MYSTERY OF THE DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Ahoy there, do ye need a laufgh??

What is the pirates' favourite film??

"Jason and the Aaaaarrrrr-gonauts!!!
Hehehehe!!!

Another Piratical Pun

Here we be brave lads and lasses of the Felonway, today's bit o' humour to make the day lighter.

Did you hear about the fat pirate??

His crew dubbed him 'Jowly Roger'!!!

*snerk*
*snicker*
*giggle*

Just a quick chuckle

Does anyone know what sort of socks Pirates wear?

Arrrrr-gyle!!!!
Groan, boos, and helpless snickers. Good morning loves!!!!

A New Adventure

Lesson #1: Never dive off the back of a ship in your underwear.

Lesson #2: Never dive off the back of a ship that is about ready to depart.

As I splashed around the water off the stern of the ship, savoring my new found freedom, I did not hear the uproar as word spread that the Captain had abandoned ship. Only when I saw the sail unfurl and catch the wind, did I realize something was amiss. I began shouting and waving at the crewmen on deck. They shouted back that they had their orders and could not stop the ship now. Instead, Esteban pulled out his saber and slashed the bindings of one of the small skiffs. It fell to the water and I scrambled aboard. Carlos, bless his heart, had run to my cabin and hastily gathered my meager belongings. He tossed to me my bag, my cloak, and one of the Captain’s dress gowns.

“Head towards the Abbey— down river, then due south for 40 leagues to the mouth of the Great River. Then up stream to the headwaters! See you there!”

I had wanted an adventure….. now I had it.

Lori Gloyd © June 20, 2006

In Neptune's Realm

After that spectacular leap over the Calabar Felonway's billowing sails, had I the time to think, I would have assumed we would have galloped onward to our destination, but no--the horses followed the arc they had drawn and we immediately descended into the depths of the Lemurian Sea! Without warning, we dove into a watery world in the dark of night. No preparation, no masks, no oxygen. For what seemed forever, I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath, until I heard the King's voice whisper in my ear, "Relax, Believer, breathe! You are here with me--no harm will come to you!"

Taking a deep breath, I looked around and found iridescence everywhere. I was in a world where there was as much to see beneath as above and on all sides: schools of tiny, shining shrimps saluted the king, scallops with multi shining eyes blinked as they floated past, and lantern fish, silvery white with large soulful eyes pulsed in shades of red, yellow and green! Several violet ribbons nearly five feet long appeared, and seemed to dance before us.

"Slowly, please, our guest cannot read you," the king commanded, and it was only then I realized that their intricate twirlings spelled out, 'Welcome Neptune, welcome Believer.' "The creature is named Venus's girdle," Neptune whispered and this so delighted me that I burst out laughing and produced a stream of bubbles which tickled both the king and a passing octopus who had to hold his sides as he giggled in mirth.

As we descended further we encountered angler fish, but even their glowing bones and fierce razor teeth didn't frighten me because I rode with the king. At long last we arrived at the entrance to a huge cave. Handsome mermen guarded the entrance. One winked at me as we entered.

Was I still in water or not? My eyes and lungs were so acclimated to the change I'd undergone it was impossible to tell. All I knew was that physically I felt perfectly normal, while mentally I reeled from the sights and sounds around me. An enormous chamber with floor and ceiling glowing in mother of pearl was actually a hidden coral reef alive with tropical fish darting in and out among sea anemones and swaying kelp. Music and the sound of singing came from somewhere far off, soft and delicate to the ears.

"There will be festivities here in the grand hall later," the king told me, but first I have something to show you." He lead me off to a side chamber, an underwater version of a library or study. Niches carved into the walls served as shelves and held treasures salvaged from sunken ships, Greek amphorae and Roman vases and such made of glass. A giant scallop shell formed the king's desk and he beckoned me to sit with him as he produced a great book. The first page floated open and I gasped in astonishment at the picture that appeared.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, looking at a photo of me and my parents, our faces solemn and concerned as we waited with a crowd of other "lowly polliwogs" to be sentenced by Neptune's court for crossing the equator and entering his realm without permission.

"I keep records of all those who enter my kingdom, both friend and foe, and the time they spend. You had great enthusiasm as a child and a perfect sense of wonder. I knew one day you would become a writer."

I turned the page and there was my father wearing bathing trunks and a ridiculous Keystone cop's helmet on his head and with skull and crossbones painted on his chest. My mother stood nearby trying to contain her laughter.

"Ah, my favorite," the king said, and pointed to me again, seated on a makeshift throne, wearing a Cinderella gown and a mask that showed sparkling eyes and "bubelik" cheeks. "I was delighted they made you Neptune's daughter! You turned thumbs down on everyone and even insisted the little ones pay a forfeit. They screamed and squealed and loved every minute of it." The good king's eyes crinkled with laughter.

"It's been so long since I thought of our trips."

"Whose fault is that?"

"It's a bittersweet memory. We lost our business and struggled for years, then my folks passed away. It's been hard, I've lost a lot."

