Over The Crescent Moon

by Karen Badger

Spencer released a heavy sigh. “Does what we’ve shared mean anything to you, Mak? Do I mean anything to you?”

  “More than you could possibly know. I may have only known you for a few days, but you will always be ingrained my mind and my heart. You’ve changed me in ways I can’t yet even imagine, Spencer.”

  Spencer walked across the room and took Makenna by the shoulders. “I am angry with you right now. You ask me not to make you choose, but you expect me to choose, so choose, I will. I choose you. I choose us, and I will not walk away from that. You just need to deal with it.”

  “I can’t deal with it, Spencer. I can’t be responsible for ruining your life.”

  “That’s bullshit and you know it. This is a decision I am making—not you. Tell me you really, in your heart of hearts, want me to walk away. Tell me.”

  Makenna’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t.”

  “Neither can I.”

  Makenna touched the side of Spencer’s face, and this time, Spencer did not pull away. “Make love to me,” she whispered.

  Chapter 20

  Spencer completed her final inspection of the warehouses just before dusk. At the end of her rounds, she intentionally sought out Bear. He was busy unloading a ship that had just docked. She stood near the gangplank until he came out of the hold carrying two bags of grain. She made eye contact with him and nodded to convey the need to talk with him. She stood off to the side and waited for him to unload the two bags he was carrying.

  “Is something wrong?” Bear asked.

  “I need you to come with me. I need a skiff.”

  “You need a skiff? Like, right now?”

  “Yes.”

  “You realize it’s getting dark.”

  “Yes, I know. That’s why I need it now.”

  He put his hands on his hips. “What the hell is going on, Red?”

  She walked a few feet away and then turned around. “For starters, my real name is Spencer. You might as well start calling me that. So, are you coming with me or not?”

  Bear called to his crew. “There’s something Red needs help with. I’ll be back soon.”

  Bear followed Spencer through the maze of buildings on the way to her room. When they arrived, Spencer reached for the handle and pushed the door open.

  “Oh, Jesus,” Bear said. “What are you still doing here?”

  Makenna grinned sheepishly. “I got sidetracked.” She cast a sly glance at Spencer.

  Bear raised an eyebrow. “I bet you did.” He looked at Spencer. “I’m not worried about you getting out to the ship, but will you be able to get back to shore in the dark?”

  “I’ll do my best,” Spencer said.

  “Or you can come back at dawn,” Bear suggested.

  “Or I could come back at dawn.”

  ***

  “Spencer. Spencer, wake up. It’s time to go.”

  Spencer opened one eye and saw Makenna hovering above her. She reached up and pulled her down on top of her.

  “Hey! Stop that! It’s time to get up!” Makenna rolled off her and onto her back. Spencer followed.

  “I don’t want to go. I want to stay right here, naked with you,” Spencer said.

  “But I’m not naked. I’ve been up for an hour already. It’s almost dawn. You need to get the skiff back in time for your shift to start on the docks. We don’t need people questioning where you are.”

  “Ahhh! I hate it when you’re right.”

  Spencer rolled off Makenna and stood to pull her trousers on.

  Makenna climbed off the bed behind her and proceeded to tease her by pinching her nipples.

  “Keep that up and this ship will not be leaving today to pick up the troops.”

  Makenna put her hands behind her. “You’re no fun.”

  “There will be time for fun later.” Spencer pulled her blouse over her head. “When will you be back?”

  “Let’s see. Today is Tuesday. It’s two days there and two days back, plus a day to load supplies and discuss the final plans with the troops. I’m guessing I’ll be back late on Saturday, or maybe on Sunday.”

  Spencer pulled on her boots and then took Makenna into her arms. “I’ll miss you. Promise you’ll be careful.”

  “Things will happen pretty quickly once we get back, Spencer. You need to be prepared for that.”

  Spencer tucked her shirt in and then grabbed her vest and coat. “I know. I won’t deny I’m a little worried about it. In fact, I’m a lot worried about it.”

  Makenna handed Spencer’s gun and sword to her. “Don’t forget these.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Bear told me you’re good with that sword.”

  “Yeah, I guess so. Something comes to me when I hold it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I see things, and I remember things from before I came here. Doc has probably told you about where I come from.”

  “She says you believe you’re from the future.”

  “Yes...a future that you are a part of.”

  “Ah, yes, the other me.”

  “You must think I’m crazy.”

  “Not at all. Pele sometimes works in mysterious ways. Oversouls can cross dimensions of time. My people believe souls can be connected through many generations. Maybe that is the case for us.”

  Spencer finished belting the sword to her side. “How do I look?”

  “Like you just got out of bed after a night of passionate love making.”

  “Awesome! That’s just the image I was shooting for.”

  Makenna cupped Spencer’s face between her hands and kissed her tenderly. “I will see you in a few days.”

  “Be careful, and come back to me, okay?”

  “I will.”

  ***

  “Doc! What are you doing here?” Spencer was surprised by Frankie while making her rounds.

  “Lei is tied up in meetings again all day, but she asked me to stop by and invite you to have dinner with us. What time do you get off?”

