Go With the Floe?

Jan replied to Checkers' question. "Miss, the tri' is to use what light we have to look at the ripples on the surface of the sea. A floe, a berg, or anything solid will break the line of ripples, and should be easy to spot. More likely than not, you will not find a floe this far south. But it is still spring time, and not only is most of the winter ice above the Black Capes still around, but it is starting to break up."

Fred then said, "I am worried about Astra. Although the balloon does most of the work, she is spent. What if she can't make it? Do dragons float?"

Astra answered, "I think we do. On Atheline Island, I felt as if the water were bouying me up, just as it did when I was human. I am not sure that I could support you all, though."

Solbert then said, "The big problem that we have is landing, if we are forced to do so. We are under Astra, and so will land first. The gondola is not naturally water- tight. Sartoma may be able to make it so for a time, but there are some other problems. Even if we could manage to keep the water out, we will likely lose much of the hoard in order to stay afloat. And taking off will be a problem. In hindsight, the Atheline Island cork would be useful now. Is there anything here that we can use as a raft?"

Sartoma said, "I do not think so. And it is much easier for me to work with the air than the water. I can swim well, though. What about the rest of you?"

Fred said, "If I am not weighted down, I can swim quite well."

Solbert replied, "Not so good, I am afraid. We gnomes are more dense than water, and will sink unless we keep moving."

Jan said, "Normally I am very good. I would rather not go back in the water now, though." These obviously were not angels and saints, as he had first thought, but they were extremely exotic creatures from somewhere other than the Black Capes or the lands of the Northeast Terel Sea. With the emergency at hand, though, Jan was not asking questions.

Checkers responded, "Not well at all. My chances would be better if I would stay aloft and take advantage of the winds."

Astra drifted with the wind, placing a puff from time to time in the balloon, but did not have the strength to rise very high. All of the party scanned the sea for signs of floes.

1. And they find one!
2. They find something else on the surface of the sea.
3. Astra has to make a water landing.
4. Sartoma uses her magic in an unexpected way.

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