Chapter 81: One Week of Worry

…

~~Sello was putting more coal into the engine when, according to Lawrence and Helo, something spat out of the engine and set the nearby deck on fire. I guess we found out what he did with the chemicals he swiped from Biluf, although I can't help wondering what their purpose would be inside the engine. Leynne thinks he may be trying a new form of combustion so that he can cut down on the amount of fuel used just to keep the ballast heated. It would probably be good for us; nearly a week sailing toward Might Island, and half of our coal is gone. With the Sky Lines, that reserve should've lasted us nearly a month. Unfortunately, throwing Biluf's chemistry set into the engine doesn't seem to have done the trick. Not to mention that it's too volatile. We're probably lucky that he could only get a small amount. Having the Island Symphony burn up because of Sello's whimsical experimentation would be kind of embarrassing.

~~Our fuel shortage may be due in part to Gold running the engine at night. No one realized it until tonight, when I noticed that I could make out the main propeller spinning out through the windows in my cabin. The wind, for the past four nights, had died out in the middle of the night, after most of the day shift had already gone to bed. He explained that he noticed the ship's weathervane would occasionally whip around like the air was playing with it, although he couldn't notice much wind flow on the deck. I didn't fault him for it; if he hadn't run the engine, we would probably be further behind in reaching Might Island. The coal is going to cost, though, and the ship's current bank only has enough to buy one, maybe two loads. We've used about ten loads since setting out from Sagacity Island with a full supply.

~~Today and for a good part of the evening, we've had a fairly strong wind. We're still reaching, but if we can get this kind of movement more often, we might be able to make Might Island before we start falling out of the sky. Because once we lose the ability to control the ballast, we might need to go all the way to the surface. And I don't know if we'll ever get back up again.

…

~~Day 58 (Command, Day 21)

~~Lawrence and Harley came to me this morning and expressed their concerns that we'll run out of fuel before we reach Might Island. I told them that we're trying to avoid using the engine to drive us and, if it comes to it, we'll tear apart the cutter and start using our crates (which we're really suppose to save) as emergency fuel. And we'd start pulling off pieces of the ship itself if we had to. They left satisfied. Earlier this evening, I asked Leynne to draw up some plans in case it came to stripping out non-essential parts of the ship and using them for fuel. I've made it as clear as possible that our empty storage crates will go first. If it's possible to save the cutter, I want to. And, if it comes to it, Leynne believes we can afford to sacrifice some of our speed by felling the two main masts and cutting them apart. The problem is that if it comes to it, all of the standing rigging will have to be changed around. It would be a risky affair, so I've spoken with Dubbl about what we'll have to do. She says that we can rearrange the rigging if we have to, but we'll have to place more anchor points on the deck and the bulwark since it would be difficult to distribute the strain of the standing rigging between the masts, as they are now. We have the tools for it, but I really hope it doesn't come to it.

~~Leynne is estimating that we still have one full week before we make it to Might Island, but he mentioned that he doesn't expect these maps to be very accurate. I agreed with him since I know they're inaccurate. Given the general layout of the maps he purchased at Castle Island, I'm pretty sure they're just the old maps with the missing Sky Lines removed. General maps of the kingdom have never been accurate enough to sail by unless you're using the Sky Lines. We need maps that detail the regions of Hyrule because those have been measured out. That, and, being probably over three weeks since the Sky Lines were turned off, I think there's a chance that the islands may have drifted away from each other, just like Irleen said.

~~We managed to run all sails open again for the afternoon and into the evening. I've just ordered the sails back to reaching since the wind shifted on us again. This allows us to make some good sailing. I just hope it's enough to make it to Might Island before we run out of fuel.

…

~~Day 59 (Command, Day 22)

~~Sello got to the empty crates first. Lawrence and Helo never saw him grab the trash crate we were using, but he had broken it down and thrown it along with the trash into the engine. They found the nails all over the floor. The nice part about this is he's already rationing our remaining fuel supply. Unfortunately, we'll have to pretend that it didn't happen; the dockmaster at Might Island will fine the ship for destroying them. Thankfully, Sello knows how to take care of the evidence. As if we aren't already in trouble. Here I am, fugitive from a fake princess and my own fleet, and I'm worried about being fined for destroying crates. At the end of the week, we'll be lucky if we don't get captured or shot down or just plain fall out of the sky.

