Isaac put as much confidence into his voice as possible. “Guys, come on. Go back and let everyone know. It makes total sense for someone to stay here and see what happens. We shouldn’t let even one second go by without tracking every move they make. If they come out with guns and bombs, I promise I’ll run into the caves and hide.”

His friends looked at each other, kind of blankly. He’d never been known as the bravest wolf in the pack, and he’d shown that again as they’d made their way through the pitch-black tunnel. But he knew that they knew that what he’d said was a wise course, and not even that dangerous. The ship was here, and there could only be so many living people crammed inside of it. It wasn’t like he planned to take a kayak out there and board the stupid thing.

“Go on!” he snapped. “The sooner you tell people the sooner they can get back here with real boats and weapons to figure things out.”

“I’ll stay with him,” Miyoko said.

That did the trick, as if two people were perfectly safe compared to one. Or maybe they just trusted her to act more reasonably. Isaac didn’t care, and he was glad not to be alone.

“Okay,” Trish said. “Just . . . don’t do anything stupid. Come on, guys.”

“Got it,” Miyoko replied, coming to stand next to Isaac. “Nothing stupid. Only smart things.”

“Smart things, only,” Isaac added.

With visible reluctance, the others finally left, disappearing back into the tunnel.

A constant breeze, full of the salty taste of the ocean, blew against Isaac and Miyoko as they walked along the narrow ledge of a trail, following the ship’s course. So many sounds wafted through the air. The incessant cries of seagulls, waves smacking against rock, water lapping against the sides of the boat, the creaks and groans of the vessel itself as it bobbed up and down in the sea. But there hadn’t been another howl of the horn, and still no sign of movement from inside.

As he’d predicted earlier, the natural movement of the current twisted the boat until it was parallel with the cliffs of the peninsula, its prow pointed eastward, then south-eastward, then southward as it continued to drift toward the more solid landmass of the island proper. As the gap between them and their visitors narrowed, details came into sharp focus, only adding to the ominous, but almost adventurous feel of it all.