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EMPTY EYE SOCKETS CHAPTER 11
Glottis navigated the submarine towards the harbour of Puerto Zapato, and all souls sat together and were hopeful. They had been Domino's slaves and without any hope for so long, but now everything seemed to be fine again. Everyone was full of bright thoughts and some were already planning how to get to the Ninth Underworld.
Someone's mind was as black and dark as the water that surrounded them, though.
"I can't believe that Meche did it," Manny said to both Carla and himself. The woman sat next to him with no expression. She couldn't understand why Manny took it so hard; pretty much everyone else she knew would have just accepted it and gone on.
"Why not?" she decided to ask. Manny turned to stare at her.
"Because Meche is too good! One like Domino doesn't even deserve to be in the same room with her," he replied.
"Doesn't Meche have the right to make her own decisions?"
Manny sighed and shook his head in silence.
"Of course she does, but this time the decision was wrong," he said.
"So you don't trust her?"
"No. I mean I do, but what if she realises the mistake she made? What if she waits for me to pick her from the island? I am going to betray her again," the man said sadly and Carla felt how she was getting angry. She suppressed her sharp snap and wrapped her arms around Manny's shoulders instead. She felt as the man flinched, but didn't try to struggle free.
"You have forgotten something important," she said.
"What?" Manny wanted to know.
"That you are not responsible for Meche or what happens to her. What took place was not your fault and she doesn't need you to take care of her. She can do it herself," Carla said and couldn't understand why Manny hadn't realised it.
She knew the man was a former reaper, but it just made it all more complicated. Reapers were corrupted souls who had done something horrible during their lives. Domino was a perfect example, if someone deserved to spend an eternity labouring it was him. There had to be a reason to why Manny had been a reaper, so how could a possibly horrible soul like him care about some unfamiliar woman that way?
"But it's my fault that she didn't get to the Ninth Underworld," Manny replied.
"What did you do? You never told me," Carla said. Manny shrugged.
"She wasn't for me and I stole her. Her case belonged to Domino and -- " he started suddenly realising what he was saying.
Carla stared at him.
"So the options were you and Domino and you blame yourself for that you didn't let Domino do his job? I think you did Meche a favour and don't owe her anything," she stated.
Manny shook his head and only now he realised something.
"Meche never had a chance. If I hadn't interfered the situation would be the same," he said and took a quick glance around. "None of them ever had a chance."
"They have now. We all do," Carla said softly.
"Aren't you mad at me for thinking about Meche this much?" Manny asked half joking. Carla withdrew and tilted her head.
"Who knows? And don't worry, I will take back every second you have sacrificed for her," she assured.
"I'm not sure I like that idea," Manny noted. Carla snorted.
"Believe me, I will make you love it," she promised.
"Is Meche all right?" a bright child voice asked suddenly and Manny and Carla turned their gazes just to see Pugsy and Bibi, who flapped their wings in the air in front of them. Both wore worried expressions and it was clear they were very worried about their friend.
"Sure. She knows how to take care of herself, right Manny?" Carla said. She didn't really like children, but let it be for now.
"Yes. She has nothing to worry about. In fact, I think she will join us pretty soon," the man replied. He hated to lie to children, but he couldn't tell them the truth. He was very worried and didn't even want to think about what Domino could come up with.
Pugsy tilted his head in suspicion.
"Really? How do you know that Mister Hurley won't hurt her?" the boy asked.
"Yeah! He's so mean!" Bibi added.
"Now, now, maybe the situation isn't that bad. Did Domino ever hurt Meche?" Manny asked. He had asked the same from Meche when he met her, but women had a nasty habit of lying about those things.
Especially when they concerned men that they loved.
Loved...
The word sounded strange in Manny's mind, especially because he had never thought he'd use it with Domino's name. It was still a mystery to him how Meche could feel anything for such a monster, but then again, he didn't really know what had happened during the past year.
Pugsy shook his head.
"I don't know. I never saw it, but we were in the cage all the time. She cried sometimes though, but Bibi says it's because of that she was thinking about some man," he said.
"Yeah, women like Meche don't cry if they aren't thinking about men," the girl said as if she was a professional with the subject. Manny didn't ask how she knew or how could she be so sure, he wasn't on the mood.
