Disclaimer: Do not drink alcoholic beverages or use hallucinatory Chemical while reading this chapter. 
Poor Boy Makes out: Chapter Five - The Sea of Enchantment
After 6 days and nights in Greece, we were all glad to get back out to sea. We had pulled in there planning a 2 day stop but we ran into a little trouble getting all the provisions we needed. It wasn't too bad, the food was good and the night life was all the fun we could stand. Whew, those Greeks do know how to party! Now that we were back on the water we all relaxed and fell back into our routines.
It had been 3 months since we left Florida the last time and the shock and mental trauma of the events that took place were slowly beginning to fade and the general mood was growing lighter and lighter every day. Now we were focused on the incredible Mediteranian Sea. The gorgeous waters and the spectacular small island chains with their unusual shaped formations were breath-taking.
The 3rd night out of Greece, Billy and Molly and I were up on the forward sundeck and Rick was serenading us, actually it appeard that he was serenading Molly but Billy and I were enjoying the mellow sounds of Ricks voice and guitar, when Captain Jim came up and said that he was getting some stranged activity on the weather radar. Also that the satelite phones were all dead and none of our long range communications equipment was working. In fact, all our electronic equipment was acting hay-wire.
Billy, James, Darrell, Rick, Jim, Molly and I all met on the bridge and we all witnessed first hand what Jim had described. James posed the question if it might be related to some sort of weather annomaly. Well, no one had any opinion on that. The weather outside was currently very pleasent and mild. It was, however the middle of october and weather patterns could get strange in this region at this time of year.
We tried to contact some land-based facility for weather updates but we could get no response on any of our Comm equipment. James went below to research some of the weather pattern information for the past 2 years for this area to see if anything popped up and said "howdy". While he was doing that Darrell and Molly went down to the galley to whip up some nachos and a pitcher of margaritas.
Rick volunteered to set up the down riggers for a little trolling so Billy and I followed him back to the aft fishing deck. Rick selected a couple of likely looking plugs and dropped 'em and set up with 2 of the fantastic BillyStiX custom spiral wrapped rods. We still liked to think back on those two large sailfish we caught last summer. Those had truely been spectacular fish.
After an hour or so of trolling and no action Jim suggested we go to a wreck that was near by and drop a couple of baits. That sounded great to us so we rigged for the bottom while Jim put over and headed for the wreck. When we got there Jim informed us that we were in fairly shallow water, about 1400 feet and that he was painting fish....BIIIIG fish. Billy and I looked at each other and in unison we both said, " 'hunnert bucks?" and then in unison we both said, "Gotcha covered!" It had gotten to be a ritual. Every time we fished lately we always had a little side bet. Nothing serious but a little something to add to the excitement. We didn't keep score and no one ever paid off on the bet. It was just a routine we went through, it gave us both a laugh.
We were fishing with cut bait that we had caught that morning and the action started for both of us on the first drop. At the same moment we both had hits and they were both very heavy and very strong. We quickly got control of our fish, turning them toward us and preventing them from pulling us back down into the wreck. After we had them up a couple of hundred feet we backed off some on the drags and let them cut up a little. Billy seemed to have a bigger fish than I and we agreed that I'd go on and get mine up to the boat and release it and by that time his fish might be ready to come in.
It was in the next moment that our whole world was turned upside down. We were both so engrossed in fighting our fish that neither of us had noticed the changes that had suddenly occurred in the night sky and in the water. Rick had gone below to get some more bait, Jim was in the wheelhouse. James was still in the library, and Darrell and Molly were still working on our snacks and drinks. I felt the boat make a funny kind of side-swoop and looked up and when I saw the sky and the water I was paralyzed with fear. The kind of fear that stops your heart and your breath and bugs your eyes out and drops your jaw. The water was swirling like a flushing toilet and the sky was a dull greenish yellow but there was some kind of light source behind it causing it to look like huge flourescent lights behind a giant bruise. The sky began to swirl in the opposite direction of the water. Different colored lights danced behind the swirling sky.
The boat was amazingly still. We were just hanging right on the edge of the center of the swirl and it seemed we were held in place by some unseen force. Darrell and Molly came up topside with the snacks and I heard Molly scream in terror. They dropped thier trays and ran up to us and wanted to know what the heck was going on. It was then that Billy and I realized that we were still holding our rods and the our fish were still on. The fish were still on but the fight was now very different. They didn't feel like they were trying to get free any longer. We looked out and saw both fish come up to the surface...only... they weren't fish. We could NOT believe what we were seeing, it was insane, it just wasn't possible. Noooo Noooo.
Every one came back to the aft fishing deck and we all saw it but we just could not accept it. We all exchanged glances but no one wanted to name what we were all seeing. To name it would be to make it real. Maybe if we closed our eyes and remained silent it would not materialize and not be real after all. But, Oh BABY, it was real alright. The creatures just seemed to hover just at the waters surface with their upper bodies exposed and their lower bodies beneath the water. They were looking right at us. My head began to spin and I felt like I could hear some one speaking to me. Only it wasn't sound, I wasn't hearing anything, I was sensing it mentally somehow.
