Chapter 16

Building a boat

Kai was deciding now to continue the quest, however since there was no way off the island on land, but the waterfall they came down just over 14 years ago. The only way to get to the Eastern Shore was by crossing the ocean. Kai and Kilu this was going to be the hardest part of the quest as they knew that the ocean can be unpredictable and dangerous. First they needed to build a boat, but they also needed help to get it done as soon as possible and Kai and Kilu asked some of the trusted master builders if they could help them to build a boat. Kai did not want her sister Kaki to know yet until the boat was finished. She knew her Kaki would understand as she had told her some of the adventures she had and she explained that as soon as they got things sorted they would be leaving. The builders that helped to build the boat were 4 of them a young builder who was just starting out age 14 his name was Kon. Kon was a child podgy and he was good at constructing and he would be ideal of designing a boat that would be suitable for the long sea voyage across the ocean and he wanted to do something more challenging than doing something boring like fixing huts, and he jumped at the chance as soon as he was asked. The other master builders who were much older age in their 20ties were Bibi a female, Polo male and Pana, female.

Kon draw out the blue prints of how it should be built, the drawing that looked simple and complicated at the same time. He explained that for the boat to fight against bad weather, it needed to have special wood and also designed it that there would be a lower deck for the sailors to shelter from the rough weather conditions. The boat would have sails that would be used to be blown in the wind to make it easier to steer the boat with the help of the wind to guide it to where they wanted to go. Kon also designed a wooden steering wheel and a rudder to steer the boat lift or right in the water. The boat was a kind that the older builders had never seen the plan of before, but they could trust young Kon as he knew what he was doing and had confidence in his plans. The boat would hold several of the villagers when it was built and also it still could be sailed by, just a crew of two.

The boat took two Isola years to build, the children were always fascinated watching the builders working on the boat and kept asking questions like, 'What is your building?’ and, 'what's that?
And another kid would answer, 'It's a boat silly.'
The other kid would say. 'I knew that!!!'
When it was ready to sail and the proud builders that worked on it, saw that the boat was beautiful and very sturdy that it would hold in any type of ocean. The size of the boat was L, 12ft x, W, 4ft x H, 9ft, as below deck the height between top and bottom was 6.1/2ft.

Kai who was age 34 and had to say good bye to her sister Kaki and she asked her if she would take care of Bobo who was now age 6 going on 7, the twins could look after themselves now that they were both 17 Isola years old. They were both master farmers already. Kali promised to take care of him and make sure he stayed safe and not to go wondering too far in the ocean, as sometimes kids did that and a strong current would pull them out to sea and found they could not get back. This meant that the guiding hand had to always rescue them. This happened to Bobo once, as he was looking for fish and he wanted to take a closer look and he waded too far and found he could not get back, until the guiding hand came to rescue him. Bobo had his other friends who were Tin age 3 male, Toki male age 11, Buru age male 13 and a female called Paima age 8. Bobo told his friends that his mom was going on a long sea voyage and it was a big secret.
Buru who was the oldest at 13 said, 'If I was you, I would go with her.'
'Mom says it's very dangerous, and the sea is not safe for children.'
Buru said, 'we could always store away and hide below deck.'
Bobo said, I might get into trouble off mom.'
'Not if she not find out.' Buru said. Buru said its tag now let play tag!!' and they joined all other 25 kids in the tag game.

Kai and Kilu got as much food and water stocked below deck in a cool food storage that Kon had designed and made that would keep food fresh for Isola years. Later Kai and Kilu with the help of some of the builders helped to launch the boat onto the water; the ocean looked nice and calm with a bit of breeze that would help it to move on the waves. All the villagers came to see the new boat that Kon had designed to see it sail on the ocean. The boat looked grand as she sailed though the waves. They decided to name the boat which was more of a ship The Pearls Kai, made her tearful good byes to her sister Kaki and her nieces and nephews and all the friends she had made during her stay over the last 16 years, Kon had volunteered to go with them as he was a master builder as will as a designer at the age of 16. Kai and Kuli, had a discussion about this and decided to agree and, they took him to one side and told them about the map and they were sailing to the Eastern Shore of Isola and that they were searching for the Island of Pearls,' Kon said he understood and with his abilities he could be a great help and so Kon was now one of the new adventurous in search of the Island of Pearls.

Kai suddenly thought, that she did not see Bobo to say his good byes and thought he might have been to upset that she was leaving him, but she knew he loved Aunty Kaki and aunty Kaki loved him and knew he would be alright. But Kai could not help been upset about him and explained this to Kilu and Kilu said to Kai 'that kids soon learn to adept after all we are on Isola and anything can happen.'
'Yea I supposed,' Then Kai walked down to below deck and she thought she heard someone sneezing.

To be continued