As they were passing the telegraph office, a voice called after Sissy, “Miss Long.”
All three women turned to face the direction of the voice.
“I am glad I have caught you. I have a cablegram for you.” Mister Conner rushed up, panting at the effort.
Sissy curtsied. “Thank you, Mister Connor,” she said, taking the cable from the telegrapher.
Mr Connor returned to the telegraph office, closed the door for the day and swivelled the closed sign in the window to face the street.
Sissy opened the cablegram and continued to walk slowly as she read. Her face crumpled and she sighed, “Oh no!”
“What is it, Sissy?” Elaine asked.
“My two bridesmaids have both come down with the measles and can’t make the wedding,” Sissy’s disappointment showed on her face. “I have known them since my school days and we were looking forward to being each other’s bridesmaids,” Sissy lamented.
“Is there no one else in the party of people coming up who can take their places?” Elizabeth broke in.
“The dresses are already here and they are a small size. Most of the people in the party are a lot taller and older,” Sissy pondered.
The women walked along in silence. The unwanted communication had put a damper on the joyous tone of the afternoon. The sun began setting as the three women walked up the path to the house.
Martha anticipated Elaine’s knock and opened the door.
“Thank you, Martha,” Elaine greeted
The women changed their attire, put on more comfortable house dresses and headed into the dining room for the evening meal. All was quiet sitting at the table, until Sissy let out a little squeal and clapped her hands with delight. Elizabeth and Elaine turned to face Sissy with a look that said, ‘Well, let us in on it.’
“Why didn’t I think of it before? Elizabeth, you and Merinda are about the size of the dresses. Please say that you will be my bridesmaids?” Sissy pleaded.
“I would be honoured, Sissy, but I can’t speak for Merinda. She is very shy.”
“Will you ask her for me, tomorrow, while I talk with her father about the ceremony?” Sissy asked.
Elizabeth nodded her compliance and stood up from the table, walked over to Sissy and hugged her. “Of course I will.” She couldn’t hide her excitement.
With the meal cleared away, Sissy excused herself and went to her room. She returned with a handful of magazines featuring the latest fashions and placed them before Elaine and Elizabeth.
“Godey’s Lady’s Handbook!” Elizabeth squealed. “Latest edition, what’s more.”
“And Harper’s Bazaar,” Elaine’s more sedate reply entered the conversation.
As the three women poured over the latest French and Victorian fashions, the evening became late quickly. Elaine and Elizabeth took the unread portions of the magazines to bed, while Sissy found her way into the darkened drawing room and stood facing the windows. She stared down at the lights flickering onboard the vessels anchored in the harbour.
“Please keep them safe,” Sissy quietly prayed.
The excitement of the day quieted and she was alone.
She missed John terribly.
*~*~*~*
CHAPTER 34 - THURSDAY ISLAND 1882
Davis’ furious voice bellowed out over the deck, yelling at everyone and no one. They had only harvested half a barrel of small pearl shell for the day’s effort and his other vessels had reported similar results. As they sailed out of the harbour that morning, Davis decided to sail further north from Jennings, so Davis was not easily observed. It had become clear, after a few hours diving on the shallow reef that it had been picked clean by previous vessels. Davis decided he would move his fleet out into deeper waters the following morning.
Lewis’ dark eyes squinted. He didn’t like anyone bellowing except him. “I told you we in the wrong patch, but you not listen.”
“Shut up!” Davis spat, walking away.
Lewis reached for the knife in his belt. His thick, dark arms and solid torso could snap a man’s neck without blinking.
Russel reached out his hand to stop his friend. “Not now, Lewis,” Russel warned. The two huge, Horn Island native men eyed each other.
Lewis pushed the blade back in his belt. “It’s a good thing this white man got plenty money, otherwise he be shark bait!”
Davis didn’t trust his crew and he felt vulnerable as the diver. It wouldn’t take much for them to do away with him and make it look like an accident. He had to train someone else to dive in the suit, which would allow him to remain on deck and direct the operation from a safe point of control.
