by Lisa McMann
“It’ll be nice to be home,” Alex said after a time.
Henry joined them and entertained Simber for hours with stories of Ishibashi and the greenhouse, though he stayed true to Ishibashi’s instructions and didn’t mention the glowing seaweed.
Every now and then Henry checked his vest’s interior pocket to make sure the container was still there, and it always was. When he had exhausted all his stories, he went in search of a bit of wire. Once he found something that would suffice, he fashioned a magical fastener for the container’s pocket that would only open on his command. He felt proud that Ishibashi trusted him to make wise decisions, and he took Ishibashi very seriously when he said the seaweed should never fall into the wrong hands. Henry imagined someone horrible like Aaron Stowe getting ahold of it, and imagined what would happen if a tyrant like that had the ability to live forever. It would be absolutely terrible for everyone else, he knew that much. It could cause the downfall of the whole world!
By midafternoon, Captain Ahab, who was functioning more like a normal, non-insane statue ever since Ms. Octavia cleaned out the inside of his head, shouted out for all to hear: “Land ahead!”
Simber confirmed the sighting, though no one else could make it out. That prompted Alex to ask Simber for his story. “Now it’s your turn. Tell us everything,” Alex said, “from the time you left with Sean and Carina until you scared the stink out of Ishibashi. And what took you so long coming back?”
“Afterrr yourrr adventurrrous storrries,” Simber said, “I’m afrrraid mine will borrre you.” He flapped his wings a few times. “But I’ll give you the highlights.”
Others gathered to listen.
“Ourrr jourrrney home was a difficult one,” he began. “It took much longerrrr than I expected because of Sean’s leg. If I flew too fast, the wind buffeted him arrround in his hammock. So we took it verrry slow. He’s doing much betterrr now.”
“Thank goodness. And what about Artimé?” Alex asked. “Is everything all right? I’ve been anxious to know what prompted Ms. Morning’s seek spell.”
“Ah, yes,” Simber said solemnly, and he recounted the story of Eva Fathom’s tragic death, and the confusion about whose side she was really on. Simber saved some of the more sensitive information about Sean and his secretive work with Eva for a time when he and Alex could talk privately.
“Well if that was all that went wrong,” Samheed asked after a while, “what took you so long to come back?”
Simber took a moment to sample the air and check to make sure Spike was nearby, and then he began anew. “You might not believe this,” Simber said with a rare, wry grin, “but shorrrtly afterrr we got to Arrrtimé, and just as I was about to rrreturrrn to you, a most extrrraorrrdinarrry thing happened.”
“What?” Alex asked.
“The Quillitarrry and the Necessarrries began tearrring down the wall that surrrounds Quill.”
“That’s crazy!” Lani said.
Ms. Octavia just shook her alligator head in disbelief.
“It’s trrrue,” Simber said. “They werrre going at it with some vigorrr when I left.”
“And is Aaron still high priest?” Alex tried to picture Aaron making that decision, knowing what he knew of his brother. He added sarcastically, “How much time did they spend tearing it down before someone changed his mind and demanded it to be rebuilt again?”
Samheed snickered.
“That’s what I was wonderrring,” Simber said, “and of courrrse we werrre all concerrrned about the motives behind that action. So I decided it was best that I stay forrr a while, at least, to see if we could deterrrmine what was coming next. Of courrrse we anticipate an attack eventually.”
“But you changed your mind and decided to find us anyway?” Sky asked.
“When you didn’t rrreturrrn, I began to worrry,” Simber admitted. “The Quillitarrry continued theirrr demolition, planning to topple the entirrre wall, level the rrrubble, and chop up the barrrbed-wirrre ceiling. It seemed rrreasonable to me that they wouldn’t do anything to us until theirrr task was completed.
