Arcene: The Island

by Al K. Line

  Arcene and Leel settled down in front of the fire. The mood darkened as the night closed in on them. They were never their jolliest when all they had were a few cuts of cold meat and water. The fire burned; they snuggled up under blankets. Leel's belly made a nice pillow for Arcene, and she soon fell asleep, exhausted after two days of hot air balloons, forest fires, mole people, more fire, and not enough food.

  The island loomed large as the moon rose above the sea.

  Arcene dreamed of little birds breaking free of their shells and flying high into the sky for the first time.

  Leel dreamed of catching seagulls.

  Let's go Sailing

  The fire was almost dead; the bare floor cold; the blanket freezing.

  Leel's belly rumbled so loud Arcene could stand it no longer, and she was so hungry she contemplated going next door and apologizing to the blackbird before knocking it on the head and building the fire up to roast it. Things weren't quite that bad, but Arcene felt physically drained. Why did these things keep happening to her? Probably because secretly she wanted them to.

  With her bare arms covered in goose bumps, Arcene untangled herself from the blanket reluctantly and got to her feet. She stretched. Ooh, she was sore. Not surprising, but what was a girl to do? She put all thought of the last few days behind her — this was a new day, a day for adventure.

  "Ugh, the acorn. Gosh, I'm really not myself." Arcene unfastened a small pocket in the backpack and removed a simple acorn. It had a lot of history this acorn, but more than that it was a link back to her home, to The Commorancy and to Letje — probably the scariest woman alive, but also the kindest. More importantly, she was her friend.

  This acorn had a little of Arcene and Letje inside it, energy directed by The Noise. It was their link, almost a flip-talker without the need for satellites and all that went with communication via digital means. Why hadn't she thought to use it yesterday, to tell her friends and family she was all right? Because it had been rather an eventful day, that was why. But still, it was lax, she should have done it immediately.

  Arcene squatted and let the acorn sit in her open palm. She moved into a state where The Noise was all-pervasive and let herself become one with the no place, the energy that went deeper than the conscious mind could fathom.

  Uh-oh, I'm in trouble. There was a message waiting for her, almost like a recording but nothing spoken. This was beyond words, pure emotion, and it was red and angry. It asked if she was all right, if she was safe, and why had she failed to get in touch? It was pure Letje, powerful and disappointed. The message contained so much, and it flooded into Arcene in an instant — time had no meaning, it was just there.

  It told that she could sense Arcene was alive and the anger lessened, but she was to make contact and put their minds at ease. Lucien was fine, happy and playing, but asking for his mommy and didn't she want to come home? Should someone be sent to get her? Was she on her way?

  Tears fell from red eyes. She was a bad mother. Her son wanted her and she was out playing at being free as if she had no responsibilities. Was she evil? No, she was still partly a child herself and being away from her home had meant she had reverted to the wild version of herself she had been for so long. Acting carefree, and as if her life were her own, not tied for eternity to her own flesh and blood that needed her, wanted her.

  With a sniff, Arcene sent her reply, giving everything to the acorn, her link to her home, telling of her sorrow and shame, that she was safe and would arrive soon. She missed Lucien terribly, everyone else too, and not to worry.

  She cut the link.

  Arcene remained motionless for a long time, just stared at the acorn, wondering what made her act the way she did. It wasn't just her life to be so carefree with any longer, she had a child to look after, a family that cared for her and she cared for in return.

  She wasn't alone in the world, things were different now. She had to be more careful, to think about the effect her actions had. But this was life. It was for enjoying, experiencing, and somewhere deep inside Arcene knew she acted as she did because she wasn't fully mature as a person. She would always be this way to some degree, concerned with herself and not fully empathizing with others, sometimes finding it hard to imagine how they felt about what she did — living for the now, letting life experience flood in and take away concerns for family and friends.

  "I guess I need to grow up a little." Arcene clenched a fist, as if pressing send on a flip-talker, and she knew that the new message would be relayed. She was fine, would be home soon.

  Arcene fought with the contradictions of her nature. This was her one chance to be alone and do what she wanted without the routine she loved and hated: the repetition of the days and the confines of home. "One day. I'll take one day to explore the island and then I will go home and not leave until Lucien is old enough for me to take him on adventures with me."

  Mind made up, but with a part of herself telling that she was being selfish and should leave immediately, Arcene stepped out into the empty street.

  Seagulls stared at her, then carried on with their bird business. Leel could be heard snoring inside the house. Arcene lifted her hands to the clear blue sky and smiled — it felt glorious to be alive. What a gift.

  "Just one day, just one day." Arcene reached over her shoulder and tapped the pommel, it gave her comfort. Time to plait her hair, as it got in the way of a quick draw otherwise. She untied the ribbons from around her wrist and set about the laborious task. She never made a good job of it, but it was better than trying to grab your sword only to get a handful of silver locks instead.

  Arcene could hear Leel still snoring; her belly rumbled and she wondered if she could creep up on a seagull unawares.

  "Pull. Pull harder you lazy dog. Do you want to go sailing or not?" Arcene shoved on the back of the boat but it refused to budge. Leel tugged on the rope at the front but it had no effect — it was like it was glued to the floor of the workshop. "Okay, wait up, let me have a look at this. Something's not right."

