S. Welles - To Ocean's End

Mido gazed at her longingly with pale eyes, a dead giveaway to the choice he wanted her to make. “And on that note as well, I should get started on lunch. I’d love to talk with you about everything he just said, but I’d just be biased.” He leaned in and pecked the top of her head. “Rest well.”

Jessie took ahold of Mido’s hand and reeled him back in. He gave her a puzzled look as his face drew within inches of hers. She gave him a kiss on his forehead. “Now you can go cook.”

Mido gave her a million-dollar smile as he straightened up. He brushed his fingers over where he’d been kissed. “I’m a very lucky man today. Thank you!” He didn’t take his eyes off her as he waved and walked right into the doorframe. The wood crunched and he let out an “oof!” He grabbed the frame to steady himself, then blinked a few times and shook his head. He popped an embarrassed smile and disappeared down the hall with a final farewell.

Jessie couldn’t help but laugh. It had been so unexpected. Someone who spoke and moved so smoothly capable of running right into a wall? She popped the side of the bunk back into place, drew the curtain, and settled down. The relative darkness brought her right back into Dyne’s container and steered her thoughts towards more serious matters.

Dyne didn’t look like he could turn into a demon, or that he bore a curse, so maybe there was nothing to feel or see. But still, after all she’d been through on Tethys’s ship, her growing relationship with Mido had to be proof that some sort of magic had to be going on. No one but him made her feel totally safe, happy, and at ease. And he was most certainly falling for her. She loved his soothing voice, his gentle eyes, the way his muscles flexed, and even the way he made sure she did what was best for herself when she felt like being stubborn. Gosh, maybe she was falling for him, too.

Despite all that, Dyne had made it clear that having an avatar around ensured a high chance of death for everyone, including her. He’d also made it clear that she didn’t have to go through with it.

But then Dyne might run out of time if occurrences like her sneaking into his container inevitably continued. Avatars were few and far between. What if another didn’t come along before it was too late? But if she stayed, then people might die because of her. She didn’t want anyone’s death on her conscience, not even jerks like Jacobi. So, if she went home and stayed home, the current crew, including Mido, would have a much better chance of living their lives in full. Another avatar would pick up the torch one day.

Yeah, that sounded like the best option.

To make sure that happened, she’d have to run away come Morocco. The longer she stayed on Dyne’s ship, the harder it would be to leave the comfort of Mido’s company. The parting would hurt, but it was for the greater good.

Two days after my chat with Jessie, Morocco’s rocky coast formed on the horizon. I needed a mini vacation from the Pertinacious like a horse that needed to hump a mare in heat. Come to think of it, I needed some pleasurable company, too. Both Newport and Port Chesapeake had been too brief to burn such energy. Nothing like a land full of exotic beauty to relax in.

Revivre, the city that used to be called Casablanca, had changed a lot over the last two centuries. It got blasted pretty good during the Purge, just like every major city, but this place had made a comeback not only in practicality, but also aesthetically. The architecture was a mix of primitive mud bricks and smooth stonework, and a shore lined with wind turbines. Roofs rotated so the solar panels lining them always faced the oppressive sun. Color thrived in the form of murals made out of paint and ceramic tiles. Revivre was art under a sea of solar panels and palm fronds. The streets were filled with bicycles and kinetic-powered carts, and every building powered by electrical cables running underground.

Revivre: Latin for revive. Yeah, this place was revived alright.

The port was bursting with ships and boats, and even another steam frigate I’d have to compete with for business. So long as it wasn’t Tethys, which it wasn’t, I didn’t care. Sauna knew how to work the shipping industry with rivals around.

I flipped a few switches so the whole ship could hear me. “Everyone prepare to dock in fifteen. It’s busy out there. And Sauna, we’ve got competition, so work your magic and get us another European delivery.”

“You got it, Captain,” came Sauna’s Dominican voice.

“Also, just a heads up: we’re spending a couple of days here to cure ourselves of cabin fever. Usual rules apply: always three people on the boat, and don’t come back until you’re nice and loose.” I flipped all the switches off and kept an eye out for the dock that awaited our arrival.

It being nearly lunch time, my mind was on cheeseburgers. Revivre was a mix of Spanish, African, and Middle Eastern food and cultures, but they hadn’t forgotten to add in the American burger to their menu in certain eateries. I was craving one so bad that I was seeing burger shapes everywhere in the scenery. On top of that, one minute I was approaching the dock, then the next minute, the Pertinacious was tied down and everyone was on deck. I cut power to the props and headed to Sam, who was handing out everyone’s pay.

Sam had a handheld computer tablet that was my mobile bank. It connected to every other bank in the world via old satellites that still functioned after the Purge. Money was interesting nowadays. Coins and paper bills still floated around, especially in inland places where technology hadn’t caught back on yet. The need for a wallet for shore and seafaring people had vanished. Everyone had a scannable piece of biotechnology surgically inserted into a forearm shortly after birth, or a hip if they lacked limbs.

Keys in hand, and wheelhouse locked, I zipped over to Sam for my cheeseburger money. And mini vacation money. Cheeseburger first. All other important matters later. Well all of that after I picked up Jacobi’s slack to offload one delivery off the boat and get the next one on. I’d volunteered to make up for doing nothing during lockdown.

With a bit of typing on a touchscreen and a few beeps, Sam finished downloading Mido’s money onto his identification chip. Jessie stood beside him, watching. I silently commended her for not cringing when she spotted me. She was building courage fast. However, she did keep Mido between us. No complaints.

“Good timing, Captain,” Sam said. “How much do I give our bodyguard?”

“Wait, I’m getting money?”

“Eight days of routine starter wages, plus the usual bonus for surviving curse complications.”

Jessie said, “Is this a joke?”

“No, actually. Enjoy what you’ve earned so far.”

Sam said, “Jessie, lemme give the captain his money real quick. I have to register you to our system.” He aimed the tablet at me and in seconds I had a full digital wallet. “Have fun, Captain. See you in two days.”

I tipped an invisible hat and headed over to my cargo pushers. My favorite Moroccan burger joint was already calling my name, but it’d have to wait a bit.

Jessie almost said goodbye to Dyne but she just waved and stayed quiet. The less suspicion the better. She’d gone about her usual morning routine of showering alone and eating with Mido. He’d asked if she wanted another coffee lesson but she politely declined. Mercifully, he gave no outward indication that he thought anything of it. Her heart had already been feeling heavy from her plan to leave him behind with the rest.

Sam collected her personal information and gave her $487.50 in universal dollars. Jessie went wide-eyed. She’d been expecting nothing.