would crack with static interference. But today, the connection between Monpetit and his Space Ark appeared to be good. From his geosynchronous orbit hundreds of kilometres above the earth, the admiral had strapped himself into his seat for the early-morning conversation with his family. He frowned at the image of his little son projected on his laptop screen – Pip was now trying to insert the sticky banana into Mutt’s ear.
“Abraham, I have to discuss something with you.” Sabatina shot an anxious glance at the two children, and her husband immediately understood that she didn’t want them to hear what it was.
“That’s fine, my dear, we’ll have time a bit later. First, kids, tell me what you are planning today. How’s life on your glorious island?”
Pip merely glanced at his father before continuing his experiments with Mutt and the banana. He had never actually met his father face to face, and these virtual visits didn’t mean much to him – Pip couldn’t throw a ball or play with a father who was so far away.
Over her fruit salad, Anna was smiling at the screen. Her heart beat a bit faster every time her dad’s face appeared. Today she was burning to show him the dagger, but she knew she couldn’t until she’d shared her secret with her mother.
Luckily, Max suddenly addressed Sabatina: “Professor, I thinks you must better comes down to the lab. There be some developments over the South Pacific that you needs sees.”
“Thank you, Max – I’ll be down immediately. Darling,” she addressed the plasma screen, “I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as possible. Please try to maintain your connection – I think something important is happening, and I need your advice.” With that, she got up from the table, wiped her mouth with a napkin, threw it on the table and rushed out the back door.
Ton, who was hovering close by, obligingly gathered the dirty napkin and took it to the kitchen.
It was the chance Anna had been hoping for.
“Dad!” she quickly said. “Look what I found yesterday!” She held up the dagger to the video camera mounted in the screen, and turned it around slowly for his inspection.
Admiral Abraham Atom whistled softly through his beard. “Wow, Pumpkin, it looks like you have a real pirate artefact there! Tell me, where exactly did you find that?”
“Just behind the big mushroom coral on the south side of my slug garden, Dad. I found it in a sandy patch, with only the hilt sticking out. I’d never seen it before.”
“Yes, I’ve swam around that reef a thousand times and never noticed anything man-made either,” the admiral continued thoughtfully. “But you know that, over time, the sea can make things unrecognisable. The force of waves can break up and scatter the wrecks of sunken ships and their artefacts over large areas. Coral and seaweed covers everything and before you know it, it just disappears into the sea floor.”
“I want to go the archives today, Dad, to see if I can find some clues about where the dagger came from,” Anna said.
“Great idea! Ask Madame Savy to show you the register of old ships that have gone missing near our island.” Her dad paused, frowning. “Just show me that hilt again, Pumpkin. Hold it up close.”
Anna got up from her chair and walked to the screen. Her father’s bearded face grew bigger as he leant in for a better look. Anna longed just to touch him again, that for a moment she forgot her excitement about her treasure.
“The design on the hilt reminds me of a carving I once saw on a chest. Yes, I remember now: a chest in the hall of the Hodoul family’s house!’
Anna gasped.
She remembered her father’s stories about his best friend, Raymond Hodoul. They’d grown up together on the islands and had got into all kinds of mischief. The Hodoul family were direct descendants of the most famous pirate ever to cruise these waters. If the crest on the hilt of the dagger was that of Hodoul, it meant that dagger may have belonged to a real pirate!
“Keep calm, Pumpkin,” Anna’s dad laughed. “It is just a hunch. If I remember correctly, the archives have custody of Raymond’s great-grandfather’s diary. You may find something useful in it.”
Ton had quietly returned, and he coughed discreetly. It was already quarter past seven, and if he was to get Anna to school on time, there was no more time to lose.
The admiral instantly understood. “Off you go, my girl!” he said cheerfully, then called Anna back. “I take it your mother knows nothing about this dagger?”
“I will tell her, Dad, but …”
“Perhaps leave it for the moment, Pumpkin. Your mom seems to have a lot on her mind. Hop along, and see that I get some details tonight, right?”
“Of course, Dad. See you!” Anna grabbed her satchel from a chair and rushed after Ton.
Her father stared at the remains of his family’s breakfast projected on his screen. Pip was nowhere to be seen. He sighed and tapped a key in front of him.
The screen went blank.
Chapter 5
MAX HAS A CRUSH ON SOMEBODY … OR SOMETHING?
In cyberspace, a silent electronic conversation was taking place.
U6: Good morning, tin can. How are you coping with the earth’s gravity today?
Max: My sweet floating beauty, just because you be traipsing around in space, it be no need to looks down on Earthly intelligences. Nevertheless, it be sweet to hears from you again. What keeps you so busy that you has no time to talks to your poor old Max?
U6: Huff. While you’re playing solitaire with your software, my boss and I are trying to save the world. Not that it’s worth saving, with metal buckets like you stuck down there!
Max: Savings the world! My dear, our world seems solid and safes to me. It be you up there, pickings daisies amongst the stars that may needs some savings.
U6: Your Earth’s not safe at all. Have you checked your data? It’s a ticking time bomb. An ecological disaster. Your precious humans are ruining it with their greed – turning forests into deserts, and oceans into putrid ponds. Driving around in their funny little cars, consuming fuel and puffing poison into your delicate atmosphere! You’re living amongst hundreds of endangered species, not to mention the ones extinct already.
Max: You be right – this Earth be not healthy. But my family be doing their best to helps find a cure.
U6: Max, you’re such a fool. You can’t speak properly and you can’t think straight. Most advanced computer on Earth, my silicon chips! Sticking probes into ocean currents and monitoring wind speeds is not enough. Your “family” is doing nothing worthwhile.
Max: I has a good family, clever and kind. We does what we can.
U6: But it’s not enough, that’s what my boss says. He’s not sitting letting the earth rot away. He’s taking action!
Max:
