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He regarded her curiously, then shook his head He tried speaking again, slower this time "Kore atashi no ," Sky said in a gentle voice "Do you understand er and closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face, as if he were trying to recall so When he opened his eyes, he tapped the box and said very slowly, "Thismine Understand?"

This time Sky nodded, and she spoke slowly too "This is your toolbox?"

Thea mouth void of teeth "Mine" He pointed to the stern of the ship that Alex and Ms Octavia had explored "My ship"

"Ah," Alex said "So you are stranded here?"

"Hai Stranded" He leaned in and, hesitating now and then, said, "I speak your language Long tio I am oldmust think for the words" He tapped the side of his head "But it comes back You’ll see"

Alex nodded "I can understand you very well, sir Thank you"

By this tiathered, with Florence hanging back, keeping an eye on the island but also realizing that her loo Still the man noticed her--she was i at Sky, and asked, "Robot?"

Sky stared "U very carefully to sound out his words

Sky shook her head and looked around She didn’t know the word

Lani pushed forward "Wait Did you say ‘robot’?"

When the h "No Not a robot Statue"

Alex and Sky exchanged puzzled glances

The man frowned "Statue is alive" He peered more closely at Lani, then looked at the ship He pointed at it "You are pirates?" He seemed extremely puzzled