Dead Reckoning: Ch. 4

Another month slowly passed by, and still no sign of Garin's ship. The young Usul was well on his way to healing, as Marcia noticed every single day. She would watch him out by the creek; stretching and exercising like a young tiger in the afternoon sun. His wounds had healed well enough to the point where he no longer needed to wear his bandages across his chest, which he seemed grateful for.

He often helped her father with a few handyman chores, and taught her brothers how to tie strong, but quick to untie knots when needed to. He even played and would gently tussle with them from time to time. She felt like he was becoming part of her family, and she almost dreaded the day her father would bring news that his ship was in the harbor, but at the same time, she could tell he missed the life he had been leading before he had been mortally wounded. It would be his decision to go, and there would be nothing she could do… and she accepted that.

Meanwhile, aboard the Black Pawkeet, Jacques walked back into the cabin, which he still found very unfamiliar when empty. And he suddenly noticed that it was quieter than before. He blinked and looked around, and found Blackie's cage wide open. He sighed, knowing that the bird still waited for Garin to come into the cabin, and often would look for him around the ship. Jacques stuck his head out the door and looked at Sam.

"Oi, anyone seen Blackie?" he asked. Sam looked up at him and sighed sadly.

"I saw him earlier… but I think he flew away… for good," he said glumly.

"…Really?" Jacques asked. Sam nodded. "Well… I dunno… If he doesn't come back then… then that's that I guess…"

Sam nodded again and Jacques patted his shoulder. They both looked out to the horizon and the small island that lay ahead in the sunrise…

The next morning, Marsha's brothers were up and about, picking peapods for their mother to make with their breakfast omelets, and as they marched through the garden with their baskets, a strange, black bird watched them from the fence, looking bored, and almost dead.

"Hey Bram… Look." Casper said as he pointed to the bird. "What is it?"

"I… I think it's a Crokabek… it looks dead…" Bram said.

"How could it be dead and still perched?"

"I dunno… throw a peapod at it."

"Nah, uh. You do it." Casper snapped and the bird clicked its beak. Casper blinked. "Well, its still alive…"

"Bram, Casper! Bring those peas!"

"Coming mama!" Bram hollered as he and Casper ran inside, and suddenly the bird followed, nestling into the basket and pecking at the peapods. Bram let out a shriek of fright and threw the basket onto the ground and trapping the bird for a moment, but it broke free and started to fly around the kitchen, sending screams from everyone in the room.

Garin's ears twitched and he sat up from his bed, hearing all the ruckus downstairs and the shouts. He sat up and quickly slipped his shirt back on over his shoulders and head.

"What's all the racket?" he asked as he walked downstairs, and could see from halfway down Marcia on one side of the room, her mother and her brothers on the other, and her father attempting to catch something that hopped around the table.

"Robert, do something! Get that Crokabek out of the house!" Marcia's mother screamed.

"I'm trying!" Robert replied as he missed the bird again and it landed on the table and screeched unhappily at Robert. "Hey… it's not a Crokabek, it's a Pawkeet!"

"A black Pawkeet?" Marcia's mother asked. "Well that's a rare sight…"

"Blackie?" Garin asked as he stepped into the room. The bird turned around and stared with its big, dim yellow eyes, then its feather's puffed up all over its body in excitement.

"Brawk!" Blackie cried out and flew towards Garin, flying around his head and pulling at his ears affectionately with his beak. Garin laughed aloud and raised one arm to allow Blackie to land on it.

"Take it easy, ya fool bird, I missed you too!" Garin chuckled joyfully as Black landed on his arm and shuffled up to his shoulder, nestling beside his neck and letting out an affectionate 'crooing' noise. Garin smiled and gently scratched Blackie's head with his finger.

"Aye, there's a good lad…" he whispered affectionately.

"You know this bird??" Robert asked.

"Course I know him, he's mine!" Garin exclaimed, still overjoyed. "His name is Blackie… and if he's here… then that has to mean my ship is close by!" he said as realization slowly came over him. Marcia frowned slightly, sorry that he had to go away, but she had no say in the matter, and she accepted that. She looked up at Garin and smiled.

"The port is just in town," she said. "If you'd like I can pack you a snack." Garin smiled and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Marcia… You and your family have been very kind to me," he said. "I'll be sure to come back and visit someday."

"Promise?" Bram and Casper chimed together. Garin chuckled and slid his finger across his heart twice.

"Cross my heart," he said, and they smiled, reassured by his promise. Marcia cleared her throat.

"Right! I'll get to snack packing!" she said and rushed over to the cupboards. Garin smiled, still stroking Blackie's head and looking out the window.

"Home, here I come!" he whispered to himself.