The Weather Was the Enemy

On the vast ocean, howling winds swept up dark clouds. Between the clouds and the sea, coconuts flew proudly like green lightning.

For the first time, people from inland and coastal regions experienced a storm in the depths of the open ocean.

All the ships stopped at sheltered spots on the islands, and everyone went ashore.

Tents were scattered among the trees and tied to sturdy trunks so they wouldn't blow away.

Someone, undaunted by the storm, roared from the shore, "Let the storm rage even harder!"

Then a coconut hit him.

The tents rustled loudly in the gale. Inside one of them, Amy was showing Lilu a small purple flower.

Its leaves were somewhat like an orchid's: thick and waxy. Now, the leaves had withered a little, their surfaces wrinkled. Several flower stalks had grown from between the leaves, and the purple blossoms from not long ago had turned into seeds resembling dandelion fluff.

People along the western coast of the Southern Continent called it the Storm Flower. It usually had only leaves, but when a storm was about to arrive, it bloomed and set seed in a short time, letting the wind carry its seeds far away.

Lilu planned to have people dry coconut shells over a fire and use them as flowerpots, then try growing a few on every ship.

Frederick was still dripping wet when he returned to the tent. When he lifted the flap, a cloud of mist rose from him; by the time he stepped inside, the rainwater had vanished without a trace.

"You wanted a coconut?" He handed one to Lilu. "I happened to find one."

The fresh coconut's outer layer was very soft, with a dent that felt a little like the back of Frederick's head.

The storm lasted a day and