“Are there not uninhabited islands with springs of fresh water we can put into when our drink-bladders won’t suffice? Aren’t there capes and coves to offer shelter? And don’t we have more seafaring skill in this fleet than ever was assembled outside Ushere?”
Wellearn shivered despite the warmth of the day. Here was a vision more grandiose than his—indeed, than any save Embery’s, which pictured travel through the sky.
But what about the rest? Would they agree?
Strongrip said heavily, “We must at least make landfall, Captain. If our companions don’t see with their own eyes what you and I might take on trust, there’ll be recriminations.”
“Those will follow anyway, the first time we run short of food,” said Skilluck. “But you’re right. We go ashore with all prongs sharp, if only for the chance to rescue wise’uns who know the secret of creshban. All else from Hearthome may go smash—who’s going to light a fire in mid-ocean, let alone carry sand or stone to melt for glass and metal? Burn my Tempestamer’s back? Never! Safer to use the stuff of life than the stuff of death! But I want creshban!”
Breathing heavily, he turned to Wellearn. “You stay here and keep the passengers soothed. The rest of us—”
“No,” said Wellearn firmly. “I’m going ashore, too. If Embery still lives, I want her with me.”
“Now you listen to me—” Skilluck began, but Wellearn cut in.
“Here come the other captains! We’d best present a united front.”
“Stars curse it, of course! But you can’t expect us to load up with every single survivor—”
“Then take her, if I find her, and I’ll stay!” Wellearn flared.
“You’re being unreasonable—”
“No, Captain. Much more reasonable than you. I’ve thought this through. If we do take to a nomad life at sea, what are we to do about keeping up our numbers? Already people from Ushere and Hearthome are overbred. We shall have to copy what roving tribes do on land: leave part of our company at the places where we stop in exchange for strangers who want to learn the arts of the sea. It had been in my mind to propose such a policy anyhow, because of a talk I had with Shash. But if we do as you suggest…”
Skilluck clattered his mandibles glumly. He said after a pause, “Well, perhaps there will be some among the passengers who want to take their chances on land, even so far from home, rather than carry on at sea. Salt water isn’t in the ichor of us all the way it is in yours and mine.”
Wellearn wanted to preen. How short a time ago it seemed that Skilluck had called him a landlubber at pith!
Yet he still was, and it required all his self-control to accept that his hopes of settling at Hearthome had been shattered the way the prong from heaven shattered that berg. Maybe after seeing the city in nuns the idea would come real for him. Until then, he must compose himself. Here came Toughide and Shrewdesign to demand what was happening.
“You expect us, in our condition, to plod ashore and win back Hearthome from its invaders?” Toughide snapped.
So much was to be expected. After the long voyage, few of the briqs were as fit and flourishing as Tempestamer.
“Not at all,” was Skilluck’s wheedling response. “We only expect the combined talents of the Wego to salvage something from the landlubbers, and above all what’s going to be most valuable to ourselves: creshban, of course, but also…” He paused impressively. “Wouldn’t you like spyglasses, all of you, better than this one of mine? The Hearthomers have them by the score! I never admitted it, but I craved one myself! Only they wouldn’t part with the one I wanted until we’d concluded our alliance … Still, that’s water past the prow. But the observatory where the glasses are kept is nearest the ocean and stands the best chance of having been defended! If we can only attain that hill before we’re forced to retreat, and hold a bridgehead long enough to gather provisions, we shall retire with the finest treasure any Wegan could imagine!”