Over The Crescent Moon

by Karen Badger

  “Do I have to? Really?” Spencer whined.

  Frankie shook her head. “You are so much like Lei,” she replied. “Yes...you have to. Now scoot!”

  “Sheesh!” Spencer grabbed two of the bags from the couch, dragged herself across the room like a reluctant, petulant child, and disappeared into one of the bedrooms.

  Just then, the door to the room swung open, admitting Leilani. “Hey, love,” she called from across the room.

  Frankie turned around and smiled. “Hey, baby. How was the council meeting?”

  Leilani strode across the room and took Frankie into her arms. She held her close for several long moments and then kissed her gently. “I missed you today.”

  “I missed you too. So...again—how was the council meeting?”

  Leilani released Frankie and leaned against the countertop as Frankie went back to putting groceries away. “It went as well as expected, I suppose. I’m not surprised that they haven’t made any progress during the past two weeks on how to move forward with the Makenna issue. It’s as though they were waiting for me to return—which I guess is a good thing.”

  “Maybe they were,” Frankie observed.

  “It’s more likely they don’t know how to deal with her. They are, after all, a group of older, traditionalist men. They aren’t accustomed to dealing with aggressive women.”

  Frankie grinned and stood on tip toe to place a quick kiss on Leilani’s lips. “My point. It takes an aggressive woman to deal with an aggressive woman, and they are smart enough to realize that.”

  Leilani frowned. “Do you think I’m aggressive?”

  “Does the sun rise above Haleakala?” Frankie joked.

  “Very funny.”

  “Did you tell them about Red and our plan to use her to get close to Makenna?”

  “I told them.”

  “And?”

  “And I’m not sure they like the idea any more than I do. It’s risky.”

  “I’m not sure about it either,” Frankie admitted. “But she might be our best shot. I do think we need to understand if she can defend herself before we feed her to the she-wolf.”

  “Speaking of Red, where is she?”

  “She’s in her room, trying on her new clothes.”

  “That’s right. I forgot you two went clothes shopping today. How did you do?”

  “I think we did great, but then you can decide for yourself when she comes out to model for us.”

  As if on cue, the door to Spencer’s room opened and she walked into the common room.

  Leilani’s jaw dropped and she stood up straight when she saw her. Leilani’s reaction caused Frankie to turn around.

  Spencer was dressed in black, form-fitting leather pants, tucked into knee-high boots with buckles near her knees. She wore a black leather vest atop a white button-down shirt, with ruffles at the neck and ruffles at the wrists that extended beyond her coat sleeves. Her coat extended to mid-thigh and was decorated with a column of buttons on each side. The jacket had a stand-up collar and was clearly designed to be worn open.

  “Wow! In the name of Pele, you look amazing!” Frankie said. “Don’t you think, Lei?”

  Leilani was speechless.

  “Lei?”

  Frankie’s voice shook Leilani out of her stupor. “Ah...wow is an understatement. You are sexy in that outfit!”

  Frankie lightly punched Leilani in the stomach. “Excuse me? I am right here in front of you, you know!”

  Leilani rubbed her stomach while pointing to Spencer with the other hand. “Tell me she isn’t sexy!”

  “Yes, I admit she looks sexy. Now put your eyes back into their sockets, if you don’t mind!”

  “Sorry, Frankie. You asked my opinion.”

  Spencer’s cheeks tinged with pink as she graciously accepted Leilani’s praise. “I feel like we’re getting ready for a Halloween party,” she said.

  Leilani approached Spencer and stood in front of her. She reached forward and released the first two buttons of Spencer’s shirt and spread the collar wide. “That’s better.”

  Spencer looked down at her exposed cleavage and then back up at Leilani. “You can’t be serious.”

  “You need to get her attention. That should do it,” Leilani pointed out. She turned to Frankie. “What do you think?”

  “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.” Frankie went into the bedroom she shared with Leilani and returned a moment later. She handed a holstered derringer to Spencer. “Here. Put this on.”