  The boat Arcene had seen the evening before looked ideal. Small, with a sail curled up that she hoisted more out of sheer luck than knowledge, but it was simple enough, and it would be perfect for the short trip to the island. She was no expert, but how hard could it be? You steered with the rudder, moved the sail to catch the breeze. Easy.

  Only problem was, the stupid thing refused to move. It rested on a low metal platform on wheels that meant it was just a matter of getting it to the ramp, letting it go, and that should be it. But it was stuck.

  She wandered around the little boat, biting down on the corner of her lip as she tried to figure it out. Finding nothing, she got down on her knees and looked at the low trolley. Ah, that was it. There were two levers at the back by the wheels, they must be brakes. She adjusted her position and the levers turned easily.

  "Whoa! Don't let it go too fast. Leel, stop it!" It was too late. The boat rolled toward the harbor.

  She had to get it to the ramp. If it flew over the edge it could break, capsize or who knew what else. Arcene tore out of the workshop, ran around to the front of the boat and grabbed the ropes. She turned to her left and tugged hard until the wheels gradually angled in her direction. The ground leveled off and the boat slowed. "Phew, that was close. Come on, let's get it over there."

  Leel took a mouthful of rope, and together they hauled it to the edge of the ramp. Arcene hoped the boat was seaworthy. She'd done as good an inspection as she knew how, which comprised looking for holes in the bottom, so with a shrug she lined up the wheels, said, "Watch out, Leel," and pushed the whole thing down the ramp.

  The trolley submerged; the boat came free and bobbed about on the water. Arcene went back into the warehouse, grabbed one of the long ropes, and ran along the edge before throwing a lasso at the boat.

  She should have thought of how to board before launching. It was too late now, this would have to do. On the fifth attempt she caught a hook and between them they dragged the
boat to the edge.

  "Right, let's go sailing." Arcene jumped onto the deck and, with a few false starts and a little cajoling, Leel finally joined her. Almost immediately, the wind billowed the sail. Arcene took the rudder. Miraculously, they made it haphazardly out of the harbor and headed toward the island.

  Arcene itched to discover what secrets it held. She wondered who lived there and if they had any food. They should, how else would they survive?

  Time to find out.

  Sad Picus

  Picus Ford stood high on the cliff top and wiped away a tear. He watched as the girl and the adorable looking dog sailed past. They were so close, yet it happened just as it always did. He never gave up hope, not even after all these years, but as usual the strong currents around his home caught the boat as it approached and took it swirling around then past and away.

  He often wondered if it was some kind of Awakening of the very sea itself that stopped anyone ever coming to visit him and his wondrous home. All he wanted was a little company, some companionship and a little conversation with anyone but himself.

  Almost three hundred years now and still he was alone. He would give anything to have a friend, a confidant, someone to give him the news from the mainland, to tell him if things were all right, getting better, although he knew they weren't.

  If they were, then people would be living in the village, fixing boats and fishing. Shouting in the early morning, selling fish or souvenirs to tourists. Out-of-towner's would push rents sky-high so the locals couldn't afford to live where they grew up. That's what it used to be like, what he saw through his telescope every day when he spied on the people going about their business, the seagulls flocking to dropped ice-creams and stealing fish and chips from unaware tourists.

  No, there was none of that, just an occasional traveler that searched fruitlessly for anything of use in the homes still standing. The houses had been picked clean mere years after The Lethargy, now they were little more than crumbling walls, roofless and dead. Nobody came. This girl was the first person he'd seen for almost a decade.

  Why did the sea hate him so? Why did it allow people with the wits to sail a boat so close to his beautiful island to be thwarted at the last minute and taken away from him? Did the sea Awaken and decide he was unworthy of company, that he was to be alone forever?

  "I just want a friend," he shouted to the girl in the boat, to the sky, to the sea, to anyone or anything that may be listening.

  There was no reply, there never was. He was alone, the currents were against him.

  Picus had seen it happen time and time again in the first few years after The Lethargy, when there were still people, still the occasional visitor. It had become increasingly difficult to make it to the island, the tides changing just like everything else had in the world, the struggle becoming harder for people to reach him, and then it was impossible. They sailed past, taken away and out to sea, often returning on the twisted currents but always sailing down the coast, around the headland and then they were gone.

  They never returned.

  He often wondered what happened to them, what awaited them around the outcropping? Did they meet their death? Probably.

  Noting a faded bloom on a hot-red geranium, Picus dead-headed the plant and inspected it for imperfections. "Beautiful, but only I will ever see it." He wandered through the tropical gardens, lost in the beauty of his solitary home.

  He could never leave, he had known that ever since the tides turned against him. If he left then he would be unable to return, and only one thing was worse than being stuck alone in the desolate paradise he had maintained and improved upon for future generations that failed to come, and that was never seeing it again.

  With a sigh, Picus wiped his eyes once more and wound his way to the lower levels. There was a large Yucca that needed its lower leaves cutting back, and now was as good a time as any to get the job done.

