Page 52 of Tiger's Voyage

“There are a few nice guest rooms down here as well. Our diving instructor will be staying in one of them. The laundry room and kitchen, or galley, are also located here.”

Mr. Kadam guided me toward the fully stocked galley. There was enough food to feed a small army for a month. It had a huge walk-in pantry, two dining tables for the staff, and a serving counter.

He showed me one of the service walkways that ran throughout the ship, and we went down to the next level. “This is the well deck where we’ll find the dry garage. The Jeep is through that door, and over here,” he stepped through a hatch, “is our wet garage.”

“Why is it called a well deck?”

“In some ships this area can be flooded like a well filling with water to allow other craft to dock inside. We don’t really flood this area, but we do use it for similar purposes.”

I ducked my head and found myself in a nautical wonderland. One wall held fishing equipment, towing rings, and windsurfers. The other wall held a variety of sizes of mounted water skis. Four wave runners sat against one wall covered with tarps, and two fast-looking watercraft rested on what looked like a ramp.

“You have boats in the boat?”

“They’re Boston Whalers. One’s a twenty-two footer and the other one’s an eighteen footer.”

Mr. Kadam was practically giddy with glee as he pointed out the sleek water toys. I hadn’t realized the businessman’s affinity for expensive vehicles included watercraft, but it was clear this boat and everything in it brought as much pleasure to him as his McLaren.

Continuing the tour, Mr. Kadam showed me a wooden bench area with lockers. “This is our diving prep area. We’ve got snorkeling gear, scuba tanks, wet suits, BCs, and regulators. I have no idea how all the equipment is used, as I’ve never been diving before. I plan to learn rudimentary skills with the rest of you.”

I groaned. “That’s not something I’m looking forward to.”

“As for me, I am extremely enthusiastic about exploring the ruins of the City of the Seven Pagodas, and the only way to do that is underwater.”

I nodded. “If it was just going to be ruins, I might like it too, but so far my experience with hunting magical objects is that big bad things like to chase me.”

“Then we’d better make sure you can use your lightning power underwater. Shall we finish with the Main Deck? I think you’ll like your room.”

We took the elevator, and Mr. Kadam led me into a beautiful lounge area in forest green and burgundy with deep soft chairs and a polished cherrywood library stacked high with books. Large curtained windows overlooked the sea, and the carpet was so thick I couldn’t hear our footsteps. We stopped at the first room, which was Kishan’s. He emerged and showed me around briefly. He had his own private bath and a large bed.

“Can you show Miss Kelsey the rest of this deck, Kishan? I’d like to get us under way.”

“Sure. So what do you think of our floating home?”

“The ship is amazing! You’ve been here before?”

“Once. Kadam, Ren, and I came out to see the boat a couple of weeks after you left. We didn’t head out to sea, but we did sleep here overnight.” Pointing the way, Kishan continued, “I’m here, and this is Kadam’s room. Nilima’s is here. Then Ren’s. Yours is down here.”

Kishan opened the door to my cabin which was so big I could have easily fit Li’s entire wushu studio inside.

I gasped. “It’s much bigger than all of yours.”

“We gave you the master suite.” He wrapped his arms around me from behind, hugged me, and said softly, “Our girl deserves the best.”

I thought briefly about Ren’s wish.I want to give her the best ofeverything.I squeezed Kishan’s hand. “I already have the best. I have all of you.”

Kishan let me go, and we stepped into my room—which was palatial. A familiar tune was quietly playing overhead. The huge bed resting against one wall was covered with a cream-and-gold bedspread and pillows, and faced a panoramic floor-to-ceiling set of windows. My grandma’s old quilt lay folded at its foot.

“This is the stern, right?”

He nodded and headed for the bathroom. I passed under a vent and felt a cool brush from the air conditioner. I had my own personal giant screen plasma television and a walk-in closet already full of my clothes. The impressive bathroom had a sunken Jacuzzi tub and a shower. Stacks of cream-colored towels rested in polished cherrywood cabinets. We moved back into the bedroom, and I found my laptop sitting on the desk, a new iPad, and a few of my research books.

“Do we get the Internet here?”

“Yes. Internet, e-mail, fax, you name it.”

“Is it hard to get that?”

“Not when you own a satellite.”