The tide had reached its peak, waves crashing below funnelled between fluting dolos of magma teeth into another cavity below the cave. The pool surged, now whistling sirens through a blowhole from deep in the cave floor. Spray and foam, laden with luciferin plankton, dinoflagellates drooled out the sides of its mouth. Scurrying towards them came marbled scarabs pushing their glowing blue balls across the slab escaping or announcing the waters advance. Some managing to take flight from the slab others their balls too heavy dropping over the ledge to become airborne. Glowing they ascended up into the night, dimming the stars.
The three men placing their hands on the lips of the Yonis pressed themselves out of the shadowy stone and rushed towards the cave. The water was now sloshing across the floor, lifting crusted layers of guano, creating a pungent florescent soup, before draining them with slurping gurgles into the cavity below.
Look said Homer “the floor, its turning blue!” between the surges, the receding broth revealed a mycelium mat, webbing the inner floor, glowing florescent blue. It spread from the collar around the hole across the exposed wet floor. The three stood marvelling as the soft light continued to spread up onto surrounding ledges, through the guano and into terraced layers of delicately flushing blue fruiting caps. “Wow” exclaimed Aquasol with surprise, “Who would have guessed the symbiosis of the bats guano, fungi and plankton could produce this…” “It’s out of this world” replied Terrance holding up a scarab by its glowing ball. Its vibrating wings displaying a chrysalis halo of polished abalone.
The cave rumbled as a set of waves rushed the rocks below, a huge surge moaned loudly, shuddering out the grotto, gushing a fountain of light that splashed the ceiling before dribbling green stalactites over shelves of blue fruits. As the glowing fog descended, lying on a ledge behind the hole was a mermaid, exquisitely adorned in piscatorial attire. From her waist down, latticed blue scales shimmered luxuriously over her swollen hips, tapering to her gently fanning tail. Her small belly voluptuously slung about her waist. Dimpled with a ruby, winking from her abdomen. Undulating with aroused respiration, her plumed mammaries petalled with mauve blossomed nipples, draping seductively from her elegant shoulders. Long wavy white hair, flung behind her neck and shoulders splayed the ledge. Resting on an elbow her cheek embraced by the palm of her delicate hand, cupping her nipple coloured lips and pearled blue eyes. Divided by a symmetrical nose. Her upper arm leaned forward, caressing the flowering carpet. Titillating fingers tipped with pointed nails danced and tickled, glowing its fruits.
The stale air now cleaned was replaced with oceanic fragrance pumped through the hole, accompanied by willowing music that rolled deep through its throat.
Water rose up slowly through the floor, forming an intimate pool within the terraced garden, while dark creatures steaming phosphorescent trails darted in and out from below. Pausing when reaching the first terrace upon which she lay then slowly waning trickling into its hole. Once open melodic singing floated up through the puta with inviting giggles of rapture.
“Hello Blue Bird, “said Terrance, “may I introduce you to Aquasol and Homer.” He paused and turned to his companions. “Gentlemen I present to you Evelyn, a women of celestial charms, a practiced voluptuary.” Then he stepped back, slightly behind their shoulders.”
Rolling onto her belly clasping her elbow to study them with ashen blue eyes. “It’s lovely to see you again Terrance. To see a man twice is a privilege my position rarely affords” she said blushing in a sultry voice that fluted through the cave. “Let’s see what delights I have been presented in substitution.” She paused, her eyes smoking them like ash tipped cigars, before exhaling “a boy, not quite a man and a man not quite human…what you lack in carnal appetite you generously make up for in fine taste and quantity.” Smiling she bent her legs up behind and using her tail, giggled applause of appreciation on her posterior, “Such innocent treats”, both the subjects blushed. “So very rear! …beware lest you spoil me rotten.” Her tongue extending while arching herself onto her pelvis then flipping her tail she pivoted to face them before retracting it with a curl. Her waist resting on the lip of the ledge, she combed her fingers through her hair linking them behind her head. Opening the hood of her elbows to align with her shoulders she slowly oscillated her back to the singing below. “I must congratulate you all on releasing your spirits… now grant me the dalliance privilege, of being the first to introducing them to the dark pleasers of nocturnal flight.” She then unclasped her hands bending her smooth neck over her shoulders. Cupping her breasts she massaged them squeezing them upward from their base. Choreographing moans and gasps of tortured ecstasy with her movements that swelled, her nipples. Mastitically inflamed they dribbled and squirted her nourishment into the pond, swirling it mother of pearl. Tipping herself forward she slid into it, small silver fish streaming through the hole cloaking her with a glinting