Eva looked up in awe at the bowl-shaped tower that they were approaching. On closer inspection, she realized that the building was composed of small globular huts stacked upon one another in a haphazard fashion. The entire cluster was supported by a gigantic piling, thicker in width than the Sanctuary, holding its inhabitants high above the water. Multiple footbridges, like the one she was crossing, radiated out from the edifice and connected with others. Every nook and cranny was filled with roosting turnfins. Even in the dim light Eva could see drips of dried guano all down the sides of the huts.

From her vantage point Eva counted five of these towers altogether, though the fog was so thick that she couldn’t be sure if there were others.

Muthr pulled her close as they continued behind Rovender. Thunder rolled over the night sky. Taking everything in with her eyes wide, Eva Nine slipped her free hand into the inside pocket of her jackvest. Finding a familiar flattened shape, she ran her fingers over the WondLa and made a wish.

End of

PART II

PART III

CHAPTER 22: LACUS

Tinkling shells, suspended in a large wind chime, greeted Eva and her companions as they made their way through the entrance of Lacus. An archway, made from driftwood, oars, and a hodgepodge of previously sunken objects, stood, steadfast, over the suspended walk. A clustered assortment of golden glowing globular lanterns flickered as they swayed in the chilled breeze coming in from Lake Concors.

“We shall find a place to rest for the night,” Rovender said, turning to Eva and Muthr. He stopped and pulled their wraps up over their heads, creating hoods. “It will be best that you remain as inconspicuous as you can until we find out if Besteel is also here.”

“I certainly hope he is not,” Muthr said. “That marauder has wreaked enough havoc as it is.”

Rovender began to lead them around the perimeter of the first gigantic piling on the rickety boardwalk. As they rounded the towering structure, they approached several long-limbed locals peering down into the dark depths below. They looked similar to Rovender in general body shape, though their stature was smaller and their legs were thinner and longer, like the holograms Eva had seen of storks and herons. Bright markings colored their wedge-shaped heads and surrounded their large russet eyes.

One of the locals was holding a handful of thin cords. Eva followed the cords with her eyes and saw that they were tied around the necks of a gathered bunch of turnfins. She pulled out her Omnipod.

“No, no, no, Eva.” Rovender pushed the device down. “We are incognito, remember? Put it away for now.”

The locals stopped, eyeing the trio as they neared. Rovender nodded to them as they passed.

“Rovee,” Eva whispered, “they sort of look like you.”

“Yes. They are the Halcyonus, the resident species of Lacus. They, too, are from my place of origin.”