CHAPTER XVII
Bauros left the little cabin. He was worried, though confident that he knew what needed to be done. He had weathered many storms, and he had survived them all. Gunuruk, however, was terrified, huddled in a corner, muttering miserably and fearing for his life.
At first, Hanna tried to encourage him, but it was useless. She too feared that each brutal blow might be the last, the one that would finally swallow their boat. But soon, thinking her help might be needed, she decided to join the old sailor, whom she could hear struggling against the tempest.
When she climbed onto the deck, the sight overwhelmed her. It truly seemed as though the calm that had accompanied them throughout their voyage had turned against them. Now the wind, the darkness, and the waves battering them without mercy seemed determined to destroy them.
“Hold the rudder!” Bauros shouted as soon as he saw her.
Hanna did not hesitate. Struggling to keep her balance, she made her way to him. The old sailor hurried to take in the sails, then gripped the oars firmly, trying to soften the savage blows that came one after another without mercy.
It was not easy.
The hours passed slowly, with the uncertainty of a fatal outcome hanging over them. But at last, as night fell, conditions gradually seemed to return to normal. Hanna was exhausted, utterly spent, yet she never once abandoned her position. Only when the sea grew calm and the clouds gave way to the shining stars could she finally rest.
“Well done, Hanna!” Bauros exclaimed proudly. “I might not have managed it alone.”
She said nothing. She could barely speak. All she did was lie down and gaze at the stars while trying to catch her breath.
Only when the sea was completely calm did Gunuruk appear, his face filled with fear, his body soaked.
“Help I did not! Could not! I feel… a coward I am! A coward!” he cried in despair.
“Don’t worry, Gunuruk,” Bauros hurried to reassure him. “The only thing you would have accomplished was falling overboard. You have a brave friend, a true fighter.”
Seeing Hanna lying motionless, the Snork thought she was injured. He even feared for her life.
“Hanna! All right you are? What happened? Tell me! Tell me what happened!”
“I’m wonderful!” she shouted, jumping to her feet. “It was fantastic! Incredible! It looked as though it was going to beat us. It tried! But it couldn’t! Hey, Bauros! It tried…”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha!” Bauros burst into hearty laughter. “Yes, little one, we beat it. Believe me when I say I’ve never met anyone like you. You have more courage than many who call themselves sailors. Ha, ha, ha, ha!”
Gunuruk could hardly believe what he was seeing. They seemed to be laughing at something that had nearly killed them only moments before. Such behavior was certainly beyond his Snork understanding, but deep down he felt just as proud of his friend as Bauros did.
After raising the sails again, they all went down into the cabin, where they ate and drank to celebrate their little adventure. Even Gunuruk finally enjoyed the pleasures of such a basic necessity. It seemed that the incident had at last helped him grow accustomed to the rocking of the boat.
As they recalled what had happened, the night passed pleasantly in an animated conversation dominated mostly by Hanna and Bauros.
By morning, the little boat was still on course, moving swiftly across the ocean, propelled by a gentle breeze. Bauros had barely rested, but Hanna and Gunuruk were still asleep, enjoying some peaceful, much-needed rest.
Hanna woke first, somewhat disoriented, not entirely sure where she was. But as soon as she drew a deep breath, her memory quickly returned. There was no doubt about it: she was far out on the ocean.
In high spirits, she hurried up to join Bauros, who was calmly smoking his pipe while controlling the rudder with one foot.
“Good morning, little one. Don’t you think it’s a wonderful day?” he said, admiring the scenery.
“Yes, it’s a beautiful day,” she answered, noticing that the coastline was clearly visible. “Why are we so close to shore?” she asked, intrigued.
“It’s safer this way. I don’t want to run into any unsavory characters. Belonia is a peculiar place, you might even say a rather dangerous one. Too many pirates come and go, and now the Dark Army seems to want control of it as well. Many of their ships patrol these waters. Here, close to the rocks, we’ll be able to escape if necessary, and we’ll stay on course until we enter their sea.”
