Chapter 4 Recuerdo
Spike and Fred return from Campeche; Illyria is not pleased with her Qwa’ha Xahn
Music: After Dark, Tito and the Tarantulas
Chapter 4 Recuerdo
Fred looked out her window at the late afternoon shadows beginning to creep across the village of Porto Gordo. Just a while longer, she thought, let the sun slow down just a little bit.
Her new room was already getting crowded; full of the spoils of the nights shopping expedition but she was reluctant to begin working.
**************************************************
Spike’s boat had been moored, mast down, in a smallish cave close by the Mermaid. It was a handy escape hatch for quick get-aways and part of a tunnel system connecting with others of the many limestone caves that riddled the Yucatan, too. He’d found it sometime during his earlier excavations beneath the old fort and with a little judicious digging had enlarged his daytime access considerably.
Dim lighting from their torches made it a bit dangerous, but Spike had led her carefully upwards, explaining where the pitfalls lay.
Edgar and Allen had been so kind to her on the long boat ride home, explaining the navigation equipment and showing her dolphins sporting in the wake. It had been all she could do to keep from giggling when they swung down on deck from the rigging, their long striped tails waving like flags. When they moored the boat, the twins had grinned and snatched up the equipment and box of books as quick as winking and scurried up the dark stairs from the cave entrance, leaving her to carry only a small stack of CD’s up through the winding pathway.
Spike had had been busy on the radio earlier, getting Tio Pepe ready to expect them.
When they’d strolled into the bar, there had been a generous heap of pollo pelado and tiny tortas filled with queso fresco and ham waiting for them. Spike and the boys enthusiastically fell on the feast, following it with a generously portion of chili-roasted maguey worms and a dozen bottles of beer. Fred hadn’t much of an appetite, though, nibbling on the delicious food and sipping on a single beer. Spike was worried, but said nothing.
“C’mon, love. Time to get your room sorted. I’m thinking you might like a view of the bay, yeah?” She smiled, as he seemed so anxious for her to be pleased, and followed him up a short flight of stone stairs. “We were gonna use it for an office, so it’s already wired up for everything.”
Her room was at the top of an old tower with windows all around, shuttered against the tropical sun and cooled with a pair of softly whirling ceiling fans. A soft bed with clean sheets and a colorful woven blanket; an old-fashioned roll-top desk and a small bookcase completed her little nest.
“This was the commandant’s room back when this was a fortress. You’ve got a view all round of the bay and the village.”
“It’s so pretty Spike. Did you do all this yourself?”
“Not me. Tia Nell did the decoratin’ while we were gone. You fix it up how you like it though. Just tell ‘er what you want. Our credits good down the Mercado. After the sun goes down, maybe we’ll go down the cantina for some dancin’ or what all.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and shuffled his feet like a little boy expecting to be punished.
“Is that a promise? ‘ Cause I’m holdin’ you to that, mister!” His smile was nearly as bright as hers.
“I always keep my promises, sweet. You just say the word.”
“I thought you promised me a surprise?”
He grinned again, “That’s right, so I did.” Her eyes lit up and he said, “Got it right here in m’pocket…but maybe you’d rather wait…”
“Why, you!” She began to splutter, but he pulled out a brightly ribboned box and presented it to her.
“Ooo! Oh, Spike!” she cooed.
“D’ya like ‘em? I know they’re not the most expensive pair of earrings, but...” His apologies were cut off by a soft pair of arms twining themselves around his neck followed by a swift kiss.
“Oh, Spike, they’re just beautiful!”
He looked so bashful and uncertain, that she had to hug him again.
“It’s doves, y’see there?” he pointed out two small shapes hidden in the silver filigree, “They mean faithfulness.”
Fred looked deep into his eyes and felt her own smart with unshed tears. His gaze was filled with the sheer pleasure of giving a gift and having it appreciated. She stroked his cheek and kissed him softly. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for everything.”
