Aaron’s face was anxious. “What time are we leaving?” he asked.
“I’ve decided we’ll go around sundown,” said Alex. “That way the boat will have us to the Island of Dragons by morning. We’ll want to attach the wings during daylight, don’t you agree?”
“I—well, yes, I should think,” Aaron said, but he sounded distracted. “Thanks, that’s perfect. I was hoping we weren’t heading out first thing. . . .” He trailed off, and then dashed back inside the mansion before Alex could say another word.
“What was that about?” Alex asked Liam.
“I d-don’t know,” said Liam, who often stammered when nervous. “But as I was telling Aaron, I’ve got the sacks of dirt ready to go. So, um . . . where . . . ?”
“That’s great, Liam,” Alex said. “Thank you. I’ll help you load them on the boat.”
? ? ? ?
While Alex and Liam loaded the Claire with hundreds of pounds of soil, Aaron was far away in the deepest part of the jungle, trying to be strong. He’d been here a lot in the past few days, always thinking it would be his last visit, but then finding a way to come back one more time.
Upon his arrival, Panther had come running, her sleek black body shimmering and her muscles rippling. Hanging from her jaws was one of the spiders made of vines that Aaron had constructed. Panther dropped it at Aaron’s feet and batted it with her paw.
Aaron grinned and picked it up. “Stay,” he said.
She sat obediently and rubbed her whiskers against Aaron’s side. Aaron picked up the vine spider and threw it with all his might. Panther’s body jerked, but she stayed in place, waiting for her cue.
“Attack!” Aaron shouted.
The panther leaped in the air and charged toward the spider. She slid to a stop on the jungle floor, picked it up and shook it, and then brought it back to Aaron.
“Well done!” Aaron praised.
They played the game for nearly an hour, until Aaron’s arm grew tired. He sat down near a pile of vines and began constructing more spiders for Panther—he wanted to have enough for her to play with for a long time. He began piling them up on one side of him, while Panther lounged on the other side, her face pressed against Aaron’s thigh and one paw resting possessively on his knee. She closed her eyes.
“I’m going away for a while,” Aaron said softly. He reached out and petted Panther between the ears.
Panther turned to look at Aaron, her eyes wide and sad.
Aaron set down the spider he’d been working on. “You’ll be okay without me.” He frowned, and then he slipped his arms around the panther’s neck in an awkward hug.
Panther struggled to get up, and Aaron quickly got up too. He’d been here far too long. He needed to pack his things. “Good-bye,” he said. “Tell the rock and the dog that I said good-bye. And I’ll . . . I’ll see you later. Sometime. Okay?”
Panther screamed in Aaron’s face. Aaron gave the beast a long look, and then he swallowed hard and went inside the tube. “Keep your tail on,” he said. “I’m not sure if Al . . . if anyone, I mean, knows how to fix those. Not like me, anyway.”
Panther wagged her tail, and Aaron stood helplessly watching her. Finally he waved, trying not to break down, and then pressed the button that would take him back to Artimé.
In the kitchenette, Aaron stepped out of the tube, pinched the bridge of his nose, took in a deep breath and let it out, and then entered the hallway. He walked toward the balcony, stopping by Alex’s living quarters. The door was open, and things were strewn about the room.
Alex stood at the bed, cramming clothes into a medium-size traveling bag.
“Hey,” said Aaron.
Alex looked up. “Oh, hi,” he said. “Are you packed?”
“Almost,” Aaron said. He looked swiftly away. “I was wondering if you have an extra bag. It seems I’ve accumulated a few things that I don’t want to leave behind, and I can’t fit everything into my trunk. Just a small one will do.”
“Yeah, sure,” said Alex. He went to his closet and pulled out a cloth bag with handles, and handed it to Aaron.
“Thanks,” said Aaron, taking it. He hesitated, and then expelled a sharp breath. “Okay, see you in a bit.”
“Around sundown,” Alex reminded him.
“Got it,” said Aaron. “And, uh, don’t forget to tell your blackboard that you’re leaving this time.”
Alex grinned. “Thank you for the reminder. I’ll do that. Hey, Clive, you filthy beast, wake up! I’m going away for a few days and . . .”
Aaron stepped away. With his mind full of plans, he slipped down the hallway toward the balcony and headed for his room, never noticing Simber near the mansion’s entrance, watching him curiously as he often did.
More Good-byes