The Adventures Through Time: Captain Flynn, Jake and the World of Wizards

By David G. Hennessey

Jimmy is a 14 year old boy living in New York City. After he falls down a hole in Central Park and lands on the deck of a pirate ship, Jimmy befriends Captain Javan Flynn and his crew. He also meets Jake, a talking Parrot. Together they venture into a map that transports the holders of the map to which ever world they wish to go to. The first world they visit is the world of wizards, where Flame, an evil wizard, has unleased a powerful fog-like substance that is destroying that world and creepingo through time into other worlds, including Jimmy's. jimmy must figure out the clues as to how to stop Flame and along the way avoid the dangers and pitfalls of the world he is in. Come along and see how the quest unfolds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David G. Hennessey
• Release date: Mar 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465916631

David G. Hennessey

Teacher in China, author and travel buff.

Book preview

Adventures Through Time:

Captain Flynn, Jake, and the World of Wizards

By

David G. Hennessey

Published by David G. Hennessey at Smashwords

Text copyright 2005 by David G. Hennessey

This book is also available in print at most online retailers

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author or publisher. For information email inquiries to: [e-mail].

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Central Park

Chapter 2: Inside the Map

Chapter 3: The Cabin

Chapter 4: Malin

Chapter 5: Discoveries

Chapter 6: Back to the Raven

Chapter 7: The Dark Stranger

Chapter 8: Inside the Mountain

Chapter 9: Jaline

Chapter 10: Sams

Chapter 11: Flame

Chapter 1: Central Park

Get the Frisbee, boy! yelled Jimmy.

Instantly Reb bolted from his sitting position and shot across the field like a greyhound chasing after an elusive rabbit. Shadows from the surrounding trees spread themselves along his path, beckoning him to stop and linger to avoid the rising heat, but Rebs’ eyes were intently fixed on the oval object floating across Central Park, a few feet above the newly cut grass.

Good boy, cried Jimmy as Reb scooped up the Frisbee without missing a step. Jimmy wondered how he did that without getting a mouthful of grass.

Come here, Reb, called Jimmy eagerly, slapping his hands to his

thighs. Come here, boy.

Reb trotted back to Jimmy, Frisbee in mouth, panting triumphantly like a proud hunting retriever returning with its kill. Jimmy, for his part, leaned over and gave the dog a huge hug and a quick pat.

Good boy, Reb, he said again.

Reb was a golden Labrador retriever, a thing not as common as one might think in the sprawling metropolitan city of New York. He’d been given to Jimmy as a present from some of his father’s students at Columbia University and he and the dog had become instant pals. Jimmy, at 14, was somewhat skinny but very bright for his age. He attributed this to his excellent upbringing and the genes he had inherited from both his mother and father. Although timid in some ways, he was an excellent student and very quick to catch on to new ideas and opportunities. Reb and he often played together in the park, since it was one of the few places in the city where they could run. This provided them with the exercise Jimmy’s mother felt they both needed; it was a place where they could both stay out of trouble.

Sit, Jimmy commanded firmly to the dog as he took a few steps to one side. Stay.

Taking the Frisbee in his right hand, Jimmy brushed his auburn- colored hair from his eyes, cocked his arm across his chest, and glanced over at his eagerly awaiting friend. Every fiber of Reb’s body looked poised to explode, his eyes fixed intently on Jimmy’s hand that held the Frisbee.

Get it boy, Jimmy commanded as he swung his arm around and cast the Frisbee out across the park.

Reb’s reaction was instantaneous. Bolting from his sitting position, his body sprang out as every taut muscle was instantly released, and he exploded across the park with the sole purpose of overtaking the sailing orb.

Jimmy watched with delight as his favorite companion sped across the park. Suddenly Jimmy’s hair whipped across his face as a gust of warm air blew past him toward the field ahead. He stood motionless, gazing through his ruffled hair as Reb continued to chase after the Frisbee. Leaves on the ground rustled and spun as they were first lifted then pushed across the grass as if a giant broom had suddenly come to life and swept them before its determined onslaught.

Glancing up, Jimmy saw the leaves on every tree flutter with the unmistakable rustle of the sudden wind. He quickly turned his gaze back toward Reb just in time to watch as the wind caught hold of the Frisbee and, lifting it from Reb’s hopeful grasp, carried it across the field until it disappeared into a small thicket of trees. Thinking it was all part of the game, Reb chased after the Frisbee and disappeared into the dense undergrowth at the far end of the field.