**************************************************
Spike helped her open the boxes and place her new equipment to her satisfaction.
In addition to the powerful laptop, Fred had chosen a pair of the latest iphones and stacks of books on the Mayans. Spike had added stationery and office supplies, local magazines and newspapers and a DVD on Pre-Columbian life. It was a pitiful amount of materials to begin a research project, and she felt the tension begin to crawl up her spine. Her time was so short. Illyria would be demanding her pound of flesh as soon as the sun went down.
Spike could feel it too, and finally went quiet, merely asking where she wanted things and then going downstairs to his own rest at last.
.
I don’t even know where to start, she thought, search the internet, I reckon.
Fred looked at the computer a little hopelessly. How was she supposed to find information hidden away for millennia? She was a physicist, not a historian.
She dropped into the desk chair and stared at the screen.
Begin as you mean to go on, my granny always said.
She twisted her hair up and shoved a pencil in the topknot. She opened the laptop and began to search.
********************************************
Illyria’s imperious voice rang inside the lower levels of the Mermaid. “You will come with me instantly, vampire.”
He blinked awake and stared at the goddess quivering at the foot of his bed. “What the bloody blue hell do you mean, wakin’ me up. I ain’t had a decent day’s sleep in don’t know how many days and now you’re…”
"You will come with me instantly.” She paused and added uncharacteristically, “Please.”
He swung his legs around and off the bed, staring at her in amazement, “Well, since you asked so nicely, reckon I could do that.”
Illyria’s gaze never wavered and finally he said, “Are you gonna stand there all night. Hand me my trousers or get out of the way.”
She said nothing, but finally turned and stomped into the next room, leaving him shaking his head in astonishment.
“Never seen the like of that.”
Spike pulled on his jeans and shirt and blinked owlishly at the jumble of weapons and clothing scattered in the corners of his dark room.
“Need a pair of shoes, “he muttered, “Couldn’t hurt to bring a couple of blades. Never know what’s goin’ on ‘round here.”
Finally kitted out to his satisfaction, he trotted out to join Illyria in the lounge, “Arright, just what’s got your royal panties in a twist, then, Blue?”
She whipped her head around and glared at him before snarling, “Why have you not told me of this before? Your loyalty must be to me before all others!”
“Don’t know what you’re on about,” he scratched his chin nonchalantly, “What is it?”
She pointed to an image on the computer screen, a Mayan temple, half-hidden in the jungle. The usual carvings ringing the inside, enigmatic images of ancient and unknown gods.
“Don’t know anything about that. Need to ask Fred, she’s the big brain around here. “‘M just the muscle, ain’t I.”
“You are my Qwa’ha Xahn. You must tell me all you know of these images or I shall look into your head for myself.”
“Just a damn minute, your royal perverseness. I have had all the skull-pryin’ I intend to for a while. You can just bloody well write it down and ask Fred to find out for you or something. I don’t know. Can you get that through your big blue brain?”
“Who else would know of this place?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know where it is.”
“You cannot look at this picture on the screen and tell me? You are very worthless as a Qwa’ha Xahn if you cannot guide me as I require.”
He lowered his head mulishly, determined not to give her an inch.
“I ain’t a bloody be-damned watcher, am I? Can’t expect me to watch nothing on the telly but the Discovery Channel night’n’ day. Man has to have some time for the footy.” Even so, he fell heavily into the desk chair and squinted at the screen. “Says here this is in Chinchen Itza. Not anywhere near here. Thought you said that cenote thingy was close by?”
“It is near. I shall retrace my steps to it and return for you shortly.”
“Well, don’t be all night, ‘cause flammable here. Not allowed out to play in Mr. Sunshine.”
“I shall return before the sunrise and you shall accompany me to this cave. You may spend the day there if you require.”
He realized the futility of arguing further with the immovable goddess’ reasoning and watched her stride from the room.
