“It doesn’t matter, just as long as Captain Wall thinks I’m capable. I take it your ship has been taken?” she asked, freeing his hands.
“Yes.”
“Angelo, are your exterminators on their way?”
“Yes, they should be here just after sundown.”
“Do you think they would be up to pissing off the Peacock when they have finished?”
Angelo smiled. “It would be a pleasure. I take it the plan is to get rid of the ATzxes. Then we appear to take off, and once the landing party is here to look for the treasure…”
“You take the Peacock and release Waite’s men and any others who’d rather perish in the lake then be slaves for eternity. Also, I expect they have taken your treasure, Captain Waite.”
“Treasures can be gathered again. But I would like my navigator back. Harley is the best in the seven GSDs.”
Angelo nodded. “How will I know this Harley?”
“He’s a hippy, dresses badly, and says groovy and man a lot.”
“I need to rendezvous with the flock. Mia, can you hold the cave?”
Mia drew two swords out of her backpack. “We can.” She handed one to Captain Waite.
Angelo ran towards the entrance and sprouted his wings and flew away.
“He makes it look so easy,” Mia said. She set a few light discs down to keep the ATzxes from advancing from the depths of the cave.
“Friend of yours?” Waite asked, referring to Angelo.
“Colleague,” she said. “Long story.”
“I now know why you were incensed on releasing the birdmen.”
“Originally, I misunderstood and thought they were dead,” Mia admitted. “You see, if their bodies are kept out of the light, their souls can’t transcend. So, imagine my surprise to find them still alive.”
“Did Stephen catch up with you yet?”
“I don’t think he’s intending to come here. I heard that he did make it back to his farm.”
“He has a message from me and the dagger I took off you. I wanted to give it back.”
“Thank you, I’ll collect it later.”
“I wanted him to tell you…” Captain Waite stopped and seemed to think better of it.
“What?”
“I know what you had to do to free those birdmen. I wanted you to know that you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Thanks to you, I didn’t have to follow through,” Mia said. “I’m still trying to figure out how far I would have gone. I’m married and love my husband with my whole heart. Was it adultery I was playing with, even though most of the action was just an illusion I put in Crocker’s mind?”
“It was warfare,” Waite said.
“Warfare,” Mia repeated. “What were you before you were a pirate?” Mia asked.
“A carpenter. I was working aboard a ship making repairs to the center mast when the ship was swallowed whole by the GSD during a storm. I worked my way up to quartermaster and then inherited the captaincy of the Devil’s Pride.”
“I was sorry to hear about Crocker’s death. I couldn’t abide his sport, but he was fair with me.”
“So, you didn’t kill him?”
“No, and knowing who did won’t bring him back.”
“Warfare,” Waite said. “Mia, I’m starting to lose my connectivity.”
“Go ahead, get to your ship. Do you think you can swim or would you like a ride?” Mia asked, standing up. She brought forth her wings and let the armor fall.
Waite was mesmerized. “There is a prophesy about such a set of wings.”
“Did they belong to a birdman?” Mia asked.
“No, they were on an angel.”
Mia walked closer to Waite. “Don’t tell me what happens. It will spoil the ending.” She grew and wrapped her wings around both of them and disappeared.
Chapter Thirty-five
Ted looked down at his phone and then at the group around the table. “Mia’s going to be late. She’s got a few Darker than Darks to fry. Angelo has called in a flock.”
“Thank God, we didn’t go any further into the cave,” Mike said.
“Will the fire destroy the treasure?” Patrick asked.
Ted read the next text. “She anticipated your question and answered that the treasure, if there is one, is metal. Gold and Silver plates. She also said, she didn’t see anything like that inside the cave.”
“Ask her how she knows this?” Patrick requested.
“A pirate named George Wall told her but fifteen minutes ago.”
“Shit! He’s come for his treasure…” Patrick said, standing up.
“Patrick,” Sabine said, grabbing his sleeve, stopping him. “It’s his treasure.”
“Burt, Mia says she’s activated two recording devices. We may want to see if they are transmitting.”
Burt jumped up, dropped a hundred-dollar bill on the table for the bar tab, and ran out of the restaurant.
“I’m going to go with him. Anybody else curious?” Ted asked.
“Hello,” Mia said, walking out of the smoke. “I’m here in Big Turtle Cave. Forgive the smoke, but it seems, without smoke, there is no fire…”
Mason groaned.
Ted watched, enchanted. Mia was walking around like a pirate. Her sword was tucked in a baldric that swung from her hip.
“I’ve ventured deeper into this cave to see if indeed the treasure was left here and to show our viewers some ghost pirates. George Wall and his crew are climbing the cliff as I speak. I’m going to leave this camera facing the tunnel and continue into this crevice. It’s tight going through here. Damn. I shouldn’t have eaten all those donuts,” she said.
“Told her,” Ted said.
The camera picked up the wall and the light, they had yet to identify, that was illuminating the rocks. It opened up, and Mia pulled the camera off her shirt and spoke, “I’ve found some steps going down…
“Activity on the other camera feed,” Cid announced.
The group turned to see what Disney had