Reb, no! Jimmy cried with astonishment.

Jimmy immediately sprinted after him, and in a few moments had crossed the field and stood looking hesitantly into the underbrush.

Great, muttered Jimmy to himself. Just great.

Pausing for only a moment, he stepped over a moss-covered log and under an overhanging branch, struggling to maneuver himself around the tall grasses and through the tangled branches as he worked his way toward the sound of Reb’s barking. Luckily for him, the brush wasn’t wet. With each step, Jimmy drew deeper and deeper into the thicket of ancient trees and young underbrush.

Why don’t they clean up this stuff? Jimmy asked himself as he brushed a berry briar away from his face. With his next step, his right leg moved only halfway and then stopped, as if some unseen power held it tight. Glancing down, Jimmy realized that a vine had wrapped itself around his ankle and kicking forward only strengthened its grasp. Bending forward, Jimmy tore the vine from around his leg and kicked it free. This place is a jungle, he whispered to himself.

Trying to keep focused, he maneuvered himself through the dense foliage and followed Reb as best he could. Reb’s constant barking and occasional crash as he broke through large clumps of underbrush provided Jimmy with enough information to follow him. In a few moments Jimmy was able to break free from the entanglements and step into a small clearing surrounded by tall saplings. It was a welcome relief from all the brush and stickers he’d just climbed through, and he took a moment to brush off all the undergrowth stuck to his flannel shirt.

This is gross, he said as he pulled a small, slimy slug from off his left arm-sleeve.

When he had recovered sufficiently to take stock of his surroundings, Jimmy’s mouth fell slightly open. Large, waist-high ferns blanketed the clearing while shafts of sunlight beamed down through an overhanging canopy of old trees, creating the illusion of a small bit of jungle surrounded by a forest of concrete and people. Taking a step forward, Jimmy began to brush the ferns aside as he looked for his Frisbee, telling himself that it would be easy to spot since it was red, and that he and Reb would soon be chasing after it again. More than anything, he hoped he could find it, because tossing the Frisbee was his and Reb’s favorite thing to do on Saturday mornings.

After a few minutes of looking through the ferns, Jimmy saw the Frisbee near a large hole in the ground. The hole didn’t perk his interest until he walked right up next to it and looked in.

That’s odd, he stated softly. I wonder what’s down there.

Standing right next to it, Jimmy realized that it was much larger and deeper than he had first imagined. It was about four feet in diameter, dark, and very mysterious. Kneeling down, Jimmy leaned closer to the edge to get a better look. Musty warm air combined with the afternoon breeze presented Jimmy with a dank odor that reminded him of his uncle’s old clothes closet.

This smells awful, choked Jimmy as he pulled away from the stench. Leaning forward again, he felt the rush of warm air rising out of the hole.

I wonder what’s down there, he exclaimed again.

He took a step closer to its edge, knelt down, and leaned over as far as he dared. The hole extended down about ten feet and then everything turned black; there was nothing but blackness. This is weird, Jimmy thought, because it looks like a cave or a tunnel. Jimmy had never heard of a cave or a tunnel in the area. Looking up, he spied his Frisbee a few feet from the other side of the hole, partially hidden by a large clump of ferns. He stood up and walked around the hole and over to where it lay.

Pausing for a moment next to his Frisbee, he glanced once more at the opening in the ground. Where did it go, he wondered? He took a few steps toward the hole, and looked down. And that’s when his luck ran out.

No sooner had he leaned over than Reb saw the Frisbee and made a lung for it. Before Jimmy could stop him, Reb knocked him off balance and Jimmy slipped over the edge, screaming as he fell out of sight.

REBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB!!! he screamed.

***

The first thing Jimmy felt was the pain. Reaching up, he rubbed the side of his head.

Owwww, he moaned. That hurts. Though his head hurt and he was shaking, there seemed to be little else wrong with him.

What happened? Where am I? he exclaimed as he sat up.

Looking around, Jimmy saw that he was sitting on a floor or a deck of some sort, and it appeared to be made of planks. It was covered in a thick coating of lacquer or some other varnish type of substance and smelled like gasoline and Pine Sol. Next he saw what looked to be a railing that ran along the deck, and then a mast that rose straight up into the sky. Raising his eyes slowly, his mouth dropped like a brick when he saw what appeared to be a huge sail with all the riggings of a ship.

