In his voice you could clearly hear that the boy was beginning to resign himself to defeat. Perhaps you were about to answer him, but a sound caused him to jerk his head up, and as he did so you caught sight of the same hooded figure that was watching him in the throne room. This time it was watching him from one of the smallest windows next to the main gate.
Kaleb could tell that it was a huachi, with bluish skin and gigantic bright yellow irises. It's eyes were decorated with some kind of pink paint.
-They're looking at me... -the boy whispered to you. Hearing this, the hooded huachi quickly hid-. No wait! -said the boy.
But the hooded huachi had disappeared from his sight. Kaleb tried to move as far as the shackles would allow him, hoping he could see. Suddenly, they emerged slowly next to the gate, their head first being seen poking out slightly, curiously and cautiously. Those big yellow eyes blinked and then they stepped forward, revealing the rest of their body. Most of it was covered in that weird tunic of seaweed, down to their shins; their feet had those membranes characteristic of the Huachis, which made a sound when taking steps on the wet ground.
The hooded figure stopped just in front of the gate and watched the boy. For a moment Kaleb felt like some kind of animal in a zoo. It wasn't until his eyes met the huachi's that Kaleb realized that there was no malice in them. All the other creatures that he had encountered in this book had a malicious or even terrified look, but in the eyes of this huachi there was only curiosity.
-Maybe you don't understand me -Kaleb said-, but I swear I have no bad intentions. Can you help me? -he continued, trying to speak as kindly as possible.
The huachi just looked at him with that curiosity they couldn't hide.
-Get out, I need to get out. You understand me? Outside -Kaleb spoke to them slowly and trying to gesticulate as much as possible.
The huachi just looked at him.
-It's useless, I don't think they understand me -Kaleb told you.
Suddenly, the sound of the gate opening made him turn around in wonder. The huachi left the gate open for a moment, like someone pausing at each step to reflect before going too far.
-Yes, yes. Get out -he told them.
The huachi entered and closed the gate again.
-No, no! -said Kaleb. The huachi, upon hearing the boy's exasperation, turned to face him, alert. Their expression now was that of someone approaching a wild animal that had growled at them-. I'm sorry -Kaleb added, seeing that he had scared them-. It was not my intention -he added regretfully-. It's just that I've been trapped for a long time -he said sincerely.
The huachi looked at him and began to go down the steps to the cell, until they were completely submerged in the water. Their tunic of seaweed must have come loose, for it floated to the surface as the body sank. Not seeing them anymore, the boy went into a tense state of alarm. What if they were some kind of huachi assassin coming to kill him?
The boy was trying to see if he could make out the huachi swimming in the cell, but the sun had set. The water was now black and the only thing he saw was the reflection of those glowing shells on the wall, but there was no way for him to know if the huachi was swimming near or far from him. Kaleb began to fidget and his shackles clicked against the wall. In one movement he tensed his muscles, as if expecting a blow, or worse, that a dagger or some weapon would embed itself in him while he was immobile. But instead, he felt the waves crash lightly into his chest.
He noticed the rippling water as the head of the huachi emerged up to their nose a couple of meters away. They were simply staring out of the water, looking at him with that same curiosity. He could see now that there was a kind of tiara on their head, similar to the King's, but they had a normal-sized crab placed in front, and on the back of their head protruded a purple oyster.
-Wh-who are you? -asked Kaleb.
The rest of the body emerged to waist height, revealing a Huachi much younger than any Kaleb had seen. This huachi must have been about his size approximately. Her eyes were bigger than those of the rest of the huachis, especially those of the elders in the throne room, whose eyes were quite small.
She had a beautiful long membrane for hair. She wore an outfit that covered from her shoulders to the middle of her abdomen. This one wore a similar jellyfish umbrella. It looked soft to the touch, and in the light of those shells, it glowed quite beautifully. From her neck hung a small seashell.
The huachi smiled full of intrigue, curiosity and excitement. Her already big eyes were wide open. Then, with a gentle and excited voice, she asked:
-Yoo are a hyooman?
-Yes -responds Kaleb, nervous-. I'm human. Wait! You speak Spanish! -he said, surprised.
-Yes -replied the Huachi, while gently nodding her head. Her eyes did not leave the boy.
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