by Alexie Aaron
“I haven’t felt anything for quite a while.”
“I guess that’s the benefits of having died on land. Here, we live forever, unless we’re stupid enough to get ourselves killed.”
Murphy couldn’t make sense of what the quartermaster said. It could be it was nonsense or it was the rum affecting his head. He took the clean clothes and his axe and headed up on deck to the wash barrel.
Captain Crocker looked up from his charts when the farmer entered. “Sit. I will be with you in a moment. I’m adjusting this chart.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Yes, Captain,” the man corrected.
“Yes, Captain,” Murphy repeated and sat down on the cushioned chair by the door.
Crocker blotted the ink on the heavy parchment before rolling it up, tying it with string, and setting it with others in a hollowed-out elephant’s leg.
Murphy’s stomach lurched at the thought of the poor creature that was taken from. He’d seen such things in Bernard’s museum, but he had put it down to a time when mankind didn’t know any better.
The captain observed his reaction with an interested eye. “What time do you come from, Stephen Murphy?”
“Most people call me Murphy, Captain.”
“Fine. Answer my question,” Crocker ordered.
“Post-Civil War, in the United States.”
The Captain took out a scroll, unrolled it, and penned his name in the timeline. “A little hobby of mine,” Crocker explained. “I put you down for 1865. I like to keep track of my men. Harley’s from 1965. He’s a great navigator. Picked him up off an ice floe. I think he’s from an icebreaker that was mired in the ice. He drowned when they tried to blast the boat free. Anyway, he’s the odd duck with the colorful pants and these little yellow glasses. Says things like groovy and far out. For a navigator, he should know how far out we are,” Crocker said, laughing at his own joke.
“I’d like to go home, Captain,” Murphy requested. “They’ll be worried.”
“First, tell me how you got here, and I’ll tell you if you can get back and, more importantly, whether you’ll be allowed to go back at all. There are rules here.”
Murphy told his story to Crocker.
“What made you think that hitting the stuff was going to set it off?” Crocker asked about the C4.
“I didn’t think. I acted,” Murphy admitted.
“We asked around, and it seems that your story checks out. Lucifer’s Lip has changed in topography. It’s still there, but it has a big hole in it according to the landing crew of the Peacock. They thought it was the storm that caused it, but it would have to be a hell of a hurricane to do that kind of damage.”
“When I was blown out of my veil in the woods, I could move back on my own, but the seawater is messing with me,” Murphy admitted.
“Tell you what, since you’re not a sea death, I’ll take you back after I trade with The Risen. These are prime hunting times, and I have a few of those birdmen in the hold. But I’d like to hang around and see if I can make it an even four before I make the journey.”
Murphy swallowed hard. “You hunt birdmen?”
“They use this dimension as a speedy way to cross the Caribbean. Too many flying machines otherwise.”
“I think they call it the between.”
“Ah, it’s the between over land. It’s GSD when it’s over water.”
“That’s good to know, Captain.”
“You seem like a smart fellow, Murphy. You give me honest labor, and I’ll reward you with your freedom. You have the word of Captain Daniel Crocker.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Go and see the boatswain. He’ll put you to work. Soon, you’ll have your sea legs.”
Murphy got to his feet.
“One more question. You’re from so far away, why did you come down here?”
“My friend asked me to come and have her back.”
“Is that why you hit the C4?”
“No, she had already left.”
“She left without you?”
“Yes. Captain, I’d like to go back and find her. She thinks she left to save us.”
“Did she?”
“I’m not sure, but I’d like to find out.”
“I too would be interested in the answer,” the Captain said and watched the farmer walk out the door. “She would be someone who would fetch quite a price with The Risen.”
~
Mia almost didn’t land on the island. If it weren’t for the familiar rock formations that supported the waterfalls and the reef that still surrounded the island, she would not have thought this was the same place. Gone was the golden sand. It was replaced with black, ground volcanic rock and ash. The sea was dark here. The center of the island water was oily and green.
“What the hell happened here? Ted, where are you?” she asked, worried. “Murph, ollie ollie in come free!” she called out. There was no answer, not that she expected one considering all that had happened here.
She looked around and was ready to leave when she spotted the Ross Bell approaching. “They’re coming back for the dead agent, I expect.”
Mia retracted her wings, positioned the satchel on her back, and pulled on Abigor’s jacket to hide it from the long-range telescopes. She waved her arms wildly and received a chirp of the siren in response. Mia decided to continue her search of the island under the protection of the approaching ship, which would be soon lowering a Zodiac, sending a team to “rescue” her.
Mia thought about the dead agent. “I may as well help them out,” she said. “He’s the only one who didn’t have his brains sucked out. He died on land so… Hello, I don’t think we’ve met,” she said to the ghost tripping over the uneven surface.
“Where am I?” the confused young man asked.
“Lucifer’s Lip or what is left of her. Are you Coast Guard or FBI?” she asked.
“FBI. I work for the paranormal research group,” he said proudly.
“Are you aware that you’re dead?” she asked.
“Damn. Did I drown when the monster got me?”
