The Dagger-Key and The Lost Treasures of Kebadon

by Daniel Ferguson

  * * *

  The next morning they were awakened by a drizzle. Shortly after Washburrn, Kyhawn, and many others lined the beach in search of the dagger-key. Captain Joenf reached beneath a few inches of water only a few feet away from Kyhawn and Washburrn. “Here it is!”

  At that same moment Shellean was standing on the shallow cliffs, looking glass in hand. “Ship! A ship—about four miles out!”

  The captain held the dagger-key firmly. “Let’s get these lifeboats in the water!” he shouted. As he started to slip the dagger-key into his pocket, he looked at Kyhawn. “No, you take it. It seems to like you. When we get aboard ship, let me know if it made it through the circumference zone Professor Romeous told us about,” Then he became his old commanding self again as he went toward the lifeboats.

  Kyhawn nodded toward the captain, then looked at Washburrn, dagger-key in hand. “Know what? There’s no time left to visit the waterfall.”

  “Terrific.” Washburrn shook his head. “But secure it in your pocket. Who knows, with you holding onto it, it might not turn into sand.”

  Kyhawn wiped a raindrop off his face and slipped the dagger-key into a large pocket inside his dark orange cloak.

  Washburrn held out his hand to let the raindrops hit his palm. “I do believe the odds are with us, Kyhawn.” He peered happily at the ship.

  The moment was both disappointing and joyful for Kyhawn, as the thought of leaving penetrated his heart. Deep down he had wanted to first be able to go to the far side of the island where the invisible ink map revealed a possible treasure. If only we had more time, he thought as he looked at Washburrn. “It’s almost hard to believe we’re going home.”

  Washburrn gathered his gear. “Well, let’s hope it continues to rain.”

  “Wait—take care of my cabac!” Kyhawn dropped it at his feet and started for the old camp.

  “Where are you rushing off too?”

  “I need to get that old box.” Kyhawn told him. And before the X-detective was able to get another word in Kyhawn had disappeared into the trees.

  “I hope you hid it nearby.” Washburrn stood with his arms crossed. “Darn him.”

  “Luxton—he’s escaping!” Dellyna shouted. “Hurry—somebody go after him!”

  Zeal dropped to the ground in pain from a blow of Luxton’s hand to his knee. He fired his pistol, but missed Luxton as he vanished into the trees.

  Captain Joenf, Tobben, and Shanel quickly approached Zeal. The captain stood over him. “Let the fool go!” he shouted. “We need to get the lifeboats in the water while it’s raining.”

  “Give me your hand, Zeal.” Shanel leaned over him. “We’ll have someone aboard ship take a look at your wound.”

  Washburrn thought about the hollow trees behind his old sleeping space. He hurried alongside the captain. “Kyhawn’s gone to the cabins. I’m going after him,” he said as he quickly asked Werdna to join him. Seconds later Earron and Coita appeared as well. “Earron, take Kyhawn’s cabac.” Washburrn dropped it next to him.

  Earron felt somewhat confused. “Where’s Kyhawn?”

  “I think he’s gone back to camp for that box,” Washburrn told him as he dropped his own cabac next to Earron’s feet.

  “But Luxton’s running around.” Earron’s eyes widened with fear. “Coita, take care of these cabacs,” he said as he too dropped his cabac and followed Washburrn.

  “The rest of you—make ready!” the captain shouted. “Get this contraption in the water.” He hobbled alongside the lifeboats and grunted. “Why does all of this have to happen now?”

  As soon as the lifeboats were in the water and the captain had taken his seat in front of the lead one, he made it clear they would wait for Washburrn, Kyhawn, Werdna, and Earron. He glanced at the ship with confidence, but patted the crystal in his pocket for good luck.

  “The ship—it’s nearing awfully fast, sir,” Tuenale worried as he got on board carrying luggage for a lady passenger.

  Coita sat in a lifeboat with his hands pressed to his chin and his elbows on his knees. He peered down at the two cabacs between his legs, and one on each side where he was sitting. Bekim set next to him, “Don’t worry—they’ll be here soon.”

  Coita patted his cabac and stared at the trees where he had last seen Earron. “That dumb old box. It’s probably got them killed.”

  Bekim and Treb tried to comfort Coita, but it didn’t seem to do much good.

  Moments later Coita sat up straight, his eyes lighting up with gladness as he saw Earron and Kyhawn.

  Kyhawn stumbled, dropped the old box, and hit the sand belly first. He quickly gathered its contents and jumped to his feet. Washburrn came from behind and scooped up a pink stone. “You missed this one,” he said as he handed it to Kyhawn. Werdna followed right behind them holding his arm close to his breast. Washburrn turned to help him. “With any luck, your pellet will be the end of him.”

  “That’s not going to heal me,” Werdna moaned.

  The captain waved his looking glass above his head, “Let’s get this contraption out to sea.”

  Soon after, the lifeboats rocked in harmony with the shallow waves. It seemed the Lords of the Universe had granted their wish for a steady rain.

  “Did you guys see Luxton?” Coita asked as he set Earron’s cabac in front of him.

  “I didn’t, but Werdna said he shot him.” Earron shoved his cabac between his legs and patted the stones inside.

  “He hit Werdna in the wrist,” Kyhawn said as he gazed at Werdna and Nevets in the lifeboat one over from them. “Not sure how bad it is. But I don’t think we’ll be seeing Luxton again.” He held the old box under his cloak and placed an arm on the ledge behind Earron. He smiled at Shellean, who was in a lifeboat next to him, then leaned closer to Washburrn and whispered, “What about the peg-lock chest,” he looked around, “I don’t see it …? Did the captain decide to let it remain here after all?”

  Washburrn slowly nodded. “We thought it’d be best, but I’m not so sure now.”

  As Kyhawn thought about all the horror it had caused, Washburrn started to have thoughts about retiring again, and moving somewhere where there was only peace and quiet. And even though, deep down, Kyhawn had mixed feelings about rather they should have left the chest on the island, he felt uneasy about what was inside the chest. He also felt the island was most likely as safe a place as any to hide the ancient artifacts. On the other hand he knew Luxton had been shot, but was he dead?