The next thing that happened was that I went flying over the hand rail and, still holding onto my rod, I was being pulled thorugh the air right toward the creature on the end of my line. As I was tumbling I notice that Billy was having a similar moment. He too was holding on to his rod for dear life and he too was being pulled, inexorably through the air, toward the creature on the end of his line.
Now we are in the clutches of Soft hands, firm with out being forceful. The first thing I thought was that we would be drowned...if we weren't eaten first, that was. To my surpise I realize that I was breathing! I looked over at Billy and he looked back at me and just shrugged his shoulder. as if to say, "I dunno man, I just don't know!" I was trying to get my mind around that when I was startled to "hear" a soft feminine voice in my head..."Welcome to the Sea pf Enchantment." I strained my eyes so see better and the creature moved up close to me.
Above the waist it was a woman, below the waist it was a fish. Okay, I tell myself, that's the end of late night snacking for me! I know this can't be real! But then she reached out her hand and caressed my face. I looked again and she was beautiful. Her beauty hurt my heart.
She gave me her eyes and for a moment I was hypnotized, lost in the deep blue orbs that held me captive. Her eyes weren't human looking at all, They were like solid blue marbles, no iris, no whites. She grinned at me and asked me if the cat had my tongue. No, I thought back at her, I'm affraid it's a little more serious than that. Her lovely smile broadened and she said that she had something that she wanted to show me. She gently pulled me by the hand and I offered no resistance. I looked to my left and I could see that Billy was being taken by his new "friend" in the same direction as I.
We passed through beautiful rock formations and plant life. Brilliantly colored fish swam all around us and seemed curious about us. I had never seen any fish that looke like these. They were all different shapes, sizes and colors. We finally came to place where the water was a brilliiant light blue.
The water around us was completely devoid of any other objetcs, no life forms of any kind and no rocks or any other objects at all. Just Billy and me and our new-found friends. Our hands were released and we were side-by-side and the creatures turned and faced us.
Billy and I began firing questions at them with our minds: How come we can breathe, Where are we, What are you, and one that I was particularly interested in getting an answer to, are we going to die? They just smiled and their long, golden hair billowed around them and danced gracefully in the moving current. They didn't exactly look alike but they both had sky-blue eyes and they both had long blond hair and the both had cute little turned up noses. They told us that they were sisters and that their names were Sahree and Elera.
They claimed to be the daughters of Marzatt, the god of the sea, and Chelestra, an enchanted dolphin. When we asked them how old they were they seemed confused Sahree, the one that had brought me here, said that they were ancient and that was all she knew.
I asked her why we had been brought here and Elera told us that sailors and seamen were often brought the Sea of Enchanatment to show them the magic and the wonders that were there. After a brief time here we would be returned to our boat and that we would always remember the events that had occurred. But that we must never tell any one or we would lose all memory of this time and these events. I couldn't help it, I laughed in their faces. I said well, what happens now do we get three wishes, or what? Sahree said that I'd been watching too many Saturday morning cartoons. I wondered how she could know about Saturday morning cartoons....don't tell me y'all have TV down here! She just gave me a knowing grin.
Billy said that he wanted a wish! He said he resented being dragged off his boat and pulled under the water, and having the bejabbers scared out of him, and he wanted a dad burn wish for his trouble. Elera gave him a stern look and said that we must first see what we had been brought here to see.
Then they began to do a sort of swimming dance. It was very graceful and they were beautiful as they swam in, through, and around each others wakes. Mysterious vision appeared and disappeared as they made their graceful arm and hand movements. They arched their backs and swam in spiraling motions up and down and round and round us. We didn't know the meaning of the water ballet we were witnessing but it was magnificent.
When they came back in front of us they said that it was not the custom but that we would each be given a kiss and one wish. After that we would be safely returned to the surface of the water near our boat. Before we could ask any questions we were each given a feather-light brush of soft pink lip against ours and then I sensed a probing in my mind. My deepest desires were being read. I could tell by the look on Billy's face that the same thing was happening to him.
A moment later we were on the surface of the water and the lovely creatures were nowhere to be seen. The skies and water had returned to normal and Jim and Rick were yelling at us. They threw us each a life preserver and we were taken aboard with out further incident. We were given towels and cups of hot coffee with a good measure of "Irish" for speedy internal warming. Molly was flabberghasted and wanted to know why we had not been buckled into our fighting chairs. I was confused for a moment and then it dawned on me...they think we were pulled into the water by the fish we were fighting! Billy must have snapped to it also because we both just started blustering and harumphing and mumbling something about doing better next time.
