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“I suspect it fell afoul of the maelstrom,” said August calmly.
And following his gaze, Merletta realized that she could see the water growing wild in the distance. Now they were out of the ship, she could even hear the churning.
“Of course,” she muttered.
“We found all kinds of interesting things in there,” said one of the other guards. He was considerably younger than the venerable August, probably in his late twenties. “Look at this.” He pulled something out of a crude kelp satchel, and Merletta squinted at the round, flat golden disc.
“I saw something like that in my practice test!” she cried. “In the giant crab’s treasure hoard.”
The guard nodded. “It turns out that if you get far enough from the barrier, human treasures can be found scattered all over the ocean.”
Merletta’s eyes drifted back to the sunken ship, wishing that she had time to explore more. “It’s a great hideout.”
“We’ve only been here a short time,” said August. “While we were watching preparations for your test. We can’t afford to stay in one place for too long. We’ll be moving on now that we’ve intercepted you.”
“Shame,” said Merletta. She looked at the younger guard, who was looking gloomy as he stashed his treasure back in his satchel. An idea began to form in her mind, but she said nothing, not sure yet whether it was wise.
It wasn’t far to where the three guards had left Merletta’s attackers and, as August had predicted, they were already gone.
“Do you think they’ve returned to the Center?” Merletta asked nervously. “Or are they searching for me?”
“I don’t know,” said August, looking sober. “But maybe we’d better see you back closer to the barrier, to be safe.”
“But if you’re seen—” Merletta started.
August cut her off with a gesture. “I’m not just being altruistic. None of us can enter the triple kingdoms with any hope of surviving. But you can. I want you to tell my wife that I’m alive. And you can’t do that unless you’re alive.”
“Of course,” said Merletta quickly. “Of course I’ll tell her.”
“And we want to help you,” cut in the younger guard. “If you’re really trying to change things, we want to be part of it. Whoever is keeping the world out here a secret was willing to dispose of us to maintain the deception, remember. If we don’t do anything, it will just happen over and over, anytime someone asks too many questions, or sees too much.”
Merletta nodded, her expression troubled. The fierce determination in his eyes filled her with guilt. She felt she should tell him the truth, that she had little influence, and no real plan. But she couldn’t find the words.
August squinted upward, checking the light. “The sun will be setting in a few hours.”
Merletta started. “I have to be back before sunset if I’m to pass the test.”
“The test isn’t my concern,” said August grimly. “The open ocean really is dangerous at night.” He started to move through the water. “Come on.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Merletta had to hurry to keep up with the three guards as they swam southeast. She was impressed by their stealth. Watching them, she saw that they were masters of concealment. Whether they’d always been that way, or had become so in their months of exile, she didn’t know.
To her relief, they encountered no vengeful guards on their trip back. She wondered if her would-be murderers had returned to the Center already, or were still out near the maelstrom, searching for any sign of her. What did they think had happened to them? She hoped they wouldn’t realize that the guards from almost a year ago were still alive.
The thought decided her. August and the others had saved her life, and she couldn’t leave them to the mercies of an unsettled life in the open ocean when she knew of a safe haven nearby.
“This is as close as we dare go,” said August, drawing up behind an enormous boulder. “The barrier is less than half an hour’s swim away. You should be fine here. We’re almost within the territory of the regular patrols.”
Merletta nodded. “Thank you,” she said fervently. “Thank you for saving my life, and for telling me all you have. I’ll get the message to all your families.” She drew in a big pull of water. “I can help you in another way, I think. There’s a safe place you can go, where you won’t have to move constantly.”
“Where?” the younger guard demanded.
Merletta restrained a grimace. She didn’t think they were going to like it.
“The island,” she said. “The land, where you saw Heath, the human. He’s not there now,” she hurried on, at the sight of their expressions. “No one is there. But I hid there for a whole month after the incident last year.” She hesitated. “There’s more, but I don’t think you’ll believe me if I tell you. I’ll have to show you. Do you think you can find the island?”
“Of course,” said August dryly. “We know where it is. We’ve been carefully avoiding those waters for months.”
