Of Sea and Cloud

by Jon Keller

  Virgil lifted a single surprised eyebrow at Jonah.

  Jonah couldn’t look at either one. He gazed offshore and his chest smacked and he nodded once so both understood what he’d done and both took a moment to realize the ramifications.

  Goddamned right you did, Virgil finally muttered. He forced a smile onto his face but Jonah could see it framed by worry like a touch of sun surrounded by cloud and even as Jonah watched him the smile disappeared.

  Goddamned right? said Bill. His voice trembled. Goddamned right? Now the two of you are going to have to explain to me one goddamned right thing about cutting Osmond’s gear. You think he isn’t going to start a fucking war over this? Jesus, Jonah, I know you don’t give a shit about your boat or gear but I got to make a living for Christ’s sake. I can’t afford to lose any traps, let alone my boat or any other fucking thing. And Christ, Jonah, I’m his partner now. I got to work with him.

  Jonah lit a cigarette. He glared at Bill. Well why don’t you tell me what the fuck it is you would’ve done, Captain? Because what I should of done is stuffed Osmond’s ass in a trap and sent him to hell and bottom.

  You do that, Jonah, Bill said. His face was red. You do that. You dumbass. You been to college and you’re so fucking smart so you got options but this is it for me. Fishing lobsters and now running this pound. I lose my gear or my boat and I’m done, Jonah. Finished. If I break my damned leg it’s over for me. You get that? It’s fucking welfare and coupons for me. I can’t be fucking around in some trap war that your highliner ass started for no damned logical reason.

  Jonah held his cigarette hidden in his hand at his hip and smoke curled from between his fingers. He’d only seen his brother scared once before and that was twenty years ago. A small gust of wind rippled across the pound and a pair of eagles circled far overhead. A single bright star popped out of the western sky.

  Virgil cleared his throat but didn’t speak for a few more seconds. He leaned over to the passenger side of his truck and came up with a bottle of brandy. He took a swig and put the bottle between his legs and in a voice strangely humid said, Settle down, Captain. You wanting to let Osmond fish the Leviathan, that what you’re saying?

  Bill shook his head no. But—, he started.

  Don’t but nothing, Captain. The Highliner might’ve been a bit rash out there but he did what he did and that’s it. Now we deal with it. Osmond fucked up and he’ll pay. He started this shit, and by Jesus we’ll finish it and do it together, you got that?

  It took Bill a while to answer. Yeah, I got that. But fuckachrist, cutting all his traps, Jonah? Holy shit. I didn’t think you had the balls.

  Yeah, said Jonah and he was tempted to say, I didn’t either. Or, I don’t have the balls.

  Virgil twisted the brandy cap back and forth with the weight of his palm. Nobody spoke for several minutes.

  Well, Bill finally said. I’m going on home to rest up. I don’t want to be too tired when my boat gets sunk and my gear gets cut.

  It will be all right, Virgil said. Just go on home.

  Yeah, you got Erma Lee to tend, said Jonah. That’s some serious tending. Not much rest there.

  Bill stared at Jonah and his lips and nostrils quivered. Jesus, you started a goddamned war, Jonah, and now you want to make jokes? What the holy hell ails you?

  Jonah started to respond but Virgil cut in. Leave it be. Both of you.

  Bill shook his head from side to side.

  Erma Lee staying down to your place? Virgil said.

  For now she is, Bill said. Till we get this settled.

  Settled? Jonah said. She ain’t a debt, Captain.

  I understand that.

  Well good, Captain, Virgil said. Erma Lee might be a wild one but that ain’t all bad either. I’m glad to see you doing what’s right. Little Slush might just surprise us all. Celeste seems to have taken a fast liking to her, and Celeste isn’t typically wrong.

  Yeah, said Bill. She ain’t what you two think. Maybe she fucked up some but who ain’t fucked up some? Sure as shit us three have.

  Clifford Beal though, Bill? That’s a tough act to follow.

  Fuck off, Jonah, okay? Case you ain’t noticed, there ain’t many virgins left on this piece of coast, and I really don’t give a shit.

  That’s right, Bill, Virgil said. We’ve all got skeletons. But I’m curious about something else here. Did Nic ever give you any paperwork for the pound? Did he have a will or anything?

