More than snoring, what was coming from the hammock sounded like the growls of a trapped animal. Macha clicked his tongue repeatedly, secretly wishing to wake Em up and hasten the weighing of the anchor.

He resumed the teeth-brushing with the licorice root while the light of dawn revealed the silhouette of the tree. For weeks, Macha had been surrounded by nothing but water, and now there was this tree in the middle of nowhere. The day before, as they approached the strange sight, it seemed to grow directly from the surface, but now at closer up, he could see the mound of rocks where its roots had clenched firmly.

With dry white wood and leafless branches, it looked dead and yet; it was a delight to see. It was a beacon of hope. The Lone Tree was the point that marked the direction of all paths to the inhabited areas of the Blue Kingdom. It was also the southernmost point of the Long Passage and therefore the end of his long and arduous journey through the Maze.

He repeated to himself that it had not been that hard, although in his mind it had been a challenge that he had faced without having been prepared. Now that they had crossed, he felt strong enough to repeat it as many times as necessary, even though he desired to give up plenty of times. He was proud of himself. Proud to have passed such a test. Even so, having failed only once was disappointing. A single snap that ruined everything.

Em let out a growl, followed by a long groan. “What time is it?” He protested from under the blanket.

“Not sunrise yet,” Macha answered. Em jumped out of the hammock and dragged his feet inside in search of coffee.

Neither Em nor Lim didn’t treat him any differently since the fight with Ivy and she, who he feared would hate him more, now seemed to stand him better.

It wasn’t the captain who brought him a cup of coffee, but Ivy, who greeted him with a subtle shake of her head. Like her uncle with the coffee, without an early dose of tea, you couldn’t expect much from her in the morning.

Instead of her rubber suit, she was wearing thick tulip-shaped pants and a wool sweater. “Good thing you don’t have to dive today. It feels cool, right?” he asked.

Whether with silly jokes or clever comments, he tried to create a better atmosphere around them, and somehow, in his own way, ask for a truce and start anew. He didn’t think he had done anything wrong. On the contrary, that day he spoke nothing but the truth and he would not apologize for it. That didn’t mean he wasn’t aware his words hurt her and that perhaps he had been too harsh.

Macha felt embarrassed by his own question. Ivy could swim for hours without feeling cold and, furthermore, those shallow waters, heated by a tropical sun during the day, were quite hot at night. He cleared his throat and tried to start a conversation one more time. “So… How far are we from the lighthouse? I didn’t see any light when it was dark.”

Ivy set her teacup down so she could point her finger. He followed with his eyes, but on the horizon there was nothing but water. She waited for him to turn around to speak with signs. “We are pretty close. It will appear around there, but not before noon. It will take us a few more hours to cross the last reefs.”

Macha hid a grimace of resignation behind the cup. While sipping the coffee, he continually reminded himself there was little left and that a few hours more were nothing.

Ivy turned the anchor winch and when the engine roared, rushed to grab a long bamboo, a stick she used to check for depths. The last few miles of the labyrinth were relatively safe, but it was better to be careful.

Macha spent hours doing nothing but drinking coffee and watching the white tree slowly recede.

The brighter and greenish blues of the Maze darkened and the waves, which had been absent for weeks, got to rock the ship again.

Em whistled, and Macha hastened to raise the sails. The feeling of the wind and the drops of sea on his face made him feel alive again.

By lunch time, a tropical rainfall hit, and Em extended the meal until it calmed down a bit. The torrential downpour took its time, and they reached the island of the lighthouse by evening.

Macha could not contain the desire to set foot on land and jumped onto the pier as soon as they arrived, the boards creaking underfoot. “Eh, kid. Help us with the boxes!” Em shouted while piling some goods on deck. He hurriedly grabbed one of the packages, and the glass content tinkled.

“If you break one of those bottles, Ahlong will kill you.” Ivy signed.

Taking that advice seriously, He walked the pier slowly. The longest and most emaciated wharf that Macha had never had the misfortune to cross. “Why did we tie the Ballerina so far from the shore?” He asked Ivy, who followed him carrying two bulky bags. With her hands busy, she wouldn’t answer, and for the second time that day, Macha felt like a fool.

The tide unveiled around him the answer to his question. The shoreline was mud flat that increased and decreased extensively depending on the tide, and Em had left the Ballerina far enough to avoid grounding.

