The next day, the wind was again calm and the weather was good for canoeing. Miyoko and Michael took out the canoe that they had pulled on the beach. They planned go to the island where Banana is waiting, but they have to catch the fish on the way home.

    The two left the island by guiding thecanoe. It's still early morning, but it was already very hot on the sea. The sun glares.  The water reflects the sun, hit Miyoko and Michael's eyes.

    Miyoko has been in Palau for three years since coming from Japan, and Michael has been in Palau for two years. Miyoko doesn't even wear make up. Miyoko put a long-sleeved shirt over her T-shirt.

    The canoe travels through the shallow sandy waters for a while. The water is transparent like tap water and has a striped pattern of light on the white sand on the sandy bottom. It seems like each sand grain can be counted. The two crossed the lagoon, and went out to the open sea through the opening of the reef which protects the sandy beach.

   When they went out to the open sea, they saw the island where Banana is waiting. There was no wind, and the canoe glided smoothly on the surface of the sea. Just below the surface of the sea, one can see in places large chunks of coral rising from the seabed. Where the coral grows close to the surface of the sea, the seawater shines bright emerald and sky-blue. Where the sea is deep, it is dark blue. The coral mass is hard like a stone and piles up one after another and grows like one big rock. There are countless holes in the coral which are suitable for fish, lobsters and other creaturesto hide.  Coral masses look like a housing complex for sea creatures. 

    When viewed from the canoe at sea level, the island where Banana is looked near.  However, it was unexpectedly far away. There was a strong current in the strait that separates Leo's island and the island where Banana was. The canoe suddenly became heavy when it reached the strait.  Even if Miyoko and Michael paddled hard without speaking, it took more than an hour to reach the island. When they finally arrived, Miyoko had sore arms and blisters on the palms of her hand.  She was extremely exhausted.  

    After pulling the canoe to the beach, Miyokobegan looking for Banana in the brush near the beach. This is the place yesterday they searched many times with Daniel. Miyoko thought that Banana must come out this time because he must be hungrier today than yesterday.

    Miyoko walked slowly, squinting through the bushes, looking for something moving or a round black mass. The forest is getting deeper. Miyoko, who doesn't have a good sense of direction, soon lost track of where she was walking. Occasionally, she could get a glimpse of Michael walking far through the gaps in the trees.

     Against Miyoko's hopes, Banana did not show up. At the end of the jungle, the land suddenly rises. Bare rocks pile up and continue go up high. Did Banana climb this rocky mountain? Miyoko decided to climb the mountain. Shedetermined to go anywhere to look for Banana, but this time, she was more interested in what happened. The rocks were very sharp. These rocks would have been coral centuries ago. There is no flat surface. The rocky slope became steeper and steeper.   Miyoko had to use both hands to climb. She struggled to find a safe place to step where she would not hurt her feet on the sharp rock. There are many spider webs in the brush. Tree branches and vines block the view and the visibility is poor, and in this state, Miyoko understood that it is completely impossible for her to find a cat unless Banana sits on the rock in front of her and greets her. It was clear it would not easy.

    Looking back, Miyoko could see the sandy land below. Miyoko looked up at the top of the rocky mountain. The summit looks like it is right there. Miyoko kept climbing more and more to see what was beyond the rocky mountain, rather than to find a cat.  What Miyoko saw was a cliff covered with dark green that suddenly fell toward the sea far below. It turns out that this island is much larger than Miyoko had thought. The distant sea is shining blue and green without waves. Miyoko has to admit that she had lost her little black kitten on such a large island with thick jungle.

    Miyoko was completely disappointed and went down to the sandy forest below, getting scratches and cuts on her limbs.