by Jerry Hart
Now Rockne looked shocked. “How did you know that?”
I shrugged. “I’m not stupid. I could see right through it. Did you use your magic to disguise her or something?”
The whole table stared at me.
“I didn’t do anything,” Rockne said.
“I’m cursed,” Astrid added. “And, obviously, I’m not Rockne’s sister. That’s a secret identity to protect me during the day.”
“How old are you, really?” I asked.
“Nineteen. Just like you.”
“What’s this curse about?”
“Nalke...my father, cursed Mom when she tried to escape him. She was pregnant with me at the time.”
I looked at Shae. “So, you’re the spy Ernie told me about. You tried to kill Nalke.”
Shae nodded. “Ernie has a big mouth.”
I chuckled. “I just wanted to know what I was getting myself into. It’s not his fault. I figured out most of it for myself.”
“The curse was supposed to make Mom age really quickly and die, but I absorbed it,” Astrid said. “It was all Nalke could manage in his weakened state at the time.”
I looked at her again. “Are you aging fast? Are you going to die?” I asked in a quiet voice.
“No. I just turn into an old lady during the day for some reason. Always the same age. My dad—”
“Nalke,” Shae interrupted.
“—Nalke doesn’t know what I look like, or that the curse effects me this way.”
“Makes for an effective cloaking device,” Rockne added with a grin.
“Why are you hiding from Nalke?” I asked Astrid. “I mean, I know he’s a bad guy, but what would happen if he found you?”
Instead of answering, she looked at her mother.
“If he got a hold of Astrid, he would absorb her energy and restore his own,” Shae said. “She’s his flesh and blood, his last reserve of power. If he regains strength, he’ll destroy the whole world just to get at us.”
My eyes grew wide. I was expecting something bad, but not that bad. “Are you guys sure Nalke can’t find this island?”
“The magic that hides this island is powerful,” Rockne said. “The rail that brings you here is of my design. The only ones who can find it are people I allow.”
I nodded. “That’s good. What about Tack?”
“Oh, he’s always asleep during the trip, with a little help from me. Though, if he ever wanted to see the island, I’d let him. He’s a genuinely good fellow.”
“Why didn’t you give him my job?” I asked.
“I offered, and he passed.”
“How about letting him live on the island?”
“All questions I’ve already considered. He actually likes his life the way it is. Maybe one day he’ll change his mind, and the offers still stand when he does. Don’t worry; your job’s safe.”
“Enough talk of sad things,” Champagne said. “Let’s hit the hot tub.”
Rockne laughed. “Great idea.”
“You might want to try it,” Shae said. “It might help with that bump on your head.”
I touched the bump reflexively. It was still tender after hitting it on the street. “How will it help with this?”
“Let’s find out,” Rockne said.
We followed him outside, to the hot tub. It bubbled furiously, the water white and blue and foamy. It was quite large, the size of my bedroom. I pulled off my shirt and shoes and slowly settled in. Astrid took off her skirt and top, revealing a red one-piece bathing suit. I looked away as she got in as well.
“You already saw me,” she said with a laugh.
“I know.”
Rockne, Champagne, Victor and the four Dargons joined us. The warm foam felt great against my skin.
“Dip your head under the water,” Shae said.
I stared at her for a second, and then sank beneath the surface with my eyes closed. The bump on the back of my head started to sting, but I ignored it. I didn’t know how long I was supposed to stay underwater, so I counted to ten and then resurfaced.
“How does your head feel now?” Shae asked.
I felt for the bump but couldn’t find it. “What happened?”
“The hot tub has healing powers,” Rockne said.
“I’ll bet.” I laughed. “This is amazing. Maybe I will move to this island some day.”
“You’re more than welcome, my boy.”
Chapter 11: Sightseeing
When I woke up the next day, I couldn’t remember where I was. After Rockne’s party, I’d turned the key chain into a necklace so I could wear it at all times. Then....
I couldn’t remember.
I looked around at my surroundings and didn’t recognize the room I was in. This was not my room. I got up from the bed and walked into a long hallway on the second floor. I looked over the guardrail and saw a large, familiar living room below.
I was at Rockne’s house.
I heard noise coming from the kitchen, and smelled bacon, so I went downstairs. Rockne was at the stove, his back to me.
“Good morning, Josh,” he said without turning.
“Good morning. Did I fall asleep here?”
“Yes. I should’ve warned you: The hot tub exhausts you after healing. I bet you feel like you’ve run a marathon.”
I noticed I did. He made a plate for me. It was loaded with bacon, eggs, grits with butter, and a biscuit. He also gave me a glass of orange juice. I sat at the breakfast nook and devoured the food.
“Since it’s your day off, I figured I’d show you the island,” Rockne said. “Do you have other plans today?”
“Nope. I’d love to see the rest of the island.”
“Great. There’s lots to see. I’ll take you into town. There are some great shops there.”
After I finished, I took a shower and re-dressed. Rockne had a nice yellow sports car waiting in his driveway. We hopped in and he tore out of the Village. Ernie had barely enough time to open the gate for us.
