"Hehehe. Collateral damage." Rhett's blood mist stirred—
"Wait!"
The man on the rubber ship had noticed the small boat. He shouted.
Rhett: Don't interfere!
A giant, elastic arm shot across the sea, slapping the cannonballs away.
"SMACK!"
Rhett held back. Fine.
The arm kept going, hitting the mast.
Crack!
The mast broke. The sail fell.
Rhett's face darkened. His ship! His new ship!
The rubber ship turned back.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" The man shouted.
A giant hand gently lifted Rhett's ship onto the rubber deck.
Rhett and the girl stood on their ship, now on the other deck. A tall man with a straw hat smiled sheepishly. He looked like two of his old friends.
Joy Boy. Fresh out of school.
But his strength was shocking. How could he be so strong already?
"Sorry!" He bowed. "I'll pay for the mast!"
More cannon fire.
Rhett pointed. "Run!"
Joy Boy wiped his tears and grinned. "Let's go!"
The rubber ship bounced away, leaving the royal ships behind.
Rhett held the girl. She looked at the bouncing ship and the loud man, her eyes curious.
Then, Joy Boy's body deflated. He collapsed, pale and weak.
Rhett's mist flared. What was this?