Page 44 of Emergence
“Wanna go back to the island in the South Pacific instead of going home for break?”
“The one you helped to make?”
“Sure, if you want to put it that way. The one I helped to make.”
I’d repeatedly told people I no more made the island than I made Hawaii, but no one would listen. At least Lysander now said that I helped to make it. That was easier to accept.
“Why?” Lysander asked, looking concerned.
“That was one of the Fire Elementals from that area, and the Supes around the island have been prepping it and making it habitable. They want me to come and celebrate its grand opening as a habitable island.”
“Wow, that didn’t take them long. I figured it would take years. Never mind, I forgot about you raising it from the depths in less than three days.” I gave him the eye. “Okay, sorry,helpedraise it from the depths. I honestly don’t know why you can’t just take credit where it’s due.”
“Because that’s not what happened,” I said, feeling frustrated.
Lysander put his notebook down and frowned. “That was insensitive of me. I’m sorry, Kaden. I know what you mean. I just get frustrated when you’re constantly trying to explain it to people.”
I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. “It’s important to keep explaining because the Earth isn’t just a thing to be dominated. Humans and Supes must start seeing the elements as sentient beings just like you and me.”
Lysander got up and came over to where I stood, took my face in his hands, something he tended to do frequently, and pulled me down for a kiss. “Then we’ll continue to explain. If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”
That caused me to smile. “So you’re good with going to the island?”
“Of course. Do you think we can take Mom and Pete? I want to spend time with them this summer, and I’m guessing if we go to the island, the islanders aren’t going to give up their hero, at least not easily.”
“I’m sure they’ll be okay with whatever. It seems important to them.”
“Cool, I’ll call Mom then and let her know.”
Miss Banuve was ecstatic when I called back and said I was coming and bringing my boyfriend and his family with me. “Will we be staying on Crater Island?” I asked, and the woman caught her breath.
“No, of course not. You’ll be staying on Ngendi Island.Yourisland.”
“Oh, sorry, I haven’t been back. I didn’t think you could be that far along with making it habitable.”
“You’ll be surprised, Gedi, very surprised.”
I hung up and went to warn Lysander that our accommodations might be limited since we were staying on an island that was less than six months old.
“Okay. Well, if Mom and Pete aren’t happy, we can put them on Crater Island. I’m happy to stay with you wherever,” he said, and kissed me before rushing back to our room to finish packing.
We had one week to spend in Denver, which was amazing. Denver in late spring was beautiful. Lots of flowers blooming on the mountainsides. We bustled around, shopping for things we could use while on the island, like snorkel equipment and fins.
I needed an entirely new wardrobe, and still without a penny to my name, I had to accept help from Lysander’s mom. “Are you sure I need all this?” I asked when I looked at the new swim trunks and diving equipment. “I have a working relationship with water, so I’m not sure I’ll need it to swim among the reefs.”
“Stop complaining,” Lysander said. “She loves shopping. In fact, she’s an addict, so just roll with it.”
I sighed and gave up, letting her buy whatever she wanted. I’d never had anything of my own to be concerned about, so I wasn’t sure why it mattered that I had one pair of swim trunks over another. Or the suit she said I’d need for the dedication ceremony.
After the week of shopping, we packed our overstuffed bags onto the airship and flew back to the South Pacific.
From the air, I could see the new island. The one they’d named Ngendi. Supposedly that related to the god Gedi, the name they kept using for me. I still didn’t understand, not that I needed to. I was just an instrument that’d been used to create the island. I wasn’t one of the people who’d be using it.
I was shocked. The island looked like it had been there for thousands of years. Extensive thick forests covered it, and even from up above, I could see areas being farmed with animals dotting the small farmsteads. It was incredible.
The moment we landed, they treated us like royalty. Libby and Pete were escorted to a beautiful bungalow next to what looked like a mini palace. I could hear the ocean lapping on the sand. Sand that hadn’t been there before. Beautiful black beaches. Somehow these people had transformed the hard lump of rock I’d left here in January into this.
Miss Banuve shook off the formality and demanded we call her Ana. She showed Lysander and me around the island after she assured us that Lysander’s mom and Pete were being pampered with massages and seaweed wraps. “We haven’t been in touch with you much since the island was created. We were busy developing the land.”