"So, you refuse to remember the good times, or you think of them with tears of regret! Would you deny all the joy you've given and received in your life?"

"No, of course not."

"Would you relinquish the wisdom you've acquired?"

"No, but. . . "

"Humans are such fools," he thundered. "If you had your way you'd eliminate change and growth completely and remain an infant at your mother's breast for all eternity!"

And in that minute, I knew he spoke the truth! In a short time this adventure would be over and already I was dreading the leave taking. He sensed it, I knew.

"I have a gift for you," he said gruffly. Opening a clam shell, he took out a large golden coin. "We have little use for money here, but when we do this is what we use."

I took it from his hand to admire the beauty and workmanship. Bigger than a silver dollar, one side was embossed with a trident and on the obverse a cutaway view of an intricate and beautiful chambered nautilus.

"A newly hatched nautilus has four small chambers," he explained. "As it grows it gains more living space by building new chambers connected to the old ones. If it is permitted a long life and is not "harvested" by greedy divers, it will eventually have thirty chambers. Like the mandelas you admire, it's a spiral. When you return to the Abbey you must meditate on these two symbols until you understand what they represent in your life. Remember the name you've given yourself and it will become clear to you."

Then he rose and took my hand and we joined the assembled guests in the grand hall, where we feasted and sang and danced the night away. The following morning before daybreak, a messenger arrived to inform the king that Captain Wilder had abandoned the Calabar Felonway. This unheard of act tore through the court like a water spout and caused the king great concern. It was decided that I must return immediately to the ship and follow whatever orders might have been received by the crew.

When I got there I found no orders, the ship was in total chaos, with wild rumors everywhere, including one that The Cave of the Ancients had been found. The only thing I could be sure of was that it was finally time to use my magic wings and fly back to the Abbey. My adventure in Neptune's realm had been cut short but my instincts told me that new wonders lay ahead.

Rushing At The Ship's Bell

In the Bog Queen's cave it was aglow, with a

kind of feeling of awe, so Belenus and I just

stayed quiet, a relief after our

disagreements. She was serene and looked wise

beyond words. It was as if she knew what we

were thinking, anyway, and knew why we

had come. For a moment Belenus thought

she was leaning forward to give us the key

to the Dead Man's Chest, which was on our

minds, the reason for the journey, but no.

Once we offered her our surrenders, Belenus,

his reliance on purely intellectual knowledge, and

mine, despair at purely intellectual myths,

she smiled graciously. But she did not say a

word, only the glow became feint, and we found

each of us had a sprig of She Oak in new bloom,

red to be exact, in our possession. This would help

us to transform our fixed opinions, and take in new

information, she told us. Belenus put it carefully

behind one of his long ears, so he wouldn't forget,

like a pencil. I put mine safely in my bag, careful

that it shouldn't spoil, and thought about it, as

the image of the Bog Queen lingered in my mind.

The track back was sandy and meandered up to

the shore where the Calabar was waiting. But we

heard the bell, again, which had been clanging

even while we were in the cave. We were among

the last travellers hurrying back to the boat, and

were greeted with the curious news that the

Captain had mysteriously vanished...

copyright Monika Roleff 2006.

The Conversation

Several days have passed since my adventure with the Bog Queen. I sat in a comfortable Adirondack chair at the stern of the Calabar, relaxing, sipping raspberry tea, and reading a scroll of Anita Marie’s tales of the Pacific Northwest.

Some crewmen were swabbing the deck, cleaning up after a sudden and violent storm the night before. I overheard one muttering something about “Neptune’s wrath”. Others spoke of strange sea creatures they had seen the night before.

The Captain had gone with L’Enchanteur and some other passengers to search for a golden key and another traveler was seen departing with the Phoenix who had dropped in to visit Matilda. I was content to sit out the rest of the voyage and read.

Thewomp! A large grayish brown mass swept in front of me and landed on the stern’s railing. After a flurry of flapping wings, a large pelican settled herself in front of me. She turned her long graceful neck around and peered at me with striking yellow eyes.

“Uh, hello!” I stammered. I had not expected a bird that large to suddenly appear. The pelican only stared at me. I was a bit taken aback. I had expected all the creatures of Lemuria to be sentient and articulate.

“Did L’Enchanteur send you?” I asked. The bird continued to eye me without expression.

“She’s probably wondering why I haven’t gone on any more adventures. Well, I’m pretty worn out from the last one. That really knocked me out.”

The pelican cocked its head and looked at the scroll I was holding.

“I bet you think I’m wasting too much time reading instead of writing. Hey, we’re supposed to be supportive of each other here and I’m just doing my part. It takes time to read everything. And who are you to comment otherwise?”

The bird arched its neck and began preening the feathers on her back.

“You know, I get this same stuff back in the Real World. ‘Lori, how come you’re watching so much TV. Lori, how’s that book coming? What? You haven’t finished it YET? Well, you have so much time in the evenings.’”

The pelican stopped preening. She squated and made a messy deposit on the deck.

