Chapter 44 – An Adventure for the Diary
The group trudged onward through the overgrown paths of the mysterious island, the air thick with humidity and the distant calls of unknown creatures echoing through the canopy.
Razan broke the tense silence first.
"Well, but where is this Captain Nemo?"
Alexander, leading the way with determined strides, replied without slowing down.
"Well, he's been dead for a long time, but our luck is that I know where he's buried. And if our luck holds, we'll find the diary where the submarine's location is recorded."
Hank, wiping sweat from his brow, quickened his pace.
"Then let's hurry and get that diary because we don't have much time left."
While they walked, weaving between massive roots and vines, Razan couldn't resist lightening the mood.
"You guys are way too negative. If you followed my advice and tried to evolve into a mermaid or fish in these three days, you'd have better chances."
Loona shot him a glare.
"Idiot, how are normal people supposed to evolve into fish in three days?"
Charlie nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, he's right. Humans don't have the ability to turn into fish. It's impossible."
Sean looked at Razan like he was insane.
"There's no way humans can evolve into fish, you nut."
Razan shrugged playfully.
"Why not? Who knows, maybe Atlantis has some magical secret. Why don't you try, Sean? Maybe you'll turn into a mollusk. That way Kailani will finally see you in a new light."
Hank glanced back at the kids starting to mess around and smiled to himself. He then turned to Alexander.
"Are you sure we'll be able to find this submarine?"
Alexander's expression grew serious.
"I don't know, but we have to. I'm the one who put Sean in danger by bringing him here. So I'll fulfill my responsibilities as a grandpa and get him out of this place safely."
They pushed on through the dense foliage for what felt like hours until they finally arrived at the spot—a narrow, shadowy entrance hidden behind cascading vines.
Sean approached cautiously.
"The Dakar grotto, the final resting place of Captain Nemo. Legend says his crew buried him there."
Alexander nodded.
"We just need his diary to be there. I could never crawl in there myself. I'm a bit chubby, unfortunately."
Kailani stepped forward confidently.
"I'll go. I'm the only one who can fit through there."
Razan raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you're not exactly the only one."
He then looked pointedly at Charlie.
Charlie blinked.
"What?"
Razan explained.
"Well, if we're talking about small people for this mission, you're the ideal one."
Charlie:
"Me? Why?"
Loona chimed in.
"Well, you're the smallest and thinnest here."
Razan added quickly.
"But if you don't want to go, it's fine to let Kailani, a normal person, do it."
Charlie's competitive spark ignited. She puffed up.
"I'll go, okay!"
Razan hugged her tightly.
"You little shorty are my heroine."
Charlie squirmed.
"Let me go! I have to hurry and get the diary."
Razan released her and watched as she tied the rope around her waist and disappeared into the narrow crevice.
Sean sidled up to Razan.
"You're not worried about her?"
Razan smiled confidently.
"No. Look at her all cute like that, but when she's serious, she's scary. The only downside is that, because of her super-positive personality worthy of a Disney princess, she rarely gets serious."
Loona nodded.
"Well, that's her personality. There's nothing we can do about it."
Razan agreed.
"Well, you're right about that."
He then approached Hank, Gabato, and Alexander, who were firmly holding the rope.
He looked at them and said:
"If Charlie knew three men were holding the rope to pull her out if something goes wrong, she'd be really mad at you for thinking she's that heavy."
Hank chuckled.
"Safety measures. We can't avoid it."
Kailani called into the tomb:
"Charlie, have you found the diary yet?"
Charlie, who had finally reached the dimly lit chamber where the skeleton lay with the diary clutched in bony fingers, approached respectfully.
"Excuse me, I'll have to borrow the diary."
She gently took the diary.
Charlie then turned back and yelled triumphantly:
"I found the diary!"
She then spotted a giant beetle scurrying toward her.
She smiled brightly.
"Look how cute you are."
While she was playing with the beetle, gently poking it and watching it scuttle, the island suddenly shook violently. She slipped and fell on the ground.
Hank, Sean, and Kailani yelled in panic:
"Come on, Charlie! Get out of there now!"
They started pulling her with the rope as hard as they could.
Razan, seeing they wouldn't make it in time, stepped forward, grabbed the rope ahead of them, and yanked with one powerful pull. Charlie shot out at high speed straight into his waiting arms just as the tomb entrance collapsed in a cloud of dust, sending everyone tumbling to the ground.
Razan looked down at Charlie safe in his arms.
"I bet you were playing with something in there, right?"
Charlie admitted sheepishly.
"Well, I was, but you said this was an adventure."
Razan smiled.
"Well, looks like I got caught by my own words."
Loona, beside Razan, said to Charlie:
"You need to be a little more serious, princess."
Charlie smiled apologetically.
"Sorry for worrying you, Loona."
Razan then noticed Kailani who had fallen on top of Sean during the chaos and teased with a grin:
"Looks like attack and defense switched. What a strong girl!"
Sean, still pinned under her, managed:
"Hi."
Kailani realized the position, blushed, and jumped up quickly.
Razan sighed.
"My boy, you're a failure. A girl falls on top of you and what do you say? 'Hi'?"
After a while, with the dust settled, everyone gathered on the ground in front of the open diary map.
Hank, examining the strange letters:
"It looks like Sanskrit."
Alexander corrected:
"No, it's Hindi."
Sean added:
"Captain Nemo was Indian."
Alexander began translating:
"In the diary it says here that the submarine is in a granite cave on the other side of the island, below the Poseidon cliff."
He thought for a moment.
"I know that place."
Hank said:
"Great. That's where we're going."
Kailani asked:
"And what's the best way to get there?"
Alexander explained:
"That depends. The safest is going around the island and the fastest is cutting through the middle."
Razan said smiling:
"So what you're saying is that if we take the long way the island sinks before we reach the submarine, but if we take the short way we might run into monsters like that giant lizard. Cool! I love it. Let's go through the middle of the island. It sounds way more fun."
Gabato protested weakly:
"Well thought… I don't want to be chased again, no."
Hank put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Unfortunately, my friend, that's the only way."
Loona said:
"Well, then let's hurry."
Alexander warned:
"Okay, but you should know that the center of the island is full of cliffs, dark jungle, and horrifying creatures that only appear in nightmares."
Razan's eyes lit up.
"My friend, I'm already sold. You don't need to convince me more. You've already closed the deal."
Hank looked at everyone and said:
"Well, then let's go."