Capri's Fate

by Devoré, Daryl

Zaqi returned holding a large, red teapot with a Black Dragon sketched on the side. He placed the tray on a step between them. He poured tea into one of the tiny cups and handed it to Capri.

  She smiled. "What kind?"

  He grinned and pointed at the teapot. "Black Dragon. It is a tea for an Emperor."

  Thall accepted an offered teacup, sniffed and sipped. "Oh, uh, hot." Emperors drink this stuff? Poor guys.

  "Mmm, excellent." Capri placed her cup on the stair then tapped the little green square. "What did you call this?"

  "Ketupat. It is rice cooked in coconut leaves. May I?" Zaqi pried open the woven casings. "There. If you wish, you may pour peanut sauce on it as well."

  Thall chuckled. "We've already been discussing what to pour peanut sauce on."

  Zaqi stepped backed. "I must go now. Leave your things by hangar, and I will collect them later. I hoped you liked my cooking?"

  Standing, Capri made a small bow and straightened up. "It is wonderful. Thank you, Zaqi."

  As they ate, they watched him clean and put away his cooking utensils, then drive across the tarmac.

  Capri sipped her tea and leaned back on the railing. "That was wonderful."

  Thall tossed his tea onto the tarmac, stepped past her and collected their plates and cups. "Bring the pot. Let's put this away, get our gear, lock up the plane and head to the wharf."

  "Oh joy, a boat."

  "I got us a big boat."

  She laughed. "A cruise ship isn't big enough."

  Fifteen minutes later, they stood next to a rickshaw rental with their luggage. Capri stared in the opposite direction as the runner lashed her beloved suitcases the back of the basket.

  Thall held out his hand to help her into the rickshaw. He stepped closer to the driver, explained where they were headed then settled into the cab next to Capri. The rickshaw stopped next to a large, gleaming, white cabin cruiser with the name Fates Attracted on the side.

  "Big enough?" Thall waved his hand at the boat.

  Capri hopped out of the cab. "Spectacular. This is ours?"

  Thall nodded as he untied the suitcases. "All ours and guaranteed to go fast. So we should get to where you want to go before you know it."

  A blast of music erupted from Capri's purse. "Oh my God, I totally forgot about my cell." She clicked it on. "Hello? Hi, Kat. Yes, it's so good to hear from you. No, I'm fine. Having quite an adventure." She walked a few steps away from the boat and lowered her voice.

  Thall tilted his head and focused his hearing.

  "You should see my pilot? Well, he's more than that. We have to take a boat to get where were going. Yes, I am quite aware of the fact I am terrified of boats and water, and thank you so much for reminding me, but with this guy, I feel safe. Like somehow, even though weird things are happening, he'll protect me."

  Her voice was quiet for a moment. "No, I don't know how to explain it. I miss you, too. Yes, I'll call. If I can. Love ya." She dropped her phone into her purse and returned to the boat.

  So, I'm the big protector, eh? I can keep her safe. From everything, except me. Thall lowered his head to hide his grin as he balanced her luggage in both hands and his bag tucked under his left arm. "I think I've got this. Let's go onboard." He climbed up the stairs, crossed the walkway and stepped onto the yacht. Dropping the suitcases, he held out his hand to help Capri aboard.

  A loud roar rumbled across the air. The water shuddered and sloshed the boat against the wharf. Capri stumbled forward. With his balance jostled by the unexpected movement of the boat and Capri pressing into him, Thall fell backward, smacking the back of his head on the deck. "Ow." He closed his eyes and inhaled. Capri's breasts squished against his chest. Her hips dug into his. His eyes popped open. "Shit! Get off me."

  He rolled Capri onto the deck. "You grab the suitcases and take them below. Then stay there."

  "Why? What's wrong?"

  "That was an earthquake." He jumped up, raced to the cockpit and started the engine. As he scooted past her to release the bowline, he yelled, "I said, take the luggage and go below."

  "All right. You don't have to be so bossy." She stood, brushed off her clothes, picked up her two suitcases then kicked his ahead of her toward the steps to below deck.

  Thall hurried to the stern, tossed the line ashore and settled into the driver's seat. Revving the engine, he backed the yacht away from the wharf and ignoring the No Wake sign, pushed the throttle to full. The yacht surged ahead, speeding out of the harbor toward open sea.

