The Yellow Yacht Read online

  A few minutes later, Hugo dropped them off, and they climbed aboard Sundown.

  “Please come back for us at two o’clock!” the king called back to Hugo.

  Hugo saluted. “I’ll be here,” he said.

  Soon the lunch guests were seated on comfortable benches around a table on Sundown’s foredeck. A canvas canopy kept the sun off.

  “Your boat is beautiful!” Ruth Rose told Dr. Skor.

  “Thank you, my dear,” Dr. Skor said. “Would you like to explore her before we eat?”

  “Sure!” she said.

  The kids scampered away. They examined every part of the yacht, fore and aft. In the galley, they found a stove, sink, and refrigerator. A man was preparing their lunches.

  There were three bedrooms. The kids stepped inside the largest onto a bright blue carpet. The room had a king-size bed and a chair near an open porthole.

  Next to the door was an antique desk. Dink saw papers and letters with Dr. Skor’s name on them. Holding down a few letters was a paperweight in the shape of a small boat. Dink saw a green stripe on the boat and realized it was a miniature replica of Sundown.

  Just then they heard a bell ring above them.

  “Lunch!” Josh said, and the kids headed for the stairs.

  “Dr. Skor, my husband told me you’re studying coral, is that right?” the queen asked as the lunch dishes were being cleared.

  “Yes,” Dr. Skor said. “Coral is dying and … wait, I have some photographs.”

  Dr. Skor left the table and returned with a photo album.

  They flipped through the pages as Dr. Skor showed them pictures of healthy coral and sick or dead coral.

  “When coral dies, other sea life dies,” the scientist said.

  “Is this a picture of Sundown?” Ruth Rose asked him, pointing at another photograph.

  “Yes, I took this with my Polaroid camera when we arrived here a few days ago,” Dr. Skor said. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

  This snapshot showed Sundown with her sails up, puffed from a breeze. The yellow paint gleamed above the green stripe. In the background, Dink could see the stone pier and the castle.

  “Do you fish off the boat?” Josh asked.

  “I don’t, but my men do,” Dr. Skor said.

  “Do you like to fish, Josh?” the king asked.

  “Yes, sir, I love it,” Josh answered.

  “Then maybe we can do some fishing before you leave,” the king said.

  “This has been lovely,” the queen told Dr. Skor. “Please come have dinner with us soon. Your food was delicious, but now I need a nap!”

  Dr. Skor smiled. “This is my nap time, too,” he said. “And I’m afraid I can’t accept your kind invitation. We sail this afternoon, as soon as the breeze picks up.”

  “I’m sorry you’re leaving,” the king said, “but thank you for your suggestions on my project. Do come back and see us when the aquarium is up and running.”

  There was a pause, as if everyone was wondering if the aquarium would ever get finished.

  They said good-bye, and minutes later, Hugo’s flat-bottomed boat pulled up. They all climbed aboard and headed back to the dock.

  Dink turned around and looked over Hugo’s shoulder at Sundown. He could see Dr. Skor standing on the foredeck, watching them through binoculars.

  Watching the yacht get farther away, Dink didn’t see the green stripe. He rubbed his eyes. How could the stripe just disappear? he wondered.

  While the queen napped and the king talked with the police, Sammi outfitted the kids with snorkel equipment.

  At three o’clock, they were waiting on the dock for Hugo.

  Hugo showed up a few minutes later. His boat left a small wake as it bumped gently up against the dock. “Climb in!” he said.

  “Will we see any sharks?” Josh asked as the kids clambered down into the boat.

  “Not where we’re going.” Hugo pointed to the right, just outside the harbor entrance. “See that red buoy sticking up? It’s marking the place where a boat sank a long time ago,” he said. “The water is shallow and lots of fish hang out there. Perfect for snorkeling!”

  Hugo handed the four kids orange life vests and made sure they were fitted properly. He aimed the boat out into the harbor, and a few minutes later, he reached the buoy. He stopped the engine and dropped the anchor. Then he tossed a float with a small flag attached to it into the water.

  “This flag lets other boaters know there are people in the water here,” Hugo explained. “When they see the flag, they stay away.”

