Excerpt
The next morning he was up with the first light. His thoughts were on the map and the secrets it held. Seeing no sign of Jake or the Captain, he jumped out of his hammock and ran over to the table. Unrolling the map, he began to examine it closely, looking for any sign of its origin or what it was made for. He noticed there was some writing near one corner, writing that he swore had not been there the first time he had looked at the map. Upon examining it, he read the words:
From tree to tree I want to leap,
or fly up higher still;
but down on earth you’ll find me now,
upon a window sill.
“What does this mean?” Jimmy asked himself out loud. “This is really curious, as Jake or the Captain would say.”
Looking further at the map he saw areas of trees, streams, mountains, oceans and islands.
“Hmmm,” he said to himself thoughtfully. “From tree to tree I want to leap.
That could mean the forest area. The other part, “find me now upon a window sill,” could mean a house or cottage.”
But what was it talking about, he wondered? It must have some hidden meaning.
All of a sudden the door opened and in walked Captain Flynn, with Jake perched on his shoulder. He stopped when he saw Jimmy leaning over the table and reading the map.
Jimmy reacted quickly by standing upright and backing away from the table.
He started to apologize, but the Captain held up a hand and said, “Don’t worry, young Jim, no harm done. There are no hidden secrets here on the Raven. We’re all equal and everyone takes part in feast or famine. Continue on.”
Jimmy relaxed somewhat and approached the map on the table once more.
“Have you made any discoveries regarding the map?” asked the Captain with a puzzled look on his face.
“Yes, Captain, I think I have,” Jimmy replied enthusiastically. “A few anyway. There’s a rhyme that just appeared on the map and I think I know what it means.”
After reading the rhyme to Jake and the Captain, Jimmy stated, “I think it means there’s something that flies and it’s in a house or someplace like that.”
“Bravo, Master Jim,” replied the Captain clapping his hands together. “I believe you are right.”
“What now?” continued Captain Flynn, looking steadfastly at Jim.
“I think I know what to do,” Jimmy stated as he maneuvered himself around the table. “Can I test something, with your permission of course?”
“By all means, Jim, please press forward,” the Captain said, encouraging him thoughtfully. “How can I help?”
“Do you have any money, like a coin or something?” inquired Jimmy.
The Captain reached deep into the pocket of his breeches and, after fiddling for a moment, produced a coin, which he promptly handed to him. Jimmy took a moment to look down at the coin he held in his hand and stared at it in wonderment. It was a gold doubloon.
“Is this real?” he asked astonishingly.
“Most certainly it is real,” piped in Jake sarcastically. “What do you think we do around here, steal fake gold for profit?”
“No,” Jimmy stuttered, a bit embarrassed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Don’t worry, young Jim,” laughed the Captain. “Jake needs to remember his manners and not be such a swab.”
Jake, for his part, folded his wings across his chest, turned his head, and stopped talking.
Jimmy could tell that the Captain and Jake were intrigued by the discoveries he had made thus far and that made him feel good.
Jimmy looked at the map intently. Then, taking the coin, he placed it over the map and dropped it onto an area that looked like a desert. Instantly a huge flash, like lightening, emanated from the map, filling the cabin with a brilliant light. It was quickly followed by a large of thunder that stunned Jimmy and left him speechless. He covered his eyes with both hands and backed away immediately. He tripped over a chair and fell to the floor, all the while keeping his eyes closed for fear of the light. After a moment, he slowly pushed himself up and opened his eyes. He stood up, glanced at the Captain and Jake for a moment, and then stared back at the map. The coin was gone!
Glancing toward the Captain Jimmy saw a look of astonishment on his face.
Jake piped in, “That explains a lot.”
“Indeed,” said the Captain as he took a moment to think about what had just happened. “It most certainly does.”
After a moment of silence he continued, “Master Jim,” he said matter of factly, “it seems to me that you have figured something of importance out here. Let me be the first one to congratulate you.”
Stepping closer to Jim, he clasped both hands around one of Jim’s and shook it stoutly.
“Well done, young Jim,” he grinned enthusiastically. “Well done, indeed.”
Stepping back a pace or two from the map, Jimmy pulled up a chair and sat down. He watched as the Captain paced back and forth across the floor, intent on some idea or other, pondering what had just occurred.
Suddenly Captain Flynn turned toward Jimmy and said, “This map has more meaning than meets the eye. We must find out what it is and why you play such a vital part.”