by K. Lyn
“To the lower level with you, dearie. Milas takes corners on two wheels.”
Mika backed up slowly, turned, and ran down the stairs where she sat quietly. How could she know for certain that these two would really take her home? The ship moved slowly away from the shore and then it took off at a fast clip. Mika felt seasick as the ship seemed to toss and turn in the choppy water. She lay down and fell asleep in the darkened room. When the ship docked it did so suddenly, and Mika sat up and looked around. She had had a dream of being whisked off on the marriage boat and was now stopping at a port along the French Riviera. Reality soon kicked in and she felt cold. Wrapping a thin blanket around her, she started up the stairs.
The wind was stinging cold as it whipped around the anchored vessel, and when Mika looked up she saw Stein standing there like a mountain. “Where are we?”
He held out a hand and helped Mika to the deck. “Home, as promised.”
It was dark, but Mika could see the small homes of her village. She breathed in and let the fresh scent of the island’s wildflowers comfort her.
Milas gave her butt one last squeeze and then practically shoved her off the ship. “Mm, Mm, got a real nice piece between those young legs.”
Mika turned to make a smart remark, but the hard hearted man seemed to smile, if only a little. “What’s that?” Mika pointed down the shore.
“Through his binoculars, Stein recognized the weasly little man who had handed over Mika’s friends to Carver. “Looks like the marriage boat,” he answered, with a scowl.
Through the trees, Mika noticed two young women being forced onto the boat, their faces filled with anticipation. “You have to stop them. It’s not what they think.”
Stein jumped over the side of the boat and stood behind Mika and held her arms firmly to her sides. “Then you should tell them.”
“You mean?”
“Yes, warn them, and then tell the village elders to have all the young ladies fitted with chastity belts and never let them get on the ‘marriage boat’, as it does not exist.” He let her go and Mika looked up into the criminal’s eyes. Why was this man doing something nice? He was a cold blooded killer. “Whatcha waitin’ for?”
Milas started the motor and Stein jumped aboard. Mika watched as the ship made a sharp turn and sped away. Then she ran down the beach to change the course of history on her island.
~K. Lyn~