Rev's Odyssey by R. R. Kaufman (the reading list .txt) 📕

shore.

Chloe started a campfire. Zhen fetched some refreshments and Allie sat down quietly keeping an eye on Rev. Once they were all seated around the campfire, Allie became anxious to speak.

 

Allie

So, Rev. As a guest on our island its customary to explain to your hosts, just what brought you here. And how did you get here? Did you swim from Tailbone Island?

 

Allie had a good laugh. Rev felt uncomfortable around her. But when she heard her mention Tailbone Island she felt hope. She had made it through the Lux and landed on Earth. She must be close to her destination. Zhen and Chloe remained silent. Rev was hesitant about trusting these three. And she knew they didn’t trust her. What if these girls were Razor’s supporters? Or maybe spies?

 

Rev

I don’t know how I got here. It felt like I fell from the sky.

 

Allie

Or maybe you tracked us here. Possibly one of Razor’s agents?

 

Rev remained silent as she stared into the fire. Allie leaned into Rev’s face.

 

Allie

Well girls, it looks like we have a traitor among us.

 

Zhen

Sit back Allie. This is no way to treat a guest.

 

Allie

Okay, but I bet Razor’s men are closing in. That tiger locket is probably a tracking device.

 

Chloe

Good. Then we can get off this island.

 

Allie

I’m just protecting our mission. One mistake could cost us our life.

 

Zhen

I understand your concern Allie. But I don’t think Razor employs someone this young.

 

Allie

She could be one of Vice’s friends.

 

Chloe

I don’t think Vice has any friends. Especially not an attractive girl like Rev.

 

Could this be all a ploy to trap her, Rev thought. Should she tell them who she really was? How did she end up on this island and not Tailbone Island? Time was being wasted. She had to take a chance.

 

Rev

I’m from Brix on planet Radium. I came through the Lux.

 

Allie

I told you. She’s on Razor’s side.

 

Rev

I am not. I hate Razor. She’s destroying our town with her pollution.

 

Chloe

Well, if that doesn’t sound familiar.

 

Zhen

Okay, Rev. Give us your reason for coming through the Lux.

 

Rev

My mother and uncle crossed over to this planet a few days ago. Razor’s men have taken them captive. Razor has taken over our town, Brix, with her drokes. She’s poisoning our air and water. I need to get to Tailbone Island. Please help me.

 

Allie

I’m afraid you’re stuck here like us.

 

Rev

Where is this place and why are you here?

 

Allie

Ask Chloe and Zhen. They decided to take the short way home to Tailbone Island. They wouldn’t listen to me. I told them there was a storm coming. But no. They were in a hurry to get back.

 

Chloe

Oh, just button it tight.

 

Zhen

As you can see, Rev, we are growing a little bit irritable. We’ve been shipwrecked on this island for over a month. We’re running low on supplies and manners. Desperation and hopelessness is setting in.

 

Rev

Were you on some kind of mission?

 

Allie

What makes you say that?

 

Rev

You mentioned it. And because I noticed you were all wearing the same style of boots. Are you in a special unit or something like that?

 

Allie

Yeah. Something like that.

 

Zhen

We are returning to Tailbone Island with some special cargo that will help, let’s say, eradicate Razor for good.

 

Rev

Then I can catch a ride with you to Tailbone Island when you get rescued?

 

Allie

Does it look like we’re being rescued? Nobody is coming for us. It’s too stormy and there are dozens of small islands like this to search. This island is our graveyard.

 

Chloe

Don’t be so upbeat, Allie. Just be honest with her.

 

Allie

I’m going to fetch some more wood for the fire.

 

Allie climbed the path between the boulders to the top of the hill and disappeared.

 

Zhen

Whenever anyone travels through the Lux, the sky lights up in a fiery blaze. Less than a week ago it lit up twice at the same time. We thought it was Razor and Vice returning. But your explanation about your mother and uncle makes sense now. It was them that passed through. And moments before you were washed ashore today the sky was lit up by a ball of fire. Why did your mother and uncle travel to Earth?

 

Rev

They wanted to find information on Razor in her homeland. Something that could be used against her. Anything that could help us defeat her. We don’t have much time before there is permanent destruction in my hometown.

 

Chloe

Take a look around here. What do you see? Nothing but water. Most of the land on this planet is covered in water. See those islands way over there? At one time we used to be able to walk over to them. Forests and valleys are now covered in water. Razor was a big influence on the state of this planet.

 

Allie returned with more wood. She carefully placed it on the fire. It crackled as flames shot higher. It was dusk and the stars became visible. Eventually darkness engulfed the cove and the fire highlighted the group’s faces and bodies. Everyone remained silent as if hypnotized by the fire.

Rev looked at Chloe.

 

Rev

I’m curious. I’m sorry, but what are all those pictures all over your arms?

