Part 29 (1/2)

”Good morning,” Rebecca replied. She felt disoriented. She was on dry land at last, but it still seemed to be moving under her. She also wasn't where she remembered being, lying in the sand beside the boat. She was under the shade of a large, strange tree and covered with a scratchy blanket. Beyond the shade, she saw that the storm was entirely over and bright suns.h.i.+ne played upon a much moderated, sparkling sea.

”I hurt everywhere,” she complained, sitting up.

”Course you do. You been cooped up in a little room for weeks, then sittin' on yer b.u.t.t in a boat. Takes a while to get the muscles all loosened up again.”

”All is well?”

Silva's grin faded just a bit. ”Mostly,” he hedged.

”What do you mean?” Rebecca fought down an almost panicked concern. ”Is everyone all right? What of . . . What of Lawrence, and Mr. Cook?”

”Oh, ever'body's okay, I guess. Cook's over there, still sleepin'. I figger Larry must've perked right up, 'cause he was already gone, trompin' around, I expect, before I even came around. Most o' them Imperial fellas is still sleepin' too, 'cept Rajendra. Him and Cap'n Lelaa's over there inspectin' the boat.” He looked up. ”And here comes our overall captain o' everything now.”

”At ease,” Sandra said sarcastically. ”Don't bother to jump up and salute!” She was smiling when she sat in the sand next to Silva. ”How do you feel, sweetie?” she asked Rebecca.

”Okay,” replied the girl. She glanced warily at the nearby tree. ”Are you quite sure there are none of those creatures such as were on Talaud? The ones that climb trees and drop upon prey from above?”

”Ain't seen any,” Silva a.s.sured her, ”and there's no scratch marks like they make.” He shrugged. ”Who knows, though? Don't worry; I been keepin' my eye out!” He chuckled at his little joke. Suddenly, his face went blank and he stiffened. Seeing his reaction to . . . whatever, the two girls froze as well. Slowly, Silva eased around to look back in the jungle behind him. ”d.a.m.n you, Larry,” he said, ”what are you doin' sneakin' around in the bushes? You mighta got shot. Again.”

Lawrence practically slithered slithered up among them, his eyes darting about. ”Quiet!” he insisted. He looked at Rebecca and lowered his head. ”I up among them, his eyes darting about. ”Quiet!” he insisted. He looked at Rebecca and lowered his head. ”I so so sorry!” he moaned. ”I so, sorry!” he moaned. ”I so, so so sorry!” sorry!”

”What? What is it, my dear?” Rebecca asked, alarmed.

”I just learn charts and I guess I didn't learn so good, or I did learn good, and still not right!”

”What the h.e.l.l's that supposed to mean?” Silva hissed.

”I think he means that we are where we set out to go, this Yap Island, but, with Larry not knowing charts or being familiar with all the hundreds of islands around here, Yap isn't the same place as Tagran after all,” Rebecca said carefully.

”Yes, yess!”

”How does he know?” Sandra asked.

Lawrence hesitated. ”I here . . . again!”

”Before?”

”Yes!”

”You're positive?”