“Their sea?”
“Yes, the Sea of Belonia. It washes the shores of their entire kingdom. It’s really nothing more than a large bay, but that’s what they call it.”
“I can’t wait to get there, although even after yesterday’s storm, I’m enjoying this voyage very much,” she said with a radiant smile, looking at her carefree friend.
“We’ll be there soon. If the winds stay with us, perhaps sooner than I expected. But you’ll have to be very careful. They say Belonia has already been taken, although nothing should happen to you if you don’t draw attention to yourselves. All kinds of beings fill its streets, taverns, markets, and harbors. Belonia is a large city, where you can find just about anything. It has always been a kingdom apart from the others, a land of merchants, sailors, and those who simply wanted to enjoy themselves. There seems to be no law, though strangely enough, war has never reached it.”
Gunuruk appeared without warning. He still looked half asleep, and after stumbling, he nearly fell overboard.
“It’s clear the ocean wasn’t made for Snorks,” Bauros muttered at the sight of the little mishap.
“Already I know the ocean not made for Snorks. That is why Snorks stay on land and build boats. Without boats, could you be on the ocean?” he replied irritably.
“Ha, ha, ha!” Bauros laughed loudly. “Easy, little fellow. I didn’t mean to offend you. Enjoy this wonderful day.”
“Enjoy it I will when on land I stand!”
For a second, silence fell over the boat.
Then they all burst out laughing, even Gunuruk.
The day continued with the same calm in which it had begun. They ate, drank, and rested, although Gunuruk spent most of his time in the cabin. The sun shone intensely, and it bothered him a great deal.
After lunch, Hanna tried to persuade Bauros to tell her more stories.
“What happened to Tuarkkett and Badania? How did they die?”
“That’s a long story, so long that I’ll have to start at the beginning.”
She smiled and made herself comfortable, ready to listen without missing a single detail.
“Princess Badania was born in Vérveka. The daughter of Krodor and Arian, she was the rightful heir. She was a great warrior, a great Amazon, an Elisea without question, just like her mother. It didn’t take long for her to win the affection of those who would one day be her people, but she never found a man there with whom she wished to share her kingdom.
“From the beginning, Vendemur took a great interest in that brave young woman. He had not intervened in such matters for a very long time, but from the day she was born, he never lost contact with her.
“As she grew older, her parents watched with concern as she showed no interest in finding a husband.
“A young warrior had earned her father’s respect. His name was Ívelor, a brave man respected by everyone and admired by many. But although Krodor did everything he could to arrange their marriage, nothing could persuade her.
“Vendemur knew the answer.
“It was written that she would not marry in Vérveka and that she must reclaim Kettke, for there she would wed and restore hope to the Kingdom of Kingdoms.
“But it was no easy undertaking. In fact, it seemed improbable, perhaps impossible.
“Many generations had passed since anyone had attempted to reclaim the Kingdom of Kingdoms, and the Dark Army appeared stronger than ever.
“A young man of human appearance, Tuarkkett, the one they called the Dragon-Born, was beginning to rise through its ranks.
“Nothing was known about him, except that when he was a child, he had appeared one day in Órdoka, emerging from the belly of a great Tuark that lay dead beside him.
“And not just any Tuark.
“They say that enormous dragon was Drácadork himself, the dreaded Tuark of Drokar.
“Some claimed the child had been born from him, while others insisted he had killed the creature with his own hands. That was difficult to believe, for when they found him, he could barely stand.
“Whatever the truth, his legend grew along with him.
“From the beginning he was feared. From the beginning, he breathed nothing but death, war, and hatred. And as soon as he was strong enough to hold a sword, he was forced to fight.
“They say that at barely seven darknesses of age, he was already leading a large squadron, and even the Ikais feared him.
“His power was truly superhuman, and no one ever questioned his strength. Even Drujas seemed to respect him.
“From the moment Tuarkkett appeared, Kudark welcomed him into Drokar and treated him like a son, for he must have seen in him the one who would lead him to victory.
