The Moonstone Girls: Book One

Chapter Eight: The Journey

The inside of the boat was dark and damp. It smelled of salt water and rotting wood. The boat was about the size of a small cabin; it was shaped like a cube with just enough space for the three of us to lie down and for the food supply in the corner. It wasn't tall enough for us to stand up in, but we could sit up without bumping our heads. The boat bobbed up and down. It was a strange feeling. I've never experienced it before. It felt like we were being pushed along by some invisible force up and down hills. I found it to be relaxing. 

"Auntie Saskia, I'm hungry." Tamana announced.

"Okay but will have to eat it cold until we get onto land because we can't start a fire on a wooden boat." Saskia explained. "Here." Saskia gave me and Tamana some nuts and fruit. The three of us ate our breakfast and talked about what we planned to do in Europe. 

"I overheard from people in the village that in the west men and women are equal. A woman can wear anything that she likes and do any profession. She gets to pick her husband too." I said.

"Do you think that could be true?" Saskia asked me. 

"I hope so. But what I know for certain is that no one from the village will be able to find us, and it would be extremely hard for the Taliban to track us down." Just mentioning the Taliban sent cold shivers down our spines. Tamana started to cry and Saskia and I tried to comfort her.

"It's okay, it's okay" We told her.

"They will never be able to find us again. I promise." Saskia told her.

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"I'm bored." Tamana said.

"Uh oh." Saskia said. We hadn't thought about what we were going to do to keep ourselves and Tamana entertained in a small box for a whole month. 

"Let's practice her magic." I suggested. "Close your eyes Tamana. Imagine energy flowing throughout your body. Imagine magnetic fields surrounding you. Draw from that energy. Imagine that your feet have roots and that they go deep into the Earth. Draw from the Earth's powers." The three of us sat Indian style. I opened my eyes and the previously dark boat was now glowing a beautiful golden color. Somehow, it wasn't blinding, yet it was as bright as the sun. 

"Wow! Our energies must have converged together and become strong enough to create this beautiful light!" Saskia said. 

"Do you hear that voice?" I asked Saskia. "Do you hear that boy?"

"What boy? I don't hear anything. Do you hear it Tamana?" Tamana shook her head.

"I don't hear anything." 

"What is he saying? Saskia asked. 

"It feels so weird. It's more like I can feel his voice. It feels like a thought. I can only hear him when I concentrate but if I concentrate too hard I can't understand what he's saying. It's more like I can feel his meaning almost like he is speaking in a language totally different, and language of emotions and thoughts. I've never experienced anything like it before." I replied.

"What do you think he's saying?" Saskia asked.

"Beautiful creatures of fire and air. The Taliban are still after you. Beware." 

"Beware?"

"And there is a picture of the moon. Now it's swirling and it opens almost like a portal." 

"What does that mean?" Saskia asked. 

"I have absolutely no idea." I was so confused for some time and I felt strangely tired. It was still early in the morning, but I fell into a deep sleep. I slept all day, and by the time I woke up it was evening.