By and by, the tired creatures, statues, and humans made their way to their resting places for the night, until all who remained by the fire were Alex, Lani, Samheed, Sean, and Carina. Alex lay on his back on one side of Sean’s chair, Lani and Samheed on the other, looking at the stars.
Alex wished Sky had stayed by the fire. Just having her nearby seemed to take some of the ache away. But she stayed away from him. He couldn’t blame her at all. He’d been a total jerk to her, not giving her any explanation at all for his distant behavior after the Spike and Florence incidents. Here, under the stars that he’d so often shared with Sky, it was all he could do to stop dwelling on it and try to make conversation, just to keep the misery at bay.
“Are you sure you’re feeling well enough to sail home?” Alex asked Sean.
“I’m ready for anything, really,” Sean mused. “Anything that doesn’t require fighting an eel, that is.” He yawned. “It’s been nice resting up on this island, but I’m getting a little bored. Isn’t there something exciting we can do before we head back?”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “Like what?”
Carina looked at Sean in much the same manner. “Yeah, like what? It sounds like you have an idea.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Sean said. He looked off over the water to the west and began to whistle a slow tune.
Lani propped herself up on her elbow. “What—you want to see what’s out that way? Let’s do it! I’m in!”
Samheed groaned. “There’s nothing out there. It says so in the Warbler handbook.”
“So you trust Queen Eagala?” Carina said. “Her word doesn’t mean anything.”
“Simber said it too,” Alex offered. “But I don’t know if he meant there are only seven islands in the world, or just seven in this chain.”
Sean grinned. “I happen to know that Simber said there were seven in this chain. He doesn’t know if there’s anything beyond it.”
“I can hearrr you,” muttered Simber from somewhere in the darkness. But he didn’t deny the claim.
“And?” Carina prompted Sean. She turned on her side next to Sean in the chair, wearing a playful grin.
“And so I was thinking that we could maybe just go that way and see if anything appears on the horizon. Head west for a day, and if Simber still can’t detect anything, then we’ll turn around and head back home. Whaddya think, Al?”
“Come on, Alex. Please,” Lani said. “We’re right here—when will Samheed ever have this chance to prove me wrong again?”
Samheed laughed and tugged at Lani’s hair. “Hey, you’re cute and funny,” he said. “I like you. Even if you drive me crazy.”
“Same to you,” Lani said. The two affectionately touched their foreheads together, grinning.
Alex thought about going farther west. It seemed like a fine time to check it out, since they were out this way anyway. At most it would only add two days to their trip home, and they really hadn’t been gone long, though it felt like a lifetime with all that had happened. “I think it sounds good,” Alex said. “I’ll check with Simber to see if he has any concerns. If he feels good about it, we’ll do it.”
“Sounds fine,” came Simber’s response.
“Hooray!” Lani said.
“Do what?” said a voice from behind them. It was Florence. She and Talon came walking toward them. “What are we doing?”
“We’d like to go west to see if there’s anything else out there,” Alex told her. “If we don’t see anything by the end of the day, we’ll turn around. But I thought it would be nice to check since we’re out this far already.”
“Hmm,” Florence said with a grin. “Interesting. I’ve always wondered too.”
Lani beamed at Samheed.
“Stop already,” he said, feigning annoyance this time.
Florence turned to Talon. “Do you know if there are any more islands in that direction?”
“I have never explored it,” Talon said. “Nor have I seen any ships coming from that way—only from the other direction, as you came.”
“Which doesn’t mean there aren’t civilizations that way,” Carina mused. “They might be like you—having no means or desire to leave their island. And maybe not even knowing anyone else exists, like the people of Quill thought for so long.” Her growing excitement for the adventure was clear in her voice.
“Well, then,” Talon said, “I see no reason why you shouldn’t explore it. If anyone is well equipped to handle any situation, it is your team from Artimé.”