“I’m not sure. I did see your body in the cavern, when there was a cavern,” Mia said. “I really wish I knew where it was now.”
“My name is Ren Patel.”
“Ren, I’m Mia. I can see you because I’m a sensitive. The men that are approaching will not be able to see or hear you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Sit beside me a moment. Let me have your hands.”
“I’m a ghost, do I have hands? Oh, there they are,” he said, amused. “You feel like wood.”
“I know I should moisturize, but with young children, who has the time?” Mia took her time. Reading a recently dead soul was very difficult. “Sit still,” she instructed. “There…”
Agent Patel watched her eyes cloud over and shut for a moment. Her pupils continued to move under her lids.
Mia’s eyes popped open. “I know, I know…” she said, getting up. “Come on, Ren. OMG. The Coast Guardsmen put your body in a Pelican case when they emptied it of automatic rifles. They left it in the cavern. Everything in there was either incinerated or was washed towards the lake and pulled down into that slime.” She pointed. “Except you, my dear, floated. The wind and debris…”
The agent was now totally confused but followed the sensitive because she made him feel safe. She stopped at the edge of the lake and started digging through pieces of old boats.
“I know you’re here somewhere…”
“Watcha doing?” Whit asked her.
“Looking for Ren Patel. Come on, agent, I could use your muscles.”
“I bet you tell that to all the agents,” Whit said, waving over his men. “Help the lady shift that stuff.”
“Simpson and Boullé lifted up what looked like part of a fishing boat. Under it, a Pelican case bobbed in the slimy shallows of the lake. They used an old harpoon they found to drag it to shore.
“Careful,” Mia said as they
lugged it away from the water’s edge. She knelt and opened the case. Before she lifted the top off, she turned to Ren. “You shouldn’t look.”
“It’s either here or at my funeral. At least here I don’t have cotton shoved up my ass.”
“K.”
“Who’s she talking to?” Boullé asked Whit.
“I assume Ren,” he said.
Mia lifted the lid, and although his body was no longer in the resting position that the guardsmen put him in, his body was still intact. “Is this him?” she asked the others.
The three nodded.
“Time to take him home, gentlemen,” Mia said.
“We have to look for the other bodies. How did you get here by the way?” Whit asked.
“I was dropped off,” Mia lied. “I’m looking for my husband and Murphy.”
“Your husband is in St. Kitts trying to rent a boat to return here. He’s looking for you and Murphy.”
“I left Murphy with him.”
“Mia, he was very brave.”
Mia frowned. “What are you telling me?”
“I was below decks interrogating Anders when we were attacked, so I only have a hearsay report. But while the others were fighting the tentacles of the kraken, Murphy went for the source.”
“Murphy doesn’t have the power to do all this,” Mia said, waving her hands around.
“Patience,” Whit said.
Mia wanted to gut him at that moment but held still.
He continued, “Before we were picked up by Bob, Ted had abandoned a case, like that one, full of C4 just inside the tree line. We think that Murphy lured the beast there and exploded the C4.”
Mia thought a moment. “He could have been blown into the water or through the veils.”
“Or not survived,” Whit said. “Mia, he’s not indestructible. Sure, he’s dead but… Do you see any other ghosts around?”
“Besides Ren Patel?”
“Ren’s here?”
“He’s a bright guy. It didn’t take him long to understand how dead works.”
“Must be because the case protected his body. Do you see any other ghosts?”
“No, but…”
“But what?”
“I don’t feel any absence. Wouldn’t I feel it if he was gone?” Mia asked.
“Babe, I can’t answer that for you. Tell you what, help us search, and we’ll get you on the boat and get news to Ted that you’re alive.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Whit scrutinized her for a moment before asking, “Interesting outfit. You had time to shop?”
“It’s not something I would choose,” Mia confessed.
“Is that gold in your hair?” he asked. “It looks like a crown.”
Mia put her hand to the top of her head. She had forgotten the hairdressing in her rush to leave. “It’s someone’s idea of a joke. I’m sure it’s not real,” she lied. “My clothes weren’t suitable for the audience I had.”
“Let me guess. Ancient cargos and a hoodie? You’re in the Caribbean, babe; you should be in a bikini and…”
Mia put her finger to his lips. “Shut up.”
“Are you taller?” he said. “With those boots, you’re almost normal size.”
“Are you looking for a black eye?” Mia asked.
“I’m just in the position of asking the questions,” Whit said.
“How about answering some?”
“Go ahead.”
“Did Seaman Douglas and Brothers make it off the island?”
“Yes, they did.”
“Good, I liked them. You may want to see if you can recruit Douglas. He’s unflappable when it comes to the paranormal.”
“Mia, all these young guys are. It’s because of being raised on videogames. Most of them wouldn’t be shocked if a dragon flew by.”
Mia smiled. “Would you?” she asked.
“Probably, but I’m a skeptic,” Whit said proudly. “Any more questions?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“You may want to figure out how to transport Ren to…”
“Too late,” Mia said, squinting.
Whit looked behind him. There wasn’t any sunshine but muted light behind the clouds.
