They were like firebugs, blue orbs flitting in the distance. They whispered when we drew near.

Suddenly, I was back. Back in the dance of human civilization, back to the chaos and the madness and the anguish of being alone and left out. Their voices were taunting.

I heard the other travelers cry out from across the waves. The floating blue lights jumped to and fro and wavered in brightness, like nothing I had ever seen. Could they think? Were they watching us? I tried to pull myself out of the visions they gave me, but I knew, too, that these were not visions but memories. I could not force away that which my own mind contained.

There were two other people on my boat. Their names were Jana and Misham, and though I knew them scarcely better than the other travelers, I was the only one who could stop them from jumping overboard. For under the spell of the blue lights, they had been maddened and were approaching the water with dangerous intent.

Restraining them with my own hand proved useless, for they fought back with an almost animalistic vigour. Hurriedly, then, I began to search through our supplies for anything which could help.

Fighting with all my strength against my visions, I found three things which could be of use: