Soon Florence and Copper had all the repair pieces attached to the ship, including a beautiful glass porthole they used to fill the hole that came from their trip around the world, giving them a window to the sea. When everything was secured, Florence, Ms. Octavia, and Alex began the slow but satisfying job of preserving the ship, going over it inch by inch to be sure there would be no leaks.
Samheed and Lani helped make moss threads so Sky could weave them into magic carpet components. She made dozens of them, for no one was exactly sure how far the carpets would be able to fly—or if the storm would hinder them at all. Sam and Lani began instilling the magic into each one.
As their tasks wound down on the Island of Shipwrecks, everyone became increasingly restless. Alex knew Sky had been right. They couldn’t wait for Simber forever. He felt Artimé tugging at him. And here was his chance to prove that he didn’t need Simber around to lead his people safely home.
When the Artiméans had gathered that evening, Alex stood up. “Everyone,” he said, “the ship is ready, and our time for departure has come. Our beloved Artimé needs us, and we need her. We simply can’t wait for Simber any longer.” He glanced at Sky, who gave him an encouraging nod. “We have to go for it without him.”
The Artiméans looked at one another, murmuring, their faces alive and animated with the news. It would be a huge challenge to battle the hurricane without Simber. But they were all anxious to go home.
Alex watched their reaction, the clutch of fear loosening in his chest as he saw their nodding heads and heard their excited whispers. He took a deep breath. “So we’re in agreement, then? Who’s with me?”
“I’m with you, Alex,” Florence called from the doorway. Lani, Sky, and Samheed stood up. “We’re with you,” they said. And in seconds, the entire crew of the pirate ship was on their feet, shouting, “We’re with you, Alex!” From their midst, a cheer rose up. The Artiméans were going home.
» » « «
On what looked to be the Artiméans last day on the Island of Shipwrecks, Ishibashi, Ito, and Sato took Henry aside. With great reverence, they presented Henry with a box of seeds.
Henry looked inside it, and his face lit up.
“You, greenhouse!” Sato said proudly.
“Oh, thank you, Sato-san!” said Henry. “I will build my own magical greenhouse, I promise.”
Ishibashi handed him a small container of the glowing seaweed. “Remember, the bad can be greater than the good,” he reminded Henry. “But the good is worth having. Choose wisely and be thoughtful, Henry-san. Most of all, remember what I said. Understanding and consent.”
Henry nodded solemnly. “I will remember. I promise. Thank you for everything, Ishibashi-san.” He slipped the container of seaweed into the inner pocket of his component vest and placed the seeds in the outer pocket, leaving room to replenish the remaining ones with all the new components the others had made during their time here. He looked up at the old man. “I will never forget you as long as I live.” He reached out and hugged the little man.
“The same is true for me,” Ishibashi said, patting Henry on the back. There was a hint of sadness in his voice.
» » « «
That night, Alex gathered everyone together around the fire, and as the wind howled, he explained the plan for the next morning.
“As soon as the storm dies down,” he said, “Lani, would you please run to the lagoon and tell Spike to make a break for the open sea? I want her to swim without stopping all the way around to the south side of the island—the side the ship is on—and continue straight out from there to beyond the storm’s circumference. Tell her not to stop fighting the current until there’s sunshine overhead and she can swim freely. We will meet her there.”
“Got it,” Lani said.
“Good. Once you’ve spoken to Spike, meet us on the ship side of the island. Squirrelicorns, once I use the transport spell, I want you to fly up high and watch for the ship to appear. As soon as you spot it, come back down and point us in the right direction. Then three of you take Captain Ahab, and the other three take Copper to the ship.”
“Three, sir?” asked a squirrelicorn. “We can do it with two.”
“I don’t want to risk it. It’s going to be a long flight for you as it is, and with the winds, I want to make sure you have more than enough power to fight through it and get Ahab and Copper there safely.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” said the squirrelicorns in unison.
Alex sought out Copper. “Are you comfortable with that?”
“I prefer it to a flying carpet,” Copper said with a smile. “The squirrelicorns have served me well. Thank you, Alex.”
“Captain?”
“Aye,” said the captain, sounding a bit saner than he ever had before. “Anything to feel the sea beneath my leg again.”
“Great,” Alex said. “So that leaves the rest of us to get to the ship using the magic carpets.”
Sky and Crow looked at each other nervously.
“Sam and Lani and I have been testing them,” Alex said. He turned to Samheed. “Will you demonstrate, please?”
Samheed got up and took out a small square of green from his component vest. He threw it to the floor of the shelter, where it grew into a large square, and sat on it. “Across the room,” he commanded.