Chapter 21
After breakfast Lunawent up to the main deck and solemnly looked at her pile of LITERALLY EVERYTHING SHE OWNED.
Beckett lifted some sodden fabric off the pile. “This is your stuff, with some twigs and mud.”
“It looks so sad.”
“That’s exactly how I would describe it.”
“Boosy is not supposed to have a crack through his middle.”
“That wasn’t how I remembered him.”
Tree was on the ground. Luna gingerly lifted the trunk and felt around the root ball. “Maybe with some new dirt?”
“Possibly. We can get some when we stop. We’re going to the southern end of the islands, then straight home to Heighton Port.”
Luna scrunched up her face. “That’s earlier by a few days.”
“True. It’s easier to go back to Port than to stay out.”
“So because of me?”
“Probably more like because of me. I have some amends to make for coming aboard in the first place.”
“I’ll help you make them.”
Luna lifted the edge of her tent and scooped out a pile of soggy moldy smelling fabric. “Oh, my clothes.” She dug through the pile until she found the edge of a dark green shirt. She clutched it to her chest. “Good, your shirt is still here. I thought—”
“I have more.”
“Not this one. This one is mine fair and square. I scavenged it from the Outpost. Plus. . .” She tugged at a knot in the middle and spilled something into her palm. “It has your grandfather’s watch.” She held it toward him.
“You can keep it.”
“Nope. It was to remind me of you. Now I have you, so it’s yours again. But I keep the shirt.”
Beckett secured the watch on his wrist and grinned. “See, now I’m super glad I came to get you.”
Captain Aria appeared and Beckett introduced her to Luna. She asked, “Are you feeling better? You were completely out when you arrived.”
Luna said, “I have a headache, and I was famished, but I’ve eaten now. Thank you for that, and for everything, really. I’m so grateful to be here and sorry about all the trouble I caused.”
Captain Aria nodded. “You’re welcome. But as a Captain on the high seas I have a duty to rescue other vessels that I come across. I had to go out of my way to come across you, but that is simply a matter of semantics. And as long as my researchers were okay with the diversion, and they were, it was nothing but directing my vessel in a new direction.”
“I hope that my being here hasn’t gotten Beckett in trouble. He…”
Captain Aria smirked and spoke to Luna ignoring Beckett. “Let’s just say that since Beckett came on board he has made it exciting around here. Yet, somehow, he has ingratiated himself with everyone on board. It could be his incompetence as a seaman made him comedic relief, or his helplessness because of his injuries gave us a common cause, or his desperation to find you, but I suspect it’s his dimples. We hope to get him to shore before his smile causes real damage to this ship and crew.”
Luna smiled. “He ingratiated himself to me too.”
“I suppose he has what with all that heroism and all. And speaking of heroes. I’ve been out here three times this morning looking at this pile, marveling really. You travel out on the ocean with this little amount gear. I have been thinking about what I believe is essential to ocean travel and how none of that is in this pile. You really don’t use any communication or location equipment?”
“No, we have ways of navigating and traveling without it.”
“What about in emergencies, like if you find yourself alone?”
Luna gulped and looked down at the deck. “I guess generally we think it’s too heavy for just in case. Unnecessary.”
Captain Aria asked, “What about now, do you still think that?”
“I know how to navigate by the stars, but it’s communicating over the distances, asking for help. That’s what’s so difficult.”
“I imagine so.”