  Washburrn looked at Kyhawn. “Don’t look so disappointed. At least you have the colored stones, and this box to take home with you.” He patted Kyhawn’s cabac, feeling the jagged edges of the stones inside. “You’re wealthy now,” he said as he turned to have a word with Tailk.

  Kyhawn took the dagger-key from his pocket. He rolled it over in his hands pushing inward on the large center jewel; first he pushed the wings upward, then to its sides again. He knew the dagger-key most likely carried some sort of powers that might later help save their world from evildoers. But he didn’t know why or how to use its powers.

  “Move those oars!” the captain shouted as he thought about the Caytona plate and the missing piece from his small chest. It’s most likely in that temple ruin. At least I know where to find it … if we were to ever need it. He gripped the ledge with one hand while his other hand held the crystal. Then as the rain started to thin out, he let loose of the crystal and reached for his looking glass.

  Many of them looked fearful. But Kyhawn continued to fool with the dagger-key as Earron and Coita watched closely. All three of them seemed obsessed by its possibilities. Kyhawn was pushing in on the small jewels that decorated its hilt when surprisingly, the jewel at the end of the hilt popped loose. He tried to pull the jewel from the hilt, but it wouldn’t budge.

  Earron reached over and placed his hand on the jewel. “Twist it off.”

  Kyhawn quickly placed his hand over Earron’s hand. Together they discovered yet another ke
y attached to the jewel, hidden within its hilt. “Wild—another one.” Earron smiled. “I wonder what it goes to.”

  Coita shrugged with a dreamy smile. “Who knows?”

  Suddenly Dellyna and her husband Selton cut themselves free, taking with them much of the supplies and luggage, and began steering back toward the island.

  “Well, I’ll be—what are they doing?” Alil looked baffled.

  “My jewels!” cried a passenger.

  “Dellyna …?” Shellean couldn’t believe her eyes.

  “And it’s almost stopped raining!” Malla cried, her husband Kyltic holding her close.

  All eyes were on Dellyna and Selton as they hurried toward the island. Seconds later it did stop raining. And after another few seconds had elapsed, a tentacle appeared and arched high above them slamming hard into the water next to them.

  Dellyna screamed. A tentacle grabbed Selton while yet another crashed down on their lifeboat. Their screams slowly died as their lifeboat sank.

  Another tentacle arched high above the group of lifeboats and slapped the water hard near the end lifeboat. The captain slammed the crystal against the bench plank, shouted the magic word, and quickly tossed it overboard.

  Two tentacles came out of the water and drew near them, one with a snake face. Its mouth opened wide as it went toward Kyhawn, Earron, and Coita. three or four shouts were fired from their group.

  A split second later a large creature with a long and narrow armor-plated body, transparent wings, large yellow eyes, and ten long slimy legs emerged from the deep: followed by seven more strange Sydallon creatures ready to defend them.

  The first of them to emerge grabbed hold of the snake face tentacle, opened its mouth, and ripped its head off. The tentacle slapped around blindly in the water, showering them with its blood. Its head dropped near Shellean’s feet. The terrifying creature’s mouth was wide open. She screamed The headless tentacle hit the lifeboats and vanished beneath the waves. Tailk, sitting next to Shellean, plunged his dagger deep into its skull and slung it overboard.

  Zeal’s pistol fired. Hitting his target, a headed tentacle.

  A Sydallon grabbed the sea monster’s long tentacle pulling it into the sky. But it was too much for only one Sydallon to lift. A second Sydallon flue over to help, when the body of the sea monster hit the lifeboats, Zeal had drawn his sword and slashed the tentacle free from its body. Tobben and Shanel sat on both side of Zeal, holding on to him, to keep him from falling overboard. In the meantime the two Sydallons had the sea monster in the air away from the lifeboats ripping it apart with their large slimy razor like claws.

  On the other side of them, two more Sydallons dove underwater and attacked the sea monster forcing it away from the lifeboats; ripping it to pieces as well.

  Tentacles were wildly flying around dropping off into the waters beneath. One headed tentacle managed to clamp hard on a Sydallon’s neck, trying to rip its throat, but the scales were too thick for the headed tentacle to penetrate.

  As the body of the sea monster fell back into the water, a tentacle gripped hard on the wings of a Sydallon. Coiling around its wings the sea monster took it under water with it.

  It seemed the Sydallons were tiring. “The spells not going to last forever,” Nevets cried. He drew close to his brother and tossed his dagger at a tentacle slamming the water nearby.

  A large snake-like face reared over Treb and Bekim. They held each other close as it went through them like a ghost.

  With each passing wave, the island had started to disappear. Kyhawn thought it was like a ghost ship standing in the aftermath of dawn. “We’re almost beyond the circumference zone,” he said as he held the dagger-key.

  At the same moment Kyhawn was holding the dagger-key, Earron held the jewel with the small key. They both felt a strangeness in their hands as each of them watched the keys turn to sand and disappear. Coita leaned into Kyhawn and Earron, his hands over his head, when yet another ghostly tentacle came down over them and disappeared.

  Moments later the crew aboard ship let them know they had been sighted. Like a field of wild flowers shining in the morning sunlight, their eyes blossomed with hope.

  When only twenty-six feet lay between the lifeboats and the main deck, nets and ropes were draped portside creating a gateway to their freedom. Kyhawn, Zeal, Alil, and Treb grasped the ropes to steady themselves as they knew the slightest mistake could still cause another death.

  Along with much struggle and effort, soon most everyone had reached the main deck. While the captain, Kyhawn, and Tobben hung over the side, the lifeboats departed with the waves. Moments later they were safely aboard.

  “Kyhawn,” the captain said anxious to know, “the dagger-key—do you have it?”

  “No,” Kyhawn lowered his dead with disappointment. “It turned into sand just as the Sydallons and those sea creatures disappeared.”

  The captain, not wanting to reveal everything he thought he might possibly know about the dagger-key to Kyhawn, kept his thoughts about it to himself. He took Kyhawn by the shoulders. “It’s best we keep this quiet for the time being.”

