After Kathleen and Olmec told Bernard and Wilter about the approval, they turned ecstatic when the two of them said that land had been spotted. As quickly as their feet could take them, the four kitchen crew carried baskets to the longboats. Kathleen made sure to return Bernard's notebook to him as he set up the supplies to the boat. When doing so, she realized how many empty baskets and creates fill the boat as the rest of the crew weighed anchor and got their supplies ready to scout Ramandu's Island.
At every turn, Kathleen could see someone putting an extra speed in his step while getting ready to depart. The crewmen were actually speaking to each other once again, and more than to just say a command. They were assisting each other when one was struggling. They were supporting a door open when someone was leaving the port. They were giving extra power to lift the boats off the ship and onto the ocean. The sadness of this to Kathleen was the soft knocking in the back of her head saying that the crewmen were only doing what they were supposed to do.
Still, she let the soft knocking disappear as Edmund called her to their shared longboat with his sister, Caspian, and Drinian.
As soon as the crew was lowered to the ocean, they rowed anxiously towards the island.
Kathleen had one basket in her arms as her thoughts began to wonder what was on the island behind her. The greenery was overgrown. The sun was barely visible due to how many trees there were. The bushes of leaves were raised on different heights and were pressed against each other. The only thing that wasn't covered in green was stone pillars in the middle of the lush forest. It peaked out just enough where you would forget it was there if you turned away.
"Kathleen," Caspian called her attention away from the island. "I need you to help Bernard and the others in collecting food. We need to execute your plan as soon as possible. Find what you can and meet us if you are able."
Kathleen sat a little taller and nodded.
"Plan?" Lucy asked when turning to Caspian. "What plan?"
Drinian answered with a chuckle, "Your friend here has come up with a solution to our food supply shortage. It can fore long or supplies and findings if it works."
"I will work," Kathleen said, "I'm sure of it."
"How so? What's the plan?" Lucy asked as she leaned forward slightly. It was then Kathleen remembered she was meant to see Lucy and Gael after her proposal. Drinian told the Kings about finding Ramandu's Island and everything was filed in a rush. She didn't even see if they were still in the cabin when Olmec and herself left.
"To put it shortly," The oldest girl began, "if we were to combine different fruits, let's say apples and oranges, we can use fractions to find the ration number for the crew. This way, we can serve the food that would go bad faster first, instead of one item at a time. Also, we would have different flavors every few days or even every other day. The crew won't get sick of eating the same lunch day after day and we would be using what we already have."
"I don't think Olmec expected your motion to come out so flawlessly," Edmund said somewhat amused. "It was as if he didn't think you would be so prepared."
Kathleen couldn't help but to scrunch her nose, "I think it was a little more than that. I think he was trying to prove a point," she paused, remembering his words in the kitchen, "and I think so was I.
"He assumed I was something I'm not. I let it bother me more than I should have allowed. So much so that I didn't even think how bad it must have made his lot. Yet, even now I don't regret it. I don't know. Maybe I was a little too harsh when trying to prove him wrong."
"Don't let his sour face get to you, lass," Drinian said with half a smile, "Olmec may have a harsh way of putting his point across, but he'll be one of the first to defend anyone on this ship before himself."
Caspian contested, "Yes. Reepicheep said that after himself, Olmec was the first one to volunteered to rescue us from the Lone Islands." He turned over his shoulder to see how far they were from the island. He did a quick once over then let out a small yet play scoff. "And he was the first one to offer you four clothing when I asked for spares. That's his vest and tunic," he motioned his head to Kathleen then to Edmund, "And his trousers if I remember correctly."
Kathleen let her backrest against the head of the boat as the warm bubble formed in her stomach. This time she felt it all the way to her throat. "Did a shift happen when we came about?"
"The sea plays nasty tricks on the mind. Especially when traveling for so long with as much as we have. Plus with him being around food and not being able to eat it. I'm surprised it didn't put him on edge sooner." Drinian turned his head to a boat that was two away from their own.
