Page 15 of Uncharted

“Yeah, it gets warmer the closer to the opening.”

“Zane, Zane.” I call out.

“We’re here. We’re mostly okay, Little Bird.” His voice is soft. “Stay there. We’re coming out.”

I cup my hands. “What do you mean, you’re mostly okay?”

“I mean, we’re coming now,” Zane says.

Zane backs out first. It’s dark, and while we can’t see anything, I know it’s him. Then Calvin.

“Fucking shit,” Calvin says.

“You’re hurt. Why don’t you listen to me?”

“It’s not bad. Nothing broken. I’m not even bleeding, just a bunch of bruises, Chiefie. I’m good. But we’re fucking even better. That’s no boat down there. It’s the mother fucking Rock Candy,” Calvin exclaims.

I’m so torn. I want to help Calvin, but I want to go see the ship. Sam. “Sam. The captain.”

They all laugh in some form. Calvin grunts, I think, but that might be the bruises. “I didn’t see him. But it’s tied up to the reef. Someone tied it up.”

“We need to get his attention. Make him hear us.”

“Agreed.” Calvin grunts. “I’m going back out to the mountain.” He doesn’t say it, but he implies to check out the damage to his leg.

“I’ll go with you,” Easton says. “This is fucking fantastic news about the ship.” There’s something in his tone that confuses me.

“I don’t need your help, Rockwell.”

“Didn’t say you did,” Easton answers.

“Good,” Calvin grunts.

“Good,” I say with more enthusiasm.

I can hear them grumbling to each other as they head to the front of the cave.

“There’s a lot more rubble on the ground now, Little Bird. Be careful. And stay clear of the edge. I’m going to keep my hands around your ankles. You can go next, Dante. It’s best if you stay here. You won’t see anything, anyway.”

“Aye, Aye—” Dante leaves off the captain.

My heart is racing as I crawl and then slither to the edge. My palms are getting cut up. The rocks are sharp, and there are far more pebbles than sand now. But whoa, the hole is a lot bigger. A few more months on the island with no pizza or ice cream and I might be able to fit through it. I’m not scared of heights, but I don’t want to get too close. Calvin was right; it’s the Rock Candy. She’s tethered at three points, two on the reef and one to the cliff.

But there’s no one on deck. Maybe Sam’s climbed the wall and is on the island now. “Sam,” I call out. It’s like the wind picks up my voice and shoves it back down my throat. I might as well be a mouse crying at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. “Sam.” I cup my hands around my mouth and try again. Still nothing. Over and over until my vocal cords cry out for help on their own. I take in a big breath and blow it out as loud as I can. “Helloooo.”

On the wind, I hear it. A single bark. And from around the side of the ship, she trots. Penny. What a good girl. “Pennyyy.” She looks right at me. And barks again. “Up here Penny.” Good dog. “You’re such a pretty, pretty princess. Up here. Keep barking.”

I see her mouth move, but the wind is blowing between us against the cliff. Her head is up, and she barks and barks. I can’t hear her. Maybe that means she can hear me better. “That’s it, girl. Helloooo. Pennyyy.” I can’t hear a darn thing over the wind. And then Sam appears around the end of the boat, and I freeze. I can’t. I can’t. He’s alive and walking around, and my heart just seizes. “Sam, up here. Up here.”

Penny looks. She’s staring right at me. I wave my hand out the hole, scooching forward. Gravel falls out of the opening.

“That’s far enough, Little Bird. Keep yelling, but don’t get close to the edge.” Zane’s voice rumbles around me.

“Sam.”

He crouches next to Penny, and I will him with everything I have to look up. “Look up at me. We’re here. I’m here. We’re going to get you. You’re not alone anymore. Sam.”

He takes Penny by the collar and walks her to the wheelhouse.

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