“It’s not their boat. It’s ours. I bought it as soon as I saw it. They just wanted to get rid of it. An eyesore, they called it.”
“Ours?” The young chief engineer replied stupidly. He blinked. “It’s not an old boat. Not more than a year, I’d say. They just didn’t know how to run it.” He glanced at the girl and winked. “Did you know that they had cannons on board?” He didn’t stop but rushed right on. “Although I suspect they are on that fort right now.”
Captain Isenhart’s eyes narrowed angrily. “They mentioned nothing about cannons.”
“Are we going to keep it, Captain?” Doander asked anxiously, glancing over his shoulder at the Dolphin.
“We will sail it to Dimsdale and sell it there. We can get a better price. We don’t have the crew.” She gave Hedric a sharp look. “Or the expertise to run a two ship company. If we make enough on the sale of the Dolphin, when we get back to New Boston, perhaps we can look into a brand new ship.” Her gaze swept up to the tall masts. “They say the newer ships have no masts at all. Just a small tower set over the wheelhouse for a lookout and a cargo boom. No sails and no masts mean less weight and more room for cargo.” Her voice sounded wistful, and she never saw the three startled young people staring at her. “When we leave here, you will go on the Dolphin, Hedric. Take Gene Waters with you. Mister Gralt will be captain.” She took a deep breath. “Alexandra will be helmsman and navigator. Mister Gralt will select other seamen we can spare from the Fleece. I’ll have wood delivered to the Dolphin for the trip to Dimsdale. It should take about two or three weeks.
Hedric opened his mouth to protest her selection of Lexi, and then he shut it. He wasn’t a spoiled little rich boy anymore. Dolores Isenhart was his captain, and if she said that Lexi was the navigator, then she was the navigator. Period. “Whatever you say, ma’am.”
Dolores Isenhart watched the young man’s inner struggle, and its resolution with no small amount of pride. He would make, she thought to herself, a very adequate son-in-law.
The River Styx was an offshoot of the Mississippi, flowing in from the northeast, cold and dark all the way from the vast expanse of Blight Lake. The lake, more an inland sea, stretched from the cold wastes in the north, almost touching the Bay of Ice, south to the Blight. Only the bravest of fishermen fished the waters of Blight Lake, and it was but a small comment when a boat went missing. There were never any survivors. The residents of the Island of Devon, a fat sixty mile long piece of real estate in the middle of the lake, and the residents of the city of Dimsdale, on the southern end of the island, wouldn’t have even considered using the lake for recreation. It was that bad.
Hedric and Lexi stood in the narrow bow of the Dolphin and regarded the lake under Medin’s full watchful eye. Thalassia’s rings sparkled the color of platinum, but under the heavenly display the dark water seemed somehow sluggish and oily; the flat surface churning occasionally from the ripples of unseen beasts swimming its depths. In the near distance they could see the bright spot of a lantern hung on the stern post of the Golden Fleece for them to follow. It made the two feel better, seeing that bright spot in the night. They knew they weren’t alone.
“Do you think that your mom really meant it, when she said that she might sell the Fleece?” Lexi’s hand felt warm in his.
“Maybe.” Alexandra sounded far away. “Mom has been strong since Dad died, but she’s getting tired—tired of being alone I think. The adventurous life of a river trader isn’t quite so much fun when you’re alone.” She cast him a quick, sidelong glance.
“I can…” Hedric’s reply was interrupted by a heavy splash, a short distance from their spot. Ripples raced across the water, and in the moonlight they could see a tentacle wave briefly in the air, as if sniffing a scent, before slipping beneath the dark water.
Lexi’s grip was crushing his hand. “I want to go in.”
Hedric found that his own heart was pounding in fear. “Yeah, me too.”
They tried to make their walk back to the cabin appear nonchalant, but each could feel the other trembling.
For two days they sailed on the flat expanse of Blight Lake, and breathed in the chill, slightly corrupt-smelling air. The first Hedric knew of Dimsdale, was when the chime of the telegraph rang SLOW AHEAD. He lowered the pressure to the engine, slowing the speed. He had to guess, mostly, deep in the belly of the ship. The gauges he’d relied on in the Fleece, didn’t work in the Dolphin. The smaller ship was newer, but it certainly wasn’t better. ALL STOP, was followed almost immediately by FINISHED WITH ENGINES, and it was with more than a little relief that Hedric shut down the boilers, and damped the fire.
