A few minutes later, we were gathered in the Mess Hall again, with two main topics to discuss. One, the surprise visit from our archenemy. Two, what on earth happened out there with the sleepy thing? Its oddness was only matched by how unsettling it was. What if the Ka had developed some strange method of hypnosis?

“Let's talk about what we all felt right before we collapsed to the ground,” Dad said. “I know for me, it all happened very fast. A sudden surge of fear ripped through my body when I saw that first half-man, half-Ka thing land on our ship, and the next thing I knew, blackness filled my vision and I was falling. It was like my whole system just shut down—like someone flipped off my power switch.”

“Same for me,” said Miyoko. Her voice revealed a slight twinge of doom, like she could not make herself recover from the ordeal. As it was, she had been so quiet all night that I couldn't help but wonder if something was troubling her, something besides what had just happened outside.

Joseph spoke next. “For me it was when I heard the first scream. It brought back the memory of the Blackness, when I was taken by that hoard of Ka when you blocked the Black Curtain, Jimmy.” He looked at me, his face pale from the memory. “It reminded me of that horrible place—the black, gooey face. My heart almost stopped from fear, and then everything faded into darkness. I don't remember falling.”

Tanaka coughed, and made a gesture to let us know he was speaking next. Despite the circumstances, or, knowing Tanaka, perhaps because of them, he made his best attempt at a joke.

“I thought I know meaning of ugly when I met Jimmy for first time.” He grinned in my direction. “But those … things got him beat, I'm sorry to say. It was the sight of their gray skin, and those black lines all over—that's what scared me so badly. And then the dark came over me, like the world had been sucked away with a snap of the fingers. It was … so strange.”

A dark pall washed over Tanaka's face, something I never thought I would see. It made me want to cry and give up to see someone with such a cheerful demeanor suddenly look so dejected.

“I don't remember much,” said Rayna. “The last thing I remember is hearing that terrible cry of the Ka again. I don't remember falling. Hooded One, what was it like for you?”

Hood had been very quiet as well, which was saying a lot, considering he doesn't talk. His frayed robe hung from his body, looking sadder than usual. His faceless head jerked up at the mention of his name, and he stood and held up a wooden board he had taken to carrying around for messages. The paint from his finger washed clean from it pretty easily. Hood pointed his pinkie finger and placed it on the board, then revealed once again his otherworldly gift.

He began to paint words with nothing but his finger.

“IT WAS AS IF THE ONE CALLED RASPY HAD RETURNED.” He turned the board over. “I, TOO, FELL INTO DARKNESS.” He sat back down, and I realized he had his red ring, The Bender Ring, at his side for support. Hood and I had once traveled many miles, from a riverside mansion to a mountainside shack, in a matter of seconds by going through that ring. I would never forget the sensation of the rushing redness when we did it.

Mom was sitting next to me, and when she began to speak, I could see that she had been crying. “Every time I think the horror cannot get any worse, something new happens. Those things were something out of a child's nightmare. My stomach turned at the sight of that veined skin, and the black eyes, the wings …” She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “I don't remember anything, really. Just fear and darkness coming over me.”

“What about you, Rusty?” Dad asked.

“I don't know,” he said. “For some reason I was worried about Jimmy. I knew he had his Gifts, but I just, I don't know, got really scared again that they were going to figure out a way past those Gifts and take him.” He looked at me. “Let's face it, Jimmy is the only one they really want. I had this surge of something, I don't know, fear or whatever, that they were just gonna scoop up my dweebish little brother and take off. Then I felt really tired. Then I fell.”

“Did you just call me dweebish?” I asked. “What exactly does that mean, anyway?”

“It means reeking little boys who run off and get special powers so their brothers can't beat the crud out of them anymore.”

Everyone tried to laugh, but it was very weak. It was almost as lame as some of our courtesy laughs for Tanaka in the past.

“Anyway, monkey-boy,” Rusty said, “what happened with you? Why didn't you pass out?”

“Well, I did get this weird feeling like I wanted to go to sleep. But it happened way after you guys—I saw all of you fall down.”

“Were you very scared?” asked Rayna. “As scared as we were?”

I thought for a second. “No, not really. But remember, I have the Shield, and I've met up with these things over and over now. But I was scared a little, I guess, because the more people we gather, the more difficult it's going to be to do our little trick with hugging.” The Shield was my first gift, the one that protects me from anything and everything. When others are in direct contact with me, the Shield expands and protects them as well. It had helped my family more than once, but there was just no way we could have everyone on the yacht touching me at the same time.

“I was more scared for you guys than for me,” I continued. “Why do you ask?”

Rayna frowned. “I can't say for sure. I'm working on a theory somewhere in my head, but I don't want to talk about it until I have more time to think on it.”

“Well,” Dad said, “we better get some rest; it's pretty late.” He looked at his watch. “We've kind of slacked off in having consistent lookouts while we sleep. I think we'd all agree that we can no longer afford to be careless with that. Everyone get in bed, and I'll take first watch. Then Joseph can take a turn in a few hours.”

“That's fine, J.M.,” Joseph said, “but what are we going to do if they come again? Heck, when they come again.”

Dad stood up. “Good point. Jimmy, I think I better turn this question over to you.” Dad walked over and put his hands on my shoulders and squeezed—that universal sign from dads that they love you. “But, I doubt they'll come again tonight. Let's all get some rest, and we'll come up with a plan of action tomorrow.”

“What if they do come tonight, Dad?” Rusty asked.

Dad smiled.

“Run to Jimmy.”

“Glad to know it's all up to me,” I said.

“Come on, we'll be all right. It's not like we're a bunch of wimps, right? Except for that old geezer Tanaka sitting over there.”

Tanaka stood up and roared his displeasure. “Mister Fincher-san, you ask your boy about that, neh?” Once, Tanaka had lifted me above his head and spun me around with barely any effort at all.

“All right, all right, you win, Mr. Tanaka. Come on, let's go to bed. Those things aren't coming tonight, and if they do, Jimmy will get rid of them in a jiffy.”

Dad would prove to be wrong on both counts.