Sirens and Scales

by Kellie McAllen

  “Here, put this shirt on, Princess,” Gio mumbles, handing me a tee shirt. I stare at it for a moment in confusion, but then do what Gio says. The man from the boat watches with interest.

  I get up and hang the duffel bag over my shoulder. Gio can barely walk, and he leans heavily on me as we hobble over to the others. His body is burning up and covered in sweat, and he presses a hand against the lower right half of his abdomen.

  “He’s getting worse, Liam.”

  Liam looks at Gio and nods tersely. “I’m worried he has appendicitis. He needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.” I don’t know what any of that means, but I can tell it’s serious by Liam’s expression.

  “Captain James Hendricks.” The man tugs on the brim of his hat as he saunters closer. “Saw your fires. You folks in need of some assistance?”

  Liam steps forward and sticks out a hand. “Yes! Our boat went down about three months ago. We’ve been shipwrecked here ever since. I’m Liam, and this is Jude, and Avery. Gio and Coral.” Liam points towards us.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.” The man raises an eyebrow and shakes their hands. “You all look pretty good for being out here so long. Don’t even look hungry. Musta had damn good luck to wash up in a halfway decent place.”

  “It didn’t feel like good luck when our boat sank and our emergency beacon failed, but we survived. Can you get us back to the Keys?” Jude blurts out.

  “Can’t hardly say no, now can we? Especially when there’s a lady in need.” His eyes rove up and down my body, and I cower into Gio’s side.

  “You’re a godsend.” Liam nods at him.

  “Ladies first?” The captain holds out a hand to me, and I take it, carefully avoiding the water as I step into the small boat. His skin is rough and cracked and smells strongly of dead fish and smoke, but different than the campfire. I let go as soon as I’m in the boat. It wobbles under me, and I teeter off-balance and plop down on one of the benches.

  “No sea legs, eh?” He chuckles at me.

  “Looks like we came just in time for you.” The man eyes Gio. “Let’s get you into the skiff.” He reaches out a hand and helps Gio climb into the small boat, and Gio immediately collapses on the seat beside me, his eyes glazed, his body shaking.

  “Let me get these two sorted, then I’ll come back for you three.” He climbs aboard and starts up the motor, dropping down on the seat across from us.

  I stare at the island as we putter away, emotions flooding my mind. I’m desperate to see the rest of the world, to experience all that the human world has to offer, but I’m also terrified. Will things stay the same between me and the guys, or will I lose them when they return to their lives? I know the guys each have their own homes and families, but where will I live, and what will I do? Will I be able to fit in there? My fear grows as we get farther away.

  My worry must be obvious because Gio takes my hand and squeezes. “It’s gonna be okay, Coral. I’ll take care of you, I promise.” At this point, he needs someone to take care of him, but his words reassure me nonetheless.

  In moments, we’re at the boat, and two other men are hovering above us on the deck. One is short and trim, just a little older than Gio, with tanned skin and sandy hair, and the other is middle-aged with a medium build.

  “Sam, Roy, we’ve got some shipwreck survivors that need a ride back to civilization.”

  They mutter curiously as they stare at me and Gio, lust swelling in their minds. “What’s a pretty, little thing like you doing out here in the middle of nowhere with a crew of guys?” Sam, the younger one, asks with a cocky smile.

  “Treasure hunting.” I smile, pretending I was part of Gio’s team. Gio flinches, and I stiffen, wondering what’s wrong.

  “Treasure hunting, eh? Did you find any?” James stands up and holds out a hand to help me. I sway as I try to balance in the rocking boat with the heavy duffel bag on my shoulder. “Here, darling, why don’t you let me send that bag up first?”

  James lifts the bag off my shoulder, and his arm immediately drops with the weight of it. His face registers surprise, and he uses both hands to lift it up to the other guys.

  “What on earth have you got in here, sweetheart? Bricks?” Sam asks as he takes the duffel, and the other man reaches for me, helping me onto the deck. He wears dulled gold jewelry around his neck and wrist, and a large ring on his hand.

