"Not for the petty healing. You know exactly what I'm talking about. If you turn your back on me now, you will force me to show you how talented I really am." The irritation in Rika's voice bordered on angry.
Caeli completely ignored her. There were more pressing matters to worry about than Rika's wounded ego for some perceived slight. Within the last minutes, the plane had slipped loose from the tenuous hold of ship's crane due to a particularly large ocean swell. It's height nearly swept across the top deck of the enormous ship. Because Caeli still held the protective barriers in place, the plane did not sink once free of the crane. Instead, an unusually strong wave suddenly shoved the airplane directly at the side of the ship where Caeli, the pilot, and the redheaded guy held on, exposed and vulnerable. They had not yet reached the safety of the deck above.
"Caeli!" Vin's warning shout was drowned out by the turbulent sea.
A moment before the plane made contact, a strong wind encircled the cargo net. Caeli felt the pressure as the plane pressed against the wind, though it never actually touched her. And then the aircraft was forcefully thrust a good thirty feet out into the ocean. Caeli could hardly believe she hadn't been crushed by either the wave or the plane. Looking around, she saw by the redhead's expression that he was considering the very same notion. Unfortunately, the pilot had not been as fortunate. His body hung unmoving, tied as an anchor to the end of the line.
Glancing up, Caeli saw Vin leaning heavily on the railing. He looked exhausted. She immediately knew how his fast reflexes had saved her from the danger before she was even aware of it.
"Thank you, Vin."
"You're welcome. Are you able to climb up further? I can't reach you yet."
Caeli could tell that Vin would not be able to perform another such miracle any time soon. She needed to release her hold on the plane so that it would sink and not threaten them again before they reached the deck.
As she did this, Caeli considered the peculiar manner in which the wave had carried the plane into the side of the ship. If Rika did this to scare her, then she succeeded. However, Rika must not have known about Vin. Caeli added that to her growing list of reasons not to trust Rika and to the list of reasons why she was so very glad to have Vin here. Pushing such thoughts aside, Caeli turned and released each of the barriers she held around the aircraft, letting them unravel. She watched the wing rip off the side and the cabin rapidly fill with water before the plane was swallowed by another huge wave. That same wave also pinned her against the side of the ship. Caeli was momentarily stunned by the force of the water. For a fearful moment, she felt as if she might be crushed after all; but the pressure was fleeting as the wave moved off as rapidly as it had arrived.
Being near the end of the line, without the plane to intercede between her and the rolling sea, Caeli was now partially submerged. As the shipped danced on the waves, she was alternately tossed above the water and then completely engulfed by it. She began to shiver. Caeli considered letting go of the rope to try and climb freely, but one wrong move and she would be lost. She was too tired to trust her own strength, so Caeli decided not to tempt fate and trust that, no matter what, as long as she held on to the rope, Vin would bring her in safely.
When the most recent wave cleared, Caeli felt a tug on the rope, and then it stopped moving entirely. The redhead was nearing the top, but she could not tell what had stopped his progress. As she held on to the net, waiting, a tingling sensation drew Caeli's attention and her connection to the water made its presence known once more. It was definitely stronger this time. In fact, it was nearly overwhelming. Suddenly, another large wave slammed into her, causing the ship to rock at a precarious angle. Caeli had not shielded herself from the water as she did with the plane. The water hit her ribs with the force of wrecking ball at full swing. She thought her lungs would burst from the pressure. Caeli had not considered the sheer power of the sea being used against her. It was crushing the life out of her, pressing her internal organs as it pinned her against the ship's hull. Her stomach flattened as if beneath an anvil. Caeli knew that in another moment she would gasp, either for air or from pain, and then she would drown. From somewhere above, the safety rope broke loose from whoever had been holding it taut. Caeli only had a moment to make sure her hold on the cargo net was secure.
In the next instant, the pressure on Caeli eased and a soft, white light enveloped her. The pressure no longer threatened and she could breathe beneath the water. She coughed and gasped, then clasped her free hand across her midsection as it cramped strongly in response to the sudden change in pressure.
"Be careful, Sister. You cannot protect them if you do not first protect yourself." The masculine voice emanating from the surrounding light was comforting. Caeli did not know his name, but she was certain they had met before. This was not the first time he had come to her aid in a dire situation.
"I know you, don't I? You were with me in that crater in Idaho. What's your name?" Caeli asked out loud.
"I am Urim. Yes, I have aided you previously. I cannot stay long. She does not tolerate my interference. Are you ready to shield yourself, Sister?"
"Yes, but wait. Can't you tell me anything more about my gift? Am I supposed to figure this out on my own? Who doesn't want you here? How does helping me interfere? Interfere with what?"
"You seem to be doing well enough with your gift thus far. I can tell you this. Water is life and death. All those who use this skill must come to terms with both sides. Be very careful. It can be a powerful ally and a destructive enemy. It can easily overwhelm you. Just as Eyvindr learned the finer points of controlling the wind, you must find it within yourself to master your gift in all of its forms. There are many. The struggles and challenges are yours to endure, but you are not alone, Sister. You have help at hand, if only you remember to ask for it. Do not allow yourself to be misled. A journey is never meant to be walked alone."
