The Seadragon's Daughter (29 page)
Read The Seadragon's Daughter Online
Authors: Alan F. Troop
“Told you all say Zalman to me,”
Clieee mindspeaks.
“Think his words you and well will be all. Now meat give please you.”
Clieee mindspeaks.
“Think his words you and well will be all. Now meat give please you.”
Anger flushes through me. Glaring at the Thryll, I take the dolphin meat in my hand, wind up and throw it at his chest as hard as I can. It strikes him and Clieee shrieks as it bounces from his chest, falling into the roots below. The Thryll drops from his branch, working his way to the roots to find it before some fish takes it away.
“Undrae wrong you. Go now I,”
Clieee mindspeaks.
“Says Zalman, owe us you much meat.”
Clieee mindspeaks.
“Says Zalman, owe us you much meat.”
“Not a chance,” I growl out loud, not caring whether the Thryll understands me.
29
Left alone with only the storm for company, I sit shaking my head. How foolish of me to set my hopes on another. How naive to think that a simple creature living in the trees could solve any problem of mine.
I welcome the rain pounding down on me. I pray that the wind buffets me even more. I smile at the wet cold numbing my bare feet and hands. Let it all overtake me. Let me drown in the storm’s misery. I deserve every bit of it as punishment for my stupidity.
A sudden gust of wind batters the mangrove where I’m perched and the bough I’ve been holding jerks out of my grip. I gasp, reach for another branch, but it breaks when I pull on it. My right foot slips and I fall, my upper body crashing through branches, my legs slipping between the tree’s roots.
I land in shallow water, my bare feet sinking into cold muck, cold water immediately soaking my legs inside my pants, up to my knees. I bark out a laugh, mutter, “So much for self pity,” and climb back up onto the slippery roots.
It takes a good half hour for me to work my way back to the clearing and from there to the large rock overlooking the lagoon where Derek and I often sit. I sit on the edge of the rock, dangle my legs and stare at the lagoon, watching as wind gusts rush over it, ruffling and swirling the water, shifting the ever changing pattern of pockmarks the raindrops leave on its surface.
Somehow moisture finds its way through my jacket’s collar. A thin, cold trickle of it starts making its way down my neck and then down my back. I sigh and ignore it. More important things need to be attended to than my comfort.
{
Chloe,
} I mindspeak, masked. {
Chloe, will you talk with me?
}
Chloe,
} I mindspeak, masked. {
Chloe, will you talk with me?
}
{
Are you alone now?
}
Are you alone now?
}
{
I’m up on land, out of the cavern, away from all the Pelk.
}
I’m up on land, out of the cavern, away from all the Pelk.
}
{
Even her?
}
Even her?
}
{
Especially her,
} I mindspeak.
Especially her,
} I mindspeak.
{
Isn’t it storming there? It’s horrid here. Claudia and I haven’t even thought about leaving the hotel. On the TV they’re calling it a tropical disturbance.
}
Isn’t it storming there? It’s horrid here. Claudia and I haven’t even thought about leaving the hotel. On the TV they’re calling it a tropical disturbance.
}
{
I don’t doubt it,
} I mindspeak. {
But I found some foul-weather gear, so it’s not too bad. At least no one will venture above to bother me.
}
I don’t doubt it,
} I mindspeak. {
But I found some foul-weather gear, so it’s not too bad. At least no one will venture above to bother me.
}
{
Peter, you know I’m still mad at you.
}
Peter, you know I’m still mad at you.
}
I know Chloe too well to think anything else. {
I do,
} I mindspeak.
I do,
} I mindspeak.
{
But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help you.
}
But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help you.
}
{
I didn’t think it did.
}
I didn’t think it did.
}
{
What are we going to do?
}
What are we going to do?
}
I shake my head. There’s so much I’ve been thinking about—some of which I have no idea whether we can do or not. I mindspeak, {
First of all, we can’t have everyone back home thinking that the killings of boaters have stopped just because I’m missing. . . .
}
First of all, we can’t have everyone back home thinking that the killings of boaters have stopped just because I’m missing. . . .
}
{
I’ve been worrying about the same thing here, Peter,
} Chloe mindspeaks. {
I’m so tired of seeing all of Jordan Davidson’s stupid headlines. I don’t think it will be very hard for me to start making boaters disappear again. I’ve been watching the patrol boats around the island. If I swim out like we did the night we attacked the patrol boat, I’m sure I can come and go without being noticed.
}
I’ve been worrying about the same thing here, Peter,
} Chloe mindspeaks. {
I’m so tired of seeing all of Jordan Davidson’s stupid headlines. I don’t think it will be very hard for me to start making boaters disappear again. I’ve been watching the patrol boats around the island. If I swim out like we did the night we attacked the patrol boat, I’m sure I can come and go without being noticed.
}
{
You have to be very careful. It’s not worth doing if it puts you in too much risk.
}
You have to be very careful. It’s not worth doing if it puts you in too much risk.
}
{
Don’t be silly. You know I can handle it.