~~We got enough wind to run all sails open again early this morning and well into the afternoon. As we haven't encountered ships lately, I'm thinking that, if the pattern of the wind lately is an indication, ships sailing in our direction are probably going toward Timbre Island instead of trying to beat their way to Sagacity Island. It kinda makes me wonder how sailors were able to tolerate traveling like this for all of these years. I'm beginning to get impatient, and I think the crew is as well.

…

"So what do you think?"

Link puzzled at the sheet of paper that Leynne had laid on the desk before him. Rough sketches and outlines covered its surface, trying to illustrate what Leynne had in mind for making an air launch out of Rosaline's donated cutter. Of first note was that Leynne's plan involved only three ballast tanks, while even the smallest of air-capable boats had four. He had decided to lay them out in a triangular shape with, as he had already explained, the largest tank at the bow and two smaller tanks, with maybe eighty percent of the capacity of the larger tank, on either side at the stern. Second, Leynne explained that he wanted to try talking Sello into designing an engine small enough to fit in the boat and capable of powering itself by wind. This, he had decided, would be separate from a heat source also powered by wind, which would use a combination of friction and a small combustible fuel source to provide a constant, controllable supply of heat to the ballast tanks. It all sounded quite well thought-out.

The problem was, though, that Leynne had lost Link halfway through explaining the reasoning (and, mostly, the math) behind differentiating the size of this weird concept for a ballast system. It gave him a small headache. It also felt a little weird having Leynne consult him on an idea. Link could rig a ship, he could sail a ship, and he could run a ship. But building a ship fell beyond Link's understanding. It was not something airmen studied; only shipwrights ever really understood every spar and bulkhead's purpose. A captain was only supposed to recognize his own ship inside and out, a feat Link was still trying to figure out; the construction quirks of his own ship were not helping.

Leynne caught the uncomfortable look on his face and said, "I've lost you somewheh. Haven't I?"

Link shrugged. "Yeah, kinda."

"Sohry. I've been considering the process since we've been afloat. I think I might've had many changes of idea on the subject."

"At least it's keeping you busy," Irleen spoke up from her perch on the table next to him.

Leynne cast her a cross look. "You make me sound like Sello."

"Well," Link said, "while I wouldn't mind you experimenting on the cutter, we're not exactly in the best position to afford the materials."

"No need to wohry," Leynne said. "I've already a solution. Afteh all, I'm not exactly running out of ideas. And, in this case, it'll help us all keep afloat."

"More inventions you're gonna sell?" Irleen asked.

"Of couhse," Leynne said with a nod. "Granted, I don't have the same contacts as I had in the Forest Realm, but it isn't hahd to find a place to staht. If I can have a day oh two to myself on Might Island, it's possible that I could get the kind of funding we'll need to continue ouh cuhrent entehprise."

"Enterprise?" Irleen replied. "We're trying to save the kingdom, maybe even the world, from a tyrant. You make that sound like a business."

Leynne shrugged. "Well, you have to admit, it is a bit of a business foh Link."

"I'd like to give you a day, Leynne," Link said. "I really would. But we don't know how we'll be moving once we get to Might Island. And the Symphony needs a commander in case anything happens."

"We have Dholit." Leynne's response was met with silence and deliberate staring from both Link and Irleen. Their meaning was not lost on Leynne, who looked away for a moment in discomfort. "Right. I… I don't know why I said that." He looked back at Link and continued, "Look, I know that we have to keep moving so we remain ahead of the Moon's Shadow, but if I could just have a day oh two, I could probably tuhn some of the misfohtune we've been having."

"I have no doubt," Link said. "And, like I said, I'd really like to give you the time you need. I just don't know if we can get it."

Leynne shrugged with his arms open wide. "Anything that'll give me time, I'll take it."