  Keeping the bow pointed away from land, Thall glanced back at the shore. The water was receding almost as fast as he was moving forward. "Come on. Come on. Move."

  He glanced back at the harbor. In the few moments he'd been gone, the water had drawn back from the shoreline and the wharf, exposing rocks, debris and fish, flapping on the sand. He pushed against the throttle, willing it to inch further forward, even though it was at its maximum.

  When land was no longer in view, he waited another ten minutes before he slowed the boat. He released his grip and flexed his fingers. "Lachesis."

  "Yes, Thall." A glimmer appeared beside him.

  "Questions?"

  "Come." The light vanished.

  ~ * * ~

  Thall followed his mother back to her seat near the tree of life. Settling on the grass, he glanced up at his aunt, Atropos, who was busy snipping roots.

  "The souls lost in the tsunami?" He pointed at the tree roots.

  She nodded and continued cutting lifelines.

  "What is it you wish to ask me?" Lachesis brushed her hand across his cheek.

  "I have too many questions to even know where to start." He rubbed his forehead. "How do I know everything? I knew how to fly a plane. How to drive a boat. I knew a tsunami was coming."

  "I gave you the knowledge of humanity. You have what you need to seduce Capri and win her heart."

  "If I seduce her, can I bed her?" He pointed to his groin. "Does this work as she expects?"

  "Do you feel a thrill when she speaks or touches you? Is there an ache when you think about her?"

  Thall nodded. "A fire burns. I feel I will explode, like a star."

  "Then yes, you may bed your prize and satisfy her. You are as human as you can be."

  "What if I love her?"

  "We will speak of that if there becomes a need." Lachesis paused.

  "When I asked for a name. Why Taren?"

  "I was your father's name." She held up her hand, closed and opened her eyes. "I think you should return. Capri is in distress."

  ~ * * ~

  As Thall's feet touched the rolling deck, he glanced out to sea. Emptiness was between him and the horizon in every direction. Stopping the engine, he headed below deck. A stench slapped him in the face and made his stomach roll. Fighting to control a gag, he stepped into the salon. "Capri?"

  "I threw up my lunch." Her voice floated from the forward room. He knocked and entered. Squished into the head, Capri lay on the floor, holding her stomach and moaning. "I hate boats. Boats hate…hate…" She scrambled to her knees and wretched.

  Covering his mouth with his hand, Thall stepped past her, opened a porthole then turned on the overhead ventilation system. "Let's get you on deck."

  "No. That's where the water is."

  "That's where the fresh air is."

  "Need to stay here." She collapsed back onto the floor.

  "I'll give you until the kettle boils, and then you are coming up on the deck with me." He turned and rummaged through the galley. When he found a teakettle and a box of ginger tea, he filled the kettle and plugged it in. While waiting for it to boil, Thall placed a teabag in the pot and grabbed a mug. After pouring the boiling water into the teapot, he carried it and the mug up to the deck, and placed both on the small table in the cockpit then returned to Capri.

  "Okay, let's go. This is your Captain speaking. Come on."

  "Kill me."

  He chuckled. "Come on. Up. Up. It isn't that bad."

 
"I hate people who don't get seasick." She grasped his outstretched hand and stood.

  Wrapping his arm around her waist, Thall escorted her to the deck and settled her on a chair. He poured her tea into the cup and handed it to her. "Sip this and relax. The waves are calmer now."

  She blew across the top of the liquid then took a small sip. "Why were you so mean? Ordering me around like that."

  "Didn't you feel the earthquake?"

  "I felt the boat shudder. But it's a boat, on water, they do that." She swallowed another mouthful of tea.

  "No, it was an earthquake. I was worried there'd be a tsunami and I think there was. The water pulled back as I beat it out to sea."

  Capri sat up and slapped her hand against her mouth. "You mean like the one a few years ago?"

  He nodded. She dropped her teacup onto the table, raced to the side of the boat, leaned over and vomited.

  Thall picked up the mug. "Okay, so just ginger tea didn't work. Let's try idea number two."

  Capri stumbled back to her seat and collapsed onto it. "What's idea number two?"