  He didn’t have a will, no. But Osmond’ll have the pound paperwork. That’ll be easy.

  Easy? Virgil gazed out to sea before continuing. What’ll be easy is for Osmond to pull your pants up over that head of yours and bend you over to doomsday. You think with him intending to fish the Leviathan and his gear all cut that he’s going to do anything easy? Or even without his gear cut?

  Virgil’s voice was hard and that surprised Jonah.

  I guess he ain’t going to bend me over too easy. And wasn’t I just saying that the fucking Highliner shouldn’t of cut his goddamned gear?

  Well if he does bend you over, Jonah said, just poke him in the eye, Bill. That’ll get him off you.

  Shut up, Jonah. You fucked up enough shit today. Bill paused as if catching his balance then they all three turned when they heard a red pickup ease down the two track.

  The truck stopped beside them. It was muddy and the man inside was old. The window rolled down and the old man stuck his bald hatless head out and looked from one brother to the other and then to Virgil.

  My goddamned friend Royal James, Virgil said. Imagine that. Just when shit can’t get worse, he shows up.

  Boys, Royal said. His face was red from a lifetime of wind and work and liquor. He settled back into the truck cab and studied the trap pile.

  Bill said, You been egging?

  Royal glanced at the truck bed where a dozen fish trays were stacked full of spiny green sea urchins. It smelled to Jonah as if the ocean itself were stuffed into the truck bed.

  Royal rubbed his fingers together. Uni, he said and he had to push the word from his mouth. Then he continued. I seen you boys out there today and figured you was fetching loads of Nic’s gear. I put my boat on her mooring, thought might be I’d come down and check on progress.

  Royal paused and stared at Virgil as if to say something more to him alone but only his big ears rose up and down. He turned his look back to Bill. His voice was deep and sincere. I’m sorry about your father, Nicolas. And sorry I missed his funeral, by Jesus. I suppose the only funeral I ever do attend’ll be my own and I’d soon miss that one.

  It’s fine, said Bill. Thanks.

  Royal nodded again and put his truck in gear but held his foot on the brake pedal. He seemed to think for half a minute then spoke. Virgil, come on by the house tonight. I got something for you. Come on by.

  I don’t need any of your poached deer, Virgil said.

  I ain’t done that for years, said Royal. His ears twitched like flags.

  Virgil nodded.

  Royal’s eyes focused straight ahead and he let his foot off the brake and did a slow U-turn.

  That there is one odd duck, Bill said.

  What’d you think he wants? said Jonah.

  Hell, I don’t know, Jonah, said Virgil. He probably wants company. But I kind of like the old coot, don’t you?

  He’s odd, Bill repeated.

  You think anyone who ain’t you is odd.

  That’s right. Only two good things ever come out of this town. That road right there and me. We’ll see you.

  Bill got in his truck without another word and left.

  Jonah picked up a rock and flipped it in his hand then chucked it at the pound but it didn’t go far enough and landed clattering on the riprap. He rounded the front of the truck and got in. Chowder climbed onto his lap and Virgil eased the truck down the dirt road. Jonah rubbed the dog’s fat belly and her hind leg drummed.

  They drove to the end of the pound road then followed the harbor’s eastern shor
e. Silence hung like a noose and Jonah struggled to think of something to say but he kept thinking about sending trap after trap to bottom.

  The road went by.

  I thought Osmond was a priest, Jonah said. That just don’t seem to add up. Him being such a asshole and all.

  Calvinist minister is what he was. But he gave it all up for a woman.

  Jonah felt himself relax but could not have said why. What woman?

  Laura was her name. She was married to his brother Orrin. Her and Osmond got together while Orrin was in Korea. She got pregnant and they had a daughter, then she died of cancer not too long after. Their daughter died of cancer too, but not till she had Julius and them two twin girls.

  I can’t imagine Osmond Randolph and a woman, Jonah said. Or a woman with him.

  We’re people, Jonah. We all fall in love and it might be with a rose or a pile of bait. Laura changed things for Osmond while she was around, but then she died and their daughter died. Osmond went off the deep end. Your old man was probably the only one who knew Osmond for sure.

