End Game Page 4

  Chapter 6: Boat Guy

  After school, Lance, Mika, Sebastian, Paulie, Gail, and I headed down to the dock. We knew our best chance to find Nimue was Juan Prince. After all, he had a boat and since he used to be the Fisher King he knew all about this stuff.

  We walked into Juan's boat shack and found him sitting behind his desk reading a Batman comic book.

  “I see the young queen and her knights are back,” Juan said. “Let me guess, you want my boat. I assume this has something to do with Nimue removing herself from civilization.”

  I nodded. “Yep, you are smart.”

  “She is hard to find. In case you have not noticed, the ocean is quite big.”

  “We have a lead from the other fairies,” I told him.

  Juan smiled, he played with his mustache. “Do tell?”

  “They said it’s ten leagues south,” Paulie said.

  “No GPS coordinates?” Juan asked. “Those directions are a start, but they are still vague.”

  “We can find it!” Paulie said.

  “Yeah,” Gail said.

  “I have faith!” Lance said.

  “I hope we can,” Sebastian sounded confident.

  Juan snickered, still not moving from his desk. “Of course, you children will never find it without me. I have the boat and I know how to drive it and I am very cool.”

  “What do you want?” I asked Juan.

  “Actually nothing. I just don’t want that sword to fall into the wrong hands!”

  We heard a crashing sound. Turning towards the windows, we saw four swords flying through the windows. The swords stopped in midair. They regrouped in the middle of the room. The four swords crossed. They were bending and bowing to us. Looking closer, the swords each had eyes and a mouth.

  “You will not seek out Excalibur,” the swords said.

  “We do not wish to hurt you,” another sword said.

  I drew my staff. “I need to find that sword. The sword has called out to me!” I told them.

  The swords seemed to nod. “We understand, but we have been told not to allow you to see the sword.”

  “By who!”

  “By whom!” a sword corrected.

  “We cannot tell you,” another said.

  “This is a test from the sword itself,” Juan said. “The sword wants to see if you are worthy.”

  The four swords shook back and forth.

  Juan grinned. “I assume that means I am right.”

  Turning to Juan I said. “Do we fight to prove we are worthy?”

  “It is a sword, it likes fighting, so I would wager that is a yes,” Juan said coolly.

  “My knights do not have swords,” I told the swords.

  “This test is not for them,” one of the swords said. “You are the one being tested to see if you are worthy.”

  “Well I for one, am offended,” Sebastian said.

  “I’m okay with it,” Lance said. “But we can’t let Gwen fight alone.”

  “Agreed,” Gail was ready to fight.

  “I won’t fight,” I said.

  “Then we will force you to fight by fighting your knights,” a sword challenged.

  “In that case, all I can say is Knoghts heva swuds!”

  A sword appeared in each of my knight’s hands.

  Gail grinned as she extended her sword. “Now this seems like a fair fight!”

  I raised a hand. “No, I want you guys to be armed in case I lose, but for now it’s me against the swords.”

  “But it is four against one!” Lance protested.

  I twirled my staff overhead. “I’ve got this!” I said. I lowered myself into a fighting stance. “Come on swords. Let’s get this over with.”

  The swords hovered in the air. They all turned to each other.

  “I’m good!” one of the swords said.

  “Me too!” another agreed.

  “I’m cool!” the third said.

  The fourth sword thrust at me. Using my staff, I knocked the sword to the side. Thrusting upwards the sword tried to slice me again. I blocked it again. Flicking my wrist downward I forced the sword to the floor. I smashed my foot down on the sword.

  “Do you give in?” I asked the sword.

  The sword shook under my foot.

  “You are standing on his mouth,” one of the other swords said.

  Sliding my foot down. “Can you talk now sword?”

  “Yes,” the sword said. “And I must say I am satisfied. You have proved worthy to at least try.”

  I removed my foot from the sword. The sword hovered upwards. I held my staff up.