  “I don’t know about this,” Spencer said tentatively.

  “If all goes well, you’ll never have to use it,” Frankie said.

  Spencer raised her eyebrows. “If all goes well? That sure helps my confidence!”

  Frankie pushed Spencer’s coat back and hung the belted holster low on Spencer’s waist. She tied the bottom of the holster to Spencer’s leg by the rawhide straps attached to it.

  Frankie stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Oh! One more thing...the sword. Lei, could you please grab it for me? It’s on the couch.”

  Leilani picked the sword up and carried it to Frankie. “This is the real deal. Papa has one similar to it hanging above his fireplace. Where did you find it?”

  “In the marketplace. Give me the scabbard, if you would,” Frankie said to Leilani.

  Frankie looked at Spencer. “You’re right handed?”

  Spencer nodded.

  “Okay. We’ll hang this on your left hip then.”

  Spencer held her coat back so Frankie could secure the scabbard unhindered. Finally, Frankie took the sword from Leilani and handed it to Spencer.

  Spencer tentatively reached for the sword with her right hand. Her hand slipped effortlessly into the knuckle-bow between the cross guard and pommel, and her fingers and palm wrapped around the hilt with ease. Instinctively, she stood tall, with her heels touching, and held the sword straight out in front of her. The blade was a meter long and gently curved upward, ending in a sharp point. She stood there as though in a trance...unblinking.

  A quick movement to her left caused her to set her mark, followed by a thrust while extending her front leg. Using a slight kicking motion, she propelled her body forward with her back leg and followed through with a straight thrust, counter-disengage attack and cutover.

  “Red! Red, stop!”

  Spencer was brought back to reality by the sound of Frankie’s voice. She blinked wildly until Frankie’s face came into focus.

  “Red. Put the sword down. Put it down, now!”

  Spencer looked around frantically and realized she was still in eighteen eighty-four...in a hotel room on O’ahu...and she had Leilani pinned to the wall at sword point.

  ***

  Spencer paced back and forth in her room as she listened to the heated conversation going on in the room next door.

  “It was like she was in a trance or something.”

  Spencer recognized Leilani’s voice.

  “I know. It happened when she took the sword. It’s like something came over her. I don’t think she realized what she was doing, Lei.”

  “Frankie, she could have killed me!”

  “Yes, she could have, but she didn’t.”

  “I don’t know if I can trust her. I mean, what if she goes mad every time she handles that sword?”

  “I don’t think she’s going mad, Lei. I think she is beginning to remember...at least her body is remembering. By the way she handled that sword, it’s obvious she knows how to use it.”

  “All the more reason not to trust her, Frankie. I’m afraid when her memory does return, things are not going to work out as we’d like them to.”

  Spencer sat on the end of the bed and held her head in her hands. What if Leilani is right about me? I wish I could remember.

  ***

  Spencer stood in the window of her room. A full moon cast an eerie glow across everything and despite the wee hours of the morning, the light appeared to hover between dusk and dawn.

&nb
sp; She sighed deeply and then crept quietly through the common room to collect the things she had purchased that day. She returned to her room and stuffed her belongings in the carpet bag. Finally, she scribed a few words on a piece of parchment and placed it on her pillow.

  Spencer quietly opened her window and thanked Pele that their room was on the ground floor. She leaned over the sill and placed her belongings on the ground under the window, and then climbed out after them. Soon, she disappeared into the shadows of the night.

  Chapter 14

  Spencer went directly to the docks after leaving the hotel. Even in the middle of the night, it was a bustle of activity. She made her way to the end of the dock and scanned the ocean horizon, where in the dim light of the full moon, she was able to make out the silhouette of a large ship, moored off the shore of Diamond Head.

  “What’s your business?”

  Spencer swung around and came face to face with a tall, bristly-chinned longshoreman.

  “Huh?” Spencer stammered.

