Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 13

CYBERLINK COVE (HAVEN BAY)-2078

 

Gail and Sean stepped onto the docks of Haven Bay, the sky a light, tranquil shade of soot mixed with water. The day was blustery, the palm fronds dancing a lively jig with the howling wind. The two turned to the left-as instructed, and walked unhurriedly down the boardwalk, the strong breeze buffeting Gail’s long, fiery hair.

 

“Is that it?” Sean asked, squinting and looking in the direction of the ocean. Sure enough, there was a prominent palm tree stretching up towards the heavens.

 

Gail followed his gaze and nodded. “Looks like it,” she said. “How the hell are we gonna get this thing up there though?”

 

Sean shrugged nonchalantly, and the two continued on until they reached the tree. Gail looked up at it, stumped. Sean rummaged around the underbrush for anything of use.

 

“Hey, Gail!” he exclaimed, motioning for her to come closer. The two were obscured from view by bushes and smaller palm trees. Hidden in the undergrowth was a small stepladder, which Sean dragged out noisily.

 

Meanwhile, Gail peered upwards. She looked back down, and noticed a thin rope with two iron weights hanging off both its ends dangling from the palm tree. “Put that away,” she told Sean, untying one of the iron weights and affixing the black flag to the rope instead. Gail released the end of the rope, and the side with the flag whooshed upwards while the side with the remaining weight fell downwards. It was a simple but effective pulley of sorts.

 

Craning her neck, Gail saw the black flag hanging from the palm tree. If one didn’t look closely, it was unnoticeable among the deep green fronds. She grinned.

 

Sean returned the stepladder to its rightful place, and the two boarded a ferry to head back to Skyhook Isle. The wind blew the flag this way and that, waving after them as the two departed from Haven Bay.

 

REEF’S HEAD

 

Eli Sawyers was counting up the weapons he’d managed to steal from a cargo ship when his comm link rang. He furrowed his brow, and picked it up.

 

“Eli?” The first thing he heard was Mina’s warm, chocolate voice.

 

“I’m here,” he said gruffly, setting a small handgun to the side. “What’s up?”

 

“Francie wants everyone on Skyhook tonight. Bring a few pirates with you. She’s gonna go over a plan, which we’ll have like a month to prepare for.”

 

Eli stayed quiet.  “Eli?” Mina repeated in light of his silence.

 

“What’s the plan?” he asked brusquely.

 

Mina’s sigh was audible through the comm link. “You aren’t gonna like it,” Mina told him.