The Scarlet King by Charles Kaluza Page A

studying their makeshift
mast. It looked as if he could swing from a rope and land on one of
the large rock outcroppings. If he could secure the line then
others could move ashore safely. He presented his idea to Jason,
who asked, "Is the mast strong enough to carry your weight?"
    Jeremy replied, "It was strong enough to sail
our ship, and it will carry my weight."
    After Larby had checked all of the lines,
Jeremy secured a line from the top of the mast in a loop under his
arms. With a running start across the deck he swung out from the
ship, almost reaching the rock outcropping before swinging back to
the ship. Those on board caught him before he crashed into the base
of the mast. Several more times he tried and came up just short of
reaching the rock outcrop each time. Finally Edna said, "I am
lighter and you could push me further. Let me try."
    On the third try she was able to plant her
feet on the rock outcropping. Now she needed to secure the line.
Unfortunately the outcropping had a smooth top without anything to
secure the line to. She called back to the ship, "I need a cleat or
wood wedge to drive into a crack in the rock."
    Jeremy climbed to the top of the mast, which
caused the ship to list even more, and tied a loop around the line
leading to Edna. He then slid the wood wedge down the line. The sag
in the line caused the wedge to stop before reaching Edna. She and
those in the boat had to shake the line to gradually move the wedge
to within her reach. When she had secured the wedge the best she
could, she secured the line to the wedge.
    Now Jeremy began sliding down the line with
his legs crossed over the line and using his hands to lower
himself. He pulled along a second line somewhat heavier than the
first. With Edna's help he was able to pull himself up onto the
rock outcropping. They then begin climbing the cliff and secured
the heavier line to the base of one of the trees.
    While Jeremy and Larby worked to secure
additional lines, Edna scouted the area looking for signs of
danger. There was no evidence of any human activity and many birds
were present, but no other animals. She scouted around their
natural harbor but left the further exploration for later.
    When the rope ladder was completed, the
remainder of their crew came ashore with Jason waiting until the
last. They brought ashore only that which they could carry easily.
The first order of business was to provide shelter, and only after
that task was complete did they begin to move more of their stores
ashore. Edna and Jeremy were assigned the responsibility to
complete a survey of the island looking for more suitable
shelter.
    Jason insisted that the trunk of books he had
found in the Captain's cabin be brought ashore, and they struggled
greatly moving it along the rope ladder. By nightfall they had
secured the majority of their stores and Edna and Jeremy had
returned. Larby had provided fish for the meal along with seaweed
which he had harvested. It was a satisfying meal although somewhat
meager. The stories around the campfire seemed more genuine when
told with the flickering of the light from the campfire. Everyone
was tired and sleep came easily despite the persistent sensation of
rocking they perceived as their bodies became accustomed again to
the land.
    With the morning light came the sounds of the
birds, which made further sleep impossible. After the breaking of
the fast Jason set off with Jeremy and Edna to continue the survey
of the island. He brought along a tablet of paper and was busy
sketching all of the strange plants and birds he saw. This slowed
the progress of exploration markedly, and Edna finally said, "Let
us work as a team with one scouting ahead and one working with
Jason to document what is new."
    For those of the Forest the island was a
half-day walk across, but for Jason, who was so busy drawing, it
would take a week to cross the island. On the far side of the
island in the lee of the wind, there was an overhanging ledge