We had lost our rods but I don't think we were too bothered by that. Billy could easily make us a couple of new ones. We were eager to get off by ourselves and talk about what had happened to us. But it didn't look like that was going to happen any time soon. Every one was hovering over us and making a big fuss. I think Billy brought the moment to it's timely conclusion by jumping up and hollering at Darrell about what we were going to have for dinner. "Nearly getting drowned is hungy work, Padnuh! I need to get around a good thick steak and a big ole baked tater all dressed up for Sunday dinner!"
Darrell, seeing the serious look on Billys face gave a quick salute and snappy "comin' righ up, boss" and headed back down to the galley. He stopped and turned and yelled at me. "What about you, you old buzzard, the same do for you?" I just laughed and told him that I wanted the same and that I wanted my steak rare. Just cripple it shave it and toss it on a platter for me. And when I stick a fork in it I better hear a big MOOOO!". He laughed and said that he was sure glad to have us back, he was scared that we were lost and gone. As he turned back toward the galley I do believe I saw a tear in his eye....That Darrell..............
After a good dinner and a few rounds of rum punch every one headed off to their bunks. Billy and I stayed behind and when the others were gone we went up on the main sun deck. "Grab that bottle of Capt'n Morgan will ya Billy", I shouted. "Good idea", he called back and soon we were sitting under a canopy of stars and passing the bottle back and forth between us.
No one spoke for a while. I guess it's kinda hard to start a conversation like the one we were about to have. Billy broke the ice, What the blue-duces happened out there tonight?!? I just don't trust my mind any more. This is not a Disney movie this is real life and stuff like this just does NOT happen. I thought for a minute and couldn't think of a sensible reply. Eventually I said that I didn't know what to make of it myself. We agreed that it must have been real because it happened to us both. "Did you see how beautiful they were?" "Yeah, I sure did! I'm old but I'm not blind!" I said. "Why didn't we drown?" I asked. He could only shrug his shoulders.
"Awright, we gotta talk about the wish thing", I said. "Do you think there was anything to all that nonsense? I never even got to tell what I was wishing for", said Billy. "Neither did I but I did feel something like my mind being probed. Like they knew right were to go to find my wish...very weird", I said.
Billy wanted to know what I was gonna wish for and I told him that I'd tell him after he told me what he was gonna wish for. We smiled at each other and I told him to pass the Morgan. I Sipped a little rum and thought deeply about my wish. The truth of it was that I wasn't sure myself exactly what I would have wished for. Of course, what I was always wishing for was more fishng, better fishing, and better fishing skills. Not that I was no good at fishing or anything but most people who fish always want more and better, right? Right!!
Billy suddenly blurts out that he wants more fish! I laughed out loud and passed him the bottle. You better take a nice looong pull on the good capt'n there. You will not believe this! I told him that my wish had been identical to his. We speculated that we might have wished for a more serious blessing than just more fish. I pondered that a bit and then said "Why? We are both multi millionaires. We are in excellent health, we have loving families and friends. Neither of us could possibly live long enough to spend all our money. We can buy what ever we want. So what's the one thing we love that money can't buy?" Billy's eyes got huge and he grinned real big and we said MORE FISH in unison. He laughed and said that sometimes we sounded like a stereo.
Eventually the bottle went dry, as bottles will do, and we decided to turn in and see what all this looked like in the light of day, tommow. When we woke up and went to the galley the smell of biscuits and gravy and bacon and eggs and hot, fresh coffee assailed our olefactory senses before we even set foot in the room. Jim was already eating and he was very animated.
We couldn't get him to slow down and tell us what he was so excited about. Rick bagan to laugh and said that his instruments had been painting fish all morning. Not just the reefs or the wrecks that normally hold fish, but out in open water with nothing around to attrack bait fish or anything. Billy and I just looked at each other and smiled silently. They all saw the exchange and wanted to know what was going on. Oh, nothing I smiled and tried to look innocent. We just feel lucky today that's all. As I winked at Billy I started to rub my eye and said that I thought I had something in my eye. Billy rolled his eyes and said he'd meet me topside.
Jim asked us what we wanted to do. Billy told him to just kill the engine and let's drift awhile. Jim said that that should work because we haven't been out of the fish since sun-up. I put out a flat line with a live baitfish and Billy was throwing a huge swimming plug. Each of us hooked up on the first cast. More winking and grinning. Not much talking though, were were pretty busy. Those BillyStix spiral wrapped rods were awesome none of those fish had any chance what-so-ever.
We caught fish every cast...all morning long. Darrell came up to announce lunch and was amazed at the action. "Man, you fellers must live charmed lives or something!". I had to turn my face away to keep him from seeing the laughter in my eyes. Billy gave him a wink and told him that some folks have it and some don't. "Well", Darrell said, "y'all sure got it today, looks like!" He walked away shaking his head in amazement and mumbling something about he wished he could fish that good.