shimmer. Between bouts of tickled laughter she goaded them to join her “the pool will not drain while I’m in it she whispered” distracted she laughed. “Give me your blue honey and with my milk and we will never grow old” giggling tickled laughter. She rose up in front of Homer and flicked water over his naval. He winced. Pouting she caught his sheepish hand, “you not afraid to get wet are you?” Patting the ledge she invited, ”sit, dip your toes in.” Embarrassingly self-aware, Homer awkwardly sat on the ledge and dangled his feet into her pooled waters. Immediately it boiled silver, fish nibbling and tickling his feet. Homer pulled up his knees in surprise, wriggling fish stuck on his toes. Evelyn swam up to him reassuringly placing her hands on his knees she gently pried them apart before pulling them down into her pond. “Relax they won’t bite, I’m the only one with teeth in this pond.” Giving Homer a sultry glare she lifting her torso out the water sailing her breasts over his chest. Arms fully extended pinning his knees over the ledge. Their eyes met again, this time hers were smoky soft with intimacy and Homers blazing with unrestrained desire. She leaned in past the side of his head fluting and nibbling his ear. “Dreams are the sirens of mermaids” she whispered then she bit hard into his lobe and suckled. Tasting her words she moaned, “one man’s taboo is another man’s fetish, I’m queen of them all…wish me your desires and I will fan all their fires” She pushed herself back winking, with her tail she splashed them all. Light shoaled from her scales, undulating her abdomen she cooed to the sloshing liquid. Her dimple ruby bobbing below the surface between the beats of light. Lowering herself till her petals bobbed half submerged, her wavy white hair fanning the surface above her mirrored tail. With her arms rolling her singing waxed and waned echoing melancholy choruses along the cave. She tickled his desire by stroking his thigh, sliding her fingers towards his groin. Just shy of his naval she beckoningly flicked the tip of her nail into his skin, Homer twitched. Evelyn retreated to the middle of her pond splashing her hands like slapping castanets she submerged herself within its shimmering cloud. Homer leaned forward caught in her wake. “No wait!” shouted Terrance, trying to grab his elbow before he toppled, but was too late. Staring vacuously back at Terrance Homer fell, his arms outstretched, embracing her quicksilver pool. Disappearing below its surface the pond rapidly drained, slurping and gurgling into her puta, some straggling fish flipping in after.
Forlorn Terrance turned and howled to Aquasol, grasping a handful of fruit off the ledge, “Without these he will never escape her cave!” “We should go after him” Replied Aquasol with concern. “No!..Wait…that’s how she plans to trap us too… but I have an idea…… that just might work” said Terrance, “Quick bring me the staff then take my satchel and go to the boat. When the tide drops ask John to fly along the bluff and look for any entrance along the waterline. Wait at a safe distance in the boat. If we not out by the next high tide you can give it up.” “What do you mean give up” asked Aquasol with concern? “Suffice to say, we’ll be in Davy Jones’ Locker” replied Terrance hastily taking the staff from Aquasol. Holding it over a ledge the serpent glided halfway up the staff, first testing the fruit with its tongue they watched it open its mouth wide and from its cap swallow the blue fruit like an egg. Terrance stuffed a handful into his mouth. Masticating them several times before swallowing, his Adams apple straining in his throat. Fighting the urge to regurgitate as they hastily wished each other luck. Aquasol departed the cave and Terrance entered the empty pond.
Sitting on the edge of the hole, clasping the base of the staff, he raised his hands above his head and dropped into the tunnel. Eyes closed he surrendered himself to the slippery, stomach whoozing, roller coaster decent. He was mercilessly keelhauled through the gloryhole by leathers of kelp stropping his face, spinney crustaceans from crevices and gullies clawed and grated his flesh. Screaming he was spat, splashing in the inky cavity. Swirling he kicked frantically, finally he broke its surface, gasping for air he opened his eyes, it was pitch dark. “Homer!…Homer! ……Where are you?“ Cried Terrance in anguish. Other than the hollow sound of his own voice there was only gargoyle sounds of the surging water from the rocky walls. No reply came. Clasping the staff just below the neck of the fork he closed his eyes and swallowed rolling his tongue forward. The serpent on the staff glowed producing a soft laminated orb around him. Opening Homers eyes he saw what remained of His friend, gashed and slashed his body being ravaged by dark creatures swirling through his orb. Some hanging lanterns behind caverns of sharp teeth, gnashing they ripped their way across his skin, others long snapping and wiggling bored their way beneath his flesh. Others jealously snatching at drifting pieces of erupted tissues. They would come and go in waves, pain his only comfort during their departure. Circling from the periphery the glowing mermaid, shilled bubbles over darkened bones stirred by her wake.
