The Exploration Of Gray II

A boat departs. See previous post. Higher solar energy and rapid planetary rotation make storms more violent than on Earth and the unfamiliarity of the planet makes its weather unpredictable. An unexpected hurricane drives the boat into the gulfstream currents around the outer islands. The Bergs have not brought grav units but don life jackets and strap equipment and supplies to themselves because they can carry more than the Ythrians, who spread their wings for shelter.

When the boat strikes a rock, the Bergs go overboard but the Ythrians fly. Arrach pulls Pete away from a reef that would have killed him but she goes under and is lost. Everyone else gets ashore, where they have their first misunderstanding.

To Pete, a Christian, Arrach died saving him and her spirit is in heaven. Rusa, her brother, searches but finds neither the boat nor Arrach. To Rusa, Arrach died saving the needed equipment and supplies that Pete was carrying; she had deathpride. Enherrian, her father, assures Whell, her mother, that Arrach fought well and gave God honor. To Enherrian, her spirit will be remembered in pride. How could it outlive the body? Why should it?

Pete wonders: does giving God honor mean praying and confessing while drowning? The answer will turn out to be no.