BEFORE DAWN
The island opened one eye.
It would rest again, but for now, it would wake. It must wake, so when noon came, it could call the ones it needed. The one it needed. Until then, it would watch those already here. Like the one called Paulo, one who shared the island’s sense of anticipation, one who might even share the island’s true hope. He needed no guidance, which was fortunate since the island could spare no energy for it, not now; all the power the island had left would be spared for moments it must act, and for the final moment, when failure to act would equal failure.
Time would tell.
It always did.
* * *
The sun rose over Mount Nil, twinkling with promise. Honeyed light cascaded down the peak in rivulets of brilliant gold. On the far side, out of sight, the silent platform sat ready. As he stared at the mountain, Paulo pictured the black platform drenched in light, the swirls and lines on the ground filled with glittering white sand, waiting.
It was time.
With effort, he turned away from the mountain. By the firepit, a small group sat quietly, some staring off into space, others picking at their food. He’d set a dozen whole fish to roast before dawn; he’d retrieved the full water gourds from the Cove, too. He was preparing the only way he knew how. Hafthor stood, his back to the pit, gazing toward the sea and his little houses. Molly sat near Davey, pushing a piece of fish around on a wooden plank. Calvin crouched on his feet, poking the embers with a long stick, stoking the coals. Amara sat by the fire, near no one. As usual, she wasn’t eating, or talking. She was intently carving a wooden stake with cold precision.
“Morning,” Paulo said. All five lifted their chins to look at him. He took in their faces, their anxiety and distress and ever-present panic running just below the surface of their expressions. Not for the first time, he marveled at the effortlessness with which he’d watched Rives lead the City before. At the time, Paulo had been so concerned with himself, with his journey. Now all these faces, all painted with their own brand of fear, looked at him for guidance. Looked to him.
He wasn’t entirely sure that he was up to the task.
Still, here he was.
It also occurred to him that they didn’t look as afraid as they should.
He cleared his throat and his head. “I’ll be back in a few days,” Paulo informed the group. “All the water gourds are full; I refilled them from the Cove this morning. The food stores are as full as they can be, but ration the dried food as best you can; it’s all we have. We have a new chicken, so at least we have eggs. Don’t waste them. Hafthor will fish each day at the traps. I would suggest that everyone work to keep the firepit going. A night watch with torches wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”
Calvin’s eyes went wide as Molly’s narrowed.
“Where are you going?” she asked. Her gaze was wary.
“There is something I have to do. While I’m gone, look to Hafthor for any questions. He’s been here the longest besides me.”
Arms crossed, Hafthor tipped his head in the barest of nods.
“I should be back in a few days.” Possibly with a newcomer, he thought. The crescent moon had gleamed in warning, although he hadn’t needed it; he knew. Tomorrow was the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and the most powerful gate of the year as well. To be called to the noon gate was an honor among his people, yet he fervently hoped no one answered. But something was happening today; he’d felt the island sucking in energy for the past few days, and last night he’d barely slept, so in tune with the silent vibration of the island at its core. The crescent moon had called; he would not risk being late.
Five faces, ten eyes. All still trained on him, waiting.
He relented.
“I can’t tell you right now, but when I return, I’ll tell you where I went and why. You have my word.”
Hafthor gave Paulo a satisfied nod; Davey looked annoyed, as usual. Molly’s expression stayed intense, and troubled. Amara had no expression at all. She returned to scraping the piece of wood with a jagged black rock, her movements slow and calculating. Paulo hadn’t admitted it to anyone, but he found Amara slightly frightening. Since she’d arrived, she’d focused her time on making weapons, not friends.
Calvin threw his stick into the fire and stood. “All I want to know is what animals live here, all right? Like the ones that can kill us. Because I know I saw a jaguar out there. And Davey here says he saw a tiger, which is flat-out insane. And I want to know what else we can eat because I’m damn hungry and all I’ve had is fish and raw eggs for two weeks straight.”
“Welcome to paradise,” Davey muttered.
“I saw a rabbit this morning,” Paulo said evenly. “You can trap it. You also can cook eggs over the fire, or go south for coconuts, pineapple, and redfruit. As you know, guava is to the north. There are some crab traps set to the north as well; I haven’t checked those lately. But.” Paulo paused, making sure he had Calvin’s full attention. “Avoid the mudflats; they’re directly inland from the Cove. There are at least five hippos there by my last count and they’re highly dangerous. There are monkeys there too, which can be more trouble than you’d expect.” He fought a wry smile. “And like I first said, I don’t know what other animals are here, besides us. But I know they’re hungry, just like we are. Don’t let the fire go out.”
And with that, he left.
It occurred to him he should be more encouraging, but lately, he’d felt that reality was the better course of action. He had three months left to stay alive, to keep the others alive, and then in exactly three months’ time, he’d have a second chance to try to correct his colossal failure.
But first, he had to get to the platform.
There was no time to waste.