  Hugo helped the kids with their snorkels, masks, and flippers. He jumped into the water and showed them how to clamp the snorkel’s mouthpiece in their teeth and breathe.

  When the kids were floating in the water, Hugo and Sammi showed them how to swim facedown, using just their flippers and no arms.

  “If you need me, just tap the top of your head with your hand like this,” Hugo said, demonstrating. “If I see that signal, I’ll swim right over.”

  With Hugo leading, the four kids flippered a few yards away from the flag.

  When Dink put his face underwater, he was amazed. The water was as clear as glass. Hundreds of fish darted every which way. He saw yellow, purple, blue, and red fish.

  Ten feet below the surface lay the sunken boat. It was partly rotted away. Seaweed and barnacles clung to the boat’s broken hull. Several large rocks sat on the boat’s bottom.

  The kids stayed near each other. Hugo pointed to a creature that looked like a lobster, but it didn’t have big claws.

  When the creature saw the humans, it darted under the boat.

  After about ten minutes of exploring, Hugo signaled that they should meet him at his boat.

  The kids paddled over and held on to the side. They removed their masks and mouthpieces so they could talk.

  “This is so amazing!” Josh said. “A purple fish came right up to my mask and looked at me!”

  “Hugo, why are there rocks in the sunken boat?” Dink asked.

  “The rocks are to weigh it down so it won’t drift away,” Hugo said. “The boat attracts fish.”

  Suddenly Dink knew why Sundown’s green stripe was missing. He felt his heart start to race. Goose bumps marched up his arms.

  “Guys, I think I know where the gold is,” Dink said.

  Hugo helped the kids climb back aboard his boat. They sat drying in the sun while Dink explained to them what he suspected.

  “I think Dr. Skor stole the gold,” he said. “And I think it’s on his boat.”

  “But where?” asked Ruth Rose. “Remember, he let us look around. Wouldn’t he be afraid we’d find the gold by accident?”

  “And what about Yondo and Riko and Mr. Baz?” Sammi asked.

  “Yeah, and the note we found about dropping the gold over the wall,” Josh added.

  Dink shook his head, and water drops flew from his hair. “I think Dr. Skor put that note in the tunnel, where the cops could find it,” he said. “I’ll bet he had his crew dig the tunnel. He wanted the cops to think Riko and Mr. Baz pulled off the robbery.”

  “But what about the gold scraping we saw on the backhoe shovel?” Sammi asked.

  “That was another of Dr. Skor’s fake clues,” Dink said. “The cops would search for the gold on land, but the gold is really on his boat.”

  Hugo gazed across the water at Sundown. “Why do you think it’s on his boat, Dink?”

  “The first time we saw Sundown, there was a green stripe above the waterline,” Dink said. He pointed across the harbor at Sundown. “But look, there’s no green stripe now. It came to me when I saw the rocks weighing down the sunken boat. The gold is making Sundown heavier! The green stripe is still there, only we can’t see it now because it’s underwater!”

  Five pairs of eyes stared across the harbor at Sundown.

  “Where could it be hidden?” Ruth Rose asked.

  “If I stole that gold, I’d stash it under the boat,” Hugo said. “If the cops sea
rched Sundown, they’d never think of looking on the bottom of the boat.”

  Hugo switched on the boat’s engine. “Haul up the anchor, Sammi,” he said. “Let’s check out the Sundown.”

  Hugo motored slowly toward the yellow yacht. “Try not to look suspicious,” he said quietly. “Pretend we’re just cruising around the harbor.”

  Hugo pulled up to Sundown’s anchor chain and tied up next to Dr. Skor’s small dinghy. He slowed the engine so the motor was barely making a sound.

  “We’re behind the boat, so unless someone’s on the rear deck, they can’t see us,” Hugo whispered.

  Dink squinted up at the deck. “I don’t see anyone,” he said. “Dr. Skor told us he takes naps in the afternoon.”

  “Okay,” Hugo said, reaching for his mask. “I’m going in. If anyone says anything, just tell them I’m checking something on my motor.”

  Hugo donned his mask and flippers and slipped over the side. He took a deep breath and disappeared beneath the water.

