Treasure Planet: The Real Treasure

Chapter 19

The sun was starting to set by the time we brought Delbert and Amelia to B.E.N.'s home. Delbert was carrying her in his arms since her injuries had made it too excruciating to walk.

"Uh, pardon the mess, people," the robot said as we entered his home. "You'd think in a hundred years I would've dusted a little more often but, you know, when you're batchin' it, you tend to, uh, let things go."

I chuckled as B.E.N. frantically tried to move and hide some of the junk.

Delbert set Captain Amelia down, resting her against a metal dome on the floor.

"Aw, isn't that sweet! I find old-fashioned romance so touching, don't you? How about drinks for the happy couple?" B.E.N. asked, holding out two cups filled with oil, grease and who knows what else.

"Oh, uh, ooh. Uh, no. Thank you. We don't drink and, uh, we're not a couple," Delbert answered, removing his jacket and looking down at the Captain. She gave him an interesting smile.

They so like each other! I thought, smiling to myself.

"Look at these markings," he said, changing the subject. He adjusted his spectacles a bit as he gazed around. "They're identical to the ones on the map. I suspect these are the hieroglyphic remnants of an ancient culture."

Jim and I looked up at the ceiling, inspecting the markings curiously.

"Mr. Hawkins and Miss Raphaelle," the Captain said, "stop anyone who tries to approach."

She winced and leaned back in pain. Delbert made a pillow for her out of his jacket.

"Yes, yes. Now listen to me. Stop giving orders for a few milliseconds and lie still," he told her.

"Very forceful, Doctor. Go on. Say something else," she urged him.

The chemistry between the two of them was undeniable and I couldn't help but smile. I then noticed that B.E.N. was by the entrance of the shelter.

"Hey look! There's some more of your buddies! Hey, fellas! We're over here, fellas!" B.E.N. hollered.

The pirates, who probably hadn't known we were there until B.E.N. gave away our position, immediately started shooting at us. B.E.N. narrowly dodged a few shots before Jim pulled him down from the ledge and started firing back.

"Stop wastin' yer fire," Silver ordered. The gunshots ceased.

Jim reloaded his gun as Silver called for him, raising a make-shift white flag. He said he wanted a word with Jim.

"Come to bargain for the map, doubtless. Pestilential..." Captain Amelia said, trying to sit up before grunting in pain.

"Captain..." Delbert warned, reminding her that she needed to take it easy.

"But that means... that he thinks we still have it," Jim deducted, a smirk playing on his lips.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"Buy us some time," he said, walking out the entrance.

"I'm coming with you," I said, following after him into the open.

"No, you need to stay here," he said, grabbing my shoulders and looking me in the eyes.

"I'm coming with you," I insisted, staring straight back at him.

"Next time, I promise," he said, giving me a reassuring smile.

After a few moments of staring at each other, I broke first.

"Fine," I relented.

I turned back around and re-entered B.E.N.'s home. Jim walked down the hill to meet Silver and they began talking. At one point, I saw Silver gesture up towards me. Jim turned around to look at me as well. He was too far away for me to see his facial expression. His head turned back around to face Silver again fairly quickly. After a minute or two, it looked like they were getting angry.

"That treasure is owed ta me, by t'under!" Silver shouted.

"Well try and find it without my map, by t'under!" Jim yelled back.

I didn't hear what happened next, but I definitely heard when Silver yelled, "I'll use teh ship's cannons ta blast yeh all t' kingdom come!" With that, he stormed off, and Jim walked back up to us.

"Sounds like that went well," I said sarcastically.

"He wants the map by dawn or he'll-" Jim started.

"Blast us all to kingdom come," I finished for him. He nodded solemnly.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

Jim rubbed the back of his neck. I thought this was a good sign; that he was thinking and coming up with something. But when he looked at me and I saw the worry in his eyes, I knew we were in trouble.

"I don't know."