CH 43
The trial was over and except for having her license yanked, Sarah Connor was free.
Kaede called the dockyard, her boat was finished with a light blue non-skid deck. On April first it was going to be put in berth number 19 at the Yacht Club. Since she was a member, The Sea Witch would be loaded with fuel, water and shore power would be hooked up available by turning on the 'Bulldog' at the berth.
Before they left, Cameron went to see Sarah. Not trusting Sarah, Kaede went with her. They went to the house to find a 'for rent' sign in the front yard.
"Sarah left," Cameron said with a frown.
"Maybe she needs to get a new life," Kaede offered.
"John won't be pleased," Cameron said vacantly.
"Shit happens, it's not your fault," Kaede told her. "You did what you could."
Kaede and Cameron got back in the car. "Look at the bright side," Kaede offered. "At least you and John can now have a life of your own. You two can do what you want with no Sky Net hanging over you."
Cameron nodded slowly. "John will still be disappointed."
"Will you be?"
"Disappointed for him."
"Kids grow up and move away. This isn't any different," Kaede told her. "Maybe Sarah left to give you two a chance to be happy? Ever think of that?"
Returning to the hotel, everyone got packed up and filed out to the van to go to the airport.
.
Sarah sat in a chair in the small apartment Derek had gotten. "She told me she's taken John away and has no plans of bringing him back."
Derek drank another slug of beer. "OK, what I want to know is what happened with Kaliba? Did someone get it?"
"That pink haired witch said she got it during the trial," Sarah grumbled. "They even brought a terminator corpse for evidence! Wherever it is now, we have to find it and burn it!"
Looking off an nothing, Derek said, "No we don't. If Sky Net's gone, then it's over for us. We won."
"Suppose some tech did get salvaged?" Sarah asked. "Someone else will begin this all over again!"
Derek eyed her. "Then someone else can deal with it. Look, John's off with the metal. Most likely someplace hard to find with Miss Pink haired Witch watching over them." leaning forward he said, "I was looking up information on Kaede. You know what I found? She really IS a witch. She can do amazing shit. She wants to be the one to deal with AI's, then let her! Sarah, you didn't just dodge a bullet, you dodged a cannon shell in that trial. I looked up your lawyer. That guy demands 10 grand just to talk to someone. He was paid to be your defense lawyer and by visiting the trial a couple times, I saw why. He's real good. He got you off on shit they've been after you for years for. Someone hired him. Who do you think had the resources to do that?"
"What about John?" Sarah asked.
Derek shrugged. "What about him? He likes to play house with metal, let him. If you're asking me to go hunting for John and possibly get a gun shoved up my ass again, forget it! Sky Net's gone. That means John won't have to save humanity. He's a big boy now, Sarah. Get yourself an address and find a job. If John wants to find you, he will."
Sarah sat back with a huff. "I have to go see my lawyer anyway, maybe he can tell me where John is."
"Why? I thought the trial was done and over."
"It is, but he's going to file suit with the county and the state for me. He's looking at two point five million in damages for my unlawful incarceration at Prescardo. It might take a few years, but he's sure he can get me compensation."
"Good! Get settled and wait for your payday."
Thoughtfully, Sarah said, "I'll have the funds to go find John."
"Maybe you should just travel or something. You know, go do something you haven't done before," Derek suggested. "I've been working at a bar. I get the cash together, I'm going to go see some of this world we saved and leave LA far behind." He gulped down some more beer.
Sarah liked the idea of traveling. She just might do that.
.
At Trumbull airport in Groton Ct, Duncan stopped for a top off of fuel and get everyone dinner before they headed out over the Atlantic. It was a small airport but large enough to have a diner and all services.
No one had put on a hat, so other people there were casting questioning gazes at Kaede and her family. While no one approached them, they were getting some strange looks. Nana and Mayu grabbed a few souvenir trinkets. It was a normal stop until Duncan sensed the presence of another immortal.
Kaede sensed him too. She looked up from fussing with Kaene and began searching the diner.
"Well, hello Duncan McLeod," the curly haired strawberry blonde man said as he came up to the table.
"Steven Keane," Duncan replied with a tight smile. "This Is the last place I'd expect to find you."
Steven raised up a hand in surrender. "Our wars are over, Duncan. I came here to live. I'm manager of this airport, and I do say it's been nice. I see you have a family too?"
