Chapter 10
Mid-Winter Solstice Beckons,
( or Curses! Foiled again! )
or (think french farce. think Molie're, oui?)
Jack and Aleister sat down heavily in the parlor as Yeats made up the fire.
For a while, nothing could be heard except the ticking of the wall-clock, which now displayed 1:30 a.m...and Solstice morning.
Jack sighed as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and held his head in his hands.'Well now what?' he asked dejectedly.'we've blown it Aleister. In our hubris, we didn't even calculate the other 1/2 of the equation. Now see where it's gotten us...'
Parsons seemed thoughtful and uncharacteristically quiet. After some time, he stood before the fire and opened a cigar box on the mantlepiece. 'All is not yet lost, Jack,' he said, withdrawing a cigarillo. 'We still have the entire day before us.'
'To do what, exactly?' Jack looked up, his eyes rather bloodshot, Aleister noticed. The lad was taking this badly.
'Well,'Parsons continued, striking a lucifer and taking a deep draw, 'To begin, now that our little plan of staying here with the ladies has been over-ruled...'
'...out-gunned, out-flanked and out-maneuvered!' Jack interjected.
'...eh, Jack, this isn't a war you know...'
'Isn't it?' asked Jack, standing, and scratching his hair, he began pacing the room like a caged puma.
Parsons sighed, and looked down into the flames as he blew slow smoke rings.
'I admit that perhaps I've been abit over-confident.' Jack stopped and regaled him with a sharp look. 'Fine, yes, I admit it--I underestimated our worthy ...partners-to-be, let us say! For, Jack--I've certainly not given up as yet!'
'Alright.'Jack stopped pacing and joined Parsons at the fireside. 'I'm all ears, Al. How do you propose we salvage the situation? Emmeline and Alice
are off to San Francisco today ' the clock chimed 2 a.m. 'Soon.'
'Yesss...'Parsons blew a forceful smoke-cloud into the fire.'We should get to bed then. We'll have a long day of it now!'
'...doing...?What, pray tell?'
Parsons turned and put his back to the fire,facing Jack at last.'We're going to San Francisco, of course!'
. . . . .
After Emmeline and Alice stopped by Pankhurst Inn to bid farewell to Em's family, they headed to the station to catch the 9 a.m. train to the City.
As always, Emmeline caught a small thrill of excitement to see the chugging, steam-belching ironhorse come puffing into the station,exactly as she had done since she was a small girl. Then, although it frightened her somewhat, she always became excited at the thought of going new places, seeing different scenery. This remained her Magic Carpet, and despite the great engine's smoky and noisome din, it delivered her off and away still, into the Great Otherwhere.
Alice and Em found seats and settled in for the ride. Hearing the whistle blow, Em looked at Alice with her face alight. 'We're off at last!' she exclaimed. 'Oh, how I've looked forward to this!'
Alice smiled at her. 'You're such a kid, still!--that's what I like about you, Em dear. Shall we have coffee then? We are on vacation, may as well
swell it, eh?'
'That would be lovely, yes.' Emmeline agreed. Their tickets were collected and Em brought back coffees from the dining car. 'Well, I'm glad that we had the chance to speak with Amelia and Aran on the matter of last night's appearance of that...phenomenon. I don't know what else to call it, as yet.' she took a cautious sip of hot coffee as the train got up steam and began to roll out of the station.
Alice blew on her steaming cup. 'It has definately captured young Aidan's imagination! I wish that he hadn't been the one to witness it! Best to leave your family out of it--whatever that thing is. I certainly don't trust it!'
'No,'Em agreed, becoming thoughtful. 'For the life of me, Al, I can't fathom it. I shall have to bring the matter up with the Druids. Perhaps something in their past lore...maybe there have been records of something similar from long ago.'
'Quite possible,' Alice sat back, comfortably rocking with the coach as it sped across the green landscape which would turn to gold come summer. They could see the Coastal range now, partly covered in early morning fog still. Hopefully, it would clear by the time they reached the ferry which would bring them to the city.
. . . . .
"Oh, Alice! It's a perfect day!'Emmeline exclaimed as she and Alice strolled along the sunny Embarcadero en route to their assignation with the Captain and Mr. Orez for luncheon.
'Indeed it 'tis,'Alice beamed, taking in the sights. The City wore her finest for the holiday season, and occasional groups of carolers would come singing through the crowds lining the waterfront, as shoeshine boys hawked their services and jugglers and buskers plied their entertainment up and down the piers.
Taking a deep breath of cold sea air, Emmeline felt renewed. It had seemed an age since she'd been here last, and soon the days would be growing longer again. Time to shake off the winter doldrums.