"Hey, are you that man?" Bibi asked suddenly and Manny flinched.
"Me?" he asked. The small angel nodded.
"Are you the man who Meche was thinking about? Did you leave her on the island?" she wanted to know. Then she glanced at Carla. "Do you think she's better than Meche?"
At first Manny didn't know what to say, he was too surprised and felt somehow guilty.
"No, I am not the man. It was someone else," he said then.
"Good. Better for you," Pugsy stated. They all knew he couldn't do anything to Manny, but he wanted to show that he didn't trust him. At least not yet.
"But why did Meche stay? Why didn't she come with us?" Bibi asked. She had lost some of her earlier edges and seemed to consider would she dare to sit in Carla's arms. The woman hoped the girl wouldn't do it; she wasn't good at holding children.
It was a question that Manny had feared. He had practised many different answers and had finally settled with a pretty pathetic option.
"She had some unsettled business. When they are taken care of she will join us," he explained.
"What business?" Pugsy asked. Manny shrugged.
"She didn't tell and I didn't want to ask," he replied.
"She wouldn't have told you anyway. Meche never tells anything is she doesn't want to. She is very strong," Bibi said proudly. Her brother nodded.
"Yeah! She is the only one who dared to talk back to Mister Hurley. And sometimes he even listened to her and did as she told, though not very often," he announced.
"Will Meche catch us in Puerto Zapato?" Bibi wanted to know. She missed the woman who was the only soul who had cared about them in the strange world. Without Meche their time on the island would have been torture and they really cared about her.
"I don't know, but I hope so," Manny said. He really didn't know, part of him was afraid of that he'd never hear of Meche again and another part was sure that she'd come up with something. The first part was much stronger though and despite Carla's earlier words he felt really guilty.
The submarine moved easily in the water and after Glottis' repairs it was even better. The demon had fixed a small broken part and fiddled with the navigator until he was able to use it.
If they kept the speed they would be in Puerto Zapato in a day. Glottis couldn't move the submarine as fast as Domino's octopus, but they were still faster than Manny had hoped. It had all been easy and he was surprised with how easily they had escaped.
On the other hand, they wouldn't have been able to do it if Domino hadn't been so arrogant and full of himself.
Manny was a bit worried about what his nemesis' pet would do once it noticed the submarine was gone. Would it let them be and leave, or was it so loyal that it would attack them and bring back to Domino?
He didn't really like the last option, but thankfully some of the slaves had brought some glowing coral from the mines. If the octopus attacked them and destroyed the submarine they'd still be able to walk without fearing the many monsters.
If they survived the octopus, that is.
---
They arrived to Puerto Zapato with no problems, but a bit later than Manny had thought. Glottis had to rest too and though the big demon was strong he couldn't keep up the same speed all the time.
Everyone wanted to arrive there as soon as possible, but no one hurried the demon who laboured for them all. Some even tried to help, but soon realised that they were just on the way and caused more trouble than were useful.
Glottis was a very special demon. He was big and strong and like, everyone else, created for one purpose only. But unlike the many cruel demons of the Land of the Dead he had a golden heart and was always ready to help others.
Especially Manny, who was one of the very few who had showed that they wanted to be equal with him.
Manny left the submarine first and jumped on the pier to make space for others. Souls started to climb out fast and it was clear how happy they were. Most of them hadn't seen the sun in months or even years.
It was noon and the docks were busy. A group of sailors and tourists gathered to stare at the submarine, the souls in orange outfits and the big demon.
"There was a mine accident in the Land of the Living and this is the result. They are not saints, but could afford a car pool here," Manny explained to the curious ones and wondered why the DOD didn't want to sell car pool packages. If a group of so called poor souls bought an expensive package together the company would make more money that way than by selling a cheap package to them all.
A sailor snorted and glanced at the newcomers in despise.
"Mere landlubbers, I see. Know nothin' of the sea," he stated and Manny wanted to point out that they had got enough of the sea for a while, but let it be.
"Yup," he said instead. He didn't get his share of the sailors' despise, his jacket proved him as a seadog and they were ready to accept him just like that.