“And Tuarkkett certainly did not disappoint him.
“Never had the Kinorios feared anyone more.
“He fought with ferocity, with violence, with the certainty that he was superhuman, a true Tuark.
“And so, when Vendemur proposed that Badania must travel to Kettke, her parents, the king and queen, and especially Krodor and Ívelor, stared at him in disbelief. They thought his prophecy must be the product of some strange madness, and they refused outright.
“But the cunning Nárako had already succeeded in convincing the princess.
“She had always believed in him and his predictions, and Vendemur was convinced that this was the only way to halt the relentless advance of Drujas’s forces, to prevent them from destroying everything.
“And so, when Kudark learned that Badania was traveling to Kettke escorted by only fifty soldiers, he gloated from his lair.
“It seemed no one had ever made things so easy for him, and with supreme confidence, he devised a plan that would leave no doubt about his superiority.
“After ordering Drujas to withdraw his armies to Órdoka, he commanded Tuarkkett to go to Kettke alone.
“He alone was to destroy anyone who stood in his way.
“And he alone was to bring the princess back to Drokar.
“Tuarkkett undoubtedly accepted that extraordinary task with pride, and before long he reached the place he had been ordered to go.
“The Kinorios could do nothing to stop him, and everyone who dared challenge him died.
“It was a feat worthy of a hero, without question, comparable only to what Oddeon had accomplished in his day.
“But unfortunately for everyone, this time the hero was on the wrong side.”
“Go on! What happened to Badania?” Hanna asked, eager to hear the outcome.
“Badania certainly seemed beyond saving.
“Led by Ívelor, the entire army of Vérveka had long been marching toward Kettke to protect her, but it was already too late.
“For a time, people believed Vendemur had changed sides, that what he had persuaded the princess to do could only have been devised by Kudark himself.
“But they were all mistaken.
“When Tuarkkett had destroyed the army escorting Badania and nothing stood between them, what the Nárako had foretold came to pass.
“They say that when Tuarkkett saw her for the first time, he dropped his sword and knelt before her, that his voice trembled as it never had before and tears flowed from his eyes like those of a baby.
“Badania could not escape love either.
“Forgetting the terror the man now pleading for her heart had spread until that moment, she too surrendered herself to him.
“There, at the gates of Kinoria, they remained alone, embracing, united, as though they were one.
“When the Kinorios finally arrived, accompanied by Vérveka’s vast army, they could hardly believe what they saw.
“At first, they thought he was holding her captive, that perhaps his arrogance was so great that he was simply waiting for them to arrive so he could prove that not even their entire army could stop him.
“But before long, there could be no doubt.
“The king himself was there.
“Krodor was just as astonished as everyone else, especially when Tuarkkett asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Bauros stood up.
“What could he do? How could he allow such a despicable being to become the next king? Was this another of Kudark’s schemes?
“But Vendemur answered his questions before he could ask them.
“He had known this would happen.
“They were kindred souls, destined for one another.
“The Nárako convinced Krodor that Tuarkkett was every bit as human as his daughter, that deep down his heart was pure and honorable.
“He explained that Tuarkkett behaved as he did only because hatred and death were all he had known throughout his life.
“But his love for Badania would change him, and he would become worthy of wearing the crown.
“Convincing Krodor was not easy. Not easy at all.
“But at last he agreed.
“Before allowing him to marry his daughter, however, Krodor demanded another extraordinary feat.
“Tuarkkett would have to prove his loyalty to Kettke by reclaiming the kingdom once and for all, so that his children could live there in peace and never again be forced to flee.
“Krodor was undoubtedly acting in bad faith.
“He had never accepted the union and believed Tuarkkett would fail, that no one would support him and that he would probably perish in the attempt.
“But Tuarkkett did not hesitate to accept.
“And when word spread, many joined his cause.
“All the armies, all the Kinorios, countless beings convinced that the time had come to put an end to Drujas and, above all, Kudark.
“In Órdoka, the news was received with astonishment and disbelief.
