Rick had seen the Hindu boy dance into sight on the stern of the boat, then lunge behind the pilot house again, a long knife in his hand.
The three pounded down the dock and leaped aboard, then stopped short at the sight on the stern. Chahda had suspended a large bunch of bananas from a convenient hook and was methodically slicing it to pieces with a long Moro knife in each hand.
Rick exploded, "What in the name of an Indian idiot are you doing?"
Chahda paused in his dancing attack to welcome them aboard with a grin.
"I get in shape. You like my weapons?"
Rick and the others examined them with considerable interest. One was a barong, with a heavy blade about two feet long. The blade curved along the bottom, or cutting edge, but was nearly straight along the top, which was nearly a quarter of an inch thick. The second weapon was a kris, about the same length, but with two cutting edges, both of which were wavy in typical kris fashion. The kris was more swordlike, but it was a cutting weapon not used for stabbing.
Chahda proceeded to give a demonstration, a blade in each hand. Rick was amazed to see that he used both hands equally well.
"Why all the sudden interest in weapons?" Rick asked.
Chahda sent the remainder of the bananas flying with one cut. "We go after scientists, yes? We find them, too. But, Rick, don"t think we get them back without one big fight!"
CHAPTER X
South of Sulu
The _Swift Arrow_ rounded the western end of Jolo and headed south toward the Tapul islands. On the south side of the group was the island of Siasi where Zircon planned to top off the fuel tanks and check in with the constabulary again.
The four set up watches, two to a watch, four hours at a stretch. They settled down to a long search. At Siasi they would be at the center of the Sulu Archipelago, and would leave the Sulu Sea behind and enter the Celebes Sea. The sun blazed down from nearly overhead at noon until the caulking in the deck bubbled and the sea seemed to steam. They were less than six degrees above the Equator now.
Vintas dotted the waters close to the islands, but they were apparently peaceful Samal fishermen. There was no sign of a pirate fleet.
"I doubt that the pirates will bother us in these waters," Zircon remarked. "Too close to islands with civilization on them. We can look for trouble in the more open waters to the south."
"They bothered us close to Zamboanga," Rick pointed out.
"True. However, I suspect it was simply a quick try at getting us before we were well under way. I"m rather flattered, as a matter of fact. Of course they know what we"re after. It was in the Manila papers. But they must realize we won"t quit until we find Tony and Howard, and they must be afraid we"ll succeed. Otherwise, why attack us?"
Rick saw the sense of Zircon"s reasoning. "Then this mysterious island may not be hard to find, at least for anyone who"s really determined."
"That"s my guess. Anyway, I think we may be attacked when we accidentally start toward their base. And it will be an accident, since we have no clues."
At Siasi the constabulary had no further information of value, except that the government was showing deep interest and concern about the pirates. The searchers topped off the fuel and water tanks, and anch.o.r.ed for the night in the protected harbor. At dawn they hauled anchor and rounded Siasi.
Zircon laid a course that took them south-south-west toward the Kinapusan Islands and cautioned all hands to be on the alert. By noon they had crossed Taapan Pa.s.sage.
Chahda and Rick were in the galley, cooking hamburgers for lunch. Chahda was explaining the technique of using the Moro blades.
"Must remember, knife is not just a thing. Is part of your arm. Is sharp part that just makes arm longer. You no swing knife. You swing arm, like trying to cut with end of finger. Okay?"
"I get it," Rick agreed. "Don"t think of the knife as something separate. Think of it as part of your own body."
"Yes," Chahda a.s.sented. "Next, balancing of knife is important. If is good, is like part of you. If is bad, can never be part of you. Moro knives well-balanced. You see..."
Chahda never got a chance to finish.
"All hands on deck! Pirates!" Scotty yelled.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "_All hands on deck! Pirates!_"]
Rick and Chahda piled out of the galley at top speed, Rick grabbing Shannon"s quiver from its hook as he pa.s.sed. He quickly put the bow together and strung it, then swung the quiver to his back as he reached the deck.
