“Hey,” I whisper as I take a position behind the adjacent boulder.
Ivan nods at me and looks back to the woods. I slip quickly past the gap between our two boulders and join him at his. “What’s going on?”
He looks irritated at my presence but consents to respond. “We look for way to ship.” He jerks his thumb toward the water. “Must get past buccaneers.”
His accent is heavy. I’m guessing Russian, but could be somewhere else in the vicinity. His use of “buccaneers” makes me smile. “Pirates? Really?” I poke my head up to see over the boulders. Ivan grabs my arm and tugs me back down.
“No! They see you!”
“Hey, it’s okay. Those guys have got to be totally fire-blind right now, sitting around that thing. They won’t have any kind of night vision this far.”
Ivan seems to consider this, then nods. “Okay. We go.” He gets to a crouch and dashes across the few feet of sand for the cover of the trees. I gesture for Viznir to join us and I follow Ivan. The bit of Viznir’s face I can make out in the darkness looks miffed as he catches up to us in the trees. The other Ivan is a little farther into the woods trying to make out his map in the darkness.
“What are you doing?” Viznir asks.
“They’re trying to find a way onto the boat. They said the guys on the beach are pirates.”
“How do you know they’re pirates?”
“I don’t know.” I walk over to the nearest Ivan. “How did you know they’re buccaneers?
Ivan’s face scowls a little as he responds. “They look like it.”
I look back to Viznir and curl my fingers like a hook and make a clawing motion at him. He doesn’t seem amused.
The other Ivan walks over but doesn’t speak to Viznir or me. He converses with the other him in a slur of words I don’t understand and gestures toward the beach.
The Ivan closest to me reaches into his jacket and removes a pistol from his shoulder holster. He follows his duplicate forward.
“So what’s your plan, dude?” I sneak along behind.
“We take little boat.”
“Good plan. Have you seen the others? Because that ship is going to be a challenge to sail with just four guys.”
“The Italian and his guide went south at the beach. I saw him follow the pretty woman. No one else.”
“Yeah, well we can do without that guy anyway. Did you see the dog?”
“No. No dog.”
Viznir is close on my heels. “How do they think they’ll get past the group on the beach?”
“I don’t know. I’m just going along till we figure something out. We’re going to need help from someone. There’s no way we’re figuring out that corvette in a hurry. Just getting the anchor up will be a project. We would probably be better off getting the pirates to join us.”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I don’t know.” I try to formulate a feasible plan as we walk. “Sailors are superstitious. Maybe we can convince them with a little magic.”
Our progress through the palms is slow in the darkness as we’re trying to not make too much racket. Finally, we’re able to get a clear view of the men around the bonfire. Ivan was right. They don’t look much like legitimate sailors. There are no parrots in attendance or obvious hook-hands in sight, but it’s definitely a menacing crew.
A big man with a stained, sleeveless shirt is poking at the fire with a branch, while a half dozen others convene on logs they’ve dragged onto the beach. A few of the men have clearly been drinking, but not all. A wiry man with a pair of pistols tucked into the front of his trousers is pacing around the circle casting frequent glances northward along the beach.
“I tell ya, he’ll find a way sure enough.” The voice of one of the men on the logs carries to our position. “Cap’n Hew ain’t never steered us wrong when it come to gettin our hands on what belongs to us. Once he’s scouted the position of those frigates, he’ll have a plan.”
The grizzled man slumped next to him lets out a grunt. “The Spanish will be on us before we can get it clear. Marquez was there when Tanners dragged it off the wreck. Buried it deep, he said.”
“There’s more of us now than he had with him. More hands to dig it up.” The first man scratches at his beard. “We get it quick and the Spanish’ll never know the difference.”
“The cap’n has the bearing, sure enough, but getting that swag aboard will be slow to—”
“Hey! Hold your tongues!” The man with the pistols holds up a hand and draws one of his guns with the other. “There’s something moving in the woods.”
