12As Seek swam closer to the shore of the lagoon, the crowd on the beach grew. Men, women, and children emerged from the jungle and hurried over the sand to join those already standing there.
Everyone was smiling. Some waved, and some applauded. Children hurried past the adults, splashing into the surf and swimming out toward Raka and Seek.
Raka watched in amazement. She couldn't remember ever seeing these people before, but they all seemed to be happy to see her. She couldn't remember ever being on this island before, but she was being welcomed as if she were coming home.
More than that, she could see that this crowd of strangers had something in common with her. Even at a distance, she could see that every person on the
beach--except the very old--had red hair like hers.
"Thes
