Island Ambush (4 page)

When Bindi had unwound several metres of fishing line, she grabbed the end and sneaked across the deck to the gangway.

Working in the dark, she wound the line around the bottom of the railing. Then she began to weave the fishing line back and forth across the gangway, creating a tangled maze.

Every now and then she glanced towards the cabin. She saw Gold Tooth throw back his head and down the last of his tea. Any second now he'd be ready to go, she thought. She'd have to move extra fast.

Bindi reached the far end of the gangway and kept going. She wound the line back and forth across the stairs, climbing down the steps backwards into the darkness as she worked.

At the bottom she glanced up. The light was on in the cabin, but it was empty. The two men seemed to have vanished.

Bindi's heart leapt. Where were they? She scoured the deck. Although most of it was in shadow, she was sure it was empty. Her gaze moved to the front of the boat, but it was also bathed in shadow. She couldn't make out anything. She'd just have to continue.

She tied the fishing line to the bottom of the stairs and quickly viewed her work. With a bit of luck, she thought, they wouldn't see it, and would trip. She glanced back at the cabin. The men had reappeared. It seemed they had just been bending down. Now they were moving towards the cabin door, Sharkbait in front.

Bindi ran to the parked car. Hiding out of sight, she lifted Lucky from her pocket and placed him on the boot lid. If they did get as far as the car, maybe Lucky could slow them down.

Lucky didn't move. He seemed to understand what his role was. He was the last line of defence. If they somehow got to the car with the sacks of shark fins, Lucky might find a way to delay them for a few more seconds.

Leaving the gecko on the car boot, Bindi dashed across to the old shed, and hid in the shadows out of sight.

Almost immediately the cabin door opened.

Bindi held her breath.
Phew! That was so close!

Sharkbait stepped out of the way to let Gold Tooth through the door. The fisherman then came through, heaving a sack of shark fins onto his shoulder as he did so.

Again the men shook hands before picking their way across the deck in the direction of the gangway.

Bindi watched. She was frozen, almost unable to breath. Would it work? At least she'd given it her best shot. She'd tried to stop these people from killing sharks in this horrible way.

Gold Tooth reached the gangway. Gripping the rail he stepped onto it. Nothing happened.

His load still on his shoulder, Sharkbait stood behind, waiting for Gold Tooth to clear the gangway.

Bindi crossed her fingers. Then she crossed her toes. She made a wish.
Bring us some luck, Lucky, please! We have to catch these guys!

She looked over at Lucky. He was perched on the car boot directly above the lock. Despite the darkness, Bindi was sure she saw his little tongue flick out. She closed her eyes . . .

An almighty thump was followed by a loud splash. Bindi's eyes flew open. Gold Tooth had disappeared.

She heard a shout. With the sack still on his shoulder, Sharkbait rushed forward to help the other man, who could now be heard splashing furiously in the water below.

Sharkbait let out a yelp as he, too, tripped on Bindi's cat's cradle. He tumbled off the gangway and into the water, causing a huge splash.

The sack of shark fins hit the gangway. It spilled open – it must have been the sack that Bindi had untied. Shark fins scattered in every direction in a gruesome display.

The two men hollered and thrashed in the water. Bindi would have to help them, just in case they couldn't swim.

She dashed across to Lucky. He was still sitting on the car boot, motionless. She put out her hand and he climbed on. ‘Thanks for your support, tiny buddy,' she said.

With Lucky safely stashed in her pocket Bindi ran to the edge of the wharf and peered down into the darkness. Two bedraggled faces looked up at her. The men were struggling to keep afloat.

‘Who are you?' Gold Tooth shouted at her in English. He shook his head and waved angrily. ‘Never mind! Quickly! Throw me a rope or something so I can get out of here. And then scram!'

Sharkbait shouted too, also in English. ‘There's a lifesaving ring just down there, past that car.' He pointed. ‘Hurry.'

Bindi ran off. Sure enough, there was the ring, tied to a pole. A length of rope was coiled there too.

She quickly untied the ring and grabbed the rope.

Bindi hoped desperately that Kelly would soon return with the policeman, but she couldn't waste any time – she had to save the men from drowning.

