“Thank you, I,” Lina said. She turned to Arabel and gestured for her to put down the push pole.
As Arabel complied, I pulled another lychee from the basket, and smiling, held it up to Arabel. Lina turned her gaze to Arabel, brow raised. Arabel looked at Lina and nodded. I was invited to come aboard with the basket. Without words, fruit was passed among the three, who were soon laughing, fingers and chins sticky with drippings, bellies full.
“Thank you, I,” said Arabel.
* * * *
Lina sat bolt upright, opened her eyes and blinked. I and Arabel were seated by the mizzen sail, still pouring over the Book of Origin and having their animated discussion about the other islands in the area. Lina had checked out about the time Arabel pulled out the book. A belly full of lychee fruit, and the insistence that I had seen their arrival in a vision, were enough to make Lina give into the fatigue weighing on her body and curl up on the makeshift bed.