Chapter Ten Conquest of Chimera

Chapter 10

Conquest of Chimera

 

    “I would like to fly,” Kia said as she wrapped her arms around her chest, “But not like this.”

  “That was a nice gesture Kia, but throwing your clothes away was not exactly practical.  She’ll be back soon, but in case she doesn’t I’m going to go find them.”

  “And if she comes back and finds me covered in death again, she’ll think I was lying.”

 “We’ve already lied to her Kia.  We did not tell her we can share our minds when we’re under the water.”

  “Then we’ll tell her when she gets back.”  

  “She already thinks we’re Gods, I will not let her think that. I refuse to worship ‘them’ and I will not let her or her people worship us. We may be different, but we’re not better.”

   “I know but, but maybe ‘they’ are Gods.”

  Kian jerked his head toward her, “There are no Gods, Just God, the God, that’s it.”

   Kia nodded, but Kian could see hurt in her eyes. “Then they are just people, people that let me die in a thunder storm. People that did not tell you, you could bring me back. This place, Earth, Chimera is not heaven after all. It’s just wondrous and beautiful.”

  “Then let that be enough Kia, let this place be our home and its inhabitants whatever they are our people.”

   She smiled as Kian slid up and wrapped his arms around her.

   Two hours passed without sight of Penelope then Kian spotted a dark bump on the middle of the northern horizon, the only part of the sea where water and sky met; clearly, a narrow waterway that cut through the ring of mountainous forest surrounding them.

  “I think it’s a boat!”

  Kia craned her neck to see, “Yes, but is it her? She doesn’t need a boat.”

   “Be ready to fly, naked or not, this wondrous place may not be so wondrous after all.”

  “Think I’ll just duck under the water, if it’s all the same to you. If they are in a boat they probably need a boat.”

 “Penelope did not warn us of any dangers,” Kian mused aloud, “still she may well have her own secrets.”

   “She’s a child Kian, don’t be so cynical.”

 “Not cynical just cautious,” Kian said maneuvering in front Kia as they watched the distance object grow larger and more detailed with every passing second.

  Kia shrank behind Kian as the unmistakable shape of a small sailing ship slid over the horizon.

  “Cargo ship,” Kian hoped aloud. “Huh Penelope’s people must be more human than I imagined. Maybe I should fly out to meet them.”

  “No Kian, let’s not do anything they might mistake for aggression.”

 “Well, keeping my eyes peeled just in case.”

    Kia flashed him a nervous smile. Kian did not notice. Minutes crept by like hours as the slow wind driven vessel weaved its way toward them.  

  Finally, a familiar face popped up right in front of them.

   “I’m so glad you didn’t go exploring without me,” Penelope said sidling up to them as she spoke. I feared I might not be able to find you. The Captain doesn’t like going off course.”

  “Captain,” Kia asked.

 “Yes Captain Marks,” he and my father are friends. “He can be a bit gruff but it’s just because he is all business.”

   “Then you’ve been on his ship, what’s it like,” Kia asked as its shadow swept over them.

  Penelope shook her head, “no, I, we can’t leave the water, not like that anyway, too far away from the surface.” They could see great sadness in her eyes.

  “Then neither will we, he can just toss us something to wear,” Kia said.

  “What,” Penelope said jerking toward Kia, “The Captain would not like that, he went far out of his way to see, uh, to help you. Refusing to board his ship would be very disrespectful. However, I do appreciate your compassion. I can see it in your faces. You are my friends and I yours, so please board the ship for my sake as well as my Father’s.”

  “We had no idea,” Kia said as she took Penelope’s hand, “but I can’t, well I,” She bowed her head looking down as if she could see her unclothed body though the shimmering water, “I really don’t want to leave the water naked.”

  Penelope blushed again and promptly swam back to the vessel. It was only about twenty feet away casting far more than just a shadow over them…

    The ship was a bit squat, about thirty -five feet wide and sixty feet long, with three square-rigged masts, the center mast was the tallest and sported a crow’s nest, looking just like something out of an old pirate movie. Her sails were down but that did not take away from its splendor.

  Its bow was an intricately carved mahogany claw that reached out over the water as though it was forever trying to latch on to something that was always just out of reach. Forking back it garnished the ship’s deck railing with a dark ornate crown of hand carved animal images that they could not readily identify.