Davis and Jennings had agreed, as part of the contract, that the skippers would dive, thus preventing damage to the expensive diving suits and taking care of any downtime due to contraventions of the new fishery act. The act required divers to be licensed to a vessel and any changes to the divers’ employment had to be ratified by the government, a costly event to the success of the pearl harvesting operation. In the event of a death or serious injury, a government investigation would be carried out, with the same damaging results to the operation.
What Jennings doesn’t know, won’t concern him, Davis thought. After all, Jennings is paying for the whole outfit anyway. He callously smiled to himself and his thoughts turned to his future glory. Easy money at no cost to himself. What a perfect way to build an empire.
The rising sun, just below the horizon, sent a reddish-pink blanket over the eastern sky. Davis stood at the railing of the Ocean Jewel watching the sunrise while the still, cool morning air chilled his face. His thoughts were interrupted and he jumped at Lewis’ silent approach.
“What’s that rhyme the old mariners say, Red sky at night, sailor delight, red sky in the morning, a sailor warning.”
Davis understood the veiled threat and responded, “You would do well to listen to your own wives’ tales, Lewis.”
Lewis turned his cold eyes on Davis and sent a clear message, but Davis turned from the hulk in front of him and walked away before any further escalation.
The four vessels headed further north into deeper waters. After all the vessels dropped anchor, they were spread out over four miles and in a horseshoe shape, to match the lie of the reef below, making it easy for Davis to see the whole operation at a glance from the deck of his vessel.
Davis suited up a young native man and ran him through the procedure of diving at depths. The young man was an experienced free diver, so he didn’t need any coaching on collecting shell. Within twenty minutes, the first full net was hauled aboard and finally, Davis’ luck had changed. The crew turned their sour gazes upon their animated boss and despised him, knowing they were doing the hard work and getting little reward for their effort. They watched him dance around the deck at the rich haul coming up from the reef below and plotted.
*~*~*~*
Patch had been quiet since his misadventure with Davis. When they came home to Aunty’s place that night, Nirrimi was there, talking to Aunty. Nirrimi told Patch of Elizabeth’s rendition of Davis’ side of the story. Patch’s eyes were wide and he just shook his head in disbelief.
“Elizabeth must hate me,” he responded dejectedly.
“Well, she wasn’t excited about the story until Tameka came to your rescue.”
“Tameka?!” Patch quizzed.
“Uhum... Tameka,” Nirrimi smiled. “You see, Tameka was cleaning another room close by and she heard the whole story, including your apology. She verified your story, just as you told it to us.”
Patch leaned his back against the wall and slid down onto the floor, half from tiredness after a big day working and half from the story Nirrimi had just told him.
“How did Elizabeth take Tameka’s explanation of events?” he queried hopefully, looking up at Nirrimi.
“She went quiet and looked stunned. She did say she thought she had misjudged you, believing Davis.” Nirrimi smiled and then turned to Warrammarra.
“And you, Mister Wonderful Preacher,” Nirrimi said, sidling up to her husband.
“Uh-oh!” Warrammarra teased, “I am in for it now.”
Nirrimi put her arms around his neck. “Elizabeth’s brother is marrying a delightful lady in just over a week. Sissy is her name. We met her and Elizabeth’s mother today. A-n-d…” Nirrimi teased.
“A-n-d…” Warrammarra mimicked her.
“They want you to marry them,” Nirrimi said proudly. “I said you would talk to Sissy at the Jennings’ place tomorrow.”
Warrammarra smiled big. ”And you said yes, of course.”
“Of course. Did I do right?” she pleaded.
Warrammarra took his wife in a big hug and kissed her.
“Not in front of the children,” Nirrimi teased.
Aunty and Patch laughed.
