JoJo Binky the Pirate welcomes us like one of his crew. Although he is a small human, he's terrifyingly strong. And he always weild his baby—a strong cannon-gun type of weapon that shoots strong water balloons. And when he try to let us see its fatality, it leaves a serious mark on side of the ship.
"So cool! That's a super strong weapon you have!" I say while munching on some meat.
We are having dinner on top of the stern. It is embellished with colorful flag banners swaying from the chill wind while some of the crew sits with us on the table. Hero is unusually silent beside me but I leave him like that. Binky is so kind to give us some good food. And he also offers to let us take a bath inside the cabin and gives us clothes. He is a good man.
"Say, why are you floating in the middle of the sea with your boat looking like that?" Mr. Binky asks.
"Ues ue uer caf ap im a raftming amb desfwoy awr sfip," I reply, my mouth is full of food. (Yes, we were caught up in a lightning and destroy our ship).
"Hey, don't talk while your mouth is full!" Hero scolds. I shrug him off. I turn my attention to Mr. Binky.
"Where are you traveling Mr. Binky?" I ask.
"I'm after one of the legends of the east," he says. That piqued my interest.
"Legend of the east?"
Mr. Binky leans on his seat, his eyes shining in mischief. "Yes, the legendary unicorn that will give us an immense power," he says.
Hero butts in, "Where did you heard that kind of tales, Mr. Binky?"
"When I arrived at the Heaven's Forth Island, of course." he replies. "East sure has surprising tales they can share," he adds.
"Heaven's Forth Island?" I ask.
"That's the island in southeast. One of the brothers of Emon Kingdom—the Nimbus Kingdom. Father—I mean, the King of Emon allied the two neighboring kingdom to strengthen their forces," Hero explains. "And I also heard about the legendary unicorn but it simply is a legend told to the children."
"You sure knows a lot," Mr. Binky says maliciously. Hero clears his throat and drinks his apple juice.
"But, Ali." Mr. Binky turns his attention to me. "You haven't answered my question yet." Mr. Binky's voice sure does gives an impression of a brawny man with sharp piercing eyes and shark teeth, but he's appearance is far from the truth. His black eyes stares at me in anticipation.
I must look like I don't know what he's talking about—which is true, and the food tastes so good I can't get enough—and asks why I was traveling on the sea. "We're on an adventure to find the lost country!" I say excitingly.
Surprisingly, all of the crews and Mr. Binky snorts and starts laughing. I gaze at them puzzled. Hero seems to forget momentarily his worries and the crease on his forehead eases.
"Preposterous!" exclaims Mr. Binky. "That's old myth! A country with a grand treasure, that's a big joke!"
"No, it's not," I say.
"Yes, it is! Why do you think the quest was abandoned?" He stares at me with a playful smile. "It's because it's not true!" he yells and laugh like a weird big baby laughing. Mr. Binky reaches his baby bottle and drinks from it.
"But I'm still going to find it," I say at last.
He's still laughing and wipes his tears when he asks, "Why?"
I shrug. "Because there's no proof that it doesn't exist." I turn towards Hero who looks back at me. "If that's the case, then we will be the first to find it!" I add. Hero smiles a warming smile at that. It doesn't mean no can find it, it did not exist at all.
"Bunch of crap!"
"Are you not interested to the grand treasure in the lost country?" Hero asks.
"I'm a pirate, I seek treasures easy to find. Not a far-fetched dream," he replies matter-of-factly.
"You're just a bunch of lawbreakers," I say.
"Pirates, kid," Mr. Binky corrects.
I shake my head. "Lawbreakers."
"No, P-I-R-A-T-E-S. Pirates!"
"Yes, I get it. Lawbreakers!" I say final.
Mr. Binky groans and run a hand on his wrinkled face. "Not arguing with you kid. But you'll later realize you're searching an orange apple in your treasure," Mr. Binky says.
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"Just an old saying from where I was raised," he replies and jumps to the hard wooden floor. "It is goodnight to us, then. Proceed to your bunks if you feel like it—Tokoya!" Mr. Binky turns to a round young man with a large face.
"I given them what you asked Captain Binky," he squeaks.
"Ali!" I hear Hero whispers to me.
"What?" I ask. I look at Hero, my eyes feels heavy from the cold night, and I'm so full! I drink my orange juice and wait for him to reply when a crew member— the scrawny guy with the strange one-piece coverall approach us.
"I prepared the warm bath, guests from the east," he says. But his eyes gaze at us maliciously, or I'm just dreaming of warm water and soft mattress, I don't know.
"Come on, Hero," I say and stand up. Hero seems apprehensive to my decision. He reluctantly leaves his chair and follows us back to the deck and inside the cabin.
The cabin looks like a common cabin, where it not for the lively colors of the walls and the ceiling. Everywhere my eyes can see are color-painted. There is also a bulletin board filled with marked papers and the same smiley-face hung on top of it.
We arrived downstairs where we walk a long dim and cold hallway. Mr. Strange Coverall guides us to the last room. His head hung low on his neck.
"Please you go inside, it will be a long day tomorrow for us," he says.
I enter the cozy room filled with bright light. There is a bunk beds to the corner, and across is a door stands ajar where a faint scent of a bubble bath is coming.
"Your friend seems uneasy. Is there a problem other guest from the east?" Mr. Strange Coverall asks.
I look back to the hallway and notice Hero standing three doors from our room and is looking to the door across. His eyes are clouded for a moment but at last, he shakes his head and smile a reassuring smile. "I'm just sleepy," he says.
When Mr. Strange Coverall leaves us, I take a warm bath and wear the clothes Mr. Binky generously gave us. I take the bed on top and lie for minute or two before I hear Hero enters the bath and I fall asleep after that.