Excursion

Chapter Nine - We Get a Boat

  "Nomen..."

  "Yes, Salandil?"

  "Are you seeing this?"

  "I think I am."

  "I can't believe my eyes..."

  And I couldn't. Here was the sea that the elders' had sung about for so many years. I didn't know if I would be able to recognize the vast, deep blue body of water they spoke of, but I could.

  We couldn't admire the view of the ocean from the dune's crest for long before Esis urged us to continue moving, but we could still enjoy the sight in all its splendor as we descended the mountain of sand. The grains were now being swept by the ocean wind, and I was able to smell not only fish, but salt, seaweed, and thousands of other odors I couldn't put a name to. I knew that when I finally returned back home, the watering holes in the Vannakai camp – or even our famous lake - wouldn't be able to hold a candle to my desire to see this ocean again. For this wasn't just a pool of water. This was an entire world of it.

  Esis explained to us on the way down that the beautiful, splendorous, shimmering ocean was called the Qerpidor Sea, and that it separated our tribe's region from the part of the world where the Empikah lived. As soon as we reached the bottom of the dune, Salandil and I flung off our shoes and shirts, let our yaks explore the nearby rocks, and went racing off in the direction of the sea. But Esis beat us there. He seemed to have been secretly looking forward to the ocean more than any of us, for he dove straight off of the nearest rock he saw and was instantly swimming among the fish as easily as a bird flies through the sky. Salandil wasted no time in following him, and shortly after, I dove in as well. The water was freezing, but I didn't mind. After walking for miles upon miles in the baking sun, I think I would have agreed to dive into an icebox.

  The land underneath the water's surface was just as magical. Little creatures with colorful houses on their backs and big, beady eyes scuttled along the sand, and slow moving things with pink flesh and five thick arms pulled themselves across the submerged stones. And fish of every color imaginable swam around our bodies. A little further off, the faintest silhouettes of larger creatures could be seen, and the sounds that filled my ears when I completely submerged my head sounded like the songs of an ethereal orchestra.

  The three of us came up gasping for air, with huge grins spread across our faces. Our yaks upon the shore seemed to care less about the Qerpidor Sea, but I was feeling as if I had just stepped into paradise, and nothing – no matter how strong – would be able to pull me out. For I just realized another fact that caused me to love this sea even more. The sand from my hair, my clothes, and my skin was coming loose, and gently swirling down to the sea floor below. For once in my life, I was completely clean.

  "So," Salandil began, once we had bobbed around in the water for a substantial amount of time. "What now?"

  Esis responded by paddling this way and that, looking towards the horizon. "I'll have to get us a boat."

  "A boat? What's a boat?"

  "It's a vehicle that will carry us across the water until we reach the other side."

  "Oh, like a raft?" I exclaimed.

  "It doesn't look like there's one anywhere close..." Salandil murmured, glancing around.

  "That's why I have to go get one."