“In the meantime, Clairrre and Meghan have rrreinstated Magical Warrriorrr Trrraining for everrryone, including teaching defensive spells to the Warrrblerrr childrrren. Carrrina is worrrking harrrd on incrrreasing the medicine supply. Sean and Sigfrrried Appleblossom and some of the youngerrr Unwanteds arrre building up ourrr stock of spell components. And of courrrse the girrrinos arrre keeping a close watch on the borrrderrr between Quill and Arrrtimé. They’ve rrrecrrruited help from Jim, the winged torrrtoise, and the ostrrrich statue, and a varrriety of otherrr statues to stand guarrrd along the borrrderrr, since we no longerrr have a wall at all.”
“That must look so strange,” Sky said.
Lani nodded. “I can’t even imagine it.”
Alex was flabbergasted. He couldn’t picture a scenario where his brother would do such a rash thing, so opposite of what Justine stood for. “This is very strange,” he muttered. “I don’t think Aaron is working alone. This is not something he would ever do—I just can’t see it.”
“You know him better than anyone,” Ms. Octavia said. “It’s one of the reasons Marcus chose you to be the next mage. Let us know if you think of anything that would help us defend Artimé, for I fear that’s what he’s after. Why else would he expose Quill by taking down the wall, if it’s not to have better access to attack us?”
Alex absently rubbed the patches of fuzz on his chin. “Yeah, of course,” he said, lost in thought. “I’m not sure what to think, quite honestly.”
Samheed nodded. “We’ve got time to figure it out. I hope.” He looked out over the water toward home.
Alex knit his brows, unaware of the others watching him curiously. “He would have been one of us, you know. He had a chance to join us early on, before that first battle. I remember . . .” He trailed off.
Sky glanced at Crow. This was news to them. She looked up at Simber, who stared ahead in stony silence.
“I remember he almost did it,” Alex said, finishing his thought. “He was tempted.” He shook his head and sighed. “Things would be a lot different for us if he had.”
Samheed snorted. “Yeah. A lot worse.”
Lani nudged him with her elbow. “Take it easy,” she said, nodding her head in Alex’s direction. “He’s having a moment.”
Samheed raised an eyebrow and glanced at Alex, and then he shrugged and turned back to the water. After a minute, he craned his neck and stood on his tiptoes, straining his eyes. “I see it,” he said, pointing. “Just there. The mysterious island number six.”
A Strange Message
Everyone but Alex crowded at the starboard railing, anxious to catch a glimpse of the next island. As with most of the islands in the chain, they knew nothing at all about this one as they approached for the first time, and the conversation turned animated.
“I wonder what grave danger awaits us there,” Lani said in her storytelling voice. “Strange thorn-necked undergrounders?”
Sky and Copper grinned.
“A reverse aquarium, perhaps?” Lani went on. “Or a tall, bronze, handsome stranger?” Lani swung her head dramatically and made googly eyes at Florence, who groaned and put her hands over her face to hide her embarrassment.
“Or,” Lani continued with a bit of sarcasm, “everyone’s personal favorite, a never-ending-hurricane island?”
“Hey,” Henry objected. “I liked that one. I had a special bonding time.”
Fox and Kitten made faces at each other. They both hated the hurricane island and were anxious to get home to the lounge band once more.
“What do you think this island has in store for us?” Lani asked Alex, nudging him from his reverie with her foot. “Come on—come look.”
Alex let Lani pull him to his feet and he joined the others. “I think we’re due for a fun island, aren’t we?”
“Yes,” Lani said. “I know—a carnival island.”
“What’s a carnival?” asked He
nry.
“It’s a place with fun rides and cotton candy,” Lani said wisely, for she’d read it in a book.
“Candy made of cotton? That’s like eating your shirt. Disgusting!” said Crow, and the others agreed.
“Yeah,” Lani admitted. “I didn’t get what was so great about that either. Apparently cotton tastes sweet, though.”
“Huh,” Samheed said. He slipped his arm over Lani’s shoulders and pecked her on the cheek. “Just like you.”
“Gross,” muttered Henry.
Fox nibbled at the tail of Henry’s shirt and made a face. “Maybe it’s an island covered with rabbits,” he suggested, and he wanted it so much that he almost believed it could be true.
“Mewmewmew,” Kitten said.
“No, not mice,” Fox replied. “That one on the hurricane island was enough.”
Simber sighed and shook his head.
