* * *
The next evening, they sighted land. Spirits were high. They knew that soon their feet would touch ground well documented on all known Zacterronian maps. Kyhawn and his friends watched the land emerge from under the horizon.
“Sure is a beautiful sight, isn’t it?” Washburrn came up from behind them.
Kyhawn turned. For the moment, he seemed to have almost forgotten all that had happened. “Beautiful, it’s spectacular! I mean the way the mountains just seem to come from beneath the ocean.”
“I almost forgot—you’ve never seen anything like this.” Washburrn smiled. “I always thought it seemed much the same as when one leaves the land behind.”
“They’re nothing alike.”
Washburrn eased back. “Well, I can’t wait to meet your mother. But I won’t be able to stay long. As you know, I have a few important business matters I need to take care of in Chamquinil.”
Kyhawn nodded, but his face was a long one. His heart ached. “When will we see each other again? I mean, after your business in Chamquinil?”
“I’m not sure,” Washburrn said as he slung his good arm over Kyhawn’s shoulder. “But we will see each other again. You can be sure of that.”
Kyhawn smiled as they continued to watch Omakohak rising from the ocean like a new sunrise bringing fresh light to a new day.
Washburrn patted Kyhawn’s shoulder. “I do believe you’re right—there is a difference between heading out for sea, and then watching the land rise up from the horizon.”
Kyhawn nodded.
Washburrn cracked a thin smile. “You know, Kyhawn, I remember the first time I saw land after being away. I wasn’t much younger than you. Strange, now that I think about it. It was one of the unique sights I’d encountered during that part of my life. Odd how we forget such events, then all of the sudden, there it is before us. As though it were only … the other day.”
Kyhawn turned to him. “That’s pretty deep.”
“Well … I’m not all daggers and pistols, you know.” Washburrn chuckled and clapped his shoulder as they joined the others.
The time drifted by with the anticipation of being home growing stronger with each passing wave. Before long they had docked in the port of Omakohak. It was a quiet, cool, and calm day. The breeze gently laid an autumn leaf onto the pier next to one of the three fisher-Zacs securing Captain Owem’s large sea vessel.
Soon after many of them headed for the Do-Eats Restaurant. But unfortunately just before Earron and Coita went ashore, they had another argument. Upset, Coita slung his hood over his head, tipping it forward so not to be noticed, he slipped through the crowed and quickly took off to their shack they called home.
On nearing the restaurant, a couple of fisher-Zacs sitting on one of the many benches along the docks thought they had seen ghosts.
“Earron …? I’ll be … you’re alive!” A fisher-Zac playfully grabbed him by his arm.
“Where on Goducess’s planet have you all been?” another fisher-Zac asked. “We thought you were lost at sea forever. And Coita, where’s he?”
“He’s okay,” Earron assured them. “He should be at our shack by now.”
The fisher-Zac nodded oddly. “We knew you all had gone searching for the Sealander.”
“It sunk,” Earron said. “We’re going inside now. Come in … we’ll tell you about it inside.” He grabbed the already half-opened door. A moment later Earron was greeted by more fisher-Zacs. Everyone seemed amazed to see any of them.
Kyhawn’s mother Sailma, who had been working in the kitchen, came out from behind the swinging doors. When she saw Earron, she dropped her apron and ran to him. “You’re alive!” she cried as she hugged him. Then she backed away and looked around. Her eyes drifted back to Earron.
“Kyhawn’s okay. He’s still outside.”
Before Earron could get another word in, Sailma rushed for the door. Earron thought, That’s the first time she’s ever been glad to see me.
Sailma excused herself through the small crowd, and saw her son appear at the door. They looked at one another as if they were both frozen in time. “Son—you’re alive.” Tears of happiness ran down her face. Kyhawn quickly handed Shellean the wooden box, and went to his mother. They embraced one another as they had never done before. Sailma finally pulled away and smiled. “Let me see your face,” she cried, using her hanky to wipe the tears from his eyes.
Kyhawn embraced her once again. “It’s so good to see you, Mom. It’s good to be home.”
“I thought I had lost you too … Son.”
Kyhawn stepped back. “Mom, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Shellean,” he announced with a smile.
Sailma turned to a coworker friend of hers, “My son’s home safe—and he has a girlfriend.” Shellean gave Kyhawn the wooden box and they joined the captain, Washburrn, Alil, and Tailk who were already sitting at a table.
“Sit down, Kyhawn.” Washburrn slid over on the long bench. “We can make room for the three of you somewhere here.”
After they were seated with Sailma at the end of the table, she asked, “What is that you have there, Son?”
“It’s just something Earron, Coita, and I found in a cave.” He slid the old box over to her. “Mom, I want you to meet Washburrn.”
Throughout the restaurant the story was being told, but to anyone listening closely, all of them had their own story to tell in their own way, ranging from Nevets’s exaggerated version to Washburrn’s odd bits and facts.
Earron came over to Kyhawn’s table and picked up the box to show a friend. “This box and Kyhawn’s drawings are the only things we have to remember the island. Except of course we do have .…” He paused quickly changing his mind about mentioning his stones. “There’s interesting old navigator instruments and parchments inside.” He glanced at everyone, ending with Kyhawn. “Did you tell your mom about the cave?”
“I haven’t had a chance to yet.”
Seconds later, another fisher-Zac came from behind Earron and playfully squeezed his shoulders. “Good to see ya.”
