meteor shower, and the ride through the comet’s tail…and of Jim’s eyes, full of wonder and life, gazing at her with a confidence she’d never seen in him before as he navigated the skiff through the icy trail.

She still hadn’t quite made up her mind about what she thought of him. She’d not known him very long, after all, and it was always considered improper to judge someone’s character based on such limited interactions.

Still, her heart had gotten ahead of her, just like always. It yearned to go explore the deck, go climb the riggings, hoping to find him there and get lost in the wonders of the galaxy they sailed through.

Besides, Silver had been right after all. Jim was slowly gaining a deep, healthy glow of pride, taking over what used to be boyish bluster and swagger. And the more he learned, the more he expressed who he truly was…the more Alice fell for him, even against the prim and polite upbringing that had been beaten into her head since babyhood.

She got herself dressed but left her hair free to spiral over her shoulders, calling to mind what Jim had told her last night. It reminded her of her girlhood, of being in Wonderland, before she’d had to worry about proper hairstyles for young women or the right length of gown, or the right color to suit her eyes.

Tiptoeing across the wooden floor of her tiny quarters, she crept through the captain’s room and out onto the deck. There was an hour or so yet before Captain Amelia would wake and call for her morning pot of tea.

The deck was lifeless, sparkling dimly in the light of the stars and nebulas they passed. Alice sighed, a bit disappointed. Still, the silence and wide open air weren’t unfriendly, and she leaned over the side of the ship to gaze into the heavens.

“Morning!” A sweet, high-pitched little voice startled Alice momentarily. “Clever little thing.” Morphy burbled in front of her face, rubbing his little eyes.

“Well, hello.” Alice let Morphy rest in her palms and stroked his gelatinous head. “You’re up early.”

“You’re up early,” he parroted back to her. “Where’s the pup?”

“Pup?” Alice tilted her head. “There aren’t any dogs on board this ship.”

“No.” Morphy lifted himself from Alice’s hands, then formed into a replica of Jim. “Pup!”

“Oh, I see. You call him pup.” Alice giggled. “Odd name for a young man.”

“I’ll find him.” Morphy giggled.

“No, no, that won’t be necessary,” Alice insisted, trying to clasp Morph between her hands. “It’s very early. You’ll wake the whole ship!”

“Just watch.” Morphy slipped out of her fingers and zipped below deck before she could catch him.

“Oh, dear.” Alice fiddled nervously with her hands. “He’ll be so angry.”

*

Something wet nudged Jim’s arm, and he rolled over, half-asleep. The alien in the hammock above him turned, too, and let out a horrendous-smelling fart from one of his many orifices.

“Ugh.” Jim fanned the air, his eyes still closed and crusted with grit. “Come on, man.”

A bubbling, soft purr sounded near Jim’s ear, and he opened one heavy eyelid.

Morph stared back at him, eyes big as purps, and gave an open-mouthed smile.

“Morph?” Jim whispered as he rubbed his eyes. “What’re you doing?”

The little blob circled around his face, giggling softly, and Jim rolled his eyes. “Come on, Morph. It’s too early for this.”

“Coffee,” Morph burbled. “Lass.” He took the form of Alice, and Jim raised an eyebrow.

“You want me to make coffee for Alice?” He rubbed his hands down his face. “You should be asleep…and so should she.”

Morph just laughed, then took the form of Jim’s boot and swung at his rear end.
“Hey!” Jim couldn’t help but laugh. “Come here, you little squid.”

“You little squid!” Morph echoed as he dissolved into multiple little bubbles to evade Jim’s grasp.

Jim sighed, then got up, pulled on a clean shirt and tucked it in. He slipped his feet into his boots and stood.

Morph zipped around his face, then headed up the stairs with a trill of glee.

“Alright. You win, you little snot bubble.” He ran his fingers through his hair to tidy it, then traipsed groggily up the stairs, following Morph out onto the deck.

Sure enough, a trail of long, blonde hair stood out against the darkness, near the edge of the ship. He grinned, just a bit. She’d taken his advice about her hair.

Morph sped over to Alice and bubbled up around her face. He heard her tinkling laugh, but as she turned towards Jim, her smile faded.

“Oh, dear. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—“ She put her hands on her hips and glared at Morph. “Morphy! I told you not to wake him!”

Morph pouted and made a pitiful whining noise, and her blue eyes softened.

“Hey, it’s alright,” Jim chuckled. “Mr. Farts a Lot was kinda gassy this morning anyway.”

