“Then what?” Alice asked.
“We’ll go ashore. Can’t risk taking the boat back out into the open sea until things settle down. We’ll spend the night on the beach. Tomorrow morning, if conditions are still this unpredictable, we’ll have to walk around the shoreline to Shadow Bay.”
“That’s going to be a very long walk,” Alice observed.
“Given the rough terrain it will probably take a full day. The energy fence that protects the Preserve is set back several yards from the shore around this sector of the island though, so we won’t have to deal with the force field.”
He did not take his attention off the wild sea, but out of the corner of his eyes he could see the determined expression on Alice’s face. She was scared but he knew she would not panic. That was good to know. He did not have time to deal with panic.
Houdini was no longer chortling with glee. He seemed to sense that the situation had shifted from being a dust bunny thrill ride to something far more treacherous. When Alice reached out to scoop him up, he did not try to evade her grasp. He found his favorite perch on her shoulder and opened all four eyes.
Drake glanced at Alice. “Tell me that you can swim.”
“I know the basics but I’m no expert,” Alice admitted. “All of my swimming has been done in pools.”
“What about Houdini?”
“I’ve seen him swim in a bathtub but I doubt that he’s ever been in the ocean.”
“Get one of the life preservers ready for him,” Drake said. “Attach it to my vest with that cord. Maybe he’ll figure out what to do if we end up in the water.”
Alice took the round preserver down from a nearby hook and connected it to Drake’s vest.
“Are we going into the water?” she asked quietly.
“Not if I can help it.”
The fierce current was growing stronger. The boat was hurtling toward the wall of fog that ringed the island. He searched for the major landmarks that indicated the entrance to Deception Cove, twin pillars of stone that formed a natural gate to the cove. He spotted them at last, rising out of the fog bank, but the narrow entrance was hidden by the thick, dark mist.
He knew he would have only one chance to break free of the underwater river that was sweeping them toward the island. If he miscalculated they would either go under or slam into the rocks.
He powered up the big flash-rock engines and leaned into the wheel, turning to port, searching for the very edge of the fierce current.
The water fought back but he was able to slip the cruiser to the side.
“Hang on,” he said.
“Already doing that,” Alice said. She clutched Houdini and the life preserver in one arm and gripped the nearest handhold.
He could feel the slight disruption caused by the cove current. He took advantage of it, pushing for one last burst of power from the laboring engines.
He hauled hard over on the wheel. The cruiser responded by popping out of the rip and into the cove current. The momentum took the boat straight into the fog bank.
A sudden darkness descended. The dark fog seethed with energy. An eerie calm enveloped the cruiser. The current slackened. A strange, muffled silence fell.
“It’s like we stepped into another dimension,” Alice whispered.
Drake throttled back until the boat was gliding slowly through the fog, skimming over the glassy, smooth surface of the water.
“I can’t see a thing,” Alice said, her voice tight with tension.
Cautiously, Drake took off his glasses and looked at the darkly illuminated world around them.
“I can,” he said quietly.
It was a realm lit by all the colors of midnight. The mist still enveloped them, but when viewed through his other vision it was no longer impenetrable. Instead the stuff was thin and wispy. If it weren’t for the currents of hot energy, it would have been like any other light fog. He could make out the rocky pillars that guarded the entrance to the cove.
Alice turned her head very quickly, searching his face. “It’s dark light energy, isn’t it? I can sense it.”
“Yes. I’ve never seen it manifest like this, though.”
Alice reached up to touch Houdini. “It feels ominous, as if a storm is coming in.”
He could sense it, too, Drake thought. The rising chaos of a greater darkness that would coalesce into something more dangerous when the last of the daylight vanished.
“We need to get settled on shore before night falls,” he said. “Got a feeling this fog will get worse in an hour or so.”
“I think you’re right. Can you actually see through this stuff?”
“Partially. I can see where I’m going now but that might not be possible later. What do you see?” he asked.
“I can’t see anything beyond the bow of the boat.”
He reduced the power further and motored slowly through the entrance to the Cove. Once they passed the stone columns, they emerged from the fog. The water remained calm.
“That’s a relief,” Alice said. “I can see the beach now.”
Drake cruised toward the crescent of sand that edged the quiet cove. When he could not go any further without running aground, he cut the engines and lowered the anchor.
He studied the half moon of a beach and the dark, heavy woods beyond. The twilight drenched the scene in thick shadows.
He looked at Alice.
“Welcome back to Rainshadow,” he said.
“A second honeymoon on this damned island,” Alice said. “What could possibly go wrong?”
Chapter 10
THEY USED THE DINGHY TO TAKE SOME EMERGENCY equipment and camping supplies ashore. The fog was still hovering out over the water but it was moving in slowly, swallowing the cove as it approached.
Houdini, evidently oblivious to the ominous mist, quickly discovered the pleasure of surfing with a life preserver. He frolicked in the shallow water, clinging to the device with his two front paws while he paddled with his hind legs. Every so often he caught a small lapping wave that carried him up onto the sand. He chortled madly and immediately set out to catch another wave.
Alice took one last look at the dark fog offshore and turned to watch Drake establish camp for the night. She liked watching him, she realized. He went about the business of setting up the tent, bedrolls, and small amber lantern in the efficient, competent way that characterized everything he did. He had put his sunglasses back on, she noticed. Evidently what little daylight was left was too much for his sensitive eyes.
“I’m sorry I’m not much help here,” she said. “I’ve never gone camping in my entire life.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Drake rezzed the amber lantern. “Harry and I used to camp out a lot here on Rainshadow. Got it down to a fine art.”
“I can see that.” She walked toward him across the sand. “I assume the amber lantern is for my sake. I appreciate it. Will it bother your eyes?”
“Not as long as I keep my glasses on.”
She watched him take a small gadget out of a pack. He aimed it at the pile of kindling and driftwood he had made. A flame shot out from the device. The kindling caught immediately.
“What is that thing?” Alice asked.
“Basically it’s just a fire-starter, an ignition device. But it’s been modified in a Sebastian lab to function as a small blowtorch, if necessary. I’ve got two of them. You can have one.”