At dawn, we all wake early to see the new arrivals. As we make our way to one of the balconies, we hear a bellow from the lake, followed by the clanging of a bell.
"Secure the perimeter! Lock down the prisoners!" the Warden roars.
"The plan failed," I realize.
"Their caught," Zuko agrees.
We watch in silence as an arrow imbeds itself in the cooler, and the attached string slowly brings it in.
"The gondola's moving," Sokka points the other direction. It's the only way in or out of the prison. The new arrivals would surely be in it. "This is it. If my dad's not there, we risked everything for nothing."
"We had to," Suki reminds him, and takes his hand.
We watch as, one by one, the new prisoners exit the gondola and line up on the platform. Then the line stops. Everyone has exited.
"That's it?" Sokka almost cries. "That can't be it."
"I'm so sorry, Sokka," Suki comforts him.
"Hey guys," I point to the gondola, realizing that it's still listing to the side. "Look!"
The last man steps off. He's kind of tall, with two strands of hair beaded to his right, already dressed in the hideous red prison uniform.
"Dad," Sokka whispers with a smile.