Murky Manor by Steven & Margaret Larson
"Of course it isn't yours," Amari said. "It is," she paused, "antediluvian. You must show me where it is."
Meredith stared. "The boat?"
Amari narrowed her eyes. "I don't believe you have it. You can't be the right one. They must have meant someone else."
The rain turned to a fine mist. The wind picked up. Sailboats at the dock slipped in and out of view as clumps of fog passed over the pier. Moisture was soaking through Meredith's jacket.
"I've had enough," Meredith said. She turned to Tony. "I'm going home."
A gust of wind buried them in fog. Everything was gray mist. Something soft brushed against Meredith's hand. She jerked her arm away.
"Tony? Where are you?"
"Wow, this is really eerie." Tony's voice came through the cloud in front of her. The wind shifted and suddenly they were staring at each other. Meredith looked around. Amari was gone.
"That was weird," Tony said. "Where did she go?" He looked around. "Never mind. I'm ready to go home too."
As they walked up the pier Meredith said, "I think she was talking to the mist. Just like the mist at Murky."
CHAPTER 14 - PLANTS, MOLD, AND MILDEW
Water stains spotted Meredith's blue jacket. She considered tossing it in the wash. But it was chilly outside, and she didn't have a spare. She put it on. It had a weathered look that made her feel adventurous. All she needed was a Raiders hat. Maybe in pink. Wouldn't that surprise Heather?
She stopped to check the plant before leaving her room. It was still dry, but the leaves weren't drooping. It certainly needed a lot of water. She dumped a full glass on the dry dirt.
In the elevator, there was a new sign. What now?
ATTENTION! Bringing plants into this building is STRICTLY prohibited. This activity will NOT be tolerated! Violations could result in loss of privileges and fines. Management
There were more silly rules here than at school. The doors opened. Meredith stopped to listen to the weather channel on the corner television set.
"The storm front named Helga is still just a tropical depression. It shows signs of organizing into a hurricane, but so far has only generated rainsqualls and turbulent waters. Meteorologists are baffled at the way Helga has not moved or changed significantly for almost a week. Astronomers have jokingly named it Earth's Great Gray Spot in reference to the storm that has raged on Jupiter for centuries. Hopefully this storm will move on sooner than that." The announcer chuckled at his own joke. "Coastal areas can expect more fog and rain."
"Mildew. Mold and mildew."
Meredith jumped at the voice behind her. Argon thumped a spray bottle down on the desk. She gave Meredith a withering look.
"I've made adjustments to the temperature settings. We must keep the doors closed at all times," Argon said.
All the time? How were people going to get in and out?
"The only hope of keeping the environment in here clean is through a controlled atmosphere," she continued. "Air quality is key."
Moisture coated the bottom half of the windows. Light coming through the top filtered through the rainforest and fell on the Amazon in tiny speckles. It made her skin look like a moss covered brown rock. She looks like she is growing mold, Meredith thought. At least Heather didn't pick sickly green for me.
"You must also mention to that boy that he is not to bring in any foreign spores on his clothing. I don't want any more of that." She pointed to the wastebasket.
Meredith leaned over and looked inside. A wilted blue flower lay at the bottom of the trash can. She thought she caught a faint whiff of cinnamon.
"That's a blue daisy," Meredith said.
"That is not a daisy."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. The important thing is that it is dead. I don't want them multiplying and destroying the delicate balance I have established in this conservatory."
"We'll be careful, Ms. Argon."
"See that you are."
Meredith hurried down the path and pushed aside the willow tree branches. She stepped out from under the canopy and stopped in mid stride. A vine climbed up the gazebo wall. Brilliant blue flowers with tiny orange centers poked through an abundance of leaves.
She took a deep breath. The scent of tart cinnamon was overwhelming. Well, we didn't plant them she thought. As long as the Amazon doesn't come out here, we should be safe. Tony was waiting inside.
