"The ancient text says this stuff is what we need," Milo said. "This is the only way I know how to get it. You wouldn't consider keeping a bat as a pet, would you?"
"Not a chance," Gustad said, the very thought giving him a chill. "Hurry up. You're not light on the shoulders, you know." With his hands holding Milo's legs, Gustad stood with his knees slightly bent, trying to hold on to Milo's constantly shifting weight without hurting his back.
"I'm almost done," Milo said. "I need more light."
"I can't hold you and the torch," Gustad said.
"Let go of my leg and hand me the torch. I'll only be a moment more."
Gustad squatted down and grabbed the torch from where he had propped it. Standing back up was slow and difficult, but Milo used a toehold to support much of his weight. Still, Gustad was breathing hard when he handed Milo the torch.
Bits of rock and bat dung fell from the air as Milo worked, and Gustad wiped his face with one hand, holding Milo steady with the other. Pain seared his shoulder as Milo stood on his toes to reach something.
"There's a great big spot… just out of reach," Milo said, his effort to stretch clear in his voice. Shifting his weight, he slipped, sending sparks and bits of still-burning torch all around. Blowing and using his free hand, Gustad wiped the embers away from his face. An ember on Milo's robe started to smolder, but he could not reach it. He opened his mouth to say something, but a shout of pain was all the came out as Milo put most of his weight on one foot, creating tremendous pressure on Gustad's shoulder.
A moment later, Milo must have realized he was on fire, for he leaped from Gustad's shoulders and stamped out his robes, at times only a hand's width from the ledge, beyond which lay the gaping shaft that dropped an unknowable distance into the darkness.
"These droppings had better be worth it," Gustad said, rubbing his sore shoulders.
Leaning on the gunwale, Catrin pointed. "That way," she said. "There we will find the Keys of Terhilian, and the Terhilian Lovers will show us the way. But if I remember correctly, the man pointed… that way."
Kenward looked to where she pointed. "South and then southwest. I don't suppose we should risk trying to cut straight to the Firstland. Better to sail to the keys and then let the Terhilian Lovers point the way. If we knew how far the keys were from the Firstland, we could chance it, but since we don't know, I suppose we'll have to go the long way."
After a series of mirror flashes, it seemed Nora and Fasha agreed. Orders were given to fish. "We'll fill the holds again if we can. The winds are growing stronger, which'll make that more difficult, but you know your jobs. Let's fish."
Catrin attacked her tasks and helped others finish theirs. Once the trawl tubs, nets, and pots were dropped, there was little to do except wait.
"I'm glad we'll be leaving here soon," Kenward said as he joined Catrin, both staring at the shallows behind them. "That mountain gives me the crawls."
Catrin wondered if he might be more sensitive to energy patterns than he knew, for, to her, the mountain's angry energy field raged like an inferno. Like a pot of boiling water with the lid left on, its intensity grew. "I agree," she said.
"Let's see if we've caught anything. The sooner we're done, the sooner we leave." Kenward issued orders and demanded speed from his crew. Everyone moved with determination and purpose, knowing that following orders was the surest way to stay alive. The wind continued to hinder their efforts; the fish just seemed to stop biting, but still they caught a host of crabs. Catrin joined those who boiled and cleaned the crabs, trying to get them into some preserved form.
The Stealthy Shark had better luck in the deeper water and loaded their hold with tuna and small sharks. The big sharks did not show themselves on this side of the shallows, which made Catrin feel a great deal safer.
The crew retrieved their gear and made for the waters near the Shark. Kenward was stubborn, but he was not foolish enough to deny that Fasha had found the better fishing ground. Fasha's messages indicated that her hold was full, but they would continue fishing until the Eel's hold was filled. Kenward swallowed his pride and gratefully accepted what was sent from the Shark. The combined effort filled the hold in a relatively short time, and there seemed a collective sigh of relief when they set sail for the Keys of Terhilian.
"I can't say exactly how far the keys are," Catrin said later that day. "It's difficult to gauge, but I would say three months."
"At least we're not sailing blind," Kenward said. "Your abilities amaze me. It's a pity they're so dangerous to use. I feared you would never return from your journey. How do you do it? Is it like flying?"
"It's hard to explain, but I'd say it's better than flying because you don't have to worry about falling. I just make up my mind which way to go, and the world moves beneath me, as if I'm not moving at all. Tell me. What do you see when you look at the mountain?"
He raised an eyebrow but then concentrated on the mountain for a long time. "Pressure," he said finally. "Inevitability. I can't explain it."
"I think, Kenward, you've more talent than you know. I, too, see the 'pressure,' as you put it. I wonder if you don't have some abilities with Istra's power."
Kenward stood, stunned, his mouth hanging open. "You really think so?"
"Let's find out. Say nothing," she said. "Chase, would you come here a moment?"
"Let me finish this first," Chase said, helping Farsy load pine boxes back into the hold. He came over when they were done. "What do you need?"
"Look at the mountain, and tell me what you see."
"I see a mountain. It's big. What's this all about?"
"Do you see anything unusual about it?"
"C'mon, Cat," he said, but then he saw how serious she was; with her eyes she pleaded. Sighing, he turned and looked again. Catrin watched him intently and jumped when he gave a start.
"Gods have mercy," he said. "I thought you were nuts, but the mountain is breathing-flexing. It just moved!" His shout got everyone's attention, and both crews watched in horror as the colossal and seemingly permanent mountain jumped and split. With the ferocity of the gods, the top blew apart and a column of fire leaped into the sky. Nearly half of what remained slid sideways and dropped into the sea with an inconceivably violent impact. Black clouds filled the air and rolled across the sea as if the world were ending. No one moved at first, but then the reality of the situation set in.
"Turn us about!" Kenward barked. "Set a course back for the mountain!" For a moment, the crew hesitated, unsure they had heard correctly. "Now!" he shouted, and no one argued. Too many times he had proven his wisdom and skill, which was needed now more than ever before. Frantically, he signaled the Shark then started cursing when the response came. "They'll run before the wave and clouds, but I don't think we have enough time. The wave will overwhelm us. Have I judged wrongly?"
"What wave?" Catrin asked, and Kenward pointed. In fascinated horror, Catrin watched the seas rise to an impossible height, nearly as tall as the mountain had been, and the wall of water raced toward them like the shadow of death.
"I trust your instincts," Catrin said. "Do what you think is best."
Anguish was clear on Kenward's face as the Stealthy Shark disappeared in the diminishing light, heading in the opposite direction. Before the wave reached them, dense ash began to fall from the sky, coating everything. Unlike the ashes from a fire, it was heavy and gritty. Like black snow, it fell and accumulated, weighing them down.
"Keep the decks clear of ash," Kenward demanded. "If we take on too much, it'll either sink or capsize us." His words inspired haste, and despite the encroaching darkness, the crew struggled against an irrepressible tide of ash.