Reverting to his own vision Terrance pointed the staff downward from the rotating surface, looking for the serpent’s brightest glow. Taking a gulp of air he followed its bearing into the swirling depths, he swam and swam, his lungs burning for release. The looming bait ball bringing both hope and anxiety. Swimming under the bait ball, he found a hard surface to thrust himself off, upwards brandishing the staff into its frenzied mass. Immediately it set upon him, ripping and gnashing until he felt the staff make firm contact with Homers body. Immediately the serpent wriggled on the staff. Relaxing his grasp it swam up the staff into the back of Homers head. Maintaining pressure Terrance continued swimming punting Homer upward towards the swirling surface. The screaming pressure on his ears began to subside and finally they broke air. The back of Homers head was marsh mellowed over the staff. Terrance’s energy spent, he could do nothing but keep their heads above the water, panting and gulping frantically.
Slowly the pain in his muscles subsided and his breathing became more regular, gently kicking he propelled them in the direction of the nearest gushing wall. Timing the surge he kicked forward hard as the surge raised them over boulders, paddling as best he could with his free arm, the other tridently holding the back of Homers head. When his paddling hand touched rock, it was thankfully smooth from untold years of wave action, possibly genesis rocks from the original eruption. Gliding across its surface, Terrance felt the surge reached its capacity, then he pressed his hand and feet down anchoring himself to its surface. The water pulling at their bodies, then sinking away from the solid surface.
Terrance managed to pull Homers limp almost shredded skeletal remains onto the top of the rock while dark lecherous creatures oozing and slithering from his wounds. Confident the tide was falling, he began to laugh hysterically in the disbelief they had made it this far. Placing the staff between them he noticed the serpent was missing and collapsed exhausted.
Terrance awoke to a wheezing sound, then he recalled they were in the cave and the rest of events came flooding back. Fearing Evelyn’s presence he lay motionless trying to pin point its direction. It wasn’t from the blowhole above? It wasn’t from water, now way below? Terrance strained his ears, it… He sat bolt upright. It was Homer! Barely breathing but there it was a slow strained gargoyle and whimpering squeal not very steady but definitely breathing. Terrance’s spirit lifted, he pulled Homer up into a sitting position. Homers head lolled forward. Wedging the staff against a lip that crossed over both sides of the rock, he articulated Homers head placing the forks in the back of his skull. Stepping back he paused to survey his friend’s injuries. Homers exposed organs and ruptured intestines began squirming, wriggling themselves back into his stomach, his arms and legs twitched as his flesh and skin healed leaving wavy mauve scars. There was a final spiral movement under his skin about his navel, followed by a pregnant pause. Out of the shadowy crack between his legs a green glow appeared, through it the point of an egg tooth poked emerging from the fabric remains of his cheap pants. Parting them into a puta, his head appeared then he sailed out upwards over Homers stomach into an arched curve crowned by a thick hood to dance the Blue Bird. Hypnotically swaying its body, head motionless eyes fixed on Homers vacant stare. Tongue tasting the air it built slowly to climax waves pulsed through its body spraying obsidian venom up over Homers stomach smoking Sinivali blue, then it rolled in it, scales smouldering. Flicking its tongue the egg tooth spasmed across Homers flesh, signature style. Scrolling down his belly, stopping just shy of his naval. Hissing a trail that vaped through the green mist of his glow. He drew himself up from his middle bent doubled like a geometridae worm, his head naval gazing. With a final pulse running from Homer’s groin, up, over and down into his head. Mouth open, he individually unsheathed and flexed sabre fangs over Homers fleshy caldera. Disgorging the remaining obsidian from his venom sacks into a boiling full stop. Reversing up his bent over body he raised himself fully erect to admire the glowing tattoo of the mermaid, diving through a mauve waved ocean of scars toward Homers groin. Her hand outstretched, just shy of his belly button. Flexing his hood with satisfaction and licking strands of the smoke he hissed “Tell him to find the people of the all-sea eye, they make pearls by the shallows of a full mooned tide.”
Air began whistling trough the cavity ……. with whispered chants from below…….
“Then he bowed down kissing her hand
Snapping a tooth from the tip of his snout
Into her finger it would sprout, only its tip pointing this out
She lay caressing his lip,
Hooking him, by the skin off his teeth in a careless slip
Unzipping his sheath over her hip, she shed his coils up through her limbs
Tryst with delight, he escaped in the night,
She remained bare, but for the mark of his skin
Abdomined she will lay, when he sails away
Stroking her nail, he will spin her a new tail”
The chanting faded as the serpent sailed across Homes chest, over his Adams apple, beyond his gaping mouth. Pausing to lick either side of his septum with the forks in is tongue. Over his head down the staff onto the rock before rising on the staff to lick the back of Homes head.
“What happened!” asked homer gasping for air. Terrance had to catch himself almost losing his balance. “Your alive! The rest I will tell you later, right now I don’t think either of us have the stomach for the details.”
