Master Mind brings the ship about but doesn’t dock. He makes sure Bonny’s Revenge hovers right above Joy, as Joy crosses the small island to the desert that Amahle had created.

“Little Pirate,” he speaks softly enough to not shake Amahle out of her obsession but loudly enough for his voice to reach Joy. “You will not take further risks! You will obey your guardian and climb aboard the ship!” 

“I’m fine,” Joy says back, not trying to raise her voice. She knows Master Mind can hear her whisper from afar. I’m lucky enough that the wind Bonny’s Revenge creates carries the voice up so I can hear it, as well. “There is no way in the world that Amahle would hurt me. No way!” 

Master Mind leaps off the deck to land near Joy. He is trying to save her, even against her will. 

Suzy and I look over the railing. I hear Amahle’s voice. 

“Joy?” Amahle says from within the darkness. “Are you here? Come with me.” 

Joy steps into the cloud of darkness that surrounds Amahle just as Master Mind lands next to her. 

For the second time today, or ever, I hear Master Mind make a sound that I never expected to hear from a killer robot. He growls in frustration. 

“Little Pirate,” he says in a low but forceful voice. “Come out!” 

“Take my hand,” I hear Amahle say. “I want to show you something.” 

If this darkness is the same as the one in Amahle’s dream, Master Mind cannot see inside the darkness, but Joy can. 

“Where are we going?” I hear Joy say. 

“Come out, Little Pirate!” Master Mind growls. “You are in danger!” 

And yet he remains outside the darkness. I am sure he could reach in and feel his way and grab Joy, which he no doubt wants to do. But I believe he is afraid of touching Amahle and turning the anger of an obsessed dreamer at him and Joy. 

“Walk with me. Into the hut,” Amahle says. “This one. Help me find the door.” 

The darkness which engulfs both Amahle and Joy merges with one of the huts. Suddenly it grows to cover the entire hut. 

“The Little Pirate is infuriating,” Master Mind growls again. “If I were not her friend, I would stop being her friend!” 

(To be continued…)

—Told by Grampa Walt