Sugar Cane
Chapter Five
Chapter Five
“Its a beautiful night,” he looked out across the moonlit ocean “could you not sleep?” Jonah looked back at the water.
“I missed the water,” Jonah said and instantly regretted it. How would a human understand?
“I know what you mean,” Liam began “I hope to live my whole life next to the ocean.” Jonah was slightly surprised that Liam had said that. He suddenly felt much more comfortable with him. Liam continued. “Sometimes I wish that I could breathe underwater, it seems that it would be so peaceful to live under the sea.” Liam was feeling light hearted. Perhaps, it was the the moonlight or the way Jonah had looked at him. Jonah didn’t say anything. After a while of sitting their in comfortable silence, both of them just staring at the moon Jonah started to nod off. Liam realizing that Jonah was falling asleep shook his shoulder.“We should probably head back.” Jonah, gazed at the ocean, then nodded. Liam saw sorrow in his eyes as he looked into the ocean and wondered why. Had someone he loved died? Mary had told him his thoughts about him being marooned here, but Liam couldn’t see Jonah being anybody sexual plaything.
“Jonah,” he paused. Jonah turned to look at him.“I know that you lied about the shipwreck, you don’t look anything like a sailor and there hasn’t been a storm around these parts in weeks.” Jonah had stopped looking at him and turned his head down. “Will you ever tell us what really happened?” Jonah looked up at the ocean again and then glanced at Liam.
“Your right, it wasn’t a shipwreck, but I can’t tell you what really happened.” He watched Liam’s face, “Please just know that someday I will repay you and your sister the kindness that you have shown me.” Using the palm tree for support Jonah stood up and started walking back towards the village. Silently, Liam followed.
The next day was a busy one. Liam left early in the morning to go next door to his shop and Mary left to meet the mayor. Jonah was left with Mary’s son Julian. Jonah was at a loss to do with the boy. When he would look after his younger siblings he would always keep them entertained by playing a game or exploring some place.
“So, what would you do today normally?” Jonah asked.
“Well, usually I go fishing off the southern shore. There are a lot of rocks there to fish off and water there is deep enough.” Fishing was his favorite past time, and the southern shore was the best place to go. Though his Mom usually didn’t let him because rogue waves were known to come up and drag people away off the rocks into the ocean. His Dad was always the one who had gone fishing with him, he had even shown him the southern shore.
“Would your Mom be okay with that?” Jonah crossed his arms, trying to look stern.
“Yup, she likes it when I go fishing and bring back something for dinner!” Julian said throwing his arms up, being excited. Jonah uncrossed his arms, and figured that if they brought dinner back that would be really useful.
“Alright, pack your stuff up and lets head there!” Jonah gave Julian a smile. Julian whooped with happiness and ran to get his fishing poles and gear. Jonah went into the kitchen to grab the boxed lunches that Mary had made for them. Soon, Julian had his stuff and they were walking towards the southern shore. The walk took them the better part of an hour and the whole time Julian was talking about this or that. He covered things like the little bird he had rescued that had fallen out of his nest to his sand crab collection that Mary had confiscated. Sometimes Julian would ask him a question, but before Jonah could think up an answer he was already rambling about something else.
Once on the way there Julian thought he smelled something strange. It was almost that strange smell that he had gotten from Clergyman Michael. When he stopped and looked around he saw nothing. After a few moments, he turned and continued following Julian who was still rambling on.
When they reached the southern shore Jonah noticed the rocks that jutted out into the ocean and could see why this was a good fishing spot. Julian raced forward picking his way along the rocks until he got to the end with Jonah shortly following. Jonah let Julian get his rods ready and casting them. Once they were cast he would it between two of the rocks, he repeated this for the other rods he had brought.Julian seemed more then happy to do it and Jonah had little idea about how humans caught their fish. He didn’t mind the bait on the string trick since that usually only attracted the more slower minded of the sea creatures. Ones that he himself ate, but it was the nets that bothered him.
Once he had gotten caught in a fisherman’s net because he was too curious about what it was. He had gotten caught he had fought the net, trying to get out of it. When the fisherman had started to reel in the nets he knew that he would be in trouble if the fishermen saw him. Who knows what they would have done to him. His saving grace was that Talis had heard his cry and came to cut the net in time to let him out before the fisherman saw him. Once he was out safely, Talis pulled him away from the boat and hugged him. Talis had been furious with him for being so stupid.
“Jonah!” Julian cried, “the poles are ready!” Jonah snapped back to reality and turned to look at Julian. Julian was sitting on a rock down near the water’s edge. In his lap was one of the poles. He had a huge grin on his face. Jonah smiled.
