***
Heather followed Jeremy through the darkness in silence. She was not able to keep up with Jeremy's loping run but they made good time nonetheless. The ship was visible in the distance, only as a shadow in the light of the few stars shining between clouds. When they came in sight of the beach, they saw multiple small bonfires. It seemed as if almost everyone had come ashore. There were joined by others of the Forest as they neared the campsite. They just appeared out of the darkness and began visiting with Jeremy.
Heather would have enjoyed visiting with those around campfires but the Captain's dory was waiting to take her aboard. Jeremy helped her aboard the boat and the two sailors began rowing her out to the ship. She tried to ask questions of the sailors but their answers were short and the story was not making sense. Arriving at the ship, she moved easily up the rope ladder and was greeted by Captain John on the deck. He said, "By the God of the Sacred Water it is good to see you Princess."
She replied, "I am thankful to the God of the Sacred Water for your safe return. We were worried."
"As were we."
"I would hear your story."
Captain John said, "We have much to discuss. Let us sit at the table and I will tell our tale. We have much to be thankful for and some planning to do."
Tivi met them in the mess area with a pot of tea. The lamp was turned up high and the young man had obvious bruises on his face. Captain John saw her look of concern and said, "It was a rough ride and many of us were tossed about, but thankfully no serious injuries."
Heather sat across from Captain John and noticed how droopy his eyelids were and how haggard his facial features. He began by saying, "Riding out the storm at sea was probably the right decision, but such a storm I have never sailed through before. I know not if our ship could have survived with this poor anchorage but we barely survived at sea."
They had stayed in the protected waters of the lei of the island but when the wind shifted suddenly they were blown out of the protected waters. Using only a well-reefed mainsail they continued the dance as the wind took them on an easterly course. Things seemed to stabilize and Captain John finally took some sleep. The helmsman was taken by surprise by another sudden wind shift to the north. The ship heeled to the side and for a moment it appeared as if they would capsize. The ship struggled to regain a vertical stance but the strain on the mast was too much and it broke. Now they floundered about in the very confused seas and drifted south. By the time a temporary mast was fixed, Captain John had lost all sense of his position. Their dance was now a real fight for survival with the confused seas continually crashing over the gunnel.
By the time the storm abated they had drifted far to the east and south, much further east than he would have thought possible unless the land had curved. They slowly made their way back to the north but it was several days’ sail before any landmarks were reached. A promontory was identified on the coast that corresponded to a drawing Betty found in Daniel's book of notes and drawings. They reversed course at that point and sailed south again looking for the current change which had revealed the island in the first place.
Captain John, who had been looking off in the distance while he told the story, focused his attention again on Heather saying, "It is only by the grace of the God of the Sacred Water that we survived."
Heather responded, "I think the skills given you by the God of the Sacred Water are why you survived and for this I give thanks. We were well protected in the cave of Daniel's stranger, who is recovering but is now with only one leg." As an afterthought she added, "He seems to know the ships of the Red Ambassador and is afraid."
This jogged Captain John's memory and he added, "When we turned north as the storm abated, one of yours of the Forest said he saw lights in the distance. I thought of seeking help but for some reason decided not."
Heather was thoughtful as she remembered the trembling of Daniel's stranger. She replied, "Is probably best you sailed on. Do you think you were seen?"
"The darkness was setting in and we had but one small lamp lit topside. I would think it would be unlikely but possible."
Heather asked, "What next?"
"It will take a few days’ work to stabilize our temporary mast. I would prefer installing a new mast if any tall straight trees could be found."
Heather thought of the things she had seen exploring with Jeremy and could not recall anything but short scrubby trees. She replied, "The island has no real Forest but some trees. I will speak to Jeremy about our need. Those of the Forest will provide a tree if it is on the island." Heather did not speak for a few minutes while thinking she then said, "I would return to our own country. Daniel's stranger should be able to provide the information we need without further risk of being discovered by those of the Red Ambassador."
Captain John said, "The return journey will be much slower because the winds will tend to be from the north and our ship is no longer whole. Another storm such as the last we will not survive."
"By the God of the Sacred Water we will return home safely. I would return now to Daniel. I wish you a good rest. We will search for the new mast at morning light."