“Everyone who knew Tuarkkett thought he must be under a powerful spell.
“But… what spell is more powerful than love?
“Especially for someone who had never known what it meant to be loved.”
Bauros smiled at Hanna.
“Kudark was furious.
“He had lost his finest warrior, his most valuable man, perhaps even more valuable than Drujas.
“Tuarkkett’s power was enormous.
“Kudark knew he was human. He alone knew his origins. But the legend surrounding him was powerful, and that, without question, was what made him greater than anyone else.
“And so the Dark Army marched out of Órdoka more fearful than ever, certain that few among them would dare face Tuarkkett in combat.
“But the battle had already begun, and the two armies soon met at Bógotra.
“The fighting was brutal and decisive, but before long the Dark Army accepted defeat.
“Only Drujas refused to retreat.
“In one final attempt, he challenged Tuarkkett to single combat.
“Those who witnessed it say that never had two men fought in such a way, for it was undoubtedly the most savage duel anyone had ever known.
“Drujas did not hesitate to use his treacherous methods to win.
“And only thanks to an insignificant little being, a Snork, did the balance finally tip in Tuarkkett’s favor.”
“A Snork?!” Hanna exclaimed in astonishment.
“Yes. Gunuk! The Snork Warrior!
“He alone prevented Drujas from using a powerful poison Kudark had prepared.
“Gunuk managed to take it from him. He even wounded the commander of the Dark Army himself!
“It nearly cost him his life, for he suffered a terrible cut along his side.
“But no one was ever prouder of a scar than that brave Snork.”
Bauros smiled.
“A truly unique being…” he added thoughtfully.
“Incredible!” Hanna exclaimed, remembering Gunuk, his scar, and the undeserved mausoleum in which such an intrepid being had been confined. “What happened next?”
“After that, Drujas was defeated, although unfortunately he managed to escape with his life.
“He and his battered army fled back to Órdoka.”
“They fled? Why didn’t they finish them off?”
“Perhaps doing so would not have been much more difficult, but Tuarkkett was blinded by love, certain that they would never dare confront him again.
“Above all, he was eager to demand Badania’s hand from Krodor.
“He had fulfilled his part of the bargain and expected no less from the king.
“But Krodor resisted.
“He never accepted the marriage, and it cost him his life.”
“Did Tuarkkett kill him?” Hanna asked, intrigued.
“No, little one. Krodor brought about his own death.
“They say that when he finally had no choice but to honor his promise, he boarded a ship to put some distance between himself and Kettke, intending to return alone to his beloved Vérveka.
“But a storm crossed his path and killed him.
“Many also say that he deliberately sailed into the storm, determined to end his own life.
“Others claim there was no storm at all, that he sank his own ship.
“It was a strange affair, without question.
“Only Ívelor survived the incident, and he never offered much of an explanation.
“Now he never will.”
“That’s dreadful.”
“Yes. But not even that prevented events from taking their course.
“The marriage was announced throughout the Known World amid great celebration.
“No one wanted to miss it.
“Neither did I!” he exclaimed proudly.
“And after Kettke had been rebuilt and a palace erected beside Kinoria to house the new rulers, the wedding took place.
“It seemed peace had finally arrived.
“We all believed it, without question.
“But once again, Kudark resorted to the schemes of the past.
“Once again, he sowed treachery in the very heart of the Kingdom of Kingdoms.
“And once again, no one noticed.
“We were all filled with hope at the prospect of a new heir to Kettke, the child Tuarkkett and Badania were expecting.
“We believed Drujas and Kudark would never dare return.
“But we were all wrong.
“Before the future bearer of Elisea’s blood could be born, the king and queen were murdered.
“I saw with my own eyes how the kingdom crumbled, how those of us who had traveled there for the birth of the future heir watched in disbelief as everything unfolded!
“It was tragic. A nightmare.
“Hope seemed to fade away, and there’s little more I can tell you…
“The Dark Army now roams freely, and although many continue fighting it, it seems to be preparing for its final, decisive offensive.”