Terrance said “hold on one second” pulling the staff from Homers head. Homer sat patting his stomach and rubbing the back of his head. “That was intense!” He exclaimed “It sure was, take a look” Said Terrance handing Homer the staff. Homer took the staff, using it to support himself he pulled himself up with Terraces hand. Standing, Terrance told Homer to stamp the staff’s but on the rock. When he did the tattoo lit up its blue mixing with the green glow of the staff making aquamarine pearly movements over his skin. Homer gasped, Terrance caught his arm steadying him back down in shock. As he sat, his skin creased the mermaids arm, pulling it. Both men gasped! Homer proceeded to roll his stomach and they watched as she swam through his scars, dipping her finger towards his obsidian navel. Homer leaned back looking at Terrance his mouth and eyes wide open. The serpent releasing the staff, sailing over the fork then along Homers arm, behind his head, out through his mouth, crossed his Adams apple and his chest. Coiled on his stomach it laid a small ruby egg which melted into his naval. It then returned to the staff and made its bed. Both men began crying with credulity, their tears rising up the cavity through the blowhole and echoing in the cave above, fresh air fluted through the rocks below.
John watched as his three companions ascended the beach their trailed paths snaking over each other. When they reached the top he saw them burdened, walk along its edge and disappear amongst the dark rocks. The shadow of the bluff quickly extending across the bay towards him.
They were just visible, silhouetted in the dusk light on the slab, the rocks exhaling its dark vapours over them. He watched the silent stars appear about and the soft glow of the flickering fire, perched like a lighthouse on the snout of the bluff. Slowly its glow fading with the rising tide.
An intense surge of waves produced rolling crashes of white foam, uncoiling along the shore from the bluff across the bay towards him. The sails below flashing green as they passed. The “S” slithering freely across its canvass, illuminating bats swooping through its glow. It was too much for John, he reached down and clasping the flag, he clocked it about himself and sat shivering in the dark waiting for his friends return. Slowly the sound of waves began to soften lulling him with intermittent slumber.
The first light was just tipping the crest of the bluff. Aquasol could now see his way through their treacherous maze. During the night he had grouped his way about halfway through before deciding it was too perilous to continue after twice nearly falling to certain death. He had found a smooth surface and waited anxious about his friends below. Listening to the hauntingly beautiful wind fluting trough the rocks with the stars whispering in twinkles.
Emerging out from the rocks Aquasol’s spirit was lifted by the sight of the boat still on the beach. Descending the incline he was concerned to see no sign of John. Only the flag draped over the yard like a vulture. As he approached the boat John awoke peeping out from within the flag he saw Aquasol. “Aquasol is that you!” He shouted with joyous relief “Where are the others?” Shrugging off the flag a few bats hiding in its shelter took flight startling both John and Aquasol. “John! Is that you?” echoed a relived reply from Aquasol.
“Quick the others are trapped somewhere below the cave, we must take the boat and find a way in along the waterline!,” said Aquasol with urgency. “Are you bat shit crazy? Our friends have been swallowed by the cave and you want us follow them in?” replied John. “No, just you, I’m going to wait on the boat at a safe distance,” laughed Aquasol. “No! No, no’” said John anxiously pacing up and down the end of the yard.” Seriously John, we have until the next high tide to free them or they will be lost to us forever!” Said Aquasol, already pushing the vessel down the incline toward the water.
The morning breeze was light, but Evelyn only needed a stiff of air to prance across an aqueous stage. The tide close to its ebbing point. They fist followed the inner edge, skirting the bluff in the rising morning light. Scouring the rocks along the waterline for any recess that might gain them access through the rising stele slabs. The first pass was quick with Jon making short sorties from the yard to any promising shadow. Calling out for Homer and Terrance as he flew. With no success, disappointed they returned from the far side with John flying the whole way along the rocky perimeter gulls looking puzzled at this colourful fish out of water noisily giving way to his approach. Honking seals in alarm clearing his path, flapped irritated disapproval into the sea. Again they returned with no sign of entry above or below the waterline. Regrouping John reported numerous cracks, nooks and crannies all along the perimeter but hardly a feather nor and egg could pass between any. They decided to wait beyond the bluff where they could see both sides and still view the slab. John refused to fly anywhere near the cave saying if their friends managed to re-emerge from there, they would make themselves visible.
The gulls were active, flying to and fro from the cliffs, gliding overhead and scouring the rocks for any morsels exposed by the low tide. Behind the cliffs was a magnificent backdrop of malachite banded foliage thrust apart by the volcano, stretching out of the cargo net vegetation. The giant barnacle was partially dusted with an icy collar that quickly yielded to steeply descending ridges of dark magma and ash. From a side vent a thin crimson vein pumped orange blood down into the sea behind. Billows of steamy clouds wafted up to meet vented plumes of smoke and ash washing the sky behind.