Captain John sighed, "A full night's sleep would be a blessing."
"Till the morning, Captain."
Heather returned to the shore and could hear Jeremy's voice entertaining those around the campfire. She waited for a pause in the story before saying, "We need a tall straight tree from which to make a new mast."
Jeremy replied, "There are not many trees that are much more than scrub. I saw a few in the canyon to the north of the mountain."
"I would you and those of the Forest seek out the best at the first light."
Jeremy said, "It is something we of the Forest can do and best of all it is on land. By nightfall tomorrow we will have the best tree back here."
Heather said, "I would that we left little sign of our being here. Now it is time for me to return to our camp."
Betty was prepared for travel and insisted on accompanying Heather. She was still upset that she had not stayed with her Princess. Heather had not the energy to argue, so accepted with a nod her companion's request. As they followed Jeremy back to their cave, Heather's thoughts seem to alternate between a great relief of the ship's safe return and a sense of dread regarding the sighting of lights. Captain John thought it was very unlikely they were seen but if they were? Would those who put such terror in their new friend come looking for them? Would this island even be known by them?
Her worries were put aside as soon as they arrived back at their cave. Daniel was all excited about another possible substitute for the sacred water. The young priest had been able to establish some communication almost immediately. Larby spoke in a language that was definitely related to the writing in the oldest scrolls. The young priest had to convert from the written form to an oral form of the language but they were communicating. When Daniel had asked about the sacred water, Larby knew only that the elders spoke of such a thing when telling the stories of their creation.
When Daniel pressed the issue by using his hands to demonstrate the goiter, Larby responded saying, "Thyroi."
The young priest had to work hard to follow the explanation. Larby's people had learned to eat a small gland in the fish that seemed to treat a developing goiter. Daniel went on, "It makes sense. The iodine gets washed to the sea by the rivers. The fish absorb it and the people obtain it in the concentrated form when they eat the right part of the fish."
Heather was tired and this talk of healing was confusing. She said, "It is time for sleep. We can speak of your fish guts more tomorrow. We have other worries which can also wait till the morning."
Sleep came slowly because Daniel was excited about the fish and Heather was worried about the lights. Morning came and when Heather and Betty went out to complete their morning ritual, Jeremy had already left. Before they returned to the cave Betty said, "The stranger is one of those p
eople Tivi spoke of."
Heather asked, "How do you know this?"
"He smells like fish."
Heather had not detected the odor but her initial exposure had been accompanied by the horrible stench of the infection. As they reentered the cave she could indeed detect the slight smell of fish. They broke their nighttime fast with a simple meal. Daniel was still excited about using fish as a substitute for the sacred water but Heather had other things on her mind. She needed to know why their young friend was so afraid of the ship. They no sooner finished eating then she began her questions. It was hard to formulate a question such that could be translated easily.
She asked, "You have seen ships such as ours before?"
The young priest translated the question and a discussion in the old tongue went back and forth for some time before the young priest said, "Yes."
"From which direction did they come?"
Again considerable dialogue occurred before the simple answer, "From the east."
"What people sailed the ships?"
The anguish on the young man's face was evident as his voice rose to almost a tremble while he described the arrival of the first ship. His people thought the arrival was a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. The ship had no sooner arrived than dozens of their small boats went out to greet it. All of the leaders and elders were on those boats. Those on the ship allowed them to board but immediately put them in chains and those who resisted were killed and tossed overboard. For several days nothing happened and then a machine on the ship launched rocks and destroyed their village center. A smaller boat was then lowered from the ship and came ashore. The villagers watched from a distance as two of their elders were brought to shore. A man, dressed in red, spoke in a language they could not understand. They knew not what to do and the man spoke again saying a few words in their language. One of the elders bowed down before the man but the other remained standing.
The young man paused and only with difficulty continued his story. The man dressed in red repeated the words one more time and then reached over with his long knife and severed the standing man's throat. Without another word they returned to their ship leaving the still twitching body behind for the villagers to contemplate. The next day at the same time they came ashore and repeated the scene, some of the villagers knelt when the words were spoken but the elder who refused was again dispatched with the long knife. Over the next days the beach was turned red with those elders and leaders who refused to bow before the man dressed in red. The message was clear and everyone in the village learned to bow when the words were spoken.
