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EMPTY EYE SOCKETS CHAPTER 3
A small pigeon flew in the grey sky and hit the air with her wings feeling tired. She had flown far away from her home and would have given almost anything to be able to land and have a rest, but it was impossible on open sea.
She was dead, so she didn't have to care about the same things as her living cousins, but she still wanted to deliver the message in time. It was like an old habit.
The pigeon's name was Meche and she was one of the trained LSA messengers. Salvador had wanted to send just her to deliver Manny's messages, but the bird of course had no idea of the importance of her name. She just did what she was expected to do and tried to do it as well as possible.
The weather was bad, and even though she wasn't a sea bird Meche could sense a storm was on the way. It made her nervous and look for her destination even harder; the pigeon didn't want to be flying when it started to pour.
Finally she noticed something below her and was happy to see that it was an unordinary ship. Meche knew the ship, she had delivered messages there before and the captain always treated her well. The bird flew lower; pleased to be sure she had made it again.
---
Manny stood on the bridge and was on a very bad mood.
Firstly, the weather was getting worse and it never meant good for sailors. He believed they would make it, but if it got any worse they would have to return to Puerto Zapato.
And Manny didn't want that, they were already behind schedule.
And then there was Carla.
He had thought it wouldn't cause any trouble to take the woman along, but he had been wrong. She was like glued to him and though he didn't think she was unattractive he wanted to have his privacy. On top of that Carla didn't actually like the name Lola and used every opportunity to insult the ship.
The sailors weren't happy for her coming along. They thought a woman onboard was bad luck and few had even hinted that something was wrong with the captain when he had allowed Carla to come. A small seed of mutiny was planted, but Manny had sailed with his men long enough to know that nothing worse would happen.
He just had to have a talk with Carla and settle things.
Manny was still confused because the woman had left everything and come to Puerto Zapato for him. It didn't suit her personality at all and made him ask if she had a hidden motive. But what could it possibly be?
He was of course flattered, sure, he had been a true ladies' man when alive, but those had been short one night relationships with waitresses and other women who had never done anything else than fawned on men.
Carla was no saint, but somehow she felt more right than most of the women Manny knew. Despite that she was always ready.
Suddenly he noticed a nearing spot at the sky. At first he thought it was just a gull and almost turned his eye sockets away, but then he realised it had to be something else. They were already so far away from Puerto Zapato that no gull would be flying there.
He quickly left and stepped on the deck where the strong wind almost blew his cap way. Manny grabbed it quickly and lifted his gaze up, noticing he had been right.
"Hello Meche," he said offering his arm to the bird and she landed on his wrist. Manny took the message from the bird and unrolled it carefully not to tear it.
Agent Calavera,
It is sad that you have not found the woman you are looking for, but I hope you continue your search and keep up the hope. Nothing ever happens fast and the more you work for something, the bigger will be the reward. Our sources in Rubacava are now concentrating on investigating Maximino's business and trying to find out what he is up to. It would be useful for us if you still lived in the city. As a casino owner you would have better opportunities to succeed, but I understand you have your own mission. I hope to hear from you soon and that you will tell me how things are.
Salvador Limones
Manny slipped the message into his pocket. It hadn't contained any important information, but in the wrong hands would give anyone the right to sprout him. Nothing was more dangerous than to belong in the LSA, and sometimes he regretted ever being drawn in, but it could not be helped. He would forever be on the list of freedom fighters.
Meche pecked his jacket and Manny returned in to give the bird something to eat. She had to rest some before he dared to send her back with a new message. He would write to Salvador that night, the sooner the better. It was a risk to keep Meche at the ship, sailors would certainly get curious and he didn't want to explain them anything.
"Shall we see if there are any leftovers for you?" he talked to the bird and she chirped happily.
---
Evening fell and the wind grew stronger until it was raising high waves that hit Lola's sides and made the ship tremble. It was dark and no stars could be seen. It didn't rain yet, but the whipping pour wasn't probably too far away.
No one was resting, but everyone concentrated on keeping the situation in control as well as possible so that nothing worse happened. It wasn't a horrible storm, they had faced worse, but one could never be too sure of anything.
Manny stood on the bridge with his first mate and watched the scene calmly. They weren't in danger, at least not yet, so the situation was pretty good.
"This storm can't hurt us without practising a little," Manny stated. The mate glanced at him quickly.
"I wouldn't like to challenge it, captain," he said. Manny shrugged.
"Me neither, but we are having something much more powerful on our side," he said. When the mate looked at him in confusion he laughed dryly.
"Even the rage of the worst storm ever is nothing when a woman loses her temper," he explained and his employee understood too. He snorted.
"That it why men don't want women on board. Their place is on land where they can make men, who return from the sea, happy. But they do not belong on the waves."