"How do you like the flowers?" Tony said. "Makes me want apple pie or a donut. Don't suppose you brought any?"
"No. Where did they come from? Did you plant them?"
"Not me. Not really sure you can call it planting. There's no dirt in the pot. They're growing in water."
"Really? Just water?"
"Yep."
"Somehow one got into the lobby. The Amazon found it and she's really furious. There's a new posting in the elevator about it. She insisted I tell you not to bring in any foreign spores."
Tony's eyes got big. "Whoa. That makes me sound like an alien. I thought she was the one from another planet."
A shadow fell across Tony's face. Startled, Meredith turned. Amari stood in the doorway holding one of the flowers. Her strange blue eyes stared at them.
"Speaking of otherworldly," Tony mumbled.
Meredith shot him a warning glance. He looked down and mouthed, "Sorry."
"It is sun flower," Amari said.
"Humph," Tony said. "That's not a sunflower. Everyone knows sunflowers are big and yellow with lots of seeds."
Amari tucked it behind her ear. The blue in the petals complimented the streaks in her hair. "It opens and closes with the sun. It is sun flower."
"Okay, it's a blue sunflower." He looked questioningly at Meredith and spread his hands.
"Maybe that's not its official name," Meredith said. Maybe that's just what it's called where she comes from. Where do you come from, Amari?"
Their eyes met. Meredith wanted to look away, but the blue eyes fascinated her. They were uncanny. Not even cats had eyes that color.
"From other side of the water."
Meredith said, "Huh?"
"Antediluvian," Amari said.
"We're back to that again," Tony said.
Meredith wondered if she was playing dumb. What was she hiding? Spencer might be right about her being a runaway. Or just crazy.
"Who were you talking to on the pier?" Meredith asked.
Amari shook her head. "They left before telling me."
"Who left?" Meredith breathed out the words. She was afraid of the answer. The image of the mist rising out of the fog was too similar to the mist that floated up the stairs at Murky.
"Water wisps. The keepers of the Misty Way."
Tony cleared his throat. "This is getting creepy."
"Then there really are creatures," Meredith said. "It wasn't just our imagination when they floated across the lawn and came up the stairs."
Amari gasped. "Where? Where did you see them?"
"Murky Manor," Tony said. "But it's always foggy there. It could have been anything."
Amari grabbed Meredith's arm. Even through the jacket, her grip was fierce. "You must take me there." Her voice was low and urgent.
Meredith felt a wave of panic. She jerked her arm back. Amari gasped and let go.
"I?I am sorry," she said backing up. "I didn't mean?" she took a couple steps to the door.
"Wait!" Meredith said.
Amari turned back.
Meredith rubbed her arm. "Are these water wisps dangerous?"
"They are powerful, but mean us no harm. They brought me here to find it. If I cannot, the storm will come for everyone."
Tony stood up. "Let's check out Murky Manor. Maybe we can figure out what she's talking about. While we're there we can get the cup."
CHAPTER 15 - WATER WISPS AT THE MANOR
Meredith shivered, but not just from the chilly, damp air. She trudged along behind the others up the twisting road. At each bend, the gloom seemed
Finally, they emerged from the tunnel of trees. Murky Manor sat in the deep vapor that buried the yard. It covered the porch leaving the door floating in a gray pool. The figurehead appeared to be flying over clouds. It only needed wings to look like an angel or a mythological creature.
"Where are they?" Amari asked.
"Let's check the shed," Meredith said.
Tony led the way. He waved his arm making the fog separate just long enough to see where to put his feet. It immediately flowed back into place hiding the ground. Amari followed him. Meredith came last.
"The fog wasn't nearly this thick last year at Halloween," Tony said. "This is dense. You have to wade through this stuff like water."
Meredith couldn't see her feet. Actually she couldn't see anything below her knees. The pink jacket glided in front of her as if Amari's feet weren't touching the ground. Meredith stumbled when her foot strayed off the walkway.
