Hutch and Beth had enjoyed their day at the beach, so they decided to go back. Ken joined them. They went over to Arin’s quarters to invite him and Kwylla. Both declined, but Kwylla did what they’d hoped she would by offering to drive them. Unfortunately, she and Ken couldn’t communicate very well, so he was unable to determine whether she’d offered to return for them. But it would not be a major issue. It was only a half-hour walk.

Maybe it was Ken’s presence at the beach, but whatever was the mitigating factor, the islanders showed more attention than they had since the first visit. Many came over to see them and to shake hands with them. Two of the females pretended to admire Ken. “I guess,” he said, “they recognize good looks when they see them.” Kids chased one another around the umbrella, stopping to stare whenever they thought they could get away with it. And when their parents stepped in to pull them away, they laughed.

Several males were also drawn in their direction. Some tried to talk with Beth and Hutch. One even paused to ask a question, and when Hutch responded simply with a hello, he swung his shoulders in a manner that could only be interpreted as a flirtation.

“Make your move, Hutch,” said Beth. “You may not get another chance.”

Eventually, they went into the water and drifted out just beyond where the waves were breaking, so they could rise and fall with the incoming surf. Ken kept looking in the direction of the sunken lander. “Don’t even think about it,” said Beth.

“It’s not that far out.”

“It’s far enough. Just let it be.”

“Beth—”

“What’s the point, love? It’s not as if you could go out there and drag it in.” She turned in Hutch’s direction. “I wonder if they have sharks here.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. Probably big ones.”

They’d been in the water about an hour when Hutch saw Arin stride out of the woods. He waved at them and they went ashore. He and Ken had a short exchange, which Hutch had no trouble reading. He didn’t mean for them to cut their time short, and they could go back into the ocean if they wanted. But he’d brought the car if they wanted a ride home. “He’s got a surprise for us when we get back to the temple,” said Ken.

“What kind of surprise?” asked Beth.

“I don’t know. I can’t follow him most of the time.”

“Maybe a chicken salad,” said Hutch.

“Yum,” said Ken. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”