Alice grimaced. “That sounds terribly unpleasant.” She smiled as he joined her at the edge of the ship. “I just couldn’t sleep, and Morph found me and asked where you were. I tried to stop him from waking you, but he was too quick.” Alice shook her head. “Did you know he calls you pup?”

Jim snorted. “That’s what Silver called me, the first time he asked Morph to keep an eye on me.” He rolled his eyes. “He calls you lass, by the way.”

Alice laughed. “Well, of course. That’s what Silver calls me.” She petted Morph as he snuggled up next to her cheek. “You’re just a little parrot, aren’t you?”

“A little parrot!” Morph took the form of a colorful bird and swooped around both their heads.

“Well. I guess since we’re up, we ought to have some coffee,” Jim offered.

“I’ve never been allowed to have it,” Alice admitted. She rolled her eyes. “Apparently it’s not a lady’s drink.”

“Well, when you’re up an hour before crew call on a ship in the middle of the galaxy, it’s everybody’s drink.” Jim offered his arm. “Come on. I’ll make some for you.”

Alice grinned shyly and took his arm. “Well. Alright.”

*

Jim led her down the galley steps, then got to work. Alice watched with interest as he filled a great kettle with water, then started scooping something dark and gritty into a huge metal contraption.

“Is there something I could help with?” Alice asked.

Jim shook his head. “Nah. I do this every morning for the whole crew. I’ll just make it a little early today, and we’ll have the freshest cups out of the whole brew.”

“Is coffee something you can have cream and sugar with?” Alice pressed. “Most of the men back in England drink it with nothing.”

“Sure, if you don’t mind risking Silver yelling at you for using it all up,” Jim snarked. “But if you’ve never had it before, I might actually suggest the cream and sugar. It’ll soften it up a bit.” He winked at her. “You know. For your girly sensibilities.”

Alice rolled her eyes and went to the icebox. The metal contraption began to steam, and as she set out the cream and sugar, Jim dispensed some of the dark liquid into two mugs, then brought them over to one of the tables.

“Here you go, Miss Tea Cozy.” Jim slid the mug across the table to her, then took a gulp of his own steaming brew. “Ah. That’s good stuff.”

Alice sniffed. The aroma was quite pleasant, though much stronger than any tea she’d had. She dumped in a bit of cream and sugar and stirred with a rugged metal spoon Jim handed her.

Then she sipped…and blinked in wonder.
“My…this is quite good.” She took another drink and let its warmth rush through her, along with the hearty flavor that seemed to wake something in her soul. “Why don’t they let ladies drink this? It’s incredible.”

Jim laughed. “You’ll have to give them an earful back home, huh?”

“Certainly.” Alice furrowed her brows. “It’s not fair to keep the best things to themselves. Not that tea isn’t still very good, of course,” she added, noting Jim’s smirk of triumph.

“Oh, of course, Miss Tea Cozy. Or should I start calling you the Coffee Queen?”

Alice scoffed. “Oh, nonsense. I don’t even know how to make it.”

“I could teach you.” Jim’s eyes were lit up with a bit of the same confidence she’d seen in him yesterday.

“I’d like that very much,” she replied as she reached for her coffee. But as she lifted the mug, it dissolved into a pink, gelatinous mess, and she gave a little squeal of surprise as Morph burst into laughter.

“Oh, Morphy!” She scolded. “You are a naughty little blob.”

Morph blew a raspberry in her face and swiped her scarf out of her hair, then laughed and zipped away.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Alice got to her feet and hurried after Morph. Jim followed suit.

“You get me up to make coffee, and then you won’t even let us enjoy it in peace.” Jim clambered up onto one of the tables and took a swipe at Morph.

Morph dove at Alice, forcing her to duck, then led them on a wild chase around the galley. He zipped into the pantry and closed the door behind him with a thump.

“Give me my scarf, you little heathen!” Alice barged into the room.

Morph squealed and zipped toward the door, but Jim caught her scarf and began a game of tug of war. Alice joined him, and together they pulled against Morph.

“He’s surprisingly strong,” Alice remarked with a laugh as the little blob gave it his all.

“We’ve got you now!” Jim grunted.

“Got you now!” Morph echoed shrilly. But his little eyes widened abruptly, and he let go and zipped out of the pantry.

“Whoa!” Alice lost her balance and toppled backwards.

Jim did, too, and his back hit the pantry door and closed it with a loud bang. She fell against him, and soon they were both on the floor, shaking with laughter.