What is this place? he asked himself out loud. Where am I?

Don’t you know? squawked a voice from behind him.

Jimmy reeled quickly around to see a large red parrot perched on a rail staring at him and looking very strange. What surprised him more was the set of glasses on the parrot’s head and the green plaid vest he wore, which fit his body nicely. The parrot swayed from side to side as though he were trying to see Jimmy from all angles and gather as much information about him as he could. He then suddenly stopped and just stared.

Who said that? Jimmy asked, looking around for the source of the voice.

Why, I did, replied the bird.

Thunderstruck, Jimmy stared at the parrot and exclaimed, Are you actually talking to me?

Does that surprise you? questioned the bird.

How can you possibly be talking? he asked. It’s impossible.

Hmmm, said the parrot, that is most curious. So I suppose my asking where you’re from and what you’re doing here on the Raven would pose a problem for you?

Well, I, I don’t know, Jimmy stammered looking around at the surroundings. Is this a ship? I’m confused. How did I get here? Where am I? Where’s my dog, Reb?

You, young sir, seem to be a bit lost I’d say, stated the parrot. More to the point, I’d say you’re confused.

How could this be? Jimmy thought. What has happened? He had just been in the park and now he was here. Nothing changes that fast, except in the movies. This looked real, but it couldn’t be. Glancing around at what looked to be the deck of a ship only made things more confusing.

Suddenly a pirate—or what seemed to be a pirate—came around the corner of the cabin. Seeing Jimmy, he stopped dead in his tracks and his mouth dropped open. Before Jimmy could react, the pirate quickly pulled himself together and grabbed a whistle that hung from his neck. With a tremendous blow, he emitted a shrill whistle that cut through the air like a knife going through butter. The sound was piercing.

Jimmy’s mind was reeling. Run! he yelled to himself. Run, get away, wake up. You’ve got to wake yourself up. This is not real, this is a dream. You must get away by waking up!

He hadn’t moved; his feet were still frozen to the ground. All he could do was stand and watch as everything unfolded in front of him. The air began to fill with the thunder of many feet and the shouting of countless voices. Man after man appeared from all corners of the deck and each in turn stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Jimmy.

Who blew the whistle? one pirate cried.

What’s going on here? yelled another.

Pointing to Jimmy the first pirate said, It’s a boy and a strange one at that.

Jimmy remained motionless, frozen in place, fear racing through him, unable to think clearly or move.

The pirates drew closer to Jimmy until they entirely surrounded him. Brandishing knives and swords as well as pistols, the pirates approached to within a foot or two of him. After a few moments, Jimmy was completely surrounded, with no place to hide or escape to. Jimmy’s palms were sweating, his body shaking, his mind racing for an answer.

What will they do to me? he wondered. Surely he would never see his family or Reb again. He’d die here, wherever here was, and no one would ever know about it. He’d probably be tortured or thrown overboard or dragged behind the boat until he died and the sharks ate him. His final hours were now, and his stomach felt queasy. He wanted to cry.

Drawing slowly closer to Jimmy, the pirates looked at him with awe.

Blimey, look at the lubber’s clothes, a sandy-haired pirate stated. Where do you suppose he got those?

Don’t know, replied another, but likely not from around here.

All at once, the crowd of poking and staring pirates parted. Standing before Jimmy was a tall, well-dressed pirate. He had long brown hair tied in a ponytail that ran down his back, a small beard and mustache, and he was dressed in a green silk shirt.

He smiled at Jimmy as he inquired, What have we here, my fine fellows?

The sandy-haired pirate spoke and said, Not sure Captain. We just found him.

Indeed, stated the Captain raising an eyebrow. This is most curious.

Taking a step back he bowed and introduced himself.

My name is Captain Javan Flynn, he said boldly. And whom do I have the honor of addressing?

Glancing around for a moment, then looking at him, Jimmy replied somewhat apprehensively, My name is Jimmy.

Standing fully erect, Captain Flynn placed one hand on his hip and stretched the other in the air.

Well, Master Jim, he motioned, this here’s our ship, the Raven. The lads and I welcome you to our humble home.

The pirates responded with a thunderous Aye.