With all our electronics restored to good order we decided to cruise around the Mediterainian for another couple of weeks or so and then ease on back to Florida for the holidays. Our luck with the fish continued to hold and we actually began to believe that it was not our imagination after all. Maybe we were actually given the magic wish. It still seemed fantastic but how else could we account for our luck.
We pulled in to our home port on the Florida coast 10 days before Thanksgiving. We decided to spend the holidays in Texas with our TTMB family so we left instruction for the boat with the marina manager and told him that we'd see him about the 2nd week in January. We hopped a Houston bound 747 and for the duration of the flight we thought about seeing all our friends and families again and all the wonderful food we'd have. A few members of our fishin' club had made arrangements at a local facility to have us a huge party and all the entire gang were planning on being there for the festivities and the big reunion.
After we had been settled in at our house in Freeport for a few days I began to wonder about our old friend Josh Johnson. I wondered if he was still on the loose of if he was currently residing in a branch of the Grey-Bar Hotel somewhere. I decided to give the Houston office of the FBI a call and inquire into the situation. I was not prepared for the story I heard.
Appearantly he must have made it to the highway soon after his last escape. The authorities believe that he was struck by a moving vehicle and left for dead. He was found early the next morning by a passing motorist and was rushed to the hospital.
He had sustained multiple lacerations and bruises but the only serious injury was to his head. He had a severe concussion and he was suffering from amnesia and had no idea who he was or how he came to be where he was found. His injuries had all long since healed but he still had no memory of who he was. He was identified by eye witnesses and by police mug shots. He was told who he was and what all he'd done. He expressed deep sorrow and said that he felt compelled to appologize to this Molly person and her friends for all the trouble he had caused.
He asked for a minister come to see him so he could some how atone for his sins. A minister arrived and they had long deep talks way into the night, every night for weeks. Josh found Jesus and was trying to straighten up his life. He went to stay with the minister and his wife and he seemed like such a charming young man and had obviously been through so much that the minister and his wife felt sorry for him and began to love him as their own son. Josh had gotten a job at a machine shop in town and things were working out well. The police kept tabs on him and were surprised that he was doing so well.
One day just after Josh got home from work a police car pulled up and the passenger-side door came open and a large black dog came bounding out of the car and made a B-line for Josh as he came out into the yard to see the officers. "Baxter! Oh, Baxter! Where you been fella?" The minister came running out and asked Josh if he remembered the dog. Josh looked up with surprise all over his face. He said, "I do, I DO remember him. This is my dog!" The cops stayed for coffee and when the tried to leave Josh kept shaking their hands and thanking them. When they finally made it to the car, the driver looked over at his partner and said, "Nice kid. Sure hope things work out for him." "yeah, me too", said the partner.
The FBI agent went on to tell me about how over the next couple of months Josh's memory slowly came back to him. "Now", said the agent, "he has his full memory back and every thing. He is sorry for all the Wayne Butler business and wants to make amends. I asked him for the ministers phone number, I wanted to just see about this.
I called and the ministers wife answered the phone. I identified myself and she knew who I was immediately. She told me that Josh was a fine young man and that he was determined to make things right with me and Billy and Molly, especially Molly. I told her I'd have a talk with them and see how they felt.
After I explained Josh's situation Billy was still reluctant to trust him. Molly on the other hand decided to give him a chance. She was a very kind hearted girl and believed that every one deserved a second chance. We called and arranged to come out to the ministers house to see him. That way he'd be in his own enviornment and less likely to get upset or frightened.
We pulled up in front of the house and Josh came outside. We all just stood around awkardly and then Baxter came up and started licking Molly's hand. She petted him on the head and talked softly to him and his tail was just a waggin'. He came to each of us and licked our hands and let us pet him. When he got to me he dropped his head and smelled my shoes. A stern word of warning from Josh and he straightened right up.
We met with Josh several times through out the holidays and decided to invite him and Baxter to the big party Mont and the TTMBers were throwin' in our honor, New Years Eve. The party was a huge success and every one was glad to see Josh and Baxter again. Billy and I talked it over and decided to offer him a job aboard the Spiral Dreamer, He greatfully accepted and thanked us and promised us that he wouldn't let us down.
The rest of the holidays past with out event and when we set sail on January 9th we had a special ceremony for Josh on the aft fishing deck. We had been watching him around Molly and he was always respectful and polite, even shy. Molly would tease him and try to get him to loosen up but he was still shy and ashamed of his previous behavior. We all told him we had forgiven him but it will take him some time to relax and rejoin us completely.
Billy had made Josh 3 brand new Custom Crafted, BillyStiX Spiral Wrapped Rods, for different fishing situations and when he made the presentation Josh teared up and said how much he loves us all and how thankful he was to have been given a second chance. Billy put his arm around Josh and said come on boy, lets get you to fishin'. You got some catchin' up to do in the fishin' department.
To be continued.....
*Note: tomorrows Chapter is the last chapter. Some action and maybe a little sadness. Alcoholic beverages and hallucinatory chemicals will be permitted while reading this'n.
