The Quest for Paradise

I connected with something wooden and then I heard Sheatera's breath umph out of her as water splashed about suddenly. Then it was my turn to be lifted up and dumped into the dugout canoe fitted with an outrigger.

Scrambling around I helped pull Tolak onboard. The water had done little to wash the ash off him and his face was mostly obscured by a cloth that he'd wrapped about it, but he was here and alive!

Somehow everything just felt better somehow. Even if we died right now it would be better because I would die with him.

I could tell despite the mask that he wore that he was as emotional as I was, but the situation demanded more of him than to be expressive right now. Seated at the back of the canoe he picked up a paddle and plunged it into the troubled waters and the canoe shot forward.

Climbing over Sheatera as splashed up surf spilled into the canoe I reach the forward prow. I searched for and found a paddle and glancing back to squint in the darkness I did my best to match my paddle strokes with those of my husband even as Sheatera bailed water out of the canoe as best as she could.

It was a mad fight for survival, which I wasn't really sure why we were attempting, other than it felt good. Well almost good.

Hacking and spitting on kicked up water spray I couldn't even make out the way forward, but I kept paddling. The water abruptly became less perturbed and I stopped paddling in order to wipe at my eyes.

We were past the breakers and for the first time I actually gave us a chance of coming clear of the chaos erupting behind us. A red glow helped illuminate the darkness and looking back I took in the majestic sight of the volcano spewing lava globs across the breadth of the island as rivers of the stuff coursed down the volcano's ruptured sides.

The old man's foresightfulness had certainly made a big impact. My gaze switched to Tolak at the back of the canoe who was still powerfully paddling away. His face was clear of the cloth now and he was grinning. Far from being enamored with the rosy glow of molten heat behind us he was instead enraptured by the sight of my chest bared to the breeze.

Smiling reprovingly I reclaimed my chest rap from our child and turned forward in the canoe. I didn't really care about any exposure of myself to either my husband or even Sheatera, but the dotted outlines of the native boats ahead and the men they held I did care about.