I look at the Ivans to see if one of them made some commotion. The Ivan farthest from me is trying to back away from the beach. He’s frozen in place as if he’s stepped on something. One of the men from the logs rises with a cutlass in his hand and peers into the darkness. The other man snatches a burning branch from the fire and holds it aloft as a torch.
“Who goes there?” The man with the pistols asks. He’s drawn his second pistol as well. I look right, and both the Ivans have their guns drawn. Viznir does too.
It’s no good if we shoot them all.
“We’re the spirits of the future!” I call out.
The pirates flinch at the sudden yell. Viznir looks at me in surprise. “What are you doing?” he whispers.
“Improvising.” I drop my pack and slide sideways past a couple of trees. The heads and weapons of the pirates turn to follow the sound. “Listen and take heed!” I shout at them. “Strange spirits haunt these woods tonight.”
The other pirates from around the fire have all risen and drawn their various weapons. I slip as quietly as I can onto a sandy path that heads out to the beach. I step over a piece of driftwood in the path but then have an idea and pick it up. I note the time on my bracelet. Wouldn’t hurt to have an escape plan.
I pause behind a tree and flick my flashlight once in the direction of the pirates. A couple of them turn and point my way.
“Over there!”
I rush through the darkness and stop just before I lose all cover and take a breath. Then I step as dramatically as possible onto the beach. No one shoots at me immediately and my panic eases slightly. A few of the men still glance at the woods, but most now have their attention fixed on me.
“Who are you?” The biggest of the men steps forward to challenge me.
“I’m the ghost of the future,” I shoot back. “Here to change your miserable fates.”
“You look more of man than spirit,” the one with the pistols says.
I toss my piece of driftwood onto the sand in front of me and step onto it to have more solid footing. I dial my chronometer for a two second forward jump as I speak. “You see me as your minds believe, but mortal minds are weak.” I press the pin and blink. When I reappear, their faces are comically distraught.
“He come outta thin air!” A man is pointing his stump of a forearm at me while holding his cutlass with his left.
The man with the pistols scowls. “Just a trick o’ the light.” But he’s lost his skeptical expression and now looks authentically worried.
“I may look of man, but this is merely the image you see. We spirits take the form of man at will.” I gesture toward the tree line. “The woods be full of the lights of spirits tonight. So take care!” Nothing happens, so I try speaking a little louder. “LIGHTS OF THE SPIRITS SHOW THEY’RE LISTENING.” This time Viznir and the Ivans catch on and their flashlights blink in the woods. It has the desired effect and the pirates nearest the woods back away a few steps. I watch the lights blinking in the woods and realize there are four of them. We must’ve had another arrival.
“Your wretched lives are forfeit this night, but we spirits are willing to strike you a bargain.”
The pirates begin muttering among themselves. The red-bearded one finally answers. “What kind of bargain?”
“We will spare your depraved lives and keep the boatman from carrying your souls to the underworld, but you must
agree to ferry our mortal forms off this island. The spirits here wish to journey to the island on yonder horizon.” I point to the darkness where the horizon ought to be.
There is more muttering. I catch one who must be hard of hearing whispering too loudly. “They want the island with our reward. I told you that island had a curse!”
The big man with the burning branch finally steps forward. “Our Captain took a scouting party to the south point. We have orders to hold this beach till he returns.”
I frown at this news. “Your loyalty is admirable, but you can return for your captain once you’ve seen us to the other side. You’ll be of no use to him dead, so either prepare to make the journey for us, or prepare to cross to the afterlife. I will join the other spirits as you decide.” I dial my chronometer and straighten up dramatically as I press the pin.
I reappear on the piece of driftwood back on the path just a minute prior to having picked it up. I step off gently and pick my way over a dune and behind a tree to wait, staying concealed in the darkness. The earlier me emerges from the woods on the other side. He steps over the driftwood, then changes his mind and reaches for it. I wait till he has taken the path out onto the beach before leaving my hiding place. I try to be as quiet as I can and retrace my steps through the woods to where Viznir and the Ivans are hiding. I sneak up behind them, looking to see who our other arrival might be, and frown when I don’t see anyone. Through a break in the trees I can see my earlier self out on the driftwood addressing the pirates. They gasp as I disappear.
