Page 184 of Tiger's Voyage
We decided I should send up a flare every fifteen minutes or so, and it was after the fourth one Kishan said he’d heard something. They pulled on one of the ropes to angle us to the right and told me to send up another flare. This time, I saw a faint sparkle in answer. The wind suddenly died, and our parachute floated onto the water.
Ren dragged it back into the boat as another flare went off directly above our heads. As the red sparks faded, our clamshell struck the smooth side of the yacht. Kishan tied us off, and I was so happy I practically cried.
“Hello?” a familiar voice called out into the fog.
“Mr. Kadam? Mr. Kadam! We’re here!”
Then out of the fog Mr. Kadam’s beloved face appeared.
He smiled hugely and helped Kishan pull the boat closer. “What in the world type of craft are you in?” he laughed.
“It’s a clamshell,” I explained. “It was created by the Necklace.”
“Well, haul it aboard. May I help you, Miss Kelsey?”
“I’ve got her.” Ren scooped me up in his arms and somehow managed to get us both up the ladder to the wet garage while Mr. Kadam and Kishan maneuvered the shell boat onto the ramp and dragged it in.
“Miss Kelsey, you’ve been injured again.”
I nodded. “I think I died. Kishan brought me back. We have so much to tell you.”
“I can imagine. But first, allow me to send Nilima to help you get comfortable. Can she walk, Ren?”
“She hasn’t tried since the injury.”
“Put me down. I should be able to stand, at least.”
He carefully stood me on my feet and lent me his arm for support as I practiced walking. I limped a little. The muscles felt cramped.
“I think I’ll be alright, especially if I can get a nice calf massage later.”
“I can do it,” both brothers spoke at the same time.
I laughed. “Lucky I have two legs then.” I bent over, traced the pink scar, and compared my legs. Sighing, I saw that I now had a scar on each leg, one from the monster shark and one from the kraken. “I think I can manage with Nilima. You two can take off. I want to catch up with Mr. Kadam.”
“I’ll stay with you,” Ren offered.
“No. I’ll stay with her,” Kishan challenged.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see both of you later.”
Reluctantly, both men left, and I leaned against Mr. Kadam’s shoulder. He put an arm around me and sighed.
“You haven’t told them yet.”
I knew exactly what he was talking about. I shook my head. “There was already so much danger; I didn’t want to burden them. Knowing would only spur them on to confront Lokesh.”
He nodded. “They need to know though … soon.”
“I know. They just need a good night’s rest first. ‘One battle at a time’ is my new motto.”
“You’re tired too. You need rest.”
Mr. Kadam insisted we save the explanations for later that evening and left me alone in my room. I turned on the shower and took off my jewelry. Nilima appeared and helped me with the clasp on the Pearl Necklace. She made a sound of admiration as she held it in her palms.
“It’s lovely, Miss Kelsey.”
“It is. It makes water and summons creatures of the ocean, sort of. We’ll need to figure out what else it does.”