They talked about the man who had his eyes on the island in front of them. His faces and arms were tense but his eyes were drooped. His jaw was clenched as himself, Bernard, Wilter, and two other crew members rowed forward.
Kathleen cascaded her eyes downward. He must have thought she wasn't doing as much as she could of, seeing he lent his clothes and risked his life to save them. Edmund, Caspain, and Lucy had proper training. Thinking back, the first five-minute lesson Caspain gave her must have looked like a joke compared to what the others could do with a sword. Still, it was better than nothing.
Thinking back to her fights on the Lone Island, she had gotten lucky. If it wasn't for Caspian trusting her with a sword, she probably would have resorted to using anything and everything from ballet to defend herself. Here is the young woman who enjoys having her nose stuck in a book and has been doing exactly that for a portion while on the Dawn Treader. Everyone else works while she reads up about the past. He must have thought she wasn't worth it the clothes or the rescue.
She turned back to his boat.
He must have felt eyes on his. Olmec turned his head to Kathleen. She could have sworn that she seen him clenched his jaw even more. He averts his eyes and turned back to the island, leaving Kathleen to wonder what was going on inside his head. Nothing positive, that was for sure.
Turning her head back to Ramandu's Island, Kathleen tilted her head to one side. They were getting closer, and although the sun had hours left until it set, she could see how difficult it will be when excavating the area. She turned back to the others and remember something else Olmec said. "Earlier, he mentioned something of the 'Eastern Sea People'. Who are they?"
The boat felt stiff with tension, Kathleen could practically touch it. Half of it was from those who wanted to know the answer. The other half was because they already knew.
"In what way?" Caspian asked, choosing his words carefully.
Kathleen played with the end of her left sleeve, "Nothing kind. His words made me think that they weren't the sweetest of people." She paused, thinking of how to share her words without concerning her friends. Or betraying Olmec in his time of doubt. "He just said that he would rather be in their company."
The two men shared of sober look. The others took notices.
"Who are the Eastern Sea People?" Lucy asked in a worrisome tone.
Drinian sighed lowly, "The Eastern Sea People are some of the most dangerous and fiercest of creatures, Your Majesty. They may look lovely to the eye, but they are far more than that. They have the ability to lure men; make them fall in love with them, or even with the under-sea kingdom itself. Could make you jump overboard just because they can."
"Another one of your 'Tall Tales,' Captain?" Edmund asked hopefully.
Caspian shook his head, "Not this time, Ed. He speaks the truth."
"Aye. If he was speaking of those Sea People," he paused as a sorrowful look took over his gaze, "then I now the see the urgency of the quest to these men."
The two Pevensies and the young Lewis girl mirrored his look. Kathleen gave out a shaky breath as she turned over to the island. She licked her lips and gulped as Caspain spoke again, "We've almost reached shore. Another minute of rows ought to do it."
She was happy the other took a change of topic. When they did reach land, she took a few looks at other crew members while collecting supplies. Has the journey really been that torturous for the sailors? Kathleen tried to keep in mind that the rest of the crew had been sailing for some time before she and the others joined. They all probably had a family who they haven't seen in months, whereas for herself, she would go back to her world as if no time at all has passed.
Her mind went to her family. Father, Brother. Mother. How long has it's been since she'd seen them all together? She had officially lost track of how long she had been in Narnia. More than one month for sure. Or... at least she thinks she was sure.
"All right, sweetheart. I know I ain't the most handsome mug to look at, but that don't mean you get to stare."
Kathleen blinked rapidly, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to." She tapped on the basket in hand, "My mind just wandered off."
Olmec groaned, "Yeah, I bet it did." He shook his head and following the rest of the crew who went ahead. "Now hurry up before we get left behind."
Kathleen huffed as she jogged to catch with him, trying to keep herself relaxed in the process. "Listen, I wanted to ask if everything is all right with you."
The sand from shore had slowly disappeared into patches of grass. Sooner rather than later, trees surround the group. The older man didn't avert his eyes ahead of him. "Couldn't be better." He was curt with his words.
