Chapter 45 – A Discussion on the Way
The dense jungle path wound endlessly ahead, the air heavy with the scent of exotic flowers and damp earth. While the group marched toward the submarine's supposed location, Razan glanced at Alexander leading the way.
"You really sure it's this way? After all, it'd be tragic if this was the wrong path."
Alexander waved a hand dismissively, his voice confident.
"Relax, kid. This old man still has plenty of experience. I won't get the path wrong."
Gabato, trailing a bit behind, looked around nervously.
"Well, as long as we don't run into any of those giant monsters, I'm good."
Hank reassured him.
"Stay calm, friend. On an island this big and us being so small, we wouldn't be that unlucky to run into one of those giant monsters again."
Razan shook his head.
"Hank, can you stop raising red flags?"
Hank frowned.
"What's a red flag?"
Sean explained.
"It's a term for saying something that attracts bad luck, making exactly what you say won't happen actually happen. Like saying 'we'll get married after the war' and jinxing it."
Hank chuckled.
"You guys are being way too negative with those thoughts."
While they carefully crossed a shallow, crystal-clear river, stepping on slick rocks, everyone suddenly felt a deep tremor rumble through the ground.
Sean looked around wide-eyed.
"What was that?"
Alexander answered calmly.
"The tectonic plates are shifting under the island."
Razan grinned.
"In other words, we're getting closer to death every minute. Cool. Well, if you guys die by chance, leave it to me—I'll take care of you in the afterlife, folks."
Loona elbowed him Idiot, don't condemn people to death so soon."
Charlie beamed.
"Ah, I'd love to take care of them too."
Sean stared at them.
"You know that if we go to the afterlife, you'll come with us, right? So how are you going to take care of us?"
Hank, shaking his head.
"Stop joking around and let's hurry up to get off this island."
They then picked up the pace, boots splashing through the water and crunching on the gravel beyond.
Razan glanced at Loona walking beside him.
"Are you tired? Don't want to hop on my back?"
Loona rolled her eyes.
"You forgot that we… I won't get tired from this."
Razan smiled warmly at her.
"I know, but I really want to carry my little wolf. After all, since we got here I've played around and carried Charlie a bunch of times, but I haven't given much affection to my wolf here. So how about you let me spoil you a little this time?"
Loona's cheeks flushed, but she climbed onto his back anyway. Razan held her securely.
Loona buried her slightly embarrassed face in his back.
Razan, feeling her warmth, asked softly:
"Are you comfortable?"
Loona whispered:
"It's not that bad."
Razan smiled broadly.
"Good to know."
He quickened his step to rejoin the front of the group.
Charlie watched Razan carrying Loona and smiled to herself, thinking how cute they were.
Sean glanced at Kailani walking gracefully ahead and thought:
Maybe I should offer to carry her.
Kailani, as if reading his mind, said without turning:
"I think not. You can barely carry yourself. You want to carry someone else? Better hit the gym a bit before getting that idea."
Razan, overhearing, shook his head and thought:
My friend, you too. With that weak body you get the crazy idea to carry someone else.
After pushing through more thick vegetation for a while, Kailani looked up at the sky and spotted glittering specks falling like rain.
"Guys, what's that falling from the sky?"
Sean squinted.
"Volcanic ash."
Gabato tilted his head.
"It looks more like…"
Alexander's eyes widened.
"Gold. Gold. Gold."
Sean realized.
"It must be the treasure described in the book. The island's volcanoes are made from eruptions. If they're spitting gold then…"
Gabato exclaimed:
"The mountain of gold!"
Razan stared at the sparkling flakes landing on leaves and ground, and said angrily:
"Where was this crap when I was poor?"
Sean said excitedly:
"There must be gold everywhere. We have to check it out."
Hank countered:
"We'd lose days. We don't have that time."
Sean argued:
"We'll make up for it later. Volcanic gold is the biggest scientific discovery."