They reached the shed. Tony pulled open the door. The boxes they had moved to get the bicycle out had been stacked neatly back in place. The bench was empty.
"Where do you think you left it?" Tony asked.
"On the bench," Meredith said. "It's gone."
"Where are they?" Amari asked.
"Who?"
"The water wisps," she said impatiently. "Did we not come to find them?"
"You must have left it in the house," Tony said. He grinned at Amari. "That's where we saw the water wisps."
"I left it on the bench," Meredith said.
"Well let's just go look inside. It's obviously not here," Tony said.
They decided to take the back stairway. When they got to the hidden door it wouldn't open.
"You locked it?" Meredith asked.
"Not me," Tony said.
"You must have. Now how are we going to get in?"
"I still have the key," Tony said with a smug smile. He pulled it out of his pocket, and held it up.
"Sun flower," Amari said pointing at the key. "It is sun flower."
Meredith looked at the key. It did look like the blue flowers.
"Odd," Tony said. He shrugged. They went inside, and shut the door. Meredith tried the handle. It was locked.
"Don't lose that key," she said. "The door locks automatically."
Amari started up the stairs, and they followed.
"Do we need to go across the roof to the turret?" Tony asked.
"We're not going out there," Meredith said. There was no way she was walking across that roof again in the fog.
"If you left the cup in the turret. . ." he began.
"I left it in the shed," she interrupted.
There was a creek of old hinges as Amari opened a door on the landing. Meredith peeked past her. The second floor hallway stretched out in front of them. Amari stepped onto the carpet and headed down the hall.
"Where's she going?" Tony whispered.
Meredith shrugged. "Come on."
When they caught up to her, she was staring at the photograph that hung outside the turret room.
"It's him," she said softly. "He looks older somehow, but it's him and he has the sensor."
What had been just a dark object by candlelight, Meredith could see plainly now. "It's the cup I left in the shed," she said.
"Who is the woman?" Amari asked.
"Probably just a figurehead," Tony said. "The sailors on the old ships thought they brought good fortune."
Amari leaned forward. "She has lovely slippers."
"Only one," Tony said. "The other foot is hidden by her dress."
"When did you become interested in fashion?" Meredith asked.
"Not fashion. It's expert carving. Creating a quality figurehead took a lot of time and effort by a skilled craftsman. Look at the detail on this lady."
"Where do we find them?" Amari said.
"Figureheads?" Meredith asked. "This particular one is outside attached to the house. We could check it out on the way to the shed. Where I left the cup."
Amari shook her head. "No. Where do we find the boy and the sensor?"
"If that's Captain Morgan, he's been dead for a hundred years," Tony said.
"How is this possible?" Amari sounded confused. "It has only been a few weeks since the sensor was lost."
"Why do you keep calling it a sensor?" Meredith asked.
"It gives warning when our worlds are about to touch," Amari said. "It does not belong to this world. The water wisps have warned that the storm will come if it remains here. We must find it. The storm will come for us if the sensor is not returned."
"Are you trying to say you're not from this world?" Tony asked.
"Is it not evident?" she said with a smile. "Come. Show me the room where you left the sensor."
"The turret room," Tony said pointing to the door.
Meredith muttered under her breath, "I left it in the shed."
He reached for the doorknob.
"We're not going to be able to get in," Meredith said. "Remember we left it locked."
The latch turned, and the door swung open. He glanced at Meredith with a wry smile.
"We did lock it," she said.
"Well someone obviously unlocked it," Tony said.
"There's no electricity in this room, so there's no reason for the workers to come in here."
Meredith pushed the door shut behind them, and curled up on a window seat. She crossed her arms, and watched as they searched the room.
Tony finally slumped onto the other cushioned seat. "Guess you're right. It's not here."
Meredith rolled her eyes. Amari sat down beside her and nodded to the yard below. The only thing visible was the tops of the trees.
"It is like the crow's nest on board the Sea Hawk," she said, "except there were no trees poking out of the fog."
