They went to the river bank as early as possible to wait for those other fishermen, to know when they come so that they can take off together. There was just one of the hirers there, and he too was about going home. Though it was still dark.
“What are you doing here?” He asked them.
“We want to wait here for Zack and his team”
“They moved almost an hour now. Not too long before you came”
This comment was really shocking. They were highly disappointed and virtually blamed themselves for not asking about Zack earlier. At least by that time there will be hope of catching up.
“Which direction?” Dylan asked with popped eyes.
“It is dark so I couldn’t see the direction they vanished through. But they normally take the West ward direction” The aged man spoke with sincerity echoing in his tone.
They were disappointed with themselves. They made the mistake of not asking when they came. But the thing is that they didn’t expect Zack to have come out by that time for they consider it too early. They made haste hoping to meet them somewhere. They rowed away within a twinkle of an eye.
This time they took more items including net, hook, lighter, baits, sack, umbrella, riffle, knives, spear torchlight and food. They prepared well because they don’t know which to need on the journey.
For over five hours they have been paddling without any sign. They have gone farther than they have never gone. All they could see was just water and sky, they were the only creature in between. The water was cool and calm. The air their was different but gentle. The sky and the sea was same in color and all plain.
“We shouldn’t have come this far since we are not sure which direction they took” Nazi complained.
“There is no sign of them anywhere, not anywhere around the horizon” Mata said.
“Let’s be patient and keep sailing. They left an hour before us. They weren’t waiting for us besides they don’t know we are following them so you don’t expect to see them easily, for they too will be rushing to reach their fishing area” Rickie pointed out.
“You alone sees things the way they are. You should be the oldest triplet not Nazi” Dylan said, pleased with Rickie.
“What does that mean?” Nazi looking offended.
“It means you complain a lot”
“You are saying I complain a lot, don’t you comprehend my point? Do we have to paddle till night falls, when we are not certain to be on the right direction?”
“Stop fuming or you get down” Dylan joked. Mata and Rickie laughed. But Nazi didn’t find it funny. He went to the back and sat fuming. He didn’t want to row again. He claimed to be tired and they allowed him to rest.
They rowed for another two hours, another complaint arose. Now it was Nazi and Mata together, refusing to go further. They insisted to cast their nets right there and whatever they catch they will go home with it.
“This particular place is too deep to expect fishes. Those marine creatures will be right under not on the surface” Dylan enlightened.
“Dolphins leaps on the surface” Mata reminded.
“Have you seen anyone since we left the village? You can’t find dolphins in every sea”
“Give it a trial”
Dylan and Rickie heeded. They casted their nets and waited for strays to sneak in.
“Don’t put the hook” Dylan said to Mata who was about doing it.
“Why?”
“That may catch something we can’t pull out”
“It is true. It will end up pulling us in Instead” Nazi added.
After all their waiting their net caught nothing. Nazi and Mata could not stop complaining. They suggested they reverse but Dylan said it was too late to do so. That they won’t get home before night no matter how fast they paddle. It’s not safe rowing in the sea at night to avoid getting lost therefore they had to find the closest land and stay for the night. And moreover, they were already tired and can’t do so much of the paddling. Tomorrow they will continue.
They paddled for over an hour before they could sight the land, and the distance left to get there was still going to take another one hour.