Page 100 of Tiger's Voyage

A tiny stitched boat had appeared on the front of the kimono and, as we watched, it crept forward one stitch. It was aimed for the red dot.

Mr. Kadam quickly turned around. “Kishan? Would you mind climbing to the top of the wheelhouse and taking a look around? Take note of our direction and the location of the city.”

Kishan returned a moment later, his face incredulous. “Based on the sun, we’re heading east but thereisno city. There’s no coastline. Nothing but water surrounds us for miles.”

Mr. Kadam nodded as if he expected this. “Please locate Ren and Nilima for me and ask them to come to the wheelhouse.”

Kishan made eye contact with me and smiled briefly, then turned and left.

Mr. Kadam played with the instruments a moment longer, and then frowned.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing’s turning on. We shouldn’t be moving. The engines aren’t on. The anchor is still down according to this. Nothing is working— satellite, radio, everything’s off.”

When Kishan returned with the others, Nilima and Mr. Kadam began charting our progress on a large map as best they could. Mr. Kadam sent Ren and Kishan to check on the anchor. He asked me to keep my eye on the compass and shout out directions but the compass just spun in circles. It would point east for a few seconds then swing south, then west, then back to the east again. Eventually, Mr. Kadam had me watch the horizon instead. We couldn’t steer the ship, but I was to watch for possible obstacles while he and Nilima tried to figure out what to do.

Ren and Kishan returned and reported that the anchor had actually been trailing in our wake, like a raft floating along behind the ship. They’d had to reel it in manually. We tried our cell phones but found no signal. The five of us spent a quiet afternoon in the wheelhouse, talking only when necessary. Without saying it, we all knew we’d entered another world—a world without the rules and boundaries we were used to. A world where dragons ruled the seas, and all we had to protect ourselves were our weapons and Mr. Kadam’s research.

I could feel the change in the air. The warmth and heat of the India summer was gone, and the air felt heavy and wet and cold, more like the air near the sea in Oregon. Kishan readied our scuba gear just in case. The temperature had dropped from the nineties to the sixties. Ren retrieved our weapons and a sweater and Fanindra for me. I didn’t put on the sweater but thanked him and slid Fanindra onto my arm.

It was time for all of us to suit up. Ren helped me strap the bow and quiver of golden arrows over my back with a fabric strap from the Divine Scarf. He helped me practice taking the bow out a few times. He asked the Divine Scarf to shrink down to a hair ribbon and, after a pointed look at my sheared hair, knotted it securely around my wrist. The Golden Fruit was placed in a bag and slid into the quiver with the arrows.

Ren had made himself a belt with the Divine Scarf also, creating fabric hip holsters for thegadaand the trident. When Kishan returned, Ren handed him a similar belt with a loop for thechakram. Kishan hung thekamandalshell around his neck, and we stood quietly facing the window for a time—me between my two warriors. We were ready for battle.

Mr. Kadam and Nilima called us over to the kimono to tell us that they had given up trying to figure out where we were. Ren, Kishan, and I nodded in understanding. The three of us knew that once we began the hunt, there were no maps; there was no rational path to take. We depended on fortune and destiny to lead us to the place we needed to go.

Afternoon quickly turned into evening. We were more than halfway to the red dot now. Based on the speed we were moving across the kimono, Mr. Kadam figured we would arrive around midnight. We didn’t feel like going below deck so the three of us—Kishan, Ren, and I— climbed to the top of the wheelhouse. I used the Scarf to make cushions. Despite my nerves, the discomfort of Fanindra on my arm, and the bow and arrows on my back, I fell asleep leaning against Kishan’s chest.

Several hours later, Kishan gently shook me awake. I blinked open sleepy eyes to stare at his long jean-clad leg stretched out in front of me. In my sleep, I’d moved to using his thigh as a pillow.

I groaned and rubbed my aching neck. “What is it?”

Kishan’s warm hands began kneading my sore muscles. “It’s nothing. My leg was just falling asleep.”

I laughed then winced as he hit a tender spot. “Well, it’s probably safe to say I hurt me more than I hurt you.”

“You’re probably right.”

I looked up and saw the silent form of Ren standing as far away as possible. He watched the horizon, ever vigilant. “Ren? Why don’t you take a break and let me or Kishan take watch for a while?”

Ren turned his head so I could see his profile. “I’m fine. You sleep, Kells.”

Once he turned back, I stared at him in confusion. “Hey. Have you two gone more than twelve hours as men now?”

Ren nodded briefly and Kishan said, “For me, it’s been fourteen. We’re in the no-need-to-be-a-tiger zone, it seems.”

I sat up further. “I’m hungry. What time is it?”

Ren answered, “About 11:45. I could use something to eat too.”

Kishan stood and stretched. “I’ll stand watch. You eat something with Kelsey.”

Ren hesitated but stepped aside and sat down a good five feet away from me.

“What would you like?” I asked him kindly.

He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You choose.”