Fox looked up with caution and smiled meekly at the giant cat. Simber glared back at him. Fox tiptoed to the other side of the ship, with Kitten scampering behind.
“I would wish it to be an island of art supplies,” Ms. Octavia said. “I miss my classroom. Especially my paints. I haven’t done a painting in so long, I’ve nearly forgotten how.”
“You’ll never forget,” Florence said. “But it’ll be good for all of us to get back to normal.” Several of the others nodded.
“I miss painting too,” Alex chimed in. He was feeling melancholy from the news about Quill’s wall coming down, and he was feeling weird about Aaron. The talk of Ms. Octavia’s classroom made him long for home. He stood off to one side of the group, leaned forward to rest his elbows on the railing, and stared out over the water.
“It’s probably boring and deserted,” Samheed said.
“I kind of wish for that,” Alex admitted. He stood up straight and took a deep breath, trying to chase away his glum mood. “And besides, it doesn’t matter. We’re not stopping there.”
The announcement was met with a few halfhearted expressions of disappointment.
“We need to get home as quickly as possible,” Alex said, deciding it right then and there. “Artimé needs us. I don’t know what Aaron’s up to, but if the Quillitary is helping tear down the wall, it sounds like he’s got them on his side, which seems suspicious to me. He’s never had their support—in fact, they’re probably the ones who threw him out of university because he messed up their plans.”
“With a little help from me,” Samheed added.
“Yes, you made it happen back then, didn’t you?” Alex said with a grin.
Samheed shrugged, but he couldn’t brush off the smile. After being so closely associated with the evil Will Blair, he’d had to prove his innocence, and he’d certainly done it.
“Anyway,” Alex said, glancing at the sixth island, which grew larger as the conversation continued, “our island hopping needs to end for now. We’re heading home at top speed, and we’re not stopping for anything.”
» » « «
Later, as the low-hanging sun turned orange off the bow and everyone had scattered, Sky joined Alex at the railing.
“It’s smart to go home,” Sky said. “We all need it, and Artimé needs us.”
Alex nodded.
The sixth island loomed as large as life now. It was one of the bigger islands in the chain, from what Alex could see, and it was very green and lush. He leaned over the railing and pointed to the mountainous end of it, which was quite a bit higher than the other side. A huge waterfall gushed from the top of it and slipped down the side, disappearing behind the trees.
“Look how beautiful it is,” Alex murmured. He glanced at Sky, whose face lit up at the discovery.
“Stunning,” she agreed. “Maybe we can visit another time?”
“Yeah.” Despite the island’s beauty, Alex couldn’t tear his eyes away from Sky. Her face was so expressive, and he loved how she delighted in simple, beautiful things. She had such a wonderful appreciation for them, just like the Unwanteds did after having lived in the colorless world of Quill.
He blurted out, “Do you think your experiences in Warbler turned you into this amazing human being, or were you just born this way?”
Sky’s lips parted in surprise. She caught his gaze and held it and didn’t answer his question. Instead she sighed and smiled. “At last.”
Alex tilted his head. “At last what?”
“At last, the real Alex has returned,” she said. She tapped a finger to her lips and grinned, adding, “You know, you can be very attractive when you let yourself be vulnerable.”
Alex had trouble comprehending her words. He could only stare at her finger on her lips, and wish his lips were there in its place. “The real Alex?” he managed to say.
Sky nodded. She dropped her arm to the railing, letting it rest millimeters from his, but held his gaze. “The guy from the roof,” she said.
Alex lowered his eyes. “Oh, him. That Alex was a mess,” he said. He wasn’t proud of that Alex. That Alex had so many shortcomings, so many breakdowns.
“That Alex was the one I—” She stopped.
Alex’s stomach lurched. He lifted his gaze. “You what?” he whispered. He drew an inch closer to her, and she to him. Was she really about to say what he thought she was going to say? It made his heart tremble.
“The one I . . . ,” she said again, and swallowed hard.
Just then a shout rang out.
Alex and Sky bolted apart.
“What?” screeched Alex. “What’s wrong?”