I whisper from behind Viznir. “Who else is here?”
Vilznir jumps and holds his hand to his chest. The Ivans are likewise startled by my sudden appearance. They do a double take of the version of me out on the beach. The other me is staring toward us in frustration.
“LIGHTS OF THE SPIRITS SHOW THEY’RE LISTENING!”
The situation finally dawns on me. “Guys, flashlights!” I pull my flashlight from my pocket and start blinking it. The others scramble to do the same with theirs. The other me on the beach looks satisfied and returns to addressing the pirates.
“What are you doing?” Viznir whispers.
“In a minute, I’m going to vanish again. The pirates should be pretty convinced after seeing me do it twice. They should agree to help us. We all come out of the woods and make a show of meaning business.”
One of the Ivans smiles. “I like this.”
I pick up my pack and watch for the other me to disappear. It’s fun being able to watch the response of the pirates as it happens. A few of them actually stagger backward in fear. I have to force myself not to laugh. We wait a few minutes for them to mutter and converse before doing anything. The pirate with the pistols walks cautiously over to the piece of driftwood where I disappeared and pokes it with his foot.
“I don’t like running afoul of no spirits,” the loud one says.
“We would be running afoul of the captain’s orders,” the big man replies. “But the spirit said it true. We ain’t no good to him dead.”
“How do we know we can trust that spirit to not murder us all anyway?” A skinny pirate with a braid speaks up for the first time.
I switch my flashlight on and off a couple times. One of the pirates sees it.
“Shhh! The spirits be listening. Don’t be speaking ill of them.”
I smile at this and turn to Ivan. “You ready to be mysterious?”
Ivan gives me a smirk. “We can be mysterious.” He turns and nods to his other self. The other Ivan smiles back.
I step through the foliage followed closely by Viznir. As we emerge onto the beach, the pirates back away cautiously.
We stare at each other in silence before one of the pirates finally speaks. “Is it only the two of you, m’lord?”
I stare at him with as stern an expression as I can manage, not wanting to have to turn and look behind me. Why hasn’t Ivan come with us?
“More will come,” I say. “Our numbers should not concern you.”
The pirate with the braid looks at his companions quickly before deciding to speak. “Pardon m’lord, but we only ask as to see that we have enough space in the crew boat.”
I glance toward the waterline where the wooden boat has been beached. It’s invisible in the darkness, but I recall its general size from before we lost the light. “There will be room enough.”
One of the Ivans steps through the trees. He’s carrying a walking stick he’s made from a branch. He flanks Viznir and me and holds the walking stick at a slight angle to his far side. He glares dramatically around at the pirates, as if daring them to speak to him. With his rough beard and stern expression he looks intimidating even to me. He stretches his free hand toward the sky as if to summon down lightning from the heavens. At that moment, the other Ivan appears at the other end of the walking stick. He drops a couple inches to the sand amid the startled cries of the pirates. The newly arrived Ivan scowls menacingly at the group.
If there had been any doubt left in the pirates’ minds about the supernatural nature of our business, Ivan’s arrival has smothered it. The pirates scramble to get out of the way as we stride forward, herding them toward the crew boat. One of the pirates goes so far as to walk backward the entire way so that he can keep up his obsequious bowing. I pick up my piece of driftwood and toss it into the bow of the boat in case I need it again. A few of the pirates push the boat into the shallows and wait as we climb aboard. Once they have the boat turned around, the rest of them pile into the stern, as far from us as possible. I watch them clambering over the side, but then the last man, the skinny one with the braid, turns at the last moment and sprints out of the water and onto the beach. The other pirates freeze and look at me to see what I will do. I keep my face impassive as the man vanishes into the trees.
“Row like your lives depend on it. Because make no mistake, they do. Failing at your duty will not bode well for your souls.”