Caeli did not know how to respond. There was importance laced in Urim's words. But was Urim referring to Rika's offer to help or perhaps to Vin's use of his own gift to assist her? Knowing that she would need time to fully comprehend Urim's message, Caeli simply gave Urim her gratitude.
"Thank you for saving me from my first, and almost my last, mistake as I learn to use my gift," Caeli answered and prepared a barrier to protect herself from the pressure of the water surrounding her. The bright light and Urim's soothing presence faded away. The waves pushed against Caeli once again, but this time, they did not harm her.
CHAPTER 10
In an unfortunate turn of luck, the tropical storm changed course rapidly and settled across the opposite side of the island mid-Sunday morning. Many planes were rerouted and several flights, in and out, were cancelled or delayed. There would be very few arrivals on this festival Sunday. As a matter of fact, the only plane that air traffic controllers could not ground in time flew out of Washington and directly into the storm. Somehow, none of the communications got through to the plane's pilot. To all those watching from afar, the storm encircled the aircraft and harassed it all the way to its bumpy landing.
However, the lead news story did not cover the brave plane that flew through the storm and survived. The more intriguing story arose from a subsequent flight. Passengers from the Washington flight boarded a connecting flight to finish their journey, expecting a short, pleasant trip. What they got instead was a harrowing crash about two miles from shore.
News reports were providing status updates on the rescue attempt all evening. A Coast Guard ship finally reached the stranded plane and brought the survivors to safety. There was still no word on the number of casualties. It was a tragic incident at the beginning of what should have been a happy time for the islanders. Yet, there were many locals who knew incidents like this were exactly why they continued to hold their festival. They knew, all too well, the capricious will of the sea.
Two young men stood near the back of a group of rowdy protestors. Both appeared to be natives of the islands. Each man st
ood around five feet nine inches tall, with dark hair, tanned skin, and a squarish build. However, the younger of the two seemed paler and about thirty pounds lighter than his muscular companion. They shared a definite family resemblance.
These two were not participating with the rest of the group. They were not there to protest the medical conference at all. In fact, they hoped to benefit from it. Unfortunately, there initial request had been denied. They were frustrated, but did not give up. Now, they watched the local news on a television set they could see through the storefront window near where they were stood. The regular programming had been interrupted to provide an update on the plane crash and rescue attempt currently underway.
"Do you think that was her plane, Maku?" the younger man asked.
"Probably. If these people were serious, then they found a way. They probably paid some willing fool to help them. I can't believe Lorrie is involved with this lot," the older brother, replied.
"I think that new boyfriend of hers got her tied up in all this mess. I don't like that redheaded idiot. But, then again, Lorrie hasn't been herself in a long time," Pete offered a small consolation to his brother. He doubted that Maku would ever fully get over his feelings for Lorrie.
"Well, no matter. It doesn't look good for the doctor. If she survived the crash, a water rescue is difficult in the best of conditions. In this bad weather and the dark of night, who can say? I hope she makes it, little brother."
"Me, too," Pete said dejectedly. He really needed the doctor to show up at the conference.
"Come on, Pete. We better get out of here before this crowd gets too wound up. We don't want one of these spotlights to put our faces on the next news reel. That would get us barred from the conference for certain."
The two men walked off, Pete leaning on his brother for support. He tired much more quickly than he used to, but Pete insisted on getting out of the house for a little while each day. He could not stand being cooped up all day and night, especially when Maku worked out of the house most of the day and on many nights. The house echoed the hollowness of their loss since their father passed away nearly four months ago. Pete did not like being home alone.
Their father raised the boys since they were babies. Their mother died when they were very young. She never fully recovered from complications involved with Pete's birth. One day she fell ill and passed out in the shallow water on the beach. The boys' father did not find her soon enough to save her. But, he raised the boys well and gave them as good a life as he possible. They were happy.
Then, a little more than six months ago, Maku was working late. Pete and his dad decided to drive out and pick him up. They were all going out to eat to celebrate Pete's acceptance to a college in the States.
A massive thunderstorm rolled in that evening, and standing water in the roads made driving conditions hazardous. The flooding and poor visibility caused a nine car accident on the highway. Pete and his dad were caught in the middle of it. All twelve accident victims were taken to the local emergency room and treated for their various injuries. Pete and his dad both received blood transfusions during the course of their care. It wasn't until later that they found out that the blood used to treat all of the accident victims had been contaminated. Five recipients died during the first month, prior to the mistake being discovered. Two more died the next month, while they were trying to find a way to fix the problem. Maku remembered those two specifically from a nasty ordeal in his and Lorrie's youth. He did not mourn their passing. Three more died in the following month. Finally, their dad died while they were still searching for any possible treatment they might have overlooked. Pete, having received the least amount of toxic blood, now had the significance of being the only accident victim left alive.
Pete was not affected as severely as the others, and had not shown symptoms as quickly. He barely started to display hints that he was sick when his father died; but his condition was now deteriorating rapidly. He and Maku had researched every conceivable treatment, alternative cure, and homeopathic remedy, but came up with nothing that helped. Pete's hopes were stretched thin, but he refused to give up.