  Jonah wanted a drink and he looked at the bottle between Virgil’s legs but didn’t want to reach for it. He looked out the window.

  You want a bubble? Virgil said and handed the bottle to him. Jonah tipped it back and swallowed the thick coffee syrup.

  I don’t know how you drink so much of that shit.

  Like a gorilla, said Virgil. He pulled into Jonah’s dooryard and stopped the truck and they sat silent for a long moment. Then Virgil spoke. His voice was hushed. I don’t like this, Jonah.

  What?

  Virgil swallowed. The Coast Guard finds Nic’s boat out past Spencer Ledges, but no Nic anywhere. Not tangled in some trap warp or floating or nothing. Then Osmond sets gear on the Leviathan? He thinks he can do that? He really thinks he can do that to us? I don’t like this.

  Yeah, Jonah said. His voice was noncommittal and Virgil didn’t appear to have heard him.

  I don’t trust Osmond, Jonah. Something’s not right. Something doesn’t add up. Virgil took a deep breath and squeezed the steering wheel with both hands as he released the breath. Anyway, supper’ll be on if you got nothing for dinner.

  I’m just having a sandwich and going to bed I think, Virgil. Thanks anyway.

  Jonah opened the door and climbed out but before he shut the door Virgil stopped him. Jonah, he said and turned his face so their eyes met. You did good today. Got me? The hell with Osmond Randolph.

  Erma Lee was standing on the couch when Bill opened the door. She wore a tight pair of jeans and a pink sweater. She held a hammer in one hand and a nail in the other and she pounded the nail into the Sheetrock and missed. Half-moons speckled the wall. Sheetrock dust lay scattered across the couch cushions.

  The room was different than it had been that morning. Pictures of her parents and grandparents and cousins and friends hung on the wall. All of the pictures were framed and most of the shots were posed with blue or gray backdrops.

  By Jesus, Erma Lee. What’re you doing?

  Don’t talk like that to me. She walked across the cushions with her feet in pink ankle socks and stood on the armrest and said, Catch me. She jumped and he caught her and with her came the smell that he loved. It was her hair or her skin, he didn’t know which. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and wrapped her mouth over his earlobe and he felt a shiver in his side as she softly bit down.

  He carried her across the room and put his lunchbox on the counter and glimpsed the pictures covering the refrigerator and the ornaments on the windowsill and the line of stuffed animals on top of the cabinets. She still had his earlobe in her mouth.

  You been busy, he said.

  I’m getting busier, Captain.

  Seems so. He rested his hands on her waist and pushed softly but she didn’t budge.

  I’m a monkey.

  You ain’t a monkey, he said. He pushed harder. You know I hate monkeys.

  You don’t either, Bill. She kissed down his neck and around his jawline.

  Down to Argentina they got guided monkey hunts.

  No they don’t either. You can’t kill no monkey, Bill.

  They got monkeys all round the equator. I’d like just to beat one once.

  Argentina ain’t the equator, and you can’t beat no monkey, Bill. They’re too cute.

  They got bald asses.

  That’s a baboon with a bald ass.

  I hate them too. He sat down on the couch with her on his lap and she leaned back so they could look at each other. What’s that smell?

  That smell is dinner.

  What is it?

  Erma Lee was small and her weight on his thighs was barely noticeable.

  It’s casserole, she said.

  We just had casserole.

  And we didn’t finish it, so this night we got us a casserole made of a casserole.

  A casserole casserole?

  She nodded and smiled and wiggled. Her cheeks were red and her eyes dark and her hair curled down over her neck. Bill smiled as he looked at her and he put his hand on the back of her neck. She frowned and her chin grew a neat cluster of wrinkles.

  Don’t you like what I done with the house? Ain’t it a home now, Bill?

  Erma Lee, he started but didn’t know what to say.

  And I got more to do, but that’s enough for today.

  More? No more pictures I’m hoping.

  That’s my family, Bill, and you and them are going to be like you and Jonah are.

  I don’t know about that.

  You will because we got a infant coming and my family’s that infant’s family. And speaking of family, I got a question for you that’s been nagging, Bill.

  I would imagine you do.