  “Gold,” I say, and everything around me stills as all four men stop and stare at me. Gio’s face is twisted with anxiety, and the others are gaping in surprise.

  Sam drops the duffel to the deck and bends down to unzip it. He rummages through the clothing, eventually pulling out the gold bar and holding it up with both hands, a mesmerized look on his face. “She’s not kidding.”

  “Holy shit, would ya look at that!” Roy hurries over to take a look at the bar in Sam’s hands. He reaches out and caresses the gold, whistling. “What else did you find?” He glances at me.

  Gio has a wild look in his eyes, and the things he imagines these guys doing to us is enough to scare me silent. “That and a few coins was all we found there,” he says.

  My hand reaches for the pearl necklace I found, but it’s tucked under the shirt I’m wearing. I drop my hand and hope no one noticed.

  “Now, that seems highly unlikely to me, Son. I imagine there were at least a few more bars like this one. I think we ought to make a little side trip to wherever you got this from.” James gives Gio a menacing stare.

  Gio shakes his head and raises his hands. “Look, even if there is more to be found there, I couldn’t tell you where to look. A storm destroyed our boat along with all our navigational equipment and logs. Please, I need a doctor. Just take us to shore and the gold is yours.”

  James narrows his rheumy, grey eyes at Gio. “Ain’t nobody gonna give up half a million dollars in gold that easily unless he knows how to get his hands on a bunch more. I think you know exactly where the rest of it is.”

  Gio cries out as a sharp pain pulses through his abdomen, and he grits his teeth and doubles over. “I’m not going to make it that long. I think my appendix is about to burst. Get me to a doctor, and I’ll bring you back out here when I’m well and help you find the treasure.”

  “All right. But we’re leaving your pals on the island and keeping your woman with us to make sure you keep your end of the bargain.”

  James shoves a shoulder under Gio’s arm and hefts him, up, pushing him up the ladder. Sam and Roy help pull him up onto the boat. Gio collapses as soon as his feet touch the deck, and I rush to his side.

  Roy cranks up the skiff, and James heads to the helm. I stare at the island as we pull away, the three figures on the shore getting smaller and smaller. Do the others think we’ve abandoned them?

  Eventually, Sam and Roy help get Gio into a bunk, and I sit next to him and wipe his forehead with cool water, holding a rusted, metal bucket to his chin when he needs to vomit. His skin is hot and clammy, and he moans with each roll of the boat, shivering violently.

  I have no idea how long the trip will take or if he’ll even make it, but I can’t think of anything else I can do for him. I wrack my brain, trying to come up with a plan, but I have no idea where we’re at, where we’re going, or how to pilot a boat, so for the mean time, we’re subject to our captors. I stare at the objects around me, curious about everything, but I don’t want to leave Gio’s side even for a minute, and I can’t work up enough energy to focus on anything but his well-being. The sun sets, draping the cabin in shadows, and eventually I fall asleep, my head on Gio’s chest.

  I’m jolted awake when the boat slows and lurches to a stop, and I hear noises above deck. Roy comes through the door, followed by several strangers in crisp, matching outfits. They carry a long, flat board, and they surge towards Gio. I move out of the way and watch them lift him onto the board and strap him down.

  I scurry behind as they carry him out of the cabin and lift his body off of the boat and into the waiting hands of several others.
One of them holds out a hand to me, and I climb onto the dock. James climbs down behind me and grabs me, scowling. “Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart? You’ve got somewhere else to be.”

  I yank my arm out of his grasp. “I need to stay with Gio.”

  “Are you his wife? Girlfriend?” One of the uniformed strangers asks me, and I nod. “We’ll need some information from you and maybe a few signatures. Hop in the ambulance.”

  22

  “I’m coming, too,” James says, and the two of us climb up into the back of the large vehicle.

  I’m confused and terrified, but I don’t dare show it, so I just hold on to Gio’s hand and try to keep my balance as the ambulance takes off. A loud wail pierces the air, and the people inside are barking out gibberish as they monitor Gio. They stick something sharp in his arm, and liquid flows from a small bag, down a tube, and into his arm.

