Three months had passed.
On the beach of Burubu Island, a new single-masted ship sat in the shallow water. It wasn't a grand ship, nothing like the sleek Piruka flyers. Its hull was made of tough wood, chosen by Rhett, who knew good shipbuilding wood. It looked simple, but every joint was solid.
The hull was coated with a special resin, found by the chief and his people. It would resist saltwater and sea worms, but the chief warned Rhett to keep it maintained and avoid storms.
The time had come to leave.
Almost the whole tribe gathered on the beach.
Women packed dried meat, water, and fruit. Children touched the ship, their eyes wide. They didn't understand. They only knew their benefactor was leaving. The adults knew more. They looked at Rhett with respect.
The sea was a distant dream. Their world was Burubu Island. Some had never left.
The old chief walked up to Rhett and patted his arm. His words were simple.
"Kid... be careful out there."
He looked at the girl. "You too."
She nodded.
Rhett grinned his careless smile.
"Relax, old man. No one's born who can kill me. And if I can't win, I'll run." He looked at the crowd, at their honest worry.
"Go, kid. See the world for me."
Rhett's smile faded slightly.
"We're leaving." His voice was clear. "Don't look so sad. This isn't an end. We're going to see the world."
He paused, touching the sail.
"Old man, I promise. We'll see the world you never saw. We'll have the adventures you could only dream of. We'll be the freest people on the sea. You'll hear of us in the Know-Leaves. Our names will be known."
The wind ruffled his hair. The mist flowed around him.
"Our freedom will be your eyes. We'll be 'free' for you."
The words spread through the crowd like ripples.
They stared at the man by the ship, and the girl who was coming alive. A strange feeling stirred in them.
Rhett took the girl's wrist and jumped onto the deck.
"Set sail!"
The mist pulled the sail. The wind filled it.
The simple ship moved away from the beach.
The people watched, waving, until the ship was a speck on the horizon.
The chief wiped his eyes and laughed. "That kid..."
He turned to his people.
"Enough! They're gone. We have work to do. We live. We live well. And when you feel strong enough, when you have the power to protect yourselves, I will let you sail."
The people answered. Their sadness was replaced by new resolve.
Yes. They would live, and live well.
---
On the open sea, Rhett stood at the bow.
The girl stood beside him, watching the endless blue. Her eyes reflected the sea and the man beside her.
Their journey had just begun.
The ship sailed smoothly. Burubu was a distant shape.
Rhett looked around and grabbed an empty barrel, putting it in the center of the bow.
He put his foot on it and waved her over.
"Come here. First thing every pirate does."
She looked confused, but obeyed.
He patted the barrel. "Stand on it."
She did, putting her foot on the other side. They stood close.
"This is the launch ritual. You declare your goal. I'll go first."
He looked at the sea. "I, Rhett, will be the freest person on the sea. No one will bind me. No one will stop me. I'll see everything. I'll experience every adventure."
He looked at her. "Your turn. What's your goal?"
She was stunned. Her future? It was still too big, too strange.
She looked at his encouraging eyes, at the endless sea, at the small ship rocking beneath her.