Larby was quiet after he finished his tale, leaving the young priest to finish the translation. Daniel and Heather were at loss for words and sat quietly for several minutes. Heather finally said, "We have much yet to learn about those who would be our enemy. I would that we leave soon for home."
Daniel could only say, "I could not have imagined such brutality. I see now why the Red Ambassador was not concerned about the consequences of stealing our sacred water."
Heather replied, "I would expect those consequences were the desired effect." After just a short pause she continued, "I would you continue to learn of our young friend and his people. I need to meet with Captain John again."
Before leaving she thought of one more important question and asked, "Do your people know of this island?"
After the young priest translated the question, Larby answered with a simple nod of his head. Heather then asked, "Do the people dressed in red also know of the island?"
The answer was much longer and the young priest translated it simply as, "Probably not."
Daniel wanted to know why Heather had asked the question and she relayed Captain John's report of lights having been seen to the east. Daniel understood her concern saying, "If they had been waiting for the Red Ambassador could they have seen our ship and come looking." After a minute of silence Daniel added, "I too feel we should leave for home. I will learn from our young friend what I can while you meet with Captain John."
Heather left giving Daniel a quick kiss on her way out of the cave. Even to her eye it was evident that a trail was developing between the cave and the small cove. Anyone who looked would know people had been here. She arrived at the campsites and only a few of those of the Forest remained, the rest were with Jeremy. She visited for a short while telling them of the stranger Daniel had found. She then asked if a lookout could be posted on the mountaintop to watch for any approaching ships. As an afterthought she asked if their mirrors would work for communication. Hearing an affirmative she left them to work out the details adding, "We may need to leave with two hours notice and with not any traces of our presence left behind."
Heather climbed into the small boat and two of those from the Forest rowed her out to the ship. The ship seemed a beehive of activity. Men were climbing all around the rigging stretching new lines while others worked to repair damage to the deck itself. She found Captain John supervising the deck work. She greeted him with, "I pray that the God of the Sacred Water has granted you a good night’s sleep."
"Aye Princess, I slept well and feel almost refreshed."
"And the work, how is it going?"
"It is coming along. The damage to the deck is less than I had feared. The Red Ambassador knew how to build a ship."
"How long until we would be ready to sail?"
"If the new mast arrives by morning, a day or at most two days and we will be ready." He added, "I'm not sure those of the Forest are quite ready to return to the ship."
Heather looked away momentarily before replying, "We may have no choice. I worry about those lights that were seen. Our stranger is much afraid of the people who built ships such as this and described a machine that launched stones from the ship and destroyed part of their village. If they find us we will not escape."
It was Captain John's turn for a moment of reflection. He said, "We are doing all we can and it will be the will of the God of the Sacred Water."
Heather replied, "Yes, but it is up to us to ensure that we have done all that is possible. I have had a lookout placed on the mountain. We will have about two hours’ notice of any ship arriving. Can you sail with such little notice?"
Captain John rubbed the stubble on his chin as he thought. He responded, "If we left the temporary mast in place while we worked to install the new mast, maybe." He added, "It will be less efficient but doable." After another pause he said, "A ship which is whole would easily overtake us."
Heather nodded her head as she replied, "We must not be seen."
Captain John was called back to the work to answer a question. Heather watched the work for a while but there was nothing she could do. She returned with the two of the Forest who had brought her. On the beach, others were working to remove any sign of their presence. She asked if two would come with her and help remove any sign of their trail to the cave. They walked slowly back to the cave and the signs of the trail were partially obliterated as broken twigs were removed and others branches placed to obscure the passage. Footprints were erased. To those of the Forest the trail would still be obvious but to Heather it had disappeared.
They arrived back at the cave and Daniel was waiting at the entrance. Heather greeted him but before answering his questions turned towards the two of the Forest who had accompanied her saying, "I would you find Jeremy and tell him of our possible need to depart quickly. He will need a relay to stay in contact with the lookout on the mountain. I would then one of you return here and report his progress."