Carrying his small bag of personal belongings, he met Lexi and the rest of the Dolphin crew on the pier. The Golden Fleece was docked a few scant yards away, on the other side, and already a swarm of dockworkers and merchants were crowding aboard. In the distance the city of Dimsdale rose like the shining white castle of a fairy story, with turrets and battlements and bright banners flying. A pang took him suddenly, as he remembered how like this his home had been. Castle Schwendau on the Island of Dun. Bright pennons flying in the moonlight and the sound of cheerful laughter. He hadn’t appreciated ituntil now.
“What’s the matter?” He felt Lexi’s hand slip quietly into his. It felt good.
“I was just…” He swallowed, his voice going thick. “I was just remembering home.”
The girl looked at the city, her eyes going wide. In the distance a squad of soldiers exited the main gate, their bright armor flashing in the sun. Even from this distance they could hear the even tramp of their feet. “It was like that?”
He nodded, a crooked smile creeping across his face. “I never appreciated it until now.”
“It looked like that?” The girl’s voice was getting a little shrill.
“The stone was gray granite rather than white, but you’ll find out, someday. I promise.”
She gave him a flat look. “If we survive.”
Hedric was tied up for the next several days, since he was the only one aboard who could answer questions about the engines on the Dolphin, or even run the recalcitrant machines. Luckily for the boy, none of the perspective buyers had even the slightest mechanical inkling of what was going on. On several occasions Captain Isenhart took whole delegations of perspective buyers on board for a brief, and very fast run around the harbor. They seemed impressed by the boat’s ability to run away from danger for some reason. Finally, a ship-owner in the third delegation made an offer. The amount made Hedric’s eyes water. Then the older gentleman with slightly graying hair looked at Hedric and made an offer to buy him too. The boy gasped and turned red, while the Captain patiently explained to the merchant that if she sold her chief engineer, who would run HER boat? The man finally relented.
The Dimsdale toy stores were a remarkable sight. Although plain on the exterior, inside they were a wonderland, selling every conceivable toy the average child, and young thinking adult could ever conceive: toys that walked, toys that crawled and even toys that flew, flapping around the ceiling of the store like lunatic pigeons in a rainbow of colors. The engineer in Hedric, along with a copious amount of cash for bribes, finally discovered the dark secret of the Dimsdale toys. They weren’t made by human hands. Hedric and Lexi followed one toy-store ‘engineer’ out into the woods one day, where the man left several crude sketches of imaginary toys, and a plate of cookies. An hour later, with Hedric and Lexi carefully concealed in the brush, three small D’Tril flew out of the woods and landed near the plate.
“Look at the crap they want us to make now.” The first, a fellow with shimmering red wings complained as he munched a cookie.
The second, a slender female with blue wings was busy unloading small mechanical men from a sack she had carried on her back. “I don’t understand why they like the shit pieces.” She held up a mechanical man in her tiny fingers. It glittered all the colors of the rainbow in the sunlight and caught Hedric’s breath.
“L
ook at this.” The third figure, a stocky male with green wings waved a piece of paper at the female. “Now they want a little boat that will run on the water. We don’t bloody well know how to make boats. We’re not bleedin’ fish are we?” He crunched angrily down on a cookie, glared at it, and stuffed the rest into his mouth.
“I know how boat engines work.” With that Hedric stepped out of cover, a wide grin on his face. The creatures disappeared in a flash of multicolored wings until a voice issued from the woods.
“We know about this one.” “Green” flitted out of the woods to hover at Hedric’s face. “You solved our problem?”
“I’m still working on it.”
“Lazy shit.” Green growled. “So, show me how this thing works.” He glared at the bushes where they had been concealed. “Tell yer girlfriend she might as well come out. She makes as much noise as a bloody elephant.”
Hedric waved to Lexi, then sat down cross-legged in front of a smooth patch of sand. Taking a stick he began to draw, and soon all three of the little flying creatures were listening with rapt attention.
