I would only ever be one man's prize catch and I was proud to be so, beyond grateful to God actually.
You truly never knew how far you had to go in life before you found the right one, but when you did it simply couldn't be any better. I went back to paddling and steadily the distant boats drew closer and closer.
Thankfully it was also getting lighter, but as a whole darkness was spreading out from the island and its still ash showering volcano. Drawing within shouting distance of the native fleet I then witnessed yet one more strange phenomena of this underworld paradise.
I'd thought I'd seen it all, but that apparently was not the case. Coming up fast on the seaward side were ships. Not just any ships. They were warships. Old warships.
Turning to Tolak in shock I was even more surprised to see joy on his face. He knew these people sailing World War II era ships about?
What made the scene even more incongruous was that one of the three ships was American and the other two were Japanese. Apparently one war was over at least.
The natives up ahead were forsaking their crafts and climbing up rope ladders that had been thrown down over the sides of the navy vessels. Snapping myself out of my daze I busied myself with trying to be a tad bit more presentable than I currently was."