Chapter Ten of a serialized novella
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Frank cleared his throat. “So...want something to eat?”
“What I want is to get out of here, Frank. Is the professor really planning to keep me under guard forever?”
Frank glanced in the hallway. “Don’t see anyone standing guard, man, but who knows? I figure he’s probably too busy wrapping things up, just like Miranda said.”
“I don’t know...I’m not sure about this girl. Are you sure we can trust her?”
Frank shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
I feel like a damned fool sitting here and waiting. I’ve got to see what’s going on!
Oscar hit the floor feet first. “I’ll be back.”
“Where ya going? Are you sure that...”
“Like I said, I’ll be back. I’ve got to check on something.”
Just like I thought. There’s nobody here. Half-eaten trays of food lay scattered across the tables and on the floor, and chairs were shoved away from the table haphazardly as if the occupants had left in a hurry.
He sniffed. Sulfur tinged with saltwater? What happened here? When did it happen? Why didn’t we hear anything?
Did the Kraken return?
Crash!
Oscar froze and stared towards the kitchen. Nothing. Like the rest of the ship – at least to this point – the kitchen was empty. Where the hell did that sound come from then? And what was it?
Just as the smell of sulfur and saltwater began to fade, he saw it.
The professor’s notebook?
Oscar glanced around again. What the hell is going on? Is this a trick?
Using the tail of his shirt, Oscar lifted the book slowly, looking for anything unusual, like a wire, a trap, or some kind of device that would set off an alarm, or maybe even blow him up.
Are you serious? Come on, get a grip, dude...nobody’s trying to trick you or get you to entrap yourself. Grab the thing and get moving.
Who knows if somebody will be running back here to get the book for the professor. Do you really want to be standing here holding the thing when that happens?
When he returned with the book, Frank’s eyes bulged. “What? Did Miranda give that to you? I thought she was going to...”
“I don’t know what happened to Miranda. I got as far as the wardroom and I saw nobody. I think we’re alone on this ship. I don’t know what’s going on, but there’s nobody around, at least that I saw.”
“That can’t be the case...they’re probably on the island. So how did you get the book?”
“Weirdest thing. It was lying there, pretty as you please in the kitchen. Wanna hear something else weird? I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t heard a crash.”
“What was it?”
“Don’t know, really,” said Oscar. “I have my suspicions, but let’s leave it at that. Look, I’ve been thinking...what if the incantation or whatever it is could be used against the Kraken too? That would be useful to know, don’t you think?”
“Don’t know man...if it found out...” Frank shivered. “Let’s just see
what’s in there first.”
“We will...but right now, I really want to know where everyone went. Have we been left behind on purpose...ya know, for a reason?”
“Hmm...okay, but I think it would be smart to find some kind of weapon before we go exploring...you never know what might be out there.”
Oscar nodded. “Agreed. Let’s stop by the professor’s cabin first...he’s probably got some kind of weapon stashed there – that is, unless he didn’t go willingly, but we’ll worry about that later.”
Frank gulped. “Alright...you first...I’ve got your back.”
Oscar raised one eyebrow. “Seriously? Fine, I prefer it that way anyway, let’s go.”
The professor’s cabin was empty; no clothes, no equipment, no scroll canisters...even his computer was gone.
What the hell?
“Looks like we really are the only ones here,” said Frank. “What now?”
“Good question. I don’t think it would do any good to search the rest of the ship. Maybe we should sit down and see if there’s anything we can use in this notebook.”
“The professor must have flunked his penmanship class...some of these words are hard to read.”
“He’s probably using some kind of a secret code that only he understands,” said Frank.
“Maybe.
Oscar frowned. “This might be something useful. Slumber on, don’t be slow, when time’s arrived it’s then you’ll know. Be warned, it’s true, this peaceful rest will not bring down ‘til you’ve won the test.
“What do you think it means?”
“Not sure, but it says something here about a test. A test for who or what? For us? For the god?”
“Maybe we should keep looking.”
“Yeah...that’s what I thought.”
Frank looked over Oscar’s shoulder. “Hey skip to the last page will ya? Looks like the last entry was yesterday. Maybe that’s when he disappeared. But I don’t remember hearing anything, do you?”
Oscar shrugged. “No, but I’ve come to realize that our senses aren’t always reliable. Nothing we can do about it now. Look, all I can see is that one I read to you. We’ve got to know how to do this thing...it can’t be as easy as saying it out loud three times or some other stupid thing.”
“Okay, but what? Find someone who can help? Miranda? I wonder what happened to her?”
“Don’t know...she might have chickened out and took off with the rest, or...”
“I don’t like to think about it, honestly. I just hope she’s okay wherever she’s at.”
“Yeah.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The men looked at each other, then towards the sound. “Something’s out there Frank. Do you see a weapon anywhere? I mean, anything we can use as a weapon?
“No...the professor really cleaned out this place...it’s like he didn’t want a trace of him here at all.”
“Hey...where are you guys?”
The voice was deep, rich and melodic. It reminded Oscar of the sound of his abuela’s wind-chime collection.
As a small boy he’d sit on the front porch of her mobile home, and soak up the symphony surrounding him. He’d watch, spellbound by the movement of the chimes in the breeze, their glass beads sparkling in the sunlight.
Mijo...no matter what you see in this life, remember that nothing happens that doesn’t pass through the hands of the Most High. Even if something is bad, you can count on the Almighty to set things right. Don’t lose faith, Oscar.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway yanked him back to the present. They stopped in front of the cabin door.
“Hey, anybody in there? Don’t mean to startle you...the professor asked me to stop by and see him, but he wasn’t where he said he would be, so I thought I’d see if he was in his cabin. Is he in there?”