The island of the lighthouse was more like an islet, smaller than the Amarvatti market. With no vegetation except some dry bushes and with only three buildings in the center. It was a sad and neglected place with a disturbing atmosphere. A place abandoned by the world, full of corroded woods and rusty metals with red cloth ribbons tied on all sides. Ribbons with jingle bells, ribbons with engraved wood. Ties, knots and dolls of the traditional religion of Hanan. Black magic that not only had Macha seen and feared before, but was well known to anyone in the southeastern cluster. whatever island they were.

Macha didn’t want to step on those grounds, so he left the bottles on the beginning of the pier and strode back to the ship, raising his palms in a prayer of protection that he had learned as a child. Ivy stopped him with a hand over the shoulder. “I’m sorry. We hadn’t told you anything about all... that. You don’t have to fear anything. These are amulets supposed to protect from the evil spirits of the sea, but Ahlong is not a shaman, just an old wacko.”

It took them a few more trips to unload all the supplies. Em, who was busy carrying Lim and everything she needed, joined during the last trip, holding a large pot of stew. “Hey, son,” said the captain. “I forgot to tell you about the two who live here and all that red stuff. Ah… sorry about that. Those two are superstitious old men with too much salt in their coconut. There is nothing different or wicked on this island, Aye?”

Macha nodded. If Em said not to worry, he wouldn’t. She trusted him. The captain, along with the overseer of the plantation where he had spent years of his childhood, were the only two people that he had come to appreciate deeply. And the two he could blindly trust.

“You all right?” Em said.

“Yes, yes. Just remembering things. Is one of those you call Ahlong?” He pointed his lips toward the end of the pier, a typical southern gesture Em had rubbed off on him. Next to Lim, who always had her pretty smile ready, were two old men dressed in sailor rags.

“Yeah, the one holding the chair. Take nothing he says seriously. Except threats. That’s right. Oh, and don’t even think about trying anything those two have cooked. Lim has already prepared food for us, and…” Em lowered his voice as they approached the others. “Tonight we celebrate, but I advise you to drink from our bottles only. The lighthouse wine will drill a hole in your stomach… Ahlong! Ahjoy! Sea lions, how long!”

The coarsed lightkeepers greeted Em with broad smiles. Both had sunburned and wrinkled skin. Ahjoy was a short but stocky man, with gray hair and a round face. He greeted Macha with a slight nod, and his smile from him, showing receding teeth, did not change. Ahlong did. The strangely white teeth he showed to Em hid behind an aggressive scowl as he’s eyes met Macha. His gaze disturbed him greatly. None of the cruelest or craziest men of slums of Tampra could match that look. A mixture of predatory scrutiny and chaotic madness.

“Ho’s da lubber?” The keeper said. He was a short thin man, although among the rags you could see the well-defined muscles of someone who works hard daily.

“This is Macha. My new mate. Easy on him Long. And remember Lim appreciates it if we can speak with less lingo, aye?”

Ahlong studied him carefully for a while, stroking the long hairs of his mustache and goatee. Suddenly, his inquisitive pose disappeared. “Daddy’s always right! What’s name of lubber? Macha? Ye know the ropes, aye? Daddy is a good teacher, aye?”

“Yes Yes.” Ahjoy added, with his unwavering smile.

The sudden change in that man’s attitude left Macha stunned. If it wasn’t for that first look, Macha would consider Ahlong a funny individual. The way he spoke and moved was worthy of the Rajah’s buffoon. Although that feeling was broken when his almond-shaped eyes took a disturbing look at him from time to time, judging, analyzing whether to trust the new one or not.

“Ahlong not crazy. Daddy so funny. Always joke.” Ahlong said to the kid, who had not followed the conversation for a while.

“Don’t call me that. I told you a thousand times.” Em complained. “Macha, do you mind following Ahjoy with those packages? We will handle the rest.”

Ahjoy limped heavily towards him and taped his shoulder gently, never missing a moment to smile. Then he pointed to some bags Macha scrambled to grab. “Yes, yes,” he said, taking the rest.

His limp was very pronounced, and yet the old keeper, loaded as he was, could walk almost as fast as Macha. He followed him with a firm step towards the only building that was not connected to the others. A large wooden barn that seemed to fall down.