Manny didn't say anything to that, just concentrated on watching the raging storm.
"What on earth are you doing here, Manny? I've been looking for you," Carla said suddenly and both men whirled around. The mate looked like he had just seen something truly shameful.
"Women can never come to the bridge," he snapped sharply and Carla glared at him. Then the woman concentrated on Manny again.
"This whole ship is full of gender racists," she said and Manny sighed shaking his head.
"Carla, we have work to do. It is hard work to get this ship through the storm in one piece," he said and Carla tilted her head sharply.
"I see. No wonder when the crew is like that," she said tightly and Manny quickly grabbed her arm and dragged her away before the mate managed to say anything.
"Carla, we have to talk," he said letting go.
"About what?" Carla asked sounding a bit hurt. Manny shrugged.
"About you. Me. How to behave on this ship," he replied.
"What's there to talk about? It's not me, it's your men," Carla said avoiding the first two subjects. Manny sighed.
"Carla, you threat them like trash. This is their home and sailors believe that a woman onboard is bad luck," he explained.
"So what? You are the captain, you can make then do anything you want," the woman said.
"Why should I do that?"
"For me."
"You don't even want to tell me why you came here."
Carla shook her head and sighed. Then she -- to Manny's surprise -- leaned closer and snorted.
"Let me show you," she whispered softly and looked really sweet when wearing something else than her work clothes. Manny couldn't understand why he hadn't noticed it in Rubacava, but even now he didn't have time to let his gaze rest on her.
He pushed her gently away and Carla stared at him in confusion and hurt.
"What?" she asked.
"I think we shouldn't. Especially not in a public corridor when this storm is whipping my ship," Manny replied and thought it was clear just like that. But he obviously didn't know how the mind of a woman worked.
"It's because of that Colomar, isn't it? You think she is more beautiful than me and so you can't even tolerate me! Why are you keeping me on this sip?" Carla asked furiously. Manny opened his mouth to remind her that she had wanted to come, but didn't quite manage before the woman was talking again.
"I should have realised what kind of man you are, Manuel Calavera! But no, I was a fool and left everything to find you and see that I was wrong. And now when I have completely nothing left I realise that you are like others after all!" she shouted and for a while Manny thought Carla would cry.
But instead of that the woman slapped him hard and rushed away.
"I hate you! I want to get out of here!" she screamed while going and Manny rubbed his aching cheek bone.
"That woman can hit," he muttered to himself and suddenly heard steps. He turned around to see Glottis, who was carrying a heavy toolbox and looked confused.
"I heard you had an argument with Ms. Ferra. Are you all right?" the orange demon asked and Manny nodded.
"Everything's in order, Glottis. Carla just has to cool some," he assured. The demon flapped his ears a while.
"She did look very upset when running at the deck," he said in thought.
"Don't worry, I'm sure that -- " Manny started but then realised what his friend had just said. He froze.
"Did you just say Carla is on the deck? When the weather is like this?" he asked with a bad hunch. Glottis nodded.
"Yeah. I tried to warn her, but she just wouldn't listen," he said and in the next moment Manny had rushed past him and ran after Carla. Glottis realised his friend was in a hurry so he followed him to help if needed.
Manny couldn't believe a sensible woman like Carla could be stupid enough to run out during a storm. He ran the whole way until he reached the stairs and almost flew them up.
Cold wind hit his face and he noticed it had finally started to rain. The drops felt like small ice needles on his face and he raised his hands to shield his eye sockets. His cap had already flown away, but he didn't have time to mourn that now.
"Carla? Are you here?" he asked looking around himself not seeing the woman anywhere. He barely noticed that Glottis arrived on the deck too.
The only answer Manny got was the noise of wind and waves and for a moment he was afraid the woman had fallen to the sea. But then he saw her figure against the almost black sky and sighed in relief.
"Come inside Carla, it is dangerous here," he said taking a step closer. Carla turned to face him and laughed, but the sound of it was buried under the storm.
"Dangerous? So what?" she asked.
"Don't be stupid, after the play of chess I know you are not. You should never be on the deck during a storm like this," Manny said managing to add some humour in his words.
Carla didn't say anything; she was too angry and hurt. After Manny had just left Rubacava she hadn't had rest, but had thought about him all the time. Finally she had left her job and sold everything to go and search for him, and what was the result?
Yeah, she found the man, but he was just as treacherous as others. Always thinking about that Colomar slut and not noticing that other women existed too.
In a way Carla knew she was being ridiculous, but she didn't care. Her feelings had been hurt and she had the right to sulk as long as she wanted.
Suddenly a big wave hit the side of the ship and made it tremble. Carla, who stood right at the rail lost her balance and before she noticed it ice cold and black water took her. She hadn't even managed to scream and the splash couldn't be heard under the storm.