Doldrumed and drowsed by the heat of the sun Aquasol and John sat drifting spirits sunk. They were jolted out of their misery by a loud rumble followed by a thunderous crack. Watching transfixed as a new vent was fired from the side of the volcano. Like a severed artery it pumped sprays of molten rock over the ash onto vegetation below. Moments later fiery explosions from the bamboo crackled like fireworks. John cried out remorsefully. “Our friends are now surely lost to us!”
“Look” cried Aquasol with excitement, “below the cave!” The two watched open mouthed, their eyes lit up as rocks tumbled from beneath the slab crashing into the sea forming a second cave below. Aquasol quickly adjusted the sails and steered the craft away from the cave. “Aquasol what are you doing?” shouted John “You going the wrong way” “No, we must avoid the downstream wave first and more rock may fall.” Hopefully they will survive and we can pick them up when the dust settles.”
In the eerie silence that ensued. Terrance asked Homer “Are you ok, can you walk? “ I, …I think so” replied Homer, composing himself. Cautiously standing once more on the rock, “How far down does it go?” Asked Homer peering over the side. Terrance did the same. It was a large rock with others clustered around and below. The light was too dim to see how far down it descended. The surge had dissipated, all that could now be heard was dripping water. Using the staff as a torch and belaying each other over difficult places they descended the boulders towards the sound of the dripping pool.
They reached a flat basalt surface scattered with darkened bones some partially in shallow drifts of sand, on a wide mantelpiece stretching the full cavity width. Walking across it, on one side rose vertical rock, blotched with shadowy pockets, limping bones out its face. The other side dropped onto three wide steps running the width of the cavity. Bookended by large boulders, those from which they had descended. The steps led down into a vast, dark dripping pool. Midway along its length, out of the pool, close to the steps, rose a dolmen of three standing granite slabs, balanced above rested another protruding over them, ending just shy of the steps. Perched over it was a tall obsidian egg.
With trepidation they approached, standing on the edge of the mantelpiece. Homer raised the staff illuminating the egg, its highly polished dark surface reflecting the green wick of his torch. Just below its surface they could make out the fossilised remains of dark squidling creatures, swirled in a frenzied carnival of gnashing teeth and wide haunting eyes.
Under the dolmen a loud croak emanated, amplified by its enclosure, the sound boomed up the stairs startling the two out of their wits. There was a pause before Homer stared at Terrance perplexed, Terrance shrugging his shoulders in reply.
Homer dipped the tip of the staff under the gap illuminating the inside of the dolmen. Swimming through the inky water with just its head above the surface a green serpentine face appeared. It approach the step. Resting its chin on the lip of the lower step it paused gazing at Homer. Then two little hands appeared either side of its smiling face. With a splosh a green frog landed in the middle of the lower wide step. Homer and Terrance recoiled in freight while the frog quietly sat smiling at Homers waving mermaid, its throat bobbing in her glow.
Then the frog spoke in a clear calm voice, “Who is the man that bares Poseidon’s daughter?” “I am Homer” came a confused reply. The two men approached the edge again. Dipping the staff for better lamination they watched as the serpent woke on the staff, moved forward over the fork to bestow Bufotenine kisses on either of the amphibian’s cheeks.
The frog sat smiling then continued, “answer three questions true and secure your release. Get one wrong and the polished egg will shred your flesh, then your greyed bones will be entered below.” Homer and Terrance tuned towards each another and blinked.
“Who carries the greatest load?” asked the frog.
The two men looked at one another for an answer, blinking shrugs is all they reciprocated. Horrified their fate had be sealed, Homer wished Aquasol was there, he surely would have the answer. Then recalling his crossing from the lagoon and the instruction given by his mentor, Homer quietly answered. “Water carries the greatest load, both above its surface in ships and below in sediments, between it swims the most life including the largest animal, the graceful whale.”
Out of the dark perimeter came low whispering replies “Aye, aye.” Homer and Aquasol turned to see greyed bones, assembling themselves. Higgledy-piggledy they rattled together. Limbs in wrong sockets, some missing and others of unequal length. They drew themselves up from the mantelpiece deck, crawling out amongst the boulders. Dropping out of shadowed pockets in the basalt face. Some crashing down, others sailing with rope. Half clothed some weaponed, they stalked, shuffled and crawled. Chattering their teeth in low whispers, they squabbled, swapping apparels and appendages. Pressing a sickle about the two men, they stood shoulder to shoulder bobbing and weaving. Ogling Homers majestic tattoo they began whispering a chant.
“Then he bowed down kissing her hand
Snapping a tooth from the tip of his snout
Into her finger it would sprout, only its tip pointing this out
She lay caressing his lip,
Hooking him, by the skin off his teeth in a careless slip
Unzipping his sheath over her hip, she shed his coils up through her limbs
Tryst with delight, he escaped in the night,
She remained bare, but for the mark of his skin
Abdomined she will lay, when he sails away
Stroking her nail, he will spin her a new tail”
The frog croaked again, the two men turned to face it and the whispering stopped. The frog leapt to the middle of the second step then spoke. “Imposters there have been many, CSW is one, to name three. Give us your full spirit name that we may all see. If it’s a true fit key, all our spirits can be set free.”