Jimmy couldn’t believe it. He was speechless. Here he was standing on a ship, a pirate ship no less, surrounded by pirates and being welcomed as one of their own. What is going on and how did I get here? he wondered again. What is this place? Where am I? he thought

At that moment his head started swimming and his legs felt like rubber. Just before he passed out, he felt a number of hands reach out to grab him. Then everything went black.

When he opened his eyes, Jimmy gasped and started at what lay before him. Sitting on a perch, not six feet from him, was the same red parrot, staring intently and swaying from side to side. Jimmy wished that he’d quit doing that as it made him feel dizzy.

If I open my mouth to speak are you going to faint again? asked the parrot. I don’t want to get a complex about this.

Looking down, Jimmy saw that he was in a hammock and covered with a wool blanket. Obviously, he was in the Captain’s cabin or some other room on the ship.

Glancing up, he stated, No, I’ll be okay. I’m not used to a bird talking to me, that’s all. Things like this don’t happen where I come from.

Well, they do here so you’d better get used to it, stated the parrot. I am one of the finest specimens of parrot that you will ever meet, so you will address me as either Your Highness or Sir Jake.

Jimmy tried to contain himself and not laugh, but a slight chuckle escaped his mouth. Surely this bird had better things to do then to bother him about protocol and pompous ideas. Just then the door of the cabin burst open and in walked Captain Flynn.

Master Jim, good to see you back among the living, he said. How are you feeling?

Sitting up, Jimmy touched his head and said, Sore a bit, but otherwise okay.

Good, replied the Captain, because you can help me figure something out that I’ve been trying to discover.

He walked over to a table in the middle of the room, then turned to glance back at Jimmy and the bird. Jimmy, by this time, had worked up enough nerve to move, and slowly slid out of the hammock.

You see, the Captain continued, pointing to a large piece of parchment resting on a larger table, I’ve been trying to discover the meaning of this map, which recently came into my possession. For the life of me I cannot figure it out.

Jimmy walked slowly over to the old wooden table as the Captain spoke. It looked to be made of oak and had four stout legs with eagles carved into them. It looked very solid although it had seen better days, as its edges were worn and one of the legs had been replaced with wood of a different type. A large parchment lay on the table, illuminated by a gold candlestick with a red candle that had been burnt halfway down, leaving wax hardened on the table. As Jimmy leaned over to look at the map the parrot flew off his perch and landed on Captain Flynn’s shoulder.

The Captain looked at the parrot and then at Jimmy. I see you’ve met Jake, he said. What do you think of him?

Looking at them both, Jimmy stated, Where I come from birds don’t talk. Some can mimic or repeat things, but that’s it. How’s it possible that you have a talking parrot?

Oh, replied the Captain matter-of-factly, if a talking parrot surprises you then you have a lot to learn about this place, my boy. Now, he continued as he turned his gaze back to the map, what do you think of this?

Glancing down at the map, Jimmy noticed to his surprise that there was something very different about it. Where mountains rose on the map, actual mountains rose off the parchment. The shimmering water flowed across the map as if alive, and the trees appeared to be swaying in an unseen and unfelt breeze. As he reached down to touch the map, a strange sensation came over him. It was a peaceful, warm feeling, much like the feeling you get after taking a warm bath or snuggling into a warm bed during a winter snowstorm. He felt cozy. When he looked up he saw both Jake and Captain Flynn staring at him with looks of surprise written on their faces.

What is this a map of? Jimmy inquired.

Ah, Master Jim, replied Captain Flynn, that is the mystery I’ve been trying to solve. I can’t seem to figure it out, though I must say I am quite impressed with your success. You see, I can roll it up or lay it out but I cannot seem to touch it more than that. I get a shock whenever I attempt to do so.

Jimmy looked at the map again. Was it his imagination? Was it really moving? This can’t be, he thought to himself. But looking at the map only confirmed that it was indeed moving, and he could actually see it do so. How was he supposed to figure this out when this world didn’t even exist? He looked up to see the Captain grinning at him with a huge smile.

Jim, my boy, spoke the Captain, I don’t know who you are or why you’ve come but it is apparent to me that you have something to do while you are here, and it involves this map. I suggest we close it up for the present and have some supper. Later, perhaps, we can take another look at this and make some decisions. What do you think, ready for a bite to eat?

Yes, Jimmy replied eagerly. I’m starving.