Ahead was a line of vintas, already curving in an arc to trap them. Rick glanced behind and saw that other Moro craft were closing in. They would be surrounded this time, unless they chose to give up their pretense of a crippled engine.
"Chahda!" Scotty called. "Take the wheel so I can use my rifle."
The Hindu boy checked to be sure his knives were at hand, then took over from Scotty, who laid out extra clips and got ready to fire.
Zircon had extra clips for his pistol close at hand. He was watching the vintas through the long gla.s.s.
Rick put on his arm guard and finger protectors. Since the vintas were still out of bowshot he took a moment to beeswax his string. Then he took a small broadhead arrow from the quiver, nocked it, and drew a few times to unlimber his muscles, being careful not to let the string snap out of his fingers.
"What now?" he asked.
"We"ll go straight ahead," Zircon answered. "Chahda, use nearly full speed on one engine. Have the second engine idling, but don"t use it unless we get into serious trouble. Notice that the vintas ahead of us are running before the wind? If we can get through the line we"ll have the weather gauge of them. In other words, they"ll have to tack with the wind against them. We"ll be able to get free easily on one engine."
Scotty pointed to a gap between a vinta with a solid purple sail and one with blue-and-white stripes. "There"s a hole to go through, Chahda."
Rick saw that the vintas ahead were closing in. The Moro craft would be two deep by the time the MTB reached them. He loosened his quiver and made sure the arrows were free. He might have to shoot pretty fast.
His senses were unnaturally alert. The water was bluer than blue and the small patches of fair-weather clouds seemed brilliantly white. The sails on the Moro craft were gaudy, their crews properly fierce and picturesque. He was detached from the reality of the scene, as though this were some movie he was watching.
Zircon brought him back to reality with a jolt. "Pick off the helmsmen first!"
Rick could hear yells now, as the Moros saw that the _Swift Arrow_ was almost within reach. He ran to the foredeck and knelt on one knee, arrow nocked and ready. Scotty climbed to the top of the pilothouse and lay p.r.o.ne, rifle thrust out.
The pirate yells were louder now, and some Moros brandished barongs or krises while others waved rifles. Rick suppressed a shudder. If the pirates got on board with those knives ...
The pirate fleet opened fire. A slug whined off a ventilator cowl a foot from Rick"s head, but he forced himself to wait. It was still a little far for bow shooting. It was not too far for Scotty, however. Rick heard the sharp crack of his pal"s rifle, and saw a Moro helmsman slump over in the nearest vinta. The craft sheered off. Another Moro jumped to take the helmsman"s place and Scotty"s second shot splintered the rudder handle in his hands.
A vinta closed to within twenty yards, an easy bowshot. Rick mentally timed the rise and fall of the craft on the swell. Then, as it broached slightly, he had a clear shot at the helmsman. Kneeling, he drew swiftly and loosed. The shaft caught the Moro in the hollow of the shoulder and pinned him back against the stern transom.
Rick reached for another arrow in the smooth rhythm Shannon had taught him, but the rhythm was abruptly shattered by a sudden blast almost in his ear! He whirled swiftly to meet the new threat, just in time to see Zircon open the breech of the saluting cannon and extract a smoking sh.e.l.l.
For an instant Rick wondered if the scientist had taken leave of his senses. He saw Zircon ram home a blank cartridge and close the breech.
Then, suddenly, the action made sense to Rick. For Zircon upended the cannon muzzle and poured in a box of tacks!
The scientist depressed the muzzle, sighted calmly, and pulled the lanyard. A swath of tacks spewed into the bow of the nearest vinta bringing a chorus of pirate yells. The craft swerved away.
Shouting with delight at the scientist"s ingenuity, Rick jumped to Zircon"s side. Working together, they fired box after box of tacks, and saw the vintas slowly clear the way.