  “I’ll do my best, sir.” He said, quickly letting him know he had found a small key contained within the hilt.

  The captain nodded. “So you did …?” he questioned as if finding the small key didn’t surprise him none. “Keep it quiet as well.” He patted Kyhawn’s shoulder.

  Kyhawn bowled respectfully. “You have my silence, sir.”

  One of the crew members aboard the rescue ship gave them a compassionate look, then asked for everyone’s attention, “Let’s get the rest of you inside.”

  A passenger from aboard ship asked, “What were you Zacs doing way out here?”

  “It’s a mighty long story ma’am,” Tailk remarked. He adjusted his eye patch as they were being escorted inside.

  Suddenly Captain Joenf saw a familiar face. Captain Owem greeted him, “Captain Joenf—well … well … well …” He clung to his shoulders. “We thought you had gone to sea heaven—or sea hell,” he chuckled, quickly adding. “What happened? And where’s your ship?”

  Captain Joenf embraced his fellow captain. “You’re not going to believe me,” he said as they backed off to have a long look at one another. He gazed at his old friend with tired eyes. “But what do you say I tell you anyways over a hot drink?”

  “Sure,” Captain Owem replied. “You’re standing here, which after all we’ve heard, is hard enough in itself for me to believe. We almost didn’t take this route after hearing stories about what happened when Sheriff Nossgon and his crew went searching for you. But then you know how rumors can get around.” He smiled, throwing his arm around Captain Joenf. “Come with me to my quarters and tell me everything.”

  In the meantime Kyhawn and Washburrn stood next to one of the many windows in an enormous lounge where most of the survivors were resting. They were talking about Washburrn’s wound when Shellean approached. “You’re bleeding, Washburrn. Take off your shirt and let me have a look at it.”

  Werdna and Nevets sat on the opposite side of the room while a nurse tended their injuries. While the female nurse was tending Werdna’s wound, Nevets was busy examining her with his eyes. She look at him, noticing he only had one leg. “Oh… you poor darling. How did you loose your leg?”

  Nevets went on bragging bout the way he had saved his comrades while fighting off terrible sea serpents. “My leg will grow back, but if it hadn’t been for me everyone would have died.” Werdna laid his head to the table, then his elbows with his hand wrapped around his head, thinking, that’s not how it was at all. He chuckled to himself.

  Seconds later Earron looked up angrily at everyone, “My stones—my colored stones—someone’s taken them and put sand in their place!” He emptied out his cabac full of sand onto the hardwood floor, then slammed the cabac on top of the sand. He looked at Coita, then around the room. All eyes were on him, dumbfounded.

  “Don’t look at me that way,” Coita said.
“I didn’t take them. I’ve got plenty of my own.” He slung off his cabac, shaking it at him with both hands. But it didn’t feel right. He dropped it and ripped it open. “All right—who’s the thief?” He emptied his cabac in a rage.

  “Dellyna and Selton—they must have taken our stones!” Earron told him. “That’s why they left.”

  “Yeah—it had to have been them,” Coita agreed, looking vengeful.

  “Kyhawn, look in your cabac and see if you have any colored stones,” Earron demanded.

  While he kept helping Shellean with Washburrn’s bandages, Kyhawn’s dream flashed within his mind’s eye. The look on his face was a dreadful one. “My hands are full.” He kicked his cabac toward Earron, not saying a word.

  Earron grabbed his cabac and dumped it onto the floor. “Sand—all you have is sand!”

  “I know mine were in there.” Kyhawn frowned. “I remember Washburrn and I were talking about that che … anyway, we were talking, and when he said something about at least we had the colored stones, I leaned down and patted them. I could feel their jagged edges under the canvas of my cabac. I even gave one to Shellean for good luck. And that was right before Dellyna and Selton cut the ropes on their lifeboat to return to the island. Anyway, they were never in the lifeboat we were in. They couldn’t have taken them.” He slowly walked over to his piles of sand. “What’s going on here?” He got on his knees and grabbed a handful of sand. As he let it run through his fingers, his heart flooded with broken dreams.

  Everyone looked at one another wondering what had happened to their colored stones if Dellyna and Selton hadn’t taken them.

  “Beats me,” one elderly wealthy Zac said to another.

  “If someone else stole them, then they’re still aboard ship,” another said.

  “What happened is impossible if the lads have had their cabacs with them the entire time since we left the island,” Kyltic said as he held his wife Malla close with his good arm.

  Washburrn slipped his shirt over his head, “Shellean, what did you do with the stone Kyhawn gave you?”

  Shellean put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a hanky, but found in it only wet sand. She looked disappointed. “I don’t understand.” She let the hanky dangle between her fingertips for all to see.

  “It’s as if the stones turned into sand …” Washburrn raised an eyebrow and sat back in his seat, baffled by his own words.

  “The stones did always turn into sand in your dreams,” Earron reminded Kyhawn.

  “Yeah … and we could have been killed in that weird cave. For what—a bunch of sand?” Coita kicked Kyhawn’s cabac.

  Kyhawn had his hand over chin as he paced the floor. “It doesn’t make any sense. The stones in my dreams did turn into sand, but they also turned back into stones again.”

  Alil entered the room, and heard the news. “Well I never …” she stood nearby and glanced at the puzzled faces around her.

  Treb picked up Kyhawn’s cabac. “Surly they couldn’t have turned to sand. That only happens in fairy-tales.”

  One of the ship’s crew-Zacs entered the room. “Look—I don’t know anything about any stones, and I’m really sorry something happened to them, but who’s going to clean up this mess?”

  Kyhawn, Earron, and Coita gave the Zac the ugliest looks one could possibly imagine.

  “One of you is going to clean this mess up.” As he excused himself, they heard him mumbling, “You try and be kind to strangers. Even save their miserable lives. And all you get for thanks is rudeness.”

  Kyhawn crouched next to his sandpile. “I want to know what happened to the stones.” He grabbed his cabac, kicked the sand, and turned to Washburrn.