'What is this I see before me?' a deep voice from beind them startled the two ladies,'Surely 'tis a mirage, perhap a fey apparition from the sidhe, for nothing existing upon this mortal plane shines so with such bright glamour be!'
'Keithcliff, you fair gave me a start, you rogue!'Emmeline turned and saw that here indeed was her Captain with Mr. Orez in tow, both grinning like school boys to have successfully ambushed their quarry so stealthily from behind .The Captain took Em's hand and pressed it to his lips, 'Milady.' he intoned in his low voice with the English accent that Emmeline found so very charming, still. 'Keithcliff, it's so good to see you again, and you as well, Mr. Orez, how are you?' Em turned to that worthy gentleman who had meanwhile been making the re-acquaintance of our Alice, whose arm was readily entwined with his, and they were staring into each other's eyes and
smiling dreamily like teenagers. 'Ah, Mam'selle Page, how do you do,' Orez bowed low.
'Indeed, the fair Alice!' Keithcliff now turned his Old World charm upon Mrs Stein,who offered her hand. 'I hope that you are not much troubled by the tenacious barnacle which has attached itself to your gentle person...'he brushed his lips over her glove and grinned rougeishly at Mr. Orez.
'Already he challenges me to the duel!'Orez stood like a matador in the bull ring.'I may allow you to make amends by buying the first round!' he finished with a wide smile of his own.
'So be it!'Keithcliff finally ended the friendly fire, and together the foursome strode down to the end of the pier where Neptune's Palace stood, commanding a fine 3/4 view of the bay.The gentlemen had reserved a window seat and held chairs for the ladies as they made themselves comfortable and drank in the beauteous seascape before them.
They ordered drinks and luncheon, and began, it seemed, where they had left off--was it only just last summer that they had all been here together? 'So!'Keithcliff said, raising a glass of ale, 'To the return of the Sun King and Queen, then! Sol Invictus!'
'Sol Invictus!' the party rejoined, clinking glasses of ale and wine, in toast to the midwinters' advent.After describing their present journey's destinations and trade,along with the news which was no news, that Liverpool had lost again to Derby County, the team that had held the cup for these 3 years past, the Captain then turned to Em and Alice. 'And so what have you ladies been doing all this while, then?Besides pining for us, of course!' he gave a rascally wink at Em as he finished his ale and waved to the waiter for a second round.
'Oh, we've managed to keep busy, haven't we Alice?' Em said dryly.'...let's see, there was the hideous attack by phantom spirits of avenging Indians during the war games at the library's playing field, then the matter of the near-riot during Gertrude Sanger's lecture on family planning...'the Captain and Mr. Orez she noticed with satisfaction had even put their glasses down and were listening intently,...'oh, don't worry--the police managed to arrest the bishop and his rabble before they could do any damage! Am I leaving anything out, Alice?'
Alice took up the thread, 'Just the wee matter of your haring off to that haunted old Crowley estate with that Mr. Van Horn, where his accomplice Dr. Parsons exsanguinated you...'
'Here now, what's this?' the Captain was on the alert now, practically bounding out of his seat.'Oh, do be seated, Keithcliff, please! Alice, you know it wasn't like that, and the doctor and Mr. Van Horn have become good friends of ours now!' Em explained, putting her hand on his arm.
'Oh, have they now?' Keithcliff sat back down, and took a gulp of ale.'Do tell.' he said with a sideways glance at Em.
'Well,'she wasn't about to be flustered by trivialities, and continued with her recollections.'It was my choice entirely to provide a blood sample for the doctor to compare with that of the injured players who suffered the attacks by the avenging Indian spirits. It seems that portion of the esplanade was built over an old Indian burial site.'
Keithcliff's eyebrows shot up but he remained seated at least. 'Go on.'
Alice then took up the narrative,'Well, Em had just returned from viewing those self-same spirits just after the attacks, with Dr. Parson's spectre-scope, when --'
'A spectre--what?' Mr. Orez inquired, his head leaning on his hand, now, as if bracing himself for the answer.
'Spectre-scope!'Alice continued.'It's a scientific instrument invented by the doctor, which enables one to view non-corporeal entities.'
'I see,'said Mr. Orez, drinking deeply of his wine, and clearly, not seeing at all.
'So then,'Alice went on,'It was a bit of luck that Em, Jack and Aleister--that's Dr. Parsons--arrived when they did, because there I was, all alone but for MacGregor, when there came a tornado-producing cloud that hovered over my own back yard, and shot a beam of light to the ground, then left--after it etched a sigil into the grass! Fair drove Mac to madness! Such a row I've never heard from my wee pup before!'Alice finished taking a sip of her wine in turn. Then she noticed the men staring at her with bewildered countenance. 'It's all true! In fact the mark is still there, you can see it! As well as the other one...'
