The funeral pyre was lit and the long boat containing Spooky's body was set
set adrift in the seas on time on its journey to Valhalla, as it
disappeared from sight a rainbow appeared in the the sky.
Later aboard ship Topcat looked over all the nice guestbook entries
and email all of our critter friends had sent us. There was even one from
our little friend the Sardine but attached to it was an entreaty from the
people of Atlantis they needed our help.
Topcat deleted the email without reply.
"Hey we have to help them after all that darn fish did help us several
times." Panther said.
"You are supposed to be the practical one Panther. We need Spooky here
to help us. Besides which our ship the Catavenger is in desperate need of
repairs and here we are stuck in dry-dock, (in Portsmouth England in the
year 1836) they won't do anymore repairs until we pay what we already
owe. " Topcat replied.
"If only I knew where Spooky had hidden those diamonds, I found
misplaced in the coal bin." Panther said referring to our holiday
adventures.
Several weeks later things had gone from bad to worst we received
word that our canine friend Asia had passed away, she had been a good dog
and of course a great help to us in defeating the Gorgons.
Thus downhearted we retired to bed. Later that night Topcat awoke; the
whole ship was shaking and bucking as if we were in a storm. This was
impossible as the ship was safely in port at dry dock. Topcat got up to
investigate, blocking the door was a great black presence, the spirit of
Spooky.
"Shame on you for not helping that fish."
"But we cannot go on without you Spooky we need your knowledge,
courage, and skill. Not to mention that bag of diamonds you hid. We could
really use those to pay for our repairs and provisions." Topcat replied.
"Pay for repairs and provisions! Hah what kind of pirate are you
Topcat? The eighth commandment was never made for cats. You sound as lily
liveried as that human Shel!"
With that remark Spooky winked at me as I peeked out from under the
covers trembling in fear. She then vanished in shower of rainbow sparkles.
Strangely enough as she disappeared we heard the "woof" of a great dog!
"Was that a g...g...ghost!" Said I, Shel trembling in terror. "Yes that
was Spooky's spirit; she never hurt you when she was alive why should you
fear her now? " Said Topcat rhetorically. As we went to find Panther and
tell her the news I passed the spot Spooky had appeared upon. I hurt my
foot by stepping on one of the "sparkles" a very large well cut diamond.
We found Panther in the galley trying to pick the lock to the
pantry. She was muttering; "...wish Spooky was here, I never could figure
this out, guess I will just break it down."
Topcat halted her. "Before you go breaking down doors and eating the
last hundred pounds of salt pork for your midnight snack, listen to our
news. I saw Spooky's ghost with my own one eye, Shel did too and he found
a little something she left us" Topcat showed Panther the diamond.
Panther quickly retrieved a jeweler's loupe. "Why this is worth easily
fifty thousand pounds sterling in this year and place, that should be
enough to pay the amount we owe and the additional
expenses of repairs." She calculated: "Spooky of course was better at
this but, I believe after paying for our repairs and other provisions we
should have around thirty thousand pounds for food, that's enough for me,
don't know about the rest of the crew." Panther laughed for the first time
since Spooky's demise.
The next morning Panther had the diamond officially appraised by a
jeweler. Topcat showed that document and the stone to the owner of the
dock. He locked it in his safe as pledge against our debt, the repair and
re-provisioning of the Ship resumed.
The work upon the ship was quickly completed and provisions laid in.
Late one dark night the ship covertly slipped out of the dock and drifted
away Topcat at the helm.
"Why are we sneaking out the dock owner has the jewel as pledge against
your debts." I naively asked.
"The dock owner had the diamond you mean!" Panther laughed and held up
the stone. "One does not need Spooky's skills to open a simple nineteenth
century safe."
As I looked on flabbergasted, Topcat grimly spoke " I have need for the
money that stone will bring." The ship sailed off into the night.