  “You know, Kyhawn,” Washburrn remarked. “It is possible the stones can only exist on the island. It’s only a theory, as you might say.” He gestured toward them. “Don’t get me wrong— I’m not trying to mock you, Kyhawn, but it’s the only explanation I can think of that makes any sense.” He turned to Alil who was now sitting at a nearby table. “Stranger things did happen on that island.”

  Alil squinted. “Considering what we’ve experienced in the last few weeks … I don’t know what to think.”

  Another one of the ship’s crew-Zacs came in. “Mid-morning meal is being served.”

  With many of them envisioning a tasty meal, a hot bath, and a soft bed, their thoughts turned to the invitation. The room seemed to get larger as many of them followed the crew-Zac down a long corridor to a dining room.

  Coita and Earron remained in the lounge room for the moment and sat at a table together staring out a window. As the waves passed beneath them, their dreams faded.

  “Where are you going, Zeal?” Washburrn asked.

  “To feed my body. Let’s face it, Zacs—the stones are gone, Dellyna and Selton are gone, the island’s gone, and so is that chest. There’s nothing we can do, unless you want to go back there.” He limped toward the dining room saying softly, “Dylc’s gone… Willow’s gone… Willow….” Head low, he departed the room.

  “I hate to say it, but I believe he’s right.” Washburrn rose from a bench and went to catch up with him and the others.

  “I’m sorry the stones didn’t make it through that … circumference zone, Kyhawn,” Shellean sighed. “I know you had some very special plans for you and your mother.” She knelt to pick up his old wooden box.

  Kyhawn spoke sharply, “Don’t touch that!”

  She took a seat across from him. “It’s not my fault those stones turned into sand. I was hoping you’d come and get something to eat. It’s not like you to miss a meal.”

  Kyhawn frowned. Shellean leaned close. “Please, it’ll do you some good. Some dry garments wouldn’t hurt you any either.”

  Kyhawn looked at Earron and Coita. “Are you guys hungry? There’s nothing else we can do, unless you want to clean up this mess.”

  They looked at one another. Coita shrugged, “Earron, we better eat all the rich food we can while we’re here.”

  Earron nodded. “Yeah, because when we return it’s back to the old shack and working for the local fisher-Zacs.”

  “We could talk their captain into letting us have some glassware.” Coita rose. “You know, for souvenirs.”

  “Sure, whatever …” Earron gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder.

  Kyhawn looked at Shellean. “I’ll take that, if you don’t mind.”

  “I wasn’t going to drop it, if that’s what you’re implying,” She exclaimed, shoving it towards him.

  “Sorry, it’s just … this box is all we have left from the island.”

  “You have your drawings, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I tucked what remains of them into my trousers.” He raised his shirt up, pulled them out, shook the dampness off, and reached for his cabac. “I’m ready,” he said as they emptied the lounge area.

  Moments later after walking down the long corridor they in the large dining area. It was beautiful, Kyhawn thought. But he felt anything but beautiful as they entered through a set of stained glass doors, framed in wood, into an elongated room with high ceiling beams and five oil burning chandlers. Bay windows lined the portside while paintings covered the opposite side. Rows of bolted-down tables occupied the scarred wooden floor. A set of doors swung back and forth at the far end which led into the kitchen.

  As the sounds of dinnerware and chatting echoed through the room, the time passed. About an hour later Kyhawn, Shellean, Earron, and Coita found themselves alone next to a bay window. Kyhawn slid his empty plate aside and set the old wooden box on the table.

  “Are you hiding something in there?” Shellean put down her cup of juice.

  “Nothing that matters, anyway, I guess.” Kyhawn tapped the lid. “It’s just the stones we had in here.”

  Coita waved his hand in Kyhawn’s face, “I bet you two glass jars all you find in there is sand.”

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” Impatiently Earron started to reach for the box.

/>   When Kyhawn lifted the lid, his eyes widened with surprise.

  Earron, Coita, and Shellean leaned in, their eyes filled with wonder when they too saw at least twelve colored stones. Kyhawn held them in his hand. “Wait a minute—there were more of them in here.” He ran his fingers through some sand. “What’s this sand doing …?”

  “But I thought …” Shellean began.

  “Shhh.” Kyhawn placed his hand over Shellean’s mouth and whispered, “Don’t say a word.”

  “But this doesn’t make any sense,” Earron said.

  Kyhawn placed his hand over the box. “I don’t know why some of these stones didn’t make it while most of them did, but for now I don’t think we should say anything to anyone.”

  He reached inside and picked up a few stones again. “These stones have rounded edges.”

  Shellean asked. “Why should that make any difference?”

  “The ones we found in the cave had jagged edges.” Kyhawn pondered this along with the rest of them.

  Coita remembered a stone he had placed in a hidden pocket, which they had found the night Kyhawn had been taken by the Grongels. His eyes lit up as he laid it on the table and explained where it had come from. “With all of the stones we had between us, I didn’t think much of it until now. And look—It has rounded edges too,” he noted, perplexed by the entire ordeal. “I don’t understand.”

  Kyhawn looked at Earron. “Neither do I.”

  Earron clutched the stone Coita had laid on the table, lowered his head, and slowly looked at them. “I wish I knew.”

  Kyhawn leaned close and whispered, “These stones must be different or they would have turned into sand as well.”

  They looked at each other mystified.

  Earron laid his head on the table and looked out the window. “Sure would have been nice to have a full cabac of these stone….”

  “At east you guys have something. Which is more then you thought you had a few minutes ago,” Shellean reminded them.

  As they moaned about their losses, and eventually excepted their small gain, time slipped away as fast as the waves moved beneath them. Before leaving the dining room, Kyhawn gave Earron and Coita ten stones to share between them. while he placed the two remaining stones in the old wooden box, His two younger friends got up to depart the dining room. Earron stopped and turned. “Thanks again, Kyhawn,” he smiled.

  Coita nodded, “Yeah, thanks. You’re not such a bad guy after all.”

  Kyhawn laid his head on the old box and stared out the window. “What now?” He gave Shellean a broken look.

  “First of all, that was real nice, you giving them those stones, and only keeping two for yourself. Second, I heard there was a mystery play tonight in their entertainment room. What do you say?”

