Fire Island: Book 3 of The Chatterre Trilody (Chatterre Trilogy) by Jeanne Foguth Read Free Book Online

thought about it, she realized she had not catalogued any volcanic activity, old or new, on Kalamar, and she certainly hadn't observed anything with the bizarre readings like the big, rocky, octagonal-shaped things on the land.
    Her tricorder had given similar readings to the octagons as she had gotten from the walls of the old salt mine, but the truly strange part was that there was also a reading that indicated life signs.
    Where was she?
    What happened to Thunder and Raine?
    Would she ever see Larwin or their parents, again? Not that she'd ever seen much of them to begin with; Guerreterre culture evaluated children on their third birthday and then sent them to the appropriate training facility. She had only been a year old when Larwin had left the security of home for military school, and did not have memories of him living at home. But she cherished her memories of the four-week-long breaks they had shared each solar revolution, when they went home to their parents.
    A thump brought Tem-aki back to the present and the reality that she was surrounded by water. Fortunately, they had arrived at the sleek golden side of the big boat. Unfortunately, Cameron was gesturing for them to precede him up a weak-looking rope ladder. Tem-aki swallowed, but the lump of fear remained. "GEA-4, can you climb that?" she managed to ask.
    "Affirmative." The droid surged to her feet, which sent the boat wildly rocking. Tem-aki screeched and dug her broken nails into the small boat's sides. GEA-4 grasped the woven fiber and bamboo ladder and hoisted her weight out of the boat. The tipsy craft bucked like an unbalanced mordike and she was sure she would be pitched into the deep, dark water.
    Instead, the motion calmed. She opened one eye, then both and looked around, only to see Cameron's hazel eyes looking at her as if she was the oddest thing he had ever seen. Would he find her reaction as strange if it was his first time in a boat, which moved in unpredictable ways, all threatening to pitch him into unbreathable water?
    At least he wasn't laughing.
    Tem-aki took a deep breath and told herself that if the flimsy ladder had held GEA-4's weight, it would hold her. And if the droid could climb it, even though she was still severely damaged, so could she. She took another deep breath, then loosened her grip on the small craft with the hand closest to the ladder and grasped it. In reaction, the small boat moved. Quickly, she half stood and grabbed the ladder with her other hand, then, before she had a chance to let her fears overwhelm her, she climbed as fast as possible, while wearing a space suit and chunky boots. Which meant that she slipped with every movement, until the ladder miraculously moved away from the golden side of the big boat, so that she could get a secure foothold.
    Glancing down, she realized Cameron was holding it out, and anchoring it. Smiling her thanks, she turned her attention to the climb. Once she got to the top, flat deck, she threw herself aboard, kissed the smooth golden surface and vowed that if this boat was as stable as it seemed, she would never leave it.
    With that plan in mind, she began removing her space boots and suit.
    ~0~
    Cameron took his time securing his dory to Sirocco's side and wondering why the deity had left Draco Shakura's staff of power in the dory. And now that he saw it in the light of day, he was positive it was Draco Shakura's lost staff. Reverently, he leaned forward to touch the magical wood. Immediately, power raced up his arm.
    Why would she leave something so important behind?
    He pondered that mystery so long that Saphera heaved herself onto the dory, gave herself a good shake, which soaked him to the skin. Then, she stood on her hind legs, braced her front paws on Sirocco's deck and vaulted aboard.
    From above, there was a scream.
    Catching the ladder, as the dory shot backward, he scrambled to the deck to see what the problem was.
    Saphera's sudden appearance was probably what had