Missing Shell

"You should give her to me, Nix." Gil kept glancing over to where Soup was sunning herself. "You're not going to eat her, right?"

Nix grinned while he cut a 10-foot length off of the rope he purchased in Bachoni. "Guess that depends on how hungry I get."

Most of the camp had stopped by in the last few minutes; by all accounts, Soup was an impressive companion. Nix carefully tied the rope length into a makeshift harness and then stood up. "You coming Gil?"

Mortimus was talking with Jaro when Nix approached. Jaro's face was covered in bruises, but it didn't deter the big smile he was wearing.

Nix waited until Gil caught up before speaking. "I know where Sinai is. Unfortunately, he passed away some time ago."

Gil's face lit up. "We're gonna find GrandPa?"

"Yes, but he's no longer alive, Gil." Nix pulled out his otter aquatic. "Soup and I are going into the lake; if you're equipped for underwater action, then you are welcome to come along."