  “Sure, why not?” Kyhawn reached for his parchment pad of drawings. While he showed her some of his drawings his thoughts drifted to the dagger-key.

  The dagger-key, thought Earron, as Coita and he stood outside next to the railing and watched the waves pass beneath them. Earron reached into his pocket for his colored stones. “Hold these for me.”

  Coita unbuttoned his pocket and gently laid them beside his own stones. “What’s wrong with your pockets?”

  “Nothing,” Earron said. “I want to do something different with my life.” He gazed at the waves passing beneath them.

  Coita looked baffled. “I thought you liked the sea. I thought we were going to save our tiallup and buy a fishing boat. Be our own bosses.” Coita took two colored stones from his pocket. “These stones—we could sell them to that friend of Washburrn’s and get a fishing boat of our own.”

  “Coita, a lot has happened since we left Omakohak.” Earron took a deep breath. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about us buying that boat.” He stared out at the ocean. “The truth is … I’ve changed my mind. I want to go to trade school in Chamquinil and become a certified officer of the law. Pays better if you have military training.”

  “I should have known Kyhawn would be a part of this! He talked you into this, didn’t he?”

  “Trade school is my own decision. I wanted to tell you first.”

  “Sure you did. I bet he talked you into this—him and that Washburrn guy.”

  “Honest, Kyhawn and I did talk about this, but you’re the first one I’ve said anything to about it since I’ve made up my mind. You’re the only real family I got, Coita.” Earron looked sincere as he patted Coita’s shoulder. “We’ve done everything together.”

  Coita pulled away. “Then why don’t you stay and keep the promise we made together? We even spit on it and shook hands.”

  Earron looked down, avoiding eye contact. “I’m sorry, but I want to go places in the same way Washburrn went places.”

  “We go places. We go hunting. We ride horses when we get a chance. And we go fishing almost every day. What’s wrong with fishing?”

  “Nothing much, except … that’s not what I want to do.” Earron turned with his back to the ocean and crossed his arms.

  Coita stared out at the horizon, feeling his life was sinking into the waves.

  Earron had a lump of sadness in his throat. “If I stay in Omakohak, I’ll never get anywhere, or have time for anything but fishing. Can’t you understand?”

  Tears began to accumulate in Coita’s eyes. He held the colored stones and made a fist at Earron. “I should toss these overboard.” He stormed off. I knew Kyhawn would try and break up our friendship.

  “Coita,” Earron called after him, “please come back and finish listening to what I have to say.”

  Although Coita felt a twinge of doubt, he continued to walk.

  “Wait up, Coita, please …” Earron followed. “When you’re old enough, you can attend classes too if you want. And learn to read. You could learn to read.”

  Coita stopped and faced him. “I don’t want to go there, or go to any school! I like fishing! I thought you liked fishing! I guess you think you’re too good to fish anymore.”

  “It’s not that at all. I like fishing, but I want something better for myself, and for you— that’s if you’re willing.”

  “Go to school … see if I care.” He frowned. “I can take care of myself.”

  Earron held the railing and watched Coita until he disappeared through a side door. He lowered his head and turned outward facing the horizon. The thought of leaving Coita behind disturbed him immensely.

  As the thought of leaving Coita behind lingered on, their dreams together had indeed turned into sand like the colored stones had turned into sand left on the floor to be swept away.

  Later that night, while Kyhawn stood alone near the bow, Washburrn approached him. He noted the younger Zac’s long look and clapped him on the shoulder. “I heard about the stones. It was decent of you to give most of them to Earron and Coita.”

  Kyhawn went on to explain the difference between the stones that made it out of the circumference zone as compared to those that turned into sand.

  Washburrn slowly nodded. “Yeah, I know … baffles me too. But what do you say we go and enjoy that play?”

  Kyhawn shrugged, both hands in his pockets. “Why not? Shellean and Earron along with Treb and Bekim are already inside.”

  “What about Coita?”

  “Not sure where he is. Maybe inside with them. That’s if he and Earron have made up.”

  Washburrn nodded as if he didn’t know what Kyhawn was talking about. “Well, okay, let’s get out of this rain anyway.” He reached behind Kyhawn and slung his hood over his head. Kyhawn’s wet hair hung in his face. Washburrn stood in front of him. “About time for a haircut, don’t you think?”

  Kyhawn wrapped his arm around Washburrn and ran his fingers over Washburrn’s whiskers. “About time for a shave, don’t you think?” They both let out a laugh as they neared the double doors opening into a wide but short corridor. But as they approached a fancy wooden staircase, similar to the one on the Sealander, Kyhawn turned to Washburrn. “
Actually I think I’d rather be alone.”

  Washburrn clapped him on the shoulder. “It’ll work out. There’ll be other adventures.”

  Kyhawn stepped back a few feet. “What do you mean—it will work out? There were two murders! Then we get shipwrecked with three groups of idiots trying to kill us for a chest full of ancient artifacts, with a dagger-key that kept disappearing. And we weren’t even supposed to know anything about any of this!”

  “Hold on,” Washburrn pleaded. “You just hold on there.”

  Kyhawn headed for the double doors, turned, and looked straight into his brown eyes. “You were almost killed. Earron, Shellean, and Coita could have gotten killed. I lost track of how many Zacs actually were killed! And to my surprise—some high priest wants me dead!”

  “Just hold on there!” Washburrn repeated as he drew near.

  “On the day we’re rescued, our stones turn to sand. There went our taste of wealth,” he slung his hands in the air, “and our dreams.”

  Washburrn stood at the double doors letting Kyhawn’s words flow right through him. Perhaps I should just let him get this off his mind.

  Kyhawn’s face raged with pain for those who had died. “Sure—sure everything’s going to be fine … just fine. Sure after those Grongels hunt us down to try and discover the whereabouts of that chest.”

  “Now you listen here, young Zac!” Washburrn had never seen Kyhawn so angry.

  “No—you listen! I say we go after these Grongels before they come after us. And you know something else? I wish I’d never made that comment about leaving that chest on the island. I think we made a terrible mistake leaving it there for those radicals to find.” He slammed the doors behind him. “And that dagger-key … we need that dagger-key,” he muttered to himself. “I don’t know why just yet, but we need it.”