“I’m gonna need a drink or three to get me through this evening.”
Previous Chapters in Ashes & Sparks
Music: After Dark, Tito and the Tarantulas
Chapter 4 Recuerdo
Fred looked out her window at the late afternoon shadows beginning to creep across the village of Porto Gordo. Just a while longer, she thought, let the sun slow down just a little bit.
Her new room was already getting crowded; full of the spoils of the nights shopping expedition but she was reluctant to begin working.
**************************************************
Spike’s boat had been moored, mast down, in a smallish cave close by the Mermaid. It was a handy escape hatch for quick get-aways and part of a tunnel system connecting with others of the many limestone caves that riddled the Yucatan, too. He’d found it sometime during his earlier excavations beneath the old fort and with a little judicious digging had enlarged his daytime access considerably.
Dim lighting from their torches made it a bit dangerous, but Spike had led her carefully upwards, explaining where the pitfalls lay.
Edgar and Allen had been so kind to her on the long boat ride home, explaining the navigation equipment and showing her dolphins sporting in the wake. It had been all she could do to keep from giggling when they swung down on deck from the rigging, their long striped tails waving like flags. When they moored the boat, the twins had grinned and snatched up the equipment and box of books as quick as winking and scurried up the dark stairs from the cave entrance, leaving her to carry only a small stack of CD’s up through the winding pathway.
Spike had had been busy on the radio earlier, getting Tio Pepe ready to expect them.
When they’d strolled into the bar, there had been a generous heap of pollo pelado and tiny tortas filled with queso fresco and ham waiting for them. Spike and the boys enthusiastically fell on the feast, following it with a generously portion of chili-roasted maguey worms and a dozen bottles of beer. Fred hadn’t much of an appetite, though, nibbling on the delicious food and sipping on a single beer. Spike was worried, but said nothing.
“C’mon, love. Time to get your room sorted. I’m thinking you might like a view of the bay, yeah?” She smiled, as he seemed so anxious for her to be pleased, and followed him up a short flight of stone stairs. “We were gonna use it for an office, so it’s already wired up for everything.”
Her room was at the top of an old tower with windows all around, shuttered against the tropical sun and cooled with a pair of softly whirling ceiling fans. A soft bed with clean sheets and a colorful woven blanket; an old-fashioned roll-top desk and a small bookcase completed her little nest.
“This was the commandant’s room back when this was a fortress. You’ve got a view all round of the bay and the village.”
“It’s so pretty Spike. Did you do all this yourself?”
“Not me. Tia Nell did the decoratin’ while we were gone. You fix it up how you like it though. Just tell ‘er what you want. Our credits good down the Mercado. After the sun goes down, maybe we’ll go down the cantina for some dancin’ or what all.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and shuffled his feet like a little boy expecting to be punished.
“Is that a promise? ‘ Cause I’m holdin’ you to that, mister!” His smile was nearly as bright as hers.
“I always keep my promises, sweet. You just say the word.”
“I thought you promised me a surprise?”
He grinned again, “That’s right, so I did.” Her eyes lit up and he said, “Got it right here in m’pocket…but maybe you’d rather wait…”
“Why, you!” She began to splutter, but he pulled out a brightly ribboned box and presented it to her.
“Ooo! Oh, Spike!” she cooed.
“D’ya like ‘em? I know they’re not the most expensive pair of earrings, but...” His apologies were cut off by a soft pair of arms twining themselves around his neck followed by a swift kiss.
“Oh, Spike, they’re just beautiful!”
He looked so bashful and uncertain, that she had to hug him again.
“It’s doves, y’see there?” he pointed out two small shapes hidden in the silver filigree, “They mean faithfulness.”
Fred looked deep into his eyes and felt her own smart with unshed tears. His gaze was filled with the sheer pleasure of giving a gift and having it appreciated. She stroked his cheek and kissed him softly. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for everything.”
