Chapter 16
Dawn broke cheerfully through the curtains, tapping the sleeping sailor on the face. Skiff's alarm clock rang out urgently, not stopping until the fisherman reached one sleepy hand and clicked it into silence. Then, he slid groggily from his warm duvets and forced himself to stand.
Stumbling sleepily into the bathroom, the sailor showered, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair in half the time he normally would. Still groggy, but otherwise alert, he made his way to the chair by his desk, where he'd collected one part of the plan from the theatre costumes. He grabbed an over shoulder bag from the back of his door and slipped this and his fishing hook (wrapped in his father's sail cloth) inside that. That was part a, which meant their plan was in motion. Next he had to retrieve the pearl, and hide that in his bag as well. This part was slightly trickier, because the pearl was kept under lock and key in the office, as Marco had informed him the night before. Skiff had access to pearl, but the big doors on the office were old, and tended to squeak on their hinges. With a little luck, everyone in the council houses would sleep through it.
The sailor approached the large doors and slipped the key into the lock. He jiggled it as slowly as possible, and after a little strain, they gave way. He nudged one of the doors inch by inch, wincing at the loud creaks. When there was a large enough gap, he slipped inside, listening hard for footsteps in the corridor. There were none, so the sailor breathed a sigh of relief. He tiptoed over to the glass cabinet with the pearl, and presented his security card to the screen. It emitted a loud beep as it registered the card, and once again Skiff held his breath, sure he would be caught right then and there. After a few minutes, he decided it was safe to proceed, as he had still not been intercepted. He carefully lifted the pearl from the velvet pillow and stroked it fondly. It's multitude of colours swirled around happily inside. Was this really able to turn Captain human? Or anything into anything for that matter. Either way they'd find out tonight. He placed the pearl at the bottom of his bag and zipped it closed. He stole away from the office undetected. Stage two was successful.
The next part of the plan was the trickiest, because he had to hide Captain somewhere. Having thought about it the night before, he'd decided that the easiest way to make Captain mobile would be to slip him inside a wheelie bin. He rather hoped the merman wouldn't take offense, especially since he had no back up plan to that. He'd selected a new one so it was clean. It was large enough to accompany the merman temporarily, whilst also holding water so that he wouldn't dehydrate, and it was mobile so that Skiff would be able to roll it through Brigodston after the main stage of their plan was operated. Now all he had to was play a little game of swapsies.
Captain was sitting on the bottom of the tank, but swam up merrily when Skiff arrived, showing a lot of pearly fang as he beamed.
"You got the pearl too?"
Skiff nodded and patted his zipped up bag.
Captain grinned, his tail flicking left to right like an excited puppy. "And you found the costume?"
"It's not a great likeness" Skiff admitted, but it will make Pescecorp look real silly I suppose"
"Let's see it"
Skiff ducked a set of whiteboards to change, and emerged in a cheap mermaid costume, which was more or less a sleeveless dress. It had a split up the side of each leg to allow movement whilst the 'tail' dangled at the front and the back. The upper area was made of a satin type material, with two seashell shapes.
"There's a tiara too but I don't think we need to go that far" Skiff muttered.
"Aw, you'd look cute tho" Captain joked. "Well, if your plan works this will definitely humiliate them"
"And me" Skiff giggled "But that's a price I'm willing to pay. Now, I have something that we can put you in – only for a few hours! We'll need to drain a little of this tank into it somehow, and then we'll stow you by the stage for a quick getaway."
Captain nodded. A few hours of smaller confinement was a small price to pay for the bigger picture. He found that if he curled his tail beneath him, it was more or less bearable at any rate. Skiff carted the bin to the side of the main stage that lead to the back, so at least no members of the public would attempt to use it and get a shock when they went to chuck their empty orange juice box or apple core.
"Ok, they'll be here soon" Skiff glanced at the clock on the wall "I better get into position"
"Good luck" The merman smiled "I'll be waiting"
"See you after the show" Skiff smiled, turning away.
"Wait, Skiffer"
"Hm?" Skiff turned, puzzled by the nickname.
Captain gulped.
"If something does ... go wrong ... I'd just like you to know that the past few months have been the most exciting, and the most special, in my life. If anything happens just know ..." He looked down at the stone floor below. "Just know you're worth a song"
Skiff blinked, an overwhelming feeling of happiness running through him.
"T-thank you ... Captain ... and for what its worth, they've been the best of mine too. But I'll try not to let anything go wrong"
"Good" The merman nodded, placing a hand on the sailor's cheek. "I've wasted a lot of my life cutting corners and burying things, but I want you to know that ends tonight, whatever the outcome"
"We all have points to work on" Skiff smiled.