  Washburrn shoved open a door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Kyhawn took a deep breath. “I just want to be left alone. I’m going to the far end, the stern,” he said more quietly as he headed around the corner and down the walkway. He glanced at the railing to his left and then at the sleeping rooms to his right. The oil lamps between the rooms gave light to the otherwise dark rainy night. He pulled his hood forward and clutched the old box under his dark orange cloak.

  Washburrn stood at the corner for a moment, then followed him. Kyhawn stood in the shadows against a beam underneath the second floor walkway.

  Washburrn cleared his throat. “Kyhawn, okay, perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps I don’t know how you feel. You’ve every right to be angry, but hopefully you’ve now gotten it out of your system.” He eased closer. “I couldn’t agree with you more that things have turned out a bit on the dark side. But this is your first time out, and you must admit you’ve gotten a lot more experience than most Zacs your age get in … fifteen assignments.”

  Kyhawn sat the box aside, and came out from the shadows to face him.

  While the ship gently rocked, Washburrn leaned on a beam next to him. As Washburrn stared at him, Kyhawn gave him an unfriendly look. “I thought you wanted to watch that play.”

  “It’s obvious you’re angry, but you don’t have to take it out on me.” Washburrn stiffened. “If you’re going to stick with this job, you need to toughen up. And get used to the fact … good guys don’t always win.”

  “Like you’ve plainly stated before, it’s not over yet.” However, Kyhawn’s expression softened to something more apologetic. “I’m not blaming you for anything, and I’m sorry if it sounds like I am.”

  Washburrn nodded, noting a bit of hope in Kyhawn’s large brown eyes.

  “Could you please just go and enjoy that play without me? I’d like to be alone.”

  If ever someone could look both melancholy and hopeful, Kyhawn did as he placed one hand over his chin and the other under his elbow. It was as if the one was supporting the other.

  Their eyes met as if Kyhawn looked directly into Washburrn’s soul. With a somber but understanding look, Washburrn granted his request to be alone.

  “It’s not raining too badly now. I’ll be inside later.” Kyhawn went out into the rain. With his gloves on, he positioned both hands on the railing. He glanced over his shoulder at the small box resting next to a beam beneath the second floor walkway, and then looked at Washburrn, only to see his back side.

  As waves of sadness overwhelmed the moment, Washburrn turned to see Kyhawn staring at the ocean. He wanted to embrace him, but instead he turned again and left him alone as he had requested.

  “Washburrn, what are you doing out in this rain?” Alil asked, exiting from a nearby door.

  “Kyhawn and I were talking. He could use some cheering up, but for now he’d rather be left alone…. He’ll be okay.”

  “I heard the commotion in the lobby. It can happen to anyone, knowing what we’ve all been through. He’s a good zac, and will most likely live to tell some stories such as the ones you’re always telling,” she touched his upper arm.

  Washburrn nodded. “I hope so. He needs to toughen up thought.”

  “With your help and wisdom he will,” she smiled. “Would you like to join me? I’m going to the play. It’s a mystery, you’ll like it.”

  “I was headed that way,” Washburrn slightly bowed. “You sure look nice.”

  “Thank you,” she said, thinking for a moment she turned to him as they walked. “It’s a shame about the stones.”

  “There’s nothing we can do about it now. At least they have more of those stones then they began this journey with,” he answered, trying to shake off the thought. “What about this play? Fill me in on what’s happen so far.”

  As they walked down the fancy staircase into the lobby and then the entertainment room, the only sounds that could be heard were coming from the stage. “I heard the play had a surprise ending,” Alil said.

  “Well don’t tell me, or it wont be a surprise,” Washburrn slightly smiled.

  “I don’t even know myself,” she said, pointing at a couple of empty seats next to Earron, Coita and Shellean.

  Once Earron had heard the new about Kyhawn, he waited a while trying to enjoy the play, but excused himself before the play was over. “Where you going?” Coita asked, “The play isn’t over. You’re going to miss the best part.”

  “I’ll see you later,” he said as he departed and went topside. By this time the storm had passed, but when he went to the location Washburrn said Kyhawn should be, there wasn’t anyone there. “Kyhawn, Kyhawn where are you?” Earron looked down at the corner of the building where a crewzac was making his rounds inspecting the oil lamps. The crew-Zac nodded with a friendly smile and continued on.

  A voice called out. “Over here Earron.”

  “You startled me,” the crew-Zac almost dropped his barrel of oil.

  Kyhawn spoke in a soft tone. “Sorry sir, didn’t mean to.”

  The crew-Zac let out a slight chuckle, “It’s quite alright, I needed the fright. I only woke up less then ten minutes ago. I had night shift last night and...” The crew-Zac sensed the gloomy look on Kyhawn, “Much warmer inside,” he said as he continued his duties.

  While Kyhawn sat, legs crossed, half hidden by the shadows of a beam supporting part of the second floor walkway, Earron slowly approached.

  “I’m fine Earron,” Kyhawn said, a tranquil quality in his tone. “Anyway how was the play?”

  “The play... Okay.”

  Kyhawn sat quietly looking up at him.

  “I haven’t ever seen a live play before, neither has Coita. I’d like to see more of them in the future. With the music playing and the people acting all at the same time, it was pretty wild, to tell you the truth.”

  “I’m glad you got the opportunity. They have them quite often at Chamquinil Trade School.” Kyhawn paused for a moment. “I guess Washburrn told you I was here.”

  “He did.”

  Kyhawn stared at the deck.

  Earron crouched a few feet from him. “Between us we got
the stones and that old box, and them old navigating tool. They won’t make us wealthy, but at least it’s something.” He noted the box beside Kyhawn. “I know you better than most. There’s something else, isn’t there? There’s something you’re not telling.”

  Kyhawn took a deep breath, and slowly let it out. “It’s just that I was hoping we could finish our adventure to the far side of those ruins, the waterfalls. The only way colored stones, or rock of any nature can become smooth is when they’re worn by much water over a long period of time.”

  “Yah so what’s your point?”

  “Nothing, it doesn’t matter now,” Kyhawn frowned.

