Page 179 of Tiger's Voyage

Voices. Whispers of sound roused me.So thirsty.The sun beat down on my body.Pain. Throbbing pain.A cool hand stroked my forehead, and I wished whoever it was would give me water. I heard the desperate words, “You’re not the only one who loves her,” but I couldn’t tell who had said it. My cracked lips parted, and a cup was pressed to them. Cold,icecold liquid dripped into my mouth. It was delicious and seemed to spread coolness through my limbs.Not enough. More. I need more.

Again the cup was brought to my lips. Mere drops, only a teaspoon of the soothing liquid was given. I licked the remaining drops from my lips, and my head lolled back against a warm body. I slept.

I woke thirsty again, but the heat was gone, and a cool breeze wafted over my feverish skin. I opened my mouth to ask for water, but only a whimper came out.

“She’s awake. Kelsey?”

I heard Kishan speak, but I couldn’t open my eyes or move.

“Kelsey? You’re going to be alright. You’re healing.”

Healing? How was that possible?The shark bit through my calf. The lower part of my leg was hanging on by only a few tendons. I hadn’t meant to look at it after I’d gotten in the boat but I couldn’tnotlook.

“Give her some water,” Ren suggested.Ren? He was alive. Somehow he’d escaped from the feeding frenzy.

“Do you need some too?”

“Her first. I’ll survive.”

He’ll survive? What happened to him?Instead of questions, my body produced moaning sounds.

I felt a light touch at my neck and heard Kishan say, “Pearl Necklace, we need some drinking water.”

Gently, Kishan lifted my upper body so my head rested against his chest. I blinked woozily, but couldn’t focus until I saw a cup brought to my lips. He held it for me as I swallowed gratefully. “It’s a good thing we have the Necklace. The Golden Fruit can’t make water.”

When it was gone, I whispered rasply, “More.”

He filled the cup four more times before I nodded that I was satisfied. I’d even had the strength to grip his arm as I raised my head. He refilled the cup and handed it to Ren. It was evening, and we were floating on an ocean bathed in moonlight. I practiced keeping my eyes open, watching Ren as he drank. By the time he was done, my eyes had adjusted, and six Rens had become one.

“You’re hurt,” I said.

Ren’s grimace became a smile though I could still see the pain he tried to hide. “I’ll be fine.”

I squinted at his chest. A strange scar arced from his shoulder to his stomach. My eyes widened.

“The shark bit you? Those are puncture wounds!” I started wheezing, which turned into a wet cough.

Kishan held me as my body spasmed painfully. Ren waited until my coughing stilled to answer.

“Yes. It bit me almost in half. Broke all my ribs on the left side, my left arm, shattered my spine, and I think it may have pierced my heart and kidney.”

“How … how did you get back to the boat with all those sharks in the water?”

“After the monster shark died, thanks to you and a trident to the brain, most of the others went after him. A few came after me and bit my legs, but they weren’t in attack mode. A quick jab with the trident caused them to leave me alone. Kishan saw me and instructed the Scarf to make a rope. He tugged me back to the boat before they could take off any of my limbs.”

I shuddered and reached for his hand. He wrapped his fingers around mine, and I sank back against Kishan, weak as a daisy after a thunderstorm.

“You said I was healing. How? I should be dead by now.”

Ren made eye contact with Kishan and nodded.

Kishan cleared his throat and explained, “We used the Nectar of Immortality—the drops of liquid collected from the mermaid’s fountain. Youweredying. You were bleeding to death, and the Scarf couldn’t stop it. Your heart slowed, and you lost consciousness. Your life was slipping away, and there was nothing I could do to prevent it from happening. Then I remembered the mermaid’s words. She said the nectar was to be used when I was the most desperate. I couldn’t let you die … so I used thekamandal.

“At first, I wasn’t sure it was working. There wasn’t enough blood for your heart to pump. I could hear that it wasn’t filling between beats. Then your heart rate increased. You began healing. Your leg slowly repaired itself before my eyes. Color returned to your face, and you slipped into a deep sleep. I knew then that you would survive.”

“Does this mean I’m immortal now? Like the two of you?”

Kishan looked at Ren. “We don’t know.”