"But I'd never have moved on without you. Skiff I think I've fallen in-"
Both heads turned at the sound of footsteps, and Skiff knew he had to act quickly. Captain looked like he had more to say, but Skiff decided it could wait till after the show.
"It's go time" Skiff broke from his friend's touch (which seemed to disappoint the other) and quickly climbed into the tank, pulling the curtain over just as the three Pescecorp men entered the room.
Big Dave rubbed his hands gleefully.
"Boys, I can already smell that money" He turned. "Is our friend well?"
Marco peered under the curtain.
"Seem to be. We're late as it is, let's go"
"Right right" Dave huffed, grabbing the pulley from underneath the tank. "Time to show Pescecorp what a true master fisherman looks like"
"And that Skiff isn't" Zak snickered, helping to push. "I can't wait to see the look on his face"
The tank was rolled onto the side of the stage and left whilst the Pescecorp members went to sit at a reserved table whist the rest of the meetings happened. Finally, in the early evening, it was time for the big announcement.
"Now, as we all know, our humble little town of Brigodston is home to many extraordinary marine creatures. But I've had word that these three extraordinary men have captured something that will REALLY put us on the map! Please welcome Dave, Zak and Marco to the stage!"
Residents clapped obediently as they made their way to the front. Zak and Marco pushed the tank to the middle of the stage, which earnt a round of surprised murmurings.
"I am a ... humble man of few words" Dave smiled, bowing. "And I for one would much rather answer the questions that I'm sure many of you will have" His eye darted around the room behind his glasses, searching for someone. "But rest assured, we can answer them all. Brigodston! I give you your first ever ..." He snapped his fingers and his companions tugged at the curtain. It fell to the stage as everyone in the room rose to their feet to get a look inside the tank. "Merman!" Dave waited for the applause, the cheering – the money. But after a few moments pause, the entire room burst into laughter.
"Wassit?" He frowned, turning to look at the tank. Skiff was floating at the side in his costume, pulling a funny face.
"What the?!" Dave spluttered, going red in the face. Zak laughed nervously, whilst Marco looked away to hide his laughter.
"Skiff? What the bloody hell are you doing in there? Where's the merman?"
The sailor lifted himself from the tank, waving at the crowds who were hollering and taking photographs.
"Now now Dave" He grinned "A big lad like yourself shouldn't be believing in fairy stories"
More laughter arose, including some from the Mayor herself. Dave was very red in the face by now. He hated being stood up. He especially hated being stood up by Skiff.
"I'll kill you!" He roared, stunning the crowd into silence.
Skiff stood his ground. This is what he'd been hoping for.
"You tried that once"
A ripple of shock went through the crowd, and murmuring started.
"O-oh yeah?" And where's your proof?" Dave snarled.
"He has a witness" Marco coughed, stepping forwards. "Me"
"Marco? What in the blazes are you DOING?" Dave stomped on the stage, a bead of sweat breaking in his forehead.
"What's right – for once" Marco took his badge from his overall pocket and threw it onto the ground. "These men practise illicit activities, and I can testify that the attempted murder of Skiff Eastport-Pram took place"
"Oh pish, even you don't have proof. You didn't see any 'attempted murder' did you Zak?" Dave turned to his other crony, who spluttered, unsure of how to answer, making it all the more obvious that Skiff and Marco were telling the truth.
"Dan, fetch security" Mayor Blair murmured. That had done it. Dave howled in rage, leaping towards Skiff. He caught a hold of the costume, and Skiff struggled against his grip. Marco helped to pull Skiff, whilst Zak tried to hold his boss back. The tail tore, leaving the fin part in Dave's hand.
"Run" Marco whispered, and Skiff didn't need to be told twice. He fled to the wings, quickly changed into his regular clothes, and grabbed the wheelie bin that held Captain. The merman poked his head out of the lid once they started moving.
"Did you do it?"
"Mostly" Skiff gulped, pushing it down the steps. They heard a great clatter behind him, and shouting. "Oh bother ... Dave's really in for me"
"Then we better hurry" Captain prompted.
Skiff took off as fast as he could, his shoulder bag swinging against his hip. The pearl was humming inside. It occurred to Skiff as he ran that Dave would never let him rest, and that making Captain human would infuriate him, or possibly endanger him too. Skiff didn't want to say good bye, but he also knew that there was a reason the worlds were separated. He just wasn't sure how to tell Captain. He'd grown fond of the merman. Really fond. To point he wondered if there was another reason he'd rejected the Blair siblings offers ...
