CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
By the time Esther had led a bedraggled Oliver back to the campfire, there were barely any of Cousteau’s islanders left awake. The elderly woman she’d run away from before was still there, and she appeared to harbor no ill will for Esther’s trick. In fact, she bowed just the same as she had before. Clearly, despite sneaking away from them, the children were still considered demigods. Esther recalled how the Greek gods were considered somewhat mischievous—maybe that’s why they’d been so readily forgiven.
They settled down beside the warm, glowing embers. Esther couldn’t help herself but stare at Oliver like he was a mirage. He looked utterly exhausted, like he’d been through quite an ordeal, and while her instinct was to have him answer the million and one questions ra
