The Pirates of Shan: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story

  CHAPTER XV

  Plan of Attack

  The boys crossed the street, crept past several houses, and gained thesafety of the cornfield. Slowly, so that rustling leaves and stalkswould not give them away, they crossed the cornfield. To Rick, at least,it was a terribly long and slow journey. He wanted to give a yell of joyand triumph. He wanted to call Zircon immediately and pass on the goodnews. But he knew silence was important, and he kept his exultationlocked inside.

  As they reached the lava flow Chahda gave the now-faithful pirate dogthe last of his hamburgers, and the boys climbed across the lava to thebeach. Only then did Rick dare to stop long enough to call the _SwiftArrow_.

  "We found Shannon," he said triumphantly. "Now we have to get out ofhere. We'll give you the details later."

  The boys pushed off in the vinta and paddled toward the east in order toget farther away from the guards before putting up the sail. Then,because the slight breeze had shifted, it was necessary to tack thecranky craft until dawn was pale in the east before they reached the_Swift Arrow_.

  As the MTB moved quietly south, out of danger, Rick reported. "We sawShannon, as I told you on the radio. I'm sure it was he. They're on thecliff at the back of the village. I'd guess the shelf where we saw thefire is over a hundred feet up."

  "No sign of Briotti?" Zircon asked.

  "None at all. Of course we couldn't see onto the shelf. There wasn'tenough light and it was too high."

  Scotty rubbed his chin. "How did they get up there?"

  "Must be ladder," Chahda answered.

  "A pretty good prison," Zircon commented. "No danger of escape, once theladder or steps were removed, and the whole village serves as guard. Thebig question is, how do we get them out of there?"

  Rick had thought about it during the tedious trip back. He had turnedover every possibility in his mind and eliminated all but one. What'smore, he wasn't sure that would work.

  "I have an idea," he explained, "but it depends on a daytime look at theisland."

  Zircon nodded. "All right. We'll take a look. Now, tell us about thevillage. Any trouble?"

  The two boys gave Zircon and Scotty a quick account of theirreconnaissance, and both chuckled at Chahda's trick of feeding the dog.

  "He'll probably be standing on the beach waiting when you get back,"Scotty said with a grin. "Bet it's the first hamburger the pooch everhad. That pirate you belted with the pistol bothers me, though. Won't heset off an alarm that will put the whole mob on the alert?"

  "I hope not. There's a chance he might think it was someone in thevillage who has a grudge against him."

  Zircon shrugged. "One way or another, there's nothing we can do about itnow. We'll have to assume the whole place is alerted."

  "How about some sleep?" Scotty suggested.

  Rick shook his head. The first part of his plan had to be put intooperation immediately. "It's only a little while to dawn. By sunrise wehave to be east of the island."

  He explained quickly. For a safe, undetected look at the areas of theisland he wanted to see, they would have to depend on the sun for ashield. They could proceed immediately on a roundabout course that wouldbring them to the east of the island just as the sun was rising. Hiddenin the sun's glare, they would have a few minutes in which to examinethe eastern slope of the volcano.

  "I'm beginning to see your plan," Zircon said. "Then what?"

  "Then we go into safe waters for the day. At sunset we hide in the sunagain, while we look at the island from the west. We'll wait until thesun is low enough, so no one on the island will be looking into it, thenwe'll use it for a shield and take a good look at Shannon's cliffdwelling through the long glass."

  Scotty shook his head. "But we already know what's on the eastern andwestern shores. Why go to all this trouble?"

  "We don't know much about the terrain. If it looks possible, you and Igo climbing tonight. We land on the eastern shore, climb the volcano, goover the top and down the western side until we come out right above theshelf where the scientists are held prisoner. Then we haul them up on arope."

  Scotty stared at his pal. "Wow! We take them out by the back door, huh?"

  Zircon held up his hand. "Not so fast. The plan is a good one, Rick. Iwon't mention my natural dislike of being dismissed from the schemewithout being consulted, because you and Scotty are the logical ones togo for a reconnaissance of this kind. But I'll buy only this: You andScotty will look over the terrain tonight. If possible, you will delivera Megabuck radio unit to Shannon and Briotti. Then you will returnwithout attracting attention. That will be time enough for us to planthe rescue, in conjunction with our friends on the cliff."

  Rick had to admit Zircon's plan made better sense, even though hedisliked the idea of another day's delay in rescuing their friends. Henodded.

  Scotty rose, his pleasure at the plan evident in his wide grin. "Let'sgo!"

  Fifteen hours later the _Swift Arrow_ withdrew to the open waters to thesouth as the sun slowly fell below the horizon. The four adventurersgathered around the chart table and studied the island of Shan,comparing notes.

  Zircon used a pair of dividers as a pointer. "This cove on the easternshore looks like the best possibility for anchoring the vinta, and I'dsay the climb up the volcano from there is no harder than from any otherplace."

  Rick agreed. "It looked that way to me, too. We'll call that cove ourback door. The only real puzzle is, does the volcano have a crater? Ifso, we'll have to go around it. Climbing down into the crater and upagain would use up too much time."

  Zircon shrugged. "We have no way of telling. Did anyone notice apreferred way around the cone?"

  "The southern slope looks a little less steep," Scotty volunteered.

  Chahda nodded agreement. "I also think this. To me, big trouble is placeright above cliff. Is pretty steep, I think."

  The Hindu boy was right as usual, Rick thought. He had seen through thelong glass that the area above the steep cliff was only slightly lessvertical than the cliff itself, with an occasional shelf of rock. Notonly would that be the hardest part of the trip, he guessed, but themost dangerous, since they would be in sight of the village part of thetime.

  "It's steep," Scotty agreed. "I'd say it's not a place to pick for acasual stroll, but I can't think of any other way to get our friends offthat shelf. Can you?"

  The others shook their heads. They had discussed it at length during thedaylight hours while they floated patiently in the waters south of Shan,alternately sleeping and preparing for the night's work. Since no otherplan seemed even remotely feasible, Rick and Scotty were to make thefirst try in about two hours.

  The time passed swiftly with last-minute preparations. The boys carriedrope, heavy spikes to be used as pitons on particularly difficultplaces, flashlights taped so only a pinpoint of light could emerge, cansof water from the emergency rations, work gloves from the clothinglocker, and candy bars for quick-energy rations.

  In addition, Rick had Zircon's pistol, a takedown fishing rod, with reeland line, a radio unit, and the long glass. Scotty had his rifle, asmall first-aid kit, and a wooden caulking mallet.

  The two boys were having a last cup of coffee when Chahda came down fromthe upper deck. "Is time," the Hindu boy told them. "We two miles eastof Shan. Good wind. You make good time going in, not so good comingback."

  The boys finished their coffee and went on deck. The four shook handsall around, and Zircon cautioned, "Give yourselves plenty of time forthe return trip. Remember that if you're late, you'll have to hide onthe volcano all day!"