* * *
That evening, Kyhawn, Washburrn, and some others headed to the clearing next to the white sand beach. Here they started a bonfire in hopes a passing ship might see it and come rescue them. They struggled to get the damp wood lit, but with much effort, some lamp oil, and a few flint sticks, they eventually succeeded.
Afterward Washburrn and Kyhawn with lantern in hand walked down to the shallow cliffs on the edge of the clearing. They peered at the water beneath them breaking against the rocks. To their left down a hillside lay the rainbow-shaped white sand beach where many of them had spent their first night. At the far end of that beach, a natural stone arch stood about ten feet high. Four much taller arches stood in a line along the water’s edge not far beyond the first arch. They are beautiful, Kyhawn thought.
Just a little ways out from the smaller arch closest to them was a cluster of rocks connected to the arch. The rocks slowly vanished under the ocean waves. It was there the remains of the Sealander rested, a glum reminder of what had taken place the night before.
Kyhawn went to look more closely at the hillside. He noticed two sandcastles. He glanced at Washburrn, who was speaking with the Zacs on bonfire duty. He went down the hillside to the sandcastles, realizing then they were a part of his dreams. He knelt and touched them. As he did, he thought about Earron, Coita, and himself falling from a waterfall in one of his dreams. Emaya once told me that running water meant change … or a new birth. What does this mean? He looked over his shoulder and noticed the light from the lantern was making him cast a long shadow that disappeared into the breaking waves. Some of the kids must have constructed them. But why sandcastles … why are sandcastles in my dreams? He took out his dagger and slammed it flat on top of one of them. What does this mean? He wondered as he slipped his dagger back into its sheath. I don’t know what it means, he thought as he slowly rose and returned to the bonfire.
After a few more friendly words with those on bonfire duty, Washburrn and Kyhawn started toward camp. While on the wide path between the large trees, there was a light on the path before them. “The Captain’s having nightmares again,” Alil said as she led them to the medic cabin. “It took four of us to hold him down.”
“The Sealander’s gone. What are we supposed to do?” Washburrn asked as they approached the medic cabin. “Too many have perished already. Captain Joenf knows the safety of his crew and passengers come first.”
Alil raised her arms in frustration. “So we just let him and the others die?”
“We meditate and ask for help from the Gods,” Kyhawn suggested, the words coming from his mouth before he had taken the time to think about them. “It was something Emaya tried to teach me, but I never made much of an effort to learn her ways.”
Washburrn gave him an odd look. “That’s useless,” he grunted.
Alil sighed. “Shellean told me the Captain will be lucky to make it through the night.”
Kyhawn pulled the blanket aside so the three could enter the medic cabin. Dylc, Zeal, and Malnur stood beside the captain’s bed.
“Another soldier of the king has passed on,” Shellean said as she placed a blanket over the female soldier’s head. “It was the flu that took her.” They prayed for the dead soldier’s soul to be set free of her body, so that her soul may make way to the land of the Golden Flame, as they did all who had perished. Next they silently gathered around the captain’s bed, knowing that he would most likely soon be the on his way to the land of the Golden Flame as well.
Would the captain be the next one to die? Kyhawn thought as he respectfully lowered his head and went outside to sit on a stump near the cabin door. He felt defeated by his dreams. They were a gift he almost wished he didn’t possess. His elbows jabbed his knees while his hands pressed against his chin. I should have listened to Emaya and gone to visit her more often. Her words echoed in his mind. “Such as the stars in the sky possess magical powers, if you believe in magic, your days will be gifted with magic. If you do not believe in magic, your days will be without magic.” The thought had nothing to do with his dreams, but the words, which hadn’t seemed important then, now sounded deep within his soul. In a sense, he felt responsible for all that had happened. Emaya once told me I had a gift … a gift to read dreams. If only I had taken the time to let her teach me how to understand my dreams more fully. If only I had listened to her. Like tossing away in the deepest ocean a box filled with unknown treasures, Kyhawn felt he had lost his gift.
Shellean stepped outside with a towel in her hands as if she was drying them. She glanced at Kyhawn and sat on a stump alongside him. “I heard this was your first time on a cruise ship. You can be sure I’ve never experienced anything close to what I’ve been through on this voyage. And now because of the ground shaking and those horrible sea snakes, we’ve lost two more good Zacs, the Sealander, and the lucown.” Kyhawn barely listened to her as she went on and on about this and that before asking, “Are you going to say anything, or do I have to do all the talking?”
Kyhawn gazed at her and spoke rather bluntly, “I’m really not in a talkative mood. I’d rather be alone.”
She placed her hand on his knee. “I understand. I realize you’ve had a horrible day. And with that chest, and Emit, I know you have a lot to be concerned about.” She paused. “That fancy chest—it must be very important.”
Kyhawn removed her hand from his knee. “There you go again, asking questions about that chest. It sank, okay! Anyway, Emit’s probably dead and his spirit is clinging to it out there in the ocean somewhere.”
“Everyone knows about the chest and those old books inside,” Shellean snapped back. “Surely you and Washburrn don’t think it’s a secret? Did it really sink? Malnur and I heard it was unsinkable. And what else was in it besides old books?”
“I guess it didn’t float after all.”
“Malnur and I were also wondering who else besides Emit was after it. Did you get any answers when you questioned everyone?”
“Why do you have all these questions? Is that all you care about?” Kyhawn stared at her. She’s beautiful but deadly, like a poisonous plant.
“I was only trying to make conversation.” She crossed her arms, then suddenly threw the towel at him. “You’re just a self-centered, immature kid, suspicious of everyone and everything.”
Kyhawn turned toward the fire-pits around the corner. “What do you know anyway?” He tossed the towel aside, then went back in the medic cabin and retrieved his cabac from the small room at the far end, and quickly departed without saying a word. Without stopping he glanced at Shellean standing by the door, then went to the sleeping cabin where he had hoped to be alone in the far back corner where he had established himself a sleeping space.
Shellean picked up the towel and turned back to the medic cabin where Malnur was standing in the doorway with the doorway blanket draped over his shoulder. She shook her head. “I don’t understand him.”
“Did he tell you anything we don’t already know?” Malnur asked as he let loose the blanket in the doorway, and followed her to the captain’s bedside.
“No,” Shellean said as she went to wipe the sweat from Captain Joenf’s forehead. “I only wanted to have something to say to him. But I keep saying the wrong thing. I don’t think he likes me.”