Chapter Five
Two hours after breakfast, Syar grinned. “We have a volunteer to transport you instead of using one of the charters. Some friends of mine have a large yacht, and they are willing to take you over to Wonder.”
Moira asked, “Who?”
“Sokar, Loken, and Aeryn. Friends of this island and of Venetia. Their vessel has plenty of room, and the crew has already loaded your supplies, Moira.”
Rache asked, “How long is the travel between islands?”
“If they are going at a normal speed, four to six hours, weather permitting.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Eden smiled. “Get used to island time. Everything arrives when it is meant to and not before.”
Moira smiled. “You get it. No rushing.”
Rache sighed. “I am going to have to brace myself. Rushing is what I do.”
Eden snorted. “She isn’t kidding.”
There was a soft knock, and Syar looked up. “There they are. These are crewmen from Sokar’s ship, and they will escort you to the vessel so you can get underway.”
Moira looked at the alphas and betas who were waiting for them. “That was a lot of nautical chitchat for one sentence.”
Syar looked at Ven. “I am really proud of myself.”
Ven snickered and got up. “Ladies, we are planning a visit in a few weeks, so take care, and let us know if you need anything.”
Moira got up, stroked Penina’s cheek, and then went to hold the twins’ chubby hands. “We stand warned.”
Eden and Rache got up and made their farewells, and then the ladies walked off toward the beach with the crewmen from the large yacht in the distance.
Rache asked, “Why can’t the ship get closer?”
One of the crew explained, “The water has reefs and sandbars that are too close to the surface for a larger, deeper vessel.”
“Oh. Right.”
Moira nodded. “Another thing that isn’t direct. We are going out in a zodiac and then onto the vessel. If there were a dock here, they would use a larger, faster launch. Be prepared to wear a lot of salt. It’s going to encrust us, like a salmon.”
The guys chuckled, helped the ladies settle into the zodiac, and then they pushed off and were on their way.
Rache was wide-eyed as they left the shore and headed for open water. “This is so... open.”
Moira nodded. “At night, in deep water, you can just see shining ocean on all sides, the moon dances and shatters, and the stars bloom above in a bright and dazzling display. Zero cloud cover. Nothing between you and the sky. Algae blooms beneath the surface, glowing creatures under the water. There is light everywhere if you just wait for it to come for you.”