The stench of the inside was noticeable from a distance, and as they entered, it worsened so badly that Macha could barely stand on his feet. The warehouse, apart from junk everywhere, was a breeding ground for birds. mostly chickens, although other types could be seen, such as pigeons.

“How do you feed so many birds?” Macha asked, catching her breath on the way out.

“Yes, yes.” answered Ahjoy. Macha snorted loudly through his nose, trying to get rid of a smell stuck inside his sinus. “ You are a positive fella, Am I right?”

Ahjoy replied with the one word he cared to know as he headed toward the lighthouse, though Macha walked back to the pier. Em and Ivy took the last packs, leaving nothing for the boy. The contained smiles that the two were trying to hide were proof they had sent him to the stinking warehouse on purpose.

“Nice place that barn. It smelled wonderfully,” he said. Em’s raucous and Ivy’s quiet but jovial laughters made him chuckle. In the distance Ahlong was complaining to Lim about something related to his pigeons as if the world depended on it, only to immediately start laughing out loud for unknown reasons.

Aside from the warehouse, there were only two other buildings on the entire island. The lighthouse was standing in the highest area. Tall and round, the tower was made of enormous stone blocks covered with moss. Connected by a wooden corridor, there was a house that, unlike the tower, still had the white limestone coating. A thick walled shack with a black-tiled roof and a large brick chimney sticking out of the top.

The interior was a single room, surprisingly well organized and clean. In one corner, there was an enormous fireplace with cooking utensils. The wall next door was completely covered with firewood, and in front was a large table full of food of all kinds.

“Do you sleep here again?” Em asked, pointing with his lips to two feather mattresses on the floor.

“Yes Yes.” Ahjoy replied. Macha doubted if that was a truth statement, although Em seemed to understand it.

“I told your brother that if the mermen attack, the best point of defense is the lighthouse floors.” Em said, letting out a furtive wink at Macha, who was following the conversation with interest.

“Tower is haunted. I can not enter.” Ahlong said.

Ivy waved to be seen before asking. “So. Joy does all the watch at night?”

“I do my watch from outside, leh.” AhLong answered.

Em squeezed his nose at eye level and Ivy shook her head for a while.

The keeper put one crate of bottles on the table and uncorked a cognac from the far north.

“He may be crazy, but he is not stupid.” Macha whispered to himself.

“When light has problem, Joy fix! He no danger. Ye no danger either. Ye can sleep in tower. Spirit only want Ahlong soul. Not yers.”

“Yes, yes,” Ahjoy said.

“Why is that?” Macha asked. His question came out suddenly without thinking. Talking about spirits and sea monsters was perturbing him. Ahlong took a drink that emptied half the bottle and swallowed two hard-boiled eggs, which, because of their color, were the ones Macha shouldn’t touch. “Spirit only want soul of me because it is dark.”with his eyes fixed into the flames, Ahlong faded for a good minute until he returned to them with a sudden explosion of joy. “Ah… ya leh! Let’s drink! Let’s eat! Daddy came home, ya leh! And beautiful Lim and beautiful Ivy! And the lubber Rabbit boy!”

“Yes, Yes!” Shouted Ahjoy as he filled glasses with a Hieng’s rice liquor.

They all raised their arms and toasted, although Lim didn’t drink, as usual. Macha wondered if the two keepers knew of her secret. Then another toast for safety trips, and another for health and fortune. Ahlong pestered Em about his problems with homing pigeons, and Ivy started to eat. Macha joined the banquet, guided by Lim’s subtle movements, which guided him to what dishes were safe to try. Ahjoy kept filling the glasses, and in less than an hour, there were more empty bottles on the floor than empty plates on the table.

“Eh! Little rabbit boy Macha!” Ahlong said, bringing him a glass with a brownish content. “Want to try lighthouse delicious elixir? Smooth as honey!” Macha, emboldened by the warmth of Hieng’s liquor, downed the elixir’s glass in one gulp. The liquid seared his throat and burned his stomach. Looking for something to relieve the burning sensation, he ate a piece of omelett, without realizing Lim’s head was shaking to warn him not to. The bite filled his mouth with a horrible taste of salt.

The cough seemed to please Ahlong, who slapped him proudly on the back. Ivy tapped him lightly on the shoulder too, though they were encouragement blows. Em handed him another glass. “This is water.” Said the captain, his face red, could hardly contain a laughter.