Razan said:
"It'd only be a discovery if you're alive to show it to the world. Otherwise it's just collective suicide heading that way. I'm not in the mood to die for gold. If I'm going to die, let it be like a man in a deadly battle against a stronger being, where you two trade punches until one falls."
Charlie said:
"Well, that ending is a bit violent. Don't you think?"
Loona said: Well, it really fits your thinking."
Hank looked at Sean, who was still insisting.
"I understand you want to explore that place, but we have to get to the submarine."
Sean said:
"Hank, I'm not a kid anymore. I have the right to give my opinion."
Razan whispered to Loona watching this scene:
"Little wolf, if one day our kids are spoiled like that, I'm counting on you to give them some strong motherly love."
Loona said: Well, count on it. I won't raise spoiled brats like him.
Hank looked at Sean.
"Sean, I'm responsible for you. I'd never let you risk your life."
Alexander interrupted:
"Hank, you can't tell him what to do. You're not the boy's father."
Razan, hearing this, felt like throwing a rock at the old man's head. How can he say such crap? Hank had no obligation to bring Sean here or spend his money on a completely pointless trip for him, just so a kid who doesn't even like him much could find his crazy grandpa. And even after the helicopter crashed on a deadly island, he never blamed the kid and always tried every way to protect him. Just to hear "you can't tell him what he can or can't do because you're not his father" only because he's stopping the idiot kid from killing himself.
Loona also made a bad face when she heard this. She saw how much Hank took care of this spoiled kid since the trip started, to have to hear that.
Hank looked at Alexander.
"From what they said, you weren't a great grandpa."
Alexander said:
"I serve as inspiration: science, adventure, dreams. What have you given him?"
Hank said:
"I give him many things. Sense of responsibility is one of them. Something that's obvious you don't have."
Hank looked at Sean.
"You're not going after that gold. We're getting out of here and conversation over."
Razan looked at this brat throwing a tantrum and approached him.
"You know, Sean, I was right saying my method to win a girl's heart wouldn't work for you. After all, right now you're not able to put the safety of the girl you say you like above your boring curiosity. So it's even more impossible for you to sacrifice anything for her. So go ahead and head toward the volcano, putting the life of the girl you say you like in danger along with her dad's life as a bonus. After all, if because of your irresponsibility something happens to her dad, that's when you'll have a chance with her."
Sean, hearing this, got angry and ran ahead.
Kailani looked at this.
Razan said:
"Go after him if you want. He's not bad, he's just an idiot who doesn't think straight, wanting to look cool to impress the girl he likes. So please help this idiot see the right path."
Kailani looked at Razan and smiled.
"Well, I'll help."
She then ran to talk to him.
Charlie said:
"That was a bit harsh say, wasn't it?"
Hank said:
"No. Razan's right. There are certain things we can't leave unsaid. After all, I've tried several times and the gentle way didn't work much."
Hank then looked at everyone.
"Well, let's go."
They then started walking to meet up with Sean.
Up front with the Sean, Kailani asked:
"So, everything okay?"
Sean said:
"If 'okay' means getting torn apart with words, then I'm great."
Kailani said:
"You know, no one here wanted to treat you badly. Even Razan was harsh so you'd see how your idea could kill everyone."
Sean:
"I know, but when Hank tells me not to go, I got angry and ignored the dangers."
Kailani said:
"Well, my dad also embarrassed me when I wanted to get a job. He flew over all of Palau distributing my resumes."
Sean smiled.
"That's a lot of embarrassment. And the worst part is they think they're getting it right."
Kailani said:
"You know, the worst would be if he didn't even try. You know, Hank is your stepdad. He doesn't need to try so hard. He just needs to keep a normal relationship with you until you go to college and that's it. But here he is risking his life to take you to meet your grandpa on a dangerous island. He's trying with all his strength. So why don't you try a little too?"
She then walked ahead of him.
Sean stood there in shock after hearing it.
"Well, looks like I'm not being a very cool guy."
He then started walking forward thinking.