“But what will happen now?” Hanna asked anxiously, horrified by the sorrowful ending of the story, by the reality they were now living in that world.
“There is always hope.
“Badania’s mother, Arian, is still alive, although it seems unlikely that her bloodline will continue.
“But even so, we must keep fighting for peace.”
“Then everything is lost?”
“No, Hanna. Kettke will always be a symbol of freedom, of the struggle for peace, the cause through which those with noble hearts will find hope.”
“But what will happen when Arian dies? They’ll have achieved their goal!”
Bauros stared at Hanna thoughtfully, scratching his head once more.
“I was in Kettke, and I saw things no one knows about. I carry secrets that will soon be revealed, secrets that will restore hope to those who no longer believe, because…”
Gunuruk suddenly appeared, as though he had been listening to the conversation from the cabin.
He said nothing.
He merely looked at Bauros, though his was not the look of someone curious to hear what the old sailor had to say. Rather, it was a warning that he should remain silent.
And Bauros seemed to understand.
The old fisherman fell quiet, avoiding the Snork’s gaze.
Bauros did not know why, but Gunuruk seemed to know what he had been about to say.
He had kept his secrets for a long time, perhaps too long, and with each passing day they became a heavier burden.
But deep down he knew it was not his place to reveal them.
He had merely been a privileged witness, perhaps even, in some small way, a participant at just the right moment.
Yet he had undoubtedly sworn an oath he could not break, however difficult it might be, however unbearable that duty became at moments like this.
Hanna was still watching Bauros expectantly, waiting for him to continue.
But time passed, and no one spoke.
Finally, the old fisherman stood up, searched for his pipe, paced thoughtfully for a while, and lit it.
“What did you see? What happened? What’s the secret? Go on!” she exclaimed, more intrigued than ever.
“As I told you, it will be revealed soon,” he said in a powerful voice.
“Let us hope…” he added thoughtfully.
Hanna realized the conversation was over, although she disliked the ending, and the silence that followed even more.
It seemed none of them had anything else to add, so she went down into the cabin, quite angry.
She did not entirely understand why, but it bothered her to feel that she was the only one who understood nothing.
When her anger subsided, she came back up and began gazing silently at the sea, thinking about the story she had just heard.
It was fascinating, but also distressing, cruel, and unjust.
Yet the closeness of those events sent a shiver down her spine.
It was not like the story from the previous day, the one about Oddeon.
Those events had happened long ago.
But the latest story was happening now, there, probably not very far from where they were.
And that filled her with sadness.
Perhaps not for herself, for deep down, despite everything she had experienced, she still felt too far removed from that world.
But she felt it for all the people who lived in it.
Good people like the Snorks, like Bauros and his wife, like Elam and Filian.
Then she grew very sad, perhaps confused as she tried to understand whether the dagger Gunuruk carried would really be as effective as she had believed until now.
After all, it had not been mentioned once throughout those stories.
Questions that seemed to have no answers assailed Hanna once again.
And once more, a feeling she had thought banished forever—uncertainty, doubt—rose from the depths of her heart and took hold of her.
Despite the uneasiness that stayed with her for quite some time, the day passed without incident.
The sun accompanied them, shining over the ocean waters.
And before long, after Bauros had continued telling them stories of Ákador, its warriors, and how Koyan had managed to defeat Dreonte, night arrived with its usual coolness.
Hanna had recovered her spirits, and Gunuruk seemed to have freed himself from the tension he had been carrying.
Tired from the long journey, the two soon fell asleep.
Bauros kept talking until he realized they were both sleeping peacefully.
Then, perhaps a little reluctant to fall silent, but aware that no one was listening to him anymore, he too took a short nap.
With the arrival of the new day, Hanna and Gunuruk awoke almost at the same moment.
They had fallen asleep on the deck and had barely changed position throughout the night.
It was still quite cold, but gradually, as the sun announced that it would be a hot day, they removed their tunics to enjoy the fresh morning breeze.