Link pondered the situation for a moment. Then he stood up and walked over to the map table. Irleen immediately picked herself up from the table and remained overhead as Link studied the map. He tried to recall the Sky Lines around Might Island. He considered that he might be able to better hide the Island Symphony if he could activate the Sky Lines around Might Island just as he had done on Sagacity Island. If so, it would open a few more options for them. It would also make it easy for their pursuers to comb the skies, but it would be a problem they would deal with anyway once the Sky Lines were back in place.

So he nodded and pointed to a small island near Might Island. "Here's Tabletop Island. There's not really a whole lot here, so there wouldn't be a reason for the Symphony to go there."

Leynne gave him a grin. "Meaning it would be a good place to hide," he reasoned.

Link nodded. "It'd make a good fall-back point if we find out the Moon's Shadow beat us to Might Island. And it's due nor—south of Might Island, so if we have to leave, we could probably travel a day in either direction, and then turn straight north back to Might. And that's just one of the out-of-the-way islands we can get to. If we can get the Sky Lines around Might Island to return just like back on Sagacity, there's…" Link had to stretch to point at a corner of the map. "Right here, there's Timbre Island. We can duck there for maybe half a day, then probably sail back to Sagacity for half a day, and then return to Might."

"With a screwball route like that, it just might throw off that other captain," Irleen said. "Who would expect you to return to where you started?"

"That's assuming Captain Nohth knows wheh we've been," Leynne said. "So fah, it's been a logical jump from island to island. He must know we eventually need to stop."

"I wonder if he knows how close he came," Irleen said with a giggle as she glanced at Link.

Link recalled passing Captain North on the streets of East Iron Island and shook his head. "I… don't want to think about it. But Leynne, if we can afford to, we might be able to buy you some time. In the meantime, though, once we reach Might Island, we need to arrange for more fuel and rations fast." He hesitated. "Look, I hate to ask—"

"I've already explained that I've a stake in this as well," Leynne said. "That said, we may have to do a bit of budgeting. I've been comparing the cost of supplies between Thicket, Ihon, and Sagacity, and I don't think I'll be able to affohd to fully resupply the ship."

"If we can afford to leave you a couple of days, we shouldn't have to," Link said.

Leynne nodded, catching Link's meaning. "Right, if I'm successful with whateveh time you can give me, we could fully resupply aftehwahd."

"Biluf is going to need some more materials as well," Link added. "So after we arrange for supplies, do you think you'll have enough to get what she needs?"

"Between the cost of fuel and rations, if I've calculated them right, I believe so. It'll be tight, though."

"Whatever you can do."

…

~~Day 60 (Command, Day 23)

~~It's just occurred to me it's been two months since I started this journal, two months since the Smiling Gunner shot the Island Sonata out of the sky. It feels so strange. The month I've been on the surface, time just seemed to go so slow. Then, coming back up here, it's like time just got away. It's probably because of the tedium that's developed in the days since we fled from Castle Island. Aside from what happened on Sagacity Island, there hasn't really been much to do. Since we're keeping out of range of the Moon's Shadow, most of the crew has had to find something to keep themselves busy on-duty and off. It probably doesn't help that there isn't much to do while on-duty. Twali and Cale keep themselves busy with lookout and Leynne and Gold always have the helm. But the rest of the deck crew, well—Lwamm likes to do pull-ups in the doorway to the boat deck and occasionally climbs the rigging. Layna always seems to be glaring at something, sometimes on the deck and sometimes in the open air. Dholit thinks that she's working to memorize the sounds on the ship so she can react if something happens to be wrong. Dholit follows me around like she's waiting for me to give her an order or something. Sometimes I have to go below just to get away from her; she knows she has to stay on the weather deck. Biluf talks to herself. At least, I think she does; she's aware that no one but the other Gelto understand her.

~~Off-duty, things get a little awkward. Dholit

Link stopped and glanced over at his bed. He had not made it in a while, so some of the sheets were pushed up against the bulkhead. At least, he thought he might have pushed them against the bulkhead. Moving quietly, he stood up from the chair and slid over to the bed. He then suddenly ripped the covers away from the bed and found nothing waiting for him.

