Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 by Galvin, Aaron (top 5 books to read TXT) 📗

Bryant called out to Marisa. “Hope you got a rope tucked away up there, sweetheart.”

Marisa smiled down on him. “I believe in bonds far stronger than rope alone, David Bryant,” she replied. “Help Chidi to rise, and I will aid her the rest of the way. Then, we shall both help you in turn.”

Bryant frowned. “Think I’d rather have the rope.” He tapped Chidi on the shoulder, then cupped his hands together to offer her a foot hold to step into. When Chidi did, Bryant waited for her to steady herself by palming the top of his head for balance.

Her abdominal muscles tightened at the tickle in her belly when Bryant lifted her upward. Chidi used her other hand to brace against the slick and stony wall. For a moment, vertigo overtook her and she feared that she might fall. In the same moment that gravity beckoned to her, the firm grasp of Marisa Bourgeois clamped down upon her forearm with an unrelenting grip.

As Marisa pulled Chidi to rise, so too did she feel Bryant pushing her from below. He gave her a final heave at the end, near tossing her up and into Marisa’s lap.

Chidi clawed for the elusive runner’s other free hand as her knees and the side of her body smacked against the wall. Before she could steady her feet against the side, Marisa had pulled her up the rest of the way with an uncommon strength for someone of her size.

Panting, Chidi gave Marisa a nod in thanks before both were turning back to help Bryant up the wall also.

Unlike when helping Chidi, Marisa lay on her belly with her arms draped over the side to welcome Bryant up to join them. “Come, my friend,” she taunted him. “Give the wall a fair run, as I did, and we’ll pull you up the rest of the way.”

Chidi snorted at the mumbled, cursed reply as Bryant prepared himself to mimic Marisa’s earlier example. While he did not succeed half so well as she did, Bryant impressed Chidi for his effort. Though he did not reach the top of the wall as Marisa had, Bryant did not miss grabbing hold of their waiting and outstretched arms.

Despite readying herself for his arrival, Chidi yelped when she and Bryant latched hold of each another. The sudden, added weight tore at her shoulder sockets. Chidi’s body slid forward as Bryant swung against the side of the wall, and she kicking at the ground in a failed attempt to anchor herself. The weight of her heavier counterpart lessened when Marisa grunted beside her, then swung her body around sideways. In simultaneous motion, Marisa planted her left foot, then rolled away from the edge, heaving Bryant up alongside them upon the sea wall.

While Bryant and Chidi caught their breath, Marisa stood and brushed herself off to the tune of another rumble of thunder in the distance. She then reached down to help Chidi stand also.

“Thank you,” Chidi muttered.

Marisa nodded in reply before offering to help Bryant also.

He waved off her attempt. “I got it,” Bryant huffed, grunting as he stood. “I’m good.”

“Very well then,” said Marisa, off and leaving them again.

Bryant moved to a seated position, watching her go. “How’d she do that, partner?”

“Do what?” Chidi asked.

“Run up the wall like that,” said Bryant, leering at Marisa as she neared the docks. “Pull me up too?” He shook his head. “Not right for someone of her size to be able to do things like that.”

There are a lot of things Marisa does that shouldn’t be possible, Chidi thought, but did not say. Sighing, she extended the same offer to help Bryant as Marisa had. She received the same result too.

“Not right,” Bryant huffed, standing of his own accord. “Can’t put my finger on it just yet, but there’s just something not right about her, partner.”

“Then why are you still following her?” Chidi asked as they headed out once more.

“Well, reason number one is I figured it’d be wrong to just leave our young friend behind without knowing what happened to us in the Knoll.”

Allambee, Chidi thought his name, then. Her brow wrinkled with the thought of him waiting and watching for them to return with her father and Girard too. He’s going to want to know what happened in the Knoll. She looked ahead toward the boat awaiting them. But what answer do I give him? Do I tell the truth? That my father wasn’t there and the Knoll is no more? That the Sancul came to claim that wretched place and drowned all the people down there too? She wondered, imagining Allambee’s innocent gaze staring back into hers. Or do I lie to protect him from the truth?

Chidi could not make up her mind as to which she would do.

Bryant seemed not to care either way, nor notice Chidi’s silence on the matter as he gave continued voice to his own thoughts. “And reason number two, partner, I told you before I don’t quit on nothing. Not even when I know better.”

“Is this one of those times?” Chidi asked.

“I’m getting that feeling, sure,” said Bryant. “Thinking maybe the best thing for us and Allambee too would be to hitch a ride back inland, take Mr. Zymon’s plane and fly it on outta here. Head on for home. Tell him what we found out about your daddy in the Knoll and regroup from there before we go out looking again.”

Chidi wished she could agree. “Marisa said—”

“I know what she said,” Bryant interrupted. “And I reckon that mumbo jumbo of hers about helping you find your folks is near the same as her telling me that she’ll lead me to Henry, so I can finally put an end to him for you and me both.”

Chidi shuddered at Bryant’s naming her former owner. The realization that to go with Bryant and Marisa would mean eventually facing Henry again too. She looked off in the direction of the woods