“They’re diving … and judging by the time they spend underwater without surfacing for air, I’d say they’re expert at it.”
Watching them, Lasgol realized what Astrid meant. They were not fishing, but instead seemed to be picking something from the bottom. It took them an eternity to resurface to breathe. For a moment he thought one or two of them were going to drown, but instead they came up to breathe far beyond the time a normal person could have gone without air underwater.
“They seem to be very well adapted to the water,” he commented. “I’ve no idea what they’re doing, but they’re amazing divers, better than any I’ve ever seen.”
“I get the impression they’re picking something up from the bottom. It could be oysters, or looking for pearls to wear, or to use for trade.”
“Yeah, that could be, assuming pearls here are as valuable as in other parts of Tremia.”
“Or it might be for coral … although I don’t know what they’d use it for.”
As they passed near the houses, they saw people inside. Some of them came out to greet them as the canoes passed. Others were resting, others repairing the boardwalk and one of the houses.
“This place is more and more fascinating,” Astrid commented.
“It certainly is. I wonder what other surprises we’re going to find.”
She winked at him. “See what comes,” she said, and smiled mischievously.
The canoes went on through colorful coral reefs of immense beauty. At last, they came to a much bigger island than the ones they had left behind or seen in the distance. It appeared to be round, completely surrounded by a wide, deserted beach almost as white as the snowy lands of Norghania. However, behind this beach there was no jungle and no rocks as with the others they had seen, but instead a rocky hillside: a tapestry of green more than a hundred and twenty feet high. As they went closer they could see that the whole island was like this except for a section where a huge waterfall poured down from the top of that rocky wall into the sea. This was the only part where the beach vanished, swallowed up by the waterfall on its way to the sea. Its roar contrasted with the peaceful silence that held sway over the waters around the great island. Stranger still was the fact that there seemed to be no way to the interior through that great wall of natural rock that surrounded the island.
“That must be the main island, where the Turquoise Queen lives,” Astrid said. “I can’t see an entrance. Can you?”
Lasgol used his Gift and called upon his Hawk’s Eye skill, but although he looked thoroughly, he could see no entrance or passage, either natural or man-made.
“I can’t see the whole island, but at the moment I can’t see any way in.”
“If I’m not mistaken, that’s not a normal mountainside. It looks like … I don’t know … not a mine … a …”
“It looks like a volcano,” said Lasgol.
“Yes, that’s it. I couldn’t place it in my mind, but that’s it. I’d say it’s – or else it was once – a volcano.”
“With no way in …”
“There must be some way in, if they’re taking us there.”
Lasgol nodded in agreement, though at that moment he could not see how that could be. Perhaps on the other side of the island there would be an entrance which they could not see from this side. They would soon find out.
The canoes arrived at the island and waited twenty paces from the beach. The water around this island was even more transparent and turquoise than around the others, as if they emanated a yet-greater purity.
Arrain, Shaman of Life and Sea, stood up and waved his hand. One of his companions took out a huge conch, put it to his mouth and blew hard. There came a long, deep call, as if from the very depths of the ocean. He repeated the call twice more, then put the conch away. Nobody spoke. They seemed to be waiting for something. Viggo exchanged looks with the rest of the team and made faces, suggesting that he was not pleased with this. Lasgol and Astrid also exchanged expectant glances. How were they going to get into the island without even leaving the canoes?
All of a sudden fins appeared in the water, approaching from the east. Lasgol feared the worst: sharks. But when they were closer they realized that these were dolphins, and this astounded him. The animals had come to the call of the turquoise savages. He wondered why they had come.
Ona and Camu were very excited at the sight of the dolphins, and Lasgol had to calm them down.
Stay still, the two of you. They’re dolphins, I know, and no, we can’t play with them, or adopt them either. So quiet, both of you. Don’t make any trouble, please.
Dolphins pretty. Smart.
So they are, but they’re free creatures and they seem to be friends of the Turquoise Queen, so let’s not have any trouble.
I never trouble.
Oh yeah? Then it must be Ona.
The panther moaned.
Lasgol petted her, Ona good. I know Camu’s the naughty one.
Arrain spoke in the language of the natives. The dolphins emitted the characteristic sounds of their species and headed to the island. Shortly afterwards, they dived and vanished from sight. The Shaman turned round and explained deferentially: “I have warned the Queen of our arrival. We are requesting permission to enter her dwelling. Her beloved creatures will announce us and come back with the reply.”
“Frankly astonishing,” Astrid whispered to Lasgol.
“Everything in this otherworldly place is truly interesting and extraordinary.”
“Let’s see what happens now. Quite honestly, I’m intrigued.”
“No more than I am,” Lasgol said with a smile. Astrid winked at him and smiled back.
While
