Island of Graves by Lisa McMann Page B

formidable.
    Finally, he began to slide across the floor using his left forearm to pull himself along. He made it only a few feet before his arm collapsed and he face-planted on the floor. The pain was blinding, and a wild sob escaped his lips as he waited for the agony to abate. With his eyes closed and his body spread out on the floor halfway between the table and his cot, Aaron rested his cheek on the cool rock and lay there, unable to move.
    â€œHelp,” he called a while later. But no one came to helphim. He was not surprised. After a miserable hour, Aaron was convinced that no one was coming to his aid in any possible way, so he picked himself up once more, and with a tremendous effort, made it back to the cot. He fell onto it, too weak to put the blanket back on himself.
    It was going to be a long road to recovery.
    For everyone.

Aaron Grows Desperate
    T hat evening, when Aaron’s stomach cried out in pain from hunger, he could keep silent no longer. Had they forgotten he was there? He could smell various foods cooking throughout the day, but Ishibashi delivered none of them.
    â€œI’m so hungry!” Aaron called, writhing in the bed. “I know you have food out there. Why won’t you feed me?”
    This was almost worse than being stuck in that fishing boat, tied to the pirate ship.
    Aaron racked his brain, trying to figure out why the men weren’t feeding him. He began to argue with them as if they’doffered reasons for not feeding him. “If it’s because you’re mad about Mr. Today,” he called out, “you should just get over it! I didn’t even mean to kill him. He just . . . he was there . . . so suddenly . . .” Aaron frowned. He still didn’t like thinking about that. It was horrible. And that time seemed so long ago and far away.
    He carried on, wailing harder as his hunger intensified. But still no one came. “Did you all fall over dead?” he called. “Are you too deaf to hear me? Or are you just mean and horrible people?”
    After a while, Aaron, exhausted, turned to begging. “Look, Ishi-what’s-your-name, I’m sorry, okay? Please, can you just bring me something to eat? Just a little something?” But still no one came, and Aaron finally gave up.
    He turned away from the opening to the room as he had before and stared at the wall while the wind howled and thunder crashed around him. Soon it was dark, and finally, after shedding a few tears, he fell asleep and dreamed about starving to death.
    Aaron awoke before dawn to find Sato picking up the empty teacup and walking away with it.
    â€œIshibashi!” Aaron called out. “Anyone! Some food please?”
    But Ishibashi did not come back, not even with tea this time.

Plan in Motion
    L uckily, all the parties involved in the attack on Gondoleery had brought food and water with them, for Gondoleery didn’t go out at all the first day. In the desolate area of Quill, Sky, Samheed, and Carina took turns keeping watch overnight. Just down the hill from the palace, Alex, Lani, and Charlie spent an uncomfortable night on the rocks, waiting for a sign from Matilda that Gondoleery was heading out somewhere.
    â€œAre you sure you can drive one of those vehicles?” Alex asked Lani for perhaps the fourth time.
    â€œI’m sure,” Lani said. “My dad told me everything abouthow to do it. He said they go really slow, so it’s not like anything can happen. The hardest thing will be getting it started.”
    â€œYou know how to do that, too?”
    â€œYes,” Lani said, growing annoyed.
    â€œGlad you’re the one doing the disguise and driving parts, that’s all I can say,” Alex said.
    â€œMe too,” said Lani.
    Â»Â Â»Â Â«Â Â«
    It was early the next morning—before dawn—when Charlie tugged Alex’s sleeve, waking the mage from a restless sleep.
    â€œIs it