  “Usually at dusk, which at this time of year is around six. I can’t believe it’s almost December here. Where I come from, there is snow on the ground now.”

  “So that means, you lived somewhere in the upper part of the U.S. The southern parts don’t have snow this early. I’m still guessing New England.”

  “I wish I could remember.”

  “Have any other memories returned other than your first name?”

  “No memories, but definitely visions—especially when I handle my sword. This sword has something to do with who I am.”

  “So, are you interested in having dinner with us?”

  “That would be awesome. I’d like that. I have a lot to talk with you about, although I suspect you already know more than I do.”

  “I’m of a mind that the more you understand going into this thing, the better it will go. I know Lei is frustrated about the lack of progress during the council meetings. I’m sure she’ll want to discuss that.”

  “Okay, then. So we’ll see you at our hotel around six?”

  “I can’t wait to have your loco moco again. I’ll be there.”

  ***

  Spencer waited expectantly for Frankie to place a bowl of loco moco in front of her. “I’ve been waiting all day for this! I’ve bought this dish from some of the local vendors on the dock and nothing compares to yours.”

  Frankie blushed. “You give me too much credit.”

  “I agree with Spencer. You’re an amazing cook, my love.” Leilani picked up Frankie’s hand and kissed the back of it.

  Spencer smiled. “I love the relationship you two have. It warms my heart.”

  “Speaking of relationships, how is Makenna?” Frankie asked.

  “I’m not so sure I’d call what we have a relationship,” Spencer admitted. “One day, it seems like she’s into me, and the next, she’s more concerned about the insurgency than anything else.”

  “She has a lot on her mind. This has been a long time coming. The p
lans began more than a year ago,” Leilani explained.

  “I understand the goal here is to destabilize the kingdom, but to take this risk, there must be a huge payout as well,” Spencer said.

  “Yes, there will be a significant payout, but that is not why Makenna is involved. Her primary concern is for our people,” Leilani explained. “There are a lot of moving parts in this plan, and a lot of people to compensate, so when it comes down to it, each share, although quite large, is still pretty modest when you consider what’s at stake.”

  “So, what are your roles in this?” Spencer asked.

  “My role is what I do best. I will be on hand to treat injuries, should they occur,” Frankie said.

  “How can they not occur?” Spencer asked incredulously. “I mean, based on what Mak described, a lot could go wrong, and this could turn into a bloodbath.”

  “We have reason to believe that won’t happen,” Leilani said. “For starters, they are unprepared for this, militarily. I mean, the King’s Own guards have cannons that are not even assembled and guns with no ammunition. Sure, there are plenty of gun owners on the island, but none with the volume or power to resist something like this.”

  “You’ve mentioned before that Hawai’i has no real army to speak of. Doesn’t the king realize how vulnerable the kingdom is?” Spencer asked.

  “To be truthful, one reason these council meetings are so frustrating is because the king isn’t even considering how vulnerable we are. He believes we are invincible and the only problem we face is the potential of losing our cultural autonomy. The only thing he remembers is the heyday of the monarchy and he truly believes there is no other way to govern this land. He isn’t even considering that we could lose our entire kingdom if we are attached by a hostile power. The counselors are a group of old men who are afraid to cross the king, even though they know annexation is the right thing for our nation.”

  Frankie covered Leilani’s hand with her own. “I’m sorry things aren’t going as well as you’d like, love.”

  “Things will change dramatically in a few days,” Leilani said. “As a people, I know we can get through this, but as a kingdom, I have little faith we can survive.”

  “In a few days?” Spencer asked. “It’s happening that fast?”

  “As soon as Makenna returns. Has she not explained the timeline to you?” Leilani asked.

  “Actually, she’s been pretty evasive about it. All she said is that things will happen quickly when she gets back. She didn’t put an actual date on it.”

  “Fast is an understatement,” Leilani said. “This thing is schedule for Monday, December first. That’s a critical date based on the fact that the Pearl Harbor warships will be out to sea at that time.”

  Spencer sat back in her seat. “Why would she not tell me that?”

  “What else has she been evasive about?” Frankie asked.

  “To be truthful, she told me she didn’t want me involved at all. She said it wasn’t my fight.”

  Frankie smiled. “It appears Makenna is in love.”

  “What?” Spencer said.

  “Has that topic not come up?” Frankie asked.

  “No.”

  “Well, in my opinion, she doesn’t want you involved because she’s afraid she might lose you.”

  “You might be right, Frankie,” Leilani said. “I’ve known Makenna since we were children, and she has never been evasive about anything. In fact, she’s quite the opposite. How do you feel about her, Spencer?”

  Spencer closed her eyes as a familiar phrase came to mind. She opened them and then looked at both her friends. “I am over the crescent moon in love with Makaya.”

  “Did you say, Mak... ow!” Leilani exclaimed. “You kicked me!” she said to Frankie.

  “Sorry, my foot slipped.” Frankie sent a meaningful look at Leilani. “So, Spencer, what is your role in all of this?”

