Chapter 11 - Hollow Talk
Soft seas spoke silence as Caroline and I challenged our fate. I could see Lee’s lovely wooden radio tower against the crumbling wall of mist. Built with wisdom long ago, its familiar sight meant my nerves could now swim off into the abyss. I noticed a warm amber light coming from the room the base of the structure. The horizon lay melting with the presence of the early twilight. All my mind could produce was the embrace of Lee awaiting my prolonged arrival. Her careful hands would cross the line previously established for our relationship to something new. Something I felt would be exciting for us both. For me, it began the end of a plagued season. For her, I could be the answer to the question she did not know how to answer. The rope Caroline lay in my hand ready to be tied off allowing the next scene to unfold.
Finding the role as a passive security system, the damp and weather floor boards lining the dock creaked in sorrow with each footstep. A scatter of light inside the base of the lighthouse reacted to the sound, bestowing the subtle sound of shuffling feet. A lock unlatched, to announce a familiar face. Her expression captured the moment perfectly.
Behind the first camera obscura crafted, she had etched into glass a memory I would forever hold dear. It was subtle but there was a mixture of relief and eagerness scattered throughout her features.
LEE: Thanks for coming back Atmos.
ATMOS: I can’t tell you how glad I am to see your face Lee.
LEE: I see a dash of danger gives you the courage to come on strong.
I chuckled.
ATMOS: Something like that I suppose.
Before I could inquire, the door unveiled Cameron and Alastor.
CAMERON: I’m sure your sentiment referred to us all chief.
ATMOS: Of course Cameron, how the hell are you. I can’t tell you how nervous you had me moments ago.
CAMERON: You and me both.
Alastor appeared to be smiling but also somehow bored. He entered the conversation.
ALASTOR: I’m sure this reunion is special for the three of you. Atmos please report your update on your end of the operation.
I sighed, we did have more important points to discuss than pleasantries.
ATMOS: I had to improvise, I had to hurt Sails. At first I didn't mean to, but he had caught me. The only way out was to go through him.
ALASTOR: Excellent improvement Atmos. Do not skip the fleeting detail. Do you have her location?
I looked around at the group, although Alastor had asked the question I knew of the collaborative eagerness.
ATMOS: Officially I gathered only a region. One that will undoubtedly be filled with others searching as well. Although that answer might be disappointing, I might have a hunch as to where Carmine is.
ALASTOR: A hunch. Bloody brilliant. A failed operation is what you meant to say.
ATMOS: No Alastor, I will find her. Just me think through the details a bit more.
ALASTOR: While you busy yourself with thinking and might I add don’t hurt yourself, Cameron and I will be busy mourning our past selves. We blew everything on that operation. You failed us Atmos. I am the only one not surprised.
Alastor turned with haste and marched in the direction of the guest quarters.
ATMOS: Look we’re close, I know it. I was able to open one of NightLight’s documents, she is somewhere in the Glenn Region.
CAMERON: Look buddy you did great, we all did, Alastor will come around.
I shifted my focus from Cameron to Lee, she didn’t share his optimism.
LEE: Atmos, the Glenn Region is the largest region in Forest City, kind of bad news you know.
CAMERON: That is accurate Lee.
Cameron continued to show his true blue friend nature.
CAMERON: But much of it is uninhabitable, we can concrete our efforts to a much smaller web.
Lee’s face didn’t look convinced.
LEE: We need to think over a full stomach. The ice cream cooler has just the elixir.
I looked at Cameron momentarily with a puzzled look, was Lee about to offer us liquor. Such an action would seem out of character.
LEE: You boys fancy a scoop or two of sherbert?
A slight subtle chuckle was shared between Cameron and I.
ATMOS: Of course Lee, lead the way to this magical place you speak of.
We began walking back inside as I draped my arm around Cameron, I gave a slight squeeze of affirmation.
ATMOS: I’m really glad you’re okay buddy.
He smiled and shook his head.
CAMERON: Well now I finally get some sympathy, you have any idea what I went through?
ATMOS: I would love to hear it all over a crisp scoop of snow.
CAMERON: You and me both.
Cameron and I sat at the makeshift dining table as Lee disappeared into the utility room.
ATMOS: Play it form the beginning, with no detail left out Cam. I want to taste the sweat throughout the entire tale.
