Island of Dragons (18 page)

W
hat?” cried Aaron. “Obliterated? By whom? Certainly not Quill. Not after everything you've done for them.”

“No, it's not Quill this time,” said Alex. “There's not a lot of information yet. The escapee from Warbler regained consciousness for a few moments—long enough to give a warning before collapsing again. She said that Queen Eagala and the pirates have been plotting the demise of Artimé for some time. And they are only days away from an attack.” Alex turned back to Charlie. “Is there anything else?” he called.

Charlie shook his head. There was nothing else to tell.

“I have to go now,” Alex said. “They need . . . me.” He stared at Aaron, fear in his eyes.

Aaron searched his brother's face, and his heart fell into his stomach. He dropped his gaze and swallowed, then glanced at Ishibashi with a pleading look.

Ishibashi looked down.

Aaron let out a breath, cringed, and finally turned to Alex again. He shook his head, resigned. Then he bent down and grabbed his bag. “Come on,” he said. “I'll go with you.”

Alex's eyes flickered. “You don't have to do that.”

“It's okay,” Aaron said, lifting his chin stoically. “Let's go back to Artimé. Quickly now! We need time to prepare. Besides,” he admitted, “I wouldn't be any good sitting here worrying. I'll be there with you through it all. You can take me back here after we win the battle.”

Alex could only stare at his brother. There was no way for him to express how deeply he appreciated Aaron's willingness to sacrifice all plans to go back and help Artimé once more. “Thank you,” he murmured.

Aaron turned to Ishibashi. “I'm sorry. I hope you understand why I have to go back.”

The old man nodded, but his face was awash in agony. He was acting very strange.

Alex noticed the look on Ishibashi and regarded him with growing concern. “What's wrong, Ishibashi-san?”

Ishibashi gulped, then clung to Aaron's shirtsleeve, a battle raging behind his eyes.

Aaron became alarmed. “Is something the matter? Are you ill?”

The scientist shook his head. “I am ill with guilt,” he whispered.

“What?” asked Alex.

Ishibashi let go of Aaron and covered his face for a moment. Then he looked up. “There is something I must confess to you before you go, Aaron. Something that may be crucial to you in battle.”

The boys stared. “What is it?” Aaron asked.

“The medicine that Henry has for the giant crab—I know what it is. I gave it to him.”

Alex shifted impatiently.

“Yes, and?” prompted Aaron.

“It's a magical seaweed that will allow Karkinos to live many years . . . perhaps even forever.”

“That's great,” said Alex. “But we really need to go. . . .”

“Shh,” said Aaron, touching Alex's arm. He narrowed his eyes at Ishibashi. “Go on.”

Ishibashi's look turned helpless. “I told Henry that whenever one uses that medicine on a human, he must have their full understanding and permission to do so.”

“That makes sense,” said Aaron.

Ishibashi nodded sorrowfully. “But I did not heed my own instructions.”

Both boys were still now. Staring at the little man.

“When you landed on our shores, Aaron, I thought you were our new friend Alex. You were so near death—there was nothing we could do to save you . . . except for one thing.”

Aaron's bag dropped to the sand with a thud. “What are you saying?” he said harshly.

Alex's stare moved from Ishibashi to Aaron as the truth came to him. “You gave him that?” he whispered. “So he's . . .”

Ishibashi nodded, and a tear slipped down his cheek. “Unbeknownst to Aaron, and without his permission, I gave him the seaweed. And now he is like Ito, Sato, and me. Immortal.”

Ishibashi faced Aaron. “I am very sorry I didn't tell you this news before. I was afraid to. But you deserve to know the truth.”

Aaron just looked at him. “Immortal?” he breathed.

Ishibashi nodded. “Obviously we are not fully sure that we, and you, will live forever, because forever hasn't come to pass. So there is no way to test the theory. But from our best scientific deductions to date, we're quite certain. You won't die, Aaron.”

The brothers were dazed, too blown away by this news to say anything.

Ishibashi touched their shoulders and spoke gently. “And now you must go. Take this news and ponder it. If you are angry, I am the one to blame.”

Aaron put his hand to his head as if to stop it from spinning.

Alex recovered from the shock and gave Ishibashi a meaningful look. “Thank you for telling us,” he said. “We'll talk it through on the ride home.”

“Please tell no one, not even your friends, for we don't want word of the seaweed to get into the wrong hands. It could be very dangerous if that happens. The fewer people who know of it, the better.” Ishibashi gripped Aaron's shoulder. “Are you all right?”

Aaron nodded dumbly. He reached out for the man and embraced him. “I'm okay,” he said. He released the scientist and picked up his bag again.

“We will talk more when you return,” said Ishibashi. He whisked away a tear. “If you are not too angry to return, that is.”

Aaron just shook his head. “I don't feel anything right now,” he said. “But this island is where I belong. This news doesn't change that. I don't think so, anyway.” He nodded at Alex. “Let's go.”

