They got to the shore late in the evening. The place didn’t look familiar but at least they were happy that from there, even as they were not certain of which direction to take they were hopeful to trace home even if it takes a month. The freshness of the air and the water was relieving. The sea was calm but leaves were more as some falls down. The sad as usual was smooth and good to play on.
They gathered dried sticks and grasses to make fire for the night before nightfall. When they were through that Zack beseeched the dwarfs to do whatever they intend so that they will take off early the following day. The dwarfs compelled them to look for fresh bamboo sticks and gather them, which they did.
When the sticks were enough for what it was needed for, the dwarfs began their contraction gradually. It was weird however from the beginning, for they haven’t seen people sail or row on bamboo sticks. Some of them even doubted the craft to work.
“We should not let this creatures bamboozle us. We rather ponder about something else” Nazi said.
“Of course. I’m sure you don’t expect me to follow you on these” They complained.
“Why don’t we stay calm and see what they come up with” Dylan advised.
“They may come up with something reliable only to them. It may work perfectly for them and to us it will be the other way around. Remember these are not humans like we are. They are smaller and have a different way of surviving”
“Nazi, will you calm down a while?”
They finished the construction that night with the help of the fire they made to keep warm and bright but they did not test it till morning. They were splendid with designs. They made a shelter above it on which they covered with leaves. They made rails on both sides for support. The raft was wide enough to accommodate them all.
That morning the dwarfs pushed the bamboo raft into the water and paddled the immediate distance for them to see and learn how to use it. At first Dylan, Rickie and Zack went to test it. It was really comfortable just as the normal canoe they know about. But to Rickie it was more interesting standing on bamboo sticks with holes all through yet still floating.
The dwarfs waited at the shore to ensure they were off the land before they go for they were certain that they will be attacked by savages who might be hiding somewhere in the jungle watching to see if they’ll go leaving them there.
Finally the nine friends were paddling home. All their experience still remained like imagination and so was going home.
After about twenty seven hours of rowing without any sign of being on the right path, they found Fisher men at the middle of the sea who they beseeched for direction, Fortunately they knows their place. They pointed to a direction different from where they faced.
“I said it, that I don’t think we are going the right direction” Nazi reminded.
“Me too I was thinking same thing” Bond added. Both of them were at the back doing nothing. The girls stuck together discussing. They discovered that the wound one of them sustained was healing. She could walk even without a support.
“So which direction did you suggest we take?” Dylan and the other friends.
“I myself I don’t know which is the right path but I was sure this wasn’t it”
“You both better keep quiet. You haven’t been contributing to anything here”
“I was paddling, have you forgotten?” Nazi asked.
“For how long?”
“Is it not turn by turn? I’m tired. I will continue when I regain strength”
As they took the direction they were asked to, they paddled for three hours and began to see places they know. Their hopes were vastly restored. Those things they see made it easy for them to know which direction to take to get home.
As they were heading home they all had one thought in their minds. They had wishes and plans Just like everyone who left home for a while. They expected to see people they know waiting for them on the way, they expected to be welcomed like lost children that returned or victorious warriors.
“Is this how your place look?” Mata asked Emily.
“No. Not anything like this. Everything there is far advanced”
“How?”
“It’s a city with story buildings, vehicles with engines, many places of production, industries, shops. Dressing there is more modest, schools there has broad courses to study. It’s a place you will love to see”
“We will visit there some day, if we are sure not to lost again”
“I will love to. It’s just knowing the name of the place, nothing else “
They alighted happily at the river bank. People were surprised to see them return with a raft instead of canoes. They were inquisitive about why they stay so long and returned with nothing. They cared to know why they had to return together and what happened to their canoes. Emily was another strange face they needed to know about. This was really a long story. It must be told but not in a rush so they needed to rest first.