Vi, about 12 or 13, has just been rescued after a shipwreck by Cal, a strange creature who lives on the island upon which Vi has washed up.

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VI: (She is dreaming of something frightening. Trying to wake up:) We're lost, wild water, Bast, hold on to my hand! BAST! Leave the books behind! Bast...BAST! (Wakes, looks around wildly:) Bast...oh... (Sees Cal and the trunk:) Get away from that, that belongs to my brother!

(Tries to wrench trunk away, gets into a fierce game of tug of war until she gets a good look at Cal.)

Oh!

(Drops trunk. Her hand goes to her belt where a sword should be. Cal merely smiles.)

CAL: Hain't nuthin' gonna fit me no-how. Tough to pull petticoats on over the horns. Don't I look a fine thing in these gees and gaws?

VI: (Cautiously:) What...who are you, sir?

CAL: Sir! Psttt, that's a laugh and a half. If'n I knew I was gonna be addressed as sir, I'd 'a washed this month. You can call me Cal, small-ie. Leave the knighthoods and niceties to your kind. And you, I take it you are... (Looks at side of trunk:) East India Shipping Company?

VI: Er. No. I'm called Vi. Those are the people who made the trunk.

CAL: Well made, too, lasted tough through the storm.

VI: The storm! What end met the ship?

CAL: In toothpicks. (Not unkindly:) You've lost everything. 'cept what's in here.

VI: Oh, twinnie-twinsie.

CAL: Twinsie?

VI: My brother Bast. Those spectacles you are wearing, they belong to him.

CAL: B'longed. B'longs t' me now. Found 'em. Founds you too... Mebbe you b'longs to me now too.

VI: You can't own another human being. (Considers Cal's odd appearance:) Are you a human being?

CAL: Half. On me mother's side. 'Course you can own other beings, if'n you have a bent for the tyrannical. Don't fret small-ie, I don't want you tho', you eats too much prob'ly, and cries, all girly like.

VI: Don't care to cry, or be gentle and delicate. My Bast and I used to swap clothes when we were little. I'd run in his togs, and he in mine, and no one could tell which was which. I was always the one to give a clout to the jaw of some cretin who would pick on Bast for being "soft." He wasn't soft! Just smarter, and quieter and far gentler than me...

CAL: What were you tykes doin' roamin' so far from home?

VI: We aren't tykes. We were running away to the Outlands, to make our fortunes. My father, fed up with us and our mixed up ways, said I was to be sent to a finishing school and Bast to join in with the soldiers. Soldiering! He'd never survive! I convinced Bast to escape with me, we have sailed practically since birth, but the storm last night...

CAL: A wicked storm indeed. Almost alive in its fury.

VI: It came upon us quickly. The best I could think to do when we lost all ability to steer was to lash myself to the mast. Bast was trying to salvage his books.

(Cal guiltily and surreptitiously puts books back in the trunk.)

The foolish boy wasn't secure when a wave rolled over us like a herd of wild sea-horses. I grabbed him around the waist and held on as tight as I could, but... One lurch and he was gone. Then, next second, the rope gave, the mast cracked and I was flung into the water. I knew I was done for then, and glad of it. I could join my Bast and my mother. But as I was about to go under, as the water stole my breath, I felt myself lifted into air. I dreamt that a beast, a sea monster had me, but instead of eating me, he dragged me onto a piece of wood and I never sank...oh...it was YOU!

CAL: That's rich. Do I look like a monster to you? (Scratches his head.) Never mind, p'raps I do...

VI: You rescued me from the drink!

CAL: Bah, I was fishin' for squid and pulled you into my net's all.

VI: I owe you my life.

CAL: You'll be repayin' the debt soon enough, small-ie. So enjoys yer freedom while you gots it. There's dry togs in here. And this.

(He hands her a sword belt.)

VI: That's the sword my father used at the battle for Dunsinane. It's mine now.

CAL: Yer a right something else, that you are. Yer lucky to be alive, Mister Miss. So stop yer sighin' and buckle on yer sword. Yer gonna need yer wits about you.

(Cal suddenly stops talking. A fairy light appears at his ear. Cal springs up and starts to trot off.)

VI: Where are you going?

CAL: Mab here says she's seen a kidlet, mirror image of ye. Gonna see if he's a breather yet.

VI: Bast!? Did the dolphins save him? Where are you going? Creature...being...SIR?! Wait!