But Manny wasn't blind and he immediately noticed what had happened. He had lost his balance too, but hadn't fallen, being able seen the woman's fall.
"Carla!" he exclaimed running where the woman had been just a moment ago and peered over the rail. No sign of her.
"Carla!" he shouted again and this time louder. He waited if there was an answer, but knew it was useless. Bones didn't float very well and without knowing the right technique a dead soul couldn't swim. Carla had probably sunk to the bottom by now.
Manny made his decision fast. Carla had gone on the deck because of him and he shouldn't have left her anyway. Quickly, before even thinking about it properly he had jumped after her in the freezing water.
"Manny? What are you doing?" Glottis's voice was heard before he hit the waves. The water filled his skull and he sank lower keeping en eye on his surroundings. The storm had made the water dirty and he didn't actually see in front of himself, but that sure didn't stop him.
He more felt than heard another splash and already knew what had happened.
Glottis.
The demon hadn't understood his own best, but wanted to follow his best friend everywhere. Manny appreciated his friend's loyalty, but hoped he could think more selfishly at times. Especially now that the future didn't look that bright.
After a while he started to think why he had jumped. Come on, it had been Carla's own fault when she had gone on the deck; he didn't have to feel guilty about it. And not about anything, the woman meant nothing to him.
Absolutely nothing.
Right?
He felt a silenced thud when he hit the bottom and a small cloud of mud spread around him. It landed soon and Manny tried to see something in the muddy water.
It was useless, it was too dark down there and even if the sun had shone the rays wouldn't have reached the bottom of the sea.
"Carla?" Manny exclaimed and was surprised to notice how clear his voice sounded. He had been sailing long enough to know that in the Land of the Dead everything sounded exactly the same underwater than on the surface, but it was still a slight surprise to experience it.
He didn't receive an answer and rubbed the back of his head in worry. He should go and try to find the woman before the monsters did, but how? It was completely dark there and he couldn't see a thing.
Then he heard a thud behind him and turned to see.
"Boy it's dark around here," Glottis's voice said and Manny sighed in relief. For a moment he had thought he would have to meet some kind of hideous monster and a loyal friend was exactly what he needed now.
"Yes, but we can not help it now. If a big monster surprises us, do you think you could scare it away?" he asked from his friend, who stumbled closer in the dark.
"I don't know Manny; I am not a very scary demon. At least compared to others. But I have this. It should drive all monsters away," the demon said and when he heard the clattering Manny knew Glottis still has his toolbox.
In the next moment they were surrounded by light and Manny noticed he was standing just few metres away from Glottis, who was holding a bright torch in his hand. He had his red toolbox in his other hand and Manny thanked his luck for that Glottis never went anywhere without his tools.
"True, they live here in dark so they must be afraid of light," he admitted. Then he looked around in the bright light.
The bottom of the sea was covered in thick mud and Manny already mourned his shoes. Here and there were rocks covered by weed and corals, but there weren’t much of them. No one was seen anywhere and he felt like they were the only creatures there.
"Come on. We must find Carla," he said and left. Glottis didn't hesitate, but followed him carrying his torch and tools.
---
The city of Nuevo Marrow had changed much from what it had used to be. The before so dull, grey and ugly city inhabited by those who were force to live there was now the home of gambling and having fun. Rubacava had lost its position and its casinos their customers, which really made Maximino mad.
But he couldn't do a thing, only a fool would have tried to rebel against Hector LeMans. So Maximino had stayed in Rubacava in his Cat Track, hoping that one day people would come back to Rubacava.
But in Nuevo Marrow few even remembered the old nights of the port town. No one was interested in betting on cats, they wanted to try their luck in roulette, slot machines and all other things Hector had to offer.
And yet there were those who thought of Maximino almost daily.
"Toto must have got my message by now. He is a good agent and soon we will know something about what Maximino is doing," Salvador said to Eva, who was sitting some distant away reading a report that was from one of their spies.
"Fabrizio says that Hector has ordered a great amount of guns from Puerto Zapato," the woman stated not answering the man's earlier statement.
"I had expected it. A man like Hector doesn't feel safe if he's not surrounded by a loyal army," Salvador said.
"But what should we do? We don't have enough guns for our agents and the situation is not getting better if our enemies get more and more," Eva pointed out raising her gaze from the papers.
Salvador shook his head a little.
"That is true. But we should not let that kill our hope. We have faced harder times," he said then.
"All right, let's say that. I'm still suspicious though," Eva stated.
"You are always suspicious. Did you know Eva, you are very cynical," the leader of the freedom fighters said almost playfully and Eva shrugged.
"Better that than to get sprouted when turning your back on your friend," she said.
To be continued...
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