Samheed and Lani came thundering across the deck, leaping over Florence’s leg, and pointing to the island. “Look!” Samheed shouted. “Look at the shore!”
Alex and Sky spun around and searched the area where Samheed was pointing.
“I don’t see . . . ,” Alex began, and then he sucked in a breath.
Spelled out in white bones on the brown sandy shore of the island was a single, enormous word. “HELP!”
Ominous Island Six
Bones!” gasped Sky. “That’s crazy!”
“Do you see anyone on the shore?” Lani asked. She, Samheed, Alex, and Sky craned their necks toward the sixth island, searching all around the word “HELP” for signs of life. Nothing moved.
“I don’t,” Alex said. “Simber, do you?”
“No, not frrrom herrre.”
Alex tapped the railing nervously as he considered his options. “We can’t stop here. We can’t,” he said, as if he were trying to convince himself. “We have to put our own people first.”
“Of course we do,” Lani said, “but what if someone’s in trouble?”
“What if our own people are in trouble?” Alex said, frowning.
Lani shot him a look.
Alex sighed. “Right. Okay, Sim, let’s take a quick ride over the island. See if you can detect any life. I mean, that help sign could be years old. The person who wrote it could be dead by now. Or rescued,” he added.
Simber dipped a wing. Alex climbed on and slid to Simber’s back, and they were off.
“It’ll be dark soon,” Alex said, glancing at the half circle of orange that remained in the western sky. “I won’t be able to see for much longer.”
“Don’t worrry, I can see,” Simber said. They flew over the waves and above the shore, Simber weaving across the area nearest the bone message. The island below was thick with trees and bushes. Sections were covered with beautiful flowers. A river flowed from the waterfall on the mountainous side, leading into the thick center of the island.
Alex peered around Simber’s wing, but in the waning light, he could only see occasional movement of leafy branches, probably from the wind.
Simber crinkled his nose. “I don’t see anyone, but therrre’s definitely life down therrre. Severrral species, I think. It’s harrrd to tell. But therrre’s not a strrrong human scent.” Simber glanced back at Alex. “Do you want me to coverrr the otherrr half of the island too?”
Alex glanced back at the ship, wh
ich now glowed warmly, lit by magical torches that someone had fashioned. “Nah,” he said. “If someone made the help sign, you’d think they’d stay near it. If you don’t see anyone, let’s head back.”
Simber soared over the sign once more. As they began turning back toward the ship, they heard an earsplitting roar. Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw something move near the waterfall. He turned to see a huge, silver creature leap from a ledge on the mountainside and disappear into the overgrowth.
“What was that?” Simber growled. Whatever it was, it moved swiftly across the ground, leaving a battered trail of broken foliage in its wake.
Alex leaned forward to watch it as Simber circled back and followed the action from a safe height. A moment later a wild pig shot out from the bushes onto the beach, running at top speed. The silver creature exploded from the brush, chasing after it. It lunged for the pig and tackled it, and with a roar and a squeal, the two went rolling across the sand.
“Holy gorillas!” Alex’s heartbeat thrummed in his eardrums. He gripped Simber tightly around the neck and pressed his cheek against the cool stone. “I think that’s what that thing is called, anyway,” he said quietly. “But it’s eight feet tall at least. And check out those teeth.” Two saber-shaped fangs no less than six inches long curved downward from the gorilla’s mouth.
The gorilla grabbed the squealing pig and got to his feet. The pig looked tiny in his hands. The beast roared again, gleaming fangs dripping with saliva, and brought the squealing pig toward its mouth.
Alex cringed and looked away just in time. The pig went silent.
When Alex dared look again, the gorilla was loping back through the overgrowth toward the mountain.
“Wow,” Alex breathed. “That was intense.”
Simber nodded. “Quite. I have a feeling that whoeverrr made that help sign—”
“Has long ago been eaten,” Alex said. There was no doubt. No one could survive with a beast like that around.
Simber turned toward the water. “Maybe this is one island we can safely avoid in the futurrre.”
“Definitely,” Alex said.
As darkness fell, they flew back to the ship.