With oohs and ahhs the pirates wormed chattering, some skulking to the stairs to watch. Hushing themselves they settled.
Homer went blank, what’s a spirit name he pondered in panic. Everyone waited in anticipation, then from deep within his marrow he blurted “I’m, Homer, Satoshi Nakamoto”
There was a pregnant pause. Homer felt a sharp prick about his belly button. Rubbing it with his index, his tip hooking her nail, a crimson tear, splashing his navel. The fleshy caldera sizzled and smoked, its obsidian plug, popping onto the step, cleaving it in two, they bounced summersaulting towards the pond. In a flash the frog spat out its tongue, catching both. Zipping them back between its lips and swallowing them with a gulp, it belched “REKT”. Smiling it blink, turning it leaped and with a hollow plop it vanished into the dolmen tomb.
All naval gazing Homer, everyone watched as Evelyn kicked her legs free, shedding her tail and flashing them all fairy red hair.
With oohs and ahhs the pirates all gasped “Aye, aye”
Light broke the darkness, beamed down from the gloryhole above splashing the egg, it cracked! Shattering glassy shards, cascaded on the slab then into the deep. Before them stood a thin White Duke on a carpet of frost. From behind his rock stage rose onyx obelisks thicketed together.
Under his stage green eyes flared, towards them they swam. Slinking the stairs, rose a melanin leopard. Reaching the top step it paused crouched, burning eyes on Homer, switching its tail. One paw placed on the lip of the mantel, claws exposed poised to pounce. Homer glanced apologetically toward Terrance no longer sure of his answers. Terrance broke out in a sweat.
Hands behind his back and a twinkle in his eye the Duke spoke with a smiling voice, and asked politely. “What are Davy Jones hidden names?”
The pirates all whispering in repetition. “What are Davy Jones hidden names,” then faded into silence.
Homers hart sank he had never heard of the name Davy Jones, they were surly done for.
Terrance cleared his throat, “I recall walking the planks fantastical with a Davy Robert Haywood Jones and Jacques Brel in the Port of Amsterdam. Sadly Robert Haywood and Davy Jones never met but their spirts have since been securely respliced”.
“I do recall said the Duke.” Walking over the frosted slab, he stepped onto the mantelpiece and approached the men. His souls shedding the pain of the past in his blooded footprints on the rock behind. His Sphinx by his side. From behind his back he produced two gifts, to Homer he offered a white blossomed rose. Stroking the Melanin Sphinx who purred to his touch, he politely asked “My Dogon Queen would like to sniff your rose. Homer twitched as the cat half raised itself, first looking intently at his stomach it sniffed his naval then looking down on the rose he held she gently sniffing it twice. Each time tilting one of her majestic eyes directly over the open flower, she deposited a tear from each into its petals.
With oohs and ahhs the pirates all gasped “Aye, aye”
Turning to Terrance with his other hand he produced a chryselephantine box exquisitely inlayed, placing it in Terrance’s hand he said with a twinkling smile, “good thing you remembered my name or you would have fallen to earth dry as a bone.”
The pirates replied “Aye, aye” and everyone roared with laughter, Homer looking somewhat confused.
The pirates began chiming a chanty. Larping animated they trolled and danced on the rock bottom of the mantelpiece.
As the last words of the song faded they felt a rumble, then and a distant blast of cannon was heard, followed by random gun solutes. The pond shivered the mantel shook. Thunderous cracks ran up the wall, firing dust and stone from the shadowy pockets over the ducking heads showering the pond with blasted stone.
The dust settled with some, pirates reattaching themselves the rest dusting themselves. Staring at the wall, cracks of light had appeared across its face. With a gap across the cavity roof. The top most rocks toppled first, outward then the ones below and the rest of the wall collapsed into the sea. From above glaring sunlight flooded into the cave, showering the mantel in a monkeys wedding of sprays and salty mist from below. Next to the Duke stood a tall Nubian Queen on an inverted mantelpiece. “Look!” pointed Terrance with his index. “The fiery sun setting below the yoni slab and rising above it at the same time, after so much darkness a sunset and sunrise with no darkness between.”
Everyone oohed and aahed
Turning to Terrance the Duke asked him to please open the chryselephantine box. Terrance Turned the Box to face The Duke and his Queen. Tilting its lid towards himself it bathed the Duke and Queen in its Light. The Duke removed a brilliant ring and slipped it over her finger kissing her on the cheek. Homer offered her his rose, smiling she accepted thanking him and asked if he would open his hand. Tilting the rose over his hand, a diamond and a ruby dropped from its petals into his palm.