The wheels of the bin refused to move over the sand, but luckily the tide was in, so Skiff resorted to carrying Captain down to the ocean best he could. The merman settled himself excitedly in the shallow water.
"Now Skiff! I can become human!"
The sailor looked down.
"Captain ... I don't think you can"
"Why? We haven't even tried it yet – and you've got the pearl right there!"
"Captain ..." Skiff looked up, tears forming in his eyes. "Dave isn't going to rest ... he'll have other contacts. No matter where I am on land, he'll come to find me. If you join me ... he'll hurt you too. I can't let that happen."
"W-what are you saying? ..."
"You have your chance at freedom, if you go now, they'll never ever catch you. But if you stay here, they'll get both of us. I'd rather it was just me"
Tears formed in the merman's eyes as well.
"No ... that can't just be the end Skiffer ... I can't lose you I ..." He closed his eyes, licking his lips. After a short pause he opened them again "I love you."
Skiff looked at his knees. A tear rolled off the end of his nose.
"I ... I do too ... which is why I can't let them get you ... please. Save yourself."
There was an uncomfortable silence. The waves sloshed on the sandy shore.
"I can't become human but ..."
"Captain, please-"
"No no, listen to me" He reached forwards and took one of Skiff's hands in his own. "What if you become a merman?"
"Huh?"
"Just do the reverse. You said yourself that Dave would never let you rest on land. So ... don't be on land"
The idea was the most wonderful thing Skiff had ever heard. Suddenly, a loud crashing sound came from somewhere in the distance, followed by shouting. Dave had evaded the security, and they didn't have much time.
Skiff took the pearl from the bag, and held it out.
"S-so what do I do?"
"Just have faith" Captain smiled, plucking a scale from the base of his tail. He pressed it against the outside of the pearl, and after a moment or so, it seemed to be absorbed. Skiff peered into the swirling mass of blues and pinks and saw what looked like the silhouette of a merperson.
"Now just walk forwards" Captain pushed off into slightly deeper waters. Skiff waded in till he was waist deep.
"Hold onto it, and place it into the water"
Skiff did so. The merman edged forwards.
"Ready?"
"Ready"
Captain tapped the pearl with his finger. Instantaneously, a funny feeling spread across the whole of Skiff's body, like an electric shock. The strange colours seemed to radiate from the pearl, and as they did so, the song inside became louder. A spiral of colours radiated down the sailor's body, wrapping themselves around his legs. It felt as though someone was pulling a very tight suit on. His gums tingled as fangs started to grow, and the sides of his neck felt airy as gills started to form. Captain was watching excitedly, so in the moment, Skiff threw himself towards him, wrapping his arms around his neck and kissing him passionately, without warning, on the lips. The koi merman blinked in surprised, but relaxed into it after a moment or two, running his fingers through the blonde hair of the other.
Once the feeling vanished, Skiff broke away to see a glimmering blue and yellow tail in place of what had once been his legs.
"That's a neon blue damselfish if I ever saw one" Captain grinned "It suits you"
"H-how do I look?" Skiff giggled.
"Perfect" Captain pulled him close again.
The shouting was getting closer now, only a few streets away. Captain began to back into the ocean.
"Come on, let's go"
Skiff nodded, casting his shirt onto the beach and grabbing his fish hook from the bag. He kissed his father's sailcloth fondly.
"I know you'd be proud of me, dad" He smiled, holding it tightly in his palm.
"Don't worry, we can return that to the cave"
"Ah good ... ah, how do you swim exactly?"
"Up and down motion"
"Got it" Skiff propelled himself forwards, surprised by his own speed. He took one last look back at Brigodston. It had been an adventure alright, but he'd done the right thing. A series of figures appeared round the street corner, yelling.
"It's time" Captain laced his fingers with Skiff's. "Say, why don't we grab sushi from Shelly's to celebrate?"
"Ooh, I'd love to try those little octopus ones again" Skiff grinned. "Let's go"
A flurry of Brigodston residents swarmed onto the beach. Big Dave, who was still being pursued by the Mayor's security guards, grabbed Skiff's top from the sand. He looked left, and he looked right, but the sailor was nowhere to be seen, and he, at last, was cornered and handcuffed. The rest of the Brigodston residents were equally as confused to Skiff's whereabouts, but only one person saw something in the ocean. Marco smiled; Skiff had fought for something worth it.
Deciding that it was a mystery; the town residents shrugged, and began to disperse out – just like the ripples that followed as the two tails disappeared under the surface of the water, leaving only the memories of what happened behind them.