The Sea Of Goondocks

By Ivan Migliozzi

What is the connection between the hard Scot William MacKenzie, the sweet princess Charlotte de Shih, the gentle Dutchman Edward Van Pieterzoon, the extravagant Englishman Peter Hawkyns and the authoritarian Captain Marlow? They are members of the crew on the St. Barbara that recruits the girls and boys who want to be part of a fantastic adventure in the Sea of Goondocks. Miki, Tommi and Gio don’t hold back when the St. Barbara appears out of nowhere and they board the ship and then the Platform. The equilibrium of the Sea of Goondocks has been set off balance and the Book, full of the history and mystery that regulates the Sea of Goondocks, has been stolen. Will the crew of Raftland under the perfidious Captain Morgan ally with our friends confront a common enemy? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ivan Migliozzi
• Release date: Jan 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781547546978

Book preview

EPILOGUE

The adventures of Miki, Tommi and Gio

The Sea of Goondocks

The Sea of Goondocks

The adventures of Miki, Tommi and Gio

––––––––

Ivan Migliozzi

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER 1

It was a beautiful day at the end of the summer, and Diana, who had returned the day before from her beach vacation with her sister Astrid and her parents, did not want to spend it with her friends in the cellar. It was strange that she did not want to go; she’d always loved spending time with Tommi, Gio and Miki, but that day she was not in the right mood. It was Tommi’s fault: during the three weeks of separation she had tried to contact him several times, but he had almost always ignored her, apart from a couple of text messages sent more out of a sense of obligation than for pleasure. Diana was furious with him and did not want to see him.

They had all returned from the summer holidays that day: Miki had sent her a message to tell her they’d meet up again, as always in the early afternoon at Tommi’s house, but she had an appointment with her parents. As she walked towards the large park that surrounded the town she imagined her three friends in the cellar: Gio was probably intent on telling them about the new research he had undertaken while on vacation as he was bored with his parents. Who knows what he’s busy doing now. Extraterrestrial life? Military mysteries? Robots... Without realizing it, Diana slowed her pace. Her thoughts rushed back to a couple of months before, when she hadn’t heard from her friends for a few days, the research she had done to find them, the strange adventure that had happened to them in the world of tbot... How much trouble she’d been through for her friends. But, deep down, she had wanted to experience that adventure with them, but that had not happened. And again she returned to thinking about how happy she had been after their return, how close she had been to Tommi: but at the thought of the boy her anger returned again so strongly that she began to walk really fast, turning onto a small unpaved road that went towards the river crossing the park, cutting it in half.

The three friends had finally met up in the cellar. They were very happy to be together again. They had kept in touch over the holidays, but this was not enough; when they were at home Miki and Tommi were used to calling each other at any hour of the day on their walkie-talkies and seeing each other also with Gio.

The boys spent their time telling each other about the holidays with their parents, but none of them seemed particularly enthusiastic. The situation would have been different if they had spent the vacation together; they had tried suggesting this to their parents, but it had been impossible to convince them. If they had even the slightest chance, this had evaporated soon after their disappearance into the world of the future. They remembered the past adventure with pleasure, although at times it had been difficult, and they returned to talking about it. The three boys each had different reasons for feeling nostalgic for that world, and they once again realized how much they missed the friends they had known and from whom they had to separate. It was Tommi who changed the subject.

Guys, he said, I thought that I could ask my parents to give me more powerful walkie-talkies for Christmas so I can talk to you too, Gio, what do you think?

I think it’s a good idea, but are you sure there are such powerful walkie-talkies?

Just get the information... Miki butt in.

Wow, I always have such good ideas!

I’ve already heard this, Gio said jokingly. What about that time when your excellent idea almost got us arrested...

Arrested? But just what are you talking about?

When we had convinced you, saying it was ‘an excellent idea’ to take the grapes from Mr. Brambilla’s vineyard otherwise, in your opinion, they would have rotted. And just then the police went by. Fortunately, Mr. Giuseppe saw us and distracted them by asking them for directions...