'...the other one?' asked the captain.
Emmeline sighed,'The other glyph, sigil or whatever it is. It's a similar
marking made in the grass, just last night. My nephew Aidan and MacGregor saw it happen, they were outside at the time having a walk.'
Silently, the captain and Mr. Orez looked at each other.Luckily, just then their luncheon arrived and attention was diverted to the choice seafood dishes which were now set steaming before them.The party applied themselves with relish to the task at hand and conversation was directed to more mundane topics by Emmeline.
'Well! All in all, lately we have experienced in person that old Chinese saying:'may you live in interesting times!'She paused between forkfuls of her seafood salad. 'And, Alice and I were fortunate enough to have Gertrude Sanger over for dinner. I so much enjoyed her company; Such a wonderful person, Keithcliff! I know you would like her!'
'That she is!'agreed Alice, ' Although her valiant efforts are sometimes not appreciated by some! The war against ignorance and prejudice is an interminable and often thankless task!'
'Oh, Keithcliff...I sometimes despair of my countrymen!' Emmeline confessed to her companions.'I do so miss England at times! It seems indeed such a 'green and pleasant land!'
At this, the captain snorted derisively, 'Oh, you are seeing things with a visitor's eye, so you are, my girl.' He sipped his ale and set it down hard.
'At least here in your country with it's melting-pot of many cultures and peoples there is at least, somewhat of an excuse for the occasional clash of ideologies, let's say. In Old Blighty, it's us against us!...you're forgetting, Em, when you were there to meet my mates, how surprised you were that Cockneys weren't well-liked by people in the midlands and the north, and vice-versa!Not to mention,we've the Welsh, the Scots and lord love 'em,the Irish!'He smiled and put a large rough hand on Em's.
Em put her other hand atop his, 'Yes, I do remember now...you're right. People are the same, all over...'
'...the same, indeed, Senorita, that means both good and bad, angel and demon, no?'interjected Mr. Orez, wisely.
'And which are you today, my old dear?'asked Alice, as she offered a garlicky prawn from her fork his way, which he snapped up in a trice. 'I am whichever you desire, Meu coração!--Or indeed--both!'A wide grin split his broad tanned face, and Alice tucked a long black curl behind his ear, which sported a small gold ring.'We shall see, Senor.'she said.
'Ladies!'announced the captain, 'Would that we had eternity to spend in your enchanting company! However, the sea demands our attendance tonight, and we poor sailors e're must heed her siren's call...I propose a walk along the promenade while we have this all too brief time in which to bask in your
graces!' And, with that, the company made ready to leave, with hunger well satisfied, but with other senses still questing after gratification.
. . . . .
As the couples made their way down the waterfront, they were blissfully unaware of a pair of men who followed them from outside the restaurant and on down the promenade. The mid-day crowds were thick with holiday shoppers, and Jack and Aleister had no trouble blending in with the throng. As Alice and her escort stopped at the pier's edge to watch the sea-lions, Captain Omen and Emmeline strayed further down to take a seat in the other corner and enjoy a space of relative quiet amidst the hub-bub.
Aleister and Jack drew themselves up behind a peanut vendor's wagon which hid them from the other's view.'...at least I think that's that same Captain Omen who had written to Emmeline from Liverpool,' Jack ventured, buying some hot roasted nuts and munching distractedly as he viewed the couple with a cold eye. Emmeline had tossed her head back and was laughing merrily at some jest of the captain's. 'What he sees in her is obvious, but really! To think I'd assumed he was some old uncle of hers! I bet he's not a real captain! He seems rather young, don't you think?'He angrily chewed his nuts.
'Now, Jack, let's not forget we're here to observe, quietly and unobtrusively!' Aleister reached over, helping himself to some peanuts. Just then, they heard a squeal of glee from Alice as Mr. Orez lifted her down from the step she had mounted to better view the seals, and was swinging her around in a playful arc to the ground.'I say, though, what's all this dancing about with Alice there! you would think they were two teenagers at a carnival! Who is this rascal who treats Mrs. Stein with such familiarity?' Aleister seemed then to forget about peanuts and discretion and had begun to approach closer to where Alice and Orez were now throwing nuts to the seagulls and at each other, laughing all the while.
'Aleister, old son!'Jack caught his arm, smiling now. 'Believe me, I understand your consternation! But as you said...'he pulled Parsons back behind the nut-wagon, 'we are here to merely observe, as silently as possible, yes?'
