by Garry Hicks
Back on Atargatis Island, the dinner table is full of mermaids, the guys, who keep their rum cups full, the kids, Seth, Steven and Joshua. They dine on a huge shark, the guys wash it down with rum. Several separate conversations go on, the table is filled with chatter and laughter.
Sean cups Tina's hand. "I want you to leave with me. We can start over."
"It would break my mother's heart, I have to get to know her, know my new world."
"What about my heart?"
"Sean please. Your heart will heal, you can return some day."
"Oh sure, I’ll just sit out there waiting for the fog to thicken."
"You won’t wait, we’ll know you come."
"This is just wrong. I wait my whole life for someone. Then, not only is she part fish but she doesn’t even want me."
"Listen robber of banks, I was going with you until you called me part fish."
"Whatever. Just to let you know, that was a lie, I didn’t rob a bank."
"So, you’re not a robber of banks, just a liar and a weasel."
Sean laughs. "I’m gonna miss you little girl!"
Brandon, concerned, asks Treena. "What about us Treena? You know how I feel about you."
"And I you, but I’m not a Human." she smiles. "Besides, I’m going to have a child to take care of."
Brandon raises his eyebrows. "Really? I know, it's my child too. What am I supposed to do, never see her?"
"Stay here Brandon...with me...life’s not so bad."
"I’d miss having a steak and beer, watching the super bowl, world series, Miami Beach. Great Zeus Treena, you would love Miami Beach. You have to come! I’ll give you a good life, there's so much you haven’t experienced."
"You know what happens if I’m out of water for five cycles of the sun."
"That could never happen. Where I live is surrounded by water. It’s beautiful Treena, we could build such a life, raise our daughter, together."
"Brandon, don’t, please."
"I’m not giving you up Treena, I’ll talk to your mother."
Derek asks, "What are you going to do Steven?"
"Back to Australia mate. I’ve got people there. A lot of missed time to make up with my family. I never thought I’d get out of here. A freaking four year fishing trip."
Seth concurs. "Yeah, same with me, a lot of time to make up. What about you Derek?"
"I’m not sure. We’ve only been gone a few weeks but it’s changed the way I look at the direction my life is taking. You only get one shot, I’m not sure I want to spend it in a wire caged office."
Kyle adds, "Same with me Derek. I’m not going back, except to say goodbye to all the cube-heads."
Seth smiles. "I will say the sceneries nice here. I’ve never seen so many Babylonian Babes in one place!"
"I know, if we could only come back once a year." opines Kyle.
Derek stands, holds out his mug for a toast. "A toast to Keela, who gave her life so we could all be together today."
The entire room raise their glasses.
Derek declares "To Keela!"
Everyone repeats, "To Keela!"
"And a toast to all of you beautiful women who have helped us get out of here." Derek continues. "To an unforgettable experience, one we won’t soon forget...and to freedom, a word that has taken on new meaning!"
The area fills with claps and cheers!
Joshua is overwhelmed, his eyes well. He grabs Stevens shoulder, squeezes it. "I never thought we would see this day."
Steven smiles. "Aye mate, neither did I. But we never gave up hope and now...we're going home."
DAY 11
Everyone is at the dock to say goodbye. Steven, Seth and Joshua watch from the deck of The Mystic.
Brandon takes Treena's hand. "This is it Treena, last chance."
Treena cries. "I love you Brandon...so much!"
"Maybe you do but not enough to come back with me."
"Maybe you don't love me enough to stay."
"We could go back and forth on this but, I'm going back to my life and I want you to come and be a part of it."
Arianna smiles at Derek. "I had a dream."
"Uh ohh, about what?"
She hands Derek a gold chain with a locket.
"I have a sister somewhere in your world. When you meet her, give her this."
"It's a big world. How do you know I'll run into her and if I do, how will I know her?"
She places her hand on Derek’s heart.
"Here you will know."
Derek hugs her. "You’re a sweetheart Arianna, I’m really going to miss you."
Alison and Isabel run to Brandon, each hug one of his legs. He picks both up, their eyes well. "I’m going to miss you two munchkins!"
Both hug him tight. His eyes well as he slides them down.
Kyle and Anna hug each other tight, he strokes her hair.
