The inn looked like someone had opened a cemetery.

  I couldn’t bring myself to look into the place where I had been staying for the last week. Outside was graphic enough. Part of me had been worried that Johnnie would be unbearable after his fight with the six or seven goons. His endless chatter was silent as we walked around a few dozen bodies. I had thought it was amazing that a few thugs had captured Mei. Now I was surprised that they had tried to take her alive.

  None of the computer citizens dared to enter the street. The guards at the foot of Mount Terra had been the first casualties. After that, the computer players had gone into hide mode. The few real players that had been hiding out paid just enough attention to figure out that the small army wasn’t coming for them. Once they knew they were safe, they stayed as far away from the crossfire as they could.

  We walked out of town in silence. Johnnie and Michael took turns carrying Mei for the rest of the day. We weren’t able to go very fast. Once we left town, Johnnie directed us off the road. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but no one was going to be able to follow us quickly.

  We left the storm-covered mountains behind us and entered an area with lots of water. At first I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to enter the new area, but the border guards waved us all through. I didn’t know which areas I had access to and which ones I couldn’t enter. I made a mental note to check my book once we stopped to rest.

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  Johnnie took us to a dock. Mei was just able to move on her own but was leaning heavily on Michael. I sat down on the slimy wood. It stank of fish and mud, but I didn’t care. My feet hurt, and I was sore everywhere.

  I pointed over at a large building, “Can’t we get a room there?”

  Michael and Johnnie both stopped their conversation. Mei didn’t look happy at either of them, but I think that had more to do with her being carried than whatever they were talking about.

  “We’re almost there.” Johnnie smiled. “Just wait here for a few minutes while I go talk…” he paused, “while I go get us a boat.”

  He slipped away into the waning light.

  I looked around the town. To call it a town was giving it too much credit. The “inn” was about the size of a fast food restaurant. The dock had over a dozen boats the size of semi-trucks. There were more smaller boats than I cared to count littered along the shore. The rest of the buildings looked more like warehouses than stores or homes, and there were only a few of those. Basically, this was a rest stop for people shipping goods around the lake.

  Johnnie showed back up alone, except he was wearing a nervous smile. “We’re good to go,” he announced.

  “Good to go?” I asked, “I’m guessing we aren’t going to an inn?”

  Johnnie shook his head. “Nope, we’re getting away from people.” He pointed to the water, “To our own private island.”

  “You have an island?” I asked.

  “Well, it’s not mine so much as my family’s.” He looked at everyone. “Nobody gets seasick, do they?”

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