Page 21 of Dark Island: Rescue

"We have multiple options," Boshev said. "The airstrip for aerial evacuation, boats at the harbor, but in case both are compromised, we're adding hidden caches with inflatable rafts at various points around the island."

Wellgorst walked over to the desk and lifted a folder. "We've acquired three fast boats for patrol and emergency transport. They are not military grade since we don't want to appear to be a military installation, but they are fast."

"How fast?" Anandur asked.

"Forty knots cruising, fifty-five at maximum."

"So, we could reach Navuh's island in about six to seven hours if needed." The Guardian did quick mental math.

"We're not planning anything offensive," Kian said. "This base is for training and defense."

"Of course," Anandur agreed, though his tone suggested he liked knowing the option existed.

Raj cleared his throat. "If we're done with the military discussion, I need to address practical matters. Sewage treatment expansion, water desalination upgrades, and most critically, power generation."

"We are aware of the situation," Kalugal said. "The mini-nuclear reactor is in the works, but in the meantime, we'll need to install more generators."

"More generators means more fuel shipments. More fuel shipments mean more security risks."

Raj had a point. Every supply run was a potential security breach, especially if Navuh had people watching shipping traffic in the region.

"We'll implement rotating supply companies," Kian decided. "No single vendor gets enough orders to see a pattern. Boshev, coordinate with our logistics people."

"Yes, sir."

As Kian, Kalugal, and their entourage headed back to the house, the afternoon sun beat down on their new base, and Kian thought about the future they were trying to build. Safe Harbor was more than just a training facility. It was a statement of intent.

They were no longer simply defending.

They were preparing to take the initiative.

The game was changing, and Safe Harbor would be where they established the new rules.

8

ESAG

The commission lay on Esag's workbench like an accusation. Anandur wanted a new figurine of Wonder, nicer than the one he'd carved of her as Gulan that Kalugal had found in Egypt.

Of all the requests Esag could have received, of all the people in the village who might want to commission a piece from him, it had to be Wonder's mate asking for a carved likeness of the woman Esag had loved and lost five thousand years ago.

He'd been putting it off, telling Anandur that he would get to it once he was done carving Khiann's likeness and getting a vision about his whereabouts, but he'd given up on ever receiving that vision, and he was tired of carving the same person over and over again even if that person had been his best friend and he still mourned him after all these years.

Besides, there was really no reason for him to keep delaying it. He and Wonder had made their peace, and all he felt for her these days was friendship.

Right, that along with a hefty dose of guilt.

Not love, though. Not anymore.

Had he ever loved her? He hadn't loved her enough to leave Ashegan and disappoint his family, so maybe he just hadn't really loved her.

Esag had no doubt that Anandur would have left the clan for Wonder if that was the price of being with her. He'd even accepted a position at Annani's sanctuary in Alaska because Annani had wanted her best friend with her.

That was the kind of love Wonder deserved.

The piece of olive wood in Esag's hands was perfect for the task. It was fine-grained, with subtle variations in color that would capture the warmth of Wonder's skin tone. He'd selected it carefully from his collection, running his fingers over dozens of pieces before choosing this one. The wood spoke to him, claiming that it was what he needed to use. Each piece had its own personality, its own potential waiting to be revealed.

He preferred working with wood for his figurines because it was more resilient than stone. Wood had a character that he could exploit for his figurines, while stone was inert.