Sean and Tina embrace. As Sean moves away, Tina still grasps his hand. Tina watches their hands and in what seems like slow motion, their hands slip apart.
One by one, as the rest of the crew amble onto the ship, each take a final glimpse back.
Derek leans over the deck. "Arianna, I forgot, we have no power."
Brandon grins. "A minor problem."
Arianna shouts out. "Do not worry."
As soon as Isabel and Alison untie the ropes, the boat drifts toward the cave entrance. Everyone waves goodbye.
Brandon stares at Treena as tears stream down her face.
Tina weeps as Derek and Sean watch. Sean turns to Derek. "Hold on."
All eyes turn to Sean as the boats slides forward.
"What’s wrong?" Derek asks.
Sean stares straight down at Tina. "I’ve waited my whole life for Tina. All the women I've dated, I've dumped them. Now, I've found what I've been looking for and I can't give her up."
Derek winces. "But back home...beer, games, The playoffs, the..."
"You know Derek, until now, I've known every love except true love. If I just let her go, if I do nothing, I know...I know the pain of regret would haunt me forever."
"C’mon Sean, you want to spend the rest of your life here, isolated from the world?"
"I have nothing back home, not even a job. This is my new world."
Sean turns and hugs Derek, then Brandon and then Kyle.
Sean smiles. "Next time, bring me some beer. Later guys."
The boat is past the cave entrance when Sean dives in.
On the dock, all watch in confusion as Sean dives in. Tina puts her hands over her heart. Arianna stares at Tina as Tina cries turn to light sniffles.
Tina, shaking with a sense of excitement but also with a fear in her heart, utters, "Mother! I, I, look..."
Arianna smiles. "I know."
The guys watch as Sean swims, then turns back to them. "Oh, and steak, Twizzlers and Doritos." he swims further, yells out, "Maybe some Little Debbie’s, ah ah, Reece Pieces, I love Reece Pieces." he swims a bit more, turns, "And, and, Viagra." The guys laugh.
Tina turns to Arianna. "Mother, what is this Viagra?"
Arianna smiles, puts her arm around Tina. "I don't know, it must be some type of sweet treat."
Sean pulls himself up onto the dock. Tina watches, her hands clasped as they tremble. Sean stands in front of her, neither speak. Tina shoots a glance at her mother, Arianna nods her head.
"Does this mean you are staying?"
"No, I just had to give you one last kiss goodbye."
Tina folds her arms and turns around. She tries to hide her convulsing sobs but cannot.
"Alright, I'll stay."
Tina turns around and faces Sean. "Do not lie to me again. Are you staying?"
"Only if you promise to not call me a robber of banks or a weasel."
"I promise!" Tina shouts as she jumps up into Sean's arms.
The Mystic now glides along around three hundred feet from the island. The
guys lean against the deck.
Steven says, "This ship moves good for not having any power mate."
Brandon smiles. "Mermaid technology."
Later, in the control room, all stare at the treasure box bulging with gold.
Brandon, a bit hyped up, says, "I guess I won’t have to worry about paying my bills anymore."
Kyle adds, "None of us have to worry about anything like that, ever, ever again."
Seth looks outside at a huge, walled fog bank. "What the hell is that?"
Derek stares at it. "It’s what’s taking us home."
Back on the island, Treena struggles with her decision to stay. "Mother I don’t know what to do!"
Arianna smiles at her. "Look to your heart Treena."
"But mother, I would miss you so, and Tina, she just returned. There’s so much we have to learn about each other."
Tina responds, " I will always be in your heart. Besides," she glances at Sean who tosses logs under the flaming kettle. "I have someone to keep me busy."
Arianna puts her hand on Treena’s chest. "We will never be apart Treena, we will always be here."
Treena hugs her mother and sister as tears fall from all.
"Thank you mother, I love you."
"Listen carefully to me Treena. When you are there, while your child is growing inside of you and after your child is born, you will face challenges, ones that will be very difficult."
"Like what mother?"
"There is no need to be concerned now, but I just want you to be prepared."
"But mother, I must know..."
"I told you not to worry." Arianna turns Treena toward the water. "Hurry, be off!"
Treena bolts down a path and dives into the water.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