“There more food, young Macha!” Ahlong said. “Eat, eat. Boiled egg, scrambled egg, fried egg, sea cucumber soup, mussels, crab and chicken. No turtle this time, Ivy! No need to angry. Eh? Cheers, Cheers!”

Ahjoy filled his glass this time with a honey liqueur. “How do you feed the birds?” Macha asked Ahlong, now that the old man seemed to accept him into his circle.

“We feed chicken with sea cucumber. And we feed sea cucumber with chicken.” Ahlong let out a laugh. “Do you want chicken? I sell you chicken! Aye?”

“Hey, Long.” Em interrupted. “we saw a wreck in the maze. a sloop with two deceased parnis. ring a bell?”

“Not many parnis this year. few but months ago. Many Hanan, aye. Golden warriors are nervous. Revolution is coming back. Ye trust me, daddy. Ahlong knows.” Em scowled, leaning on the chair. “Nomads also comin’ many times.” Ahlong continued. “They steal my birds. I don’t like it. Do they want to die? I swear they die if they come again! Ye better tell Ced.”

Em raised his hand in an attempt to calm the old keeper. “I will tell him. You don’t kill anyone, do you hear me, soldier? That’s an order!”

Ahlong stiffened. “Aye, aye, Cap’n!” he said solemnly. Then he snuggled into his chair, muttering and sipping from his glass. “Tell Ced, daddy, ye tell. Not to nagging Marie, nay, nay. She just complain. She hate Ah clan.”

“Maybe is the mermen who steal your birds.” Macha said. Ahlong flung the drink down, looking daggers at him.

“See, Macha is concerned about the sea people. They really scare him.” Em said, loosening the keeper’s expression.

“No worry little rabbit Macha. Ahlong protect ye from cold bloods.”

“We have seen that you have put many more totems outside,” Ivy signed.

“Aye. They come many and steal my birds. Nomads steal my birds also. Everyone is thief!”

“I need a privy urgently,“ said Macha, a bit embarrassed to deviate the conversation for such matter.

“There’s an outhouse outside, next to the warehouse,” Em said. Ahlong jumped to his feet, knocking the chair to the ground and stormed to a corner, taking from a chest an old rusty wheel-lock pistol. “Ahlong…” Em said, tensing voice and body, pushing slowly his chair back.

“Daddy worry much. Here rabbit Macha, ye use this. If ye see them, ye shot and Ahlong come to kill them.”

The gun wasn’t even loaded, but Macha took it with him, anyway. It was already dark outside, and the wind was strong and cold. The place was now more gloomy than during his arrival, and the short walk to the warehouse appeared infinitely long. The wooden outhouse was falling apart, and the door, that barely hung straight, swayed in the wind with loud creaks. Macha relieved himself in a bush and returned.

From a distance, he could hear an accordion tuning a cheerful melody. Opening the door, the wind’s whistle gave way to the rhythms and clappings, accompanied by the hoarse but tuned voice of Ahlong.

William C Waynt ‘The walrus’

was a very ugly man,

who loved the mayor’s daughter,

a cute flower named Joanne.

Oh, Joanne, stop cryin’ ye silly

ye won’t marry Billy.

All town will vote and agree,

to put ‘The walrus’ in a cog’s galley

far away in the Big Blue sea.

William C Waynt ‘The walrus’

was a brave sailor ye’see,

when sea salts saw him fightin’

was someone they wanted to be.

After years of fruitful sailing,

for the Queen, raisin the black,

William C Waynt ‘The walrus’

to his hometown, he sailed back.

Oh, Joanne, stop cryin’ ye silly

ye won’t marry Billy.

He’s the ocean lover, Ye’see

and ye only the wench of a lubber,

and he’s rich, powerful and free!

The applause spurred musician and singer to continue. The next song was a shanty that the sailors used to sing when raising the anchor, and the next was a Hanan fisherman’s song that was popular in Tampra. Macha followed the rhythms happily, joining in the singing when she knew the words and even dancing to a popular song from her country that came next. This time, Em didn’t make fun of his moves and even Ivy joined him in the dance.

The songs continued until the legs trembled and the palms ached. Ahlong challenged him to a bottom’s up contest. Macha had a full belly, but he could drink even more. He just needed to empty his bladder again. “Cap’n, when do we leave? Tomorrow?”

