* * *
Later that evening while many of the passengers were sitting around the fire-pits, two passenger ladies were talking together as the first’s Oowed sat next to her, mending a hole in her fancy garment. “My husband and I almost didn’t take this cruise,” she said. “Now they tell us that to get off this island, we’ll have to tie the lifeboats together and go out to a ship in the rain. I paid good tiallup for this trip. That chaps my behind, if you understand what I mean.”
The other lady nodded sadly. “My son and his new bride were going to meet with me in Adrolf.” She lowered her head and began to cry. “I may never see them again.” They hold each other in friendship, as if embracing each others sadness.
Kyhawn stood next to a fire-pit glancing at the two ladies while stirring a large pot of potato, herb, and sea-bird soup hanging over the embers. He noticed Shellean coming from around the corner of the medic cabin. To his surprise, she looked directly at him. He turned away as though he wasn’t interested. A moment later, he turned to see if she was still watching him, but she wasn’t. He became lost in his own thoughts as he reached for a bowl and sat on a stump next to the fire-pit to eat.
“I see you didn’t go with them.” Shellean appeared suddenly beside him.
Kyhawn stood up straight and almost fell into the fire-pit.
“Careful!” She grabbed him. “I see you’re not going with Washburrn to the ruins. I guess this morning’s affair was plenty for one day…?”
Kyhawn’s face turned a deeper shade of blue. “The captain put Earron, Coita, and me on guard duty tonight at the bonfire, or otherwise I would have gone with them.” He motioned for her to come closer. “This may sound a bit childish, so don’t tell anyone this.” He looked at her sky-blue skin, and then into her dark blue eyes, “But if we get a chance out there, we’re going to make a sandcastle.”
“A sandcastle?” she chuckled.
“Shhh … the Captain and Alil know about our plans. Zeal and Tobben too, but no one else.” He refilled his bowl with soup, then glanced around at the others lounging nearby as he didn’t want anyone else to hear what he had to say. “Tomorrow, if we find that dagger-key, we’re going to the cave.”
“I don’t understand what makes you think you’re going to find it on the beach in the morning. How many of those silly sandcastles have you guys made already?” Shellean put on a fake smile. “I’m sorry. It does sound exciting and dangerous—at least about you guys going to that cave all alone.”
“I guess, or should I say, it will be.” He rubbed his chin. “How’d you like to join us?”
“No thanks, I have to stay up most of the night myself. Only I’ll be watching over Zacs with the flu. Two more passengers came down with it.”
He swallowed a bite of soup. “Seems Daedeth and Ginvaelton have been sick for as long as we’ve been here.”
She nodded. “They have, and I don’t understand it either. No matter what we do for them, they remain ill.”
“I guess this means you’re not going?”
“No, I’m not going,” she answered, thinking, What a dumb idea. She looked at his feet. “Do those boots fit you all right?”
“They’re okay. They’ll do.” He took a final spoonful of soup, set the bowl aside, and adjusted his fancy dark orange cloak. “The cloak fits just fine.” He smiled, looking into her eyes. “Do you ever get angry? I mean, I’ve never seen you upset. Even after all we’ve been through. Or should I say, after all you’ve been through.”
“I just pretend—pretend all is well.” She returned the smile. “But I do have some time now, and I was thinking we might take a walk. That’s if you don’t have any other plans before your bonfire duty starts.”
Kyhawn smiled again. “Should I bring a rope?”
“Ha … I don’t think so. Being tied up with you once by that imposter of a Zac, posing as La’mamm and his religious fanatic group was enough for one adventure.”
Dellyna came storming out from the medic cabin. “I’m not going to take any more of Ginvaelton’s filthy mouth. I’m sorry, Shellean, but they’re all yours.” She tossed her apron aside. “When I see Malnur I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.”
Shellean looked at Kyhawn and gestured “some other time.”
Kyhawn took a deep breath and gave her an “oh well” look.
“Kyhawn,” Earron came up with his sleeping gear and cabac hanging from his shoulders. “Captain said we needed to leave for the bonfire now. When we get there, we’re going to need to gather and chop up a lot of wood.” Coita wasn’t far behind.
Moments later Kyhawn had gathered his gear, and off to the bonfire the three of them departed. Earron led the way with lantern in hand. Meanwhile, Luxton, Stubton, and Pasha, a female posing as Stubton’s wife began whispering among themselves.
“See here, I’m still in charge,” the short, slim, pale yellow-skinned Luxton told them. “We escape tonight while Washburrn and Dylc are away.”
The tall, skinny, green-skinned Stubton, dressed in his fancy garments, asked, “What of those Grongels? We know they’re up there in the ruins. Shouldn’t we team together, at least until we get off this island?”
“I’m with him.” The conniving and beautiful Pasha stared at Luxton. Her brown hair hung just past her shoulders over her green skin that glistened with eagerness to escape.
“We can help them nab the artifacts too. No doubt they could use the assistance. Pay us handsomely for it too, and then some.”
Luxton showed what he thought of their ideas by spitting in the dirt. “We’ll leave when I say. We’ll take the lifeboats we hid when we first landed, and tie them together. When it rains, we’ll flee this dead zone. Our ship should be waiting for us between here and Adrolf. We’ll keep the sails of our ship high on the sea until one of those cruise ships passes through these waters and rescues the rest of them. Then we’ll ransack the ship and get hold of the chest, but not until then.”
“Shhh … here they come,” Pasha warned.