Adrift II
“Mind your heads,” Grom said. The warrior had been gauging the approach of a ragged chunk of island which now drifted close. Several menacing stalactites promised to just clear the top lines of the anchor. Everyone repositioned to accommodate the imperious satellite. All save Sputter.
Blades slurped from sheathes as the wiry boy took a running start and leapt toward a healthy outcropping of rock. “Heee-yah!” Sputter embedded his two blades in the unforgiving mantle and wrapped his legs around the base of a stalactite. Holding on with one embedded blade, he jackhammered at the rock with the other. “Unf, unf, unf, unf, unf.”
“How long until the pathway to Windfall?” Jorey asked.
“Little less than 400 count.”
A cheer of success was cut short as the rock formation broke free and crashed onto the anchor. Sputter disengaged enough to roll free, but he splayed on the metal plating with graceless calamity. Dust and debris washed over him. He held up a small nugget of a prize and popped it into his mouth, sucking and swishing it around.
“Barrik, align your crystal with the navigator’s map.”
“Way ahead of you dear,” Barrik said.
Sputter had regained his feet and strolled across the anchor. He gargled his mouthful one last time and spit a wad of ochre mystery over the side. He then hocked the nugget into his open hand, a shimmering delight of blue.
Jorey plucked the gem from his grasp and handed it to the navigator. “Thank you for your services.”