Island of Fire

“When we push off, I need you to take us there,” Alex said, once they reached the main deck. He pointed to Warbler. “Okay?”

The captain peered out over the water. “Thar she blows!” he bellowed. He pointed to what looked to Alex like the next island beyond Warbler, which they could sometimes see, and sometimes not see, depending on the light and the waves. Alex looked out of sheer curiosity and thought he saw a bit of froth rising from the surface of the water, but a second later it was gone. He shrugged. Maybe this guy had a thing for whales. But that was probably just a big wave crashing against a rock wall.

“Great,” Alex said. “Stay here and be ready.”

“Ye blast my skull!” the captain said in return.

“You’re blasting mine,” Alex muttered, and then made a hasty retreat when he remembered what Mr. Appleblossom had said about avoiding a fat lip.

A glance at the waterline on the sand told him they were near high tide. It was time to go. He peered over the ship’s rail and called out, “All aboard!” He watched the army, pleased, as they boarded the ship in an orderly fashion. Those who could fly did so, and those who couldn’t made their way to their stations on foot, the legless tiki statue again mysteriously appearing on deck, without anyone having noticed it moving.

When Mr. Appleblossom returned to the mansion to help run things, and everyone but Simber and Florence was on board, Simber braced his rippling shoulder against the stern and lifted up, taking care with the rudder. Florence gripped the sides, lifting and pushing. Together they poured all their weight into dislodging the ship from the bit of sand that remained.

Simber growled when the water lapped at his feet. He’d had enough of that lately. But he pushed on, and soon he and Florence were gliding through the water with ease. “That’s enough forrr me,” he said to Florence, and began to flap his wings, rising into the air. He shook his body to rid it of the awful liquid.

Florence smiled and waved him off. “Poor kitty,” she said.

Simber growled again, this time playfully, and showered Florence with droplets. “We’rrre farrr enough,” he said. “Grrrab hold, I’ll give you a leg up.”

“Everybody to the bow!” Florence shouted. She let go of the ship and, careful to avoid Simber’s wings, slung an arm around his neck. He rose slowly, bringing Florence up and out of the water, and set her gently on deck opposite everyone else to keep the ship from capsizing.

Captain Ahab gave a shout, and with that, they were seaborne.

But then, just as they pulled away from their glorious Artimé, a figure burst from the mansion’s seaside door and rushed to the shore, waving her arms and shouting, “Wait!”

Across the Sea

Simber turned his head, hearing the cry. “I’ll be rrright back,” he said, and soared over the ship, turning sharply toward the shore. Alex watched him, alarmed, trying to figure out who was standing at the shore. Was it Ms. Morning? What could have happened to

bring her out of her bed? Simber landed on the sand and spoke a few words to the woman, and then she climbed on his back. Soon they were heading to the ship, and within seconds the woman was dangling from Simber’s neck and dropping to the deck. Alex watched, curious. The woman dusted off her clothes and looked around anxiously.

“Carina!” Alex cried. He ran over to her and picked her up, twirling her around in a huge circle as the rest of the crew looked on, some with smiles, some with curiosity.

“Alex,” she said with a wide grin, and then she grabbed his head and kissed him soundly on the cheek.

He laughed, only a little embarrassed, and happier than he could possibly explain to see Carina Fathom—or rather, Carina Holiday, again. “You came back!” But his delight turned to concern. “Where’s your baby? Is everything okay?”

“Little Seth is fine,” Carina assured him, smoothing her short locks of light brown hair. “I snuck home to Artimé during the night to see how you were all doing, and lo and behold, I found you back in business! Friends told me at breakfast that you were setting out on this adventure. They said they’d take care of Seth while I’m gone. I didn’t want to miss it. I felt so bad for leaving you like that.”

“Don’t, please,” Alex said. He gripped her arms and smiled warmly. “You needed to go, and I’m so glad to see you again. You look . . . just . . . great. Doesn’t she, guys?” He turned and looked around, his eyes stopping at Sean, who was staring intensely at Carina. Alex dropped his gaze and smiled a little. “It’s good to see you,” Sean said.

Carina’s face nearly split, she was grinning so hard. “Sean,” she said. She went to him and gave him a big hug. “I missed you.”

Sean dipped his head, embarrassed. “It’s . . . yeah. I—me too.”

Meghan, who had been watching the reunion, cast a glance at Alex and almost laughed. Her brother had a crush on Carina Holiday! She’d had no idea.

“Sean,” Meghan said. Carina gave a look of surprise at Meghan, who could speak again. “Why don’t you fill Carina in on everything that happened after she left? Alex and I have some planning to do.”

“We do?” Alex looked at Meghan. “Oh. I mean, yes. We do.” He let Meghan drag him by the arm to a quiet spot on deck below Simber, who only had to flap his wings every now and then to keep up with the lazy speed of the ship. From the corner of his eye, Alex saw Sky standing off to the side with Crow and Henry, watching him. But just as he was about to call out to her, she tugged Crow’s shirt and headed down to a lower deck.