Freedom: A Futuristic Fantasy

by Jim Proctor

  Jazeen ran along a dock to where Terrin was waiting. She hesitated, watching the boat rise and fall on the swells. She hadn’t expected the boat to rock so much. Then, gripping a post, she climbed in and sat next to Terrin.

  The boat rocked and pitched a lot until they got up some speed. Then it jolted harshly as it slammed into each wave. As they passed beyond the marina’s breakwater, Terrin pushed the throttle forward and the boat picked up more speed. The waves now became a rhythmic pounding that transferred right through the seat and into her body, sometimes bouncing her into the air. Grabbing the edge of the seat tightly with both hands, she tried to hold herself down.

  “Is it always this rough?” she yelled over the scream of the engine and the pounding of the water.

  “It’s smooth as silk on the lake,” Terrin yelled. “This boat isn’t made for the open sea.”

  “Will we make it? I mean, it feels like the boat is going to break apart.”

  Terrin grabbed a life vest from under the seat and handed it to her. “Put this on and then tell me where we’re going.”

  Jazeen struggled to get the life vest on while the boat bounced. Then, pulling out her phone, she opened the GPS app and found Angus’ island.

  “Turn right a little,” she yelled, pointing.

  Terrin turned the boat. Jazeen watched the GPS screen for a moment and yelled, “That’s good. Hold it there.”

  Terrin looked at the compass and nodded.

  After a while, Jazeen’s hands and arms burned from holding on. She gave up, and just tried to keep herself from being bounced out of her seat and onto the deck.

  * * * *

  “How much farther?” Terrin yelled.

  Jazeen looked at the GPS map. “We’re almost there. That’s it up ahead.”

  “It better be!” Terrin yelled. “We’ve burned almost half our fuel. I’ve got just enough to get back to the marina!”

  Jazeen directed him around the east side of the island. Terrin brought the boat to a stop and stood up.

  “How are we supposed to get ashore? The place is surrounded by boulders!” he said.

  “Take us in closer,” Jazeen said. “There’s a way in, I just have to find it.”

  She hadn’t expected the entrance to be hard to find, knowing what to look for. Standing in the boat as it pitched and rolled, she was finding it hard to pick out the fake rocks. Finally, she pointed.

  “There! The entrance is right there!”

  Terrin looked where she was pointing. “Jaz, there’s nothing but rocks there.”

  “Trust me. Do you see those two big rocks with the two smaller rocks in between?” she asked.

  “Yes, I see them.”

  “Drive right through the smaller rocks,” she said.

  “What are you talking about? There’s not room for my boat to get between those rocks!” he said.

  “Look again. The smaller rocks aren’t real,” she said.

  “They look real to me.”

  “Look at the way the waves pass right through them,” she said. “Trust me, they aren’t real. You can drive through them, and we’ll be in a sheltered cove.”

  “How far beyond those rocks is the beach?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, maybe twenty meters. Why?”

  “Because if I’m going to go between those large boulders with these waves, I’m going to need some speed,” he said. “You’re sure those rocks aren’t real?”

  “Trust me,” she said.

  Terrin shook his head and pushed the throttle forward. The boat accelerated toward the rocks.

  “I hope I have the right rocks,” Jazeen said just before the boat sliced through the holographic projection. Terrin pulled back the throttle. He turned off the engine as the boat road a swell up onto the beach, settling onto the sand as the water rushed out again.

  “We made it,” he said. “Let’s pull the boat up farther and tie it off.”

  Climbing out, they grabbed the bow line and together they pulled as another swell came in and lifted the now-lighter boat, allowing them to drag it another meter up the beach. Terrin tied the rope to a stout tree while Jazeen took off her life vest and tossed it into the boat. Retrieving her overnight bag, she headed up the path toward the house, waving for Terrin to follow.

  Reaching the door of the house, she told Terrin to wait on the porch until she let him in. Opening the door, she stepped in and quickly closed it.

  “Fluffy! Occisor! Are you here?” she called.