Oscar opened the door. “No, he’s not. We don’t know where he is.” He sniffed. Sulfur? Who are you?
“We were looking for him too buddy. Say, what’s your name?”
The man had to stoop to enter the captain’s quarters, adding more bulk to the tiny space.
Oscar frowned. He’s got to be 7 feet tall...this guy’s massive!
“Name’s Rick...I was told the professor had some artifacts he wanted to get off his hands. I’m a broker...I’ve got some wealthy clients who are eager to see what the professor...and his team, which I’m guessing you’re a part of...found.”
“Oh, uh, well, we don’t have a clue where the professor is. We were looking for him ourselves,” said Oscar.
“I see. Well then, you wouldn’t mind giving me a peek at that notebook on the desk there, would you? If it’s an inventory, then I could see if there’s anything in there that my clients would be interested in.”
Oscar picked up the notebook and held it behind his back. “Look, sorry to be rude and everything, but do you have some kind of ID, man?”
Rick smiled and shook his head. “Oscar, Oscar, Oscar.”
Oscar felt the knot in his stomach tighten. “How did you...?”
“I know everyone on this ship. And, I know what you two are really doing here in the professor’s office...and I’ve got to tell you right now, that it’s not a good idea. In fact, I’d say that it would be a bad idea...for you two, the rest of your teammates and ultimately, the world.”
Oscar felt his heart skip a beat. What in the hell is this guy talking about? Who is he and how can he know so much? Is it the Kraken in another disguise?
“Close, Oscar. No, I’m not the Kraken, but if you enjoy the life you have right now, well, aside from your time here on the ship and this expedition and things...you’d do well to listen to me.”
Oscar dropped into the chair. He glanced towards Frank, who appeared frozen in place.
“When you met with the Kraken he gave you a key, didn’t he?”
“You’re not really a broker are you?”
“Answer the question.”
Oscar took a deep breath. “Yes, he gave me a key to open one of the cylinders.”
“Right. And did you give the professor the key?”
“You probably already know the answer...yes, I did. And, if you were going to ask if I told him what the Kraken had told me, yes, I did that too, but he didn’t believe me. In fact, I got locked in my quarters for the trouble.”
The man nodded. “What did he do with the cylinder?”
“I don’t know...I guess he’s got it with him. As you can see, there’s nothing here.”
“Right. Well, here’s what you must do. The professor and the rest of your crew have been placed in, well, let’s call it a temporary hold.
“Once I’ve secured the cylinder, or at least the scroll that was in it, along with that notebook you’re holding onto, they’ll be released, safe and sound.”
Oscar frowned. “Where exactly are they?”
“It’s too complicated to explain. We don’t have time anyway...the clock is ticking. Didn’t the Kraken set a deadline for you?”
“Uh, no, actually...but there was something that I...” Better not say...if you want any chance at getting off this ship and out of this mess alive, better play your cards close to your chest, Oscar.
The man’s eyes began to glow a soft amber.
“You’re not going to win, Kraken. You’ve got no legal rights to this man and you know it. Let him go, now. You’re not going to get what you want...not if I have anything to say about it. Release him now!”
“Oscar. Oscar, are you okay?”
Oscar blinked. He was lying on his back looking up at Frank standing over him, concern on his face. Oscar sat up and looked around the room. There was nobody there but him and Frank.
“Where did the guy go?”
“Huh? What guy are you talking about? Man, you started talking to the wall...I thought you’d gone bat shit, but then you passed out and hit your head on the floor.
“You were out cold for like ten minutes...maybe more. I was wondering if I should leave and go find help, but I got scared, and...well, are you feeling all right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Must have been a dream I guess, but...no, it really happened. Do you remember hearing a loud sound a few minutes after we got to this room?”
“No...I remember us finding the right spell, or whatever it is you called it, and discussing what it would take to use it. Then, you just opened the door and started talking to thin air. I figured it was stress or something. But I’m glad you’re okay now.”
“Come on, let’s get out of here...we’ve got to try to find the scroll the Kraken wanted me to find. I don’t think everyone left the ship...I think they’re being held prisoner.”
“Prisoner? Are you sure you’re okay? Who would hold them prisoner? And where? That’s a lot of people to just lock up. We’d have heard them shouting or some kinda noise or something. Man, this has been a weird day. Hell, what am I talking about? It’s been a weird six months!”
“I don’t have time to explain Frank...I don’t know if I understand it myself, but unless we want to be responsible for blowing up the world – or helping to blow it up – we need to find where the professor put the cylinder with that scroll in it. I don’t think we need the other scrolls, just the one that holds the key to putting Poseidon asleep again.”
“Okay...I don’t understand why the change in plan, but whatever. Lead the way, Oscar. But where do we start?”
“I guess the first thing we should do is search the rest of the ship...from top to bottom. It’ll be faster though if we split up.”
Frank gulped. “Are you sure about that? What if the Kraken decides to return now?”
“What choice do we have? If we don’t get that scroll...look, I’ll tell you later, but believe me when I say that we’re dealing with something else here, Frank.”
The diver slapped Frank on his shoulder. “Come on, we’re wasting time. I’ll go towards the stern, you head towards the bow. If you find anything, pound on the hull, it should echo and I’ll start heading to where you are. Okay?”
Frank nodded, “Okay. It shouldn’t take long right? I mean, it’s not a huge ship after all.”
No, it’s not...that’s why I don’t think we’ll find them here. I’m thinking they’re in an alternate universe or something else equally insane!”
10 chapters in. Why am I just seeing this? Going back to the beginning.