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>Decline.
As politely as you can, you turn down the offer of the canteen. Zacharie sloshes the object a bit in what can only be described as a very half-hearted shrugging motion. He caps the small black container back into his backpack, and begins walking towards you with a very nonchalant gait.
“No hard feelings, good chum. You can get quite dry in the throat after burning out like that, but maybe your mother taught you not to take candy from strangers. I can assure you, however, that I have your best interests at heart ninety percent of fifty percent of the time. Honest.”
Impulsively and awkwardly, you scratch the bottom of your chin. Zachaire chuckles a little- perhaps that was his idea of a joke. You turn back to the pedalo ride, and attempt to get the vehicle dislodged from the current rut it’s in. You push for a good ten seconds, forehead turning red with heat. Try as you might, however, you simply cannot get this thing unstuck. Zacharie, somewhat perplexed, cocks his head. This may be a two man effort. You look back to the masked salesman, face scrunched and looking half expectant and half hesitant. You may not take candy from strangers, but you sure could use a stranger’s help.
“At the very least, let me help you get sailing.”
Zacharie joins you, and together, the two of you begin to push the pedal into the congealing water at the coast. With his help, you finally unstick the avian from its spot and it bounces on the surface of the water, bobbing. You turn to Zacharie, and you can’t help but be the littlest bit appreciative. Unreadable under the mask, he carries himself lackadaisical-y, if not out of breath.
“You cannot say I don’t offer any favors. Ah! hehe…”
You hop aboard the small duck, and push yourself into the liquid. The carriage bobs as it enters the water, making a small wave that threatens to splash you. Then, it begins to drift. Slowly but surely ambling away from zone 0, you watch as the shore gets smaller and smaller, and as Zacharie turns into a blurry black dot in the distance.
