Florence met his gaze and held it. In her mind, she reached over to touch Talon’s cheek, but she couldn’t actually do it because that hand was attached to the arm on the ship. Instead she said, “I was actually thinking more like once a year.”

Talon pressed his bronze lips together, then replied, “That would be even better, Florence.”

The Line of Possibility

Alex tried not to gag at the mushy words between Florence and Talon. Sure, he was glad they were crushing on each other, but he couldn’t exactly unhear their conversation, no matter how hard he tried to block it out.

After a while, tossing and turning to the lull of conversation as he tried to get back to sleep, Alex began to wonder if he could actually learn a move or two from the bronze gentleman. But then he remembered his promise to Simber and to himself. And he knew he wouldn’t be needing any smooth moves with the ladies anytime soon. He also knew he needed to talk to Sky about it, and explain why he was being so aloof. It wasn’t fair to her not to. And even though she was busy with her mother, he could tell she knew something was wrong. If he could only find a little time alone with her . . . but it had been nearly impossible this entire trip. Maybe when they got back home he’d have the chance to explain. That would give him time to figure out exactly how to say what he was feeling, because at the moment, he certainly didn’t understand it himself. All he knew was that his heart ached when he thought about her. But it ached even more when he thought about the mistakes he’d made because he’d let himself fall for her.

When Florence and Talon grew silent, Alex’s thoughts reverted to the island’s predicament. Poor Karkinos. Poor everybody who lived on Karkinos. There had to be way to help. Perhaps Henry could make an enormous batch of medicine that would heal the crab. . . .

Alex dozed off. In the morning he walked down the reef toward the ship. There he found Lani swinging from a rope tied to the ship’s bow. She gained momentum, leaped, and landed on the reef few a feet in front of Alex.

“Oh, hi,” she said with a grin. “Didn’t want to bother the squirrelicorns for a ride.”

“I was just coming to talk to you. Is Sam up? I need him, too.”

Lani scowled. “Yeah.” She turned to the ship and hollered, “Sam! Alex wants you.”

Alex gave her a quizzical look. “You don’t look very happy. What are you two always fighting about, anyway?”

Lani shrugged. “I’m not fighting. He’s just being dumb.”

Alex squelched a grin. “Right. Okay. So what is he being dumb about?”

Sam appeared at the railing with two squirrelicorns, who clutched him by the arms and carried him to the reef. “Hey, Al,” he said.

Lani folded her arms.

Alex looked from one to the other. “Well?” he prompted. “Why so much fighting?”

Samheed shrugged. “Tell him, Lani.”

“Fine.” Lani pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and opened it. “See this? It’s called a map. Well, it’s half of one, anyway—it’s ripped. You find them in books. They’re supposed to show you where things are.”

Alex looked at it. “I know what a map is,” he said. “Ms. Octavia had me draw one of Quill once, since she’s never actually gone to see it.”

Lani nodded. “Well, look at it.” She shook the paper a bit to add emphasis.

“Okaaay . . . what about it?”

Lani sighed, frustrated. “Don’t you see? There’s all these dots here, and this giant land over here.” She flicked the paper. “We’re the dots.”

“We’re the dots?”

Samheed rolled his eyes. “You see what I’m telling you?”

Alex was becoming more confused by the moment. “I don’t think I get what’s happening here.”

“We’re the seven dots. The islands. Quill, Warbler, Pirate, Legends, and the other ones we haven’t seen yet on the east side of Quill. And this big massive thing to the west? It’s more land. A giant island.” She tapped the paper. “At least, that’s my theory.”

Samheed shook his head.

Lani smirked. “Sam thinks I’m nuts.”

“That’s because you are.”

“And you’re obtuse.” Lani folded up the paper and put it back in her pocket, and the three started walking toward the island.

“Where did you get it?” Alex asked her.

“From that vessel thing that landed near Artimé. I found it floating in the water.”

“Well, how do you know it’s not just a drawing of something pretend, like you find in books sometimes?”

Samheed slapped Alex on the chest. “See? That’s what I said.”

Lani frowned. “It could be, I suppose.”

“After all, the map doesn’t say that those seven dots are islands,” Samheed said. “And even if they are, it doesn’t say the names of any of them. You just think they are because there happen to be seven of them.”

“Be quiet,” Lani said. “Alex, what do you think? Don’t listen to him.”

Alex shrugged. “I really don’t see it, Lani. I mean, if there was a giant island farther to the west, why wouldn’t Simber and Mr. Today know about it?”

“This is exactly what I’m saying!” Samheed said. “Lani thinks she knows more than Mr. Today and Simber.”