Are you still talking about that? It happened over a year ago! And then I don’t think you were complaining while you were binging on the grapes.

Miki smiled at the jokes flying between the two, until Gio, sulking because he didn’t know what to say, changed the subject again.

Do you know what I’ve been doing these past two weeks?

What? asked Miki out of curiosity, still smiling.

I was looking into throwing weapons...

Throwing weapons? interrupted Tommi, still thinking about what Gio had said. And what about the Bermuda triangle, you’ve already lost interest?

Gio loved researching anything; sometimes it took him months, at other times he abandoned it almost immediately. Each time, however, he talked about his research with his friends, who were always willing to listen to him, even when he came up with such bizarre theories.

Let’s leave the Bermuda triangle; it’s all a business. Let’s talk about serious things, throwing weapons... Slingshot or slug type...

Sling?

Really, but you don’t know anything!

Wow, it’s you who have researched this. Then you want to explain it to us or not? Miki was amused at seeing how the two friends constantly bickered among themselves; they had never seriously argued but it was difficult for them to talk for more than five minutes without making fun of each other or getting angry.

The sling is a very ancient throwing weapon, the boy took on a serious tone to attract the attention of the other two. It’s a kind of catapult made from a bag with two straps, one of which ends in a noose. The loop is bound to the wrist or to the index or middle finger, while the other loop is held with the other hand; you put the projectile, which can be, for example, a stone or a rock, and then swing it around. When it leaves the noose, the projectile is thrown towards the target.

The two friends seemed to be fascinated and didn’t interrupt Gio, who instead, at this point, was waiting for a few questions, none were forthcoming, and so he continued

But it isn’t a very precise weapon and it is very dangerous, therefore I was finding out about how to construct a catapult... And I’ve built one! he ended with great enthusiasm, arranging his glasses to give himself an even more serious expression.

Gio pulled a wooden catapult out of his back pocket.

Wow, it’s beautiful! But does it work?

What a question! Of course it works! And I’ve been practicing, I want to be the best at using the slingshot!

Can we have a go?

The three boys went out into Tommi’s garden, behind the cellar. They placed a tin on the trashcans and began to take aim and throw rocks of different sizes. Miki and Tommi’s first attempts were a real failure, but when Gio tried the two had to admit that he was really good: they didn’t know if he was the best ever, but he certainly was the best of the three.

Diana was further into the park as she crossed it, she continued to think of her friends. She wondered if Miki had managed to get Alice out of his head, the girl he had got to know in the future, and who, quite obviously, he was madly in love with. Or had they kept seeing each other using the computer and continued to dream? After all, that would have been a beautiful love story, too bad that there were two thousand years separating them...

It was useless to continue to imagine them and to fantasize about what they were doing; after all she wanted to be with them, she didn’t want to spend the afternoon alone. She changed her mind about how she wanted to spend the day; she had thought about the text message to Miki, long before inventing the commitment with her parents. Now she understood that she wanted to go to the cellar. She would explain by saying that she had finished with her parents earlier and that, having had the afternoon free, she had decided to spend the time with them.

As soon as she had made this decision, she brushed aside her thoughts and realized she had reached the banks of the river; in the place she found herself, the river turned into a small waterfall. The park was in a flat area, so the river flowed slowly and seemingly bored; only at that point it seemed to wake up, confronted with the difference in height. This was the point of the river she preferred; it had not been her intention to reach that place, she walked aimlessly, but deep down she was happy to be there. The water, running fast and falling from the height of around three feet, created a light mist, similar to the winter mist. When the sun’s rays met the drops of vapor suspended in mid-air, beautiful rainbows were created. She liked the idea that such a wonderful corner was only a few hundred yards from the busy streets. The girl stayed for a few minutes to look at the beautiful colors nature could create, thinking about how wonderful it was to be there. When the rainbow vanished, Diana could see the other side of the river and noticed that something was glistening behind a low bush. She focused her gaze on the other side to see if it was a simple reflection of the light or if there was something there, and she glimpsed what looked like a wooden box. It was not strange to see abandoned garbage by the river; unfortunately, although the park was fenced and well cared for, it was often found in the midst of the vegetation. But the strange thing was that the sun’s rays seemed to reflect off the chest. Obviously Diana wondered what it contained. To reach the other bank of the river she would have to walk a couple more miles before she could cross it, traversing a small wooden bridge built for pedestrians; then she would have to go up the river to that point along the other bank, where she would have to make her way through branches, bushes and various plants, but she thought it was worth the trouble and also that it would be a good idea to warn her friends so they could meet up with her.

