Chapter 3
Marcus flew for several minutes before he slowed down and dropped Liz in the water ten feet in the air. He dived into the water as soon as he heard a splash. Marcus chose to stay under and let Liz feel secluded. He wanted to give her what she wanted.
Liz was struggling against the current and the waves. She looked around and could not see Marcus anywhere. Liz looked at the water below her and felt something rub against her feet and tug her leg. She was afraid; Marcus could not protect her if the undead could in fact swim and she had no weapon. Whatever was below her tugged again and she nearly went under. She kicked at the creature and soon the grey-blue form ran off. She heard a roar that sounded a lot like Marcus from below and her only warning that he was below her was the glint of silver when his head came out right where she was swimming.
Marcus enjoyed his little game, but his joy ended when he saw a shark go after her. He could smell Liz from a hundred feet below and knew she was in danger. He chose to take action, roared, and lifted his head out of the water. Marcus looked around him and he could not see Liz anywhere. He looked around and heard her say, “Next time, give me a warning when you do something like that.”
“Like what? Like this?”
Marcus tilted his head forward and Liz fell into the water from his slick head plate. He let out a light laugh when she tried to rub her eyes. She said to him, “I thought you were supposed to be my parent. This doesn’t seem very parent like.”
“Did I not also say that I was your brother until the end of time? As your brother, I look to cheer you up. As your father, I look to give you safety. As your mother, I look to ensure your health.”
“So now you’re my brother?”
“I am all at once, little one. Now, let us forget the world for a moment and enjoy what little time we have.”
Marcus dropped his head into the water and propped it out where Liz was swimming. He said, “Take the high dive,” before leaping as high as he could. Liz jumped off his muzzle and dived into the water below. Marcus then turned to his stomach and built up a flame in his chest. The water started to bubble, and he placed his wings around his chest so Liz held her own personal hot tub. They played for another hour before Marcus decided that they had enough enjoyment for a day. He said, “I’ll leap out of the water and then I will grab you.”
He jumped out of the water, but he could not get high enough for his wings to unfold. He dived under the water, swam to the bottom, and pressed his limbs as hard as he could; it was not enough. Marcus said to Liz, “We have a problem. Firstly, I have no idea where we are. Secondly, I cannot take flight. And thirdly, you still have no clothing.”
“Until we reach civilization, I could care less about the third. As for the second, can you tell what direction the current is taking us?”
“It is taking us south, I think.”
Marcus bent his head so the massive scale upon his muzzle acted like a ramp and Liz climbed up. When she sat upon his silver plate, he spread his wings in the water and the sails caught the water current. Marcus felt himself move through the water, and he started pedaling to help his movement. He moved for hours and the sun started to set.
Liz yelled to him, “Are you tired yet?”
“We can never become weary in our bodies, only in our minds. And our little playtime definitely helped my mind.”
“Good, so that means you won’t be falling asleep on me again anytime soon.”
“I thought we were past that.”
Liz said something, but it was incomprehensible as Marcus gave his full attention to a light less than a mile ahead of him. He said, “Little one, look ahead of me. Can you see anything?”
“I see a light. Am I dead?”
“No, I see it too. That means that either there is some kind of automatic power system, someone left a light on when they changed, or some form of civilization still exists.”
Marcus changed course to make contact with the light, but the current would not let him go. He folded his wings and dog-pedaled to the source, and he came across a fishing boat. The men were singing, laughing, and enjoying their jobs. Marcus wondered what kind of thing could make such men happy, knowing the sorry state of the world. The captain of the ship came out and said, “We’re late enough as it is, pack your things and get ready to go home.”
The men cheered and the boat started to move away from them. Marcus swam three hundred yards behind it and it was another hour before they saw the land. Marcus guessed that it was one of the fishing communities around the middle of the lakes. They usually had good business with both the Canadians and the US ports around the area; Marcus wondered if it was a smart idea to approach the island so quickly. He lowered his head so only his silver eyes and above penetrated the water.
He made it to the shoreline and he could hear voices. Marcus told Liz, “Look for someone who is alone and sober, they may be able to help you.”
“What about you?”
“I will be just barely off the beach. If there is trouble, say my name to the ocean and I will come to your aid.”
The answer was good enough for Liz and she jumped off his head. She walked across the beach line until she heard a man’s voice. She continued to walk, but slowed down when she saw a campfire. She could see a dozen people sitting around the large fire. Nine of the men looked elderly and the other two were in their twenties. Between the two younger men sat a young girl slightly younger than twenty.