  A thump upstairs followed by the scrabbling of paws let her know that Fluffy had just jumped out of a bed and was rushing toward her. A squawk came from the dining room, and Occisor dropped from his bed and flew to her, landing on her shoulder.

  A moment later, Fluffy bounded into her and bore her to the floor, sending the dragon fluttering away with a screech. Fluffy licked her face while she scratched behind the cat’s ears.

  “I’m glad to see you, too. Are you okay?” she asked.

  Fluffy began purring loudly.

  “Okay, let me up, girl. I need to check on your brother.”

  The big cat got to her feet and sat next to Jazeen.

  “Occisor, come here, boy,” she called.

  The dragon leaped off its perch and flew to her, once again landing on her shoulder. She reached up and scratched his head. “Are you okay, boy?”

  Occisor rubbed his face against her cheek and made a soft gurgling noise, almost as if he were imitating the cat’s purring.

  “I’ll bet you two are hungry. I’ll feed you soon, but first, I brought a friend with me. Do you understand? He’s a friend, so be nice,” she said.

  Slowly, she opened the door. Terrin stood on the porch, looking into the dim interior of the house. Then he saw the cat, taking a step back.

  “It’s okay, Terrin. Come in,” Jazeen said softly.

  Terrin took a hesitant step, and then another. Jazeen stepped onto the porch, grabbed him by an elbow, and pulled him inside, closing the door behind him. Fluffy hissed.

  “Hey! What did I tell you?” she scolded the cat.

  Turning to Terrin, she said, “There are matches on that shelf over there. Light the lamps, please. I’m going to get their dinner ready.”

  When Jazeen returned from the kitchen, the living room was still dark. Looking around, she saw Terrin standing with his back against the wall. Fluffy stood in front of him. She set the cat's bowls by the wood box. At the sound, Fluffy turned and trotted across the room.

  Going to a cabinet in the corner, Jazeen began filling Occisor's bowl. She put the bowl into the wire hoop next to his perch.

  The dragon’s wings fluttered as he jumped from her shoulder onto his perch and quickly began eating. Jazeen retrieved the matches, and then went around the room quickly lighting the lamps. When she turned around, Terrin was standing where she had left him. She laughed.

  Then, going to the wood box, she stroked Fluffy’s back for a moment, then opened the box and began stacking logs in the fireplace.

  “You know, I’d better get going,” Terrin said in a quavering voice.

  “Oh, yes, I suppose you should be getting back. I’ll be okay here for a while. If my friend doesn’t come back soon, I’ll… well, I’ll figure something out,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “It appears my friend isn’t here, which means he must have taken his airship. It’s the only way off the island. There’s food to last me a couple of weeks. I’m sure he’ll be back before then,” she said.

  “You’re going to stay here with that big cat and that… bird thing?” he asked.

  “He’s not a bird. He’s a dragon,” she said.

  “A dragon. Wonderful. It’s a good thing it’s just a baby, and not one of the big, fire-breathing ones,” he said.

  Occisor, having finished his meal, flew to Jazeen and landed on her hand. Fluffy finished her meal and walked across the room toward Terrin, who flattened himself against the wall again. Jazeen stepped to th
e middle of the room and held her arm out straight.

  “Occisor, please light the fire,” she said.

  The dragon looked at her, then turned and spit a white lance of flame into the fireplace. Jazeen turned to face Terrin. Fluffy was standing right in front of him, sniffing his legs. She waited for him to lower his hands and open his eyes.

  “You really should pet her,” Jazeen said.

  “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Now, if you’ll call off this beast, I’ll be going,” he said.

  “Fluffy, come here,” she said.

  The cat padded over and sat next to her. Terrin walked to the door. As he reached for the doorknob, he turned to face Jazeen.

  “Wait a minute,” she said, turning and running into the kitchen. Several minutes later, she returned with a bag and handed it to Terrin. “You haven’t eaten all day. I packed you some food. It’s just a few things that don’t need to be cooked, you know, like fruit and bread, and a bottle of water. Make sure you drink it.”

  “Thanks. Are you sure you’ll be okay here alone?” he asked.