A lie if Kathleen ever saw one. "Are you sure? You seem..." She couldn't think of something that seemed appropriate. She had only known Olmec for a few days so she wouldn't exactly call him a close crewmate. Yet, on the other hand, it would be quite disrespectful if she ignored him completely when he is feeling abrasive, especially if she felt somewhat responsible as to why.
"What, sweetheart? Spit it out," He demanded.
She huffed again, this time testy, "Off and distant. You seem off and distant."
Olmec scoffed, "Well don't feel too special, sweetheart. That's just me."
Kathleen tightened her grip on her basket and lowered her voice into a harsh whisper. "Will you stop calling me that. I'm not a 'sweetheart'. I have a name."
"Don't take any offense to this," he said flatly, "but I hadn't had chance to learn it," Olmec still didn't turn to her. "And I don't think it matters now, seeing as you're prob'ly just going to go back to your readin' nook as soon as e'erythin' is done."
Kathleen's mouth set in a hard line. Without out thinking, she took a step in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. "My name is Kathleen Diane Lewis and I do not like the way you have been treating me. I'm sorry I didn't pick up my share of work earlier, but a bigger person would not throw it in my face when I already know what I need to do. I've been trying to help as much as I can and I am sorry I didn't do it sooner. I get that you're upset, but that does not give you the right to treat me poorly. I am part of this crew so the least I will ask from you is to treat me respectfully."
His eyes widen. The two were now behind from the others, not that Kathleen had noticed. She was angry. More so than she had been with Edmund on Dragon Island, except this time, she had the right to be.
The older man darted his eyes away from the young girl as a muscle in his jaw twitched, "So what, you expectin' an apology of some kind."
Kathleen shifted her weight from one foot to another impromptu. "Well," she began, not being fully prepared for a question, "I wasn't 'expecting'." She hesitated, "I just thought you shouldn't act as if anyone was lesser than yourself." He didn't say anything. His eyes still adverted to the trees that now cover their head.
She dropped her head slightly and took a step to the side. She turned to where the rest crew of the crew was, or at least where they were supposed to be. Edmund stood 50 yards ahead of them while the rest were nowhere to be seen. He stood there patiently waiting for the two of them. Kathleen supposed it was he could lead the two of them to the others, but when Kathleen caught his eye it was as if he was asking her a question.
Are you okay?
She turned back to the sailor behind her. His eyes were cast downward as he chewed on his bottom lip. Not believing that the conversation with her crewmate would go any further, she walked forward.
"Come on," she sighed to herself, "We should go before the others are out of our sight."
There were a few steps a crushing leaves before Olmec spoke, "You're wrong on that part." Kathleen stopped and turned to him. His eyes still looking down, but sadness clouded his feature. "I know that I ain't better than anyone else, and I don't pretend to be either."
Kathleen's mouth parted while she stood there dumbstruck. She glanced to Edmund, lifting her left hand halfway up. When he nodded and took a few steps back, she turned back to Olmec. She could see the corners of his mouth lift as he was now looking up, taking notice of the silent conversation between the teenagers.
"I have been a sailor for most of my life. I've read history and been a part of it. I know I got what it takes ta be at sea and what needs to be done ta survive. I've done plenty of my share. But you? You been on the Dawn Treader for barely a month an' not only manage did ya learn ta fight with a sword, but ya manage to find your friend in an unknown bloody island, buy time with the Dufflepuds, and figure out how to prolongate our rations, all on your own."
Kathleen's face paled, "If I'm being honest, my fighting skills could use some work."
Olmec shrugged his shoulders, "I ain't arguing with you there, sweetheart- I mean Kathleen." He was quiet again for a moment. "I don't mean ta treat ya disrespectful, but it astounds me that someone like yourself, a younging whose never step foot on a ship has been able to do all that you done."
It was quiet for a moment. Kathleen didn't know how to continue. She lightly drummed her fingers on the basket. "I've read stories about lands and lives like yours. Stories about far-off islands, daring swordfights, magic, and royalty. Everything I've done was because of something I've learned. Wither it have been fictional or otherwise. And, I think it was mostly luck. No, it was definitely luck, at least for the fighting and the time buying, but it was as if something was guiding me to use that knowledge. I'm sorry if you felt I was trying to take the easy way out, but know that it wasn't the case."
