by S. J. Smith
Chris saw her, skidded to a halt and ran towards a clearing at an even faster velocity. He jumped over a stream and ambled up a tree with Jake right behind him.
*****
“Guy’s we’re totally fucked,” Jake said, tightening his grasp on the tree. Ursula and her gang of voodoo priestess were roaming below the tall tree with flashlights and muttering prayers.
“What do we do?” Elizabeth whispered, feeling her legs shaking.
Chris put a finger to her lips, and Elizabeth pinched her lips closed as tears fell down her face. This was all her fault. She doubted the possibility of anything outside of her biology textbook. Her goal was to save the bears and now here she was hiding in a tall tree with two werebears who might die because she mouthed off to a powerful witch.
“No way,” Jake said, sitting up.
A smile was spreading across Chris’ face too. Elizabeth wiped the tears from her face, and squinted to see the forest floor. Ursula and her gang were screaming and running away. They were being chased by the black mama bear from the day before. Elizabeth almost laughed.
“I told you to leave her alone,” Jake said, patting Chris on his back.
Chris smiled and nodded. Ursula and her friends were vanishing into the wood, screaming loudly.
“Well, well, this is an argument to save the bears if I ever heard one,” Jake said, lowering himself down the tree.
“Climb on my back,” Chris said, extending his hand.
Elizabeth obeyed and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her stomach lurched as Chris jumped down three branches at a time. She closed her eyes, trying to think of a happy place. Her eyes popped open when an idea hit her. Chris put her down on the ground and rolled his shoulders.
“Jake, what did you say up there?” Elizabeth asked, picking leaves out of her hair.
“We’re fucked?” Jake asked.
“No after that. Something about argument and bears or something?” Elizabeth said.
“I just said this mess is an argument to save the bears,” Jake said, shrugging his shoulders.
Elizabeth leaned against the tree as her brain exploded like fireworks. That could be her thesis. It was not for magic or against magic. It would be about the wonder created by magic. The wonder she felt when she saw the cubs, the wonder she felt when she watched Chris and Jake turn into bears. She could never do anything to harm them because she was in awe of them and locked in a sense of wonder. Children believe in magic without second guessing it because they have a sense of wonder. However, as children get older they lose that sense of wonder. If humans, those illegally hunting bears and those destroying the habitats, had a sense of wonder, they would not harm the world around them. Elizabeth clapped her hands together, shocked at the beautiful simplicity of her thesis.
“You okay?” Jake asked, staring at Elizabeth.
“I’m better than okay. You just got me my job after college. I would need a lot of sources. You know, citing the cultural changes in group thought regarding nature, Native Americans versus industrialization and stuff like that,” Elizabeth said, pacing the forest floor.
“I’m not following. Are you, Chris?” Jake asked.
Chris shook his head.
Elizabeth explained her train of thought. She wanted to argue for humans to make nature a personal experience and have a personal connection. Because of land reclamation and the plethora of cityscapes and suburbia, nature was pushed far away. Out of sight and out of heart and mind.
Chris nodded and rubbed his scruffy chin.
“Nice job,” Jake said, giving her a high-five.
“Thanks,” Elizabeth said, smiling broadly.
“So—so you’re leaving then?” Jake asked.
Elizabeth’s face fell, looking from Chris to Jake. They both looked like what she was feeling: disappointment.
“I’ll be living in Washington D.C. if this all works out. I mean, I would like to see you guys again. Maybe we can keep in touch? I can’t believe I just said that,” Elizabeth said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I—I would kind of be into that,” Chris said.
“Yea, I mean it’s not like we have real roots anywhere,” Jake said.
“You guys would want to—share me?” Elizabeth asked, feeling a glint of excitement.
“I mean, yeah, if that means we can see each other again. My only rule is you have to go to Mardi Gras every year with us,” Jake said, cupping Elizabeth’s chin, “And I mean come and be focused. No notebooks. No tape recorders. And by focused, I mean wasted, tits out and lots of beads.”