}
Don’t be silly. You know I can handle it.
}
I nod, even though she can’t see me.
{
What else can I do to help?
} Chloe mindspeaks.
What else can I do to help?
} Chloe mindspeaks.
{
If you can, I’d like you and Claudia to get my boat and bring it back.
} I look up at the gray, angry clouds scudding overhead and frown. {
If the damn thing’s still floating.
}
If you can, I’d like you and Claudia to get my boat and bring it back.
} I look up at the gray, angry clouds scudding overhead and frown. {
If the damn thing’s still floating.
}
{
Are you sure that’s a good idea? Won’t there be questions if I suddenly cruise up to the island on your Grady White?
}
Are you sure that’s a good idea? Won’t there be questions if I suddenly cruise up to the island on your Grady White?
}
{
LaMar Assosciates owns a marina in Key Largo. Just bring the boat back to Bimini. Claudia can arrange for someone to bring it over.
} I describe the island where I left the boat and the small cove where she can find it anchored.
LaMar Assosciates owns a marina in Key Largo. Just bring the boat back to Bimini. Claudia can arrange for someone to bring it over.
} I describe the island where I left the boat and the small cove where she can find it anchored.
Chloe mindspeaks, {
The storm’s supposed to pass later today. We can get the boat tomorrow, drop it off in Bimini and still be home by dark. But those are easy things. What can we do to get you home?
}
The storm’s supposed to pass later today. We can get the boat tomorrow, drop it off in Bimini and still be home by dark. But those are easy things. What can we do to get you home?
}
I take a deep breath and tell her about my meeting with the Thryll and about Zalman’s words.
Chloe doesn’t reply for a few moments, finally mindspeaking, {
In the trees?
}
In the trees?
}
{
Yes. Red mangroves—that’s what’s all around here.
}
Yes. Red mangroves—that’s what’s all around here.
}
{
We have them too, all over the island. What should I look for?
}
We have them too, all over the island. What should I look for?
}
{
Did you read or study anything about red mangroves when your mother taught you how to make potions?
}
Did you read or study anything about red mangroves when your mother taught you how to make potions?
}
{
No, I don’t think so. When I get back I can see what I can find in my books.
}
No, I don’t think so. When I get back I can see what I can find in my books.
}
{
Good,
} I mindspeak, though I doubt she’ll find anything.
Good,
} I mindspeak, though I doubt she’ll find anything.
{
What about your father? Shouldn’t we be trying to find out how he found the antidote?
}
What about your father? Shouldn’t we be trying to find out how he found the antidote?
}
I laugh. If only it were that easy. {
They gave me a journal he wrote when he was here. . . .
}
They gave me a journal he wrote when he was here. . . .
}
{
Didn’t it say anything you could use?
}
Didn’t it say anything you could use?
}
{
It’s in Spanish, like his log books at home. I keep going over it hoping I’ll find some words that I can figure out. But even if we could read it, we don’t know if he wrote anything about the antidote.
}
It’s in Spanish, like his log books at home. I keep going over it hoping I’ll find some words that I can figure out. But even if we could read it, we don’t know if he wrote anything about the antidote.
}
{
Claudia could translate it for us. You could read it to me and have me repeat it to her.
}
Claudia could translate it for us. You could read it to me and have me repeat it to her.
}
Shaking my head, I mindspeak, {
I thought about it, but it’s over a hundred pages. Can you imagine how cumbersome that would be? I’ve been trying to figure out where I could hide the journal up here so you could come and get it during the night.
}
I thought about it, but it’s over a hundred pages. Can you imagine how cumbersome that would be? I’ve been trying to figure out where I could hide the journal up here so you could come and get it during the night.
}
{
Whenever you say,
} Chloe mindspeaks. {
What about his log books? Claudia could read through them when we get home. He may have mentioned the antidote in one of them.
}
Whenever you say,
} Chloe mindspeaks. {
What about his log books? Claudia could read through them when we get home. He may have mentioned the antidote in one of them.
}
I think about all the old log books stored with Father’s ancient maps in the great room. {
Chloe, there are dozens of them. It will take Claudia forever to read them all. . . .
}
Chloe, there are dozens of them. It will take Claudia forever to read them all. . . .
}
{
She doesn’t have to read them all. They’re log books, so they’re dated. . . .
}
She doesn’t have to read them all. They’re log books, so they’re dated. . . .
}
Seeing where she’s going, nodding, I mindspeak, {
His pirate fleet was disbanded around 1700. I think his first wife died in the early 1600s. He would have found his Pelk female after that. So if Claudia reads backwards from the most recent date she’ll have the best chance of finding something quickly.
}
His pirate fleet was disbanded around 1700. I think his first wife died in the early 1600s. He would have found his Pelk female after that. So if Claudia reads backwards from the most recent date she’ll have the best chance of finding something quickly.
}
{
Exactly. Then we can get you out of there, deal with your whole mess with Jordan Davidson and get back to living our lives.
