He needed to get to church.
He was sure the mouth of the doll moved.
Sleep. He needed sleep.
Part Five – The Prophet
56 – A very big fish
CHRISTOPHER SAT ON HIS FAVOURITE PARK BENCH. He loved the bench with its views over the bay, a view he knew many would kill for. From here, he could watch the coming and going of vehicles at the ferry terminal down below.
There were no flowers on the frangipani tree guarding the bench, no fragrance to cast a tropical spell over him. It had been a while since his bottom had last graced this bench. The last time was to welcome Wally and the riff-raff who came for the ‘back to nature’ weekend—the Blue Moon Festival they called it.
It wasn’t long before the ferry appeared, zooming towards the terminal, so he got up to walk down to meet the girl. He was pleased she wanted to meet, to take on her demons. That’s what ya gotta do. She sounded good and confident when they spoke. He’d gone to the bakery early this morning so he had a treat for them.
The ferry docked and people disembarked. She’d be easy to spot with her red hair.
Christopher reached the ferry area and sat on one of the pine logs bordering the car park. Her hair glistened in the sunlight as she disembarked from the ferry. She was comfortably dressed, jeans, a chequered shirt, a black sleeveless bubbly-looking vest and some runners on her feet. Good, because some walking was involved. She recognised Christopher and waved—a good memory. She’d wanted to come by herself. She was seeking a personal healing.
Christopher felt awkward as he’d met the girl only once before, but he knew she’d feel the same way.
She headed straight for him. “Christopher?”
He nodded and went to put out his arm to shake her hand, but instead she reached out and gave him a hug. It was awkward on his part.
“Welcome back,” Christopher said. “May your visit be a pleasant one.” He wanted to add ‘better than last time’ but that sounded inappropriate.
The girl took a deep breath. “It will be. I’m feeling good already.”
“Sorry, no wheels. We need to go for a brief walk.” He pointed up towards the park bench. “Might go the scenic way and then have some tea and cake. Fresh from the island bakery. It’s the only reason I came to the island.”
She chuckled.
As they walked out of the car park, Christopher turned back. There was that man in the mauve shirt. He’d seen the man before, and he always wore that shirt. Christopher felt uneasy, felt the urge to pay a brief visit to the unseen world. He blinked. He’d seen that demon before. It was back. Or had it been here all along, and Christopher had been ignorant of the fact?
The large green creature tilted its head and glided towards Christopher, hovering in front of him, its putrid breath attacking Christopher’s senses and its large frame overshadowing him.
Can you see me?
“I can and I stand here in the power of the Holy Spirit,” Christopher whispered with a smile.
The creature backed away, confused and hesitant.
Christopher hoped Ruby didn’t detect anything unusual. She’d come to be released from her demons, not to be attacked.
“Are you okay?” Ruby asked.
Christopher gave her a smile. “Just checking to see if there was anyone else that I knew.”
“I hope you’re referring to the physical realm.”
“Of course, and let’s get physical and climb this little hill.”
Christopher led the way up the hill, trying to quash a sense of dread. Evil was back on the island. Or maybe it never left.
They sat on the bench looking down at the sparkling waters of the bay.
“The world is a beautiful place, don’t you think?” Ruby asked.
Christopher nodded. “It is, and excuse me for being religious, but I can’t fathom how people think it just happened, that life is the result of some cosmic accident.”
“I think it’s because we don’t think about it. We don’t ask questions. We believe what we’re told.”
Well at least she’d thought about this. Wisdom was knocking at her door. “I think you’re right, Ruby. And there are too many distractions. People are scared of stillness.”
“That’s a good way of looking at it. You know, it was wanting stillness and nature that brought me to this island, to the festival.”
Christopher knew it was best for him to listen, for Ruby to speak. She’d come back to the island for healing. He watched as she scanned the peaceful blue water. She was a beautiful girl. He said a silent prayer asking for God’s peace to flow over and into her.
She sat forward. “Do whales ever come into the bay?”
He picked up her scent. Better than the frangipani tree, and he loved that smell. “Some occasionally drifted into the bay. Not a regular occurrence. I’ve heard stories, but I’ve never seen one.”
She turned to look at him. “There’s a story in the bible about a whale, isn’t there?”
“Maybe a whale or a very big fish. Big enough to hold a man for a few days.”
“Do you believe that?”