Pete had been sitting at home watching the news when he heard about the medical conference being hosted the same week as the Sea Goddess Festival. The politicians would allow anything to bring in a few more tourist dollars. The islanders were preparing for the Sea Goddess Festival, more recently known as the Festival of the Sea due to political influence on the folks who controlled the monetary success of the event. This week long celebration took place once every five years. It was the largest celebration on the island and generated more tourist income than any other event during the years in between.
People traveled from around the world to participate. Reservations were made as much as a year in advance. During the week of the festival itself, restaurants were always booked and retail shops were constantly refilling their shelves. Of course, the tourists had no idea what the true festival really meant. They simply knew it was the event to see or be seen at, and they were rich enough to get there. They typically stayed at the fancy resorts, spent their days playing golf, and enjoyed evenings watching the natives perform cultural shows for their amusement.
The week prior to the festival, all the arrangements and preparations were finalized. Then, on Sunday of the festival week, all flights arriving on the island were formally greeted as the kickoff to the festivities. Anyone flying into Hilo, the heart of the true festival, received a specially designed lei and a genuine, island greeting. Most of the other airports greeted their Sunday arrivals in a similar manner, in order to support the financial benefits of the celebration.
The real festival, however, unknown to many of the outlanders, grew out of a religious beginning. Early islanders worshipped the Sea Queen as the giver and taker of life. Her whim determined whether they flourished or her ire sealed their death. She controlled the water from which they harvested the majority of their food. Feast and famine were at her fingertips. The Sea Queen could also manipulate the rain and waves which could wreak havoc on or deliver bounty to their communities. In more recent generations, she also adopted the mantle of fertility for couples who wanted to start a family.
As with characters in most fairy tales, the Sea Queen had endearing attributes as well as reason to be feared. She could grant rain when needed, stop tides from destroying seaside communities, make a fisherman's catch abundant, and bring the joy of parenthood to married couples. The Sea Queen was highly discerning about those she chose to help and always demanded payment for her services. Nobody knew what form that payment took except the person who paid it.
Over the generations, many people on the island accepted modern science and lost their adherence to ancestral mysticism; but, they still held a healthy respect for the power of the sea and its blessings as well as its curses upon their livelihoods. Therefore, the festival continued out of tradition and cultural heritage. But, long since anyone could remember, the Sea Queen and her chosen human servants, the Sea Goddesses, who walked the island in human form, devolved into a mere bedtime tale for small children.
Pete hadn't really been interested in the news story until they flashed the doctor's video clip on the screen. Her silky, long dark hair, sparkling smile, and beautiful features kept Pete's eyes glued to the screen. By the end of her brief interview, Pete was hooked. He learned that this doctor had recently developed a new treatment for blood diseases that was currently being tested in trials throughout the country. A quickly scribbled name on the back of a napkin and Pete had what he needed to do an internet search. He wanted to find out more about the pretty doctor and her work.
When Maku came home, Pete rattled off everything he'd learned about Dr. Erickson and her breakthrough work. Maku did not seem overly surprised or excited by the news. Pete also told his brother that Dr. Erickson actually developed the medicine being tested in the drug trial here on the island; a trial to which he had been denied entry. Pete went on to explain that Dr. Erickson wo
uld be speaking at the conference during the week of the festival and receiving some kind of award. He had it in his mind that perhaps they could find a way to talk to her about his illness while she was in town and, with any luck, she could help get him into the trial.
Maku, being the more pragmatic of the two, cautioned Pete not to get his hopes up. Physicians at that level usually didn't see patients, but more often wrote papers and gave speeches. However, Pete was excited and insisted that Dr. Erickson would be different. His certainty was unwavering.
Unfortunately, Maku already knew better. Dr. Erickson never responded when he discovered her bio a few months earlier and sent her a letter, without Pete's knowledge, asking for help when their father first took ill. Then, pleading his brother's case, Maku had tried again. After Pete went to sleep one night, he penned yet another letter to Dr. Erickson. This time, Maku made a call to someone he knew on the mainland and located her home address. Maku mailed the letter, hoping that sending it to her directly might bring better results.
CHAPTER 11
The storm was regaining its momentum. The winds were stronger now and the waves were getting larger. Caeli looked up, trying to figure out her options. Everyone else was already aboard the ship. She could not climb with her wrist wrapped in the rope due to the weight of the pilot's body tugging heavily from below. The pressure of the rope wrapped around her wrist was causing her a good deal of pain. She needed to find a way to free her wrist from the now useless lifeline. While Caeli could not stomach the idea of releasing the pilot's body, she also could not pull her wrist clear without gaining some slack in the rope. The rope, however, had snagged in the net a little distance above her head.
Vin, seeing her struggle, tried to reach Caeli from above, but was still too far away. He twice attempted to discard his safety line, with the intention of climbing down to her; but Ben would not permit such a dangerous move. Vin could not help Caeli if he carelessly tossed his own life away in the process. This thought and Ben's physical intervention were the only things that kept Vin leashed impatiently by the railing. Caeli remained beyond his reach.
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