She then called Miki. Hi Diana! answered her friend with his usual cheerful voice. Diana noticed how different his voice was on the phone, he seemed to be older than he really was.

Hi Miki, I managed to free myself and now I’m in the park by the river, where there is a waterfall...

What are you doing there? interrupted Miki. You could pass by us... You know, we’re trying out Gio’s new slingshot! It’s much better than I thought!

Oh, really? the girl asked, trying to seem interested in that thing. Anyway, I asked my parents to leave me in the park, then I would have joined you.

But couldn’t you have asked them to leave you here with us directly?

Miki, don’t interrupt me. Diana realized that maybe her tone had become a little abrupt, but Miki always had this habit of interrupting people while they were talking on the phone or, even worse, with the walkie-talkie. Can you meet me at the wooden bridge? I’ll be there in about ten minutes...

Yes, I think so, but why?

First you come and then you’ll know why. I’ll wait for you there, and Diana pressed the red button before leaving Miki time to answer.

She knew that by not revealing the reason for that meeting they would get there as quickly as possible, caught up with their curiosity. If she had told him that she had seen a box from which a strange twinkle came, perhaps they would not even have agreed to join her, but like this they would get there in a short while.

Then she walked quickly toward the wooden bridge.

When she got there the three friends were already there; on their bicycles they had been much faster than her.

They greeted her, but she immediately noticed that Tommi did not meet her gaze. Diana took courage and decided that she would try to pretend nothing had happened with him, at least for that afternoon then, maybe, she would take care of the problem.

Can you tell us why you made us come here so quickly? Gio turned towards the girl rudely.

Gio was not a gentleman, especially with girls, but knowing him, his friends knew how much he cared for them, and that this was just his way of behaving.

We have to go to the waterfall, but from the other side of the riverbank... Diana replied, not so much to give Gio an explanation, more to justify the fact of having made them go there on such short notice.

But that’s difficult, there’s not even a path... If we really have to get to the waterfall, let’s go this way.

Follow me and then you’ll see why we have to go this way...

The girl still did not want to give them any explanation and walked, without waiting for them, to the other bank.

Miki and Tommi followed her without asking further questions, and Gio saw he was forced to do the same.

As usual he had something to say, but he would follow his two friends anywhere, as he had done many times before.

Diana, let me and Tommi go ahead, said Miki. So we can lead the way...

Thanks, Miki. You’re always the usual knight... the girl glared at Tommi as he passed her, but he didn’t seem to notice.

The four walked for about ten minutes, trying to avoid the nettles, the branches and thorns of the various bushes that they passed. During the walk, Gio continued to complain about every little scratch, and stopped only when Tommi teased him, saying, You’re worse than a girl. If she had been here, Astrid would have whined far less than you!

At that point, Gio, who had said he could not bear Astrid ever since he had met her a couple of years before, felt offended and no longer spoke a word, even though at every step he was snorting worse than an old steam engine.

Here we are at the waterfall, Miki shouted so the last one in the group could also hear him, which was obviously Gio.

Diana, can you tell us why we’re here now? Tommi asked curious, talking directly to her for the first time, before she caught up with them.

The girl waited for Gio to emerge from the brambles a minute later, still puffing.

Yes, why are we here? he also asked, out of breath.

But Miki’s eyes had already caught the strange gleam that came from behind the bush a few yards away from him. He approached slowly and as soon as he saw the box, he anticipated Diana’s answer, shouting, Wow! Guys, come and look at this. How great!