  He stared at the boat, now nothing but a tiny prick of white. Soon it was lost amid the froth of waves, then out of sight.

  "Ah well, maybe next time."

  Stupid Sea

  Arcene couldn't make out what the man shouted. Was he hollering at her or at the water itself? It was hard to tell. He looked so lost up there, all alone. Arcene ached to get to the island and say hello.

  He'd waved and jumped up and down in excitement as he saw them approach, and Arcene and Leel had responded in a similar fashion. He was friendly, definitely a nice guy. The way he acted told her all she needed to know. And besides, after the recent "incident" at the blue castle, she made sure to peek at his presence in The Noise to ensure he would be no trouble.

  He shone pure, a lonely man that was friendly and welcoming, keen for company. There were parts of his mind just waiting to soar and laugh and be happy. All he needed was others.

  But it wasn't to be. They sailed past, Arcene unable to control the boat against the strong currents that pulled them out to sea and away from the magnificent island that shone so brightly. What spectacular gardens, how beautiful and bright. It looked like the kind of place she'd get lost in, and yearned for such beauty after her recent adventures.

  Arcene fought harder with the rudder, tried to steer the boat back, but the currents were unstoppable and had their own ideas about where the boat would go. There was little wind and what there was was useless. She fought with the sail, trying to catch the breeze as it blew back to the mainland, but then it died and all that remained was the strong water.

  They sailed past the island, so close yet so far, and out toward the ever-expanding horizon.

  "Uh-oh, Leel, we haven't got any food. Or much water." Arcene had assumed it would take but a few minutes to reach the island, it wasn't far at all, so hadn't concerned herself with their next meal, assuming they would be on land soon enough and could always fish if there was nobody there. Now it looked like they were heading out to sea, and she certainly wouldn't risk making a fire on a wooden boat — she'd had enough of unruly fires for a lifetime. "Looks like its raw fish for us then, Leel."

  Woof.

  "Yeah, I know you like it, but its gross! Ugh, raw fish."

  Arcene watched as the shoreline and the beautiful gardens on the island were lost.

  She never did see the man give a final wave before they vanished from sight for good.

  "Whoa! Don't move about, Leel, it's a really small boat and if you tip us over we'll never get back in." Arcene scowled at Leel, who was trying to make her way right to the front, making it rock from side to side, almost scooping up water as it did so.

  Leel couldn't keep her balance well at all, she wasn't used to floating — she loved to swim but she'd never been in a boat before as far as Arcene could remember. Finally, she made it to the front and sat on the prow, staring ahead as if waiting for the next exciting thing.

  At least she wasn't scared, that was something, but Arcene was having serious doubts about the decision to go sailing. The boat was tiny, a few paces long, and with a small sail controlled just by moving some kind of long stick it was as basic as it got, and all she could handle. Not that the sail was any use anyway. There was no wind to speak of; they were at the mercy of the current.

  The oars were next to useless and she had been relying on them to allow her to get to the beautiful island, but fighting the current was impossible — all she got was a tired back and arms and it made no difference to the direction they were headed: out to sea.

  This is bad. We'll starve if we don't get food, and the water won't last long.

  What could she do? How could she get them to shore safely? Arcene was beginning to really hate boats. She'd had a few fun times on them over the years, but that had been on rivers, paddling about aimlessly, fishing and then just rowing to the edge and never having a problem. This was different. Arcene began to understand the scale of the sea and the precarious situation she had put them both in.

  What to do, what to do?

  Maybe they should jump out and swim? No, they may be
good swimmers but if the currents could take a boat then it would surely take them. Arcene did the only thing she knew would make things better: she crawled to Leel, careful not to rock the boat, and unbuckled the pack enough so she could squeeze a hand in.

  "If in doubt, eat. There's not much, but we better have it now, just in case we need our strength."

  Two minutes later, a very depressed and hungry girl and dog sat staring at the empty container that had held their frugal snack.

  Woof?

  "Sorry, Leel, that was it. All gone, no more."

  Leel cocked her head to the side, as if Arcene was lying, or maybe making a very bad joke. She stared at Arcene, willing her to fill up the snack container. Arcene shrugged, that really was it.

  Arcene turned and stared wistfully at the distant island. It looked like such fun too, and now what? Lost at sea, never getting home, starving to death or going mad and eating raw fish, if they could even catch them.

  "Ugh, what a mess. I knew we should have just gone straight home." Leel stared at her. "Okay, maybe I wanted a quick peek at the island first. I wonder who that man was? Bet he had some interesting tales to tell." They curved away from the island, headed farther out to sea, then the island, the shore, and their hope of a meal were lost.

  All that remained was sea and the sun beating down as it rose to its zenith on a beautiful summer's day.

  Maybe a dolphin will save us? Maybe I can find one in The Noise and get it to pull us to shore? Arcene focused; there were no dolphins. There wasn't much of anything, just tiny fish and the little boat. They would be lost at sea, taken away from all she held dear in the world because she couldn't let things go, had to be nosy.

  "Stupid adventures, I've had enough of this." Arcene stood and scowled at infinity. She stamped a foot and the boat rocked dangerously, almost capsizing them. She sat down and tried to come up with a plan.