» » « «
It was a melancholy departure on a cloudy morning. Best wishes were exchanged between the inhabitants of Artimé and Karkinos, and both Florence and Alex stooped down near Karkinos’s face to say good-bye and thank you, silently wondering if they’d see him again.
When they could think of nothing more to do, Alex called, “All aboard!” and everyone assembled on the ship and stood at the railing, except for Florence, who stood centered on the new portion of the deck, and Simber and the squirrelicorns, who flew above. Captain Ahab directed the ship out of the crab-claw lagoon and into new waters to the west, with Spike alongside. Lhasa blew kisses from shore, while Talon, stoic, held one hand on his bronze chest. His eyes were locked with Florence’s.
Florence put her hand up to signal her farewell, while Simber made sure to fly off to the side so he wouldn’t block her view. At last, with Talon but a speck on the red-rimmed lump of an island, Florence lowered her hand. She looked down at the deck and emitted a sigh, and then sat down carefully and stared straight ahead. Alex stood next to her and, after a moment, reached up and put his hand on her shoulder, vowing once more to himself that he’d do anything in his power to help the Island of Legends survive.
A Chilling Turn
Eva Fathom, who had made herself scarce recently even though she continued spying on the high priest, stopped Aaron in the hallway on his way down the stairs.
“Where are you going?” she demanded.
“It’s not your business,” Aaron said.
“What happened to your shoulder?”
“What? Nothing.” He shifted it and barely winced at the pain.
“You’ve been holding it funny for days.”
“I must have hurt it putting the block wall back up.”
Eva glared. She knew he was lying. She also knew he still had the two heart attack spells in his pocket. And that he’d been going into Haluki’s house a lot lately . . . and most certainly using the tube to Artimé. But she didn’t know why, or what he was doing during the hours he was away. All she knew was that Artimé was vulnerable right now and she had to hold Aaron off from doing anything there until Matilda let her know that the ship was back.
“I’m warning you, Aaron,” Eva said, her voice hushed, “if you rush into . . . into doing something to harm Artimé, you will risk losing Quill’s loyalty. You’ll look like you’ve lost your head. It took Justine years and years to get everyone so thoroughly behind her. One false move for you, and it’s—”
“Stop.” Aaron clenched his jaw. “Not another word about it. And you’ll address me as High Priest.”
Eva closed her lips. The two of them stood facing each other in silence. Finally Aaron stepped aside and strode past her, down the stairs and toward the front door.
Eva whirled around and watched him go. As he closed the door, she hurried after him, hesitating briefly and then blindly rushing outside.
“High Priest, wait!”
Aaron didn’t stop walking.
Eva ran to catch up to him as they reached the portcullis. “Listen to me, please!” she said. “Don’t do anything to Artimé. Not just yet. We’ll work together to figure out the right time. I’ll help you, I promise. Just . . . wait.”
Aaron stopped walking. He turned, his boots grating against the gravel road, and looked at her.
“Please,” she said again.
Aaron held her gaze for a long moment. And then he looked at the guards who stood at the portcullis.
“Guards,” he said, wincing and clutching his shoulder, “take her to the Ancients Sector.”
Eva’s heart froze. “What?”
Aaron didn’t look at her. “Get busy!” he barked. The guards jumped to attention, grabbing Eva Fathom by the arms.
“No!” Eva cried out. “Aaron, no!”
But Aaron Stowe, high priest of Quill, turned away from her pleas and continued walking through the open gate toward Haluki’s house.
Eva, eyes wide with fear, strained her neck to watch him go, remembering his remorse when he’d done this to his own father. But this time he didn’t turn back. He didn’t change his mind.
The guards nudged Eva toward the palace. When she refused to walk, they picked her up by the elbows and carried her to the Quillitary vehicle near the door. They opened the door, put her in the backseat, and instructed the driver on what he was to do with the woman.
Eva, silent, faced forward as the jalopy sputtered and chugged down the driveway. The shadowy lines of the barbedwire ceiling of Quill crossed over her paper-thin skin, each one marking a year of her long life in service, many for the bad and fewer for the good.