Everyone rushed up to Miki. The friends surrounded the bush open-mouthed; the reflection coming from the chest shone into their eyes giving it a golden hue.

Do’you see that...?

Wow...!

Is it real?

I don’t know... But certainly there’s a lot. So many that they’re blinding... Tommi was the first to make his hands disappear among the thousands of gold coins that filled the chest to the brim; he filled his palm and then let the coins fall. The four friends could not resist and did the same, throwing them and making them hit against their hands and into the chest: without saying anything, they seemed to be enchanted by the golden tinkling of the coins and their glitter.

The first to turn away from that state was Tommi.

But what is this... his voice was low, covered by the sound of coins and the waterfall, but it was enough for his friends to understand and look in the same direction as his friend.

They all noticed the shape of a huge boat through the mist of the waterfall, which came from the direction of the bridge they had crossed.

Guys, I think we’re seeing things...

That can’t be true...

Boats can’t go down this river, said Gio. And then it’s not possible that such a large ship has passed under the wooden bridge, moreover it is going against the current. And the river is not so deep, the ship would have got stuck... Gio’s thoughts were very clear, but it was as though he were talking to himself, his eyes fixed on the shape of the boat that came closer and closer to the waterfall.

Let’s hide! shouted Tommi, who had to tug Gio’s arm to make him move and wake him up from his trance.

They then headed for the brambles, moving away from the chest, and hid behind the undergrowth.

Through the branches and bushes all four could see the huge boat better. It was a large wooden sailing ship with three tall masts; the central one was the most impressive and seemed to be as high as a three-story building. The large bowsprit could be clearly seen at the end of which there was a wooden statue representing a dolphin.

The sails were still tied to the rigging of the masts, but the ship suddenly appeared to be motionless.

From the direction the boat came a strong wind blew that gradually increased in strength, quickly reaching the point where the friends hid; the sails unfolded and swelled up with the force of the wind that seemed to accompany the ship and increased with its approach. The friends squeezed themselves even more closely to the ground, in a row one next to the other, not only to hide, but also to protect themselves from the wind. The branches above their heads were moving frantically and banging together causing the leaves to fall to the ground. For a couple of minutes they could not even raise their heads, they were all worried about sheltering without understanding what was going on. Then suddenly the wind faded as it had arrived, and only the sound of the water remained.

Without saying anything, dazed and covered with leaves, their hands still covering their ears and their heads, the four friends looked up and, through the bush behind where they lay, they saw that the huge ship was right in front of them, floating quietly in the pool of water formed by the small waterfall.

From where they were they could see the gigantic wooden hull; looking up, they saw the tips of the masts of the ship with their pennants and the folded sails, motionless.

At the top of the tallest mast was a black flag, but this too had stopped fluttering because of the sudden lack of wind. Tommi was the first to notice it.

A black flag promises no good... he whispered, still lying on the ground.

What’s that supposed to mean? Diana’s voice trembled.

It makes no sense what is happening. There can’t be a ship like that here in front of us...

Gio was trembling with fear and kept talking to himself, so quietly that even Miki, who was closest to him, could hardly hear him.

It had been a couple of minutes since the wind had calmed and the ship remained completely motionless. There were no voices and there seemed to be no one in the area apart from the four of them.

Just when Miki was about to find the courage and get up to see the ship better and try to gather information, one of the portholes opened. Once again the four of them crushed to the ground, hoping that the leaves, which still covered them, would help to camouflage them; Miki managed to settle in a position that allowed him to see what was happening.

A small monkey came out of the porthole, silently slipping down the hull and jumping onto the bank. It jumped to the ground right in front of the bush that hid the four friends: although he looked their way it seemed not to have noticed them. It had a triangular shaped snout, curious and kind, with small pointed ears and a nose similar to that of a mouse; two small darting eyes, surrounded by the black fur that made it look like it had large dark circles around the eyes. The long prehensile tail was twisting around itself; it had slender, fast front legs and very strong hind legs. After looking quickly around it turned towards the ship and began to move frantically, jumping in place and emitting shrill, loud sounds; it seemed to be signaling the ship.

