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THE EDEN DILEMMA by Tucker Spolter 

Chapter 15

 The sun was at its apex. Catamarans, trimarans, sloops – sail boats of every size and description were tied to the trunks of oker trees, boulders, piers, and each other. No boat was occupied. Other than Opmo, Ting, and the crew of the Triplet, the entire populace of the Nuaka Delta was gathered in a natural earthen arena dubbed the ‘Bowl.’  A four-tiered, one thousand-seat open-air venue with incredible acoustics. The arena was well over capacity. Full of anxious, angry citizens as they looked down at the two people standing on the platform below. 

     “It has to STOP!” Lann's voice thundered around the arena.  His passion stirring the crowd. “Napping has to STOP! Not simply because Opmo is my. . .”  Lann’s hand locked with Uqu’s. “Our only child . . . Sagra and his brood cannot simply come and TAKE OUR CHILDREN.” Murmurs of outrage washed through the crowd. “Or seize our property.” 

     “RIGHT YOU ARE, LANN!” A tall, bearded man in the second tier rose shaking his fist.

     A man on his left yelled, “Hanar and THAT RED WAJIKE STOLE MY BOAT!”

     “AND MY MAN!”  A statuesque brown woman yelled from the crowd. 

     “AND MINE!” Came a cry from the top tier.

     “AND . . . MA . . . MINE,” sobbed another strong female voice.  “THEY . . . WILL . . . KILL THEM ALL.” Her voice faltered. “I know it.”

      Calls for death and revenge came from every tier and every side of the 'Bowl’ Somewhere a group started to stomp their feet on the hard-packed soil. Thump- thump thump- thump. Immediately the entire arena picked up the rhythm. Angry cries for the death of Sagra, Hanar, and the Red Witch intermingled with pounding feet.

     Finally, Lann held out his hand for calm.

     “We know what they’re after.” Lann pointed to the sky. “The shuttle that flew over our heads four turns back. Apparently, the feris bugs have not had at it . . . Yet. Sagra and the Council, Tolograd and even Barker Hallow want that shuttle.  And if they have it . . . They can rule our lives.”  

     It only took seconds before the import of Lann's words registered with the crowd. 

     “Then they can fly here and — ” 

     “There would be no warning.”

     “They can Nap us at the will.”

     “Force us too — “

     “No! No! NO!” Lann shouted above the din. It took a few moments for quiet to reign. “That's why Hanar, Tyree, and the rest have come here. They are on a quest for that shuttle.” 

     Most of the crowd sat puzzled. A few got the message and started to laugh aloud.       

     “DON'T YOU SEE!” Lann shouted.  “Who's ever in that shuttle wants no part of them.”  

     The hoots, hollers, and laughter were deafening. 

      “The shuttle pilot is our ally. For decades, we’ve known when Sagra is coming our way. . . We’ve always had time to vanish. But whoever has the airship can go where they want, when they want, and quickly. Sagra wants his net around everything on Iuama. With the airship, he can achieve that goal.   Total domination.” Lann paused as the crowd considered his comments.

     “Now — Suppose we had the airship . . .?” eyes flashed from person to person.  “Or better . . . If we destroyed the damn thing. Then we ─” Lann was interrupted by CHEERS. 

     “How many will join Uqu and I? We are armed now. The Sunrise is ready to sail. Several of you have already volunteered to go with us. At high tide, we sail north to find Ting and the Triplet. We are going to get our daughter back and stop Hanar and that Red Witch or die trying. Anyone else want to join us?”

     The chant of ‘Opmo’ started somewhere in the middle of the second tier and grew louder even as the crowd hurried back to their boats.

    

     For the next four hours, Istio Harbor was the scene of frantic movement. Sea shanties in different dialects came from various locations as each boat was laden with supplies and weapons. Catapults. Spear launchers. Grappling hooks and harpoons. When the tide rose so did multicolored sails. Captains of each boat waited patiently. Jockeying to exit Istio Harbor with the wind and the tide. 

    Bright blue and white pennants were raised to the top of each mast. Foredecks were occupied by eager crews who raised spinnakers and let their jib sails unfold in the wind. Red, orange, and yellow main sails were raised high on each mast and billowed in the light breeze.  

     On the deck of Sunrise, Lann, and Uqu stood close. “Everyone is coming,” Lann said.

     “Everyone.” Uqu sighed. A single tear trickled down her cheek. “Let’s. . .” Uqu's teeth bared with ferocity. Her fingers closed around the hilt of a bone-bladed Damascus knife.  “Let's find our daughter.”

    That afternoon, in the ocean, near the mouth of the largest branch of the Nuaka River delta –  the first and largest fleet of delta boats ever assembled – sailed north.

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