  The four kids stared at the spot where Hugo went under. They saw him disappear in the shadowy water under Sundown.

  They counted the seconds, holding their breath for Hugo.

  Suddenly a voice came from the rear deck of Sundown. “What’re you doing down there? You can’t tie up on our anchor line!”

  The kids looked up. They saw the man who had been making their lunches in Sundown’s galley.

  Dink gulped. Before he could form an answer, Hugo’s face broke the surface. He blew out the breath he’d been holding, then hoisted himself into his boat.

  “Is that your boat?” the man on the deck shouted down.

  “Yes, sir,” Hugo shouted back. “Had a little trouble with my propeller, but it’s okay now.”

  Hugo untied his line and pulled away. He turned toward the dock and revved up.

  “Did you see anything?” Dink asked. He was trembling all over, and it wasn’t from the boat’s vibrations.

  “Oh yeah,” Hugo said with a big grin on his face. “I saw plenty!”

  “Did you find my father’s gold?” Sammi asked.

  “Yes, it’s there,” he said. “Skor built a steel cage between the keel and the propeller. The gold is stacked in the cage.”

  The kids all looked back at Sundown.

  “He told us he’s leaving port today,” Ruth Rose said.

  “He can’t sail because there’s no wind,” Hugo said. “Which means he has to use his motor. The good news is his motor is small. He can’t go very fast.”

  Hugo dropped the kids off on the dock. “Run and get your father,” he said. “I’m going back out there to keep an eye on Sundown!”

  With Sammi in the lead, the kids raced for the castle. The king was on the telephone in his office when they burst in.

  The king looked up. “Sammi, I’m talking to the police. Can you pl—”

  “We found the gold!” Sammi blurted out.

  The king’s mouth dropped open.

  “Where?” he asked, ignoring the telephone.

  “Dink figured it out,” Sammi told his father. “Dr. Skor hid the gold underneath his boat!”

  Interrupting each other, the kids quickly explained how Hugo had swum beneath the yacht and spotted the gold.

  “But you have to hurry, Pop,” Sammi said. “A guy on Sundown saw us. He’ll tell Dr. Skor, and they’ll take off!”

  The king spoke into the telephone. “Surround that yellow yacht in the harbor!” he ordered. “And have your fastest boat pick me up at the dock in three minutes!”

  The kids were surprised at how fast the king could run. He made it to the dock before they did and leaped into a sleek police boat. The boat practically flew out of the water as it sped toward Sundown.

  Hugo zoomed back to the dock and whistled. The kids climbed into his boat, and he raced after the police.

  By now three police boats had tied up to Sundown. As Hugo and the kids approached, Dink could see several officers boarding the yacht.

  “Look!” Ruth Rose suddenly yelled. She pointed aft, where Dr. Skor sat in his rubber dinghy.

  The man started the motor and the dinghy roared toward open sea.

  “He’s getting away!” Ruth Rose yelled.

  “Can you catch him?” Dink asked.

  Hugo grinned. “Do fish drink water?” he asked. “Hold on!”

  Hugo thrust the throttle all the way forward. His boat tore around Sundown with its bow out of the water.

  The kids grabbed their seats and braced themselves as they bounced over the water.

  Ruth Rose was sitting next to Hugo. “You steer!” he yelled in her ear. “Use both hands and get as close as you can to his dinghy!”

  Dink, Josh, and Sammi stared as Ruth Rose and Hugo switched places. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the steering wheel.

  Hugo picked up the anchor. It had three sharp prongs that were meant to grab and hold. A long rope was tied to the anchor. The rope’s other end was attached to a metal ring on the bow.

  “Can you get any closer?” Hugo shouted to Ruth Rose.

  “Do monkeys eat bananas?” she shouted back. She turned the wheel, and the boat responded.

  When his boat was about fifteen feet from the dinghy Hugo stood up. He spread his legs for balance, then whipped the anchor over his head.

  The steel anchor landed in Dr. Skor’s rubber dinghy with a thud. Hugo grabbed the wheel from Ruth Rose and whipped it around. Then he shoved the throttle forward, and his boat lurched ahead.