After a few moments, as it continued to hop, it quickly went to the chest with the treasure; it increased its speed and pushed off from the ground in a high jump; it stretched out his tail, which twisted around the branch of a tree and wound around it, just above the abandoned chest. From that point it was strange that it had not yet noticed the friends, but it seemed that way.

The four friends did not care about the monkey, after all it was just a nice little animal that jumped around, and they remained staring at the ship’s hull. They feared that someone would come down to the ground and that they wouldn’t have time to escape without being noticed. Everyone’s legs were shaking, their mouths had dropped open and they didn’t have the courage to speak.

A rope was thrown from the ship’s deck and immediately a person began to climb down, he placed his feet on the hull and came down, jumping with both feet, holding the large rope in his hands. With every thrust he gave himself with his legs, he ran his hands down the rope and at the same time he shouted:

Hup... Hup....

Despite being sturdily built he was very quick and agile. He wore green trousers, torn in different places, and on his feet he wore old boots covered with muck; an old Hawaiian shirt under a military jacket fluttered at every movement and on his head he wore a military cap that completely covered his head down to his ears. With a last strong shove he managed to launch himself towards the shore and deftly made a somersault falling on his feet.

Hup... Hup....

Immediately a companion followed him who, using the same technique and shouting in the same way, descended even more easily from the ship. It was a girl; her long straight, raven black hair was so shiny that it seemed to reflect the sunlight. The girl wore a short, dark blue cloak that came just below her shoulders, tight gray trousers and a long blue tunic to her knees, embroidered with gold threads that shone with every movement as the light hit. At her waist she had a large belt from which a small dagger protruded.

When the two found themselves on the ground next to each other they immediately went to the chest; meanwhile the monkey screamed over their heads, hopping from branch to branch.

Goodness, but who are those two? Do you think they saw us? Tommi’s voice trembled.

I have no idea, but we have to decide whether to stay hidden or run away... Do you think we can make it if we run?

That girl has a dagger... No, no, come on, guys. We’ll stay hidden, they’ve not seen us. Gio was terrified.

The man who had come down from the boat turned abruptly and started looking in their direction; he had a patch over one eye and there was a large skull drawn on the front of his cap. He didn’t speak, but glanced at his companion and then at the monkey.

The two picked up the trunk and lifted it, apparently without a shred of effort. The monkey moved from the branch and, with the help of its tail, approached the ship finding himself over the heads of the four friends who immediately stopped talking to each other and remained motionless, hoping that the animal would not attract the attention of the two people.

The man and the woman moved slowly toward the shore and set the trunk down.

Two more ropes were thrown from the ship, ending with metal hooks that were fixed to the handles of the trunk to hoist it onto the ship. Quickly the two climbed back up and immediately the monkey jumped on the rope following them, making a last shrill cry towards the bush where the friends were hidden. It almost seemed that it wanted to say goodbye to them.

The wind began to blow again; the sails were starting to swell. Suddenly a voice was heard from the ship, and everything immediately became calm.

Do you know them? a woman’s voice came from the ship’s deck. Since there was no more noise from the wind, the conversation could be heard quite clearly from the ground.

Yes, certainly... Its them.

On hearing the answer, the friends on the ground looked at each other in amazement; they knew that voice.

But I’ve already heard that voice.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

It just can’t be...

Astrid! The girl leaned out from the ship’s bridge and looked down.

She seemed to have seen the three friends and her sister, but she gave no sign. At her side was the woman who had just climbed back onto the ship and who had probably asked her the question.

They’ve gone, said the Princess. Well, we cannot force them, they’ve had their chance. Girl, you know you’re wrong!

The woman turned away, disappearing from sight.

Astrid stood facing them for a few seconds, then followed her.

The wind began to blow and the sails swelled up, starting to move the ship.

Suddenly