Liz moved behind a bush. She would wait until one of them went off alone to speak to. She was pleased with this plan, but it all fell apart when she heard a twig snap behind her.
Liz was struggling against the current and the waves. She looked around and could not see Marcus anywhere. Liz looked at the water below her and felt something rub against her feet and tug her leg. She was afraid; Marcus could not protect her if the undead could in fact swim and she had no weapon. Whatever was below her tugged again and she nearly went under. She kicked at the creature and soon the grey-blue form ran off. She heard a roar that sounded a lot like Marcus from below and her only warning that he was below her was the glint of silver when his head came out right where she was swimming.
Marcus enjoyed his little game, but his joy ended when he saw a shark go after her. He could smell Liz from a hundred feet below and knew she was in danger. He chose to take action, roared, and lifted his head out of the water. Marcus looked around him and he could not see Liz anywhere. He looked around and heard her say, “Next time, give me a warning when you do something like that.”
“Like what? Like this?”
Marcus tilted his head forward and Liz fell into the water from his slick head plate. He let out a light laugh when she tried to rub her eyes. She said to him, “I thought you were supposed to be my parent. This doesn’t seem very parent like.”
“Did I not also say that I was your brother until the end of time? As your brother, I look to cheer you up. As your father, I look to give you safety. As your mother, I look to ensure your health.”
“So now you’re my brother?”
“I am all at once, little one. Now, let us forget the world for a moment and enjoy what little time we have.”
Marcus dropped his head into the water and propped it out where Liz was swimming. He said, “Take the high dive,” before leaping as high as he could. Liz jumped off his muzzle and dived into the water below. Marcus then turned to his stomach and built up a flame in his chest. The water started to bubble, and he placed his wings around his chest so Liz held her own personal hot tub. They played for another hour before Marcus decided that they had enough enjoyment for a day. He said, “I’ll leap out of the water and then I will grab you.”
He jumped out of the water, but he could not get high enough for his wings to unfold. He dived under the water, swam to the bottom, and pressed his limbs as hard as he could; it was not enough. Marcus said to Liz, “We have a problem. Firstly, I have no idea where we are. Secondly, I cannot take flight. And thirdly, you still have no clothing.”
“Until we reach civilization, I could care less about the third. As for the second, can you tell what direction the current is taking us?”
“It is taking us south, I think.”
Marcus bent his head so the massive scale upon his muzzle acted like a ramp and Liz climbed up. When she sat upon his silver plate, he spread his wings in the water and the sails caught the water current. Marcus felt himself move through the water, and he started pedaling to help his movement. He moved for hours and the sun started to set.
Liz yelled to him, “Are you tired yet?”
“We can never become weary in our bodies, only in our minds. And our little playtime definitely helped my mind.”
“Good, so that means you won’t be falling asleep on me again anytime soon.”
“I thought we were past that.”
Liz said something, but it was incomprehensible as Marcus gave his full attention to a light less than a mile ahead of him. He said, “Little one, look ahead of me. Can you see anything?”
“I see a light. Am I dead?”
“No, I see it too. That means that either there is some kind of automatic power system, someone left a light on when they changed, or some form of civilization still exists.”
Marcus changed course to make contact with the light, but the current would not let him go. He folded his wings and dog-pedaled to the source, and he came across a fishing boat. The men were singing, laughing, and enjoying their jobs. Marcus wondered what kind of thing could make such men happy, knowing the sorry state of the world. The captain of the ship came out and said, “We’re late enough as it is, pack your things and get ready to go home.”
The men cheered and the boat started to move away from them. Marcus swam three hundred yards behind it and it was another hour before they saw the land. Marcus guessed that it was one of the fishing communities around the middle of the lakes. They usually had good business with both the Canadians and the US ports around the area; Marcus wondered if it was a smart idea to approach the island so quickly. He lowered his head so only his silver eyes and above penetrated the water.
He made it to the shoreline and he could hear voices. Marcus told Liz, “Look for someone who is alone and sober, they may be able to help you.”
“What about you?”
“I will be just barely off the beach. If there is trouble, say my name to the ocean and I will come to your aid.”
The answer was good enough for Liz and she jumped off his head. She walked across the beach line until she heard a man’s voice. She continued to walk, but slowed down when she saw a campfire. She could see a dozen people sitting around the large fire. Nine of the men looked elderly and the other two were in their twenties. Between the two younger men sat a young girl slightly younger than twenty.
Liz moved behind a bush. She would wait until one of them went off alone to speak to. She was pleased with this plan, but it all fell apart when she heard a twig snap behind her.