Poor Boy Makes out: Chapter Five - The Sea of Enchantment
After 6 days and nights in Greece, we were all glad to get back out to sea. We had pulled in there planning a 2 day stop but we ran into a little trouble getting all the provisions we needed. It wasn't too bad, the food was good and the night life was all the fun we could stand. Whew, those Greeks do know how to party! Now that we were back on the water we all relaxed and fell back into our routines.
It had been 3 months since we left Florida the last time and the shock and mental trauma of the events that took place were slowly beginning to fade and the general mood was growing lighter and lighter every day. Now we were focused on the incredible Mediteranian Sea. The gorgeous waters and the spectacular small island chains with their unusual shaped formations were breath-taking.
The 3rd night out of Greece, Billy and Molly and I were up on the forward sundeck and Rick was serenading us, actually it appeard that he was serenading Molly but Billy and I were enjoying the mellow sounds of Ricks voice and guitar, when Captain Jim came up and said that he was getting some stranged activity on the weather radar. Also that the satelite phones were all dead and none of our long range communications equipment was working. In fact, all our electronic equipment was acting hay-wire.
Billy, James, Darrell, Rick, Jim, Molly and I all met on the bridge and we all witnessed first hand what Jim had described. James posed the question if it might be related to some sort of weather annomaly. Well, no one had any opinion on that. The weather outside was currently very pleasent and mild. It was, however the middle of october and weather patterns could get strange in this region at this time of year.
We tried to contact some land-based facility for weather updates but we could get no response on any of our Comm equipment. James went below to research some of the weather pattern information for the past 2 years for this area to see if anything popped up and said "howdy". While he was doing that Darrell and Molly went down to the galley to whip up some nachos and a pitcher of margaritas.
Rick volunteered to set up the down riggers for a little trolling so Billy and I followed him back to the aft fishing deck. Rick selected a couple of likely looking plugs and dropped 'em and set up with 2 of the fantastic BillyStiX custom spiral wrapped rods. We still liked to think back on those two large sailfish we caught last summer. Those had truely been spectacular fish.
After an hour or so of trolling and no action Jim suggested we go to a wreck that was near by and drop a couple of baits. That sounded great to us so we rigged for the bottom while Jim put over and headed for the wreck. When we got there Jim informed us that we were in fairly shallow water, about 1400 feet and that he was painting fish....BIIIIG fish. Billy and I looked at each other and in unison we both said, " 'hunnert bucks?" and then in unison we both said, "Gotcha covered!" It had gotten to be a ritual. Every time we fished lately we always had a little side bet. Nothing serious but a little something to add to the excitement. We didn't keep score and no one ever paid off on the bet. It was just a routine we went through, it gave us both a laugh.
We were fishing with cut bait that we had caught that morning and the action started for both of us on the first drop. At the same moment we both had hits and they were both very heavy and very strong. We quickly got control of our fish, turning them toward us and preventing them from pulling us back down into the wreck. After we had them up a couple of hundred feet we backed off some on the drags and let them cut up a little. Billy seemed to have a bigger fish than I and we agreed that I'd go on and get mine up to the boat and release it and by that time his fish might be ready to come in.
It was in the next moment that our whole world was turned upside down. We were both so engrossed in fighting our fish that neither of us had noticed the changes that had suddenly occurred in the night sky and in the water. Rick had gone below to get some more bait, Jim was in the wheelhouse. James was still in the library, and Darrell and Molly were still working on our snacks and drinks. I felt the boat make a funny kind of side-swoop and looked up and when I saw the sky and the water I was paralyzed with fear. The kind of fear that stops your heart and your breath and bugs your eyes out and drops your jaw. The water was swirling like a flushing toilet and the sky was a dull greenish yellow but there was some kind of light source behind it causing it to look like huge flourescent lights behind a giant bruise. The sky began to swirl in the opposite direction of the water. Different colored lights danced behind the swirling sky.
The boat was amazingly still. We were just hanging right on the edge of the center of the swirl and it seemed we were held in place by some unseen force. Darrell and Molly came up topside with the snacks and I heard Molly scream in terror. They dropped thier trays and ran up to us and wanted to know what the heck was going on. It was then that Billy and I realized that we were still holding our rods and the our fish were still on. The fish were still on but the fight was now very different. They didn't feel like they were trying to get free any longer. We looked out and saw both fish come up to the surface...only... they weren't fish. We could NOT believe what we were seeing, it was insane, it just wasn't possible. Noooo Noooo.
Every one came back to the aft fishing deck and we all saw it but we just could not accept it. We all exchanged glances but no one wanted to name what we were all seeing. To name it would be to make it real. Maybe if we closed our eyes and remained silent it would not materialize and not be real after all. But, Oh BABY, it was real alright. The creatures just seemed to hover just at the waters surface with their upper bodies exposed and their lower bodies beneath the water. They were looking right at us. My head began to spin and I felt like I could hear some one speaking to me. Only it wasn't sound, I wasn't hearing anything, I was sensing it mentally somehow.