  He handed her back her freshly filled cup. "Keep sipping this and give me your hand."

  She held out her right hand. Thall turned it palm up and using his thumbs, rubbed against her wrist at the base of her palms. "Pressure point trick. Sit back, relax and sip your tea."

  It might have been the hot Indonesian sun or possibly the heat of her flesh on his, but something made his body temperature rise enough to put a bead of sweat on his upper lip.

  Her skin was soft as his thumbs skimmed along the surface. The seasick-green tinge faded from her face, and her ivory complexion returned to its healthy cream color. As he massaged small circles on her wrist, he sensed the tension melt from her. He closed his eyes and imagined the small movements spreading to broad strokes along her body, his fingertips trickling little paths down her chest, over the curve of her breasts and down her stomach.

  An uncomfortable burn centered between his legs. He adjusted his slacks. A large bulge wedged between his pants and his lower belly. Sliding his hand up the front of his zipper produced a tremor that radiated out from his groin. Lachesis was right. It'll probably work. Now to get her up and feeling good, so I can experiment with this.

  He tapped her wrist. Capri's eyelids fluttered open.

  "Still with me, good. Stand up. It's your turn."

  Confusion crossed Capri's brow as she glanced about the cockpit. "My turn for what?"

  Chapter Fifteen

  Capri swallowed another mouthful of ginger tea and hoisted herself out of the chair. The yacht swayed as it rolled over a wave. Her stomach threatened but settled. "Okay, I think I can stand up." She smiled at Thall. "Applause please. Standing is a major accomplishment."

  He tapped the captain's seat. "Sit here. You're turn to drive."

  She slipped past him. Her hand brushed his back and shoulder. Her insides quivered a delightful little tingle. "I've never driven a boat before, but if I can fly a plane, certainly I can do this."

  "That's the spirit." He squeezed her shoulder.

  "Yea, look at me, all big and brave." She placed one hand on the throttle and the other on the wheel. "I push this forward and the boat goes. And I steer this sort of like a car."

  "Well, there is one more small thing." Thall pointed at a small button. "It works better if the engine's running."

  Capri pressed the button, and the engine purred to life. The electronic console flickered and lit. "It's like the cockpit on your plane. Depth finder. Radar. GPS. Just no belly up indicator?"

  "Nope. Not on a boat."

  "I sort of liked that one."

  "You drive that way." He pointed ahead of them. "And I'll use the GPS and nav charts and figure out where we are and where we want to go."

  "Aye. Aye. Captain."

  "Arrr, matey. Ye better be a good sea dog, or I'll make ye swab the deck."

  "Is there a protocol if I see something?"

  "Don't hit it." Thall unrolled a chart he pulled out of the storage bin under the bench.

  Chuckling, Capri settled back into the captain's chair and pressed the throttle forward. The sea air brushed across her cheeks as the cruiser sliced through the water. She inhaled a deep breath and slowly released it. Closing her eyes, she tilted her face to the sun and bathed in the light for a moment. This isn't so bad after all.

  Opening her eyes, she glanced at Thall. His brow wrinkled as he scratched his head. She tapped his shoulder. "What's up?"

  He looked up from the chart. "According to the chart and the GPS, we aren't where we are supposed to be."

  Capri snorted. "I so know that. I'm supposed to be in the hotel spa having a mani-pedi." She cast a quick check of her damaged manicure and cringed.

  Thall placed the chart on the console and stood next to her. "See that island?" He tapped at a rough brown splotch on the map. She nodded. "According to the GPS, it should be about there." He stretched out his arm and pointed.

  Capri stretched up and looked in the direction of his finger. "Nothing there."

  "I know. That's not good."

  "Besides the obvious, why not good?"

  "If the island isn't there, that means we aren't where we are supposed to be, and the GPS might be broken."

  Capri's stomach lurked. "We're lost? In the middle of the ocean? Which ocean are we in?"

  "I think we're in the Java Sea. And Jakarta is that way. Except the island is missing." He scratched his head. "I'm going below to get a beer. Just keep driving that way and—"

  "I know. Don't hit anything. You sound like my dad when he was teaching me to drive."

  "Did you hit anything?"