“He just crossed over,” she said. “I didn’t even have to call for the light. It just came. I’ll consider that a good omen,” she said. Although, she did worry why she was no longer pulled by light. It didn’t appear to want her anymore.
~
Ted was arguing the price of a POS boat when his satellite phone rang. He looked at it and saw that the US government was calling. He answered it.
“This is Agent Martin. I’m looking for Theodore Cooper…” Whit’s voice drawled.
“Cut it out, Whit, I’m busy.”
“I found something you lost.”
Ted’s heart skipped a beat. “Mia?”
“She’s standing right here jumping for the phone. OUCH! Damn, Mia, that hurts,” Whit said before Mia said, “Ted, Ted, is that you?”
Ted smiled and sniffed. “It’s me, Mighty Mouse.”
“Where are you?” she asked.
“St. Kitts.”
“I know the hurricane just went through there. Is there any place to stay?” she asked.
“Mason got us rooms at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort.”
“As soon as I can get off this ship, I’m heading there.”
“Your passport is in my duffle,” Ted said.
“I’m playing the shipwrecked card. See you soon.”
Ted heard her hand the phone to Whit.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get her through customs.”
“How is she?”
“Better now she’s heard your voice. Did Murphy show yet?”
“No.”
“The island looks like a nuke landed there. I think you’re going to have to prepare her for a life without Murphy,” Whit said and hung up.
Ted walked back in. “Mason, cancel the boat for today. The Feds have Mia.”
“Thank god! How about Murphy?”
Ted shook his head. “He’s got to be out there somewhere. All that energy will sustain him until we can find him,” he said, more for the two ghosts he knew were close by than himself.
They started walking to where they hoped they could catch a taxi. St. Kitts had been hit by the storm but had recovered quickly. The island denizens made their money off the tourists. Some vendors already had their shop doors open.
“We need to think outside the box on this one,” Mason said. “Let’s list all the things that we know that didn’t fit into the island investigation.”
“Mia said that Sabine saw a tall ship when she was OOBing,” Ted said. “That’s an avenue we haven’t researched yet. Get on the web and have Jake research ghost ship sightings,” he said excitedly. “I want to have a plan in place before Mia shows up.”
~
Cid ran into the house, calling, “Sabine! Sabine, I have good news.”
Sabine, who had been keeping herself busy by organizing Mia’s drawers and closets, dropped the pile of underwear she had folded and ran out into the hall and down the steps. “What is it?”
“The Coast Guard has Mia. No Murphy yet. Jake just copied me a request from Mason. He wants Jake to look into ghost ship sightings. Ted thinks that, if Murphy was blown through the veils, he may have been picked up by a pirate ship.”
“Pirates?” Sabine said. “The ship I saw wasn’t flying the skull and crossbones.”
“Actually, it was Richard Worley who was responsible for creating and popularizing that flag. They all flew their own colors,” Cid said.
Sabine was quiet a moment.
“Sorry, I’m such a pedantic ass at times.”
“What? No. Sorry, I was recalling the image in my mind. It was flying a flag with a peacock feather on it. I’m almost positive.”
“I’ll let Jake know,” he said, typing into his phone.
“Cid, do you think I can stay here until Mi
a and Ted come back?”
“Sure, make yourself comfortable. I thought, maybe, you’d be on your way to Mackinac Island by now.”
“Cid, family is more important to me than treasure. I only went because it seemed like fun. The girls were going to be spending quality time with Brian’s family and Tauni is back east…”
“Stay here as long as you want. I’ll cook us something spectacular for supper,” Cid promised. “I’m glad you’ve decided to stay.”
Sabine smiled. “It will give us a chance to get to know each other better.”
“I’d like that. I’ve got some communications to take care of first. How about seven?”
“That would be great,” Sabine said. “I’ll go out and buy us some wine. Is it a red or a white wine dinner?” she asked.
“Red. Get a couple of bottles just in case someone flies in,” Cid said. “Ted’s car keys are in the office unless you want to drive Mia’s truck…”
“I’ll drive the truck,” Sabine said, feeling adventurous.
Cid hurried down the stairs.
Sabine walked back in and scooped up Mia’s underwear and dumped them in the drawer. That’s pretty much how she had found them. Sabine checked her face in the mirror and frowned at the state of her hair. She grabbed one of Mia’s hats and put it on, drawing her long hair through the back of the ball cap. She hummed a tune as she picked up the cash Cid had left her on the counter and headed out the door.
Chapter Eighteen
Mia handed the driver the cash she had borrowed from Whit for the taxi. She walked into the resort lobby aware that she looked like she had just come from a cosplay event. Whit had fast-tracked her through customs. She didn’t even have to open the satchel she held tightly to her chest.
She walked to the counter.
“Welcome to Marriott. My name is Winnie. How can I help you?” a crisply uniformed clerk asked in a beautiful French accent.
“Winnie, I’m looking for Theodore Martin or Mason Callen’s room?”
The clerk searched the computer. “I have both registered.”
“Can you call Theodore Martin’s room and tell him his wife Mia is here,” Mia requested, knowing that she didn’t have any identification on her, otherwise she would have just asked for a key.