The truth was that he was more interested in the map then he was in eating. At his age, any fun adventure far outweighed filling his belly, though the thought of a good ham and cheese sandwich did make his mouth water a bit. But he didn’t have a clue what pirates ate and he could only imagine the disgusting possibilities that waited for him up on deck. Maybe it was all a ruse to get him out of the Captain’s cabin and into the clutches of his crew. Maybe all’s they wanted to do was to make him walk the plank.

On the other hand, Captain Flynn was gracious, and had an air of kindness and humility uncommon to what Jimmy had read pirates were like. Jimmy doubted he could ever do any person harm unless that person deserved it. And Jake, well, what could he say about Jake? After all, who at home had ever held a one-on-one conversation with a talking parrot?

Jimmy wanted to learn more about where he was and what was going on before he made plans to escape. Besides, he had no clue how to get home, and since the move to eat something would make it possible for him to look around, he told himself it sounded like a reasonable request.

Good, said Captain Flynn rolling up the map. Let’s see what the men have stewing tonight.

Captain Flynn turned toward the cabin door, his ponytail whipping through the air as if in slow motion. Jimmy watched, trance-like, as Jake flew off his perch and through the doorway, landing on the Captain’s right shoulder just as he disappeared from sight. Slowly, cautiously, Jimmy followed his guest through the iron and wood door, across the short outer room, and onto the deck of the Raven.

There he found himself surrounded by salt air and all the trappings of a real-life pirate fantasy. The last rays of the sun were reflecting off the shimmering sea while numerous crewmen milled around the deck of the ship. Candle-powered lights hung from various places, casting a warm glow across the deck and illuminating the vessel. The smell of smoke and meat filled the air, causing Jimmy’s mouth to water and reminding him that indeed, he was hungry, and ready for a good meal.

A slap on his back interrupted his thoughts and caused him to turn suddenly.

Ahoy there young laddie, growled a pirate as he passed by Jimmy. Good to see yer walking agin.

It was the sandy-haired pirate Jimmy had seen earlier. Jimmy watched him as he walked past the Captain and into the crowd of men on the deck. At that moment Jake flew off of the Captain’s shoulder and landed on Jimmy’s, causing him to start in surprise and back up a step or two. He stared at Jake with wide eyes and a wider mouth.

Now don’t go fainting on me again, said Jake. I just thought that since you are new and a bit overwhelmed by all this I might be of some service.

Jimmy relaxed a bit and replied, Sorry, I guess I’m a bit jumpy.

This here, said Jake, is our nightly ritual, or at least a ritual we have when we can. An evening with food and laughter.

Scanning the deck Jimmy saw men of all sorts: tall and short, old and young. Some were sitting around talking, others were moving about with plates of food or a drink in their hands. One young pirate descended down a rope ladder from the high mast in the center of the deck. He was quickly followed by another.

The ship itself seemed to be large enough for all the pirates. The odd thing Jimmy noticed was how clean it seemed to be. He had read stories of pirates and the battles they fought and had always pictured dirty and disgusting men. He also thought the ships were filthy and smelled of oil and other foul things. This one didn’t.

Jake, are these good or bad pirates? he asked. What I mean to say is, well, everything I’ve read about pirates tells me that they are bad. They steal and drink and kill people.

Blimey, said Jake. Pirates are neither bad nor good, just pirates. They roam the seas of the world looking for adventure. Where they find it and how it comes about is why they exist. True, sometimes they do get into mischief and cause a bit of trouble, but all in all they are a grand lot to be around.

At that moment Jimmy heard his name and turned to see who had called him.

Master Jim, said the voice, come on over, set yourself down, and have a taste of this fine meat the men have prepared.

It was Captain Flynn.

Jimmy strolled across the deck to where Captain Flynn was sitting. He sat down on a barrel and looked around. Stretching his arm forward, the Captain handed Jimmy a plate of food and an ornate gold-colored mug filled with something that was steaming. As they ate, Jimmy listened intently to the pirates’ stories of gold and treasure, of wars and mystical powers, of people and places Jimmy had never heard about nor imagined. He was intrigued by all they said and hung on every word.

Wow, an astonished Jimmy whispered to Jake. This is fantastic! Reb and I never do anything like this back home.

Nothing can compare to what I am hearing from these men right now, he thought to himself. Nothing.

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