  It’s not funny, she said and her voice was serious and her face concerned. It’s how come Jonah’s called the Highliner when you say he don’t catch nothing?

  Bill laughed. He took his glasses off and wiped his eyes and shook his head from side to side. Jesus Christ, Erma Lee, he said.

  What’s funny about that?

  He catches some. He does all right.

  But why’s he called the Highliner?

  It’s just a joke. Like calling a fat guy Slim or something. Jonah’s just kind of lazy. He don’t hang down.

  Well don’t laugh at me. I didn’t know, she said and she paused and looked at him with her head tilted to the side. What? Ain’t you happy I got moved in quick?

  He put his glasses on and ran his hands up her sides. It’s just that I didn’t know you was moving in. I thought you were staying here for a bit. Like a trial.

  A trial.

  Yeah. Ain’t that what we discussed? A trial.

  Me getting knocked up weren’t a trial, Bill. And this is a trial? I can’t have a trial without feeling like I’m home or ain’t nothing’ll work.

  Christ. So long as we’re clear.

  We’re clear all right, Captain. But I got more news for you. Ain’t you happy?

  What is it? You done found that sports car you’re buying with your mystery money?

  No. I want for you to guess. She slid off his lap and dropped down to her knees in front of him and set her chin on his knee.

  I ain’t guessing about nothing. I guess all day on the boat and now I’ll be guessing down to the pound and what I want is to come home and be damned sure about every damned thing in my house. If I ain’t damned sure about my home then I ain’t coming home.

  Aren’t you tough? She hissed like a cat and ran her pink nails across his cheek. You good and well better be sure about things, Bill.

  Not with this guessing horseshit I ain’t.

  Well then I won’t have you guess no more. That smell coming from the oven is a tuna casserole and a fresh chicken flavor mixed in for tonight.

  Christ, Erma Lee, I didn’t know I was guessing as to your casserole.

  Erma Lee laughed to herself. There’s other news too, she said and smiled at him. I made friends with Celeste and Charlotte today. Celest
e was awful pleased with us living together.

  All I said is we could have us a fucking trial, not that we were living together.

  When you done this, she said and leaned back and jutted her pelvis out, when you done this you said a lot and if you ain’t ready for it then tough because you got no choice now.

  That? Hell. Bill ran his hands through his hair and breathed in and out to settle himself. Well I need some help feeding down to the pound.

  Now?

  Yeah now. Them lobsters’ll eat each other before dawn.

  I got a casserole in.

  You always got a casserole doing something. Just put the fucker on warm, Erma Lee. I need help.

  Fine, she said. I’m only here to help you, my liege.

  What?

  Nothing. Is Osmond going to be there? It’s spooky you being partners with him, Bill.

  Why’s it spooky?

  Bill pictured Jonah cutting Osmond’s traps.

  Why’s it spooky, Bill? I heard he can dream things. Erma Lee lowered her voice and her head lowered at the same time so she looked at Bill through the tops of her eyes. She spread her hands across her cheeks like a child hiding behind them and said, His eyes get moving when he dreams and when he wakes up he knows everything we do.

  Dreams things? He dream up the things you and me do? He dream that thing we done in the truck the other night? He dream that?

  She hit him on the chest. Ain’t nobody knows about that, Bill. Just you and me.

  That’s right, excepting Osmond who dreamt about Erma Lee Carver doing that. His eyes would’ve been moving like a tilt-a-whirl at the fair he dreamt that.

  Erma Lee glared at him.

  Hell, he’d want you for his own if he dreamt you doing them things you done with me.

  That ain’t funny at all, Bill. Not one bit. There’s a line you’re crossing and I’m not taking any of your bullshit. Just like Celeste said.

  My bullshit?

  Erma Lee nodded.

  Bill thought it over and nodded and said, Fine.

  • • •

  The air was thick with salt and seaweed. A cold breeze blew across the harbor and the wharf light bounced on the ripples. The moon had yet to rise and the sky was black but shot with stars. They drove in silence past Virgil’s house and past Jonah’s trailer and down the rough pound road and parked in front of the building. They could see the dark mouth of the harbor on their right and the open ocean out beyond the Burnt Island causeway.