Chapter 5: A Flag on the Play

The view is incredible. You are high, high in the air, over the ocean, looking out at mighty Spike’s Peak. A balmy ocean breeze blows through your hair. It would all be very relaxing, except for the fact that you are in a red sports car freefalling toward a cold, rocky beach.

Melvin shouts “This is going to be a rough one, hold on tight!”

You white knuckle the steering wheel, and squeeze your eyes shut, hoping that somehow you will survive. The car crashes down onto the rocks, and car parts (doors, wheels, tires, belts, the engine) explode out in all directions, like a splattered tomato on the shore. You cautiously open your eyes, to find yourself sitting in a car seat with no car, holding a steering wheel no longer attached to anything, as the rest of the car is scattered over a hundred-meter radius.

Melvin shouts, “We made it!” and starts zooming around.

You unbuckle your safety belt, and stagger out of the car seat, dropping the now useless steering wheel in the sand. You collapse on the ground, kicking what might be part of a blown-out shock absorber out of the way. Staring up at the sky, you tell Melvin, “That felt like it took two years. I never want to drive a car again.”

“Well, it was eight seasons,” says Melvin.

You sit up and look around at the wide circle of your wreckage. One of your tires seems to be floating out on the waves. “I don’t think we’re going to get our deposit back,” you say glumly.

“We won’t need to!” laughs Melvin. “We’ll go get the crown, then we’ll be all set! Besides, everyone knows Spike’s Peak is covered with treasure! Gold, ice diamonds, all kinds of stuff!”

You shake your head and turn to look back at the island chain receding into the distance. “How exactly was it different seasons on those different islands?”

Melvin shrugs. “That’s just how the Winterspring Islands are. A different season on each one.” He looks up at the mountain and shivers a little. “It sure is winter on this one.” He heads toward the base of the mountain. “Don’t look back… we have to go forward! Let’s not keep the Queen waiting!”

“Okay, okay,” You say, looking up at the imposing mountain with its giant ice cap, and see a trail leading up its side on the far side of a field. “So… where are going, exactly? You said the gray bats live in a cave, right?”

“Right!”

“And that’s, where? At the base of the mountain, I presume?”

“Not exactly… it’s a little higher than that.”

“So, a short hike?”

“More like… at the very top.”

“The TOP? Of THAT MOUNTAIN?” You look at the icy summit of the mountain, thousands of feet up. Scaling it looks nearly impossible.

Melvin hesitates. “Yeah, I think so.”

“You THINK so? I thought you’d been here before!”

“I have!” says Melvin defensively. “Just… never with a Player who surv… I mean, you know, made it to the top. But, come on, we made it this far, I know you can do this! Follow me!” Melvin starts to race off when a loud gunshot whizzes right past him, stopping him in his tracks, not that he has tracks, exactly. Well, a sort of light trail, sometimes. Anyway, it stops him in that.

“NOT SO FAST,” says a raspy voice. You turn to see a pirate, replete with eyepatch and pegleg, holding a smoking flintlock pistol. “Wharr do you think yer going, mateys?”

Melvin, indignant, replies, “We are on a quest from Queen Stella, of the Rainbow Castle, to retrieve her crown, which was stolen by a foul gray bat.”

“Har har, har har,” laughs the pirate. “My memory’s not what it used to be, but I never heard of such a Queen. Are you sure you aren’t here to steal gold nuggets and ice diamonds from the good people of Spike’s Peak?”

“Why?” asks Melvin. “Is that against the law? I thought gold and diamonds were finders keepers here.”

“Har har, har har, they arrre. I was just having a little fun with ye.”

Melvin gets indignant. “If you’ve had your fun, we’ll be going. Come on, Player.”

BANG! He fires another shot close over Melvin’s head, who turns in anger, “If you do that again…”

“You’ll what?” grins the pirate, aiming the flintlock right at him.

Melvin gets quiet. “I’ll wait here patiently to see what you have to say.”

“Good,” says the pirate. “Now, ye two weren’t thinkin’ of just climbing up that mountain with no equipment, were ye? That wouldn’t be safe. The residents atop Spike’s Peak got tired of seeing amateur climbers fall to their deaths. So, they hired me to keep them safe,” he says with a big grin.

“I see,” says Melvin. “And what will all this cost us?”

“Har har, har har,” says the pirate. “It’s all free! Do I look like the kind of varmint who would take advantage of a situation?” Not waiting for an answer, he says, “Here’s an ice axe, some ropes, some skis, and some warm clothes. That’ll suit ye nicely.” Surprised, you gratefully take the bundles from him.

“Wow,” says Melvin, “that’s very helpful! Well, we’ll be seeing you.” He turns to zip up the mountain.

BANG! The gun fires again. “NOW WHAT?” shouts Melvin.

“Har har, har har,” says the pirate. “You just forgot one thing.”

Melvin sighs. “Thank you,” he says, with a roll of his eyes.

BANG! “Not that,” says the pirate. “You forgot your FLAGS.”

Melvin is in a quiet rage now.

“Uh, what flags?” you ask.

“Yer safety flags. You’ll need ‘em to mark yer way up, so ye can get back down safely.”

“Um, that’s very thoughtful, thanks,” you say, looking around. “Where are the flags?”

“Har har, har har,” he laughs. “I buried ‘em.”

“Where?”

“In various places, on the beach here.”

Melvin explodes. “WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?”

The pirate frowns. “I’m not sure, exactly. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Player. And, like I said, my memory’s not what it used to be. Anyway, I can’t let ye climb without yer flags.”

Melvin sighs, exasperated. “So, are we just supposed to dig around on the beach at random?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Here’s a treasure map.” He hands you a map, and you see a confusing jumble of arrows and numbers on a grid. “Now,” he says, “you’ve got seventy-five seconds to find ten flags, or I’ll shoot ye both. Oh, and I think I buried some bombs too. Sorry ‘bout that.” He cocks his pistol again. “On yer mark, get set, GO!”

Put the Flag Capture cartridge into your Atari 2600. Set the game select to 8. Play until you get a score of ten or better. Post a link to a video in the comments section of yourself completing the challenge.