Shorebirds

Somehow we are clinging to the rocks of Ice Island like shorebirds. It has been a rough twenty-four hours since I last wrote an entry and I am impressed we have gotten here.

I spent a very pleasant afternoon with Millie asking around about the Legendary Birds, their islands, and the celebrated trainer living on Ice Island. Millie has a natural rapport with these seaside folk. She somehow managed to put me and them at ease in spite of their miffed sensation of being colonized by the odd, brusque crowd of men in black from the mainland.

I seem to have discovered yet another friend. I suppose breaking down the self-imposed wall around myself has exposed me to the full experience of life with all of the pleasure I missed, as well as the pain I had feared. Millie is a revelation – another psychic in a world populated by 'normals' unaware of their latent mental skills. She seems to have survived and adjusted to these 'normals' far better than I, however she has never tried to hone her talents beyond hyper sensitive intuition. It was a stroke of luck that brought us to her.

When we met Janine and Jessie it was clear their experience had been less sunny. Janine would not say anything about it at first. I worried about her interaction with Mondo, but Jessie explained that Janine's reaction had more to do with other Team Rocket members.

"Janine and Mondo had a nice little chat with an old acquaintance of mine, nasty piece of work name of Cassidy Yamato," Jessie said as if trying to get a bad taste out of her mouth. "She made some threats."

Janine suddenly spoke with a weak shaking voice, "It's hard to believe that…that woman is the headmistress' daughter. All of a sudden I feel really sorry for her mother. I wish Mondo would get away from those people…" she trailed off.

"That's his decision I'm afraid," I said gently.

Millie steered us back to business, "I say we compile what we've learned. Time's awasting if we want to head off Team Rocket. They have a big head start on us."

It became clear as we discussed our research that we had a remarkably clear idea of Team Rocket's numbers, the whereabouts of Lorelei Kanna, the haunts of Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno, the outline of Team Rocket's plan, and the detailed geography of Ice Island. We were in a position to act, and we had to act soon.

I sighed, "We must move tonight. If we are to warn Kanna, and resist Team Rocket with her aid we should reach her hut by dawn tomorrow."

We made our plan. We would move a zodiac from the Corsola to the west side of Shamouti and make the crossing to Ice Island under cover of darkness. "How the heck are we gonna get around to the other side of the island with a zodiac? Team Rocket has two helicopters and a patrol boat. They couldn't miss us trying to sneak the Corsola around the island," Jessie wondered.

"What's worse we can't sneak off in the zodiac because the port is under surveillance," she continued.

I smiled knowingly, "You forget, Mille and I visited the west coast landing today to inspect it."

"So?" Musashi was unimpressed.

"You are also forgetting something fundamental about teleportation my friend. Wherever I have been I may always return. With some considerable effort I will teleport the zodiac to the landing and await your arrival with Millie and Janine," I pointed out.

"I thought you said you wouldn't use your powers…" Jessie retorted skeptically.

"I said I wouldn't use them to harm others," I corrected.

As dusk came on we walked in the warm afterglow of sunset to the main landing and boarded the Corsola. I stood next to one of the zodiacs near the stern and turned to my companions, "I suppose you had best be off across the island. Be careful you three."

"You be careful," Janine said solicitously, "I don't know what I'd tell dad if anything happened to you. I'm not sure what I…"

"Don't worry I will be fine," I soothed, "You keep Jessie from doing anything rash, okay?"

"Me!" bridled the redhead, "She's the impetuous kid!"

"I'll keep an eye on both of 'em," Millie said reassuringly.

As they climbed the ladder back onto the dock I sighed heavily and touched the rough canvas of the zodiac. I would wait an hour, an anxious hour, and then with all my concentration and Merlin's (my alakazam) help I would instantaneously move the lifeboat to the west shore of Shamouti Island.

I am proud to say that Merlin and I did it. We were waiting for Millie, Jessie, and Janine at 8:00 PM. The Team Rocket sentries never even noticed our appearance. I could sense my friends' presence in the darkness beyond the flood lights around the parking lot.  I directed my thought to the Team Rocket truck in the lot and envisioned the starter motor. I sent a telekinetic spark to the starter and hit the horn and lights for effect. The guards shouted and ran to see what had stricken their only transport from this lonely marine outpost.

My allies quickly ran across the opening between the road and the pier as the guards tended to the honking sputtering truck with its flashing headlights. "All right!" Jessie said grinning mischievously. "What a great diversion!"

We tumbled into the zodiac and picked up the oars I had thrown into it before the teleport. We rowed quietly offshore before starting the outboard motor.

I placed a psychic barrier around the zodiac to aid the darkness in confusing the senses of Team Rocket's soldiers in their patrol boat and helicopters prowling the strait. I couldn't prevent radar and spotlights from revealing us but I could prevent our enemies from properly interpreting the evidence of our existence. The strait was rough and it required great skill for Millie to maneuver into a reasonably safe landing on Ice Island's rocky eastern shore.

Jessie murmured, "Generally we've been unscrupulous…"

"Huh?" Janine wondered.

"Oh, just recalling one of the few high points of my life," Jessie returned mysteriously. I smiled knowingly at her.

The landing was difficult. We ran aground on offshore rocks and waded ashore like wet retrievers with our gear held over our heads. I fell physically and mentally exhausted on the rocks, "I need a rest."

"Okay, but we can't stay long. We've got to hike over the summit to Kanna," Millie said with gentle urgency in her voice.

"Just give me a half hour or so," I replied as I got out this journal for the entry I now complete.