"He a threat, Dad?" Kaede asked.
"Not any more. Steve, this is my wife, Inari, Kaede our daughter, our son in law, Kouta, their daughters Nana, Mayu and little Kaene. That's Cameron a friend of the family."
"Hello everyone," Steve replied with a slight bow. "I've got my Shirley and her son, Kenneth …" he then looked at Kaede and said, "You do have a fine family, Duncan. I've seen Kaede on the news. Well seen her accomplishments. It took me a moment to recognize her."
"Mom's famous," Mayu said with a grin.
"Not that I wanna be," Kaede grumbled.
"When you stomp on aliens no one else can touch, that tends to make you famous," Steve told her. "I see you have the McLeod fighting spirit. Duncan if you're staying, I know of several good Inns that are comfortable and reasonably priced. Not the tourist traps near the Seaport and Mystic."
Duncan offer him a smile. "Thanks, but this is just a fuel and dinner stop. This is a nice place you got here."
"It is comfortable. We got a house up in North Stonington, if you're ever sailing this way, there's bay a few miles up you can stop at. Groton town beach is there. Come in the spring and you can see all kinds of horseshoe crabs. As long as you park in the bay, you won't have to put up with the docking fees. Mystic is a horribly expensive place to dock."
"What's a horseshoe crab?" Nana asked.
"Strange creatures," Steve said. "They are about this big around, and to my knowledge, the oldest living thing on Earth! They even predate the dinosaurs. They are hundreds of millions of years old!"
"Wow," Nana breathed.
"When are they around?" Inari asked.
"Springtime, they gather in the bay to mate. From March up around April, May time frame. They leave before it gets too warm," Steve explained. "They even come right up to the shore. Kenneth calls them 'hat crabs' because they look kinda like rounded caps with a long, thin tail."
"I'd like to see that," Mayu said.
"So would I," Nana agreed.
"It'd be interesting," Kaede agreed.
"I've heard of them. Never seen one," Kouta agreed.
Steve took out a notepad and wrote something down. He handed it to Duncan. "If you want to come, let me know. This is my office and home phone number." After Duncan took it, Steve offered his hand. "No hard feelings?"
"None," Duncan agreed and shook his hand.
"I have to get back to work, please enjoy your stay," Steve said and walked away.
Kaede watched him go. "Ya two got a history, Dad?"
Duncan nodded. "We were on opposite sides during the Jacobite revolt. It got very nasty. Hatred ran deep."
Inari leaned into Duncan. "Want to talk about it?"
"I'd rather ferget it," Duncan said flatly.
"So, next spring, we come see the horseshoe crabs?" Kaede asked.
"Aye!" Nana and Mayu cried in unison.
.
With a full tank and full bellies, they flew to Iceland, had another short stop, then on to Scotland.
Getting back to Glen Finnen, it was dark, 3 AM local time. Still, there were two cars waiting for them. John and Richie had driven down to get them.
"Are we glad to see you!" John announced as they got off the plane.
Cameron ran over and hugged him. "Miss me?" she asked with a grin.
"I sure did!" John agreed then pointed to Kouta, "And that guy too! Kouta, hope you can handle the office tomorrow. I need a break."
Kouta waved to him. "Consider it done. Thanks for covering for me, John."
"Any time." Focusing on Cameron, John asked, "So, how did it go?"
"Sarah was found guilty of reckless driving and had her license taken away."
"No, I mean with the whole insane thing," John explained.
"All gone," Cameron said happily. "She was cleared of everything, but bad driving. Her lawyer is looking at suing California for wrongful imprisonment. From the way he pleaded her case, I think he might win some serious money for Sarah."
"That's great! So, Mom's home now?"
Cameron's face fell. "She moved John. I don't know where she went. I'm sorry."
John pulled out his phone to call. The number rang but no one picked up.
Cameron clasped his hand. "John, Sarah is very upset we're together. Maybe if you give her some time?"
"So, what about this boat?" Riche asked.
"You should see it! It's HUGE!" Mayu cried.
"Real pretty too. It's not the wreck Mom described at all," Nana added.
"And next spring, we're gonna go see the horseshoe crabs," Mayu beamed.
"We gotta learn ta sail first." Kaede reminded them.