Elizabeth shoved him playfully and nodded.
“Fine, deal,” Elizabeth said, looking over at Chris.
“I’m down too,” Chris said, smiling at her.
“What if it doesn’t work though?” Elizabeth asked, looking from Chris to Jake.
“Then we’ll all be friends. I don’t think the potential for failure means we don’t try. We all clearly have a connection,” Chris said.
Elizabeth stepped backward, pulled her shirt over her head, and wriggled free of her jeans. In the rush to get away from the vindictive Ursula she did not get to grab her bra and panties. She was naked, leaning against a tree.
“I think we should get started making this connection stronger. Besides Jake was starting something when we were rudely interrupted. Chris, you interested in switching positions?’’ Elizabeth asked, feeling bolder.
“Yes, ma’am,” Chris said, walking towards her. Jake followed, pulling off his shirt.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, savoring her new relationship and her absolute oneness with the forest. She would have insight she never could find in any book and both men would have her absolute devotion. In hoping she would save the bears, in would seem the bears turned the tables on her and saved her.
THE END
Bonus Story 3 of 40
Eve’s Pleasure
Eve heard the shout from the aft deck and looking over her shoulder she saw a man in the water. She pulled the throttle back and cranked the wheel to bring her boat sideways.
“Keep station until I say otherwise and get the Coast Guard on the line!” she said to her ships mate. She jumped down the stairs from the upper deck and grabbing a life preserver ran to the port side where the client went overboard.
“I heard a thump and when I turned around he was in the water,” said Mr. Langston.
Eve made sure the line was coiled right and threw the life preserver out to the man floundering in the water. It landed right next to him and he reached for it and appeared to have it, but lost his grip. The man sank below the surface for a moment and then struggled back up. Eve felt a coldness in her stomach and she had to push back her fear. Then she saw a blood stain on the rail of the boat where he went over.
“He is injured!” Eve turned back to her mate on the pilot’s deck.
“Let the Coast Guard know the man in the water is injured!” she shouted. Katy had the radio to her mouth and waved in answer. Eve was wearing a bikini top and cut off shorts so she just climbed up on the railing and dove into the water. She swam quickly to the man as he sank below the surface again. She came up behind him, remembering her training. She lifted his head above water and he sputtered and gasped. She got a secure grip with one arm around his muscled chest. She could see blood in his blond hair along the temple. He began struggling in panic, as most people did in that position.
“Easy Harden! I got you. Relax and let me get you to the boat!” Eve began back stroking with her free arm as Mr. Harden seemed to relax and she nodded to herself. He had good control. The man coughed and spat out the water he had swallowed, and soon they were at the side of her boat, Eve’s Pleasure. Eve hooked her free arm around a rung on the ladder that had been dropped over.
“Above ya Captain. Can you get him up higher? The Coast Guard is nearby and on the way,” Katy called down to her
Eve brought her legs up to her chest so she could put her feet on the bottom rung of the ladder that w
as in the water. Once she was secure she straightened her legs, affectively picking Mr. Harden up and out of the water. Katy and Mr. Langston were reaching over and managed to get a grip on Harden. Eve had to re-position herself to get out of the way as they hauled the injured man back up to the deck. Eve scrambled up after him. Harden was laid out on the deck and Katy was bending over him. Pushing her long wet hair out of her eyes Eve moved toward them when she heard the blast of a ships horn. She turned and saw the Coast Guard coming near. She waved them in.
Soon, the Coast Guard had a medic on board and Eve was standing back with Katy, Mr. Langston and the Captain of the Coast Guard cutter, Captain Gerald Manson.
“Nice work Captain. The man owes you his life. How did he go over?” he asked.
“I just heard a yell and he was in the water. There is blood on the railing and he has a gash on his head. I am not sure how he managed to hit his head with the railings as high as they are,” Eve told him. As if in answer to his question they heard Mr. Harden talking to the medic.