“Great! Lets do some fishing!” Jonah climbed down the rocks to sit next to Julian. On the way he grabbed a pole between the rocks and held it in his lap. Trying to be discreet he watched what Julian did or waited for him to do something. Julian just leaned back against the rock and looked out at the water. Jonah looked puzzled. Is this how some humans caught their fish? How boring! He huffed, oh well.
“Jonah?”
“Yes, Julian?”
“How did you get those scars on your neck?” Julian was looking at Jonah waiting for his answer. He had a very innocent look on his face. Jonah once again reached up and touched the scars, trying to come up with some story. The problem was with the scars is that they were too symmetrical on both sides of his neck.
“Cat scratched me when I was little. Got me twice she did in the same day.” Julian’s jaw dropped and he looked perplexed.
“A cat?”
“Yup”
“Well, that's not very exciting!” Julian huffed. Jonah laughed.
“No I guess not.” After that the fell into a comfortable silence.
Except for the sound of the waves splashing onto the rocks and the sound of Julian checking and recasting lines there wasn’t much sound. They both waited patiently for a bite. Finally, after what felt like hours to Jonah, Julian stood up from excitement and started reeling in his line.
“This feels like a big one!” he stated. Climbing down further toward the water so he could get a better footing to bring in his catch. In his haste to try to climb down to a lower rock he slipped on a rock. Jonah immediately saw it coming, yelling at Julian and reaching out to catch the back of his shirt. Unfortunately, he barely missed the back of his shirt before Julian fell head first into the surf. Jonah yelled Julian’s name. Waiting and hoping that Julian’s head would bob out of the water. After a few seconds, he ripped off his shirt and pants and dived into the water.
The instant his body hit the water he felt the change. It only took a moment before he was back in his true form. If it had not been to save Julian’s life he would have rejoiced to be back in his home. The freedom he felt in it after being so long in his human form was rejuvenating. He spotted Julian fighting the current that was pulling him out to sea. He was reaching for the surface with frenzied movements with his arms and legs.
He bolted over there, he may not have been the largest of the merfolk, but he was certainly one of the fastest. Before he reached Julian he saw bubbles escape his mouth and his movements go still. A second later he had a hold of Julian and was swimming towards the surface. The moment he broke the surface he had hoped to see Julian take a large breath. When he realized that Julian was unconscious he started to swim towards the beach to one side of the rock quickly while keeping Julian’s head above the water.
Once he reached the shore he pushed Julian’s body onto the beach. Moving his face near Jonah’s mouth he noticed a little breath. After tilting Julian’s jaw up to straighten his neck he placed one hand on top of the other and pushed on the lower half of Julian’s sternum. He repeated the gesture five more times more before he saw Julian cough out some seawater. Rolling Julian over onto his side he banged on his back trying to force the water out. He continued to cough for a few minutes while Jonah banged on his back. Finally when he was breathing correctly Jonah rolled him back over so he was laying on his back. Julian looked at Jonah blearily.
“Jonah,” his voice was raspy “you look like a fish.” With that he passed out again, Jonah felt the boys chest and was relieved to feel a steady deep breath from the boy. He must have just passed out from the exhaustion. Jonah looked down at his tail that was slightly laying in the surf. Then studied the treeline hoping that no one had seen the little episode.
Closing his eyes and focusing he forced he change back to human. It was almost painful to feel his tail shift into two legs and the fins on his arms retract into his arms. He looked longingly back at the ocean, it was still a ways away before he could return home. Once the 30 days of courtship were over he could return home without worrying about Talis.
Once he was fully changed back to his human form he picked up Julian and carried him further up the beach to the tree line and propped him up against a tree. Then, went to collect their stuff. Reeling in all the lines, Jonah noted that Julian had lost the pole he was holding when he fell in. Putting his clothes on and grabbing the rest of the stuff he walked back towards Julian. Upon reaching him, Julian had started waking up again. Jonah reached into their boxed lunch and took out a canteen of water. He removed the cap and handed it to Julian. Julian took a few long gulps before handing it back.
“Your not going to tell Mom are you?”
Hiding behind a tree out of view of Jonah and Julian Michael stood watching. He had followed them, to the beach earlier today hoping that something might happen so Jonah would have to change into his aquatic form. He had almost given up hope when Julian had fell into the water. He had watched gleefully when Jonah had dived in. It was even better when Jonah had come out onto the beach pushing Julian’s body up while having to crawl with his tail, still in his mermen form. Michael had soaked in the sight with greedy eyes. He had been right that Jonah was a merman!
He rubbed his hands together, an evil smile adorned his face. There was much to prepare before he would be receiving his guest for dinner tonight. Quietly, he started walking back to the village. Scheming the entire way.
Much thanks again to my reviewers! I hope you approve of this chapter.