The pirates oohed and aahed
The Duke asked Homer “May I?” “Certainly” replied Homer. The Duke then took the two gems and placed them into the box. Before closing the lid he explained to both Homer and Terrance. “Do not open this box again until under the Milky Way upon which all our worlds’ sail, or lost souls will be trapped there causing untold mayhem. Once released under the Milky Way, you may open it within any world of your choosing. From within the Sphinxes gaze on the dawn of Aquarius, Satoshi will balance these domains. We Sovereign sailors in our gratitude will bring and trade pure spices grown on the dunes of the Milky Way.”
The Duke then removed an hour glass containing charcoaled sand from the box and explained further. “Should you ever need our assistance in times of strife turn this hourglass on the eve of the new moon and we will sail to you by the true five eyes, those of the heavens, reaching you on the next Blue Moon.”
With that he replaced the hourglass gently in the box and closed the lid.
Turning to the pirates the Duke continued, “Reborn through shit, with the fixed stars to guide us, may we prepare our sails, by the true current of the moon and the fair solar wind. Free to trade our dreams of pure milk and spice.” Then the duke turned and walked to the mouth of the cave saying “We must make haste, shortly whales will blow.”
The pirates Cheered “Aye, aye”
They all moved to the collapsed edge of the mantel, looking down to sea. The sun now fully ascended above the yoni slab. They were just becoming readjusted to the light when blue gulls began falling from above, trilling out the sky wings folded. Feathered darts arrowed hails of smoky white spay into boiling swirls of silver fish, rising to the surface from the sapphire depths of Poseidon’s Lair.
The surface exploded in front of them, a depth charged Bryde’s whale breached out from the sea. Its jaws gaping, quicksilvered fish spilling from its billowed throat. Up, up and up it went, its body emerging after. Splashing down across the cave, sheets of spray drenching and rising in its mouth.
When the spray cleared, in front of the cave bobbed and rolled a dark blue sloop in the settling foam. Running and diving like gulls, pirates swam out to the ship. Returning in rowboats to collect the rest. All aboard the crews thrilled to be at sea, immediately set about preparing her sails. Watching from the center deck together with his wife and guests, Captain Duke calmly and efficiently orchestrating the crew’s activities.
Aqusol had sailed across to the other bluff to avoid the oncoming wave from the collapsed basalt face. When they turned their sail around, they watched the spectacle of the gulls, then the whales including the one that slooped up into a ship with gulls becoming sails. Both oohing and aahing.
“Lets go” said John with excitement. “Wait, wait, said Aquasol softly “it could be a trap.” Swallowing and rolling is tongue he retrieved his inner eyes, placing the brilliant one in front and the emerald behind he focused his arms studying the cave. “I see them! They’re alive!” He whispered loudly. Then he watched them get rowed to the ship. But for some rigging the sloops flat deck provided a clear view. “Homer still has the staff!” he told John with excitement. “And Terrance is holding a beautiful box. They look worse for wear but at ease. Talking to what appears to be the Captain and his best mate.” “You sure about that” asked John. Aquasol swallowed his eyes with a smiling wink replied “I think it’s safe now, let’s go welcome them home.”
From in the rigging came a cry “ship ahoy!” Terrance and Homer looked at each other mouths open with all the pandemonium they had clean forgotten about their friends. Like a flying fish skimming the water came Evelyn, her eyes streaming salty tears of joy. The Mantids formidable stare warning beware. John clasped tight above the flag shouting “Nagaaaaa!” Aquasol stood on her bridge on hand on her mast, chin tilted skyward, trumpeting the conch in celebration, its sound heralding across the sloop, then echoing back out from Loligo bay.
The crew oohed and aahed.
THE STORM
Evelyn securely tethered behind the sloop with a line thrown from the ship. Aquasol with John on his shoulder was welcomed by his friends and introduced to Captain Duke and his Wife. The Queen informed John that it was now safe for him to return home and his Queen, Sheba was waiting for him on the Island of the Moon. The Duke informed him that after a short detour via the Milky Way they would be calling there to trade spices and he was welcome to accompany them. John bowed his head in gratitude thanking the Queen and Duke. He thanked Homer and Aquasol wishing them well. Turning to Terrance he did the same and told him of the erupted vent and exploding bamboo. “We must hurry!” said Terrance looking toward the volcano the vents pulsing fountains of fire and boiling smoke. Behind the island dark clouds were forming. “The mountain dragons are flying! John quick, go to the crow’s nest and keep your eyes peeled for the dragon of the sea.” “Witch dragon is that?” enquired John perplexed. “You will know it when you see it” replied Terrance, his expression serious “it’s the Leviathan.” The crew all stopped what they were doing at the sound of its name. The silence was enough to make ghosts uneasy. Not a sail fluttered, nor a plank express discomfort. Captain Duke shouted. “Come lads, let’s not be remembered as, those who when released from the gnashing cave by the skin of their teeth but were swallowed, standing in their sleep, by the dreaded monster of the deep! Prepare to sail at once.” With added fervor the crew continued their preparations. After considered exchange together with the Captain and his Mate, balanced with both heart and mind they hatched a plan and set its course.