“I made the mistake of trying to climb that thing while the boat was moving,” he said pointing to the Flag pole. There were steps on the side of it, but it was not supposed to be climbed when the boat was moving. Eve groaned and closed her eyes rubbing her temple.
“Not your fault Captain, it seems like user error and he is copping to it,” Captain Manson told her. She smiled slightly and looked at him.
“I know. He was warned but that is the hazard of doing tours. At least he is ok,” she said. They watched the man arguing about going to the hospital.
“The hell he is not going to the hospital,” Mr. Langston said and walked over to where his friend was being treated.
“You have to go Brock. If for no other reason than the stockholders need to know you have been checked out. You know they will find out about this,” he told his friend. “Excuse me sir, could we have a minute,” Langston asked the medic. The medic agreed and got up. The two Captains and Katy backed further off as well.
“Stockholders?” Katy said bemused.
“You didn’t know?” Captain Manson asked with a humorous glint in his eyes.
“Know what?” Eve asked.
“That is billionaire Brock Harden. It was in the news that he was moving his main offices from New York down here. It is something of a big deal, so is he. And you just saved his life Captain. Congratulations,” he told her. Eve was stunned.
“Jeez, now I am really glad it wasn’t my negligence,” Eve couldn’t help saying. The Captain laughed and she traded a glance with Katy.
It was only partially a joke. Eve had inherited the luxury cruiser from her father and had been trying to pay it off. She had come close to having it repossessed twice and if it was not for this job she might have lost it. A major scandal would have ruined her. Katy knew the problems she had getting her business going. A female Captain was not always desirable with tourists or other ships’ captains. Mr. Langston got up and came over.
“He has agreed to go to the hospital Captain Manson. May I go with you?” he asked.
“Of course sir,” the Captain told him.
“Great, thank you. Let me grab our stuff from down below and I will be back before you can get him on board your vessel,” he said with a handsome smile and disappeared below deck. His long black hair had come out of a pony tail and was a mess. It made him look more than cute to Eve.
Eve went over the incident paperwork and promised to have it in that evening. She discussed everything she had done, one more time, with Captain Manson and he assured her she would be fine, with no problems coming from the incident. It was a relief to Eve. Thankfully the Captain knew her and knew she ran a tight ship. As she finished up and the patient was loaded safely onto the Coast Guard cutter, Mr. Langston came back up with their bags. He waved to Eve and Katy.
“I will give you a call tonight Captain Sage. I do believe we will be wanting another tour,” he said and went across to join his boss. Katy and Eve looked at each other in surprise.
*****
Eve came out of her room into the lounge located in the center of Eve’s Pleasure. Around the walls were the doors to the two guest quarters, the Captains quarters and one she let Katy use when they were doing overnight bookings. Not that there had been many of those yet. Katy was sitting in a comfortable chair, relaxing, before they called it a day. She had changed into a light flowery blouse and shorts. Eve hadn’t bothered yet so was still in her bikini top and shorts.
“Well this has been a weird day. I can’t believe a well-known billionaire almost died on my watch,” Eve said with a soft, self-depreciating laugh.
She smiled at Katy and went to the bar and got them both a beer. It was an end of the day ritual that they had both come to cherish. She handed her friend her drink. Katy laughed and took a sip.
“Typical Eve. You could have said it was a day you saved a man’s life you know,” she said rhetorically. Eve laughed and shrugged.
“I guess I do have a tendency to look on the gloomier side of things. Ok how is this, I will try and put a positive spin on everything. Why not. This job actually paid enough I can go and make my third to last payment on this old girl and forestall a repossession. How is that for optimistic?” she asked her friend, sitting in a chair across the round room from Katy.
“That’s better. I will get you to be optimistic….” Katy began but was interrupted when Eve’s smart phone buzzed. Eve sighed.
