Episode Twentythree: What Do You Want?

"I'm not a queen. Why are they saying that?" Lakia whispered to Blanne and Hong.
"She is not The Queen." Blanne told them, "However, she is related to the Queen. Please take us to your leader." Lakia was confused, but decided not to ask just yet.

It was a short walk to their little village which was by a beautiful and quiet stream. As they walked, the fog began to clear. The hunter and gatherer villagers brought the trio to a little girl dressed in a vibrant outfit of gold and scarlet, and told them that this was their current Leader.

Blanne got down on one knee and bowed before the Leader. "Great Leader, Amaci! It is a pleasure to see you again. It is I, Blanne, Sea Spirit of the Western Shore. I bring you good news from the King and Queen!" Blanne then paused and waited for her reply.

"Arise young prince." She began. "And tell me of your good news." 'Young?' Lakia thought. However, when the little girl spoke, she sounded a lot older and wiser than Lakia imagined that a little girl should sound like.

"I have brought Lakia of the Mountain People. She is going to help us rescue the King and Queen, and return peace and harmony to the island of Isola. She has shown herself to be brave, selfless, and honest."

"Very good! And what of this other gentleman?" Leader Amaci asked him. Blanne could not hold back his smile. "This is Hong!"
Everyone in the village gasped, and then they bowed down before him, including the little Leader. "Great leader Hong! We have heard so many wonderful stories about you! You are legendary in these parts! We are at your service!"


The bridge that crosses the Hope River was broken. "What are we going to do now?" Shuka cried out! The Waterfallers looked over the hill and saw the fallen apart bridge.

"How deep is the water? Maybe we can swim across."
"It's too deep." Shuka told them. "We'll just have to repair the bridge."
"But the only one among us with building skill is my Mother," Akio protested. "and she is too elderly to do all those repairs!"
"Nonsense, dear." Leia said with a firm voice. "I have plenty of life left in me!" Leia smiled a bright smile that made everyone feel hopeful.

After Leia looked over the bridge, she gave orders to the others about what to bring her. The five of them scattered to find wood, stones for cutting, and stones for hitting. Leia was proud of her little building team, and Weeko was proud of her. Akio admitted that he was wrong, and was proud of her too.

They worked together for about an hour or so, when they heard a rustling in the nearby bushes. Because she was concerned that it was a wild animal, Shuka gathered the Waterfallers together, and they hid in another set of bushes nearby.

A group of twenty men, all wearing the same outfit, came running out of the wilderness, just in time to miss Shuka and the Waterfallers hide in the bushes. They were all runners. "I wonder what they want." Kali whispered to the others.

As the men quickly approached the bridge, one of them turned to the man who seemed to be their leader and asked, "The bridge is in disrepair. Should we fix it or go on to the next bridge?"

"We should fix this one." He replied. "I feel magic nearby. I have a feeling that it is the Western Medallion."

The runners quickly went to work on the bridge while Shuka and the Waterfallers remained quiet in the bushes. They were very pleased that these men were rapidly rebuilding the bridge. But they were also worried about Dodo. What if these men were the ones he was chasing in the statue, and they want his medallion? They just had to wait. Before the hour was over, the bridge was done, and the men went across.

Shuka was more determined than ever to find the Queen's Black Pearl. She knew that their quest can't fail, else their village would never be the same!


"Ahhhh!!" Dodo screamed as he slid down the mountainous terrain. They looked down in time to see Dodo's left knee catch on a rock. He grabbed ahold of a large root sticking out of the ground with his right hand. "Help!! I'm ok! But I have nothing else to grab!"

The river below them raged and roared as it passed. Piku found another torch holder and placed it inside. When he did that Jem saw that a cord was tied like a guide along the wall on the path, and another one laying on the ground. Samar tied the rope to the guide and also to himself. He leaned over the edge, I can't reach him!" Samar shouted. Piku and Jem, who were smaller than both Dodo or Samar, each held onto Samar's legs so he could go further. Samar began to feel afraid but he kept going anyway. He simply lowered himself inch by inch down the side of the mountain and reached down for Dodo's hand.

When they finally got close enough to touch, Samar struggled to pull Dodo up. Suddenly, his hands began to feel sweaty and he began to lose his grip on Dodo. And in another moment, Samar lost him. Jem saw it, screamed, and turned away. Piku let go of Samar and jumped up. Samar just turned around and smiled a big smile. "He's ok!"
Although Piku and Jem couldn't see it, the mysterious stranger had climbed down the cliff and up again underneath Dodo. While cleverly clinging to the mountainous wall, he helped Dodo to the top. There Samar, Jem, and Piku helped him onto the ledge.

"It's, it's, it's Biggles!!" Piku was startled and let go. But Samar and Jem had Dodo anyway, and pulled him up to the top and to safety with the mysterious man's help.

Then they turned to the mysterious man that Piku called Biggles and asked of him, "What do you want?"

"Follow me!" Biggles yelled as he ran. "I will show you." The four of them carefully stepped across the little ledge, still able to hear the roar of the raging river below them. When they got to the other side, the tunnel opened up again and the four of them saw the most breath-taking view they had ever seen...

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