The next thing that happened was that I went flying over the hand rail and, still holding onto my rod, I was being pulled thorugh the air right toward the creature on the end of my line. As I was tumbling I notice that Billy was having a similar moment. He too was holding on to his rod for dear life and he too was being pulled, inexorably through the air, toward the creature on the end of his line.
Now we are in the clutches of Soft hands, firm with out being forceful. The first thing I thought was that we would be drowned...if we weren't eaten first, that was. To my surpise I realize that I was breathing! I looked over at Billy and he looked back at me and just shrugged his shoulder. as if to say, "I dunno man, I just don't know!" I was trying to get my mind around that when I was startled to "hear" a soft feminine voice in my head..."Welcome to the Sea pf Enchantment." I strained my eyes so see better and the creature moved up close to me.
Above the waist it was a woman, below the waist it was a fish. Okay, I tell myself, that's the end of late night snacking for me! I know this can't be real! But then she reached out her hand and caressed my face. I looked again and she was beautiful. Her beauty hurt my heart.
She gave me her eyes and for a moment I was hypnotized, lost in the deep blue orbs that held me captive. Her eyes weren't human looking at all, They were like solid blue marbles, no iris, no whites. She grinned at me and asked me if the cat had my tongue. No, I thought back at her, I'm affraid it's a little more serious than that. Her lovely smile broadened and she said that she had something that she wanted to show me. She gently pulled me by the hand and I offered no resistance. I looked to my left and I could see that Billy was being taken by his new "friend" in the same direction as I.
We passed through beautiful rock formations and plant life. Brilliantly colored fish swam all around us and seemed curious about us. I had never seen any fish that looke like these. They were all different shapes, sizes and colors. We finally came to place where the water was a brilliiant light blue.
The water around us was completely devoid of any other objetcs, no life forms of any kind and no rocks or any other objects at all. Just Billy and me and our new-found friends. Our hands were released and we were side-by-side and the creatures turned and faced us.
Billy and I began firing questions at them with our minds: How come we can breathe, Where are we, What are you, and one that I was particularly interested in getting an answer to, are we going to die? They just smiled and their long, golden hair billowed around them and danced gracefully in the moving current. They didn't exactly look alike but they both had sky-blue eyes and they both had long blond hair and the both had cute little turned up noses. They told us that they were sisters and that their names were Sahree and Elera.
They claimed to be the daughters of Marzatt, the god of the sea, and Chelestra, an enchanted dolphin. When we asked them how old they were they seemed confused Sahree, the one that had brought me here, said that they were ancient and that was all she knew.
I asked her why we had been brought here and Elera told us that sailors and seamen were often brought the Sea of Enchanatment to show them the magic and the wonders that were there. After a brief time here we would be returned to our boat and that we would always remember the events that had occurred. But that we must never tell any one or we would lose all memory of this time and these events. I couldn't help it, I laughed in their faces. I said well, what happens now do we get three wishes, or what? Sahree said that I'd been watching too many Saturday morning cartoons. I wondered how she could know about Saturday morning cartoons....don't tell me y'all have TV down here! She just gave me a knowing grin.
Billy said that he wanted a wish! He said he resented being dragged off his boat and pulled under the water, and having the bejabbers scared out of him, and he wanted a dad burn wish for his trouble. Elera gave him a stern look and said that we must first see what we had been brought here to see.
Then they began to do a sort of swimming dance. It was very graceful and they were beautiful as they swam in, through, and around each others wakes. Mysterious vision appeared and disappeared as they made their graceful arm and hand movements. They arched their backs and swam in spiraling motions up and down and round and round us. We didn't know the meaning of the water ballet we were witnessing but it was magnificent.
When they came back in front of us they said that it was not the custom but that we would each be given a kiss and one wish. After that we would be safely returned to the surface of the water near our boat. Before we could ask any questions we were each given a feather-light brush of soft pink lip against ours and then I sensed a probing in my mind. My deepest desires were being read. I could tell by the look on Billy's face that the same thing was happening to him.
A moment later we were on the surface of the water and the lovely creatures were nowhere to be seen. The skies and water had returned to normal and Jim and Rick were yelling at us. They threw us each a life preserver and we were taken aboard with out further incident. We were given towels and cups of hot coffee with a good measure of "Irish" for speedy internal warming. Molly was flabberghasted and wanted to know why we had not been buckled into our fighting chairs. I was confused for a moment and then it dawned on me...they think we were pulled into the water by the fish we were fighting! Billy must have snapped to it also because we both just started blustering and harumphing and mumbling something about doing better next time.