Earron jerked away, and the old box went crashing onto the table.
“Hey …! Be careful, Earron,” Kyhawn cried. “Look what you did.” He tried to fix it, but only made matters worse. To no one’s surprise, a board came completely loose. Kyhawn’s dreams again flashed before his eyes as he pulled out an old sailor scarf which had been hidden in a narrow compartment in the bottom. “There’s something wrapped inside.” He carefully unfolded it as at least 35 small rounded colored stones spilled out on to the table. His large brown eyes widened with hope as he lay some blank parchments aside, and reached for some ancient coins laying beneath the stones. And beneath the coins what appeared to be a small part to some type of thin, golden flat-shaped ornament. He picked it up for all to see. No one knew for sure exactly what the piece of ornament was except for Captain Joenf. The Caytona plate, he thought, but kept it to himself. The ancient coins and colored stones spoke for themselves.
“Well, I’ll be!” Alil leaned across the table to admire the find.
“I’d have never guessed anything was hiding in there,” Werdna mumbled as he guzzled the mug of beer in one hand to ease the pain in his other.
Tobben, Zeal, and Shanel stood nearby each with a mug of beer. “Good cheers to Kyhawn and his mates.” Zeal said as he, Tobben, and Shanel offered a toast. “Here, here,” echoed the large room as indeed a toast was celebrated. Kyhawn’s smile widened with delight. He looked at everyone, stopping at Washburrn who was staring at him.
“Well, doesn’t surprise me, not one bit.” Washburrn slowly nodded and gave him a thin smile.
Kyhawn slid the scarf over to Washburrn. “It appears you have a reason to stay after all.”
“These are some pretty darn old coins. Well … you just might have something here.” He reached for his glasses and carefully examined them. He looked at Alil across from him. “If you’re not doing anything, how a
bout sticking around for a while, at least until I get this here taken care of?”
Alil placed her hand over his and nodded with a look of delight.
When Earron picked up the blank parchments, Kyhawn looked up at him. Earron remarked, “Blank sheets of parchment. Hmm …?”
Kyhawn quickly changed the subject, “It’s a good thing you dropped this box, or we might never have known these coins and colored stones were inside.”
“Yeah,” Earron said. “And this thin piece of gold too, whatever it is. Even if it is broken, it’s still gold.” He stood with a great big grin, looking around as if he wished Coita were among them.
Kyhawn hugged his mother, then turned to Shellean and did the same.
Earron set the piece of golden ornament next to the box and threw his arms out at Kyhawn. Kyhawn jumped to his feet, went to him, and they embraced.
“We’re rich! We’re rich, Earron! No more shack for you and Coita!”
“Yeah, and you and your mom are going to be able to pay off those taxes and debts after all.” Earron smiled.
“What do you mean—going to be? I feel like they already are,” Kyhawn said as they danced in circles of joy while everyone cheered them on.
A few moments later, they stood again next to the table with their arms around each other. Earron whispered into Kyhawn’s ear, “Thanks … and if Coita were here, he’d thank you too.”
“Is he … at the shack?”
“Yeah, but once he hears about this, his mood will change.”
Captain Joenf now stood next to a friend of his who owned the restaurant and began banging his cane on a ceiling beam. “Drinks on the house, and let us make another toast to our lucky young Zacs, Kyhawn, Earron, and Coita!”
A moment later Coita came in, pushed along by two fisher-Zacs. All eyes were upon him. Earron and Kyhawn came up to him excitedly.
“Is it true, Earron …?” Coita’s eyes glowed. “Did you really find old coins and colored stones hidden in that old box?”
“Is it true, he asks.” Earron chuckled.
“Look here, Coita.” Kyhawn showed him the sailor’s scarf.
Coita’s eyes lit up with hope, and all three of them embraced and began dancing. They chanted ko-la-ton e-moss-lon (may the luck of the Gods be with you). Soon everyone was also chanting with them.
As this inspiring moment passed, Earron whispered into Coita’s ear, “I’d never leave you alone, Coita … not ever.”
“Toast—toast—let’s toast to our young friends!” the captain shouted as Kyhawn laid the scarf next to Washburrn. While yet another toast was being made on their behalf, they continued to dance joyfully. “We’re rich—we’re rich!” they chanted.
Finally Kyhawn stopped and glanced around the room. A great big glow about him, his eyes met Washburrn’s. The restaurant was quiet as Washburrn held out his glass of mogg juice at Kyhawn. “To the dagger-key!” Their drinking glasses touched as Washburrn smiled at him like a father might a son.
Kyhawn quickly turned his drinking glass to Earron and Coita. “To the dagger-key,” he said with a smile as the restaurant once again filled with cheer.
Kyhawn turned to Washburrn again. They looked into one another’s eyes, and once again their drinking glasses touched as another toast was made—this time in honor of all who had survived Kyhawn’s dreams.
THE END…….FOR NOW
I look forward to hearing from your comment. I have already written book III , the final chapter. But at the time, it’s only in a rough draft format. After I prepare book II, I will begin completing book III,
I also paint, and draw. I enjoy being creative. And when I’m not being creative in my studio, I’m at peoples home remodeling something for them. otherwise, I do handyman work and remodeling to support my lifestyle.
Ko-la-ton E-moss-lon
Daniel L. Ferguson
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