"You sure it was an Ice Tunnel hatch, Sep?" he asked. "They're not usually that big."
"I know that, Beetle," Septimus snapped. "And I also know an Ice Tunnel hatch when I see one."
"But an Ice Tunnel out here...it's an awful long way from the Castle," said Jenna. "It would have to come all the way under the sea."
"Yes, I have thought of that," said Septimus. "I'm not making this up, you know."
"No, of course you're not," said Beetle hastily. "But things aren't always what they seem."
"Especially on an island," added Jenna.
Septimus had had enough. He stood up, brushed the sand off his tunic and said, "I'm going back to see Spit Fyre. He's been on his own all afternoon."
Jenna and Beetle got up. "We'll come too," they said together, and then grinned at each other, much to Septimus's irritation.
A movement out at the Pinnacle suddenly caught their attention. They ducked into the dunes once more and peered out. The Marauder was on the move. They lay in the sand and watched it go, but the boat did not, as they hoped, head safely out to sea. Instead it turned to the right and took a course along the island, heading around the rocks that ran from Spit Fyre's hideout. The Marauder was a fine-looking boat, despite those who sailed her, and she made a lyrical picture silhouetted against the darkening sky lit with the first few stars.
"This island is such a beautiful place," said Beetle with a sigh as he watched the Marauder finally disappear behind the rocks. "It's so difficult to believe that anything bad could happen here."
"There's a Young Army saying," said Septimus. "'Beauty Lures the Stranger More Easily into Danger.'"
Night had fallen and the Light shone like a tiny, brilliant moon. As Septimus, Jenna and Beetle emerged from their hiding place and began their walk along the beach, they did not see a new arrival at the base of the Pinnacle. A long red capsule rose from the water, flipped open a hatch and disgorged three bedraggled figures. The smaller figure swarmed up the Pinnacle like a large bat and settled itself beside the Sphere of Light. If anyone had turned back and looked, he or she might have seen the tiny black shape of Miarr outlined against the glowing white ball, but no one did. The Light was something they all instinctively avoided looking at. It was achingly bright.
It was tough going on the beach. Septimus insisted that they walk in the soft sand under the cover of the sand dunes, and he also insisted that Jenna and Beetle go first.
"Can't we walk on the sand farther down?" asked Jenna. "It would be so much easier."
"Too exposed," said Septimus.
"But it's getting dark now. No one can see us."
"They could on the beach. Figures stand out on a beach. It's an empty space."
"I suppose there's a Young Army saying for that too."
"'A Lone Tree Is Easy to See.'"
"There were some really bad poets in the Young Army."
"There's no need to be so critical, Jen."
Jenna and Beetle stumbled on, followed by Septimus, who, Beetle noticed whenever he glanced back, seemed to be walking in an oddly crablike way. "You all right?" asked Beetle.
"Fine," Septimus replied.
They drew near to the rocks that bordered what they thought of as their bay. Jenna was about to jump onto them when Septimus stopped her.
"No," he said. "The Syren - she'll see us."
Jenna was tired and snappy. "How can she, Sep? We can't see the tower thingy from here, so she can't see us."
"Besides, with a Dwelling Possession Wraith, it's not a problem," said Beetle.
"Unless we're crazy enough to go into the tower."
"She said she'd come and find me, Beetle," said Septimus. "You weren't there."
"I know, but...well, think about it, Sep. I figure it - and it is an 'it,' not a 'she' - I figure it meant it would come and get you in the tower. It thought you were trapped there - right? It didn't know you knew how to get out. So it's probably zooming around right now looking for you. Or maybe it's given up and gone back to - "