“And that’s about it.” Hedric finished, tossing the stick away.
“Pretty simple, really.” “Redwing” commented dryly. “Guess this human ain’t as stupid as all the rest.”
“Thanks.” Hedric replied dryly.
“No charge.”
“Blue” crossed her arms, hovering in front of his face. “What do you want for payment for your service? Humans ALWAYS want something, the greedy sots.”
“Just the location of the Temple of Selene.” The boy winked at Lexi.
“Just that?” Blue asked, flabbergasted. “No money or jewels or power?”
“Money, jewels and power are overrated.” He said calmly. “I’d take your friendship, though.”
Blue gave a little squawk, and fell out of the air, landing on her backside. “Well, I’ll be damned, and dipped in shit.” She looked shocked. “Oh well.” She flapped her wings and resumed a hovering position in front of him. “I would like to have you as a friend.” With that she flew up to his face and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Hedric felt it tingle for a second. “Hey! He’s got one of them K’Dreex things in him too. I didn’t think it was allowed.”
The boy gave her a grin. “It isn’t. Now, the temple?”
The blue creature flew up to head high and pointed. “There. That rundown looking white building. That’s the Temple of Selene, although why she’d want such a rundown place is beyond me. “Watch out for the old bag that runs the place. She’s a real witch.”
Hedric frowned, helping Lexi to her feet. “As in bubbling cauldron and bats’ wings?”
Redwing laughed. “Oh hells no. As in bitch, a real flamin’ arsehole.”
Blue flew up to Lexi and presented her a small glittering bauble. “This is for you. This is an example of some of our better work.”
Alexandra looked at the precious thing in her hand for a second. “What do I…?”
“Just tell it to fly, and then tell it to return.”
“Fly!” Lexi whispered, holding out her hand. The small jewel zoomed up, and began to make complicated passes over their heads. Each time it passed it left a glowing glittering trail. Soon all the air was full of soft glitter. The girl held out her hand. “Return.” The jewel spiraled down in a shower of glitter to land, feather soft, on her upraised palm. Lexi was crying. “Thank you. It the most beautiful thing…” She stood up suddenly and gave Blue a brushing kiss on the cheek.
“Well now.” The blue winged creature murmured thoughtfully, touching her cheek.
“But what should I do with it? I don’t want to break it.”
“Oh just stick it in your pocket. Ye can’t break the damn things.” Blue laughed. “You should go now. It’s starting to get dark, and it’s not safe after dark. Be well, you two.” She gave them a long speculative look. “My friends.” There was a flicker of wings and they were gone.
Chapter 8
The Temple of Selene looked even worse close up than it had from a distance the previous day. The pristine white walls turned out to be fading whitewash, with weeds growing along the path leading to a crooked and battered front door. Half of a picket fence around the temple had tumbled down and vines were growing listlessly around the fallen wood. It smelled of decay, and made Hedric feel sad and ashamed at the same time. Lexi, walking at his side, said nothing but her deep blue eyes reflected the hurt that a once beautiful place had fallen so low.
The door to the temple was locked. Hedric pounded with a fist, until finally, deep inside the building a voice called back.
“Whadda ya want?” The voice was thin and screechy, like a rusted ironwood nail pulling out of wood.
“This is a Temple of Selene, isn’t it?” The boy called back.
“No!” The voice was flat and ugly. “I bake cookies here.”
“To poison the local children with?” Lexi called back angrily.
“They were never able to prove a thing.” The voice called back.
The young man and woman standing on the rickety front porch looked at each other in surprise. “We need to use the temple, for just a few minutes. We’re willing to pay.” Hedric said loudly.
The word “pay” seemed to have done the trick. “Come over here then.” The horrible voice called from the other side of the temple. “Front door is nailed shut.”
The temple’s caretaker was as ugly as her voice. Thin and stooped, wearing dirty clothes of indeterminate color, and with thinning greasy gray hair hanging to her waist, she looked up at the two with rheumy brown eyes and blinked. “Let’s see yer money then. I ain’t got all day.” The boy handed the woman a small gem that served the traders as money. She snatched it from his hand, polished it for a moment on the dirty hem of her dress, and made it disappear as if by magic into a hidden pocket.