 

Chloe

No harm in asking, Rev. They’re called tattoos. You see, it’s my life story. All the people and events that happened to me, I express on my personal canvas. My skin. All the good, the bad, hate, and love. Whatever. It’s totally personal. I have nothing to be ashamed about. It’s all here for anyone to see.

 

Rev

It’s beautiful. All the vivid colors and it seems to be all meshed together. From the past few day’s experiences I could tattoo my whole arm.

 

Chloe

I have an excellent tattoo artist to work with. Maybe he can do it for you.

 

Zhen

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Chloe. She just landed here.

 

The group was ready to pack it in for the evening when two fiery balls torched the night sky.

 

Allie

Razor and Vice have returned. How deplorable.

 

Rev

There has to be a way to get off this island.

 

Chapter 35

 

 

Rev awoke to shouting. She crawled out of her tent and looked up. She heard the island girls talking loudly on the hill above the camp. She climbed the hill to join them. They were taking turns looking out to the north of the island. A large telescope was mounted at the highest point.

 

Chloe

It’s huge. The biggest one yet.

 

Allie

It looks well positioned.

 

Zhen

It’s drifting slowly. It does have potential.

 

Rev

What is it?

 

They seemed a bit startled to hear Rev’s voice as the island girls turned around to face her.

 

Chloe

Perhaps some hope.

 

Rev took her turn and looked through the scope at the distant object floating out at sea.

She couldn’t make out exactly what it was.

 

Rev

I don’t understand.

 

Allie

It’s a pile of floating garbage but it could mean our freedom.

 

Zhen

All the litter that people have thrown into the ocean over the past century has come together to form these mountains of trash. As if the ocean itself spit out everything that it detests. Mostly anything made of plastic. Billions of cans, cups, nets and fishing lines. Like a giant trap. It just keeps collecting more and more garbage. Basically anything that floats.

 

Allie

Ever vomit, Rev? Well this is the ocean’s way of saying it’s sick. Fed up with stupid people.

 

Chloe

Okay, Allie. We all agree with you but let’s focus on the positive here. I’m getting hungry and I’m not in the mood for one of your all day rants.

 

Rev

Oh I get it. We can climb on board this trash and get off the island.

 

Zhen

It’s not that simple. See that bay over to the right. If it floats off the coast there, then we can swim out to it and ease it into shore. But if the winds and currents take it down the west side of the island we can’t board it.

 

Zhen moved the telescope to the left of her and let Rev take a look.

 

Zhen

See the channel between our island and the other island west of us?

 

Rev

Yes. The channel in between is flowing extremely fast.

 

Allie

Good. She’s catching on.

 

Rev

So what do we do?

 

Chloe

Just wait.

 

Rev

Is this the first one like this that you’ve spotted?

 

Allie

Nope. We’ve seen three others, and they all blew by us down the chute.

 

Rev

How long before we know which direction it will take?

 

Zhen

At least half a day.

 

The group went back to the campsite for breakfast. After they ate, Rev wandered over to the west side of the island. As she edged closer to the high cliff, the north wind swayed her. She grabbed hold of a tree as she peered down to the turbulent water below.

Rev sat there for an hour, just thinking. She strolled along towards the south side of the island where she had been swept to shore. It was calm here as she noticed the mast of a sunken sailboat barely sticking out of the water. This was their boat, she realized. The one that stranded them on this island.

Then an idea flashed through her mind.

She made it back to the group. They were taking turns looking through the telescope.

 

Rev

I have a plan to get us off this island.

 

Allie

You’ve been here less than a day and you know how to rescue us?

 

Rev

That’s right.

 

Allie

We’ve been here over a month. What makes you so smart?

 

Chloe

Just let her talk, Allie.

 

Rev

I need to board your sunken vessel. I want to see if I can find any useful supplies that can do the job.

 

Allie

Like what? We salvaged anything of use on the Gracilis.

 

Rev

What about rope? And the anchor?

 

Zhen

We dropped the anchor to try and slow us down as we came down the chute. We lost it.

 

Rev

Please, can I dive down and take a look?

 

Allie

Sure but don’t blame us if you drown.

 

Rev

I won’t drown. I have a special breathing device.

 

Rev reached into her pants pocket and brought out her breather. She attached it to her face. Everything fit snug, including the goggles.

 

Chloe

Whoa! You’re telling me you can breathe underwater with that? For how long?

 

Rev

Indefinitely. My father invented it.

 

Allie

I want to try it out.

 

The group scurried down to the sunken boat. Rev showed Allie how to correctly put the breathing device on her face. Allie tested it out in the shallow water. After a minute she surfaced and Rev showed her how to release the breather.

 

Allie

It’s unbelievable. Whoever invented this is a genius. I’m diving with you, Rev. Can we switch the breather back and forth?

 

Rev

Yes, but l’ll need a knife.

 

Chloe handed Rev her pocketknife. Allie and Rev picked a safe spot