The two of the Forest left and Heather answered Daniel's questions. She asked about their stranger and Daniel said, "The young priest seems to understand his speech better than Larby understands the efforts of the young priest but they are communicating. They are talking mostly about their creation story which seems to revolve around an escape of the founders in a boat. They are of the Sea."
Heather said, "I would hav
e something to eat and then we too should begin preparing to depart quickly if needed."
Daniel looked around the cave entrance and said, "To someone who knows how to look it will be obvious that someone was here. Using Jeremy's brush we can hide the mouth of the cave fairly well from the eyes of someone not used to looking."
"It is the best we can do. I would think those of the Sea would not be used to looking as would those of the Forest. Now I would eat and then plan some more."
The sun had begun its march down into the West with about three hours of daylight remaining when one of the Forest arrived with the message, "Two ships approach from the east."
Heather asked, "Has Jeremy been notified?"
"With the signaling mirrors."
"How about Captain John?"
"I am headed there now. Any other message?"
Heather replied with only a moment of hesitation, "Captain John will know what to do. I need to know which direction the ships take. After notifying Captain John make contact with the lookout on the mountain. As soon as the direction is confirmed return quickly to the ship."
The messenger had no sooner left when Daniel asked, "And if the ships separate?"
"Then Daniel of Issip, we will not escape. I would expect the ships to stay together. Together they represent a stronger force."
When they explained, through the young priest, about the danger of the approaching ships, Larby was visibly shaken. Heather explained their plan of escape and asked Larby to join with them. The young man quickly agreed and after Heather explained that he may not return home for some time he did not change his decision. They finished policing the area and camouflaging the mouth of the cave. Loaded with their supplies, Betty and the young priest helped Larby move down the trail while Daniel and Heather trailed behind, covering their tracks. The temporary crutch was a big problem, creating deep holes where the soil was soft.
They arrived at the small cove and found much activity. When Heather asked about Jeremy she was told he would arrive within the hour. She would have hurried him on but knew he was already pushing as hard as humanly possible. Their young stranger was introduced quickly and then he and the young priest were ferried to the ship. Heather quickly inspected the site of the camp and could see no obvious traces except for the grooves in the sand from the boats landing. Those of the Forest told her they would erase those as the final step before returning to the ship. Heather said, "We have done what we can. Now we need to load the new mast and pray to the God of the Sacred Water for our escape."
She and Daniel were then ferried to the ship. Captain John looked up from his work and asked, "Do we know the direction of arrival?" Before Heather could answer he continued, "How long before the new mast gets here?"
Heather answered, "Jeremy is less than a half-hour out. I would expect to hear the direction soon. Are you ready to sail?"
"Princess, we have a wounded ship. She will be ready to sail within the hour but her wounds limit our ability."
"It is as it is. I will check on those of the Forest; can they be of help?"
"My sailors are completing their task. I would have those of the Forest raise the mast your Jeremy is bringing and secure it to the deck."
"I will have Elrod prepare for the task."
There was no longer time for planning, they would do their best and if the God of the Sacred Water was willing, it would be good enough. Elrod had no sooner organized his crew then Jeremy was spotted approaching the small cove. They were moving at the loping run in a synchronized fashion carrying the new mast on the shoulders. Jeremy was at the lead and did not stop at the water's edge but continued into the water until he was up to shoulders. The log floated free. The small boats began carrying those of the Forest to the ship and lines were attached to the log. Many hands worked to raise their new mast onto the deck where it was secured.
The light was starting to fade to the west when the messenger arrived. His message was simple, "They sail to the south, one close to shore and one far out."
Heather and Captain John received the message. Heather said, "A good military plan, keep your force together but maximize your view. We will need to hug the shore or they will for sure see us."
Captain John agreed, "It is as when I was working as a free trader. We need not sail fast but must stay hidden along the shore until darkness is complete. I would we had knowledge of the reefs along the shore."
Jeremy spoke out, "From the mountain I have seen some rocks on the north. With my signaling mirror I could direct you until the sun drops below the horizon."
Heather looked at the sun which was getting low in the West and said, "Jeremy of Issip, you have done enough for now. Darkness will soon be upon us. We will sail and trust the God of the Sacred Water."
Captain John gave the order, "Raise anchor, we sail!"
Sacred Water, Book 2, The Time Before Page 13