17 – Back to reality

RUBY WAVED THE OFFICERS GOODBYE, and retreated to a balcony chair. She watched the dust shoot up as the vehicle’s wheels gathered pace. There must be a lot of dirt roads around here. So much to take in as a city girl visiting an island paradise—everything was so different. A lizard scampered across the concrete garden edging and she wondered if it was the same one she saw yesterday. 

Was it yesterday?

She continued to watch the lizard. Why, she didn’t know, but it reminded her of demons. Lizards could be considered devilish, creepy creatures—maybe that was the trigger. She stared over towards the fence and saw something hanging there. She needed a stretch so she walked over for a closer look. It was a decoration, a weird-looking fish. She wouldn’t hang that on her fence—it was ugly and frightening. The ugly fish, particularly the large mouth and jagged teeth, just added to the devilish image building in her mind.

“You okay, Ruby?”

It was Zoe. She came over and gave Ruby a hug. 

Tears came and Ruby tried to control them. Between sobs she pointed to the fish on the fence.

“People have funny tastes with art. Weird teeth, evil eyes. I think it’s one of those fish from the deep. Apparently, it’s dark down there, hence the large eye. But I’m not sure about the mouth,” Zoe said. “I’m sure many of the islanders have the fish—I saw them for sale at the market.” 

Ruby knew Zoe meant well but her comment about the darkness . . . she felt dizzy and weak in the legs. Darkness attacked her. Zoe’s grip tightened around her and the darkness faded.

“Maybe we should make our way home, Ruby. Back to our own beds.”

Shoana came onto the balcony and walked down and joined the girls. She put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder. 

“I’m sorry about what happened, Ruby. Are you okay?”

Ruby looked at Shoana. Her eyes looked empty. 

“Not your fault.”

“It is. Shouldn’t have talked you into coming.”

“What did they do to us? We need to help the officers find whoever is responsible for this. Crazy people did this.” Ruby wanted to shout at Shoana, say it wasn’t all about her. But she held back.

“It’s like any religion,” Shoana said. “And that’s what Wiccan is. A religion. Religion attracts all sorts, and it looks like we got some bad ones that need to be dealt with. Even churches attract bad people. Look at all those priests and what they did to those young boys.”

“She’s right, Ruby. But it’s not only religion, Shoana. Community groups seem to attract the bad ones as well. You know scouts, and sports clubs.” 

“I think good and bad is everywhere,” Ruby said, gaining strength. “It’s like there’s a battle going on but the battle lines are not clearly defined. Maybe the line keeps getting moved. Maybe we’re getting too tolerant, losing touch with our creator. Pushing the line closer to evil.” Ruby was surprised by her own words.

“But that’s it. Wiccan is all about getting in touch with the creator.”

A gust of wind ran down the fence line. The ugly fish rattled in the breeze. 

Where does the wind come from, Ruby? It was her mother’s voice.

“Is it, Shoana?” Ruby asked, feeling encouraged but weak. “Maybe it’s the wrong creator, not the right one. Anyway, I’m too tired to discuss this. Let’s do it another time. Let’s go home. I’m daydreaming about my comfy bed.”

Movement. The lizard had scampered up the fence near the fish. Did she see a glimmer in the fish’s eye? Surely not. It must just be the sun, reflecting on a bottle cap. 

She needed to get off the island. She was just a city girl.

<°)))><

The moon was large in the sky, rising behind orange and reddish clouds. The tinge of the sunset reflected on the water, and there were silvery red gullies in the contours of the metal roof of the ferry terminal. Jack stood on the shoreline looking at the police barge. Its dark grey colouring was a stark contrast to the sunset, although the sky was turning a dark indigo colour in the eastern sky. There was beauty in the world but not in his world. Not today.

Maybe one day.

Catherine had told Jack the girls were in a hurry to get off the island. Ruby believed her own house and bed was the rehab she needed. Jack obliged. He met the girls at the ferry terminal and brought Christopher and Wally with him. Ruby hugged them both.

“I really don’t know what to say,” Ruby said, in between sobs. “How can I reward you both.”

“No, no, no,” Wally said. “That’s not on. Seeing you alive and well is all the reward we need. Ain’t that right, Churchie?” 

Ruby wrapped her arms around Wally. And then did the same to Christopher.

“Well then, we will have a dinner date.” Ruby said. “But it’s not to be on the island.” 

“Sounds good,” Christopher said. “But I hope in time you will come back and visit the island.”

Jack watched on. The barge was ready for boarding. 

“Okay, girls. Time to board.” Jack said.

Jack insisted the girls travel back to the mainland in the police barge. He wanted to ensure Ruby’s recovery was on track. Get her back to reality. Whatever that was.

18 – Illusions

JACK STOOD ON THE TOP DECK of the barge and watched the police vehicle drive onto the lower deck. The girls stood with him, and they were all looking back towards the island with their arms resting on the rail. Different thoughts. Different ideas. Catherine stood back and looked to the sky.

“Ah, the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” Catherine said.

“She throws things like that around occasionally,” Jack said to Ruby, Shoana, and Zoe. “She says she’s not religious but I have my doubts.”

“Come on, Jack, you’ve got to admit it is beautiful.” Catherine gave Jack a smile.

Jack smiled and nodded. “Okay, I concede.”

Zoe initiated a round of soft handclaps from the girls. Ruby clapped as well, but seemed to be trying hard to reconnect with normality. Jack looked at Catherine—the island atmosphere had relaxed his partner.

“Now the moon—it’s huge now, but when it gets higher in the sky it looks smaller.” Catherine said.

“I know what’s coming here,” Zoe said. “It’s all an illusion.”

What are these girls talking about? Catherine and Zoe had connected.

“You want to explain, Zoe, or will I?”

“Whoever is going to explain, keep it in plain English. Please,” Jack said.

“You can, detective.” Zoe waved her arm.