"So, let's learn!" Nana prodded.
"How about if we go home and get some real rest, first," Kouta said.
.
Christmas and the winter Solstice was coming. Kaede liked mixing the holidays together. At the Inn, he helped string up the decorations. At home, the twelve foot tree dominated the foyer. Christmas decorations hung on the tree as did pagan symbols. Holly and lines of green hung down from the rafters as did many tiny light bulbs. A silver star topped the tree, and the tree sat on a large round white cloth that bore a golden pentagram.
For the party at the Inn, Nana and Mayu wore elf inspired uniforms with long white socks and slippers that curled up on the ends with bells on them and pointed elf hats. Rachel had an idea, and it was quickly passed around. Duncan and Inari agreed.
On Christmas/ Winter solstice eve, much of Glen Finnen gathered in the courtyard at the castle at midnight. For the crowd of several hundred, there were two speakers. The Father from the Church gave his blessings for Christmas then the Pagan priest gave his blessings for the new year. The gathering made Kaede smile. In her mind it proved Glen Finnen was one large, happy family.
Some of the presents given were nautical minded. Kaede got a nautical rules of the road and how to perform dead reckoning. Nana got an 'accurate' toy sailboat that had all the sail and lines on it. Nana got a book on how to 'trim' sails and the use of lines and the anchor.
Nana and Mayu took it upon themselves to teach the family how to sail with their model and books. Some things Duncan knew, but he listened to the more modern additions. He hadn't sailed in over a hundred years.
By the time Nana and Mayu were done, everyone was itching to go sailing.
.
Kaede found herself as 'taxi driver' for the family. The morning run to school for John and Cameron's senior year, shopping runs, pick up Kouta for lunch at the Inn, many times another run for a doctor appointment, then the run to pick up John and Cameron from school. In the winter months not much work was done outside except for clearing the courtyard and driveway of snow.
By the end of February, Kaede was quite content being home and seeing her parents and kids every day. Jeff had gotten some plans for his house. Like many things, Jeff's house plans became a family affair. Looking at the land Jeff had made a down payment on, Kouta found out why it was so cheap. Only 500 pounds an acre, it was downhill slope that reminded Amanda of a ski slope.
"Sure you want to build there?" Inari asked, looking at the photos.
"We do!" Nana said eagerly. "There's a beautiful view out over the valley, and flattening a place for the house and drive won't be that bad."
"You know, much of the rock we will need, we kin git right from there," Kaede said. "It'll be a nice, quiet place also."
Duncan frowned. "Fall off the flat, and yer gonna roll ta the bottom."
"We'll build a wall along the downhill edge," Jeff replied.
"The uphill side's gonna be a big rock wall," Kouta noted.
"What's the area?" Duncan asked. "Put the house on the least steep place."
Jeff showed Duncan the six acre map. "That would be near the top, up here, where it borders your land."
"Then build on top, near the edge. Ya gotta remember, if yer gonna have kids, ya doan want'em rollin downhill."
"Doan let'em git fat an they woan roll that easy," Kaede said with a smirk.
"Mom!" Nana cried.
Despite some fun they had with Nana and Jeff, they did work out the size of the house and where to put it. It was fun family time.
.
Mid March was seeing the weather clear some. Duncan and Jeff's father went with Jeff with rope, stakes and tape measures to mark out the dimensions of the house, and a path from the castle driveway, along the edge of the woods to Jeff's house. Normally, the land had to be paid for before construction could begin, but since the house was going to be on McLeod land, they could begin as soon as Jeff was ready.
Jeff's father arraigned for a construction company to come and dig out a foundation and flatten the proposed driveway. Nana and Mayu came to give 'the boys' lunch and of course see what they were doing.
The work on Jeff's house got John thinking about one for him and Cameron. Although stone was cheap, since they got it from right here and cut it themselves, John had always envisioned a log cabin.
Taking a walk through the woods with Cameron, an arm around each other, John noted this forest held big trees, and at the top of the ridge, between the main road and the castle, it was fairly flat. There were rises and dips, but they rolled gently along.
"I'm thinking this would be a good place to build a house," John noted as he wandered along with Cameron.
"It is very suitable," Cameron agreed. "Far enough off the castle road to be private, close enough to town for supply runs." She then stopped and cast John a blank face. "John, I can't have children."