The weather looked stormy, with thick gray clouds. The wind blew fiercely. We drove along a cliff-side highway and I could see giant waves hurtling toward us. By “giant,” I meant humungous. One wave in particular towered above us and almost seemed to freeze in place. I looked up at it through the skylight.
Then it crashed down gently, covering the car completely. Rockne casually flipped on the windshield wipers. “This side of the island can be a little testy. I couldn’t stop the waves, but I was able to make them less forceful when they come.”
I saw more giant waves loom over us in slow motion before splashing us again. At one point, we even drove through a wave as it froze in front of us. It was one of the most surreal things I’ve ever seen in my life. And I would see a lot more incredible things after this day.
We passed under a giant rock arch that leads into town. A sign on the arch said “Dargo Plaza.” It looked like any other plaza I’ve seen. We turned onto a street and drove up to the center of the plaza, which had a couple of beautiful fountains lined up next to each other. People stood around them, talking amongst themselves.
Rockne parked in a lot by a bookstore and we walked around, passing clothes shops and restaurants. I couldn’t tell how big the plaza was at the time, but it felt like an outdoor mall.
“I have to run an errand at the palace,” Rockne told me, pointing toward a large red-and-white castle half a mile away. “Feel free to go wherever you’d like. I’ll probably be an hour. We can meet at the Hungry Heifer then, if you want.”
I looked at the crazily named restaurant across the street and nodded. “Sounds good.”
We split up and I headed back to the bookstore. It was two stories tall, and I felt like I was in heaven the moment I walked through the doors. I was thinking of abandoning the book I’d been forcing myself to read anyway.
I rode the escalator to the second floor and found the fantasy section. So many books! I browsed a series of books I’d started a year ago but never finished. The cover
s were great but the books themselves were boring. I noticed a book with an interesting cover in the sci-fi section called Palar’s Revenge and browsed its pages when I felt a presence next to me.
A long-haired brunette stood there, reading a book but not really reading it. She had the same blue-and-yellow skin of the Dargon people. I could tell she was watching me and hiding that fact. I stared at her for a moment and then went back to my book. I waited a few seconds and then quickly looked at her again. She was staring back at me. She started at me suddenly catching her and went back to her book, but it did no good.
“Can I help you?” I asked her.
She gave up the pretense of reading and put her book back on the shelf. “You’re friends with Rockne? I saw you with him.”
“Yes.”
“I’m here to warn you: He’s a bad man. You should stay away from him.”
“And who are you?” I asked, defensive.
“It doesn’t matter who I am. You should stay away from Rockne. Ever since he first came to our island, he’s caused nothing but trouble.”
“From what I’ve seen, he’s done some good.”
She laughed. “He has everyone wrapped around his finger, but there are some who aren’t as easily fooled. I hope you, too, will see him for who he truly is.”
And then she was gone. She spun and disappeared around the book shelf. I tried to follow her but she was already going down the escalator before I could even get to her.
I bought Palar’s Revenge and walked around the plaza until it was time to meet Rockne at the Hungry Heifer.
“Sorry to abandon you like that,” he said as we sat at a table outside the restaurant. The weather had cleared up a little and the sun actually shone down on us. “I had to speak with the island king about some bit of business. Do you like Dargo Plaza?”
“A lot, yeah. I bought a book.” I showed it to him. The cover had spaceships and a purple planet in the background. “I don’t usually go for sci-fi, but it looks interesting.”
“Indeed it does.” He smiled and handed it back to me. “I think Astrid likes you. I’m impressed that you were able to figure out her secret so quickly.”
“I’ve seen enough movies and read enough books to recognize a plot twist.”
He stared at me for a second before bursting into laughter. I didn’t think it was that funny, but to each their own.
“I just hope Nalke doesn’t have your flair for twists. The last thing anyone wants is for him to find her.”
I suddenly remembered the girl at the bookstore. I told Rockne.
“Sounds like the king’s daughter Aneela. Taleeno, the king, has had some problems with her lately. She likes to run around and cause trouble. I wouldn’t worry too much about her.”
“Why would she say bad things about you?” I asked.
“She doesn’t like me being here and bringing all my friends along. We are invaders, to her. Kind of like Columbus and America.”
“I see.”
“Ready to head home? You must have stuff to do before returning to work tomorrow.”
He drove me to the rail and I returned to Dallas with a lot on my mind.
Chapter 12: Forgetting Something
I woke up late the next night and didn’t even have time to shower before I was out the door and in my truck. Imagine how loudly I yelled when I turned the key in the ignition and the engine didn’t start. I banged on the steering wheel until my palms hurt.
Christy was out with her husband, so she couldn’t drive me to Dallas. I looked down toward the end of the street and saw a familiar black car coming my way. It parked next to me in the street and I rolled down my window.
“Ah, man, you have to work tonight?” Estevan asked.
“Yes.”
“I guess you forgot about my birthday party.”
I suddenly remembered before he even finished the sentence I rolled up the window and got out of the truck. “Sorry, man. I did forget.” Every year, we went bowling with his friends. Since he lived down the street, he always picked me up around this time. “My truck won’t start, though, and I need a ride to work. Can you take me?”