The three friends returned to their boat coiling their staff against its mast and stowing the box within her hull. Her sail was set and the ships line released. Sailing alongside the sloop they headed to the end of the island. Rounding its horn they beat their way towards the approaching storm.
Swimming to greet them approached the jaws of two deranged oceans, one upon which they sailed, another floating above in a ferment of vapers. Greys of blue rolled through white, flashing with thunder. It came tumbling towards them. The ocean below reflected the fight, in inky green waves with white horses fleeing about. From within this twisted soup the baleful beast leapt out!
“There she blows!” Cried John spotting it first
Their plan was simple but by no means assured. The two boats set course directly towards the thrashing creature. All crews resigned to what would surely be their watery grave. Swallowed and drowned to the deepest ocean recess, a place where light is unknown. To be exuded in excrement or shed from its skin. There in the dark sediment they would be interred within.
Evelyn dropped back some distance behind the sloop as it skirted the outer coil of the constricting storm. Shortly after the demon of the deep noticed the sloop. Paused its thrashing and leaping about. Raising a lobster spiked head with rotting blue eyes it sniffed them, sneering icy sharp teeth from its cavernous mouth, thee ships wide. Enormous gills fanned rows of boney, harpoons spraying foamed water across its arching back. Riggings of splintered masts, webbed in torn bleached sails, crowned its spine above bloated grey flesh, netted in ghostly white scales. Moby came cleaving towards them.
Together the captains lured the monstrous Dick, racing the spiraled wind, through and over crashing waves, determined to dash and swallowed them in troughs of dark space. With only the steady skipper’s nerves and nimble crew’s hands were the crafts able to remain upright and afloat. Taking turns in distracting the nautical beast, they managed to avoid its gnashing sharp teeth. Baiting the Leviathan’s course they screwed its currents tighter and faster as they sailed, zipping perilously about its snout. Once the ocean was determinedly funneled, both craft broke the storms grasp and sailed in opposite directions towards each end of the island. Leaving the lecherous monster swimming in its own suck chasing its tail, down to the oceans bung.
They watched as the two swirling oceans approach the center of the island. The lower ocean current deflecting against the land and the upper continuing to pass directly over the volcano. With the intense drop in pressure the volcano exploded up through the eye. Releasing its fiery dragons spitting and swirling sprays of lava trough nostrils of ash and smoke. The two ships sailed to regroup at a safe distance off the bluffing jaws of Loligo Bay. Here they watched the cyclone of rain, wind, smoke and fire. Slowly the eye moved forward flashing with sheet lightning. As it passed the jaws of the bay, the lava tube glowed orange. Sealing the cave above.
The eye now cleared, Aquasol gave a singled trumpet and both vessels raced towards the jaws, their sails now filling with warm dragon’s breath the boats began to spiral up. Up, up and around they went before passing through its center.
Homer opened his eyes, he was lying face up in his reclined chair. Still groggy with sleep he lay motionless for a while staring at the celling as music from the TV softly floated back into his head. Then taking off the glasses he was relieved to see his headache was gone.
Awake homer decided to make lunch his son who would be home from school soon. He had just put the kettle on and was busy making sandwiches and tea when he heard the front door open then close, the sound of footsteps passing along the passage followed.
“Hey dad what’s Bitcoin?” said is son walking into the room. Homer twitched, then he stopped what he was doing and walked to greet his son, patting him affectionately on his shoulder. ”What, no hello?” inquired Homer with a jestful hint of disappointment. His son gave him a distracted smile while slipping his backpack to the floor. “Do you want the long or the short answer?” asked Homer. “Dad it’s a homework question“. Homers face lit up with a chuckling grin, “O boy! Finally a homework problem I can answer. So long or short” “Ag Pleez Deddy its homework, the short one.” Came the whining reply. “Ag alright then” began homer “Bitcoin is about getting us safely back down to earth from a fiat moon this is our space ship and the financial system needs fixing. Nearly everything we say it is, it isn’t and everything we say it isn’t, it is. Never before has a shared opinion been more certain yet more disputed.” He could see his sons eyes begin glazing over and paused, “Ok that’s it, but one day when you ready. I will share my Bitcoin story with you, that one I think you’ll enjoy” Said Homer with a smiling twinkle. “Thanks Dad” came a distracted reply from his son scrolling through messages on his phone.
This is a chapter from ONCE IN A BLUE MOON - A Carbon Copy of the Bitcoin Blue Print