Olmec sighed and narrowed his eye, "You think someone was guiding you?"
Kathleen shrugged her shoulders, "Or something. But whatever it may be. I just hope we could still work together even though our methods of learning to get a task done are different." She held out her hand.
"And I hope you understand that even though I may be 'off and distant,' you won't take it per'sonally." Olmec stretched out his hand and shook Kathleen's.
"Understood," Kathleen agreed. Dropping their hands, she readjusted the basket in her arms, "Now, let's find Edmund. I think he can lead you to the others."
"About that," Olmec interjected, "There's just two things I gotta say before we head to the others." The older sailor stated as he put up his index and middle finger. "One: Wilter is the one known for givin' nicknames, so don't be surprised when your time comes. And two," he sighed as ashamed of himself of what he was about to say, "Keep the gawkin' between you and the King of Old to a minimum. It's sickening that you two don't realize how obvious it is on the ship."
Kathleen felt her cheeks turn pink, "I do not gawk at Edmund!"
Olmec scoffed while walking past her, "Yeah, an' he don't gawk at you." His voice scruffy dripped with sarcasm as Kathleen stood rooted in her place.
She didn't gawk at him. She didn't gawk at anyone. Sure, maybe she would stare at him when he wasn't looking because those in moments he seemed the most focused and attentive at his task, but she wouldn't call that "gawking". That was something different!... Right? And Edmund wouldn't gawk at her. There would be a reason to. What would he be doing? Stare at her as she reads?
Kathleen turned around, wanting to know what Olmec meant but he was making his way away from not only her but Edmund as well. The Just King was walking towards her while he watched Olmec disappeared around the trees. She ducked her head down as she realized that Edmund might have heard what she called out. Her cheeks felt warm.
"Are you okay?" Edmund asked once he was close enough space where he knew Kathleen would be comfortable, "I couldn't hear what you said, but it sounded like he was giving you hard time."
Kathleen let out a breath of relief, hiding it by a laugh, "Actually, I think it was me who was giving him a hard time." She turned up to time, praying that the relief and the shadows of the trees hid her flustered redness. "But, uh, yes. I am okay."
Edmund smiled, "Good. That's good," his face dropped slightly, "I mean, not that it should matter to me. I mean- it does matter, but you shouldn't feel obligated to say anything if you didn't want to. I just, um," he paused as he dropped his head. As he let out a sigh and a smile, he said, "I just thought I'd see how you were doing."
Kathleen felt the sides of her mouth tilt up more and more with each passing heartbeat. It wasn't long before she showcased a wide grinning but quickly turned to a close lip smile when Edmund looked up to her. "That's very generous of you, Ed." She paused, "I'm okay, thank you."
Edmund tilted his head to one side, "I don't think I ever heard you call me Ed before."
Kathleen's eyes widen. "No?" She said slowly, trying to think back, "I-I don't think I have. If you don't like me calling you, just say the word and you won't hear it from me again." Her words came out in a rush. Trying to recall her time in the Scrubb house, only Lucy would call her brother by his shortened name. Not even Mrs. Alberta would call him Ed. Maybe it was a close family thing? The only other expectation to this she could think of is Caspian, in which she remembers the time on Dragon Island and recently when paddling to the shore.
"No, no," he said taking the smallest step towards her, "It's okay. I was just surprised, that's all," He paused again. "I like it." With those three words, her panic was quickly washed away. Her smile grew.
The two stood there relieved with one another. It felt like a breath of fresh air in a once suffocating room. They mirrored a small smile, content with where they were at the moment.
"We should, uh, catch up with the others," Kathleen said, not looking away.
Edmund nodded slowly, "Of course. We don't want to get left behind."
Kathleen mimicked his actions, "Of course."
And so they two teenagers went on to catch up with the others, both grateful to the minimal amounts of sunlight from the vastly covered trees.