“Uhm.” Em wobbled his head, eyes closed and nose red. “Let’s leave it for the day after. Tomorrow I’ll still be drunk. When you get old, hangovers last forever.”

Macha accepted the challenge and drank a full bottle of ale in one shot at a really impressive speed, but still slower than Ahlong, who let out a scream of victory.

“I bet you a gold, you cannot beat Long in drinking.” Em said. Macha nodded and the captain spat on his palm to swear shake. Macha stared at the outstretched metal arm. “That’s not fair,” He whispered. Ahjoy tuned a slow, sad melody that picked up Em’s attention, making him forget about the squishy handshake.

When rain fed the mud

and filled the bottom of my trench,

I changed tears for blood

and my deep sadness for revenge.

“Long! Not that one.” Em said in a lugubrious, fluffy voice.

“One hurray for the Blue Kingdom!” yelled Ahlong. getting a laconic hurray from others. “One Hurray for the Tiger!”

The flame of the party faded, and only Macha cheered. Em was hanging from the chair, staring at the ceiling and blowing heavily. Ivy was already sleeping over the table with her face hidden between her arms. Em got up with great effort to stay on his feet. “I’m too old for this. And Ivy has many skills, but drinking is not one of them.” the captain taped Macha’s head. “You good kid, son. Take care of Lim from this to nuts, aye?” He then took Ivy in his arms and staggered towards the corridor that led to the tower.

“Good night dears,” Lim said.

“Daddy so funny. Rabbit protect Lim from Ahlong he said. Rabbit Macha need to eat more rice then.”

“Joy, how about we change the songs for Ahlong stories? We shouldn’t disturb their sleep,” Lim said.

“Yes. yes,” answered Ahjoy, leaving his instrument aside and picking up some fish he was reheating on the coals.

Macha felt the urge to pee again. His tottering proved how drunk he really was. The night, dark and cold, had fallen on them completely. The jingles and squeaks of the junk around him mixed with the terrible howls of the wind. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or the deceptive light of the moon, but loose pieces and rags fluttering in the wind seemed like shadows of beings lurking in the darkness. Preying on stupid parni who wanted to piss alone. Macha decided to save the walk and relieve himself next to the house. “That old geezer has wiped the spit out of my hair!” he spluttered, while using the wall as a support to return.

Ahlong didn’t start his stories yet. Instead, he was swearing to Lim. Hands over his chest. “I promise to mammy Lim, ye don’t worry. When moment come Ahjoy take care of light and Ahlong bring it to Red Island.” He was saying before noticing Macha and stopping short. Lim sighed, as he had done before when the kid found out about things he shouldn’t have. “Ye pee on my wall, aye?” Ahlong said.

“Not exactly on… well, sorry. I was scared and-”

“No worry young Macha.” cut Ahlong in a fatherly voice.” That is because ye forgot the gun. Always wear gun. leh! Make ye feel safe.”

“Noted. Well… I think I will go to sleep as well.”

“Sleep tight, dear.” Lim said. “Macha..” she suddenly added, making him turn halfway to the door. “I know you wanted to see the Kingdom. We will be sail straight to the Rigg. Is a much shorter journey than the Maze with not much to see, But Em promised me that he will take you to the eastern islands on the way back, all right?”

“All right, Mrs. Good night.”

The wooden corridor was as dark as the ground floor of the lighthouse. A round room filled with spare parts for the lenses, only lightened by a weak glooming from the top of the spiral staircase. The monster-like snoring of the old captain was echoing through the walls. Possibly Macha would be scared to death if it wasn’t for the courage that alcohol gives to drunks.

The first floor had no windows at all, a significant advantage if the merfolk attacked, a thought that reminded him of the spirit. Staggering but quiet, He reached for one of the feather mattresses and snuggled into the blankets, considering his bedsheet a sufficient protection against any threat.

He could be stalked by an evil entity. Surrounded by hordes of angry sea monsters and despite all that, Macha felt happy. Even happier than the day he was rescued. Until then, the only fun he ever knew was in the slums of Amarbatti, surrounded by fellas whose devotion weighed as much as the number of drinks they’d get for free but was only during that night, in a place abandoned by the world and surrounded by such extravagant company, when he discovered the real taste of friendship.