Bauros, after spending most of the night awake, had finally fallen asleep as well, still gripping the rudder.
When he woke, he jumped to his feet and looked around.
“Damn it! We’ve gone off course!” he exclaimed. “You’re getting old, Bauros. Very old,” he added thoughtfully.
Then, with a series of maneuvers, he corrected their course, for they had been heading out toward the open sea, to the southwest.
As they made their way back toward the safety of the coast, the three regained their strength with a hearty breakfast.
“When will we arrive?” Hanna asked.
“We’re making good time. Perhaps tomorrow, before the sun is directly overhead. Though it would be better to enter under cover of darkness. It’s safer,” Bauros answered, trying to determine their position by studying the barely visible coastline.
Gunuruk was delighted, for the voyage seemed likely to be shorter than expected.
Unable to help himself, he let out a little chuckle.
Hanna and Bauros looked at him in surprise, and he grew slightly embarrassed.
But soon they were laughing too.
A few seconds later, however, the old sailor suddenly sprang to his feet and stared intently toward the north.
“What happening?” Gunuruk asked.
“I thought I saw a ship,” Bauros said without taking his eyes off the horizon.
“A ship?! Can you see it? Who are they?” Hanna asked nervously, straining to locate the other vessel.
As the three stared toward the horizon, the great silhouette of a ship gradually became more visible.
And with it, the tension aboard the little boat grew.
Bauros lowered the sails to avoid attracting attention, and they continued moving slowly toward shore, heading for some rocks that rose above the water.
“I can’t make them out clearly, but it doesn’t matter. They probably won’t see us. We’ll soon be safe among the rocks…” Bauros said confidently.
But before he could finish speaking, an unforgettable sound came from the ship.
The vessel changed course.
Now it was heading straight toward them.
The hair on their bodies stood on end as their hearts began beating faster.
“It’s them!” Hanna exclaimed.
“What do we do? What do we do?” Gunuruk repeated in terror.
Bauros, however, remained silent, trying to decide what to do.
The ship would undoubtedly reach them soon.
Perhaps raising the sails would be a good idea. It would increase their speed, although fleeing might encourage their pursuers, and the rocks were still some distance away.
“The best thing is to wait for them,” he whispered, almost entranced by the persistent, demonic sound.
“No! Wait we cannot! They will hurt us! Certain I am!” Gunuruk added nervously, pacing around the boat as though he wanted to throw himself into the sea and swim away.
“I’m only an old fisherman. I have nothing to hide,” Bauros added with a smile. “What could they possibly want from me? I have nothing to offer them. Once they see me, they’ll probably leave. If they’re sailing these waters, they must have a reason, and I doubt it’s to chase fishermen,” he added ironically.
Hanna and Gunuruk hurried down into the cabin, terribly nervous.
Unable to see what was happening outside, they huddled in a corner, trying to peer through the narrow cracks where sunlight slipped in.
Time seemed to stretch into eternity.
The deafening sound grew louder and louder, announcing the ship’s imminent arrival, while Bauros began whistling, confident that nothing would happen.
Suddenly, the noise stopped.
Hanna and Gunuruk felt their boat rock more violently than before, as though the arrival of the enormous vessel had disturbed the water around them.
“Who are you?! Identify yourself!” demanded a powerful, unfamiliar voice.
Bauros slowly looked upward and approached one side of the boat, moving stiffly, hunched over and groaning.
“Damned bones. They’re not what they used to be,” he said wearily. “I’m only an old fisherman who ought to be resting at home beside his wife.”
“What are you doing out here? Not a very good season for fishing, wouldn’t you say?” the voice asked again.
Its owner stepped forward and came into view.
It was an Ikai!
Many heads began appearing along the deck of the great vessel, which towered majestically above the water, several yards higher than the little boat.
There were more Ikais, warriors, and Bábagos.
Many Bábagos.
And they seemed to be staring hungrily at Bauros.
