Captain Galleon Epilogue

Streams of desperate tears spill off a woman who runs to one of the children. She grabs him, holds him, kisses him. A soldier comes, wrestles the child away from her breaking heart. Queen Mother leads the children out to the open over dead leaves and pine needles. The sun bakes through the shadows of the trees. She looks up, sees a pirate ship flying in. Everyone in the village sees the sailing galleon, mouths wide in wonder. But it soon turns to horror at finding dragons sitting nearby on their hunches, smoke churning from their nostrils, eyes flashing fearsome grit. “Captain Barrabus wants to know if you want him to get the cannons ready?” asks Red Cloud. “Tell him to stand by.” says the Queen. She turns to the children. Wrinkling up her nose, she takes a sharp breath, “The boy is here somewhere. I can smell him.”
Okay?” They nod, go to the side near several crumbling logs. “Can you sing louder than the boys?” “Yes.” they say in unison, “We can beat them. We’re better than they are.” Their smiles testify to the Queen’s clever ways. “Excellent.” she hugs them gently, smiling wide. “I know you will do well.” She walks to the clearing between several weathered trees, “Follow me, boys.” They bounce along, eager to prove themselves better than the girls. The Queen gathers them, coloring her voice with candy, “Now listen carefully, my beautiful children.” Their eyes sparkle, looking in anticipation, “Are you going to let the girls beat you?” “No.” they all say. “Perfect.” She’s speaking loud for all to hear, “I’m sure you have learned the old folk song ‘River in the Wind.” The boys and girls jump around, “Yeah.” “Mom sings it to me for bedtime.” one