  “I don’t know. She asked me to let her know if anything odd happens on the docks, but I found out yesterday that the dock workers are in on this too. They’re supposed to create a diversion on the docks while everything else is going on. I was angry when I realized that. It felt like she didn’t trust me with that information.”

  “Sweet girl,, she doesn’t trust anyone right now. I think there are things she is even keeping from Lei and me,” Frankie pointed out.

  “Anyway, thanks to you two, I now know I have five days to plan my role in this.”

  “Spencer, I will caution you not to take too many chances—especially chances that may cause Makenna to lose focus. She is the glue that is holding this together,” Leilani warned.

  “So, where is Mak supposed to be when all of this is going down?” Spencer asked.

  “She’s supposed to be on the ship, preparing it for immediate departure as soon as it’s over,” Frankie said. “But I suspect she’s not told us everything. I guess we’ll find out on Monday.”

  Chapter 21

  On Wednesday morning, Spencer intercepted Bear on his way to his room. “Bear!” She ran to catch up to him. “Bear, have you got a minute?”

  “Good morning, Red. Yeah, I’ve got a few minutes. What’s on your mind?”

  “I want to talk to you about Monday.”

  A scowl fell over his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Red. What’s happening on Monday?”

  Spencer crossed her arms. “You are a terrible liar, Bear. You know damned well what I’m talking about. Are you under orders not to talk to me about it?”

  “You know what? I just remembered I don’t have time to talk this morning. Sorry.” Bear turned and walked away.

  “What did you have planned as a diversion?” Spencer asked.

  Bear stopped and turned around. He put his hands on his hips. “Damn you,” he said. After another moment, he grabbed Spencer’s forearm and dragged her toward his bunk. “We need to talk in private.”

  Bear opened the door to his room and pushed her inside. “Have a seat.”

  Spencer looked around his room as he retrieved two cups and a bottle of whiskey from the shelf. The room was larger than hers, and had considerably more amenities. It was relatively tidy, which Spencer did not expect from a man who seldom shaved.

  Bear poured two cups of whiskey and slid one to her. He sat down opposite her at the table. “You weren’t supposed to know about Monday,” he said. “Makenna was unbending about that.”

  “I know what’s going on, Bear. At least I know what she’s told me. I am wondering now if she’s been lying to me about those details as well.”

  Bear put his hand up. “Do yourself a favor and don’t ask me for any of the details, because she hasn’t given them to me. All I know is that the men and I need to start a diversion at the docks on Monday.”

  “Monday when? Monday morning...noon...night? Is it something I can help with?”

  Bear picked up his whiskey and downed a large part of it before loudly putting his mug back on the table. “I can’t tell you when...and no—it is not something you can help with. Even if it was, I’m under...”

  “Strict orders not to tell me,” Spencer finished for him. “I’m beginning to sense a pattern here.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”

  “If even part of what she’s told me is true, I’m not sure I’ll be at work on Tuesday morning. In fact, I’m not sure there’ll be a job to come back to after this goes down.”

  “Commerce will continue, regardless of what happens politically, Red. Unless things go horribly wrong, you will still have a job next Tuesday.”

  Spencer downed her entire whiskey in one gulp and then slammed her mug on the table. “Damn her!” she exclaimed. “I want to help. I want to do something that will make a difference, but I can’t do that if all I’m told is mistruths.”

  “I don’t know if this will make you feel any better, but when she told me to keep you in the dark, she said you meant too much to her for you to become complicit. She cares about you Red. It’s her
way of protecting you.”

  Spencer stood. “As you well know, I’m capable of taking care of myself. If she cared about me, she’d respect that I want to help. She isn’t trying to protect me, Bear...she’s trying to control me. Well, I’m here to tell you that no one controls me! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have rounds to make. Thanks for talking to me.”

  Bear nodded and then watched as Spencer left his room and gently closed the door behind her.

  ***

  At the end of her shift, Spencer entered one of the partially filled warehouses, lit a hurricane lamp for light and rigged several bags of sugar to hang on ropes from the rafters. These bags were spread out across a relatively large open area, and at various heights above the floor. This chore took several hours, at the end of which, she was covered in a sheen of sweat. She had long since shed her jacket and vest, and had opened her blouse nearly to her waist to cool herself down.

  When Spencer was satisfied with the arrangement of the bags, she walked into the middle of them and drew her sword. She slipped her hand into the knuckle-bow and wrapped her fingers around the hilt. She pointed the tip of the sword toward the ceiling and held the blade a mere fraction of an inch in front of her nose. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

  Soon, a hazy vision appeared. Spencer felt like she was looking through a filter. She was in a large room, lit by powerful lights hanging just above her head...and she was not alone.

  She and her opponent were both dressed in white one-piece suits, with white padded jackets and padded gloves. The tails of the jackets were held in place with a strap that passed under the crotch from the front and snapped to the jacket from behind. Knee-high, white compression socks and sports shoes completed the ensemble.

  Spencer noticed that the one-piece body suit accentuated the supple curves of her opponent’s rounded hips and full breasts. Her opponent had long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. There was something familiar about this woman, and she longed to look into the face that was unfortunately covered by an oval-shaped mask with a black mesh face guard.