  The sword bowed. “I will not attack.”

  The sword joined the other three swords. The four of them flew out the way they came in.

  Juan shook his head. “They could have at least paid for my window.” Juan stood up. “My boat is on the dock and ready to go.”

  My notes: I think progress was being made. I still couldn’t be sure I wanted to wield the sword, but I knew I needed to know more about it. The good news was we had a boat and a boat captain. The possible bad news was, if Nimue did not want to be bothered, this could be a really tough trip. It wasn’t wise to make Nimue angry. I really didn’t want to spend the next week or so as her deodorant or toilet paper!

  Chapter 7: Out to Sea

  Juan’s boat today was an old wooden boat named: She Floats. The boat had to be older than my parents.

  Walking onto the deck, the wooden planks squeaked with each step we took.

  “Ah, you’re sure this is safe?” Sebastian asked. “This boat seems older than we are.”

  Juan went to the back of the boat to remove the ropes keeping the boat secure on the dock. “Oh not at all, remember Gwen and company are well over two thousand years old. The boat is barely a hundred.”

  “Is it steam powered?” Gail asked,

  “Fraid not,” Juan replied. “It’s a gas hog. Or I guess gas whale would be more fitting.” He patted it. “Still, it’s a good boat. They made boats to last back then.”

  “Really?” I looked at the chipped paint.

  “It’s sturdier than it looks. Trust me,” Juan said. He climbed up the ladder to the upper part of the boat that had the steering wheel and engine. Juan looked at Lance and Gail. “I’ve loosened the ropes for you. When I say so I want you to draw them into the boat. You can do that, right?”

  The two of them nodded.

  “Good, it pretty much takes muscle and not a lot of brains. I'm sure you will be fine,” Juan said.

  “What about me?” Sebastian asked.

  Juan pointed at Gail and Lance. “I picked the two strongest ones.” He patted Sebastian on the shoulder. “Don’t worry I am sure you are good for something.” Juan grinned. “Now let’s get this beauty started.”

  Juan climbed the ladder leading to the upper cabin of the boat where the engine and steering wheel were.

  “You sure this boat is up to the task?” I asked.

  “It’s cheap, so if I lose it, it’s no big deal.”

  Following Juan up into the control area of the boat. I told him, “That doesn’t make me feel better about it.”

  Juan turned the key and the boat hissed and sputtered to life. “Look, young queen, I am a businessman, I want to help but if this venture goes under I don’t want to lose a lot of money,” Juan said without looking at me.

  “That makes me feel even worse…” I sighed.

  “I am not your babysitter. I am your guide. My job is to bring you to where you want to go, not to make you feel better. Besides, sometimes we learn more from being uncomfortable,” he insisted.

  “Is that so?” I asked.

  Juan shrugged. “No idea. It just seemed like something to say to get you to leave me alone.” He pointed to a seat next to the captain’s chair. “Now sit back, be quiet, and enjoy the peace of the ocean. At least until we get attacked by a sea monster.”

  “Do you really think that will happen?” I asked.

  “Yes,
of course I do. It’s Nimue!” Juan said.

  I felt the boat pull away from the dock.

  Juan shrugged. “Still we will have a nice peaceful ride until then. Take in the salt water, it’s good for the soul and complexion.”

  “Is that true?” I asked.

  Juan shrugged again. “I’ve got no idea. It just sounded like the thing to say. Look the only things I know for sure are that it’s a beautiful day for a boat trip and if we are on the right track we will get attacked by something. Look at this as a win-win. If we get attacked you have found Nimue. If not, you have a had a nice boat ride for a reasonable fee.”

  “Oh, I thought you might do this for free for your queen.”

  “Please, I didn’t vote for you,” Juan said.

  “You don't vote for the queen,” I frowned.

  “Exactly,” he said with a smirk.

  Well, that's what I get for trying to play the queen card. I really wasn't surprised that Juan would charge us. After all, like he said he was a businessman. And this certainly had to be costing Juan some cash and time. I would make sure he got paid back one way or another.