"I know. We can adopt when the time comes, can't we?" he asked.
She offered him a tiny smile. "We can. And I do want to."
"Then, we will," he assured her. "Think Duncan owns this far out?"
"I don't know. The McLeods own the large flat the castle's on. We can ask."
"Then let's," John said, gazing at his lovely Cameron. "What do you think about a log house? Sturdy, well insulated, a bit nicer looking that stone?" he asked.
"I think it sounds wonderful."
The kiss they shared in the woods went on for a while.
.
The lawyer for the state received the file of suit from Saran Connor's lawyer. At first he thought to dismiss it and let them struggle through the court system and drain their resources to wear them down so it would never be finished.
Then he went over the charges and accusations. Looking through it, he realized that this could well be very bad for the state and the Governor's reputation if this went to court. The publicity alone would be hell. He also knew the Douglass law firm. They had the deep pockets to continue this case and he knew there would be no wearing them down. Sarah Connor had gone to trial and was found not guilty. That judgment would also look very bad.
Calling a meeting of the state's attorneys, they decided it was best to meet with Douglass and settle out of court.
.
April came and so did the question of who was going on the first ride on The Sea Witch to go to America to see the horseshoe crabs.
Sitting down at the dining room table. Duncan said, "There are six bunks on the boat and six more hammocks. We're going to have a Captain with us provided by the Yacht club, so that's one. Kaede, Kouta, Nana, Mayu and Kaene will make six …"
"Dad, you an Mom are comin, ain't ya?" Kaede asked.
"What about Jeff?" Nana asked.
"The bunks are wide enough, can't we double up?" Inari asked.
"We should," Nana agreed.
Duncan winced. "If we hit high seas, that might be a bit uncomfortable."
"High seas?" Mayu asked.
"Tall waves. In the open ocean, waves can get very big," Duncan explained. "They'll pick the boat up high and drop it. Ye'll go from pressed down to weightless. Ye'll have to hang on ta stay in place."
"Wow," Nana breathed.
"Then … we'll hang on!" Mayu stated.
"Hang on!" Kaene cried, raising an arm in the air.
"There's also the food load to consider," Duncan reminded Kaede. "Figure enough food for nine people for a month. I think we should plan on as many stops along the way as we can before we hit open ocean."
"Shopping trip," Kaede said.
Duncan and Kouta made the work schedules for their businesses and Inari made sure everyone had the required clothes including raincoats and life preservers. Richie and Roberta called the next voyage to go on. They wanted to see this boat too.
.
This time for travel, they took the train down to Colchester, and a bus down to Brightsea. Coming to the marina, Kaede checked in and let the club know they were here. Then the family went to find berth 19.
"It looks smaller," Nana noted. Sitting in the water, the deck of the Sea Witch was only eight feet tall, not way up in the air like it had been in that building.
Kaede noted on the back the name The Sea Witch was in large letters. Under it, Brightsea, England was painted as the home berth.
Duncan turned on the bulldog that had a meter attached. The interior lit up. "Let's get on board and grab a bunk," he said and walked down the brow.
Despite Duncan's caution, Kaede and Kouta grabbed a bunk, so did Nana and Jeff. Mayu got her own. Inari insisted on taking up one with Duncan. Kaene wanted the hammock above Kouta and Kaede's. They put their clothes away in the lower storage under each bunk.
"Hey, you're here!" a voice called from the rear hatch. The man who came down wore sandals, jeans and a light sweater. He also bore an eye patch over his right eye. "Hi folks! I take it you're the Kikumuras? I'm Captain Ron. I'll be your instructor."
"I'm Kaede Kikumura," Kaede said, and introduced everyone.
Ron looked up at Kaene swinging in her hammock. "The munchkin's got the right idea. Bunks feel more like beds, but out on the water, it's better to be in a hammock. They roll with the boat, better sleeping. So folks, who's my sailors?"
"We are," Kaede said.
"All of you? GREAT!" Ron beamed. "More hands make jobs easier. Who here has ever sailed before?"
Duncan raised his hand. "I have, but it was long ago."
"It's like riding a bicycle, one you learn, you never forget," Ron assured him. "You'll be my first mate. Got a destination planned?"
"We're going to see the horsehoe crabs in Groton!" Nana beamed.
"In Connecticut, the US," Duncan explained.