  “I’m not alone. I have Fluffy and Occisor to keep me company,” she said.

  “I mean… well, what if your friend doesn’t come back? You’ll be stranded here,” he said.

  “I’ll think of something. You had better go, or you won’t make it back to the marina by dark,” she said.

  “When you get back home, call me, or send me an email. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll come back to get you,” he said.

  Jazeen shook her head. “I really doubt you’ll have the opportunity to steal your dad’s boat again.”

  “Oh… right. Still, I can maybe send someone to get you,” he said.

  “Terrin, thank you for everything. I’m sorry you’re going to get into trouble. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine here,” she said.

  “I guess I’ll be going, then.”

  “When you get back to the marina, check in the glove box of your truck. I left some money in there. You’ll need food and gas to get home,” Jazeen said.

  “Thanks. Well… goodbye,” he said as he left.

  * * * *

  Terrin reached the cove and put the bag of food into the boat next to his seat. Untying the rope, he tossed it aboard and braced himself against the bow, digging his feet into the sand and waiting for a big swell to lift the boat. When one came, he pushed with all his might. The boat moved down the beach. When the water receded, setting the boat back onto the sand, he rested while waiting for the next swell. Pushing again, the boat slid into the water and Terrin climbed aboard. Starting the engine, he backed away from the beach, turned around, and headed for the holographic rocks, hoping he had the right ones. Breaking out into the open sea, he turned northward and adjusted his course while watching the compass. Pushing the throttle, the boat accelerated, pounding over the swells.

  * * * *

  Jazeen turned to Fluffy and Occisor. “So, where has Angus gone?”

  Fluffy trotted across the room and stood at the hidden door to the library stairs. Jazeen grabbed one of the oil lamps on her way to the door. As she descended, Fluffy remained in the living room. Maybe the big cat didn’t feel safe on the spiral staircase. This was where Fluffy wanted her to go, though, so down she went. At the bottom, she turned on the electric lights, turned the oil lamp down low, and then hung it on its hook.

  She walked along the end row, looking down all the aisles. There was no sign of Angus. She hadn’t really expected the answer to be so simple, though she would have been glad to find him hiding here. The question now was, what was she looking for?

  If Angus had left her a clue, he’d have left it on her shelf, she realized. Turning back, she raced along the end row and turned down the last aisle. At the far end, she stopped in front of her shelf. A large, leather-bound book lay next to her romance novels. Beside it was the pickle jar. Picking up the book, she opened to the first page. Her heart sank—it was written in some ancient language she didn’t know.

  “What help is this, Angus?” she asked the empty room.

  He left it for her for a reason. Maybe he expected her to figure something out by looking through it. Maybe he had cast a spell on it to allow her to understand the meaning without knowing the words. Running back to the stairs, she turned up the lamp and then turned out the library lights. Carrying the book and the lamp up the narrow, tightly turning stairs took some care. When she reached the living room, she closed the door and hung the lamp on its hook.

  Fluffy curled up at her feet as she sat in her chair by the fireplace. Occisor landed on the back of her chair and looked over her shoulder. Jazeen opened the book and began turning pages slowly, looking for anything that might stimulate some thought or memory. It was all gibberish to her. No semblance of meaning came to her as she scanned the rows of words.

  Still, she turned pages and studied the text. Nothing came to her. Then, just as she was about to give up, she found a page full of Latin. In all, Angus had written three pages in Latin. Beyond that, the book was empty. She had no doubt that these pages were meant for her. As she read, there were some words she didn’t know. Still, she was able to piece together the whole meaning, guessing at the unknown words from context.

  The Black Witch has been hunting me for centuries. This is the true reason I have lived on this island in secrecy, as I have in other places before. Always, one of her hunters would find me, and I would flee to find a new place to hide. That is what happened on the day I called you to take care of my pets.

  I have reached my limit. I am tired of running and hiding. I have chosen to go with the hunter to see the Black Witch to settle things, once and for all time.

  I know she wants my cumulus. She hopes to absorb my accumulated magical energy to make herself stronger, more powerful. I’ll never give it to her.