  “I get yah .” Earron thought for a moment, “You’re thinking that there must be more of them rounded stones somewhere near water where that X was marked on that invisible ink map.” His eyes lit up. “But that’s all… ‘what if ’ stuff—it’s too late now.” He paused. “I’ve been thinking, we should be thankful we’re alive. And by the way. I hope you don’t mind, but I gave my stones to Coita.” He went on to tell Kyhawn he was going to attend trade school.

  Kyhawn nodded, “That’s nice, you’ll like it there.” He frowned. “But all of those stones turning into sand…? And that dagger-key… I wish I could be holding it right now.”

  “We didn’t have anything when we left Omakohak, and we don’t have much more now. But Coita can at least purchase his own boat with them stones. And better yet…we have each other, you, me, and Coita.” Earron smiled. “And what about our adventure? There’s no way our thoughts of what happened to us out there on the island will ever turn into sand!”

  While Kyhawn placed his hands over the box, not saying a word, Earron positioned his hands on the deck. Kyhawn’s elbows pressed to his knees, and his hands to his chin. “I guess you can say all that has happened along with the stones turning into sand is what caused me to go off like I did with Washburrn.”

  “Washburrn told me the detail.”

  “This hasn’t exactly been a joy ride,” Kyhawn tapped his long blueish fingers on the old box.

  Earron dropped to the deck with is legs out and his arms behind him. He turned his head from side to side.

  Kyhawn stared at the deck muttering, “Those stones could have made life easier for you and myself, Coita too.”

  “If you mean the ones that turned into sand.”

  Kyhawn nodded. “I do.”

  Earron thought for a moment. “Coita and I could have gotten a nice place in town.” He smiled a dreamy look. “Heck—I wonder if we could have bought one of them castles in town, and fixed it up.”

  Kyhawn gave him a slight smile. “Maybe.” His smile faded. “Oh what difference does it make… there gone.”

  They became quiet for a moment as the waves passed beneath them, and the lamps burned to give life to the shadows of that night.

  “Kyhawn—” Earron broke the silence. “even though we came out of this without our cabacs stuffed with colored stones, which we hadn’t planed on finding in the first place, at least we can say one thing positive.”

  “What’s that?”

  “How many zac can say they’ve been on an invisible island and seen sea monsters that could suck your insides out? And look at the wild adventures we went on! Hey, and what about the sandcastles and the dagger-key? Who can say they’ve done all of this? No one, except us!” Earron gestured his arms out. “No one but us—and them magic crystals. What about them Sydallons…?”

  Kyhawn leaned forward from behind the dark shadows, a slight smile. “You’re right about that.”

  “What about you getting kidnapped…?” Earron’s eyes widened with a sense of fear. “Tied to an altar by those Grongel’s….”

  “We did make it out alive.”

  Earron chuckled, “I’d say we did. And here we are,” he said with a cheer.

  “I don’t know what I’d done if one of those sea creature pulled you under. I would have probably jumped in after you,” Kyhawn’s melancholy mood slowly changed to one of thankfulness.

  Earron grinned. “Maybe some day I’ll become a writer and write a story about the last three weeks.”

  “I wasn’t aware you liked to write,” Kyhawn chuckled. “Earron the writer.” “While you’ve been off to trade school I’ve been doing a little writing. Think about it, I could use you as the main character.”

  Kyhawn jokingly remarked, “Fine with me, you’re the one writing this story. But don’t forget to exaggerate my part.”

  “Some... maybe.” A moment of nostalgic sprung from Earron’s lips. “Hey—remember when we were younger and you use to swing me around. Then we’d both end up swinging around and around. You’d pretend we were some sort of flying machine. You’d laugh and say we’re flying. We’re flying. Then one of us would let go of the other causing us to both fall on our rear-ends?”

  Kyhawn smiled and slowly got to his feet. “If I remember correctly I was the one who fell the most,” he chuckled. “Why are you bringing that up? You’ve already succeeded in doing what you came out here for.”

  “What—what you talking about?” Earron got to his feet, grinning. “I only came out here to see if it had... stopped raining.”

  Kyhawn grabbed hold of Earron’s hands before he had a chance to know what was going on, and began to swing him around. “You mean like this,” Kyhawn said as they moved in circles six to eight times before Earron let go laughing as Kyhawn landed on his rear-end.

  “I mean like that,” Kyhawn said as they continued laughing. A moment later while they sat on the deck a few passengers walked up on them from around the corner talking to each other about the play.

  Earron said joyfully, “Hello.” One of them said hello while the others politely nodded, smiling and looking at one another as they passed. “Come-on Kyhawn, let’s see if we can get you dried off,” Earron gave him a hand up. “We both need some drying off.”

  Kyhawn chuckled, “You don’t look so pretty either. We could both use a save.”

  “I think it rains out here the same as on the island, off and on,” Earron laughed as they walked alongside one another. When they entered the lounge. The fireplaces were burning, and three of the band members were entertaining everyone. After standing near the door for a few minutes they approach Captain Joenf, and Owem who were relaxing at one of the tables.

  “Captain Joenf,” Kyhawn asked, “would it be alright if Earron and I used the fireplace in your room to dry our clothes off?”

  The Captain thought for a moment, glanced at Captain Owem. With a friendly smile Joenf looked at them, “Go on, and use the tub if you want.”

  While Earron and Kyhawn were leaving Captain Joenf looked around at the others sitting at the table with him. “He’s a darn dependable zac, hard worker, even though he likes to venture a lot.” He chuckled. “But than when I was his age so did I.”

  With a slight grin Alil squinted her lips, “You still do.”

  Kyhawn and Earron looked around for Coita before leaving the lounge. “I don’t see him anywhere either,” Earron said.

  “His loss, not ours,” Kyhawn said as they headed down the hallway. “I heard from Coita, you made up your mind about going to trade school. He wasn’t too pleased with me when he spoke about it either," Kyhawn opened the door. “At first he blamed Washburrn and myself for talking you into changing your mind. I had to explain to him that it wasn’t my nor Washburrn’s idea.”

  Earron closed the door. “It’s nice and warm in here.”