“Damn it, you’re right about that. I’ve caught precious little. But this old fellow speaking to you, my lord, doesn’t know how to do anything else, and he still has a family to feed,” he replied weakly, complaining about his back.
“Very well, old man. Be on your way, and take care. Death seems to be stalking that miserable body of yours,” the Ikai said with a laugh.
The other occupants of the great ship joined in.
At last, the vessel gradually resumed its course, heading in the opposite direction from the little boat, moving slowly, very slowly.
Hanna and Gunuruk breathed a sigh of relief as they struggled to watch the ship pass in front of them.
But when it had almost gone by, its hull brushed against their boat.
Both of them fell to the floor.
“Ouch!” Hanna cried involuntarily as Gunuruk landed on top of her, weighing far more than he appeared to.
Then tension seized that little stretch of ocean.
“Stop!” came the shout from the ship once again, this time in an angry voice. “What are you hiding, you lying old man?”
“Nothing, my lord. I have nothing to hide.”
“We’ll see about that,” the Ikai said.
Then, with a swift movement, he leaped from the ship and landed heavily in the little boat.
Hanna and Gunuruk shuddered as they watched him from their hiding place.
Even more so when he seemed to look straight at them, guessing where the cry had come from.
“I have nothing to hide,” Bauros repeated, approaching the imposing Ikai with slow, clumsy steps.
Everyone aboard the great ship watched closely.
Some of the Bábagos even seemed ready to follow their leader.
The Ikai drew his sword.
But before he could react, Bauros seized an oar and struck him hard in the chest, knocking him into the water.
Surprised and furious, the Ikai struggled to keep from sinking beneath the weight of his heavy armor, screaming wildly as he fought.
“Get him! Don’t let him escape!”
Everyone was stunned by the old sailor’s reaction.
He seemed suddenly to have recovered the strength of his youth.
With one quick movement, he raised the sails, and they billowed as though by magic.
The little boat began moving rapidly away, to the disbelief of everyone aboard the great ship.
The Bábagos grew agitated, seemingly uncertain whether to jump after it.
“Come on, you filthy creatures! Get him! GET HIM!” shouted another Ikai, who seemed to give them the courage they lacked, even if he had to do it with kicks.
Four of them were forcibly sent flying from the ship.
The first two did not even reach the little boat. Following the Ikai’s example, they plunged straight into the water.
Another struck the boat hard when he landed and was unable to move.
The last, however, managed to land on his feet.
Sword in hand, he stood directly in front of Bauros.
“You’ll pay for what you’ve done, you filthy old man,” he growled.
Bauros stared at him in terror and tried to reach for the other oar, but the Bábago stopped him with his foot, laughing.
“Ha, ha, ha! Think you’re faster than me, old man?”
Suddenly, Hanna emerged from the cabin, wielding the dagger.
Gunuruk followed her and hurried to throw overboard the Bábago who had struck his head and was beginning to regain consciousness.
“You disgusting creature! Fight me!” Hanna challenged, her gaze defiant.
The Bábago lost interest in Bauros.
He took several steps toward her, baring his sharp teeth.
“Looks like we’ll be eating fresh meat today,” he said, drooling.
Then he lunged at her with astonishing speed.
Hanna dodged him skillfully and, before he could react, delivered a tremendous kick to his back.
“You won’t get a taste of this meat, but you’ll have plenty to drink today!” she shouted, watching him join the rest of his companions in the water.
Then a shower of arrows began falling on the little boat.
Fortunately, they managed to take shelter inside the cabin.
And while they watched the rest of the ship’s crew trying to rescue the struggling figures in the water, their boat finally slipped into the safety of the rocky coastline.
“Ha, ha, ha!” Bauros laughed. “I haven’t felt this good in ages. I hope they drown.”
“Yes, I hope they all drown,” Hanna added, remembering what had happened, scarcely able to believe what she had done.
She looked at the dagger as though it alone had been responsible for giving her the strength she needed.
“But they follow! Surely they follow! If they catch us, what they will do to us… Think of it I do not want!” Gunuruk exclaimed.