  “What’s your business? This dock is private property.”

  Spencer had to think fast. “I, uh, I’m looking for work.”

  The man laughed heartily. “You’re nothing but a little wisp of a girl. There’s nothing here for you. Be gone with you.”

  Spencer grabbed his arm when he turned to walk away. “Wait. Give me a chance. I’m stronger than I look. I…I need the money.”

  The man looked her up and down. He noted the gun on her hip and the sword she had slung over her shoulder. “Are those yours?” he asked.

  Spencer glanced at her weapons. “Yes, they are.”

  He crossed his arms in front of him. “I assume you know how to use them?”

  “Yes sir, I do.” Spencer replied and hoped the lie didn’t show on her face.

  The longshoreman studied her face. Spencer squirmed under his scrutiny.

  “Well?” Spencer prompted.

  “As it turns out, we are looking for someone to monitor security on the docks. Does that sound like something you’d be willing to do?”

  Spencer swallowed hard.

  “I need an answer, girl. If you’re not willing, then be gone with you.”

  “No! No…I mean, yes! I am willing to do that.”

  The longshoreman extended his hand to Spencer. “All right then. My name is William, but the crew calls me Bear.”

  Spencer shook his hand firmly. “Red. My name is Red.”

  Bear chuckled. “It suits you. Now, come with me and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the crew. Then you can show us what you can do.”

  ***

  Frankie set up the coffee pot to boil just as Leilani entered the common room from the bedroom. “Good morning, love. How did you sleep?”

  Leilani crossed the room and kissed Frankie on the cheek. “Not too bad, considering the events of the past evening.” Leilani pulled open the collar of her blouse. “Look at the bruise she gave me at the point of that sword.”

  Frankie looked at the angry mark above Leilani’s left breast. “Damn. It almost broke the skin.”

  “Yes it did.” She glanced at the door to Spencer’s room. “Has she shown her face yet?”

  “I haven’t seen her,” Frankie replied.

  Leilani walked toward Spencer’s room. “I’m a little concerned about leaving you here alone with her while I’m in meetings.”

  “Darling, I’ll be fine. I don’t think she meant to hurt you.”

  “Well, I don’t like taking chances.” Leilani pushed the door to Spencer’s room open and looked inside. “She’s not here.”

  “What?” Frankie quickly crossed the room and confirmed Leilani’s observation. “I wonder where she went? Look, there’s a note on her pillow.”

  Leilani looked around the room while Frankie retrieved the note. “All her stuff is gone as well, Frankie. Including the sword and your gun.”

  Frankie picked up the note from Spencer’s pillow and then slowly sat on the edge of the bed as she read it.

  Leilani sat beside her. “What does the note say?”

  “It simply says, ‘I’m sorry. Thank you for all you’ve done.’”

  Leilani jumped to her feet. “I need to alert the authorities.”

  “And tell them what? That she has delusions about being from the year two thousand nineteen? What has she done that would justify arresting her?” Frankie asked.

  “How about, she stole your gun? How about she’s an armed lunatic?” Leilani suggested angrily. “And what about the sword?”

  “The sword is hers. She bought it. And as far as the gun is concerned, I didn’t tell her she couldn’t take it. Hell, I was the one who made her put it on.”

  Leilani took Frankie by the shoulders. “Why are you defending her? She could be dangerous, Frankie. She could ruin everything for all of us!”

  “You don’t know that, Lei. I spent two full weeks with her before you came home. She is not a dangerous person. She has asked us to trust her. I think we should give her a chance.”

  Leilani walked a few feet away and then turned sharply back toward Frankie. “I don’t understand what spell she has cast on you, Frankie. Is there something you need to tell me?”

  ***

  Bear escorted Spencer to the main dock where about a dozen workers were assembled for an early morning breakfast. “Gather round,” Bear shouted.

  He pushed Spencer in front of the men. “This is Red. She is looking for a job.”

  Spencer’s anxiety escalated when the men laughed at Bear’s proclamation.