When they passed the high priest on the road, Eva didn’t look at him. And when he was left in the dust behind them, Eva looked at the driver and took in a short breath of recognition. She gathered her thoughts then leaned forward. “Sir,” she said in a quiet voice, “is there any chance you’ll take a risk for me today?”
The driver slowed. He glanced over his shoulder at her. It was the driver Eva had given extra fruit and vegetables to. He hesitated. “There’s a chance.”
Eva closed her eyes for a moment, and then she opened them again and spoke. “Before you drive me to the Ancients Sector, could you please make one stop?”
The driver pinched the bridge of his nose and scratched his head. “All right, as long as it doesn’t take too long.”
Eva blew out a breath of relief and looked at her hands. “I assure you, good sir, that it won’t.”
Panther Goes for a Walk
From Haluki’s house, Aaron took the tube to the kitchenette, where he listened briefly but heard no one. “Good,” he muttered. “Perhaps they’re out on the lawn.” He pressed all the buttons at once, then found himself in the jungle.
This time he stayed in the tube until he located the rock. He spied Panther lounging on top of it. The panther sprang to her feet and made her way nimbly down the rock face, jumped to the ground, and bounded over to Aaron, mouth wide open and hissing.
Aaron stepped back, alarmed. This didn’t look like affection.
“It’s all right,” the rock rumbled. “That’s how she shows appreciation.”
The panther pushed her face into the tube and bumped Aaron’s hand, still hissing.
Aaron pulled back from the fangs. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice shaking. “Nice panther.” He patted the creature’s back gently as she tugged his clothing, pulling him out of the tube and hissing at every move he made.
Aaron stepped out, trying to make small talk with the rock while also trying not to appear afraid of the panther, even though he was. Soon the panther bounded up a tree and showed off her ability to balance on even the thinnest branches.
“Interesting,” Aaron muttered. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. Did the beast expect him to praise her or something? He didn’t understand these creatures. “Anyway,” Aaron continued, “I’m back, and I thought I’d take a walk. Maybe Panther can come with me so I don’t get hurt this time.”
The rock seemed to think about it. “That would be nice. Okay, Panther?”
The panther hissed.
“Well, I guess that’s a yes,” the rock said, chuckling. “Don’t go too far. I like Panther to stay nearby so she doesn’t wander too close to . . . you know what.” He pointed his peak toward Artimé. “Stay on the jungle paths and you won’t get lost.”
Aaron nodded. “Got it, chief.”
The rock chuckled, pleased by the title.
Aaron and the panther set off into the jungle, Aaron trying to stop the anxious energy from boiling over. He also needed to put aside his thoughts about what he’d just done to Secretary. He could hardly believe he’d done it. But she had crossed the line so many times, and Aaron had been too lenient with her. He’d let it go too far, hadn’t he? Once the insults began, there was nothing else he could do, no matter how she pleaded. She was dead wrong, and she wouldn’t stop bugging him with her wrongness. It’s not like she didn’t know she was over the line. More than once.
But Secretary was useful. And perhaps, deep down, Aaron was a tiny bit fond of her. She’d helped him out of a jam more than once. He furrowed his brow and sighed. He could always stop at the Ancients Sector tonight and spring her out of there. They likely wouldn’t put her to sleep until tomorrow at the earliest. Maybe having her spend a few hours there would be enough to scare her into behaving better.
That’s it, he decided. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll just scare her. “But it’ll be her last chance,” he grumbled, glad to have that issue resolved. “If she does anything else to defy me, it’s over. And that’s final.” He continued on the path. Panther occasionally bounded ahead. As soon as they were out of sight of the rock, Aaron left the path and picked his way over fallen trees and vines until he reached the real path he wanted to be on—the path to Artimé.
“Come on, Panther,” Aaron called, moving faster now.
The panther hissed, saliva dripping from her jaws.
