CHAPTER 24
THE BOATS WERE there, just as the stories claimed. They were nine days out from camp, out of high tide’s way on a wind-scoured beach. There were three, upside-down, metal hulls shining in the midday sun. As they drew nearer, they could see that two of them were ruined; the bottoms were riddled with some sort of bullet holes. The third boat was oddly unharmed.
“Should have hit all three, from the looks of the trajectories.” Daniel was examining the bullet holes.
Malgam joined him. “Maybe the third wasn’t here when those were shot.” He and Daniel exchanged a look. “Wonder where it might have been.”
The seaworthy boat was barely big enough for the six of them. When they flipped it over, they found two sets of oars stowed neatly beneath it.
“Let’s load it up and get it on the water.” Daniel set his duffel inside the boat. Nipper leaped in and settled on a cross board. The night before they left camp, Rachel had watched the Woolly bump his head against Nandy’s hand, asking for attention.
“Will he come?” Rachel had seen how sad Nandy looked as she stroked Nipper.
“He should stay here, where his home is.” Nandy frowned.
“But I thought he was yours.”
“He’s not mine.” Nandy scratched Nipper’s forehead. “He belongs to his own self. But I will miss him.”
In the morning, Nipper had had his own ideas. He followed fast on Nandy’s heel and refused to leave her, even when Malgam tried to chase him away. After the third run at him, Malgam had trudged back to Nandy, breathless.
“I think you’ll have to let him come, love.” And Nandy had called to him, and petted him and laughed. And so Nipper came with them.
Pathik stepped up and put his bags in the boat too. He turned to look at Rachel. For the first time since they had left The Property, he smiled a real smile. Rachel smiled back at him. She looked around at Nandy and Malgam and Vivian and Daniel. Everyone was smiling.
The water was fairly calm right offshore. They strapped everything in and consulted the map and the compass to be certain they knew which direction they should head. Daniel and Malgam took the first stint at rowing. They had about eight hours ahead, if they’d figured correctly.
Rachel watched the shore recede behind them. She didn’t feel afraid at all.
That changed.