  “That’s enough,” Bear said. “She deserves the same chance each one of you had. Now, you’re all aware of the problems we’ve had with pirates lately, so I am considering putting her in charge of security on the dock. Red here says she’s pretty good with a sword, so I thought I’d let her demonstrate her skills. Any volunteers?”

  “I’ll challenge her, Bear.”

  Spencer narrowed her eyes at her opponent…a young man who looked to be in his twenties. He was taller than her by several inches, and had sinewy muscles.

  “Donovan. I suspected you would,” Bear said. “Grab your sword.”

  Spencer took advantage of Donovan’s brief absence to remove her coat, and the derringer on her hip. She shoved the gun and holster into her bag and asked Bear to keep an eye on her belongings while she engaged Donovan. She then unsheathed her sword from its scabbard and tossed the scabbard aside.

  The dock workers cleared a large space and arranged benches in an oval shape to watch the engagement.

  Spencer, standing at one end of the oval, slipped her hand into the knuckle-bow and gripped the hilt tightly. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. A searing pain shot through her temples and she dropped to her knees. As she fought the pain, she saw in her mind’s eye, two people engaging in swordplay. She realized quickly that she was one of the participants, and that a mask hid the identity of her opponent. They parried back and forth several times until her opponent stuck her in the center of her chest. She immediately froze, knowing the match was finished…and knowing she was as good as dead. She looked up and watched her opponent remove the mask.

  “Mak?” she whispered.

  The cry from her more immediate opponent snapped Spencer into action. She rose to her feet and immediately deflected Donovan’s thrusting sword with a circle parry. By deflecting his oncoming attempt, Spencer threw him off balance and he nearly fell, prompting a round of laughter from the onlookers.

  “You bitch!” Donovan, wild with anger, lunged at her again.

  Spencer executed a counterattack by moving back out of the way of Donovan’s attack while scoring a strike on his arm. He came back at her time and time again; his sword swinging wildly in all directions as he screamed his fury. Spencer recognized that Donovan’s repeated attacks were being driven by anger rather than skill, and she used this to her advantage by skillfully timing her deflections to minimize the impact of contact.

  When it became obvious to Spe
ncer that Donovan was beginning to tire, she executed a basic thrust with a cutting action, followed by several feints to throw him off guard. Again, Donovan nearly fell as he threw all his weight into an attack that missed his mark.

  Spencer extended her front leg in a kicking motion and propelled her body forward with her back leg, while thrusting her sword and beating back Donovan’s blade. Finally, she circled her blade around Donovan’s blade and caught the knuckle-bow with the tip of her sword. In one swift motion, she tore Donovan’s sword out of his hand and sent it flying across the dock, and at the same time she slipped her left foot between his legs, and tripped him up. In a few seconds, he was on his back on the ground, with the tip of Spencer’s sword pinning him down.

  “Stay down,” Spencer warned. “Stay down. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Donovan’s anger got the best of him and he lunged upward, effectively driving the point of Spencer’s sword deep enough to draw blood. He screamed in pain and frustration.

  Spencer withdrew her blade and bent over him. “I said to stay down, asshole! I could have killed you!”

  Silence fell on the dock as Spencer extended her hand to Donovan. He looked at her hand, and then into her face, before he reached up and accepted her help. She pulled him into a standing position and they stood face to face.

  Donovan held one hand to his chest to stem the flow of blood that was darkening his shirt. He placed the other hand on her shoulder. “Welcome to the crew, Red.”

  A cheer rose up from the crowd and they gathered around Spencer to congratulate her. Spencer looked through the crowd and caught Bear gazing at her. He winked at her and nodded.

  “Okay, ladies. Back to work!” Bear bellowed. “Donovan, go and get that wound stitched. Red, follow me and I’ll show you to your quarters.”

  ***

  Spencer closed the door behind Bear and threw herself on the bed. She was shaking like a leaf.