244
JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO
Moka and Eegh jumped down and went running into the
front door chattering to themselves. They came running out
minutes later to inform Viviana this house suited them, too.
Then they scampered up a nearby Coconut Palm tree in the
courtyard to check the supply of ripe nuts. They dropped ten
large coconuts still in their husks down to the ground, and they
asked Viviana to have the boys cut them open, so they could all
eat them. The sun was still up above the distant western tree
line by the time everyone was able to sit down next to a
protective campfire. The evening’s rations of food were soon
eaten and the fresh coconut milk and meat were a nice added
treat. The fortress-like courtyard’s front gates were closed and
the horses turned loose on the grounds, where there was an
ample amount of grass for all of them to eat during the next
several days. Brilloso was told by Tital to guard the horses. Ronú
and Jonathan found in the backyard a hand-dug well with fresh
water in it. They used a large, hollowed-out stone and filled it full
of water for the horses to drink.
“I almost feel safe, knowing this house is built out of stone
and those flying creatures can’t break in,” Bardala sat next to
Tital saying as the campfire light flickered around against the
outside of the house.