“Morning Zac!” Mary Anne greeted. “You have got to have some of this drink.”
“What is it?” he asked, sitting down.
“Nope, not telling until after you drink some.”
Zac pulled a face at her and Lallie giggled as she poured the hot drink into a mug for him. He tasted it.
“Hey, this is really nice.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” Lallie teased.
“Well, after all the good food last night, I keep expecting to taste something really awful, as if to make up for it. All the food and drink here can’t be culinary delights.”
They laughed.
“So, what it is?” Zac asked.
“Seaweed tea,” Mary Anne answered delightedly.
“What?” he yelped.
“Now you know why I waited until after you drank some,” she giggled.
Zac was about to make some smart reply when Lallie cut in.
“I have some news for you two about getting home.”
They were both quiet.
“There are a couple of islands around here that are inhabited by mutants. One is a community, dedicated to those physically unable to live in human society, but who cannot live under the sea. The other is home only to a mutant Order. We have a telepath among us who can reach these two islands, and so has alerted them to keep an eye out for humans, and to let us know if they locate any of – or meet your friends.”
Zac gave a sigh of relief.
“It’s been great being here, and I hope we can come again sometime, but right now I’m looking forward to going home.”
Mary Anne nodded in agreement, trying not to think about the attempts on her life.
“Well, you’re not home yet,” Lallie paused. “Perhaps I could take you on a tour for the city – I would hate for all your memories here to be bad ones, Mary Anne.”
“I think I’ll take away both, Lallie, but mainly good ones,” Mary Anne smiled. “Say, I don’t suppose it would be possible for me to get the recipe for this tea?”
“Afraid not honey. You wouldn’t be able to get any of the ingredients, so it would be no use to you.”
“Oh well. Doesn’t hurt to ask.”
“Would we be able to go to the islands you told us about?” Zac asked suddenly.
“The Order doesn’t like to be disturbed. And I can’t say what your reception would be like at Midpoint Island – where the community is. You’re better off here, I’d say, for the time being. Don’t worry so much Zac. Everything is going to be fine.”
Zac nodded.
“I wasn’t asking because I wanted to get out of here. It’s just that, on land, we might have more chance of finding our friends, and my brothers, sooner.”
“I understand,” Lallie replied.