"Aw, so you want to see ocean life," Ron said. "That's good, I'm sure we can catch sight of some whales heading up north along the way. You got a good boat here. I came down when they put it in the water. Back in the engine room, you got a desalination plant. Hundred gallons a day. That will be real handy on open water. Say, you folks from the south of France? See your women got them horns."
"Nay, we live in Scotland," Kaede told him.
"Didn't know there were any elves up there, but hey! Your home's your home, right?" Ron beamed. "Got a float plan yet?"
"We were hoping you'd help with that," Duncan told him.
"That I will. Kaede, Duncan, come with me, we'll get a plan drawn up. The crew can get settled while we make it up."
"The crew?" Kaede asked.
"You're all sailors. You're the owner, Duncan is first mate, the rest are your crew."
"Me too?" Kaene asked from her hammock.
"That's right, Munchkin you get to be crew."
Kaene beamed him a smile. "YAY!"
Going to the port center, Captain Ron looked through the maps, then pulled one out, then another. Talking as he laid them out on a table, he said, "On this one, the ports for the UK and Ireland are shown. On the edges of the map are longitude and latitude in black, the GPS coordinates are in blue. Down here it shows the French ports along the northern coast."
He then pulled the other map on top. "Here's the west coast of France, down here is Portugal. Heading for the US, we don't want to sail the North Atlantic. Storms there can be brutal. We put in here, at Brest France, then again down here in Portugal. From there, we head out and catch the trade winds across the Atlantic, curve north above the Caribbean, stop in South Carolina and go north up the Gulf stream. The east US coast has an inland waterway that's great for powered boats, but staying out in the gulf Stream will get you up the coast faster under sail. We stay ten miles from shore, More or less. That will make it easy to pull in wherever you want."
"We can't go straight across?' Kaede asked.
Captain Ron eyed her. "NO! Winds there come towards Europe, we'd be tacking all the way! It looks shorter, but would take longer. You want following winds when possible."
"Tacking is zig zagging so you can travel upwind," Duncan explained. "We'd have to travel twice as far to get where we're going. The weather will also be warmer going south."
"First mate's got it right," Ron agreed. "We also have to get maps for the US east Coast. For stops there, Charleston is a good port, and Delaware. Skip over New Jersey and New York, you're going to Connecticut. That will be bad enough cost wise. Those places suck cash off anyone with a boat. Speaking of which, we can't forget flags either. You're all from the UK?"
"We hold Scottish and American citizenship," Kaede told him.
"Then we'll need two for the main mast. British over American to identify who's on board."
Duncan asked, "I thought the flag of the country the ship is registered in is flown."
"It is, that's why the British flag is on top. The American flag will be up to show you hold dual citizenship," Ron explained. "That will prevent hassles when we get to American ports."
Ron got maps of the US east coast, then took them over to the desk and registered their route. For the return trip, it was straight across to Iceland and back to England.
.
Going back to the boat, Ron put the maps in the small chartroom and had everyone come up on deck. He went over running lines and static lines, stressed watching where the boom was, and went over how to tie the boat up to the dock. Ron was impressed that they had been studying. Once he went over the basics, he asked, "So where do you want to sleep tonight, tied up here at the dock, or out to sea?"
"Out to sea!" Nana. Mayu and Jeff cried.
"All right!" Ron cheered. "Nana, you get the forward line, Jeff, you get the aft line. When we cast off, pull the lines back on board. Mayu and Inari, you two will take the lines off the pier then get back on quick so we can pull the brow on. First mate, after I start the engine, disconnect shore power and wrap the cable up on the hook under the bulldog. Line handlers, take your places."
"What do I do?' Kaene asked.
Ron squatted down by Kaene and said, "I got a very important job for you, Munchkin. Watch your shipmates. We don't want to lose anyone over the side and be left behind. If anyone falls off, you point at them and yell 'man overboard'. Stand up there in front of the mast so we can all see you, and you can see everyone. Ok?"
"Even if it's Mom?"
"That's right."
"OK," Kaene said and got up in front of the mast.
"Kouta, I want you to watch the engine room. If the engine smokes up or doesn't start, get back up here and tell me immediately."
"Will do, Captain Ron."
Ron started the engine. It fired off with a quiet rumble. "Disconnect shore power."
