A Walk on the Water

"Did he now? Interesting. Thanks for the information." And with that he left.

Confused as to what just happened, Nicolò tried to shake off the bad feeling he had and went about his task.

Not knowing what just took place between Nicolò and her brother Eraldo, Alannah was looking forward to a better future than the past she had previously lived. There were a few pilots near their planes and she approached the first pilot she saw. To her disappointment, the first man, an American pilot who had appeared to be tall and ruggedly handsome, shook his head and emphatically said "No!" at the mere mention of Storm Haven Island Island. "Not for one lone passenger, Miss. It's a long ways from here and there is no telling what could happen between now and the hour flight. I am sorry but you should've taken the missionary boat this morning when you had the chance. You would have gotten there in a week with the boat."

"I just got here on that boat," she said turning and pointing to the ferry they just got off. "So you see I wouldn't have had the chance to get on the missionary boat. I Just got out of the hospital, I don't want to spend another week on a boat to get to the island, nor am I alone"' she told him, feeling despondent. "My companion is just there." Alannah said pointing towards Nicolò.

"I am sorry for your plight Miss, but that makes little difference - however I may be persuaded to take the two of you to the island but it won't be cheap."

Alannah felt like crying, but for once she felt as though something might be going her way. She looked in her coin purse, she had taken enough money from her father to last her a lifetime. Erik had been kind enough a few times to wire her money, but even then her supply was running low. With the first class fare she had bought to board the SS Europa, new clothes once she reached New York because she needed a new look, the hotel stay in New Jersey, it was too much for her to handle right now. "How much?" she asked in a timid voice.

Just as the American pilot was getting ready to answer her, they were approached by a rather tall man who appeared to be both emaceiated and jittery-looking. His teeth were yellow and more than half of them were missing. His clothing appeared as though he had pulled rags out of the garbage, and it looked and smelled like he hadn't bathed in months. "Excuse me, Señorita, but I understand that you are looking to hire a plane to take you to Storm Haven."