“So sorry!” Alice squeaked past her laughter.

“That little snot bubble did that on purpose.” Jim got to his feet, then reached down and pulled her up with him.

“I think you’re right.” Alice shook her hair out of her eyes.

“Here. I guess you need this.” Jim handed her the scarf, and she took it and busied herself with her hair. As she worked, she was painfully aware of his eyes on her, and of the fact that they were alone in this little room.

Her cheeks flushed against her will as she struggled with the knot on her bow. How she wished he would quit staring at her like that.

“Here. Let me help.” Jim stepped close to her and knotted her bow. “It’s probably not as nice as how you do it, but it’ll stay put, at least.”

Alice gave him a shy, grateful smile. “Thank you.”

His blue eyes twinkled as he gazed back at her. “No problem.”

She found herself drawn in, mesmerized, almost, by the look of tenderness in his eyes. He took a step closer to her, and the atmosphere between them shifted. It was a tension, a magical one, one Alice didn’t want to break.

A fleeting thought, that perhaps she was standing far too close to this young man, passed through her mind, but it soon faded as he began to lean in, and as his blue eyes flicked down to her lips.

Alice’s breath caught in her throat as he reached for her hands.

“Alice?” He whispered.

“Yes?” Her voice was shaking.

He gazed at her another long moment, as if debating, and Alice waited, hardly daring to breathe. This was as close as she’d ever dared come to kissing a boy, and it felt thrilling and dangerous… like soaring through a comet tail.

A loud, grumbling voice from the galley filtered in through the closed pantry door, and they exchanged wary glances, the spell between them broken.

Jim frowned, glancing into her eyes one more time with a look between longing and disappointment. Then he let go of her hands and jerked his head towards the door.
Alice followed him, crestfallen, and they both pressed their ears against the wooden door.

“I’ll say what’s to say!” Alice heard Silver’s bellowing voice, more snarled and rough than she’d ever heard it. “Disobey my orders again, like that stunt you pulled with Mr. Arrow…and so help me, you’ll be joining him!” His words were punctuated by a loud thump as he presumably hit the table—or Mr. Scroop.

Jim glanced at Alice. “Stunt..with Mr. Arrow?” His blue eyes lit up in realization.

“I tried to tell you,” Alice whispered. She put a hand on Jim’s shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“So that’s why he was threatening you,” Jim growled low. “That lowlife spider psycho…”

“Strong talk,” they heard Scroop hiss. “But I know otherwise."

“You got something to say, Scroop?” Silver retorted.

“It’s that cabin boy…and the captain’s favorite. Me thinks…you have a soft spot for them.”

“Yeah!” The other crew members joined in and voiced their complaints.

“Now mark me, the lot of ya!” Silver’s piercing voice silenced the crew. “I care about one thing, and one thing only! Flint’s trove. You think I’d risk it all for the sake of some nose-wiping, meddling little whelps?”

Jim’s eyes widened as if he’d been slapped. He and Alice exchanged pained glances.

“Oh, dear,” Alice whispered, her voice breaking.

“What was it now?” Scroop put in, his voice turning into a mocking lilt. “Oh, you got the makings of greatness in ya…” The crew burst into boisterous laughter, and Jim’s expression morphed from pained to furious.

“Shut your yap!” Silver bellowed. “I cozied up to those kids to keep them off our scent. But I ain’t gone soft.” The last words were a defiant challenge.

A whistle sounded somewhere above deck, and the crew burst into animated cheers.

“They’ve found land!” Announced one of the crew. There was a noise like a stampede as they ascended the galley steps, and then the galley fell silent.

Jim pressed his hand to the door, angry tears welling in his blue eyes.

“This is awful. Simply awful.” Alice mopped at her own eyes with the end of her scarf.

“They’re pirates,” Jim whispered. “Filthy, treasure-stealing pirates. That means…we’re in danger.”

“So is the captain, and Dr. Doppler.” Alice’s breath caught in her throat. “What are we to do?”

“There’s a longboat. The one we took to ride the comet.” Jim’s eyes flashed with determination. “We gotta tell the captain, and then we have to get the four of us on that boat.” He hurried to his feet and pulled her up with him. “Because if they found land, that means…they found Treasure Planet.”

“And if they found Treasure Planet…” Alice trailed off as Jim met her gaze with a sober nod.

“We’re no longer needed.”


AlyCatAuthor