“Don’t worry, little fellow. They won’t follow us. If they know this coastline, they won’t dare. And if they don’t…”
Bauros laughed again.
“Well, then that will be the end of such a magnificent ship.”
And so it was.
The great vessel tried to follow them.
At times, despite Bauros’s certainty that it would never succeed, they almost thought they would have to reach the shore itself and flee on foot.
But at last, while countless arrows continued falling uselessly into the water not far from them, a tremendous crash echoed across the sea.
The ship came to an abrupt halt.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha! Fools! Did you really think you could fight the inevitable?” the proud fisherman exclaimed, standing at the stern of his boat and watching the entertaining spectacle.
“I told you. This coast shows no mercy to the reckless,” he continued in a much calmer voice, turning his head toward his companions.
Hanna was delighted by the dreadful fate of those sinister beings.
“I hope you all drown!” she shouted again, watching the ship begin to shift and creak as its hull broke apart.
Gunuruk merely drew a deep breath, as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
He sat down with a long sigh and wiped the abundant sweat from his forehead.
“Did you see how I dealt with that Ikai? I’ve dreamed of a moment like that all my life, I assure you. This voyage is turning out to be far more interesting than I expected! Ha, ha, ha!
“I gripped my oar with all my strength. I don’t know how to use a sword. But an oar? He certainly wasn’t expecting a poor old man to hit him that hard! Ha, ha, ha!”
Bauros laughed mischievously as he waved the oar.
Hanna laughed too, and the little Snork managed a faint smile.
Though for him, perhaps it was still too soon to make fun of those whose cries could still be heard in the distance.
“The Bábago got a surprise too!” Hanna shouted.
“Yes! Damn it, he certainly did! And so did I! For a moment I thought I was going to become that stinking creature’s lunch, but fortunately you were there.
“It’s not easy to surprise a Bábago. They’re fast. Very fast!
“But you move with the cunning of a Delfo.”
Hanna laughed again, still watching the majestic ship, which was undoubtedly sinking.
Some of its passengers seemed to have reached nearby rocks, although she could not be certain, for their silhouettes were now barely visible.
“Believe me, Bauros, I’ve never wished for anyone’s death. The thought had never even crossed my mind. But it’s strange. A little while ago, all I could think about was how I wanted every one of them to end up at the bottom of the sea.”
“That’s exactly where they belong! They don’t deserve the air they breathe. They call themselves warriors, but they’re nothing more than executioners.
“True warriors are those who fight with heart, with justice, who fight for peace.
“But these wretches take pleasure in death, in the suffering of everyone else.
“I wouldn’t mind if there weren’t a single one of them left. This would be a better world.
“But today I feel good!
“Whatever they came here to do, they won’t be doing it now, and that will undoubtedly benefit many.”
“You’re right!” Hanna exclaimed.
Gunuruk nodded firmly as well, for there was no doubt that his old companion was right.
The Snork thought that perhaps the ship had been heading toward Antraka, to enslave his people, to subjugate them, and probably to destroy them.
Suddenly, his fear evaporated.
And he became even happier about what had happened.
“Yes! Drown they deserve to! Now afraid they surely are! Hee, hee, hee!” Gunuruk laughed in his peculiar way. “Perhaps back we should go, hear them beg!”
“Yes, that would be amusing, but we mustn’t tempt fate. We’ve had quite enough excitement for one day.
“We’ll continue on our way.
“The farther we get from them, the better.
“If they manage to survive this…”
Bauros paused for a moment.
“I doubt they’ll forget my face, or my boat, anytime soon.”
And so, savoring the sweet taste of victory, they left the dangerous stretch of rocks behind.
Once the sea was clear of obstacles, the little boat began moving swiftly again.
The adventure they had just experienced naturally became the subject of conversation for the rest of the day.
And no wonder.
It was difficult to believe that a small boat carrying three poor sailors had managed to destroy such a ship and its entire crew.
But they had done it.
And that gave them plenty to talk about.