We had lost our rods but I don't think we were too bothered by that. Billy could easily make us a couple of new ones. We were eager to get off by ourselves and talk about what had happened to us. But it didn't look like that was going to happen any time soon. Every one was hovering over us and making a big fuss. I think Billy brought the moment to it's timely conclusion by jumping up and hollering at Darrell about what we were going to have for dinner. "Nearly getting drowned is hungy work, Padnuh! I need to get around a good thick steak and a big ole baked tater all dressed up for Sunday dinner!"
Darrell, seeing the serious look on Billys face gave a quick salute and snappy "comin' righ up, boss" and headed back down to the galley. He stopped and turned and yelled at me. "What about you, you old buzzard, the same do for you?" I just laughed and told him that I wanted the same and that I wanted my steak rare. Just cripple it shave it and toss it on a platter for me. And when I stick a fork in it I better hear a big MOOOO!". He laughed and said that he was sure glad to have us back, he was scared that we were lost and gone. As he turned back toward the galley I do believe I saw a tear in his eye....That Darrell..............
After a good dinner and a few rounds of rum punch every one headed off to their bunks. Billy and I stayed behind and when the others were gone we went up on the main sun deck. "Grab that bottle of Capt'n Morgan will ya Billy", I shouted. "Good idea", he called back and soon we were sitting under a canopy of stars and passing the bottle back and forth between us.
No one spoke for a while. I guess it's kinda hard to start a conversation like the one we were about to have. Billy broke the ice, What the blue-duces happened out there tonight?!? I just don't trust my mind any more. This is not a Disney movie this is real life and stuff like this just does NOT happen. I thought for a minute and couldn't think of a sensible reply. Eventually I said that I didn't know what to make of it myself. We agreed that it must have been real because it happened to us both. "Did you see how beautiful they were?" "Yeah, I sure did! I'm old but I'm not blind!" I said. "Why didn't we drown?" I asked. He could only shrug his shoulders.
"Awright, we gotta talk about the wish thing", I said. "Do you think there was anything to all that nonsense? I never even got to tell what I was wishing for", said Billy. "Neither did I but I did feel something like my mind being probed. Like they knew right were to go to find my wish...very weird", I said.
Billy wanted to know what I was gonna wish for and I told him that I'd tell him after he told me what he was gonna wish for. We smiled at each other and I told him to pass the Morgan. I Sipped a little rum and thought deeply about my wish. The truth of it was that I wasn't sure myself exactly what I would have wished for. Of course, what I was always wishing for was more fishng, better fishing, and better fishing skills. Not that I was no good at fishing or anything but most people who fish always want more and better, right? Right!!
Billy suddenly blurts out that he wants more fish! I laughed out loud and passed him the bottle. You better take a nice looong pull on the good capt'n there. You will not believe this! I told him that my wish had been identical to his. We speculated that we might have wished for a more serious blessing than just more fish. I pondered that a bit and then said "Why? We are both multi millionaires. We are in excellent health, we have loving families and friends. Neither of us could possibly live long enough to spend all our money. We can buy what ever we want. So what's the one thing we love that money can't buy?" Billy's eyes got huge and he grinned real big and we said MORE FISH in unison. He laughed and said that sometimes we sounded like a stereo.
Eventually the bottle went dry, as bottles will do, and we decided to turn in and see what all this looked like in the light of day, tommow. When we woke up and went to the galley the smell of biscuits and gravy and bacon and eggs and hot, fresh coffee assailed our olefactory senses before we even set foot in the room. Jim was already eating and he was very animated.
We couldn't get him to slow down and tell us what he was so excited about. Rick bagan to laugh and said that his instruments had been painting fish all morning. Not just the reefs or the wrecks that normally hold fish, but out in open water with nothing around to attrack bait fish or anything. Billy and I just looked at each other and smiled silently. They all saw the exchange and wanted to know what was going on. Oh, nothing I smiled and tried to look innocent. We just feel lucky today that's all. As I winked at Billy I started to rub my eye and said that I thought I had something in my eye. Billy rolled his eyes and said he'd meet me topside.
Jim asked us what we wanted to do. Billy told him to just kill the engine and let's drift awhile. Jim said that that should work because we haven't been out of the fish since sun-up. I put out a flat line with a live baitfish and Billy was throwing a huge swimming plug. Each of us hooked up on the first cast. More winking and grinning. Not much talking though, were were pretty busy. Those BillyStix spiral wrapped rods were awesome none of those fish had any chance what-so-ever.
We caught fish every cast...all morning long. Darrell came up to announce lunch and was amazed at the action. "Man, you fellers must live charmed lives or something!". I had to turn my face away to keep him from seeing the laughter in my eyes. Billy gave him a wink and told him that some folks have it and some don't. "Well", Darrell said, "y'all sure got it today, looks like!" He walked away shaking his head in amazement and mumbling something about he wished he could fish that good.
With all our electronics restored to good order we decided to cruise around the Mediterainian for another couple of weeks or so and then ease on back to Florida for the holidays. Our luck with the fish continued to hold and we actually began to believe that it was not our imagination after all. Maybe we were actually given the magic wish. It still seemed fantastic but how else could we account for our luck.