“Great, a happy hour interruption,” as she reached for it Katy waggled a finger grinning.
“Ok, alright! A new client!” She said and Katy nodded at her fake optimism as she answered it.
“Eve’s Pleasure Cruise, Captain Sage speaking,” she said.
“Hello Captain, this is Sonny Langston calling. I hope your day is ending well,” he said cordially. She mouthed who it as to Katy.
“It is going fine here. How is Mr. Harden, is he going to be ok?” she asked, truly concerned. The man snorted humorously.
“He will be fine. The hospital is running a barrage of tests, although they have admitted he will be fine. He just needs to rest for a few days. Mr. Harden of course is not happy about staying in the hospital overnight and part of tomorrow, thank you for asking. Actually there was something we wanted to discuss with you, if you have the time,” he said.
“Sure, what’s up?” Eve asked. Katy was watching her with eyebrows raised.
“Well Captain, first off, I wanted to thank you and Miss Norton for your hospitality and for being so quick when Brock went in the water. Due to his head wound stunning him the doctors say he very likely would have drowned if you had not acted so fast diving in after him, and Katy for getting the Coast Guard so quick,” Eve felt herself blush slightly.
“Katy is sitting right here with me. I can put you on speaker if you would like,” she said.
“That would be great,” he answered.
“Ok, you’re on. It is just the two of us,” Eve told him.
“Hello First Mate Norton. I was just telling the captain that your fast response today was instrumental in saving and assuring Brock’s life. I wanted to thank you both for your actions today,” he said humbly. Katy blushed and looked uncomfortable, but she smiled.
“Thank you, sir. I just followed my training. Also you don’t have to call me first mate. I am the only mate so it is a title by default,” she said. It was one of her favorite lines. Mr. Langston laughed heartily and Eve joined him. It was an infectious laugh.
“Fair enough. Then with your permission I will call you Katy and you can call me Sonny. Hearing my last name all the time makes me feel like my father,” he said. They agreed.
“Actually I also wanted to make you a proposition Captain. We have spent the last few weeks going on tours with different boats to find someone we could be comfortable with on an extended tour of Key West and other places. We had decided, before Brock’s curiosity got the better of him, that Eve’s Pleasure was the boat we wanted to travel on. Would
you be open to a two-week trip?” he asked.
Eve’s eyes widened as did Katy’s and they stared at each other. Eve was certain the same thing was going through Katy’s mind - that it would be a lucrative trip and they both could really use the income. Eve pretended to think about it without needing to check her schedule.
“I think we could do that Sonny. When would you like to begin? I am guessing that Mr. Hardon will be laid up for a while?” Eve said casually. She stood up as did Katy and both of them were practically dancing with excitement.
“I had thought of that and it looks like at least three days before he will be ready for it. I had been prepared to ask you about this before we left your boat, but the situation did not allow for it. So I put a deposit envelope in the little end table next to the very comfortable blue chair in the lounge while getting our things,” he answered. Eve turned to the table he was referring to and Katy was there opening the drawer and pulling out an envelope. She opened it and dumped a large amount of cash out on the table. It was mostly hundreds.
“Going by the booking quotes we received from other providers, I realize this is a bit low, but it was the only emergency money we had on us. I can of course get you more when we see you next, or I can add it on the two week total if you like,” he said.
Eve counted up the money with Katy watching. Eve, for a brief instant felt lightheaded. There was enough on the table to take care of several problems. She had no idea who he had got a quote from, previous to going out with her, but whoever it was charged way more than Eve did. Nevermind his idea of “emergency funds.” Eve and Katy looked at each other in silent shock for a moment.
“Hello, Captain?” Sonny said into their silence.
“Sorry Sonny, just thinking. Um, this should be plenty to hold a spot for three days. You don’t have to worry about anything further for that,” she told him. Part of her wanted to refuse half of it, but they needed the money too badly to turn it down.