Chapter Twenty Eight

Being There

We couldn't go much further, we exhausted every lead. Othello lost the map when a large wave from nowhere blindsided him, so we were flying blind. But even so, we knew that the Island couldn't be anywhere in the North Atlantic, if it was, it was invisible. Nothing could be seen but open ocean for miles on end.

This was getting dangerous, I tried looking for any sign of land, a sign, a miracle, anything. But nothing came. We were both dead beat tried, and we couldn't go back, the distance was too great. We could only keep pushing forward and hope that land would be seen soon.

It was nightfall by the time we spotted a small island, I don't which overtook me first, happiness or sleep, I guess both, because the second I touched solid ground I fell face first into a deep sleep.

I had a dream that night. I was standing a large chamber made of stone, there was a waterfall coming up from the top of it, making a small pool at the bottom. There was no real floor in the chamber, a small walkway was seen in the middle and the rest of an empty chasm. The Hand was displayed on a pedestal at the end of the walkway.

Walking over it, I tried not to touch it, for I knew that would be fatal. But this was a dream, wasn't it? Still, I decided to go with my better judgment for once and left The Hand alone.

It was then that the dream changed. I was outside on...a floating turtle? To my right I was a large ship, from the flag I could tell that it was The Forty Thieves. Then they all came on the island. It was Aladdin, followed by Cassim, then only twelve of the forty thieves. What happened to the others?

Then Dodger, Oliver and Lefou came out, flying over I saw Aladdin pull out a sword and begin the decapitations. I wanted to look away, but then I remembered that it was my dream, and so forced it in an entirely new direction. Soon, Aladdin, Cassim, myself, Dodger and Lefou were in the chamber. Oliver was nowhere to be found.

Cassim picked up The Hand, and nothing happened, then Othello appeared. For some reason he began pushing rocks down from a high balcony, causing the whole place to fall down. As the rocks fell on top of me, I woke up.

Othello was startled by my screaming, I tried to get up, to fly away really, but Othello had tied my leg to a stake in the ground. "What's going on?" I asked, Othello laughed, "You collapsed as soon as we got here. Unconscious...you almost died from choking on a stick, the very stick that you are tied to now" he said matter-of-factly, adding in the joke for my benefit, for I did not choke on a stick, it was instead a spider, which was now roasting on the small fire that Othello had made.

Was I was clam, I began to undo my bonds, when that was over, I grabbed one of the fish that we caught earlier in the week and began to eat it. It was raw and well past freshness, but I didn't care, I was hungry and decided that if I was going to die, I would die with a full stomach.

Othello turned to me, "Listen" he said, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and to state the obvious, but we're never going to find it this way" I nodded in agreement, "True, but maybe if we had a map, we wouldn't be in the mess to begin with!" Othello shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sorry I can't be perfect. I'm sorry that I lied to about me being alive, I'm sorry that I really don't care about your friends and I'm sorry that I'm getting paid. Anything else you want to me to apologize for?"

I wasn't even going to suggest anything, but since he mentioned it, "Yes" I replied, "why are you leading me in the wrong direction?" Othello tensed up a bit, "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice cracked as he spoke, telling me that I said the right thing. I stood up, got in his face and spoke again, "I had a dream about the Island...I know where it is...off the coast of India!" It was so obvious that it would be near Agrabah, which is on the south end of Saudi Arabia.

Othello raised his wings in surrender, "Alright you got me...the Island is seven miles away from Agrabah off the coast of India" I wanted to punch him in the face, and perhaps do a little more, but before I could, he spoke again, "The map was a fake. Cassim's probably found The Hand by now, your friends are as good as dead"

I stopped, there was no point in continuing the argument. I sat down and began to think about my life. I felt a sudden emptiness inside, the words, "Your friends are as good as dead" combined with the knowledge that the Island was in India, made this all the more real.

Soon enough we started talking again, this time it was a normal conversation. "So, you seeing anyone?" Othello asked, starting the conversation. I laughed in reply, "No" I answered, "why?" Othello shrugged, "Just thought you would have someone at home, misses you maybe." I shook my head, "Can't say that I have. Came close though" Othello sat up, for he was lying on the ground, "Really? What happened? Underage, drunk as hell or got caught by the old man?" I laughed again, "None of the above" I replied, hesitating to finish my thoughts, "she just loved someone else"

Othello sighed, "I'm sorry...what's the other guy like?" I turned towards him, "Human for one thing" I answered, Othello cringed, "So she's human. That's explains a lot" I nodded in agreement, "It's complicated" I replied, "I know" Othello returned, "I was in love with a human too. Sweet girl, loved flowers and dancing." I was the one now sitting up, relived that I wasn't the only one, "What happened to you?" Othello sighed again, this time deeper, "She died". I couldn't imagine what it must be like, but then again I already knew, for I had experienced it. "In my case" I continued, "I raised the guy...he turned out to be a complete asshole" Othello then asked the million dollar question, "Who is he?" I didn't hesitate this time, "Aladdin"

"Tough break" Othello said, "have you ever considered prostitution? Good way to find someone that way" What Othello was saying made no sense, "What are you talking about?" I said, "Prostitution is not a good way to meet anyone. Besides it's illegal" Othello laughed and looked up at the sky, intimidating Indiana Jones, "Only if you get caught"

We both laughed after that. For a moment, Othello forgot that he was a thief, he forgot that he was being paid. All Othello knew, was that I was his brother and that he was there. In turn, I forgot that Othello wanted me dead, I forgot that he was a lair, a thief, worked for a crazy psychopath and lost the map that was wrong to begin with. I forgot all of those things, because Othello wasn't any of that then, he had become my brother. I never forgot that, and I don't he did either, because after that night, he was never the same.

We talked for hours. We talked about what we thought about life, death and what we would do when this all over. Othello promised that he would go straight, start a fishing business in Florida. I told myself that eventually I would return to Toon Town, get a new name and start a new life.

But there were times when we sat in silence, saying nothing and yet saying all that needed to be said. Just being there seemed to have an effect on both of us, because after several minutes, we looked at each other, with tears in our eyes and cried. We embraced exactly how you would when seeing the one person who can make anything right. Because at that moment, the world didn't matter. All that mattered was that someone was there.

Othello then began ranting, about the mistakes he had made, but I cut him off, "It's alright Othello" I said, "let's make this right" Othello nodded and spoke, "Alright...I'm with you"

In a split second Genie appeared, almost giving me a heart attack. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked, half joking and half serious. "What a way to ruin a moment" Othello whispered under his breath, Genie only rolled his eyes and turned towards me, "Listen buddy" he said, "The Outcasts are free, but Jasmine's be recaptured." I leaned in intently, "What can we do? The Island's in India!" I replied, forgetting that I was standing in front of Genie, "Hello?" Genie replied, "Magical Genie right here! I can take you anywhere you want"

The correct response should've been obvious, but I went a step further, "I want us and The Outcasts on the Floating Island before Cassim gets there" Genie smiled and nodded, "Ring-a-ding-ding, we have a winner!" He then ruffled my feathers, "I knew you were a smart one" Then we disappeared and headed towards India.