Lili was in the bow pulpit with binoculars when the Mainland finally came into sight.
She rang the bell. "Land ahoy, land ahoy," she cried excitedly.
The girls could just make out the Mainland, and they all hugged each other in relief and elation, screaming with delight.
As if in response to their cries, a strange staccato chattering sound rang out across the water, and the girls stopped jumping and looked at one another in dismay.
"What was that?" asked Delphi. "Lili?"
Lili lifted the binoculars and stared out to sea.
"Tubiàn bottlenose dolphins. A big pod. Incoming starboard side. Fast."
"Does anyone remember what they were originally bred for during the war?" Delphi asked urgently.
"Cargo?" recalled Feifei, "and defence".
"Get ready everyone!" shouted Delphi.
"Twenty-five metres out. Starboard. Coming in like battering rams. Hold tight!" called Lili.
The huge tubiàn dolphins pulled up right alongside the hull and raised their heads, chattering loudly at the girls in clicks and whistles.
"Keep your guard up until we see what they intend to do with us," said Delphi, not nearly ready to relax just yet.
"They want to play with us, Delph," said Ruby, with unjustified certainty. "Hello, boys," said Ruby softly. She reached out to stroke the nose of a dolphin that floated alongside her.
"Ruby, be careful!" said Indy sharply. "Don't be so reckless. You put your faith in animals too easily."
"I can read animals better than people, jiejie. They're friendly."
The dolphin chattered and clicked excitedly at Ruby when she stroked him, gently nudging and butting her hand. The rest of the girls reached out cautiously and petted the enormous creatures that now surrounded the boat, filling the air with their 'click, click, whistle, click' sounds.
"Feifei, take us into Phillip Island before anything else happens," said Delphi, weary, but relieved.
The dolphins chaperoned them in.
As soon as they were within reach of the shore, Ruby stripped off her clothes and dived into the surf, swimming naked alongside a dolphin who frolicked and played with her, taking her for little rides in the waves as she laughed with joy.
Delphi dropped the anchor, and everyone else followed the Ruby into the surf. The girls were used to bathing together after every training session, so there was no false modesty among them.
The dolphins seemed as happy as the humans were, to have found such friendly playmates. They were like over-grown puppies, frolicking and playing and competing for the girls' attention.
As they tired, one-by-one the girls started washing up onto the sandy beach of the Mainland, lying on their backs, staring happily up into the high blue sky.
"This is where it all begins girls," said Delphi. "This is where we make our stand. From here the Rebellion begins…"
Unbeknownst to the young women, Commander Meyer had a powerful telescope on board, and he had spotted their sail where they were anchored…
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The girls set about exploring the island in pairs. Loveday and Feifei were the first to return, regrouping with Delphi and Winter.
"It's not wide," said Feifei. "It took us about an hour to walk across the island to a beach on the north side. There's a freshwater lake not far from here. And there's a herd of wild brumbies. They thundered past us when we startled them grazing"
"Brilliant!" said Delphi. "Having horses will get us to Horsham much faster, and we'll be safer travelling on horseback. There can't be any dragons on the island, or they'd have eaten them. Probably means the bridge's collapsed," she sighed. "Let's get moving then. We can't linger here too long, there'll be guards on our tail. Let's go and find Ruby and the others so we can catch some horses. Where did you last see the brumbies?"
"Direct opposite side of the island if you walk in that direction from here," said Loveday, pointing due north.
"Alright, you two meet us there," said Delphi. "Head back to the boat and bring as much rope as you can lay your hands on, some riding clothes and the flints. Grab the medicine bag too."
Delphi and Winter managed to gather up Ruby and the others not too far past the lake.
Ruby was beside herself with excitement. "We saw a herd of brumbies about thirty minutes north of here," she prattled. "There are some rock formations we can use to trap them."
"How long do you need to break them in after we catch them?" asked Delphi.
"With all hands-on deck it could be done in a day."
"You have half a day," said Delphi flatly. "We can't afford to stay in one place any longer than that until we get to Horsham."
"Okay," said Ruby with determination.
The girls crept through the bush towards the herd of brumbies. Luckily, the horses didn't startle easily; they'd probably lived here for one hundred years without any natural predators.
Delphi signed for the four girls on the other side to break, and they all started to run towards the herd, shouting and clapping, forcing them into the natural corral they had selected among the rocky outcrops.
The ponies whinnied and streamed towards the rocks, forcing most of the herd into the dead-end. Loveday and Lili slammed down the logs they had stood at the entrance to prevent their escape.
"Yeehah!" Ruby yelled with excitement. "Wow, look at them all, they're sooo beautiful. What colour does everyone want?"
"Pick us the most docile ones that look the sturdiest and easy to break in in a short time," said Delphi. "Good looks and coat colour are the last criteria."
"Okay Delph," Ruby pouted, "I just really love that black one with the white star," she said wistfully.
After Ruby had selected them eight good horses and a few spares, she got everyone started on the process of breaking them in. It was hard and thirsty work, and the hour was approaching midday.
"Feifei," called Delphi. "I'm almost done with my horse. I'll head to the lake and get us some fresh water and fruit for lunch. You're in charge here."
"On it, Captain," said Feifei.
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The Honour Guards approached Phillip Island from the north to avoid being spotted, dropping anchor and taking the dinghy ashore. Alton pulled out his map.
"Alright. Baer, Wolf, Han, go and locate their boat on the south side. Assuming they're not on board, sail it around here," he indicated the route on the map. "Meet back here when you're done. If you run into any of the girls, catch them. I shouldn't need to remind you, but don't damage them, and don't touch them."
"Got it Commander," said Baer. "Not sure how we catch them without touching them but understood."
"You can touch them to catch them, just don't touch them, if you get my drift?"
"Got it. Catch them. Touch them to catch them. But don't touch them."
"Let me be very specific men. Don't touch them sexually. The Emperor was very clear he doesn't want these women looked at or touched."
"Mmhm. No problem, Commander. We'll catch them without looking at them or touching them. Hopefully they'll just stand still and let us lead them away with a fierce look."
"Get out of here Baer. Just be good. That goes for all of you. Be. Good. Boys."
"Yes Commander," they said without much enthusiasm.
"Niko, I'm going to head south to Swan Lake. I'll fill up the water bottles and see if there's any fresh fruit around the waterhole. The girls may well go there for fresh water too. You take Bo, Magnus and Cormac and see if you can track them down along this road," he showed Niko on the map.
"Sir," Niko saluted, and the four men set off together in a loping run, the Commander heading off alone towards the lake.