We pulled in to our home port on the Florida coast 10 days before Thanksgiving. We decided to spend the holidays in Texas with our TTMB family so we left instruction for the boat with the marina manager and told him that we'd see him about the 2nd week in January. We hopped a Houston bound 747 and for the duration of the flight we thought about seeing all our friends and families again and all the wonderful food we'd have. A few members of our fishin' club had made arrangements at a local facility to have us a huge party and all the entire gang were planning on being there for the festivities and the big reunion.
After we had been settled in at our house in Freeport for a few days I began to wonder about our old friend Josh Johnson. I wondered if he was still on the loose of if he was currently residing in a branch of the Grey-Bar Hotel somewhere. I decided to give the Houston office of the FBI a call and inquire into the situation. I was not prepared for the story I heard.
Appearantly he must have made it to the highway soon after his last escape. The authorities believe that he was struck by a moving vehicle and left for dead. He was found early the next morning by a passing motorist and was rushed to the hospital.
He had sustained multiple lacerations and bruises but the only serious injury was to his head. He had a severe concussion and he was suffering from amnesia and had no idea who he was or how he came to be where he was found. His injuries had all long since healed but he still had no memory of who he was. He was identified by eye witnesses and by police mug shots. He was told who he was and what all he'd done. He expressed deep sorrow and said that he felt compelled to appologize to this Molly person and her friends for all the trouble he had caused.
He asked for a minister come to see him so he could some how atone for his sins. A minister arrived and they had long deep talks way into the night, every night for weeks. Josh found Jesus and was trying to straighten up his life. He went to stay with the minister and his wife and he seemed like such a charming young man and had obviously been through so much that the minister and his wife felt sorry for him and began to love him as their own son. Josh had gotten a job at a machine shop in town and things were working out well. The police kept tabs on him and were surprised that he was doing so well.
One day just after Josh got home from work a police car pulled up and the passenger-side door came open and a large black dog came bounding out of the car and made a B-line for Josh as he came out into the yard to see the officers. "Baxter! Oh, Baxter! Where you been fella?" The minister came running out and asked Josh if he remembered the dog. Josh looked up with surprise all over his face. He said, "I do, I DO remember him. This is my dog!" The cops stayed for coffee and when the tried to leave Josh kept shaking their hands and thanking them. When they finally made it to the car, the driver looked over at his partner and said, "Nice kid. Sure hope things work out for him." "yeah, me too", said the partner.
The FBI agent went on to tell me about how over the next couple of months Josh's memory slowly came back to him. "Now", said the agent, "he has his full memory back and every thing. He is sorry for all the Wayne Butler business and wants to make amends. I asked him for the ministers phone number, I wanted to just see about this.
I called and the ministers wife answered the phone. I identified myself and she knew who I was immediately. She told me that Josh was a fine young man and that he was determined to make things right with me and Billy and Molly, especially Molly. I told her I'd have a talk with them and see how they felt.
After I explained Josh's situation Billy was still reluctant to trust him. Molly on the other hand decided to give him a chance. She was a very kind hearted girl and believed that every one deserved a second chance. We called and arranged to come out to the ministers house to see him. That way he'd be in his own enviornment and less likely to get upset or frightened.
We pulled up in front of the house and Josh came outside. We all just stood around awkardly and then Baxter came up and started licking Molly's hand. She petted him on the head and talked softly to him and his tail was just a waggin'. He came to each of us and licked our hands and let us pet him. When he got to me he dropped his head and smelled my shoes. A stern word of warning from Josh and he straightened right up.
We met with Josh several times through out the holidays and decided to invite him and Baxter to the big party Mont and the TTMBers were throwin' in our honor, New Years Eve. The party was a huge success and every one was glad to see Josh and Baxter again. Billy and I talked it over and decided to offer him a job aboard the Spiral Dreamer, He greatfully accepted and thanked us and promised us that he wouldn't let us down.
The rest of the holidays past with out event and when we set sail on January 9th we had a special ceremony for Josh on the aft fishing deck. We had been watching him around Molly and he was always respectful and polite, even shy. Molly would tease him and try to get him to loosen up but he was still shy and ashamed of his previous behavior. We all told him we had forgiven him but it will take him some time to relax and rejoin us completely.
Billy had made Josh 3 brand new Custom Crafted, BillyStiX Spiral Wrapped Rods, for different fishing situations and when he made the presentation Josh teared up and said how much he loves us all and how thankful he was to have been given a second chance. Billy put his arm around Josh and said come on boy, lets get you to fishin'. You got some catchin' up to do in the fishin' department.
To be continued.....
*Note: tomorrows Chapter is the last chapter. Some action and maybe a little sadness. Alcoholic beverages and hallucinatory chemicals will be permitted while reading this'n.
Oh well, back to my book now.
