by B. Roman
David grins at the irony. “Just another in a series of strange things happening.”
“Well, I don't know about any of you,” Isaac breaks in after a poignant silence, “but these past few days have been overwhelming. I don't know if I could stand any more surprises.”
“Oh, there is just one more thing, Isaac. If you're not busy for dinner, I'd like to talk some business with you.” Janice takes Isaac by the arm and gently nudges him toward the door. “There just happens to be a vice presidency that's open…”
Epilogue
It's a brisk, sunny morning as Dorothy and David walk along the wharf where David had first encountered the gypsy hologram and the Moon Singer. It hardly seems possible that such an outlandish experience could have occurred in this quiet place.
“I haven't seen such vibrancy in your father's eyes since before your mother died, rest her soul.”
“He's pretty happy all right,” David says. “He's finally getting recognition for his talents.”
“And a little recognition from Janice Cole isn't hurting things either, if you know what I mean,” Dorothy adds with a wink.
David is delighted, for more reasons than his aunt really knows. He never realized before that, deep down, he harbored feelings of resentment toward his father because of the accident. But since returning home from his voyage on the Moon Singer David has a deeper understanding and appreciation for Isaac's own inner torment. David feels renewed, re-energized, like his crystals after being cleansed in the ocean. Somehow, so many things that had previously been clouded by fear and doubt were now amazingly clear. Yet, oddly, he also has a mountain of new questions that need to be answered.
Where had he actually gone? And how did he get there? If he had been transported to the Island by accident, could he ever return? Would he ever sail the Moon Singer again? Was his journey a kind of time travel? A past life experience? Everyone he had encountered on the Island looked so much like the people he knew at home in Port Avalon, or gave him the same feeling of familiarity.
If the past, present and future are all one, as Ishtar told him, and if there truly is an eternal connection between souls as Dorinda had said, then on some level Dad, Sally, Aunt Dorothy, Janice - they've all had the same experience. Why do I remember and they don't? Why did I relive it now? And where was Mom? Will I see her again in some strange other world?
There was one thing he knew for certain: his adventure hadn't been a dream. Oh, it was as fantastic as any dream he had ever had, but it wasn't surreal or disjointed. Everything flowed and made sense in its context. And its texture was different. It didn't have that fuzzy, two-dimensional quality that dreams have. It had depth and a rich substance, as real as it felt now walking on the pier with his Aunt Dorothy, breathing in the clean, invigorating sea air. The sea. He finally realized why his family, for centuries, had loved it so, why they still do.
“So, where are you off to next, Aunt Dorothy? Some new exotic place?”
“Heaven's, no. I've traveled far and wide enough in my lifetime. I'm going to stay put for awhile, visit with my favorite nephew.” She slips her arm around his affectionately. “And I plan to do some sailing and a lot of fishing. That's why I bought this.” Dorothy motions to a sleek white sloop docked at the end of the wharf. “Isn't she a beauty?”
David quickens his step toward the boat. “Holy cow! She sure is. What do you call her?”
Dorothy catches up to him. “Well, I haven't christened her yet. You know, she kind of reminds me of your little Singer crystal. Think there's a name for her? The Singer?”
David ponders a minute, then casts out an idea. “What do you think of Moon Singer?”
“Moon Singer? Hmm. That's catchy. Where did you come up with a name like that?”
“Aunt Dorothy - there's something I've been wanting to tell you about that crystal you gave me.”
Perhaps it's the reflection of the sun on the water creating a mirage-like vision – or perhaps Dorothy and David actually are, by some mystical phenomenon, dissolving into a shimmering hologram as they step aboard their real-life Moon Singer.
* * *
“It seems I have made an impact with this new incarnation. At least with this one boy.”
Other: “You have made an impact, yes. But your work – and his - has just begun. There is much more to do, more souls to encounter, more issues to resolve before your purpose, and his, is fulfilled.”
“I have just scratched the surface, it seems.”
Other: “The mystery is infinitely deep and the desire for answers will open a Pandora's Box of trouble as well as a treasure chest of good fortune.”
“Journey on, then?”
Other: “Yes. journey on…and on…”
End of Adventure One
to be continued in Adventure Two:
THE WAR CHAMBER
Thank you for taking time to read The Crystal Clipper. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