  “What’s his name?” one of them asks me.

  “Gio. Giovanni Romano.”

  “Age?” I shrug my shoulders.

  “How long have his symptoms been going on?”

  “Since last night, but he’s worse now.”

  “Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain in the lower right quadrant?” I nod, not completely sure about all the words he’s saying. The pictures in his head seem right, though.

  “Has he taken any medicine?” I shake my head at the image.

  Before long, the ambulance stops, and the doors swing open. More people help move Gio, and one of them holds out a hand to help me down. The ground is hard like rock beneath my feet, but completely flat, and I blink in surprise as I realize it extends out as far as I can see.

  A giant building is in front of us, and the see-through walls slide open as they push Gio forward. Inside, the ground is still hard and flat, but white instead of black, and perfectly smooth and shiny like the inside of a shell. The white walls are smooth, too, nothing like the stone walls of Grandfather’s palace. Cold air blows from the ceiling, and I shiver and wrinkle my nose at the strange smells.

  People are everywhere, more shapes and sizes and colors than we have in the shoal. All of them seem to be wearing a lot more clothing than I am. I glance down at my ragged appearance and realize I look very out of place. My hair is wild and tangled, my feet are bare, and I’m wearing a large, blue tee shirt that covers up most of the dingy, white shirt I have tied around my waist.

  The others talk and laugh and cry and scuttle around in every direction, making a lot of noise, but my pulse pounds like the ocean in my ears, drowning them out as my anxiety builds.

  The people pushing Gio approach another group and start talking, and soon the first group leaves. A woman lays her hand on my arm, stopping me as they wheel Gio away. “He’s probably going to need surgery. Can we ask you a few questions?”

  I nod and hope that I can answer them. James hovers nearby, making me nervous.

  “What’s your name, hun?”

  “Coral.” My voice cracks and trembles.

  She smiles at me, her serious expression softening. Her lips are bright red and shiny, her eyelids sparkle, and her orange hair is pouffy and stiff. She glances at my appearance and raises an eyebrow, but all she says is, “That’s a pretty name. Never heard that one before.”

  “Thank you,” I whimper.

  “Coral, is Giovanni your husband — boyfriend?”

  “Boyfriend,” I say, remembering the guys using the word to describe a person you loved but weren’t married to.

  “Okay, great. What’s Gio’s date of birth and address?”

  Panic seizes me at the words I don’t understand. Even the pictures in her mind are no use. I want to help Gio, but what if I say the wrong thing? I wring my hands and glance back and forth between the woman and the direction they took Gio. “I don’t know. I don’t know much English.” I admit.

  The woman smiles at me and pats me on the shoulder. “That’s okay, hun. Is there anybody else we should call?”

  I shake my head and shrug my shoulders, and the woman nods. “Okay. Why don’t you wait in the waiting room over there, and the doctor will come talk to you shortly. They’re going to take good care of your boyfriend.”

  She nudges me towards a room where other people are sitting and takes off in a different direction. I walk towards it, but James stops me.

  “No way, sweetheart. I’m not spending the night in the hospital. We’re heading back to the boat, and you’re going to show us where the treasure is.”

  “I don’t know where it is!”

  “Well, let’s hope one of your other friends does, then. Come on.” He grabs my arm and ushers me out the way we came. I don’t want to leave Gio, but I want to get back to the others and let them know what’s going on.

  I follow James without a fight and hope that Gio will be okay, hope that I’ll be able to come back here.

  James takes a small device out of his pocket and taps at it then holds it to his ear and starts talking to Sam, even though I can’t see him anywhere. I gape at him, and he looks at me strangely.

  “We’re ready to go. Come pick us up at the emergency entrance. Maritime Hospital.”

  We wait by the doors until the device in James’ hand makes a sound. James glances at it then grabs my arm.

  Sam is waiting in a smaller vehicle outside, and James opens the door and pushes me into the back seat. It feels soft and squishy like a sea sponge, and I rub my hands over the material. It reminds me of the texture of Gio’s hair when it was shorter.