Aleister swallowed his nuts with a dry mouth.'Bah! I need a drink!' he declared.
. . . . .
The sun was rather lower in the sky as the air began to cool and Emmeline brought her shawl out of her bag, draping it with Keithcliff's help, about her shoulders.'Would that I could stay and help keep you warm,' said the captain, with his arm about the bench behind her.
Em smiled up at him. 'Ah, but you must heed that siren's call! I know you Captain, and Mr. Orez as well! Neither Alice or myself can ever compete with your first mistress, the sea...'
'You two are hardly languishin' about, though, are you now?' Keithcliff eyed her, leaning back a little. 'Fess up Em! You can tell your old Captain if you fancy a new toy now!' His mouth tightened a bit as he looked out to sea then, as if to seek reassurance in it's eternal presence.
'Oh, my 'Old Captain' is it?' Em put a finger 'neath his chin and made him face her. 'I've no one else, you know that! ' She kissed him lightly. 'And I don't even have you either, not really. You're right about your first love, the sea. I cannot compare! I shan't win a losing battle.'Em smiled at him and gazed out upon the placid bay, dotted with sails.'You forget I love the water, too.You needn't worry, old dear. You know I shall love you just as we both love the sea, always.'
'And I, you,'said the Captain, as they kissed, each feeling the pleasure of the moment and it's attendant painful promise of the ending soon to come.'Aye, we're a pair and no mistake!' he declared, standing, offering his hand to Em, who took it and joined him on the walk back along the pier.
'Can't bear to be apart, and can't bear it together, either! Not for long, anyways...Oh, I know you're a woman with strong ideas and a mind to live out all of 'em in the extreme! Don't deny it!' He cast a worried glance her way.'But have a care Em, me darlin'...It sounds as if you may be in over your head this time. '
Emmeline patted his hand and held it as they strolled over to where Alice and Mr. Orez were lounging by the railing, heads bent together in their own
bittersweet good-byes. 'I appreciate your looking out for me, always my dear...but we must dance to our own piper's tune, as you know.'
'Aye,'said Keithcliff, eyeing her darkly as he pulled her up,facing him, 'But there comes a time when ye must pay the piper his due!Don't forget that my girl!' He gazed earnestly at her then,lifting a hand to touch the scarlet locks glowing in the sunset radiance, and gently stroking her cheek.'Have half a care, then.I want someone to return to.'
'You will have, I promise.'Emmeline rose up to place a light kiss to his lips, as Alice and Mr. Orez sauntered up to them, hand in hand still.The couples made their fare-wells as the sun headed into the bay, unaware of the watchful eyes of those who were tracking them and their every move.
. . . . .
'Did you see that?' Jack snarled to Aleister, as they looked out from behind their post now situated behind the marina's office.'Can they cease kissing for a minute, you think!?' he demanded.
Aleister glanced up now and then from the map of the city he'd been studying. 'No more distressing, I assure you, than watching the gyrations and childish games that the merry widow Stein has been indulging in with that, eh, foreign gentleman...'he noted dryly, now folding his map and gazing out at the boats dockside at the marina.
'Yes, well..I say, Al, aren't you supposed to help me keep watch here, we don't want to lose them!'Jack noticed the doctor was heading away from their target and was approaching a rather large yacht that was docked
at the end of the pier. 'What now,'he grumbled, striding after him.
As Jack caught up with Aleister, he looked over the sleek lines of the obviously expensive vessel now glowing resplendent in the sunset.'What is it? Anyone you know?'Jack asked lightly.
'Look at the flag she flies, Jack. Recognize it?' Aleister pointed at a flag which fluttered from the mast. It's symbols were a triangle within a circle.
'Damn and blast!' Jack recognized it alright.They weren't the only stalkers that Emmeline and Alice had had that day.
El Juan had beat them at that little game.
. . . . .
Well, well, indeed. Where Emmeline goes, trouble soon follows, it seems! Not only are Alice and Em unable to have a peaceful rendezvous with their gentlemen friends, but are doubly-shadowed by both Parsons and Van Horn and who else? None other than the perpetrator of the desecration of their back yard as well, the nefarious El Juan Flubber!-- who has seen fit to follow the entire company in his luxury yacht! What fresh hell is this then? Be sure to find out, as the solstice draws to it's climatic end,shall we find our heroine still safe from the fickle finger of Flubber? Don't miss the next meaty installment of--Emmeline Page, Revolutionary Librarian!
...to be imbibed with a light Reisling perhaps and your favorite reggae music...(unless you absolutely insist upon 'Brandy' by Looking Glass)vive la revolucion! 'i like to dine, in a foreign clime...'Salut!
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