  As he piloted the boat, Juan looked at me. “Ah, I love the feel of the sun on my face and the smell of the salt in the air. And the blue sky makes the water extra blue. And I’m proud to be helping you, especially at such a reasonable price.”

  Juan gazed over his shoulder at the knights. “Your knights are dedicated to your cause.”

  “They are my friends and my knights,” I said proudly.

  “Are they friends first or knights first?”

  “Both,” I said. “I can’t separate the two.”

  Juan looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "It is good that your knights are your friends, but what if you have to make a life or death decision involving one or more of them. Can you put your friends in peril?"

  “I can do what I must do,” I insisted. “My knights all understand this. I would sacrifice for them and they would for me.”

  Juan smirked. “How noble.” He bopped his head forward. “You kids today are actually more focused than kids were in my day. I'm surprised because you’ve got so many distractions like phones and computers and stuff. To me, they just generate brain noise. That's why I like the ocean. Out here you are forced to disconnect…”

  “I understand,” I told Juan. “But these phones and computers and stuff allow us to be always connected and able to communicate.”

  “And that is a good thing?” Juan asked.

  “Like any tool, it can be used for good or bad or in between,” I replied.

  “Gwen, I know three things. One, you are wise. Two, it's a beautiful day to cruise the ocean.”

  “And three?” I asked.

  Juan pointed to a giant cloud sitting on the water maybe a mile in front of us. “That cloud is not of nature. We are close.”

  “That’s good, right?” I asked.

  “It is,” Juan said. “Well I think it’s good.”

  “Ah guys,” Sebastian called to us. “There is something coming up behind us and it is BIG. SUPER BIG!” Sebastian pointed to the sparkling blue ocean. There jutting out of the water was the largest shark dorsal and tail fins I had ever seen. Both of these fins seemed to rise at least a dozen feet out of the water.

  “Oh, looks like we’re going to need a bigger boat,” Juan said snickering to himself.

  I looked at Juan. “Ah, you seem pretty calm considering we are being chased by a humongous giant shark!”

  “I have a queen and four knights aboard my fine boat. I am sure you can handle a giant grey shark,” Juan commented.

  I jumped down and joined my knights on the lower part of the boat. Pretty sure it was called the aft.

  “What’s the plan boss?” Sebastian asked.

  “Juan, do you have any anti-giant shark weapons on the boat?” Lance asked.

  “This is a recreational fishing boat. So no. Beside harpoon guns, but they are cruel to our wet friends,” Juan said.

  Looking at the shark fins the shark was quickly gaining ground (well water) on us.

  “Maybe we should have brought our weapons?” Lance had gone pale.

  “No,” Gail insisted. “This is a mission of peace. Weapons would only cloud the issue.”

  Lance pointed at the shark, which had now risen out of the water, apparently sensing the kill. The beast’s head was easily larger than the boat. Opening and closing its mouth, its teeth were enormous and sharp!

  “Quite the beautiful beast,” Paulie said.

  “Yes, but I’d feel much more secure with some weapons,” Lance said.

  “We have weapons,” I said. “We have our brains.”

  “Yeah unless we develop telekinetic powers our brains won’t help us that much,” Mika sounded concerned.

  “We have magic.” Sebastian looked at me. “Well, you have magic.”

  Sebastian had a great point. I did have magic. And with magic, we always had a chance, especially when used wisely. Of course, the trick here was what would be the wisest use of my magic. I didn't really want to hurt this giant shark. After all, the shark was just following orders and most likely thought it was protecting Nimue. But from the look in the shark's eyes and the chomping of its mouth, it certainly didn't appear to be ready to talk this out.

  “If only we could tell the shark we come in peace,” Gail said.

  “We can!” I said. “Lat ma telk woth sherk!” I said.

  My knights looked at me. They looked at the shark coming at us with its giant jaws clearly visible.

