‘Ready for an adventure, kids?’ said Jack.
‘Yes!’ exclaimed Sam and Tom.
As they parked, Sam said: ‘Good driving, Dad. Much better than driving off the road during your first lesson.’
Tom ruffled his brother’s smooth, short hair: ‘It’ll be you next year!’
The trio half walked, half raced over to the mansion-like hotel. It was mostly grey with orange accents around the doors and windows. They then booked a room and decided to go to the beach. The sun was shining and turning the sand golden as the family discussed their plans.
‘We could go sailing,’ suggested Tom in a useless attempt to flatten his black hair.
‘Sounds fun,’ said Sam.
‘Sam, this is going to be your best birthday yet,’ said Jack.
The family hired a boat and set sail with Jack preparing lunch. The spruce ship was massive with a cabin at the back of the main deck. On top of the cabin roof was the steering wheel with Sam piloting. In the centre of the deck were the blue sails and the crow’s nest where Tom was looking out. Soon, they dropped anchor, and Jack and the boys stopped for lunch. As they feasted, Sam remarked that the Hawaiian pizza looked better than Jack’s Hawaiian shirt, throwing everyone into unstoppable laughter. After a chocolate cake desert, Tom and Sam returned to their stations.
While Tom was testing his telescope, he noticed that the sky was an ominous black and mist was rolling in from port. Tom slid down the mast.
‘Storm, ahoy! Sam, let me help.’
Jack climbed up to the crows nest; Tom and Sam worked together to steer the boat. Jack warned the boys of a reef and they attempted to dodge it. However, the wind was blowing against them, and the ship crashed and water began to pour in.
‘There’s an island straight ahead,’ shouted Jack.
‘Can we make it?’ asked Tom, grappling with the wheel.
‘I think we should be able to sail into swimming distance,’ replied Sam as he rushed to assist his older brother.
‘That sounds like a crazy adventure!’
The boys sailed the quickly-sinking boat towards the island, and eventually the trio leaped into the ferocious ocean and swam onto the sandy shore, scattered with palm trees. They explored the island and discovered a village. A tall man walked out of one of the houses towards them.
‘Who are you? Where are you from? And why are you here?’ asked the stern stranger.
Sam replied: ‘I am Sam Flare. This is my father, Jack, and my brother, Tom. We came from a tropical island nearby. While we were sailing, we got caught in this storm and our ship sank. Can you help us?’
‘Yes. I am Veltor, Chief of the Storm Tribe.’
Veltor invited them into his log cabin. It was built out of palm and slightly larger than the other houses. Veltor’s wife, Daisy, entered the living room, and Veltor asked her to get the family some dry clothes.
‘Would you like a drink? Water? Coconut milk? Pineapple juice?’ asked Veltor
Tom and Sam asked for coconut milk, and Jack asked for some water.
After they had changed into dry clothes and finished their drinks, Jack thanked Veltor and Daisy for their hospitality and asked if there was any way to repay them.
‘No,’ answered an unsure Veltor.
‘Anything at all?’
‘Ye—no.’
‘Tell them, Veltor,’ Daisy said soothingly.
‘A neighbouring Island has stolen an ancient artefact, the Leviathan’s Heart.’
‘A leviathon?’ asked Tom.
‘The leviathan, also known as the Storm Dragon, is a mythological sea beast,’ answered Sam.
Veltor chuckled: ‘You know your mythology.’
Veltor then explained that the artefact was a gift from the Storm Dragon to the tribe’s ancestors and had the power to banish storms from a certain radius.
‘We used to house it in the temple, until the Wave Tribe came and stole it.’
‘If the artefact was placed in between the two islands could both be protected?’ asked Sam.
‘Yes, but the leviathan gave the artefact to us,’ answered Veltor.
Daisy, wanting peace between the two tribes, said: ‘Back then, the Storm and Wave tribes lived here together as the Sea Tribe.’
‘Yes, but they chose to start their own tribe and leave this place.’
‘But that was centuries ago. Haven’t they suffered enough?’ countered Daisy.
‘You’re right. The Storm Dragon gave the artefact to both the tribes. I must speak to the Chief of the Wave Tribe as soon as possible.’