  "Just the fence. And a light pole. But in my defense, it wasn't there when I checked in the mirror."

  Thall grinned. "A piece of advice, the U.S. Navy would probably frown if you hit one of their ships." He crossed the deck and disappeared below the deck.

  Capri checked the water for naval carriers, lost islands and sea monsters. Finding nothing but ocean and sky, she settled back and relaxed. It's not so bad out here. And I think I don't mind being lost with my Captain. I'm feeling much better. That tea and massage thing worked. Have to remember that trick, next time I have to outrun a tsunami.

  Thall slipped into the chair next to her. "All clear?"

  "All clear, Cap'n."

  "Stay the course then, matey." He lifted his beer to his mouth and gulped half the contents.

  "So how did you become a pilot and a ship's captain?"

  "Wild and crazy childhood."

  "Where did you grow up?"

  "Everywhere." He swallowed another mouthful of beer.

  "How did you end up in Indonesia?"

  "Woke up there."

  Capri's brow crinkled. "Rather cryptic responses."

  "I'd rather talk about you. Much more interesting topic than my life." His stomach rumbled. "Dinner time, already. Do you think you can eat?"

  She laughed. "I can always eat."

  "Let me try again. Do you think you can eat and keep it down?"

  "Not only can I do that, but it's my turn to make dinner." She rose out of the captain's chair and offered it to Thall. "You drive. I'll cook. Is there anything you don't like?"

  "That tea Zaqi gave us at lunch. Boiled swamp water."

  Capri chuckled as she walked to the stairs. She turned and yelled, "The galley is stocked, right? I'm not going to have to spear us a tuna or anything like that, right?"

  Thall held up his thumb, and she descended to the galley. Pulling open cupboard doors and the tiny refrigerator, she pulled out the fixings for a spaghetti dinner. "With luck there is a bottle of Chianti somewhere."

  The final cupboard revealed a small wine chest. She picked through bottles until she found four bottles of Chianti emblazoned with a black rooster. He didn't like the Black Dragon tea, hope he likes this.

  Juggling pots and pans in the limited galley space, Capri created a simple Italian feast. She placed the bow
ls of pasta and sauce on a tray and carried it up to the deck. Her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the twilight as she put the tray on the table near the semi-circular bench. "Dinner's ready. I thought we could eat out here. Come help."

  Thall killed the engine and followed her back to the galley. She pointed at the wine and the opener, while she placed wine glasses, plates and silverware on another tray. Squeezing her arm down on the wine bottle she put under her armpit, Capri nodded at a bowl. "Can you grab the salad, and wine then we'll have everything?"

  He tucked one Chianti under his arm, stuffed the opener in his back pocket, picked up the salad and a second bottle, then followed Capri on deck. When everything was set up, Capri settled on the bench as Thall pulled the wine opener from his pocket. He lifted up the bottle, read the label and grimaced.

  Capri chuckled. "I've heard that a black rooster on a bottle of Chianti means it's really good."

  "Sticking a black dragon on a teapot didn't help the tea any." He open the bottle and sniffed the cork. His eyebrows rose. "Mmm. Might not be so bad after all." He filled her glass, then his and settled on the bench next to her. "A toast. To us."

  "Us?"

  "You and me for having survived the craziest couple of days. Who would have figured on a cyclone, an earthquake and a tsunami? What odds?" He held out his glass.

  Capri clinked her glass on his. "To us and adventure."

  Thall picked up the salad and offered it to Capri. "This meal looks and smells fantastic."

  She waved her hand toward the water. "And the view is spectacular. A calm ocean. A sky full of sparkling stars. It's so quiet."

  "Good food. Good wine. Great scenery and awesome company. Let's eat." He tossed back his glass and gulped the contents.

  Capri sipped her wine and hid a smile behind her glass. Awesome company. I so agree.

  The gentle roll of the boat, the contented feel of a stomach full of pasta and the relaxed inhibitions from sharing a bottle of excellent Chianti put Capri in her very happy place. She placed the dishes on the tray, slid it off to the side. Then stretching out, she settled her feet on the table and sighed.

  Thall yawned and stretched his arms, draping his left arm over her shoulder and letting his hand dangle by her breast.