‘Here!' She threw the ring into the water. Gold Tooth scrabbled over to the ring, pushing Sharkbait out of the way.

‘Now throw me the rope!' Gold Tooth shouted.

Bindi glanced at Sharkbait. He was managing to tread water, but hadn't tried to swim to safety. Perhaps he can't swim either, she thought.

She quickly hitched the rope to a pylon. ‘Catch!' she yelled, throwing the fisherman the other end.

Gold Tooth reached out to grab the rope before Sharkbait could get to it. The two men struggled, both trying to grasp the rope and pull it out of reach of the other.

Bindi shook her head and rolled her eyes. Sometimes adults were so ridiculous!

She was about to shout at the men when a sound she'd been longing to hear cut through the night. A siren.

Bindi turned. Pulling up behind the big black car was a police car, its lights flashing.

The back door flew open. Kelly almost fell out in her rush to get to Bindi. After her came Meena, looking very worried.

Last out was Ali, the policeman they'd met at the station. He stared down at the two men flailing about in the water. ‘Looks like you're trying to make shark
finner
soup, Bindi,' he said.

The sea was an aquamarine jewel, shimmering in the morning sun. Bindi and Kelly kept watch from their usual position on the bow of Meena's boat.

The soft breeze tickled Bindi's cheeks. She breathed deeply, taking in the clean salty air.

‘So what's going to happen to Gold Tooth and Sharkbait?' Bindi wondered aloud as she closed her eyes and raised her face to the warm sun.

‘They'll have to go to court, I guess. But thanks to you, Bindi, it's an open and shut case.' Kelly gave her friend a pat on the back.

‘And thanks to you, too, Kelly.' Bindi gazed at the horizon. It was a perfect day to be on the high seas. ‘And Lucky. He found the shark fins. He brought us luck when we needed it.'

‘And Ali. We couldn't have done it without him.' Kelly turned to look at Bindi. ‘But what about that other policeman we met at the station? Why would he try to protect shark finners?'

Bindi shook her head. ‘I don't know. But he did. And now he's in trouble too.'

Kelly suddenly straightened up and gripped her friend's arm. ‘I've got to ask Meena something! I was going to ask her last night, when she found me back at the police station. But there was so much going on, I forgot.'

‘Meena!' Kelly dashed across the deck to the boat's skipper, who was snacking on a mango.

Bindi followed.

‘What was that phone call about yesterday, when you had to go back to the office? I've been meaning to ask.'

Meena smiled. ‘Ah, now that would be telling.'

Kelly laughed. ‘So tell!'

‘Well, it was from a colleague who's helping to catch shark finners and the policemen who protect them. He rang me with some information about the fishing boat.' Meena put her arms around the two girls. ‘But you two were way ahead of us!'

‘Yay!' Bindi and Kelly high-fived.

Meena popped the last piece of mango into her mouth. ‘Okay, girls. Time to drop anchor. Big Mouth is waiting.'

Below the surface it was another world, more spectacular than the most amazing movie or anything Bindi could ever imagine. Coral, plants, fish, shellfish – sea life in all its diversity and beauty.

Bindi, Kelly and Meena swam along the reef ledge. Bindi would never tire of this incredible sight, she was sure.

Then she spotted a baby hammer-head shark. This one was swimming below her, searching for tiny prey, its hilariously shaped head wagging to and fro. It was a happy sight.

But where was Big Mouth? There was no sign of any whale sharks. Perhaps they'd moved on to the next reef, in their long journey around the planet. Bindi swam ahead, around an outcrop and into open water.

Then she felt it. A dark shadow above her, blocking out the sun. She turned.

Big Mouth! He was swimming slowly, as if he was going for a morning stroll. His wide mouth was open as he sucked in water and the plankton he fed on.

Kelly and Meena appeared beside her. Bindi pointed.

With broad smiles on their faces, Bindi, Kelly and Meena set off with a kick, following the whale shark from a distance.

Despite appearances, however, Big Mouth was moving fast. They would never keep up. With a swish of his tail, the whale shark darted off into the deep and was soon out of sight.

Bindi waved.
Till next time, Big Mouth. And there will be a next time. Pinky promise.