* * *
Kyhawn opened his eyes and sat up in a lifeboat. Rubbing his eyes as if he was lost in one of his dreams, he tugged on Tuenale’s sleeve. Tuenale gave him a compassionate stare. “You’re awake.” He patted the young detective’s shoulder. “Thank the Gods you’re all right.”
Kyhawn took a quick breath, shook his head, and quickly looked around. His eyes opened wide with alarm. “We’re sinking,” he said as the ship leaned to one side. He leaned forward. “The chain …” he was unable to find it in his pockets. “The chest .…”
“The Chest is well. It’s sitting in that lifeboat,” Tuenale pointed, as he went on to explain what happened. And that they had to carry him from room 10 on to the lifeboat. “I’m not sure what we hit.”
Kyhawn got to his feet, pulled himself up the pulley rope, and climbed over the railing onto the main deck to reclaim the chain he had found in room 10.
Moments later Kyhawn departed the room. With the chain clutched in his fist, he hurried to room 4 where he grabbed his cabac, stuffed the chain safely inside it, and hurried to the lifeboat containing the peg-lock chest. But before he could reach the lifeboat, Washburrn and Willow came from around the corner near room 10.
Between the sound of the rain and waves crashing against the nearby shore, they heard a loud and horrifying crack as lightning struck the ship. “Look out!” Kyhawn’s eyes widened with fear. “The mast—the mast is falling!” He pointed while at the same time pushing Washburrn out of harm’s way. The riggings snapped, whipping in all directions. The mast crashed through the railing, breaking it into pieces. Kyhawn tripped over a loose rigging. Another rigging slapped him over the side into the ocean.
“Someone’s overboard!” shouted a passenger.
Kyhawn struggled to keep his head above water. He felt he was about to vanish under the waves. Taking a deep breath, he forced off his cabac, heavy coat and leather boots that were pulling him down. All he could think about was his next breath of air. Finally he was free of them and able to stay more easily on the surface.
Lightning again lit the sky. He caught sight of a lifeboat nearby. Alil’s arm reached for him. “Give me your hand,” she stretched as far as she could reach. “Take it!”
The lifeboat dipped with the movement of the waves.
Kyhawn struggled to reach her hand, but their fingers never touched. Again the lifeboat dipped. This time he felt her fingers, but the waves pulled them apart.
Up and down in the ocean’s powerful pull, Kyhawn struggled to catch his breath. He managed to grab Alil’s wrist, but slipped away again. He threw his head back gasping for air.
On another rise, their hands touched again, but the powerful undertow tore them from one another before they had a chance to get a good grip.
It took everything Kyhawn had to pull himself upward again. Finally with a little help from the next wave, he gripped the lifeboat with all he had left to give.
Alil grabbed him and pulled him aboard.
While they raced to get away from the sinking ship, Kyhawn lay in the lifeboat. His dreams flashed before him. Exhausted, he sat up to have a look around. An Oowed stared at him. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Kyhawn shook his head and turned the other way. “Alil.” He gripped her arm. “Where’s Washburrn?”
Before Alil had a chance to respond, a large wave came from out of the darkness and slammed the small boat against huge rocks. They flipped completely over. Kyhawn, Alil, and the others with them along with the peg-lock chest were left to fend for themselves.
“Help!” a passenger cried. “I can’t swim!”
Alil grabbed the passenger. “I have you—hold on!” She wrapped her arm around the elderly lady’s upper body while swimming powerfully toward the lights. Although she looked around for Kyhawn, she couldn’t see him anywhere.
“Land—there’s land over here!” The lights illuminated Tobben, who was standing in what looked to be only a few feet of water and waving his arms. “You can make it,” he said as he and others came out to give a helping hand.
“What in Goducess’s creation is going on here?” Shanel questioned. “Where are we?” Treb, a wealthy farmer, and his son Bekim stood by and helped beach the other lifeboats. “Where are we?” Shanel repeated.
“Not sure,” Treb said, his voice accented, “but it beats a sinking ship.” As the rain dripped from his wide brimmed hat, he embraced his son. “We’re going to be all right, Bekim, wherever we are.”
They felt relieved as a smaller wave gently pushed another lifeboat ashore.
Exhausted, Alil made sure Dylc and another well-trusted crew-Zac was taking care of Captain Joenf, who lay unconscious under the nearby trees. She then went in search of Kyhawn and Washburrn, but before she could locate them, she had to attend to one of the crew who had just made it onto the beach before collapsing. At the opposite end of the beach, to the far left, blood dripped from Kyhawn’s forehead. He had also dragged himself onto the beach next to a large tree before collapsing.
With the dark and gloomy atmosphere still showered with rain, Kyhawn sat against the tree, feeling alone. His eyes drifted toward Shellean, who was down the beach a ways tending to one of the passengers. He sat in thought. She’s one of the new crew. I wonder if she had anything to do with the two murders?
While Kyhawn tried to put the pieces together, lighting cracked the sky. His eyes widen as he was caught off guard by its sudden brightness. It reminded him of a growing tree in the dead of winter. Thunder roared through the heavens. Another lightening bolt ripped threw the sky. This time enabling him to catch a glimpse of the ship only half exposed above the tide. It was like a bad dream. He quickly turned his head the opposite way, away from the others. His eyes glared upon the waves melting into the white sand.
The seconds ticked by like rain moving in slow motion. He looked around for his cabac suddenly realizing he had to leave it in the water. My notes, they’re all in my cabac.... He rubbed his hands over his face as thought he was trying to wake up. He cried out a yet soft but eerie sound that only he could hear. Going back in the water for his cabac was definitely out of the question; he was too worn out. And when he did try to stand, he felt dizzy, so he remained where he was for the moment. While his mind drifted in and out like a tide moving in fast motion. Too fast for him to think straight. If Washburrn did end up falling off the ship like I did, then why didn't he end up somewhere over here? Maybe he did end up leaving in one of the other lifeboats on the other side of the ship. That might explain why he isn't anywhere around here, and what about the chest?
When Kyhawn looked at the group he could see others much worse off then he. Not yet ready to face the reality of it he quickly turned the away. What is that? I wonder if that’s someone in need of help? He thought as his eye’s fixated on a silhouette shape resting on the beach, alone, in the darkness. He pressed his arm against the tree, feeling pain in his elbow, he got to his feet.
Hesitated by the thought of it being Washburrn’s body, he verge upon the haunting object realizing it was only busted boards tangled in seaweed and a blanket that had washed ashore. A doom reminder of what had recently taken place.
A cold chill rushed through his entire body. With the wind and rain in his face, he turned towards the others on the beach near the trees. The view reminded him of misplaced dominoes resting randomly, waiting to be pampered, and then neatly placed on a shelf.
Kyhawn started to see specks of light appear before him. Not sure what this meant, he tried to grab them. He began to loose his balance, his arms out to his sides. He felt dizzy. The colors of the night began to slowly turn to deeper shades of grayish-blues. Feeling nauseous as he neared the tree; he fell against it, then with his back facing the tree he slowly slid down onto the ground and closed his eyes.
The Dagger-Key and The Lost Treasures of Kebadon Page 9