The Scarlet King (42 page)

“I stay with Larby. Maybe we sail with
Jason.”

Heather’s tears were flowing so heavily that
her vision was blurry, and with the sunlight it made Betty seem to
glow. She asked, “Will I ever see you again?”

“You see me all of the time. We hear each
other. Matter not where we are.”

“I do not want to lose you.”

“You not lose me. I always with you.”

“What will I do without you?”

“You not need me. Your babies need you. The
Spirits of the Forest will look after you.”

The ship’s bell began to ring, for Captain
Cook wished to ride the outgoing tide out of the harbor. Heather
turned and looked at the ship and saw Daniel waiting for her. She
looked back and Betty was gone, nowhere in sight. Her crying seemed
almost uncontrollable even when Daniel came up and put his arm
around her. He guided her to the ship’s boat waiting for them. As
she climbed into the boat an image of Betty formed in her mind and
brought her comfort.

By the time they reached the ship she had
controlled her tears. As she and Daniel climbed the rope ladder she
noticed all of Larby’s people in their canoes and fishing boats. As
soon as they were safely aboard, Captain Cook had the anchor raised
and some sail set. They began to move with the tide out of the
harbor accompanied by the flotilla of Larby’s people.

As they approached the harbor entrance some
of the small boats and canoes turned back while others worked hard
to keep up with the ship, which was now gaining speed from the
wind. As the ship reached full speed, all of Larby’s people except
those in one small boat with a makeshift sail fell behind. Heather
looked hard at the boat and realized that someone was standing in
the bow waving at them. She knew in her heart that it was Betty and
waved back. As soon as she had waved the small boat gave way and
fell back, and all too quickly was out of sight.

Daniel had been standing next to Heather,
holding their baby in one arm and embracing Heather with the other.
He spoke not for some time, letting Heather cry. In a very gentle
voice he said, “It is how it had to be. That is the way of the God
of the Sacred Water.”

The end.