The Tail of Emily Windsnap - Liz Kessler [37]
I shoved the tiller across and quickly swapped sides as the boat changed direction, pushing the throttle as far forward as it would go. Come on, come on, I prayed. The boat sputtered and chugged in reply but didn’t speed up.
“What are you doing here?” I shouted over the engine and the waves.
“What am I doing here?” Mom called back. “Emily, what are YOU doing?”
“But your meeting!”
The motorboat edged closer. “The meeting got cancelled when Mrs. Rushton’s girl phoned in a state. She thought you might be in danger.”
I should have known she’d do it! I don’t know how I could have thought even for a moment that she wouldn’t.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I called. “I’ve got to do this. You’ll understand, honestly. Trust me.”
“Oh, please come back, darling,” Mom called. “Whatever it is, we can sort it out.”
King’s engine sputtered again and seemed to be slowing down. Seawater soaked my face as we bounced on the waves, rolling and peaking like a mountain range.
“Look what you’re doing to your mother,” Mr. Beeston shouted. “I won’t have it, do you hear me? I won’t allow it.”
I ran my sleeve over my wet face. “You can’t tell me what to do,” I shouted back, anger pushing away my fear — and any desire to keep my stupid promise to Mr. Beeston. “It’s not like you’re my father or anything.”
Mr. Beeston didn’t reply. He was concentrating hard and had almost caught up with me. Meanwhile, the shimmering light on the horizon was glowing and growing bigger all the time. I could almost see the different colors. Come on, King, I said under my breath. It’s not much farther now. I looked back at the motorboat. Mom was covering her face with her hands. Mr. Beeston held the tiller tight, his face all pinched and contorted.
“You remember my father?” I called to him. “You know, your ‘best friend.’ What kind of a person lies to their best friend’s wife for years? Huh?”
“I don’t know what foolish ideas you’ve gotten into your head, child, but you had better put an end to them right now. Before I put an end to them for you.” Mr. Beeston’s eyes shone like a cat’s as he caught mine. “Can’t you see how much you are upsetting your mother?”
“Upsetting my mother? Ha! Like you care!”
“Emily, please,” Mom called, her arms stretched out toward me. “Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it. Don’t blame Mr. Beeston. He’s only trying to help.”
“Come on, King!” I said out loud as the engine crackled and popped. “Mom.” I turned to face her. They were only a couple of yards away from me now. “Mr. Beeston isn’t who he says he is. And he’s not trying to help you.”
Then the engine died.
“What’s the matter with this thing?” I shouted.
“You know we never keep much diesel onboard,” Mom called. “It’s a fire hazard.”
“What? Who told you that?” I was in despair.
“I did,” Mr. Beeston called. “Don’t want you injuring yourselves, do I?” He smiled his creepy smile at me.
That was it. I stood up and lurched forward to grab the mast. I’d have to sail the rest of the way!
I uncleated the mainsheet to free the boom — that’s the wooden pole that runs along the bottom of the sail. Then I undid the main halyard (the rope at the base of the mast) and hoisted the mainsail.
As a gust of wind filled the sail, the boom swung out wildly over the water. I grabbed for the mainsheet — that’s the rope that controls the boom — but the gust sent its whole length running right out of the cleat and out of reach. I watched helplessly as my last hope unraveled with it.
“Oh, Emily, please stop it,” Mom shouted as the boat lurched to the side. “You don’t need to upset yourself like this. I know what it’s about.”
“What? If you know, what are you doing in there with him?”
“It’s natural for you to feel like this, darling. Mr. Beeston told me about you being a little jealous, and how that might make you try to turn me against him. But he’s just a friend. There’s no need for you to go fretting like this.”
The shimmering was really close now. I could see colors and lights dancing on the surface of the water. It was like a fireworks display. I groaned. “Mom, it’s not —”
I broke off when I saw Mom