Sky-Water

Off the West coast of Africa, at the bottom of the Atlantic trench forest, where damselfly dragons chase after beetles, and bioluminescent plants are harvested for sale, Nuru Ndangi is busy collecting rich soil in a jar--excited to offer it as a gift to his best friend.

Tomorrow he will make the trek from his village to the continental elevators that will lift him above the forest, to the city of Conakry.

Meanwhile, far above the Earth's surface, in a castle carved out of a mountain of marble, a small plant-girl named Maypop is being scolded for breaking some very expensive scientific equipment and accidentally tripping a scientist with her vines, which seem to be growing out of control.

And lurking in between these two best friends, drifting idley in the sky-water and waiting rather impatiently for the right ship to come, are the privateers hired to destroy Nuru's family business.