Aaron began to imagine the scene: Alex, lounging on the shore with that pretty orange-eyed girl. Aaron and the panther entering the lawn from the jungle—no one would ever expect them. And if Alex wasn’t out there, it didn’t matter. He’d send Panther into whatever crowd there was—and there was always a crowd on Artimé’s lawn. “We’ll just scare them,” Aaron said to the panther. “Show them that they aren’t the only ones who can command a living statue.”
Panther hissed.
Aaron picked up the pace when he saw the stream. The path ended there. Aaron called out to the panther to follow, and Panther did. They crossed the stream and continued on. Aaron began to look for brighter areas so he’d know where the forest ended.
With no path now, it was slow going, but Aaron could tell that the trees were thinning. Eventually he could hear birds and voices in the distance. He crashed through the brush to the edge of the jungle, where he could see Artimé.
“Come here, Panther,” Aaron said, peering at Artimé’s lawn from behind a tree.
The panther hissed and sat down near Aaron. He stroked the panther’s head as he watched the people move about the property, still quite a distance away.
Aaron’s heart raced. The Unwanteds would soon see how powerful he was. Yet, in the back of his mind, doubt crept in. Eva Fathom’s words invaded his brain. “Don’t move too quickly. Get everything in order first.” But Aaron shoved the thoughts aside.
“We’re just scaring them a little, okay Panther? Don’t . . . don’t kill anyone. Not just yet.”
Panther hissed.
“Scare them good, though, I mean. Then turn around and come back to me.”
Panther looked at Aaron, and the two seemed to have an understanding. At least, Aaron thought so.
“Ready?”
Panther hissed.
“Go!” Aaron cried.
The panther bounded from the jungle toward Artimé at top speed, jaws open wide.
Surprise Attack
Eva Fathom got out of the Quillitary vehicle at the gate to Artimé. “Thank you,” she said to the driver. “I’ll be very quick.”
He nodded and looked down. Both of them knew he could be sent to the Ancients Sector for this if anybody found out.
Secretary hurried into Artimé, greeting the girrinos by name. They narrowed their eyes at her but let her in. She walked down one of the paths to the mansion, but then she caught sight of Claire Morning on the lawn with a group of orange-eyed children, all with strange sc
ars around their necks. The instructor had been teaching the children how to sing.
Claire did a double take at the sight of Eva Fathom. She rose. “Excuse me for a moment, dear children,” she said. “Talk about your favorite songs quietly. I’ll be right back.”
She stepped away. Eva met her in the grass.
“What do you want?” Claire asked. She folded her arms over her chest.
“Claire, I know Carina isn’t around right now. But I need you to tell her something for me.”
“How would you know she’s not around?”
“It doesn’t matter—it’ll all come out one day, I’m sure.” She hesitated. Her chin began to quiver, and she frowned, trying to stop it. She turned her face and gazed out at the sea, realizing it would be the last time she’d take in its beauty. “I’m being sent to the Ancients Sector,” she said, her voice soft. “I was arguing with Aaron, and he got mad, and now I’m . . . about to go.”
Claire’s mouth twitched. “If you want me to say I’m sorry about your circumstances, I’m afraid I can’t. Not after what you did to me.”
“I don’t blame you, Claire. Though when I spoke loudly in Haluki’s home about you and Gunnar, it was on purpose. I wanted you both to know the other was there. It’s not much, I’m afraid, but it’s all I can tell you right now.” She pressed her lips together. “I’m on your side, though I don’t expect you to believe me. I’ve been staying with Aaron so I could keep an eye on things.”
Claire frowned. She glanced at the children, who were talking animatedly about their favorite songs. “What is it you want me to tell Carina?”
Eva focused on Claire. “Please, will you tell her I love her and little Seth? And that I’m so sorry . . .” Her hand flew to her mouth, fingers trembling. She took a deep breath and continued, stronger. “Tell her I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye. And to explain.”