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.She longed to raise the ship up and fly, but she honored Kenward'swishes.Chase and Prios came to stand by her, just as she caught a whiff of cold but stale air."We're almost there," Chase said, but there was something else in his voice and stance.Lookingto the sky, he sniffed."Do you smell that?""I smell something foul," Catrin said."It smells like the shallows did before the mountainexploded."Chase stayed a moment longer then went in search of those he wanted to thank for all they haddone for him, which left Catrin and Prios alone."We're nearing my home," Catrin said, "but I doubt I'll be welcomed.There are more dangersahead, and I'll not ask you to take any more risks.You've done enough.You deserve to live the rest ofyour life happy and free."I go where you go.No matter what dangers we face."Thank you," she said, unable to find words that would express what she truly felt.Clouds gathered and darkened the late afternoon, and the foul smell grew stronger, as if theclouds themselves were rank.Cold wind descended and drove the Slippery Eel through choppy surf.Catrin went to her cabin in search of warmer clothing.In her pack she found the jacket that RolphTillerman had given her, and she pulled it on for the sake of sentiment as much as warmth.Benjin entered the cabin."Chase, Strom, and Osbourne are waiting in the galley.I think we allneed to sit down and plan out our next moves.We're not out of danger yet.""Let's go."The heat of the galley was a welcome change from the frigid air on deck.Catrin sat next toChase and made eye contact with Strom and Osbourne, but no one spoke a word as they were facedwith fears they could no longer deny.Catrin wondered if her father and uncle were alive, or if Strom andOsbourne had family left to go home to.Fear knotted her stomach, and she began to sweat.Benjin must have sensed the mood as he entered the galley."Whether good or bad, the time hascome to get the answers to the questions we've had.Though I hope we can all be reunited with our lovedones, we must prepare for the possibility that we may have suffered losses as well." No one else spoke.A pall of sadness hung in the air."Do not mourn what might not be lost.Be strong for a short time more,and then we'll know.Get your packs ready.Kenward has given me coin and some supplies in case wehave need."As if summoned, Kenward entered."Sorry I'm late.We're not far from what looks to be the newnorthern harbor.There're plenty of lights.We can come in, quietly, at the very last dock and probablynot be seen, but it's doubtful.Most likely they'll know you're coming.We can go farther east, but notunder darkness.The reefs are simply too dangerous to approach after dark.""What do you think?" Catrin asked everyone gathered."This is our homeland," Chase said."I say we land tonight at the new harbor.""We need to be careful," Benjin said."I agree with Chase," Strom said."I say we land now.""Me too," Osbourne said, and everyone turned to Catrin, waiting for her vote."We land now," she said."Gather your things," Kenward said with an enthusiastic smile."You will be home soon."* * *Only a few lights remained as the Slippery Eel glided into the harbor.Catrin had already badefarewell to Kenward, Fasha, Nora, Brother Vaughn, and the rest of the crew, and already she missedthem.Three fishermen watched the Eel with fear and suspicion as she glided into a slip.The crewscrambled to secure the ship and drop the gangplank.Tears filled Catrin's eyes as she waved a final farewell; then she walked down the plank.Notliking the way the narrow walkways along the docks moved as she walked, she held her breath until,once again, she placed her feet on the firm soil of the Godfist.Ahead, the three fishermen stood at a longtable cleaning fish by torchlight.Even in the darkness, seabirds gathered around to fight over the scraps.The men stopped and watched as Benjin, Catrin, Chase, Strom, Osbourne, and Prios walked by.Allthree had the look of the Greatland about them, and none chose to speak."Good evening," Catrin said as she passed.The men just stared back, seemingly frozen in fear."How do we get up there?" she asked, pointing to the lights that still illuminated the lift.One of the menpointed to a wide path that led to the lift, and she supposed she would just have to find out when she gotthere.Her heart raced at the sight of shadowy forms moving at the base of the lift and voices that floatedfrom the shadows.When they reached the torchlight, the area was clear, and a man was extinguishing the remainingtorches.The other people were packed into one of the large wooden boxes that were attached tomassive lift ropes.Like oversized crates, the lift boxes could transport people and goods to the tops ofthe steep cliffs."Wait," Benjin said as the man approached the last torch."We need to get to the top.""Not tonight you won't," the man said."This's the last trip up for the day, and we're full up.You'llhave to come back in the morning.""Who goes there?" a voice called from inside the box, and the door flew open.Catrin recognizedCattleman Gerard before he managed to squeeze out of the crowded box [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]