The men set the oars and begin rowing. It only takes a few minutes to reach the side of the ship. A silhouette of a man appears against the night sky and drops a ladder over the gunwale.
“Is the captain with you?” the voice from the darkness above inquires.
The man with the pistols eyes me cautiously, then calls up. “The captain’s ashore, but we have orders.”
One of the Ivans grabs the ladder and scales it rapidly. I hear a surprised exclamation when he reaches the top, but after a moment he calls back down. “Clear up here.” The other Ivan has his pistol out but gestures for me to take the ladder next. I toss my piece of driftwood to one of the pirates to carry for me. “Don’t lose that.” The man holds the piece of wood gingerly, as if expecting it to spontaneously combust at any moment.
I pause with my hand on the rope ladder, then screw up my courage. Once I start up the ladder, I shut my eyes and climb until I feel like I must be close to the top. Ivan helps me over the gunwale.
The ship is rocking gently but I quickly adjust to the footing and look around. The ship isn’t large by modern standards, but it’s impressive nonetheless. The wood deck is divided into three levels. Two of the masts are amidships, but the third and smallest protrudes through the rear deck. The crewmember that tossed the ladder down is likely only in his thirties but is bald on top with frantic tufts of hair sticking out from behind his ears. He’s fidgeting with a bit of wood he’s been whittling. The other pirates climb over the gunwale, followed by the other Ivan. One of the pirates secures the dingy to the ship, then lets the tide pull it away to the end of its tether. The man who brought up my driftwood lays it at my feet and backs away.
I turn to the man with the pistols who seems to have some amount of authority. “How many other men aboard?”
“Just this one, sir. Kessler was left aboard to mind the ship.”
“Very well. Heave the anchor and get us some sail. I want to be moving.”
“Aye, sir, but it will take all the lads getting to the rigging. We’re short handed and Edgars has naugh
t but one hand.”
“Then get to it. I won’t take excuses.” I keep my voice firm but realize he’s right. This won’t be quick.
I turn to the nearest Ivan. “You gentlemen have any sailing know-how?”
Ivan shakes his head.
“Okay. Then you two just concentrate on keeping the fear of God in them. We’ll make do the best we can.”
Ivan nods and speaks quickly to the other him in his own language. The two split up and take positions on the fore and aft decks like menacing bookends, facing each other and giving all the pirates ominous glares. Viznir is carrying my pack as well as his own and is looking less than amused by the whole situation. I invite him toward the back of the ship. “Let’s find the captain’s quarters and see if we can find our objective. We can see what else we can learn about this ship.”
Viznir follows me through the doorway that leads aft. Two sets of steps run below from either side of a small hallway that leads to an ornate door for the captain’s cabin. I try the handle, but it’s locked.
“Dang it. I was hoping we’d at least get a few more charts of the area to see what we’re dealing with out there. It’s going to be tough to know where we’re going in the dark.” I shoulder the door but it doesn’t budge. “Maybe we can find another way in.”
Viznir hands me my pack. “Here. You may want your gun in case this plan of yours turns out to be as dangerous as it seems.”
I sling the pack over my shoulder and walk back out to the weather deck. I climb the aft stairs to the poop deck, and stand next to Ivan as he surveys the men in the rigging. He has his most intimidating expression on his face but he whispers out the side of his mouth, “I don’t know how to tell if they do it right.”
I smile and pat him on the shoulder as I look at the men untying things above us. “Me either. But we’ll know soon enough.” I walk to the back of the ship and lean over the rail to see if there is another way into the captain’s cabin. The bits of the windows I can see are closed and hard to access. I frown and look out at the beach. I let my pack slide to the deck. A three-quarter moon is rising over the island. I’m staring at the darkness of the trees where the skinny pirate had disappeared when I see movement. To my surprise, I recognize the shape of the man emerging from the tree line. The imposing dimensions and slightly bow-legged swagger are both distinctly Cliff. Jettison follows him. A moment later, I spy the dog. Friends.
In Times Like These: eBook Boxed Set: Books 1-3 Page 67