"Nīk napa ō, Līnca…" Irleen groaned from the edge of her own bed.

Although Link did not understand her, he took the sentiment from her tone and threw the covers back onto the bed. Then he moved to his desk and sat back down in the chair. He wondered at the drawers under the bed for a moment before continuing to write.

~~has hidden herself in my bedroom just to ambush me before I go to sleep. Layna, Twali, and Lwamm tend to work out before and sometimes after their shifts. There's generally no telling what Biluf does, but she tends to go to the boat deck a lot, probably to use her chemistry set. Dubbl, Cale, and Gold seem to be the only ones who go straight to their berths.

~~I've been a little restless myself. I think it's mostly because there's really no telling at this point whether we'll reach Might Island or not. Leynne approached me today with plans to convert the cutter we got from Rosaline into a usable air launch. We have an idea of what we can do about our lack of supplies and funding, but we're really pushing ourselves at this point. I keep thinking how much easier things would be with the Sky Lines around. With the supplies we brought up, we could've run circles around the kingdom in the month we've been up here. As things are now, though, it's like we're slowly starving to death.

~~No, I can't think like that. Captain Alfonzo once told me that if a person uses the words "starving to death", then he becomes useless. I can't afford to be useless, not now. There's too many things that have to be done.

…

~~Day 61 (Command, Day 24)

~~I decided on a change in duties today just to keep people from performing the same thing over and over again. I did it mostly because it would help break up this feeling I've been getting that the crew is suddenly going to go crazy (not that it isn't possible they already have). I also thought that it would be better if, in case something horrible happened and Leynne or Gold weren't available, others could man the helm in an emergency. So I put Leynne and Gold on deck patrol, shifted Biluf and Lwamm to lookouts, and put Cale and Twali on the helm. I've been considering permanently removing Leynne from the helm and leaving him to deck patrol since it shouldn't be his constant responsibility to man it. He's supposed to be my second-in-command, after all. He needs to be more aware of the ship than just the helm. I told him as much, and he argued that he was only supposed to be temporary second anyway. He seems to prefer manning the wheel, but I explained my reasons to him. For a moment, I thought he was going to punch me, but he just calmed down and accepted it. I asked him why the sudden hostility when he had appeared a little enthusiastic when we talked yesterday. I had not realized that he was losing sleep, and it was rubbing on his nerves a bit. I suggested that he go to bed earlier and trying to get a little more sack time. He said he's tried it, but he can't help shaking the feeling that something bad is going to happen to us once we reach Might Island. We just sort of left the conversation there. I can't blame him, though. Without knowing where the Moon's Shadow disappeared to, it is possible that they may have headed us off.

~~Cale decided to use some of his off-duty time to learn a bit more Sorian from Irleen. The last I heard of the session, she was shouting at him about pronunciation. I myself have been trying to learn a bit of Geltoan. Dholit tried to translate a few of my commands, but I just can't seem to remember the words. And the way Geltoan is spoken, it felt like I was going to rub my throat raw with all the pronunciations I couldn't get. It's something I should learn. It would be nice to be able to tell the Gelto something without having Dholit or Dubbl (especially Dholit) translate it for them.

~~We spent most of the day reaching. I'm hoping that, if we can get a good wind behind us, we might make it before the end of our second week out here. The engine crew is getting worried about our fuel, although Sello is still trying to stretch it out by burning empty ration packs. I've even noticed that a case of the alcohol we bought for him has gone missing, but I don't really think that means much.