  “Let’s see,” I said.

  Standing near the end of the boat “Mr. Shark, please stop.” I held up my staff to kind of make myself look taller.

  The shark closed in on us. It veered off to the side, splashing us with water.

  The shark floated over to the side of the boat. “I’m a female,” the shark said.

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “No problem you humans all look the same to us too,” the shark said.

  “I am Gwen!” I said.

  “I'm Moba," the shark said.

  “I protect the isle that you are going towards. Nimue doesn't like to be bothered, and that lady has a BAD temper.” The shark shivered. “She scares me. A lot!”

  “Trust us, we don’t want to hurt, Nimue,” I told Moba.

  Moba chuckled. “Haha, that's funny that you think you could. You would need a fleet of heavily armed boats and flying things and you still wouldn't stand a chance!”

  “Gwen has great magic!” Sebastian told Moba.

  I appreciated Sebastian standing up for me. But I knew the shark was right.

  “I’m not saying she does not,” Moba said, “just that Nimue’s is greater.”

  “Then why do you protect her?” Gail asked.

  “I just protect her privacy so annoying creatures don’t annoy her,” Moba told us.

  “We do not wish to annoy her,” Paulie said.

  “That does not mean you will not,” Moba countered.

  “Look, we really only want to talk to Nimue, briefly,” I said.

  Moba nodded. “I get that. But that still doesn’t mean she won’t find you annoying and turn you all into toe jam.”

  “We’re willing to take the risk!” I said firmly.

  “But I’m not! She might turn me into fish food. Gross!”

  “Come on, just give us a chance.” I raised my staff over my head and said, “Alactrocoty cima!” My staff crackled with electricity. “We can hurt you too! I don't want to, but I can.”

  “Impressive,” the shark mumbled. “I can’t just let you by, but I’m warning you, she’ll be angry.”

  “Ask us a question to prove our worth?” Paulie said.

  The shark grinned showing us all its teeth. “I like it. Who wrote the theme to Star Wars?”

  “What?” we all said.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” I asked.

  The shark pushed its giant head onto the boat. “I l
ike old movies.”

  My knights and I all looked at each other and shrugged. “Do any of you have any idea?”

  Silence. Then Juan tried, “John Williams.”

  Moba smiled. “Nice job. Good luck with Nimue.” She slid back down into the water. The clouds cleared and Nimue’s little island came into sight.

  “Good job, young knights,” Juan Prince told us.

  My notes: I felt good. Not just that we had reached Nimue's island but more importantly I was gratified by the way we did it. We used our brains and negotiated our way past the challenges. Yes, I'm not naïve, I understand there are times when you must fight your way out of a situation. Some beings don't respect you until they realize you can hurt them. It's a sad truth. But often, more often than not, you can think your way out of a situation without having a confrontation.

  I was also pleased that Juan was willing to help out with his knowledge of trivia. Juan was so laid back and "different" I wasn't certain he really supported our cause. But now I knew he did.

  Chapter 8: Lady of the Island

  We drew closer to the lush, green, palm-tree-covered island.

  “It looks like a nice place,” Gail said.

  “Yes, Nimue has good taste in islands,” Juan replied. He scanned the coastline, “If only we had a dock.”

  A dock magically appeared maybe 100 yards in front of us.

  “Glad I asked,” Juan smiled. “A pile of gold would also be lovely!” he shouted. He waited. Nothing happened. “I guess that was asking too much,” he sighed.

  Juan guided the boat into a stall next to the dock. Trees with arms and legs walked over to the boat. One of the trees bowed to us. “We will hold your boat in place until you are ready to leave,” the tree informed us.

  The other tree pointed to a path of orange bricks that lead away from the dock towards the palm trees. “Follow the orange brick road,” the tree grinned.

  My knights and I got off the boat. I turned to Juan. He stood there by the wheel. “This is your quest, not mine,” he said. “I am transportation only.”