   The lower part of the ship was an oaken canvas of delicately hewn trees and clouds, lightning bolts and mountains. It glistened mirror like above gleaming water, evidently thickly lacquered to water- proof it and help it slice easily through the waves. They did not know if they were about board a ship or a piece of fine art.

  Small wonder their refusal to board it would have deeply offended its Captain.    

   So taken by the ships beauty they did not notice the deck hand dropping a tightly bound gray bundle down to Penelope. “Come,” Penelope yelled to them, “I have your clothes, well something to wear until we can do better.”

  Kia tilted her head toward Kian, her eyes darting down.

  “Oh,” he said, rolling his eyes, “Drop’em.”

  Kia nodded yes, as he undid his pants and wriggled out of them, “I really don’t like this.”

  “And you think I did?”

  “No. Thanks again, whoever you are,” he mumbled rolling his eyes skyward.

    Dropping straight down Kia and Kian darted toward Penelope. Moments later, they looked up and saw two seven by seven foot gray squares floating just above them. Each had three neatly cut holes perfectly aligned across the center of the fabric. The center hole the ‘head hole’ was the largest. The other two were obvious arms holes.

   They surfaced slowly and managed to dress themselves without any embarrassing slips.

  Penelope tossed them cords, which they used to snuggly secure their makeshift ponchos around their bodies.

   “No wings holes.” Kia said out of the corner of her mouth, “she didn’t tell them?”

  Kian shrugged and played dumb.

  “Wertch yer haid!” Someone yelled from above just before a bristly ten by ten foot rope-net unfurled down the side of the ship. “Cliam aberd,” a faceless male voice croaked.

  “I kind of like this,” Kian said as swam off toward shaggy hemp ladder.

  Kia and Penelope giggled as they watched him struggle up the springy net while keeping his back -side covered.  

   Penelope’s laughter soon faded as she watched Kia make her way up the side of the ship. Kia looked down to see the precious creature gently grasp the net’s lowest rung as though it were made of gold. The longing Kia saw in the mermaid’s eyes brought tears to hers.

   “She wants to follow us,” Kia said looking down at Penelope failing to notice Kian was not alone.

 “Aye,” a man’s voice growled, “tis a shame.”

   Kia looked up and gasped. A seven- foot tall lion towered over her; at least that was her first impression. Slack jawed and saucer eyed she stared at him as though she were a child. It stared right back.

   Long golden fur masked most of his snouted face. Black dog like nostrils belied the intelligence in his eyes, which were perfectly human and hypnotically blue. In fact, the blue seemed to swirl in the bright sea glare, while his fiery red mane flapped wildly in the stiff breeze like a crimson flag. Yet he stood proud and erect in his bright blue and yellow trimmed uniform as any self-possessed human sea Captain.

   His hands though neatly gloved in more golden fur were otherwise human. That is, until he unclenched his right fist and just for a moment black needle tipped claws sprang from his fingertips with switch -blade suddenness then eased back up into his flesh, perfectly hidden once again.  

   No boots covered his feet, which though long and human shaped were fur cloaked as well. She was also quite certain each of his fur-tufted toes hid their own nasty little blades.    

   “Are ye not cold me darlin’, such a tender lass in such a harsh blast,” His voice was suddenly smooth and sweet as molasses.  

   Kian smirked then quickly covered his mouth. “Ah how is you speak, ah, uh such fluent English?”

  The Captain quickly turned on Kian, “Do I hear jest in your voice wee naked beastie?” He cocked his great shaggy head then slapped Kian’s wet shoulder then offered him a wide fang fringed grin, “tis aw right lad, just havin’ a bit o’ fun.” He suddenly squinted leaning in close to Kian as if  trying see though the glare of a setting sun, “And just what are the two aw’ you, might I ask? I do long for the newness o’ things I‘ve never seen. School me, show me sumthin’ new, twill be ye price o’ passage. Make it good and I’ll throw in soft and proper garb for the both o’ ya’.”

  They exchanged shrugs. “Sounds fair,” Kian said as he began to explain their predicament to their new toothy host, all the while feeling like he went to sleep and woke up in a cartoon.