  Kyhawn lay the old box on the large fancy bed, laid his cabac near the fireplace, then draped his cloak over a chair next to it.

  Earron followed placing his coat over the chair next to Kyhawn’s. “The maid must had been here already, and this fire, it sure feels nice and warm,” he stood in front of it with his hands out to his side.

  “Would you put some more wood in the fire Earron, please,” Kyhawn crouched next to his cabac, taking out his parchment pads, then laid them at the foot of the chair to dry off the
dampness. Earron chuckle with delight, sitting on the edge of the bed, while Kyhawn stood next to the stone fireplace and took off his shirt, draping it over the seat of the chair.

  “This bed sure is nice and soft,” Earron lay back. “And this old box sure has seen it’s better days,” he said opening it. “I bet you two glass jars these navigating tools are worth something.”

  “Nothing compared to what those stones might have brought us,” Kyhawn, disgusted by the thought, placed his worn-out slacks next to his shirt, walked into the bathroom and turned on the bathtub water.

  “I’ll try and explained to Coita again, you two didn’t have anything to do with me changing my mind. I only hope he’ll be able to make it without me,” Earron laid on the bed, his hands behind his head.

  Kyhawn walked out from the bathroom. “Let’s not think about it now. Anyway you and him will have plenty of time to talk about your future later. Come and see this neat bathroom.”

  Earron got to his feet and went into the bathroom to find Kyhawn felling up the tub. “Wild... this is really nice. A tub with running water, a toilet, and a sink.” He smiled, tapping the sink. “They’re all made from ceramic too.”

  Kyhawn slipped off the shorts and stepped into the tub. “Warm water,” he said, running his fingers through the water.

  Earron crouched and place his hand under the spout. “It is warm, and feels good too. Hurry up and take your bath so I can take mine.”

  “Look Earron, it even comes with a wash cloth and soap,” Kyhawn lathered up the wash cloth.

  Earron smiled as he took off his shirt. “I’ll be out here waiting. I need to find a place to hang my wet garments on to dry. Don't use up all the hot water.”

  Kyhawn chuckled, “This is a wealthy zacs cruise ship. I’m sure there’s plenty of hot water.” He thought for a moment, “You know Earron, you’re right about me, I mean, the way I’ve been feeling sorry for myself and all. I should be more thankful… and you know… I am thankful for coming out of this alive, and I’m thankful for you and Coita, coming to our rescue with Werdna and Nevets fishing boat and all…. And I’m thankful that we’re here enjoying this moment. I do have two colored stone. I think I’ll get my mom something nice.”

  Earron piked up, “Were you talking to me? Cause if you were, could you say that again. I wasn’t listening.”

  “Nevermind. I was just saying thanks for being a good friend.” Kyhawn scrubbed his hair and dunked his head under the phased to rinse off.

  Earron nodded, “Okay, didn’t do anything you wouldn’t have done for me.” He draped his shirt over the chair, slipped off his worn out trousers and draped them over the seat. He looked down at his tainted short. I should wash these while I’m taking a bath. Without thinking he plopped down on the bed. When he did the box went over the edge. With a quick reaction he managed to grab it before it fell, thinking as he placed it in the center of the bed, that was a close one. If his old box would have dropped it probably have fallen apart. He sat for a moment, and then got up to have look out the small window, in thought. Good the sky’s clearing, no more bumpy waves. He lay on the bed again and began dreaming about how things might have been if the stones hadn’t turned into sand.

  Shortly after Kyhawn stood at the bathroom door looking at Earron. With a refreshing smile he said, “It’s all yours.”

  Earron jumped to his feet, slipped off his tainted short and went straight to the tub. While Kyhawn remained in the bathroom drying off, loudly joking with Earron, Shellean walked in. He walked out from the bathroom. “Shellean!” he turned a shade of deep blue, covering himself.

  While Earron gave out a good chuckle, Shellean said, “Oh… excuse me. I did knock. I’ll see you two later, in the lounge.” She quickly closed the door and headed for the lounge.

  Earron chuckled, “Showing off the goods before you give her the ring.”

  “Would you just shut-up and don’t forget to use the soap,” Kyhawn tossed a bar of soap his way.

  “I already have a bar of soap, thank you.” Earron sang. “Showing off the goods… Showing off the goods….”

  Kyhawn plopped on the bed with a dreamy look in his eyes. Rolled over, tapped the box and pushed in on the loose pegs holding it together. With his towel wrapped around his waist he jumped to his feet. “Our garments should be dry in a little while,” he said as he stared at the books on the fireplace mantle.

  Shortly after Earron came out of the bathroom drying off, smiling. “That was… funny, her walking in on us.” Holding his clean shorts, he placed them near the fireplace to dry.

  Kyhawn turned around with a book in hand. “If you say so.” He turned back around and placed the book amongst the rest of them on the shelf.

  The time passed and before long their garments had dried. Kyhawn glanced into the bathroom before leaving, “I’m sure glad I’m not the maid,” he chuckled.

  Soon after they left the room with a laugh and a refreshing smile. When they arrived in the large lounge they found most of the survivors relaxing, and enjoying the music being played by a few of the band members.

  “There’s Shellean and Bekim,” Earron pointed.

  After Kyhawn and Earron joined them, Coita entered the room and sat on the floor between Earron and Bekim. “What’s that smells?” he asked. “I smell fresh flowers. Is that you two that smells so funny?”

  “It’s the perfume in the soap,” Earron said. “We took a bath in Captain Joenf’s sleeping room.”

  Kyhawn looked at him. “It’s suppose to smell like this.”

  Earron jokingly remarked, “Now all we need is some new garments to go with this nice smell.”

  Coita naively asked, “What’s wrong with the garments you’re wearing?”

  “Never mind,” Earron shook his head in thought. He’ll never change.

  Coita thinking, I wonder what his problem is?

  Shellean looked at Kyhawn. “I think you smells nice.” Kyhawn placed his arm around her shoulders. And while the ocean gently rocked the ship, the remainder of the night passed much the same. The calm and relaxing atmosphere of the lounge slowly drifted off to sleep.