  I have gone with her hunter to Terrania in his airship. I don’t know what will become of me, but I am done running. If I defeat her, I will find a way back home and I won’t ever have to run again. If I lose, you can have my house, my island, and my airship. Take care of Fluffy and Occisor. They love you and will be happy with you.

  One last thing—if one of her hunters should come looking for the cumulus, you can assume she has defeated me. Destroy the cumulus rather than letting the Black Witch have it.

  If you need help becoming an airship captain, contact my friend, Captain Rupert Watson. He lives in Port Zebron. He can teach you the ropes and help you study for the exams. Fluffy and Occisor like him, so you’ll know you have found the right man if you take them along the first time you see him.

  I am sure I will see you soon.

  Angus

  Tears were streaming down her face as she finished reading.

  “You’re sure you will see me soon. That’s why you told me what to do if you lose,” she said.

  Fluffy climbed up, paws on her lap, and licked her cheeks, then snuggled her face against Jazeen’s chest. She closed the book, set it aside, and wrapped her arms around the big cat as she thought about the message. She had to do something. It was her fault he couldn’t run away to some new place to hide in safety for a few more centuries. She was the reason he had gone to face the Black Witch, and he wasn’t sure how that would end.

  Then it hit her—if he went on the hunter’s airship, then his airship was still in the hangar. She wasn’t stranded here, at least. It also meant she could go rescue him. She didn’t know what she could do against the Black Witch, but… maybe she could trade the cumulus for Angus. A thought struck her, and she gently pushed Fluffy down and went to the wood box. Hesitantly, she lifted the lid. A smile spread across her face as she saw the firewood filling the box to the brim. “He’s still alive,” she said. Turning to face the animals, she asked, “Who wants to go and rescue Angus?”

  Fluffy turned and ran to the door. Occisor flew across the room and landed on the cat’s back. Jazeen laughed.

  “Okay. I understand. We’ll go and rescue Angus. But first, we have to load th
e airship with food and water. After that, we have to figure out where to go. Terrania is a huge continent. Maybe this Captain Watson can help us. Port Zebron will be our first stop.”

  Chapter 24

  As Jazeen had expected, the airship was in the hidden hangar. She made several trips from the house carrying supplies. Fluffy and Occisor followed her down on the first trip and made themselves at home in the wheelhouse.

  When the ship was stocked and the pre-flight completed, Jazeen untied the mooring lines and stowed them. Turning on the GPS, she checked the course of Angus’ fishing trip. He had, indeed, visited Port Zebron twice. Setting it as her destination, she filled the buoyancy bags and floated the ship off the platform. A short while later, the airship emerged from the tunnel and began to climb as it turned to port.

  Her plan was to follow the South Sea coast for an hour and then head overland to the northeast until she reached the Great Ocean coast. Following the coast north would take her to Port Zebron. She hoped she would be able to find Captain Watson. If she was lucky, when Angus’ ship came into port, the captain would find her.

  For the first time while flying, Jazeen was uneasy. She had butterflies in her stomach. She had never flown alone before, and never this far. Even scarier was the thought that if she couldn’t find Captain Watson, she would have to fly across the Great Ocean alone. Of course, once she reached Terrania, she had no idea how she would find Angus, but she would handle that problem later. First, she had to get there.

  Leveling out at her desired altitude, she unwrapped a sandwich she had hastily thrown together, and ate as she piloted the airship along the coast.

  She passed several airship ports on the eastern coast. Following the GPS, she eventually reached Port Zebron. Airships were coming and going, and some appeared to be circling the port, perhaps waiting to land. Jazeen suddenly realized that she had no idea how to contact the port, or what the protocol was for requesting permission to land.

  Circling the port once at a greater distance than the other airships, she surveyed the area. West of the port was a large shopping district, and a much larger town beyond. There was a large grass field to the north. If it was associated with the port, it wasn’t attracting any interest from the circling airships. The sun would set soon, and she was willing to gamble that she could land there without requesting permission.