Island of Shipwrecks by Lisa McMann

Author:Lisa McMann
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Aladdin

Henry Helps Out

At first, when Henry began following Ishibashi around, Crow tagged along, but he soon grew bored with the greenhouse, preferring to work on less delicate things like cutting wood and pounding nails. Henry, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough of his time with the scientist. He longed to spend all of his time in the greenhouse with Ishibashi, learning about the healing nature of plants, and how to breed them to make new strains.

Before the Artiméans arrived, Ishibashi had been working on creating a new fruit and vegetable combination he called sweet applecorn, which grew in oblong pods on a stalk with a tuft of bright red leaves at the top. Ishibashi took a knife and sliced off one of the pods, then peeled back the edible husk, revealing a red-and-yellow-checkerboard vegi-fruit inside. He chopped it up and put it into a bowl, added a little bit of fresh diced onion, a few drops of avocado oil, and a squeeze of lime juice, and presented it to Henry, who declared it his new favorite food.

Having no paper to write on, Henry could only take notes mentally and hope that he remembered everything he learned. Before bed he repeated recipes and formulas to himself so they would stick in his brain better.

One morning after the hour of calm was over and the Artiméans had brought the day’s scavenged leftovers into the shelter, Henry dried off and made his way as usual to the greenhouse to find Ishibashi. The old scientist was there like always, puttering around the plantings. On the floor was a large container that Henry had never seen before. He dropped to his haunches next to it and peered in. It was filled with water and a slimy-looking substance that glowed fluorescent blue. “Ishibashi-san,” said Henry, “what is this?”

“Seaweed,” said the old man, not looking up. He crouched on the ground, watering some plants very carefully. He counted out the drops of water under his breath. “Also known as breakfast, for some. But do not taste it.”

Henry crinkled up his nose. “I won’t. Do you guys eat this?”

“Hai.” Ishibashi moved to the next plant. “It grows only on the leeward side of the island, where your whale takes shelter in the cove. She is a beautiful creature. I spoke to her today as I was out collecting the seaweed.”

Henry sniffed. It smelled briny, but not terrible. “Do you like this stuff?”

“Not really. Ito and Sato eat it as a scientific experiment. But it can be dangerous.”

“What’s the experiment?”

Ishibashi didn’t answer for a moment, concentrating on his plants and silently counting drops. “Life,” he said solemnly, looking up.

Henry felt a shiver go down his spine. He could tell by the way Ishibashi spoke that this was a precious secret not to be shared. And as much as he wanted to know everything, he dared not ask more.

But he couldn’t forget it.

Every day thereafter, while Alex and the others worked on spell components, Henry made his way to the greenhouse.

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