Hedric frowned as he watched the old woman. It was all too pat, he thought; the woman, the voice, the dilapidated temple. It was like she had been designed from a fairy tale witch cast into the role.
Dawn’s voice was dry.
Hedric gave the old woman a deep bow. “Please, Priestess, lead us in.” The old woman’s eyes widened in surprise at having been discovered, and then the old withered hand offered Hedric his money back. “You keep it.” He touched the woman on the shoulder and behind him, heard Lexi gag. “Buy yourself a good meal.”
“It will be as you say, my Lord.” The old woman’s voice had changed to a soft contralto, and as they watched, her form seemed to flow into that of a tall stately priestess, clothed in pure, almost blindingly white robes.
Hedric chuckled as he felt Lexi’s hand slip into his. “My name is Hedric. No sir, no Lord. Just Hedric.”
The barest smile touched the tall woman’s red lips. “As you wish, Hedric. Please come this way.” As they followed the woman, the boy was sure that he could smell lilacs.
The inside of the temple was spotless, low soft chairs and couches surrounded a large circular fireplace, where a cheerful blaze was burning.
“THIS is a temple?” Lexi blurted in astonishment, looking around.
“Those who come here know Selene, and know what she prefers.” She shut her eyes briefly. When she reopened them Hedric noted that they were now violet colored. “It will be a few minutes until Elysium rises. Please have a seat.” She waved to the soft couch covered with an aged Victorian print. “Can I get you a cup of tea?”
Lexi nodded and then giggled. “Imagine. Being served tea by a priestess in the Temple of Selene.”
Hedric chuckled. “And it’s not even noon yet.”
The time passed swiftly, and soon the priestess was standing. “It is time.”
Hedric and Lexi stood, hesitantly. “What do I do now?” Hedric felt young and unsure of him
self again.
The priestess laughed, lifting a blue medallion from around her neck. “Just touch this, and frame what you wish to say in your mind. You can speak the words aloud, if it would help.”
The boy reached out with hesitant fingers. The metal was cold enough to freeze his blood. “Selene, can you hear me?” He felt silly talking into the thin air.
“Of course I can hear you.” A woman’s soft and mellow was comparable in timbre to the voice of the priestess. “I’ve been expecting you to call. Would you like me to bring you home?”
“Ah.” He was suddenly unsure of himself. “That’s not why I called. There is a problem here in Pangea. A plague is wiping out humans, animals and D’Tril. Experts say that we might have two years before we are all dead. I’ve come to beg your help, Selene. I don’t want to see everyone on the continent turned into a zombie.”
“Zombie?” The voice in the air sounded startled. “I think you had better come here. We need to talk to my sister.”
He looked at Lexi, her eyes wide, hand slowly crushing his.
“Of course we’ll bring her too. She’s involved in this.” There was a pause. “Very involved, I’d say.”
It was a room like the temple they had just departed, but bigger and more sumptuous. Lexi and Hedric blinked.
“Welcome to Elysium.” Selene was the mold from which the priestess had been formed. Tall and stately, her dark hair fell in a cascade to the middle of her back. Smiling lips were red as roses and her skin as fair as the youngest maid, and it glowed slightly. She was smiling. “What have you done with Hedric Schwendau?” She asked abruptly.
“What?” The boy asked, feeling stupid and clumsy.
“The Hedric I knew was a vain, selfish, arrogant, spoiled brat, who thought that the world owed him a living.” She shrugged. “Some of that may have been caused by a certain spoiled young queen. The young man I see before me is poised and concerned more with the well-being of others than he is for himself. Therefore, you are not Hedric Schwendau.” Her smile was warm as she laid a soft hand on his shoulder. “Welcome, Hedric. Your Uncle Padraig has been frantically searching for you for the past year. I’m sure that he will be greatly relieved to know you are alive and well when I tell him.” She let out a low laugh. “Of course I knew where you were all the time. I just wanted to see how long it would take for you to give up and ask to be brought home. You surprised me.”
The Finger of God: a Thalassia novel Page 12