Once Duncan did, removed the cord and hung it up under the bulldog, Ron had him tend the helm and went to help the line handlers. Ron had the forward line cast off first. He showed Nana how to wrap the line up in the line locker under the deck, then went back and had the aft line cast off, and showed Jeff how to wrap it up. Inari and Mayu came back on. Ron showed them how to fold the brow alongside the inside of the edge. He then returned to the helm. Putting on some power, he pulled the aft end away from the dock as he backed up to clear the boat behind them. Backing out between the piers, Ron turned to boat around. They headed out of the dockyard.
Moving into the bay, Ron said, "We need three helmsmen. Duncan being First Mate, you're one. Kouta, your another. Inari, you're the third. Gather round."
"What to we do if something happens?" Inari asked.
"If it's gonna happen, it'll happen out there," Ron said firmly with a nod to the open water. "Before it does, let's get these controls down."
On the way out of the bay, Ron instructed them on wind angles and when to use the sail, and just the motor. He went over the difference between relative and actual wind direction and speed. Nana, Mayu, Jeff and Kouta also listened closely, Nana and Mayu laying in front of the helm, watching intently. Kaene was still standing in front of the mast, watching everyone.
Leaving the bay Ron noted the winds were light, but headed east. He pushed the boom off to the starboard side. "Now, we raise the mains'le."
"Can I do it?" Kaene cried. "The line is right here."
"Munchkin, are you strong enough? That sail weighs more than you."
"I can do it!" Kaene insisted. She grabbed the rope and used her mind hands to pull down, only guiding the rope with her visible hands.
Ron's jaw dropped as the sail want up and caught the wind. "Damn! Munchkin, you're really strong!"
Kaene wrapped the rope around the cleat on the mast in a figure eight pattern like Nana showed her. "This way, right?" she asked.
"That's a girl!" Ron praised. "Looks like you're a born sailor."
Kaene beamed at the compliment.
Ron had Duncan take the helm first and work at trimming the sail, using the indicated wind speeds and their speed through the water as they headed out into the Channel. Ron had him slow the engine down to idle and open the clutch for the screw so it would turn freely. They were now under wind power.
The waves were only a couple feet high as The Sea Witch plowed along though them. The hatch on the front of the cabin was opened so people could go onto the foredeck. Ron warned everyone again about keeping track of the boom. If the wind shifted, the boom could move fast across the boat. Whoever was caught by it would be hurt and likely knocked overboard.
Making nine knots, the wind stayed steady as the sun went down to the horizon. They all watched the sun set on their first day at sea. Inari and Kaede made dinner. Ron sat by Duncan at the helm as others went below. Ron had to tell Kaene that she was relieved from people watching duty, and could go below. With the sun going down, it got dark quick. The running lights, the light from the portholes and the instruments lights gowed in the dark.
Duncan cast Ron a grin. "This had been an exciting day for everyone. You helped make it so."
"Just doing my job. You know, taking your first trip out to make a tour of the Atlantic is pretty ambitious. The lights in the eyes of your family told me you were all ready for it. Otherwise, we'd be out for at most, a two day cruise. You people are chomping at the bit to get out here. Enthusiasm does much to make good sailors."
"It does. It also makes the cost of this boat worth it," Duncan said.
"Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you sailed?" Ron asked.
"Long ago," Duncan said.
"When you came back to North America from Asia around 1850?"
Duncan snapped his head to look at Ron.
Ron turned his wrist over and pulled his sleeve back to show his Watcher's Tattoo. "Don't worry, it's my job. Someone had to keep an eye on you and Kaede. Joe would be pissed if we let you take off and we didn't know where you were."
Duncan laughed. "Somehow, I'm not surprised."
Ron perked up. "We got a wind change."
Duncan looked at the direction and speed readouts. "We do, wind's heading more northeast."
"Pull the boom in a bit. It'll maximize your speed."
Duncan cranked the boom rope in slowly. "Yeah, I see. We're down to eight knots … coming up a bit."
"Position?"
"We're mid channel, off the Normandy coast." Looking at the radar, he added, "Got a vessel six miles out, heading west, it looks like. Shouldn't come near us."
"They see the mast light and they should stay clear," Ron said confidently. "I'm going down for some grub. Call if you need me. Once Kouta's done eating, I'll send him up to take the watch."