Free Crystal Doors #1 by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta

to snatch insects from the air.
    As the carpet increased speed, the breeze remained steady and refreshing.
Kind of like riding in a convertible on a warm day,
Vic thought. The carpet’s gold tassels fluttered. Vic felt more exhilarated than frightened.
    Sharif bent low as they raced over the ocean, far faster than most ships could sail, and the djinni globe swung forward in its mesh pouch. Glowing blue with earnest concentration, Piri pressed herself against the curved side of her eggsphere and stared down at the water where seabirds skimmed the waves in search of fish.
    Soon, the island dropped far behind them, dwindling to a tiny smudge on the horizon. Then even that was gone.
    “Sharif!” Vic raised his voice to be heard above the constant breeze. “Do we have a map or a compass? How will we find our way back?”
    “The embroidery in the flying carpet carries all the maps and charts we could need. It is very sophisticated. I have already traced in our destination for the Ophir reefs. I could easily fly back to Elantya with my eyes closed.”
    “Well don’t close them yet, or we might miss any survivors.”
    Sharif chuckled. The heavy globe pendant around his neck shimmered white, and the tiny djinni moved her hands, signaling.“Ah, Piri reminds me that she could also lead us back, if need be. She has a good sense of direction.”
    The open seas stretched out blue-green as far as he could see, and Vic began to realize how isolated the island of Elantya was. Was it the only speck of land on this whole planet? Yet it was at the center of all the crystal-door gateways.
    After about an hour of fast flight, Vic found himself shifting restlessly on the cushion of fabric and air. Ahead he spotted a white foamy patch where waves churned around black rocky reefs that were mostly submerged.
    They descended, circling low over the rocks. As they had expected and feared, Vic and Sharif saw broken driftwood and a long floating mast with a tangled blue sail. From his high vantage point, Vic could see tiny chunks of wreckage drifting in all directions, as if the ship had exploded and sprayed debris out into the ocean currents.
    “The reefs stir up the water,” Sharif said. “Any survivors may have been driven far out on the open sea.”
    “Good thing your carpet can cover a lot of distance,” Vic said. “Spiral outward, and maybe we’ll see something. With both of us watching —”
    “And Piri,” Sharif said.
    “— how can we miss anything?”
    As they cruised over the reefs, Vic could hear the churning sounds. Anyone trying to swim in that maelstrom would have been caught and smashed. Farther from the dangerous rocks, Vic and Sharif discovered another part of a mast drifting slowly by. Large, predatory shapes swam about beneath the water. Giant sharks, perhaps? Or prehistoric sea monsters?They probably would have devoured any helpless person floating in those waters. How could there be any survivors?
    But Vic didn’t say that out loud. He was an optimist, after all.
    Sharif circled farther from the Ophir reefs. By the end of two hours, they saw no more debris, but they continued to spiral outward, making sure. When they were on the verge of giving up, the boy from Irrakesh saw something on the water’s surface.
    “It’s another piece of debris.” Vic shaded his eyes and squinted into the bright sunlight. “No, wait! There’s a
person
on it!”
    Sharif urged his flying carpet to greater speed, skimming just above the choppy waves. Piri’s sphere glowed an urgent orange.
    As they came closer, the two young men made out a floating yardarm from the ruined ship. Sodden ropes dangled in the water, and a single dark-skinned woman clung to the wood with one arm while struggling and thrashing against an underwater enemy.
    “Looks like she’s fighting something,” Vic said.
    “She is fighting for her life. Hang on.”
    Spray splashed into the air, and the flying carpet closed the distance.
    The female survivor gripped