  Dink didn’t understand what Hugo was up to. Was he planning to tow Dr. Skor’s dinghy back to shore?

  But then he got it. The anchor rope stretched to the breaking point, but it held. Suddenly they all heard a ripping noise. The anchor hooks had torn a hole in Dr. Skor’s dinghy. When they looked, it was losing air fast.

  Dr. Skor turned and glared at Hugo and his passengers. The thief’s face was nearly purple with rage.

  Just then two police boats roared up to them. “Good job, kids,” one of the officers said. “We’ll take it from here.”

  Riko and Mr. Baz were released from jail. Dr. Skor and his crew took their place. Police divers brought the gold ashore, and it was once more locked in the bank vault.

  Riko’s crew repaired the vault floor and filled in the tunnel. The yellow crime-scene tape came down, and work began on the aquarium again.

  “And I have you kids to thank for saving the day” the king said. Sammi had invited Hugo to join them for ice cream and leftover birthday cake.

  “If Dink hadn’t noticed the green stripe was gone, Dr. Skor would have gotten away with it,” Ruth Rose said.

  “How did you figure it out?” the queen asked Dink.

  “At first, I thought Yondo took the gold,” Dink admitted. “But when we were exploring Dr. Skor’s boat, we saw a paperweight on his desk.”

  “A paperweight gave you a clue?” Josh said.

  “Not then,” Dink said. “I just remembered that it was a miniature copy of Sundown, even with the green stripe. Later, when we were snorkeling, Hugo told us the sunken boat had rocks in it to weigh it down. Then I remembered a strange thing about Dr. Skor’s boat. I couldn’t see the green stripe and wondered why. The next thing that popped into my head was, something heavy must be weighing the yacht down. Something made the stripe sink below the water.”

  “And of course it was gold,” the king said. He raised his lemonade glass to Dink. “Excellent reasoning, young man.”

  “How did Dr. Skor get the gold to his boat?” Josh asked.

  “He told the cops his men took it out through the aquarium pipe,” the king said. “They just slid the gold bars right into the water, probably at night. Then his crew moved the gold underwater to that platform he’d already built onto Sundown’s bottom.”

  “But how could the men swim while carrying that heavy gold?” Ruth Rose asked.

  The king looked at Hugo. “Why don’t you tell them?” he said.

  “Everything weighs less
in the water,” Hugo explained. “The crooks probably wore scuba equipment. They could easily carry the gold in baskets like deep-sea divers use.”

  The king grinned at Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. “I don’t know how to thank you,” he said.

  “I do,” Josh announced. He reached for the last piece of Sammi’s birthday cake.

  One of the questions kids ask me all the time is “Are Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose real people?” The answer is no. None of my characters is a person from my life. But like other writers, I sometimes think of real people as I invent characters for my stories. For example, Dink is partly me when I was eight, and partly a boy named Tommy who was in my fourth-grade class when I was a teacher. Tom was a reader and gave every decision a lot of thought, just like Dink.

  When I was creating the character of Josh, I remembered my best friend in the sixth grade. His name was Larry, and we had a lot of fun together. Like Josh, Larry seemed to be eating all the time! But Larry had black hair, not red. He had no freckles, and he wasn’t tall and skinny like Josh is.

  I gave Ruth Rose my initials because I love to use alliteration in my stories. For this series, I knew I wanted a smart girl who could stand up to Josh’s teasing. Years ago, there was a girl actress named Shirley Temple. In her movies, she didn’t let any boys get the best of her! She had curly hair and dancing eyes, and I was thinking of her when I began developing Ruth Rose’s feisty character.

  Part of the fun of reading is meeting new characters. Sometimes these characters might remind you of people you know. That’s great! Just remember that in fiction, almost everything is made up by the author.

  I hope you enjoyed reading The Yellow Yacht. I certainly enjoyed going to Costra (a made-up country!) and meeting Sammi and his parents.

  Please pay a visit to my Web site at www.ronroy.com. Happy reading!

  Sincerely,

  Collect clues with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose

  in their last exciting adventure,

  THE ZOMBIE ZONE

  Inside the cemetery, about thirty people were clustered in a bunch. Some of the people were shouting. A few were crying.