Long Live the King

Twenty-Five

Emerald was still sleeping, a halo of frizzy blonde poking out from beneath the covers on the bed. Meanwhile, the three adults were gathered in a circle, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a stick of chalk that had good intentions but no real use.

"There are three of them," Johanna was saying. "Four of us except that Emerald, being a child, is more hindrance than help. The men are burly, strong. One of them is gargantuan."

"That would be Brad," Adrienne said.

"I don't care what their names are. There is one safe way off the island and that is using the boat you came in on."

"When we were leaving they sent someone to watch it--" Marshall said.

"--and I guarantee they'll keep someone watching it around the clock," Adrienne finished. "Regina is many things but stupid isn't one of them. It only makes sense to keep someone on lookout. The other two are probably taking advantage of the house."

"So here's what I'm proposing," Marshall said. "We approach the dock at night. We need the cover of dark on our side. We'll have to take a long route, sticking close to the shore so that we're away from any light cast by the house. We jump in the boat as quickly as we can and gun it."

"Decent plan," Johanna complimented him, " but it misses one detail. Whoever is guarding the dock is going to have their eyes locked on it and even in the dark we're not invisible. We need to distract them somehow. Loud noises or smoke signals..."

"What if we set the house on fire...?" Adrienne suggested.

"Excuse me?" Johanna looked alarmed.

"It looked pretty bare to me," Adrienne explained. "Is there anything in there we need to worry about destroying?"

"Not really... it's just that... it's been our home for years but no there's nothing special in there."

"Okay so... fire. I'm not suggesting we kill them or anything. The house has smoke alarms. We set a small fire, enough to catch the attention of the guard and hopefully send him running inside to rescue his pals. Meanwhile, most of us are in position ready to jump on the boat and gun it. Whoever starts the fire will have to quickly make it over to the dock and hop on board. It's just a bit risky for whoever is setting the blaze but they'll probably be fine."

"Who's going to set the fire?" Marshall asked.

"Do either of you know how to drive a boat?" Adrienne wondered. Both of them shook their heads. "Well, then I guess I can't because I have to be ready to hop right on. It's between you guys."

"I'll do it," they both said in unison.

"Don't be ridiculous," Marshall said. "You have a daughter."

"I'm not looking to die today," she said. "but if I did? Emmy would survive. Perhaps she'd even be better off without a fugitive for a mother, I don't know. The two of you have lives to return to. Emerald has a life ahead of her. I have a mess waiting for me. If all goes as planned we'll all make it off of here but if one of us had to take a fall... you can't deny I'm the best person for the job."

"Okay fine," Adrienne broke in. "Johanna will set the fire."

"You agree with her?" Marshall said. "I don't think Emerald would."

"I don't necessarily agree with her, but the more I think about it Emerald is going to slow us down and when we get up to the dock we need to move fast. Someone should carry her and I'm guessing that of the three of us, you're the one with the strength to do that. Maybe I'm a little bit biased but I think this is best. If Johanna is willing..."

"She is," Johanna said.

"Right." Adrienne nodded. "So... Johanna will set the fire?"

She watched Marshall who looked on the verge of arguing with this conclusion. His jaw twitched but slowly he nodded, the plan was set and all they had left to do was put it in action and pray that it worked.

#

Using the night as cover worked seamlessly. If she squinted really hard, Adrienne could see the bulky shadow of someone sitting near the dock but he hadn't a clue that there were three people creeping through the trees near shoreline. She could also see the a hint of silvery blonde near the house at an angle hidden from the perspective of the dock. When they had separated, Johanna forking off toward the house, Adrienne had told her to count out three minutes exactly and then go. By Adrienne's count this gave them sixty seconds to be in position at the dock.

They made it, scarcely daring to breathe now that they were mere feet away from the person stationed to block them. They were hidden in the trees still, in a perfect position to lunge out at the opportune moment. Marshall hoisted Emerald up on his hip. The younger girl locked her arms tightly around his neck, trembling either from the chilled night air or fear. Based on the way she glanced back toward the house where she knew her mother would be, Adrienne thought it was likely the latter.

On cue, the smell of burning something wafted over. Through the darkness, Adrienne could see a dull orange light in the distance. The shadowy form of the guard had been slouched at the based of a tree, but now he stood up. She could tell from the height that this had to be Archer. He stood, frozen, staring at the house and then began walking toward it.

Adrienne nudged Marshall. In unison they raced for the boat, hopping on board. Archer was occupied enough in heading toward the house that they escaped his notice completely. Then two things happened that tipped him off. Something, or someone rather, rushed past him and the boat started up. He stopped in his track, his brain confused as each foot tried to step in a different direction. Regrouping, he ran for the dock.

Johanna had a head start on him, and she raced for the boat. Her allies, seeing Archer on her heels, had abandoned their secretive routine and were calling for her to hurry. On the boat Adrienne prepared to pull it out to the open water. Johanna was so close, just a few more feet, but Archer was closing in fast.

She made it, but as she took the step between the dock and the boat her foot slipped into the gap. Marshall made a grab for her, preventing her from fall. She inhaled sharply, feeling intense pain mingle with the sense of relief that she had made it. Adrienne guided the boat slowly away from the dock, thinking that they were in the clear but Archer kept running, racing to the end of the dock. At the end of the plank his momentum kept going. He took a flying leap... and landed on the deck of the boat just as it began speeding into the open water.