"You were onboard a ship?" Tony asked.
She ran her fingers through her hair. The blue strands stood out against her tanned skin.
"The fog was thick. Captain Bardo said I had good eyes, and wanted me to act as lookout. We were shorthanded. He couldn't spare any of the men. I didn't want to go."
She leaned back against the wall and began her story.
CHAPTER 16 - ESCAPE FROM THE INN
"You'll only be underfoot on deck," Bardo said.
Amari cringed as she touched the slimy ropes leading to the crow's nest.
His voice softened. "We're all afraid, girl." He turned away.
Amari scuttled up the wet rigging as the mist rolled over the water. It slipped onto the bow of the Sea Hawk and crept across the deck.
She looked down to where Captain Bardo stood at the helm. He brushed back his dripping hair and pulled his hat down firmly. Moisture from the air mixed with his perspiration making the rough clothes cling to his muscular frame.
As the Sea Hawk ventured further into the narrow waterway, the sensors began to shimmer and turn a dark sapphire blue. Until now, Amari had not paid any attention to the sensors. They were standard equipment on every vessel that ventured out on the deep. The dull black caps were the only thing to give warning when a ship drifted too close to the shadow world. They were attached to the ends of the poles holding the sail in place. Dull black became bright blue when the ship entered the Misty Way and strayed too close to a vortex.
Those who ignored the sensor warnings and foolishly entered the narrow channel seldom returned. No one knew for sure what lurked behind the impenetrable fogbanks that flanked both sides, but it reached out and swallowed ships whole.
Before coming on this voyage Amari worked at the Flying Dolphin. She served food and drink to the sailors who crowded around the firepit in the rundown inn. They delighted in scaring her with their tales of monsters that lurked in the Misty Way. She tried to pretend she didn't care, but their harsh laughter told her they could see her fear.
It was late the night that Bardo entered the crowded gathering room. The coarse jesting ceased and talk faded into the corners. His boot heel
Amari felt his eyes following her as she scooped up the laden dinner tray. The familiar pain crept up her arm as she tried to steady her hand and keep her numb legs moving.
Her thoughts were on getting through the next hour when the inn would close. She longed to ease her aching muscles onto the straw mat in the tiny room off the kitchen where she slept. In spite of her efforts, the liquid sloshed over the mug's rim when she set it down. She felt compelled to meet his gaze.
Shadows from the flickering flames hid the flecks of gray in his hair. It was pulled back and tied with a strip of leather. A white scar ran down from his left eye. His jaw was set in determination that showed even through the rough beard.
"I sail tomorrow morning, and I mean to bring my wife a servant," he said. His voice was mellow, but it carried the tang of the common sailor.
Amari looked over the big man before her. It was warm in the room. Added heat from the fire pit made her light headed.
The skin around his eyes tightened. His voice softened. "She is delicate, my Sadie. She needs help with the children and the household chores."
The dim, smoke filled room was oppressive. Amari's head was starting to ache. She had been hungry at the orphanage, but never this tired. Talk of the fresh sea air made her irritable.
"You'll find no governess for your children here," she said, and started to turn away.
"I would expect a fair day's work. The pay would not be great, but my wife is a kind mistress and has been educated."
Amari turned back. "How nice for her. Perhaps you should try the school up the hill. That's where you'll find young ladies."
"Anyone who worked for her would have an opportunity to study - if they cared to do so."
Amari met his eyes. Could he mean her? Was it possible he was offering her a chance to escape?
"The voyage will be long, uncertain, and full of danger," he said.
"Are you asking me?" she barely whispered.
He nodded.
She shivered as the fearful tales of the sea rushed through her head. Before she could change her mind, she pushed them aside and accepted his offer.
It was still dark the next morning when she stood on the dock. Her small bag contained a change of clothing, two stolen loaves of bread, and a slab of dried salted meat. They would hardly be missed. She wouldn't be getting her pay at the end of the week.