Alex hugged Ishibashi. “Thank you,” he whispered to the scientist, though he wasn't sure why. Perhaps because it was he who Ishibashi initially intended to save.

Alex picked up Aaron's trunk and followed him to the white boat, both minds whirring. Ishibashi Junpei remained on the shore, wondering if he'd ever see them again.

C
an you believe it?” Alex asked Aaron once the boat was weaving through the rocks and on the way.

Aaron shook his head. He sat at the stern, watching Ishibashi grow small as the white boat flew across the waves at top speed. When the scientist was gone from sight, Aaron dropped his head in his hands.

Alex stayed in the captain's seat. He checked in with Charlie to see if there was anything more he could learn about the impending battle, but there was nothing new. “Has Florence returned?” he asked.

Charlie stood still a moment, then shook his head.

Alex frowned. “Okay. Thanks. You can go.”

The head mage mulled over the battle predicament. He felt lost without Florence, and hoped Artimé was dealing with the news all right. He sighed, feeling helpless, and glanced over his shoulder at Aaron.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked gently. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Aaron looked up. His face was wan. “I wish I'd asked Ishibashi what exactly this means.”

“Yes, me too,” said Alex. “I'm not so sure he knows. I think he'd have told you more if he knew specifics. But it's all making sense now, isn't it? The fact that they are so old, and still so strong. And Henry being secretive about his medicine, but so sure it would work to heal Karkinos. Henry did great keeping their secret, that's for sure.” He recalled the time Henry had asked him the hypothetical question about whether he'd want to live forever. Now he knew where that conversation had stemmed from.

Aaron shook his head, still overwhelmed. “But what if I don't want to be immortal?” The vastness of that prospect was something he couldn't digest. “Does it mean that if someone were to hit me with three heart attack spells, I wouldn't die? Or run me through with a sword? Or chop my head off? Even then?”

“I don't know,” said Alex. “I doubt Ishibashi knows, either, unless they've tried killing each other to test it out. But somehow I doubt they'd do that.”

“What happens if I get a non-life-threatening injury?”

Alex smiled grimly. “I don't know. I can punch you in the face if you'd like. See what happens.”

Aaron laughed. “I'll think about it,” he said. He leaned his head back on the seat and ran his fingers through his hair. “Ugh,” he groaned. “This is so weird.”

They fell back into silence. As the day became night, Alex's mind returned to the more urgent matter: the pending attack and the unsettling word that the Warbler escapee had used. “Obliteration.” What would they find when they reached home?

Alex urged the white boat to go faster, and he stayed near the controls late into the night as they sped past the Island of Graves.

Aaron dozed, and soon Alex was nodding off too. After a time he got up, arranged the seat into a bed, and lay down, knowing he needed rest. But his nightmares were filled with frightening attacks on Artimé, and they ended with him being stabbed through the heart when he was just out of reach of Ishibashi, who was holding magical seaweed. In the dream, as Alex died, he saw Artimé's mansion and all of its vibrant color disappear before his eyes, leaving only a gray shack and a throng of angry, starving Unwanteds turning on each other, with enemies taking over the island.

» » « «

The sun was bright overhead when Alex awoke. Aaron was shaking him.

“Hey!” said Aaron. “Wake up. You might want to slow down the boat. Pan's been chasing us for the past few minutes.”

It took Alex a moment to process the strange request, but then he sat up and immediately commanded the boat to stop. He looked around, disoriented until he caught sight of the cylindrical island and Pan gliding up beside them in the water.

Pan swung her head to look at the boys as the waves splashed up against the side of the boat. “Have you any news?” she asked. “Why is Aaron with you? Has something happened to the scientists?”

Alex had forgotten his promise to stop on his way back. “I'm so glad you saw us,” he said. He explained what had happened with the escapee from Warbler and the coming attack, and told her that Aaron had returned with him to help fight.

Pan listened intently. Occasional angry bursts of smoke shot from her nostrils, making Alex and Aaron shrink back. She remained silent until Alex had finished speaking, then moved swiftly to the cylindrical island and climbed its wall halfway. She trained her gaze to the west. “I see no sign of movement yet,” she said. “So you will beat them to Artimé. Perhaps that gives you some comfort.”

“A little,” said Alex. “I don't suppose you see Florence, Henry, and Spike returning by any chance, do you? I'm feeling nervous without Florence to lead us to battle.”

“I'm sorry—I don't see them,” said Pan. She climbed back down the side of the island and glided over to the boat. “Perhaps now is a good time for me to return the great favor I owe you. What can I do to help?”

A
lex pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to organize his thoughts so he could utilize Pan's offer in the best possible way. “We desperately need Florence,” he reiterated, thinking aloud. “And Henry for healing. And Spike . . .” He looked up at Pan. “Can you go to the Island of Legends as soon as possible? Let Henry, Spike, and Florence know that we need them home immediately if it's safe to leave Karkinos.”