The pirates of Attersea 2/8

"My turn to wish," said Dave, "I always enjoy this bit. We want to go to the Th..Ther....Therd.....elchoo," he sneezed, "oh drat I hope they heard that alright at the Wish Warehouse."

"All O.K. Dad," said Jennifer Jane as they came out of the fog and into the sunshine. "Pope's yard broad on the starboard bow."

"Right then, let's load these guns and go round to the Club to give 'em a broadside."

He showed Mary and Jennifer Jane how to load each little cannon with a blank shotgun cartridge, then hardening up the sheets the lugger headed for Attersea Island.

"That's funny," said Jennifer Jane, "I can't see Barnacle Bill in his harbour."

"I expect he's gone somewhere on a trip," said Mary, "you can't expect him to be here every time you come this way."

Jennifer Jane had to agree and settled down to enjoy the sailing. Dave controlled the rudder and main sheet, while Jennifer Jane and her mother each had a jib sheet to look after. The mizzen sheet was fixed to a boomkin and looked after itself.

Jennifer Jane looked again at Attersea Island as they approached, but there was still no sign of Barnacle Bill. Then the lugger turned into the wind and started to beat towards the yacht club and she became too busy to think about it any more.

"Strange," said Dave, "very few boats on the moorings, there must be a big race on. I didn't think there were going to be any for at least another week."

He sailed in towards the shingle beach and luffed up head to wind.

"Fire," he shouted and each one of the family pulled two of the firing lanyards.

The guns banged out almost as one and a man on the bridge deck of the clubhouse jumped, then looked at them through binoculars. He ran down the steps and came down to the water's edge.

"Hello Dave," he said, "I could have sworn you were out there racing your new catamaran. It's the Beach End Buoy race today and I didn't think you'd want to miss that."

"Dad, Dad," whispered Jennifer Jane, "we're in the wrong world, he said catamaran and racing doesn't start until next week."

"Yes I know," said Dave. "Er...hello, we've just come round from Pope's yard and thought we'd give you a surprise, must be getting back now."

At her Father's command, Jennifer Jane backed her jib sheet and the lugger turned and began to run back the way it had come.

"Cheerio Dave," said the man on the beach, "cheerio Mary, Jenny," he called, looking even more puzzled as the saw the whole family engaged in sailing what he obviously considered to be a very ordinary little boat.

"Gosh that was a bit tricky," said Dave, as they sailed away from the shore "and he called you Jenny, that proves we're in the wrong world. I didn't think there was a wishing fog here."

"There wasn't when I was here last", said Jennifer Jane, "I suppose the witches must have provided one when they found the world existed. Of course, that's why I couldn't see Barnacle Bill," she added, "he lives in the fairy part of our world, while this is a human parallel world."

"Sounds a bit involved to me," said Dave, "but you're probably right, you've studied the books and should know what you're talking about."

An increasingly loud rushing noise made them look round as they neared Attersea Island. Rapidly coming up astern was third world Dave's catamaran. It passed them at about four times their own speed and a few seconds later there was a bang from the end of Attersea pier, which was being used as a finishing line. One or two other yachts were in sight but still a long way astern.

Dave turned south into Attersea Creek with a sigh of relief. He didn't want to get involved again with his double's family and was a bit worried that the wishing fog might not be there for the journey home. However all was well and the lugger sailed past Pope's yard and entered the fog.

"I'll count to ten and then head north again," said Dave, "it's your turn to wish, Jennifer Jane."

Everything went according to plan.

"North," called Dave, watching the compass as he turned the boat.

"Therdle please," said Jennifer Jane and a few seconds later the lugger was once again sailing in the sunshine.