Samheed raised an eyebrow and glanced at Alex, and then he shrugged and turned back to the water. After a minute, he craned his neck and stood on his tiptoes, straining his eyes. “I see it,” he said, pointing. “Just there. The mysterious island number six.”

A Strange Message

Everyone but Alex crowded at the starboard railing, anxious to catch a glimpse of the next island. As with most of the islands in the chain, they knew nothing at all about this one as they approached for the first time, and the conversation turned animated.

“I wonder what grave danger awaits us there,” Lani said in her storytelling voice. “Strange thorn-necked undergrounders?”

Sky and Copper grinned.

“A reverse aquarium, perhaps?” Lani went on. “Or a tall, bronze, handsome stranger?” Lani swung her head dramatically and made googly eyes at Florence, who groaned and put her hands over her face to hide her embarrassment.

“Or,” Lani continued with a bit of sarcasm, “everyone’s personal favorite, a never-ending-hurricane island?”

“Hey,” Henry objected. “I liked that one. I had a special bonding time.”

Fox and Kitten made faces at each other. They both hated the hurricane island and were anxious to get home to the lounge band once more.

“What do you think this island has in store for us?” Lani asked Alex, nudging him from his reverie with her foot. “Come on—come look.”

Alex let Lani pull him to his feet and he joined the others. “I think we’re due for a fun island, aren’t we?”

“Yes,” Lani said. “I know—a carnival island.”

“What’s a carnival?” asked Henry.

“It’s a place with fun rides and cotton candy,” Lani said wisely, for she’d read it in a book.

“Candy made of cotton? That’s like eating your shirt. Disgusting!” said Crow, and the others agreed.

“Yeah,” Lani admitted. “I didn’t get what was so great about that either. Apparently cotton tastes sweet, though.”

“Huh,” Samheed said. He slipped his arm over Lani’s shoulders and pecked her on the cheek. “Just like you.”

“Gross,” muttered Henry.

Fox nibbled at the tail of Henry’s shirt and made a face. “Maybe it’s an island covered with rabbits,” he suggested, and he wanted it so much that he almost believed it could be true.

“Mewmewmew,” Kitten said.

“No, not mice,” Fox replied. “That one on the hurricane island was enough.”

Simber sighed and shook his head.

Fox looked up with caution and smiled meekly at the giant cat. Simber glared back at him. Fox tiptoed to the other side of the ship, with Kitten scampering behind.

“I would wish it to be an island of art supplies,” Ms. Octavia said. “I miss my classroom. Especially my paints. I haven’t done a painting in so long, I’ve nearly forgotten how.”

“You’ll never forget,” Florence said. “But it’ll be good for all of us to get back to normal.” Several of the others nodded.

“I miss painting too,” Alex chimed in. He was feeling melancholy from the news about Quill’s wall coming down, and he was feeling weird about Aaron. The talk of Ms. Octavia’s classroom made him long for home. He stood off to one side of the group, leaned forward to rest his elbows on the railing, and stared out over the water.

“It’s probably boring and deserted,” Samheed said.

“I kind of wish for that,” Alex admitted. He stood up straight and took a deep breath, trying to chase away his glum mood. “And besides, it doesn’t matter. We’re not stopping there.”

The announcement was met with a few halfhearted expressions of disappointment.

“We need to get home as quickly as possible,” Alex said, deciding it right then and there. “Artimé needs us. I don’t know what Aaron’s up to, but if the Quillitary is helping tear down the wall, it sounds like he’s got them on his side, which seems suspicious to me. He’s never had their support—in fact, they’re probably the ones who threw him out of university because he messed up their plans.”

“With a little help from me,” Samheed added.

“Yes, you made it happen back then, didn’t you?” Alex said with a grin.

Samheed shrugged, but he couldn’t brush off the smile. After being so closely associated with the evil Will Blair, he’d had to prove his innocence, and he’d certainly done it.

“Anyway,” Alex said, glancing at the sixth island, which grew larger as the conversation continued, “our island hopping needs to end for now. We’re heading home at top speed, and we’re not stopping for anything.”

» » « «

Later, as the low-hanging sun turned orange off the bow and everyone had scattered, Sky joined Alex at the railing.

“It’s smart to go home,” Sky said. “We all need it, and Artimé needs us.”

Alex nodded.

The sixth island loomed as large as life now. It was one of the bigger islands in the chain, from what Alex could see, and it was very green and lush. He leaned over the railing and pointed to the mountainous end of it, which was quite a bit higher than the other side. A huge waterfall gushed from the top of it and slipped down the side, disappearing behind the trees.

“Look how beautiful it is,” Alex murmured. He glanced at Sky, whose face lit up at the discovery.