  The upper half of the vehicle is see-through, and my mouth falls open as I watch other vehicles speed by us, bright lights blinding me. I’ve seen images like this in the guys’ minds, but it’s so much more overwhelming in person. We’re moving so fast my stomach rolls, and I grab onto the seat in front of me for stability. Tall building surround us, and lit-up signs, and the vehicle starts and stops for no discernible reason, then turns and zooms forward again.

  Sound echoes in the small space, and I realize it’s music. Sam taps his finger on a button in the front, and the music changes. “Achy-Breaky Heart!” I cry out, when the notes remind me of Jude’s song.

  Sam laughs and turns the volume up. “You like that country stuff?”

  The words aren’t the same, even though the melody is similar, but I focus on the beat, letting it distract me from the terror threatening to overwhelm me.

  Soon, the vehicle stops, and James and Sam lead me back onto the boat. “Keep an eye on her,” James commands, and Sam sits me down and watches me as James pulls the boat away from the dock. I curl up on the bench, holding my knees to my chest.

  Sam sits down next to me, too close, and lets his eyes roam up and down my body. “So, Coral, huh? Strange name. Pretty though, like you.” He winks at me and lays a hand on my leg, and I flinch and pull away from him.

  I close my eyes, trying to block him out, but I can still feel him staring at me, wanting me. Odd how the same thoughts that please me when my guys think them turn my stomach when these strangers do. What will happen when we get back to the island? The guys don’t know where to find the treasure. Will James and his crew hurt them when they realize the truth? My mind swims with the possibilities, none of them promising.

  The ride back to the island feels even longer with nothing to occupy my hands, but I fall asleep eventually, and when I wake the sun is rising, and James is dropping the skiff. I get up to go with him, but he holds out a hand to stop me.

  “You stay here, darling.” I stand at the railing and watch as he motors up to the island again. The guys are standing on the beach, huddled in a circle, and I lift a hand to wave to them, but they don’t wave back, so I’m not sure they can see me. James approaches them, and I hold my breath but nothing bad happens, and a few moments later they’re climbing into the small boat and heading our way.

  “Coral!” Avery rushes over to me as soon as they board the ship. “Are you okay? We thought we’d never see you again.” He looks me up and down then glances back at
the others. I nod and hug him.

  “Don’t trust them,” I whisper. Avery’s eyes go big, and he gives me a half nod to show he understands.

  “Alrighty, boys… and lady.” James winks at me. “We’ll get you all back to shore to check on your sick friend, but first we’ve got some business to attend to.”

  Suddenly, Sam pulls a small, dark object out of the back of his shorts and holds it to my head, wrapping his arms around me. I don’t know what it is, but his tight grip and the sounds that Jude, Liam, and Avery make tell me I’m in danger. Hot blood rushes through my veins, adrenaline riding on the currents, making my body vibrate with anxiety.

  “Now, we know that you all found some treasure. Your sick friend was kind enough to give us what you had in exchange for a ride to shore. But your ride is gonna cost you a little more. Take us to where you found the gold if you ever want to see land again.”

  The guys glance at each other, and I can feel the tension rise up in them like a giant wave. Liam takes a small step forward, and Sam tightens his grip on me. His mouth is near my face, blowing hot, smelly breath against my cheek.

  Liam holds up his hands. “Listen, we’d be happy to take you to the treasure if we knew where it was, but we lost all our charts when our boat sank.”

  James slams a hand down, huffing, his scraggly beard wagging. “Nonsense! You didn’t come out here just hoping to run across a treasure. You knew where the wreck was when you set out. Now one of you needs to tell us where it’s at.”

  I can see Liam’s mind working like crazy, trying to figure out what to do. The guys never found the wreck they had been looking for originally, and they don’t know how to get to the wreck where I found the gold. They certainly can’t explain how I found it. If they lead the other men astray, they’re only going to make the situation worse. The silence stretches as Liam contemplates a solution.