The Blue Divide

Chapter 12

Eko held the violin tightly against his chin. Sleep pulled at his eyelids, but he wouldn't let the instrument go yet. He had never seen a non-living object that could produce music.

Nerine's mindmusic was growing fainter every day. The old man's violin was the only way to reawaken it. Without it, he might lose her; the only link to his people. He played until his head started to nod, and at last the old man, who called himself Alec, gently pulled the instrument out of his hands and led him to bed. He collapsed into a dreamless sleep for the first time since becoming human.

The shade over his window was flung aside, pulling him into wakefulness. He shielded his eyes as a gray sunlight poured over the bed covers.

"Well," said the Alec, stepping away from the window, "are you coming with me today or not?"

His question made no sense, but Eko sat up all the same. He needed to be on his guard in the Upperworld, but it was difficult to feel afraid around Alec.

He went into the adjoining room, and permitted the old man to give him the sweet plant substance he called fruit. Alec cut it into orange, yellow and pink cubes that were strange tasting but not terrible like most of the other foods.

When he was finished eating, Alec handed him a blue coat. "It will be cold where we're going," he said.

"Where are we going?" Eko asked as he struggled to get his arms into the thick clothing. The coat was hot and heavy. He started to take it off, but Alec snapped shut the fasteners on the front, trapping him inside.

"To the water," he said, stepping back to examine his handy work.

Eko's chest tightened. He had not been to it since his transformation. He followed Alec out the door, and walked with him down a hard packed lane to the place where men kept their ships.

Alec stretched out his hand. "Welcome to Twin Harbor."

The ships were all of various shapes and sizes, some big enough to house many men, some only one or two.

One of the larger ships was familiar to him. He stopped dead and stared at it. It was the one he had been imprisoned on. He was sure of it.

"What's the matter?" Alec asked, patting him on the shoulder. "See a ghost?"

Eko pointed at the ship, scanning the deck for the men responsible for everything that had happened to him, but there was no one on board.

"That's the Aeolus, Captain Kerring's ship," said Alec. "Kerring is one of the more successful fishermen in Porthaven. Can't say I approve of his methods though. It's a good thing he's docked. Less competition." He patted Eko on the back. "Let's go. I'll introduce you to the Spray."

The Spray was Alec's ship. It was much smaller than the Aeolus, and was painted with blue and white stripes. Alec led Eko to the edge of the dock and helped him on board. The ship bobbed in the water, and Eko had to hold onto the side to keep his balance.

He followed the old man into a small room with a wheel that Alec explained controlled the ship's direction, as well as various other instruments and dials that were similar to those he had seen in Kerring's sunken ship. Four separated windows looked out to the water.

There was a loud roar and Eko jumped back at the unexpected sound and nearly fell over. Alec had performed whatever human magic caused the ship to come alive and move on its own.

Eko sat on the floor as the old man took hold of the wheel and steered the Spray away from the dock and into open sea. When they were far enough out that Porthaven looked like a distant blur, Alec pulled away.