…

~~Day 62 (Command, Day 25)

~~I maintained the duty roster I made yesterday so that some of the crew had time to get use to other duties. I thought about bringing up some of the engine crew, but I decided I'm not going to unless they ask. So far, Lawrence, Lidago, Helo, and Harley don't seem to be bothered by the lack of sunlight, although I did see Harley this evening before his shift began. He was on the forecastle chatting with Cale for a bit. I hadn't thought about it, but it appears that Harley had joined my crew in the heat of passion. He had just broken up with his fiancée before the call went out for volunteers to come out to Fishington and help build the ship. He explained to Cale that it had been pretty ugly and he didn't want to be anywhere near her for fear that they would actually kill each other. Cale commented that he felt a little sorry for Harley, but I guess Harley told him that it was the best thing that could've happened. He wanted to get away from her, so he was willing to take a post on the Island Symphony. And he seems to have hated both times I gave the crew the chance to leave because it made him feel like he was being forced to go back to her. Now that I think about it, he did sound kind of eager to overthrow the fake Zelda a couple weeks ago.

~~We got a running wind this afternoon, but it maybe lasted for just a couple of hours. Leynne wanted to try lowering the ship on a hunch that the winds below us might offer something different, but I didn't want to chance that we might find a worse wind than what we've been following. I saw him still on-deck before I decided to turn in for the night. But I can't be sure what he was doing.

…

~~Day 63 (Command, Day 26)

~~Finally! After almost two weeks of switching back and forth, we finally had a whole day of northeasterly wind to push us toward Might Island at a full run. This surely should've shaved time off our journey. And it's definitely welcome. I don't know how we got so lucky, but I hope our luck will last into tomorrow. It would be great to see Might Island on the horizon in the morning.

~~The crewmen I switched around seem to be taking to their jobs quite nicely, and that was what I was hoping for. If we don't make it to Might Island tomorrow morning, I think I'll shift them around again, get other people used to the helm and lookout.

~~Leynne raised a few questions today which I actually hadn't considered. His main concern was that, while the Moon's Shadow was chasing us from the western islands, it was possible that more ships were approaching us from the east. He has a point, and I told him that it was possible that they were. When he asked how we might avoid running into another Skyrider vessel, I pointed out that Might Island not only has two docking areas, but plenty of mountainous areas which we could use to hide behind if we need to leave or pick up someone away from the docks. When he brought up the idea that someone might see us just as we're approaching, I told him that the moment we see the island, we can increase the ballast and rise so that we can get a look at the docks without anyone being able to observe the Island Symphony. When he pointed out how suspicious that would look, I had to agree with him, but I also said that some captains do that to keep an eye out for rival vessels.

…

~~Day 64 (Command, Day 27)

~~Our luck held out, and we ran up until the early evening before the wind shifted and forced us to return to reaching. I explained this to the crew, and it was nice to see their spirits lifting a bit. We still haven't made it to Might Island, but we're so much closer now. It's saved us another day of fuel since we haven't had to use the engine for propulsion. As for rations, well, we're still having to stretch them out. The engine crew won't eat the rations Sello stole, and our current supply only tastes mildly better than that. It feels like it's been forever since I last had a decent ration from this area of the kingdom.

~~The discussion I had with Cale about Harley a couple days ago sort of inspired me today. After Dholit was done at lookout (I had rotated the deck crew again), I asked her about the other Gelto on the ship. She explained to me that Gelto like to be around warriors that pull off incredible feats. They mostly hope that being part of my crew will let them see some action. They already know about my fight with the Malgyorg in the Sand Realm. Actually, she told me that some of the stories around me have been exaggerated. One story, which she heard from Lwamm, goes that I punched a bunch of smaller Malgyorg out of the desert and used their noses to make a pair of gloves so that I could punch through the big Malgyorg's thick skin and rip its heart out. Twali seems to think that I used the smaller Malgyorg to make a bow and some arrows so that I could shoot its eyes out and then slash its belly open with my sword, which I suppose is close enough to the truth. Biluf's version, though, seemed to involve me shooting a cannon full of chemicals into its mouth and making it explode into a humongous ball of purple smoke (and she was very adamant about the color of the smoke). She couldn't get a story from Layna, but she did say that Layna is actually a little afraid of me. I really can't understand why; I think everyone onboard is afraid of her!

~~I can't help feeling a little optimistic right now. Maybe it's just the fact that nothing's tried to kill me in two weeks. I know it'll probably change once we reach Might Island, but, for now, I think I'll just sit back and enjoy it.