I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “And I bet you think I’m all upset about THEM! Well, I’m not. I don’t need them to affirm my work. And you….. you just don’t know anything!”

The pelican finally turned around and glared at me. I scowled back at her, my arms and legs crossed, my foot tapping the deck in anger.

Several long, awkward moments of silence passed. I could hear the ship’s rigging banging and clanging.

“FINE!” I shouted. “I’ll show you! You want me to go on an adventure? Fine, I’ll go on an adventure!”

I jumped up from my chair and pitched my hat to one side. I struggled with the buckle on my belt. One of the crewman hanging from the mast shouted: “Take it off, honey!”

I pulled off my shirt and flung it away. A chorus of crewman erupted from the deck. “Owwww!” “Woo-hoo!”. “Way to go!” and a deafening refrain of wolf whistles followed after me as I ripped off the last bit of my outer clothing. I stood at the stern of the ship in my red lacy underwear, my head held high amidst the din.

I clambered up onto the railing and turned to the pelican, still sitting there. I had regained my composure somewhat and was a little ashamed at having hollered at L’Enchateur’s emissary. I said softly, “Thanks. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Then, with a great leap, I dove into the azure blue sea.

Mystery of the Lagoon

I dove from the prow of the ship into the warm waters of the lagoon
where I felt caressed in the richest of silk.
Tropical fish dressed in rainbow colors swam around me
lighting my passage until I saw in the blue of this watery realm,
a beckoning tower of light surrounded by women swaying in the gently moving water.
I wanted to join them, but I was a creature of another world and I knew
if I became one of them, it would be forever.

Vi

Riding with Neptune

I leaped at the chance to ride with Neptune and jumped aboard wearing my special glasses and clutching my tiny anchor in my hand. The moonlight shimmered on the ocean's surface as Neptune's steed dove through the white light into the depths. I expected darkness and found brillance.

Seahorses danced and star fish floated through the water while multicolored fish swam among them waving their tails. I watched enthralled with the ballet on this stage. Dipping deeper, the brillance muted to soft moonlight and the fantastical creatures emerged from the gloom. Winged shapes and nebulous blobs drifted by. Amorphous forms rearranged themselves as I clung to Neptune's steed awed by the sights.

Deeper I went, the light fading as I was taken through a shadowy entry and emerged in a cone with sparkling luminescent colors radiating from the walls. The colors moved, fading or intensifying, a continuous movie of shades and tones. This fantastical world enchanted me, clutching me, drawing me toward the narrowing end. What would I find as I funneled inward? What danger lurked?

Fear gripped me. I shut my eyes and ripped off my glasses. When I dared to look, I had returned to the ocean surface. I returned to the ship feeling I had narrowly escaped an unseen menace.

Neptune's Emissary

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

I have been feeling a little down in the dumps this week and today particularly so. But, it was a hot and beautiful day so I decided to go down to the ocean, to an area that I've been wanting to photograph. I literally came around a corner and found this pelican sitting on a railing. I kept waiting for it to take flight but it let me approach. When I got about five feet away, I became fearful (these birds are BIG) so I stopped.

It was almost as if this magnificent bird had a message for me, but I don't know what. Look at that expression! Does anyone understand Pelicanese? Anyway, I felt very much encouraged after the encounter.

Image: Lori Gloyd (c) 2006

Heeding Neptune's Call

With a roar that was beyond hearing and would have put Niagara and Iguasu to shame, the sea horses of Neptune came riding through the night. Our fair Calabar Felonway rocked and pitched as if caught in a gale. Pirates and passengers clung for dear life to whatever was anchored down, too afraid to be sick and terrified the ship would splinter apart. Some surely must have believed they would die.

"It's you, he's come for!" Captain Wilder shouted as I sped past her up the passageway to head topside.

I stopped for the briefest moment to face her--"You hear it, too?"

"Aye, he's calling yer name! Go, hurry, he waits for no one. I'll be right behind, ya, this I've got to see!"

Up on deck, a full moon gleamed down on our ship, which still rocked violently. Stars seemed to explode in a Van Gogh sky and I saw a sight which will remain
with me until the day I die. A team of giant horses in shades of aquamarine and cobalt blue snorted and pawed the foam crested waves churned up by their arrival. At the center, a bigger than life bearded man, trident raised high, reigned in his steeds and boomed in a voice like thunder.

"Believer! Come, greet your King. Loyal Shellback, Traveler of my realm, Sailor of the good ships, Santa Maria and Magdalena, Brasil and Argentina, you have been missed! Welcome back!"

I slipped and slid my way to the rail fully prepared to leap overboard, only to see an iridescent wave of sea foam emanating from Neptune's outstretched arms and heading straight towards me. It lifted me up and deposited me on the king's lap as gently and lovingly as a grandfather swings around his favorite grandchild. Seated in front of the great king, my fingers entwined in the horses mane I thrilled at the power of the team as they surged up and over the sails of the Calabar Felonway.

"Bon voyage!" I heard Captain Wilder cheer above the roar of horses and waves as we galloped into the night.