**************************************************
Spike helped her open the boxes and place her new equipment to her satisfaction.
In addition to the powerful laptop, Fred had chosen a pair of the latest iphones and stacks of books on the Mayans. Spike had added stationery and office supplies, local magazines and newspapers and a DVD on Pre-Columbian life. It was a pitiful amount of materials to begin a research project, and she felt the tension begin to crawl up her spine. Her time was so short. Illyria would be demanding her pound of flesh as soon as the sun went down.
Spike could feel it too, and finally went quiet, merely asking where she wanted things and then going downstairs to his own rest at last.
.
I don’t even know where to start, she thought, search the internet, I reckon.
Fred looked at the computer a little hopelessly. How was she supposed to find information hidden away for millennia? She was a physicist, not a historian.
She dropped into the desk chair and stared at the screen.
Begin as you mean to go on, my granny always said.
She twisted her hair up and shoved a pencil in the topknot. She opened the laptop and began to search.
********************************************
Illyria’s imperious voice rang inside the lower levels of the Mermaid. “You will come with me instantly, vampire.”
He blinked awake and stared at the goddess quivering at the foot of his bed. “What the bloody blue hell do you mean, wakin’ me up. I ain’t had a decent day’s sleep in don’t know how many days and now you’re…”
"You will come with me instantly.” She paused and added uncharacteristically, “Please.”
He swung his legs around and off the bed, staring at her in amazement, “Well, since you asked so nicely, reckon I could do that.”
Illyria’s gaze never wavered and finally he said, “Are you gonna stand there all night. Hand me my trousers or get out of the way.”
She said nothing, but finally turned and stomped into the next room, leaving him shaking his head in astonishment.
“Never seen the like of that.”
Spike pulled on his jeans and shirt and blinked owlishly at the jumble of weapons and clothing scattered in the corners of his dark room.
“Need a pair of shoes, “he muttered, “Couldn’t hurt to bring a couple of blades. Never know what’s goin’ on ‘round here.”
Finally kitted out to his satisfaction, he trotted out to join Illyria in the lounge, “Arright, just what’s got your royal panties in a twist, then, Blue?”
She whipped her head around and glared at him before snarling, “Why have you not told me of this before? Your loyalty must be to me before all others!”
“Don’t know what you’re on about,” he scratched his chin nonchalantly, “What is it?”
She pointed to an image on the computer screen, a Mayan temple, half-hidden in the jungle. The usual carvings ringing the inside, enigmatic images of ancient and unknown gods.
“Don’t know anything about that. Need to ask Fred, she’s the big brain around here. “‘M just the muscle, ain’t I.”
“You are my Qwa’ha Xahn. You must tell me all you know of these images or I shall look into your head for myself.”
“Just a damn minute, your royal perverseness. I have had all the skull-pryin’ I intend to for a while. You can just bloody well write it down and ask Fred to find out for you or something. I don’t know. Can you get that through your big blue brain?”
“Who else would know of this place?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know where it is.”
“You cannot look at this picture on the screen and tell me? You are very worthless as a Qwa’ha Xahn if you cannot guide me as I require.”
He lowered his head mulishly, determined not to give her an inch.
“I ain’t a bloody be-damned watcher, am I? Can’t expect me to watch nothing on the telly but the Discovery Channel night’n’ day. Man has to have some time for the footy.” Even so, he fell heavily into the desk chair and squinted at the screen. “Says here this is in Chinchen Itza. Not anywhere near here. Thought you said that cenote thingy was close by?”
“It is near. I shall retrace my steps to it and return for you shortly.”
“Well, don’t be all night, ‘cause flammable here. Not allowed out to play in Mr. Sunshine.”
“I shall return before the sunrise and you shall accompany me to this cave. You may spend the day there if you require.”
He realized the futility of arguing further with the immovable goddess’ reasoning and watched her stride from the room.
“I’m gonna need a drink or three to get me through this evening.”
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