“Sure.”
I hopped into his car and he drove me to the rail station.
“You have to take this to get to work every day?” he asked.
“Yes. It’s not as bad as it seems. It only takes...five minutes.”
“Whatever you say.”
Before I got out I said to him, “We can hang out tomorrow, before I go to work. Sorry I forgot.”
“No problem.” He stared at the rail while he said this. He seemed distracted.
As I got on the rail, I noticed the sky getting cloudy. The wind picked up dramatically. I sat in my usual spot. Tack walked on a moment later and sat directly across from me. I waved at him and he waved back, but he looked dazed. I’d never seen him awake before.
“Rockne told me you don’t want to live on the island,” I said, trying to spark a conversation.
He nodded.
“Why not? It’s a great place.”
Tack shrugged.
“I’ve been thinking of moving there,” I told him.
At first, he didn’t respond. And then he burst into laughter. And then he stopped laughing like someone flipped a switch on him.
“Are you getting off when we get to Dargo?” I asked as the rail started moving.
He nodded.
The trip to the island was the roughest yet. The waves were so big they actually slapped against the windows. Since I was so focused on the water, I could hear the roar going on outside. I tried not to think about it to drown out the noise, but I just couldn’t.
I was shocked when the rail stopped suddenly. I looked to both ends, wondering if a live person operated this machine. “What happened?” I asked Tack.
Again he shrugged, but he didn’t look worried.
“Does this happen often?”
“Never happened before.”
I groaned. “That’s encouraging.” I got up and walked toward the front. The rail shook when a large gust of wind hit us. I steadied myself before attempting to walk again. I wasn’t all that surprised to find no one at the controls; it was automated.
What did surprise me was that the control console looked like a touch screen. There were pink buttons and levers on the screen, all of which I didn’t know how to use. I reached for the “lever” on the right and it suddenly appeared directly in front of me, like a hologram.
I pulled my hand back and the lever went back to the screen. I looked back at Tack and said, “Did you see that?”
He shrugged, of course, but he was looking directly at me so he must’ve seen it.
I reached for the screen again and the lever reappeared in front of me. I attempted to grab the three-dimensional thing, expecting my fingers to go through it, but I actually felt the lever, like it was solid. I pushed it up, and the rail lurched forward a little.
There was another pink lever on the left, so I reached out for that. It appeared in front of me, so I pulled it and heard a click underneath the rail. The brake? I pushed the other lever again and the rail moved forward, only faster this time.
The rail started up again, slowly building speed.
I activated the brake as we passed the waterfall and pulled into the station. Rockne was waiting there. I stepped off the rail, and was shocked that Tack did the same. He didn’t say anything to Rockne. He simply walked away from us. Rockne barely noticed him, though; he was looking at the sky, off toward where I’d come from. I told him how the rail acted up, but he didn’t seem to hear me.
“That’s weird,” he said.
“What is?”
“See that red tint in the sky?”
I did.
“It usually gets like that when Nalke’s at work. He’s never been this close to us before.”
I suddenly reached up to my neck. “Oh, no! I forgot the necklace.”
Rockne looked at me. “Oh. That may be it.”
>
He said it so casually. I felt more worried than him. “Did he follow me?” I asked.
“Probably, but it’s only been a week since his attack, so he’s not at full strength yet. He’ll probably forget all about this place by tomorrow.”
I felt a little better.
That would change later on that night.
Chapter 13: Scary Shift
I still couldn’t believe I’d forgotten my necklace. It was because I’d woken up late and was in a hurry. It must have fallen off as I was changing my shirt. I kept looking up at the dark sky, waiting for Nalke to drop a tornado on me. Rockne assured me that the nature demon couldn’t do anything to the island, that it was protected by a spell similar to the one that hindered the waves on the cliff-side highway.
I tried to watch TV but couldn’t concentrate on the images. I tried reading that dumb book I’d been working on for a year but that too ended poorly. I was thisclose to getting rid of the thing altogether. As I tossed it in my backpack I thought I saw something in the corner of my eye. When I looked out the window directly in front of me, all I saw was the road and the mountains.
And then I saw something to my right, on the other side of the gatehouse. It had looked like a shadow on the street, like someone was walking away. I looked up at the monitors to see if the cameras had caught it, but there was nothing there.
I went back to looking at the TV since I couldn’t enjoy it. There was sitcom on, and the laugh track was grating on my nerves. I hate sitcoms with “live audiences.”
I saw something again, in my peripheral vision, on the other side. I looked quickly and just saw a solid form step away from the sliding door. I jumped out of my seat, my heart racing. I looked up at the monitors and saw the last bit of a shadow disappear from view.
Someone had just walked out of the camera’s sight.
I didn’t know what to do. I tried to convince myself it was just Astrid paying a visit again, but whoever—whatever—I’d seen at the door was a lot taller than her. I opened the sliding door behind me and poked my head out but saw nothing, heard nothing. I knew doing so was the stupidest thing ever and expected someone to cut off my head at any moment, but nothing happened.