*~*~*~*
Elizabeth couldn’t wait to present Sissy’s request to Merinda. She figured she would be hesitant and shy, but she was sure she would do it. She set off early, around the back way to the village, eager to find Merinda.
Patch had a few small things left to fix on the tree damaged hut and wanted to finish them early, while Warrammarra attended to Sissy. He was just about to walk out of Aunty’s door when he met Elizabeth coming in, almost walking into her.
“Beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth,” Patch bowed and stepped aside.
Elizabeth walked into the hut, curtsied to Patch and said, “Why thank you, sir,” adding a pleasant smile and a flash of her pure green eyes.
Patch floated out of Aunty’s door and off down the dirt street, to try and finish his work.
Aunty smiled at the scene playing out in front of her. “Hello, child,” Aunty said, hugging Elizabeth.
“Hello, Aunty. Have you seen Merinda?” she asked, returning the hug.
“I am expecting her at any moment, child,”
Just then, Merinda’s beautiful face appeared in Aunty’s doorway. “What did you do to Patch, Elizabeth?” Merinda enquired, hugging her and then looking back up the road at the smitten Patch.
Elizabeth smiled and with a coy look replied, “Why I don’t know what you are talking about, madam.”
Both women broke into laughter and hugged each other again.
At Elizabeth’s urging, Merinda, with some reluctance, agreed to Sissy’s request. They needed to go to the Jennings’ house and try the dresses on. Merinda was silent for a few moments and Elizabeth asked her what was wrong.
“I have never worn a corset before and I am not sure I will be able to,” Merinda worried.
“I will show you. As long as you don’t want to breathe or eat, you will be okay,” Elizabeth teased.
*~*~*~*
Davis could not believe his eyes, as load after load of perfect 12 inch shell began to pile up on the deck of the schooner. He watched the shell being opened and the pearls removed from the animal and then the animal thrown overboard. The shell was placed in barrels and the pearl dropped into a strong box, set upon the deck.
At the end of the day, Davis swept up the strong box and locked it, hiding it in his cabin. That night, he dreamed of mountains of pearl shell. Lewis’ face leered up in one dream and stole away the strong box. He awoke in a sweat and felt under the bunk for the box.
It was still there.
*~*~*~*
The four women were in hysterics with laughter as they helped each other dress into their outfits. Merinda looked at the corset lying on Sissy’s bed as if it was about to bite her.
“Well, there is only one way to overcome one’s fear,” Elizabeth said to Merinda.
Elizabeth took hold of the white corset, wrapped it around her own chest and waist and buckled the heavy, flat clamps together at the front. With the corset wrapped around her like a boa constrictor, Sissy pulled hard on the drawstrings that zigzagged across her back. Elizabeth held onto the bedpost, as Sissy exerted her full force upon the tethers and tied the ends off in a neat bow. Elizabeth’s tiny waist was now a size smaller.
She gasped for a breath, trying to fill her constricted lungs. “See, it’s easy,” she tried to convince Merinda without disclosing too much pain.
Elaine went out to attend to a matter within the house and when she returned, there were three beautiful young women parading their finery. Sissy looked stunning, closely flanked by her two exquisite bridesmaids and the dresses fitted perfectly.
“Wow!” Elaine exclaimed, returning into the room.
*~*~*~*
CHAPTER 35 - PRESENT DAY
Johnny couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling that clawed at his stomach all through the day. Since talking to Damon about his decision to go ahead with Missy Boss’ treatment, he had felt uneasy. He had completed his daily chores, showered and gone to bed, but sleep wouldn’t come.
He slipped out of bed and down on his knees again and began to pray. A great battle engulfed the old man as he interceded for Missy Boss, his spirit joining with Jesus’ angels as they fought. The moments became hours as the battle raged.
*~*~*~*
The ward was quiet and the lights had been dimmed to allow the clients to sleep. The night always brought an emergency or two, but so far it was silent. Tonight, a heavily built male orderly sat at the nurse’s station, chatting quietly to the shift nurse, preparing to do their midnight rounds.