‘How will we communicate with them?’ asked Tom
‘We could use light signals to send them a message in morse code,’ stated Sam.
Daisy suggested that they use lanterns, but Sam pointed out that the nearby island would definitely not see the light of the lantern in the storm.
‘We need to use fire,’ said the youngest brother.
‘How will we block the light?’ asked Veltor.
‘I don’t know yet. We have plenty of time to think: the light signals will only work fully at night,’ responded Sam.
‘Veltor, can you spare a couple of islanders to look for a good place to signal?’
Veltor summoned two men and told them to find a place to signal to the Wave Tribe. Sam added that a cliff would be best.
‘We need something that the light will not show through, but is easy to move.’
Sam glanced out the window and spotted that the fence was made of bamboo.
‘Perfect!’ exclaimed Sam.
An hour later, the two men returned and informed them that they had found the perfect spot. By now, the sun was beginning to set. The Flares, accompanied by one of the men and Veltor, exited the house and headed towards a cliff on the eastern side of the island. Outside, the rain had stopped, but thunder could still be heard roaring in the distance. By late evening, they arrived at a small clearing, overlooking the calm Pacific ocean.
As Jack set up the fire, Veltor ordered the man to head back to the village. Soon, the fire was blazing and they could start signalling. The message they had chosen was ‘meet’. Sam was instructing Tom and Jack on when to hide and show the fire. Two long pauses in the light followed by a short one spelt ‘m—e’. A few flashes later, the message was sent. After a tense wait, they saw a glimmer across the water. Y…E…S……. thought Sam as he carefully observed the signals.
‘Yes!’ he exclaimed as the Wave Tribe repeated the signal.
Sam, Tom and Jack then echoed the Wave Tribe’s signal, sealing the agreement. The group then extinguished the fire and returned to the house for a good night’s rest.
Around noon, someone knocked at the door. Veltor got up and opened it. A short, old man walked in and looked around, spotting the family.
‘They are the Flares; Sam, Tom and Jack,’ explained Veltor, seeing the elder’s suspicious expression.
‘Who are you?’ asked Jack.
‘I am Chief Xern of the Wave Tribe,’ the old man answered. ‘So Veltor, what do you wish to discuss?’
‘I think you have suffered for too long—’
‘Too long? Now? My people have suffered too long for centuries.’
‘—Sam here had the brilliant idea of placing the Leviathan’s Heart in between our two islands.’
‘But where exactly?’ asked Xern.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Sam.
‘While I was sailing over here, I spotted a few rocks sticking out of the sea. That could work,’ said Xern.
‘Let’s go,’ replied Veltor.
The Flares and the chiefs set sail in Xern’s boat. The bamboo boat was probably around twice the size of a rowing boat, but it was still ant-sized compared to the ship the Flares had hired.
Wait. Where was the Leviathan’s Heart?’ Well, Xern had brought the artefact with him, so he could safely travel between the two islands.
Soon the group arrived at the area. Around five smooth boulders were reaching out of the watery depths, creating a rough circle.
‘I can climb up the rocks and have a closer look,’ suggested Tom.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Jack.
‘It’ll be an adventure, and I will be an adult next year,’ Tom pointed out.
‘He’s brave and like he says, Tom will be an adult next year,’ pressed Sam.
‘Alright. Just be careful,’ said a defeated Jack.
Tom climbed out the boat and up the rocks.
‘Throw me the artefact. There’s a dip in the centre where it will be safe.’
Veltor threw the artefact and Tom caught it before carefully lowering it into the dip.
Once Tom had scrambled back in, Jack and Sam congratulated him and gave him a big hug.
‘Let’s head back to my island and have a feast,’ suggested Veltor.
‘Thank you,’ replied Xern and the Flares.
Soon, they arrived back at the island and headed towards the village. When they arrived, Daisy came out, and Veltor asked her to prepare a feast. As they waited, Xern talked with the family.
‘After hundreds of years, you have brought our tribes together. Please take my boat as a token of gratitude.’
‘Thank you,’ replied Jack.
After the feast, the Flares said goodbye and set sail.
‘You say it every year, Dad, but this time it was definitely the best birthday yet,’ said Sam as they sailed back to the tropical island resort.’