CAMERON: It all began with a bang.
ATMOS: My gosh, I’m already asleep, on with it Cam!
CAMERON: Fine fine, I didn’t know I was surrounded by an audience with such specific needs. Honestly, there were times where I thought I was done for. Atmos and I reached the fork in the road where we would go our separate ways, my way leading me to the NightLight satellite office a few blocks off of the shoreline. Like you know, this is not my office so I was able to walk in, scan my badge without anyone noticing me. Alastor and I must be wanted men, looking back I am positive now that my badge scan into the building must have set off the most unfortunate series of events that were to come. I proceeded up the elevator to the third floor, an area known to have open cubicles for tourists such as myself. The moment I sat down, the phone at my station rang. It was eerie the timing of it all. I didn’t answer with a greeting, I simply held the phone up to my ear. A voice whispered “do exactly as I say, or test your muscles against a room full of NightLight’s security team.” I didn’t recognize the voice, either it was being filtered or this was someone within the company who I had interactions with. I work with a fair amount of departments, even the high-up ones, whoever this was wasn’t simply an employee. I didn’t respond to the voice, but kept the phone at my ear for the introduction of instructions. I was told to “Put in a service request, for the main station, The Last Stop, with the designation of ‘poor air quality”
—-----------------figure out his op, and how to tie in a story line into the details —---------------
The danger of Cameron’s tale clung to the air as Lee served four bowls of orange sherbert.
ATMOS: Four bowls? Did you count yourself twice?
LEE: Hehe
Lee smiled as the door creaked open. Alastor entered with the same disappointment he conjured earlier.
ALASTOR: Well if you three are in the mood to problem solve, my input should surely help.
Cam broke the recently formed ice.
CAMERON: Thanks Alastor, Lee has sherbert for you.
ALASTOR: Splendid. Just splendid. Let’s get to work. Atmos exhaust your brain on Carmine’s where abouts, find us a good place to start.
I darted at Alastor, then down to my cup of melting goodness. Lee truly had bones of warmth, finding the tiny ways to infiltrate a moment and inject it with natural light. I smiled and day dreamt of this feeling, felt long ago.
A soft breeze felt from a window latched tight for years. My smile grew bigger as a firework of a thought entered my subconscious. The display of colors important enough to share with the group.
ATMOS: Cameron, are you able to pinpoint on a map a location where a large concentration of Forest Moths would be?!
CAMERON: Forest Moths? I’d have to back check a few forestry books but it shouldn’t be too hard. What are you thinking Atmos?
His eyes slowly turned to Alastor with a look of freight, I felt too caught up in my lightbulb moment to give it attention.
ATMOS: Find where the Forest Moths live in the Glenn Region and I think we just might have our best shot at finding Carmine.
Alastor chuckled as he inhaled another spoonful of dessert.
ALASTOR: And if you’re wrong Atmos, what then? Cameron and I can’t risk another outing.
ATMOS: I’ll go alone, I’ll find her, finally after all this time.
Lee looked down.
ATMOS: Lee, it’s okay. I promise I’ll return.
She faked a smile.
ALASTOR: Well Atmos. You sound certain, I suggest you make haste right before sunrise. You must accept the responsibility that you cannot fail. Much rides on this hunch of yours. But be advised, the Moths in our Forest hold secrets that would do you well not to know, be absolutely careful.
LEE: Why did you have to say that Alastor! Atmos don’t worry I don’t believe in spooky bugs, but still be careful.
ATMOS: Thanks Lee, I won’t let any of you down. Except you Alastor, I’m sure any success from me is automatically downgraded to an acceptable outcome.
He chuckled once more.
—----------- INSERT TRANSITION FOR ATMOS LEAVING
ALASTOR: Good luck out there.
As slight banter continued after the decision making, Lee pulled me aside.
LEE: Atmos, how do I know you will return?
ATMOS: You don’t Lee, but I will do my absolute best to get back to you. I hope, more than there are stars, that it is enough.
She glanced over at Cameron and Alastor who were deep in conversation regarding logistics, then back at me. Her lips motioned slowly towards my face. For seconds eternal they found mine. Tender the embrace carried with it an echo of a voice heard long ago. Muddy and distant, I knew its name, luck may have handed me love once more.