}
Exactly. Then we can get you out of there, deal with your whole mess with Jordan Davidson and get back to living our lives.
}
Getting back to living our lives. I can think of nothing I want more—if only we can. A new blast of wind rushes over the lagoon, almost knocking me over, blowing the hood off my head. Raindrops sting my skin, instantly soak my hair. I ignore it all. {
Davidson is the least of our problems. I think I have a solution figured out. All we need to do is get me home. My concern is how you and I can get back to living our life like we used to. As soon as we can.
}
Davidson is the least of our problems. I think I have a solution figured out. All we need to do is get me home. My concern is how you and I can get back to living our life like we used to. As soon as we can.
}
{
Not yet, Peter. I’m not ready to have that conversation with you now.
}
Not yet, Peter. I’m not ready to have that conversation with you now.
}
30
Jessai meets me at the bottom of the stairs when I return to the cavern.
“Mowdar wants you to come to him immediately,”
he mindspeaks.
“Mowdar wants you to come to him immediately,”
he mindspeaks.
I cock an eyebrow.
“About what?”
“About what?”
“He told me only to bring you, nothing else.”
After the cool of the storm, the foul-weather gear threatens to roast me in the cavern’s calm protection. I rip off the jacket, step out of the pants and walk toward the clothes pile.
Jessai follows me, mindspeaking,
“Mowdar said immediately.”
“Mowdar said immediately.”
After all the grief Mowdar has brought me, just after my wife refused to discuss how we can repair our relationship, the last thing I want to hear is any demand from the Pelk leader. I stop and whirl around, glaring at the Pelk.
“Or what?”
“Or what?”
He glares back.
“Undrae, I offered you my friendship. Do not force me to take it back. I must do as I am bid.”
“Undrae, I offered you my friendship. Do not force me to take it back. I must do as I am bid.”
Shaking my head, I look at Jessai, at the cavern now lit by all of its glowpools, at the other Pelk all going about enjoying their holiday, lolling in their nests, gathering in groups to share food and drink and conversation. I want no part of any of it. I want to be gone. Still, I know can’t leave yet, and I know I would rather have Jessai as a friend than an enemy. I take a breath, calm myself and mindspeak,
“We Undrae have no leaders. I’m not used to being ordered about.”
“We Undrae have no leaders. I’m not used to being ordered about.”
Jessai nods.
“I am too used to it myself,”
he mindspeaks, and we both laugh. To my relief, he offers no further resistance when I still insist on returning the foul-weather gear to the clothes pile and shifting into my natural form before we go to Mowdar.
“I am too used to it myself,”
he mindspeaks, and we both laugh. To my relief, he offers no further resistance when I still insist on returning the foul-weather gear to the clothes pile and shifting into my natural form before we go to Mowdar.
We arrive to find the Pelk leader sitting alone on one of the seaweed seats outside his alcove, sharpening the points of his trident with a small stone. He waves me to a seat beside him and motions for Jessai to leave, busying himself with the trident until the Pelk lieutenant’s out of sight. Then he stops sharpening the trident and turns his gaze on me, saying nothing, shaking his head.
I stare back, hold my eyes on his until he turns his attention back to his trident, the stone rasping as he runs it up and down one prong and then the next.
“Undrae,”
he finally mindspeaks.
“What problem are you brewing up for me now?”
he finally mindspeaks.
“What problem are you brewing up for me now?”
“None,”
I mindspeak.
“What problem could I pose? Your poison runs in my veins. You have dozens who would kill me on your command.”
I mindspeak.
“What problem could I pose? Your poison runs in my veins. You have dozens who would kill me on your command.”
Mowdar stops sharpening, tests the point of one prong with his claw and shakes his head. He changes the angle of the stone and runs it up and down the prong again.
“I wish I felt as secure as you seem to think I am,”
he mindspeaks.
“Your actions trouble me.”
“I wish I felt as secure as you seem to think I am,”
he mindspeaks.
“Your actions trouble me.”
“I’ve done nothing to cause you concern.”
“Nothing?”
Mowdar drops the stone and turns toward me, swinging the trident in an arc that ends with the newly sharpened tips of all three prongs pressed against my neck.
“Why have you spent most of the morning above—in a storm? Why does my daughter come to me to complain that you have chosen to reject her?”
Mowdar drops the stone and turns toward me, swinging the trident in an arc that ends with the newly sharpened tips of all three prongs pressed against my neck.
“Why have you spent most of the morning above—in a storm? Why does my daughter come to me to complain that you have chosen to reject her?”
I pull back to stop the trident’s prongs from boring into my neck’s scales, but Mowdar follows my move, keeps them in place.
“Don’t bother,”
he mindspeaks.
“I can skewer you with one motion and behead you with the next before you can do anything to stop me.”
He pushes the trident against me just a little more.
“Tell me why I should not, Undrae.”
“Don’t bother,”
he mindspeaks.
“I can skewer you with one motion and behead you with the next before you can do anything to stop me.”
He pushes the trident against me just a little more.
“Tell me why I should not, Undrae.”
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