The conversation stopped abruptly in mid sentence and they both focused their attention on the locked, glass door into the MHU ward. The door was guarded by a numbered security pad and a male person, dressed in a white lab coat, stood at the pad punching in a security number. The door clanked as the lock released, creaking in the quiet as the person pushed the door open. The two people at the nurses’ station glanced at the person entering. The door closed itself behind the man in a lab coat and automatically locked again, with a clank that was magnified by the quiet.
*~*~*~*
Gwennie Stevens awoke with a start. She had had a dream of a black curtain descending over the MHU. Dirty black spirits laughed as they tormented the sleeping patients. Gwennie had experienced this type of warning before and knew that someone was in trouble.
She flicked on her bedside lamp, lifted the phone and dialled a number. The person on the other end groggily answered, listened, then repeated back to her the request, and set the chain in progress. Soon, a dozen people were alerted to pray, each taking an hour long shift, then phoning the next person to continue the prayer, giving an unbroken prayer shield over the MHU ward.
*~*~*~*
“Good evening, Doctor. You are working late,” the nurse stated.
“Yes, I have some things to check before Charlie Myers’ procedure tomorrow,” he responded.
The nurse just nodded and quietly marked the strange happening into her shift log, as the doctor headed to Charlie’s room. The doctor knew the procedure with the nurses’ shift log, but if this worked, it would revolutionise electroconvulsive therapy.
It’s worth the risk of being found out, he excitedly thought. He found Charlie’s room, pushed the door open and entered. The patient was still staring into the ceiling, eyes wide open.
The nurses have done a good job keeping her eyes lubricated, he noted, looking directly into her pupils.
Checking to see there was nobody watching, he reached into his lab coat pocket and produced a small, clear bottle with a rubber top and a syringe. He placed them on a trolley table next to the bed. In the other pocket, he removed a packet of sterile, surgical gloves. He opened the plastic packet containing the gloves and slipped them on over his hands. With his gloved hands, he carefully opened the packet containing the syringe and needle, fitted the needle to the syringe and removed the plastic needlepoint guard. Upending the bottle, he pushed the syringe needle through the rubber top, into the clear liquid inside and drew back the plunger from the syringe, measuring out thirty milligrams. Placing the bottle back on the trolley, he pushed the syringe plunger down slightly to release any trapped air in the liquid and then flicked th
e syringe with his fingernail. Satisfied, he lifted Charlie’s arm, found a vein and emptied the contents.
That will take ten hours to reach maximum effect in her brain. She is a good healthy specimen, he thought to himself.
He grabbed up the bottle, the syringe and the discarded packaging from the table and stuffed them into his lab coat pocket. He opened the door to Charlie’s room and walked out, the door closing automatically behind him. He nodded to the nurse, still seated at the counter.
“Finished?” the nurse enquired.
“Yes. Can you have an orderly take Miss Myers down to Psyche Room One by ten o’clock tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, Doctor. I will mark it in the shift log for the day shift.”
The doctor turned and walked to the MHU door, then pressed the black button on the wall. The lock clanked open and he walked out. The nurse entered into her log: Left at 0045.
*~*~*~*
Gwennie was awake early. She hurriedly showered, put on her Salvation Army uniform and headed for MHU. On the way out the door, she grabbed a small bottle of olive oil from her bedside. The olive oil was symbolic of the presence of the Holy Spirit and His healing power. It seemed that her prayer was empowered when she dabbed a small drop onto the person receiving prayer, but only if the Holy Spirit instructed her to. In the past, she had seen miraculous healing done before her eyes using the anointing oil, but if she took it on herself to anoint a person and then pray, the power was not released and the person didn’t get healing. She had to listen to the Spirit’s leading.
She knew the Spirit was concerned this morning.
She could feel it.
Visiting hours in the MHU ward started at 8am and Gwennie arrived just after eight o’clock and checked with the nurses’ station.