Jack put his wand back to his pack, then he and Anne chargedback to lab with Henry behind them. The three of them came backupstairs, when they stepped out to the top deck, they heard thesailors still shouting and yelling. Jack and Anne raised across thedeck,they pushed through the crowd until they got to the railing.
The octopods were still in the net. Bright red and hiding his head infear. The sailors gathered with weapons some were aiming him andpumps . others stood by with swords and knives, some pointedpistols.
Stop! Cried Anne.
Stand back. the captain yelled at her.
You must brilliant up your life. Begged the professor. I beg you to letme exam it before you slay it, captain. But before the captain couldanswer, someone held hard plume on the creature, it missed andlanded on the water with a splash .
No! yelled Anne.
Listen to us. Jack yelled and slowed forward.
You have to yell the truth.
He stood up on the bottom of the round ship’s railing, so everyonecould hear him.
Don’t touch him. He shouted. He’s not going to hurt you, hedeserves to live peacefully in the sea. He’s a miracle of nature. Butno one was listening to Jack. No one even turned to look at him.
Stop. Hear us1 said Anne. We speak the truth. Leave him alone.
Remove the children. The captain roared again. Now!
Tommy and Joe grabbed Jack and Anne.
Let him go ! we have to talk to them. Yelled Anne kicking andflailing.
She and Jack broke loose form the sailors,She is right. We have to hear the truth. Yelled Jack running towardthe railing.
He is ok, where we is, he is different from people. But it’s a miracle.
Again, no one seemed to hear them.
The magic is no working. Anne cried to Jack.
I know. Said Jack.
He was desperate, no one was hearing the truth,What was wrong.
?
He and Anne had followed the rules, they had tried to help others,not themselves, they had tried their hardest first and Jack had usedonly five words.
Look! A sailor shred. Look at the monster.
Jack and anew looked back at the water, the giant octopods haduncovered its head and raised out of the water,Le..rrrr.....the sound was breathy. And whispery and as if camefrom the wind. The member of the crew lowed their weapons andstepped back and all.
It, it speaks. Shouted the sailor.
Me....e....
The soundwas wild and shrill. As if came from the deep forest.
Go......
The sound was hollow and haunted. As if came from the ancientgun, or bell, or dorm.
Ho.....me....
The sound was bearably and sad. As if came from the heart of theocean.
I ....am...no.. monster....
Theoctopods fell back to the water, all the seamen and scientistsstared and wondered with terror, then Anne’s voice shred thesilence.
Did you hear him? He said: let me go home. I am no monster.
The crew looked at each other and shock,That what he said,I heard it. One man said. heard it with my ownears.
I heard it too. Said the other.
Me too. Said the other.
It’s a sign. Said the sailor. We can't hurt him, or other like him. Saidthe other.
All eyes turned to the captain, he stood still for a moment, staringdown on the giant octopods and the net, the captain looked at theprofessor, the professor seemed stunt, he opened his mouth, butno words came out . the captain looked at Jack and Anne,Please hear him. Anne said. he told you the truth.
The captain stared at the octopods, for a long moment, then heraised his hand,Free him. He said softly.
The sailors slowly pulled down their hard plums, access pistols andrifles, and ropes.
Sir, I request permission to cut the creature from the net. Henrysaid to captain.
The captain nodded.
Permission granted, Mr. Moseley. Said the captain.
Help me, Henry said to Jack and Anne.
Sure. Said Jack,We will come to mate. Said Joe.
Joe and Tommy hurried after Jack and Anne, to roll the small boatsfrom the deck. The sailors lowed one of the boats down on thesurface of the water. Then Jack, Anne, Joe , Tommy and Henry allclimbed down the ladder side by side. Everyone watched from thedeck, Joe and Tommy rowed along the side of the ship until theycame tothe spot to the giant octopods trapped. The two sailorsheld the bows steady with their oars.
Grab the net. Henry said to Jack and Anne.
Jack reached out and grabbed the corner of the net, Anne helpthem pull it out of the water. Henry used big knife, to slash throughthe thick rope strings . even though the rowboat rowed violently,Jack didn’t feel sick at all.
Jack Anne and Henry pulled the ton night into the small boat. Jackkept staring at the octopods, he looked back at all of them with hisgreat eyes. His tentacles spread about him like a giant flower. Hisfat shrill color changed back to grey.
Goodbye, you. Anne said softly . and go home now.
The octopods left two of the tentacles as if to wave goodbye. Thenit slip under the surface of the water and vanished. |