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After an agonizing lided in a circle overhead, one of theround and swooped in front of Alex "It’s in the water, but on the opposite side of the island, sir!"

"Drat!" muttered Alex "There always has to be some problem" He looked in the other direction, but couldn’t see over the rock shelter "Is it clear of the stor open water, nice and cal?"

"It doesn’t appear to be"

"At least there’s that" Alex looked at the others, rapidly reassessing the situation "Change of plans Let’s save the spells for now and run to the other side of the island Then cast your coo--you’re on your own! There’s no time to waste"

The Artiméans made a frantic dash for the other side of the island while the precious minutes of the hour of cal back with Florence, as trying to help Captain Ahab round more quickly

When they’d made it halfway to the other side and it was clear that Captain Ahab could , Alex called out to the squirrelicorns "Three of you take Captain Ahab noill you, so he doesn’t get left behind?"

Three squirrelicorns soared down and quickly picked up the captain, allowing Alex and Florence to try to catch up to the others While they ran, they caught glih the wind as they carried the statue out over the waves, heading toward a dot on the horizon that Alex could just barely see The other three squirrelicorns flen to fetch Copper and carry her away

Just as Alex and Florence reached the other side, Saathered Fox and Kitten on board "To the ship," he commanded His carpet lifted him several feet above the waves and puttered toward the ship Alex watched intently, hoping the ould stay quiet enough not to upset the carpet and knock them to the sea

Lani went next "Come on, Crow!" she said She thren her carpet, and when it expanded, she sat down and patted the space in front of her Crow hopped onto the spot and soon they were off, following Sahtly to the sides of the carpet, and it righted itself again

Henry followed, flying solo, and soon overtook Lani and Crow

Octavia threw her co Sky, Alex, and Florence on the island

"So far so good," Florence said, gathering her components "Sky, keep your eyes on the ship and let us know if anybody fails tothe halfway point in the hour of calm, and there was no time to lose Alex and Florence ic carpets down at breakneck speed, overlapping thehtly for more stability, five across and six deep Florence sat down on theht evenly over the thirty carpets "I sure hope this works," she muttered

"Go!" Alex said "Hurry!"

"To the ship!" cried Florence