"What are we going to do with the submarine, Manny?" Glottis asked after stretching his sore muscles. They all stood gathered at the docks looking uncertainly around themselves. They were all happy for that they were free, but it also scared them. They had no money and no way to get out of Puerto Zapato.
Manny thought about it a while.
"We'll sell it and share the money. That way everyone should have enough for a ticket to somewhere," he decided. A submarine was a rare vehicle and there was certainly someone who’d be ready to pay nicely for it. In fact, he already knew someone like that.
He turned to face Glottis.
"Stay here and guard the submarine while I go to take care of some business. And you others, don't wander too far away. I'll come back as soon as possible," he said and thought about what he had to do. First he had to find Wet Jacques, make him buy the submarine and contact Salvador after that.
He had managed to take only a few steps before he realised Carla had left with him. He stopped and gave her a thoughtful glance.
"This won't be fun," he stated suspecting that the woman had come to have some fun after the underwater adventure. She tilted her head and placed her hands on her hips.
"I know, but I still want to come. That Chepito guy makes me nervous," she said and Manny chuckled.
"I thought nothing would do that," he said. Carla didn't reply, but Manny was sure that if she had still been alive she would have slit her eyes. The woman just snorted softly.
"You clearly don't know me," she stated still following him. Manny didn't feel like arguing but gave in.
The first thing he decided to do was to contact Wet Jacques' men who he knew to wander around the city. Jacques was the richest smuggler in Puerto Zapato and Manny thought he'd find the submarine very useful indeed. They had been in touch before, and Manny had many times had Jacques' men and cargo in his ship.
So they were business partners in a way, though Manny wouldn't have trusted his afterlife to the man.
"Where are we going?" Carla asked when they just walked around and the man nodded towards a near by bar.
"If I can't contact Jacques there I can't do it at all," he explained and they stepped in the dim pub. The air smelled of smoke, sweet herbs that some souls liked to smoke and strong drinks. Carla looked around in slight disgust, but Manny was used to it.
He headed straight to a man who was leaning against the bar table and sat on a dirty chair next to him. Carla was about to sit too, but when she realised what the chairs were covered in she decided to stand.
The man glanced quickly at Manny and was about to continue his staring at the wall, but then he realised who he was dealing with. He corrected his position to see him better and to be sure.
"Lots of sea shells have come to the shore last night," Manny stated while motioning the bar keeper to come to him. He obeyed and Manny ordered himself a drink that Carla had never heard of. The other man didn't seem to notice what Manny had said, but talked after a while.
"What ya doin' here, Calavera? I hear sea monsters are already having a party over yar bones," he said lowly. Manny shrugged.
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Felipe," he said. The fact that the man knew about what had happened told him that his crew was in Puerto Zapato, or had at least been there.
"Hmm," Felipe snorted softly. He knew that nothing was ever what it looked like, but he had thought Calavera's crew had told the truth when they said their captain was gone.
"How's business?" Manny asked and sipped his drink. Felipe didn't say anything, but glanced at Carla.
Manny knew what it meant and though he knew why the man was suspicious he felt insulted.
"I don't walk around with chatterboxes. You can trust her," he said sharply.
"No need to get mad, Calavera. She looks too sharp for 'er own good, like a cursed policeman or security assistant. And Wet Jacques don' like to talk about his business in public," Felipe said.
"Not even with a business partner?" Manny asked.
"Not with one who brings extra ear holes with him," Felipe replied. He tapped at the dirty surface of the table. "Are the sea shells beautiful? If they're bright red I might know someone who’s interested," he stated then.
"You can't find redder even if you searched the whole sea of Lament," Manny assured. Felipe thought about it a while.
"I will send Jacinto to get a look at them," he promised.
Manny didn't say anything, but finished his drink and nodded then.
"Let's go," he said turning to face Carla and when they were under the sun again she gave him a confused glance.
"What was that? I didn't understand it at all," she said.
"Don't worry, everything is in order. Wet Jacques isn't the only one who might be interested in our offer and they will do anything to stop him from getting the submarine. They already know too much, our conversation wasn't even nearly as water proof as it should have, so we'll have to hurry."
"But how will they find us? You didn't tell where the submarine is." Carla pointed out.
"Don't worry, they'll find out. Believe me."
Carla didn't quite like it, she always wanted to know what was going on and now she felt really dumb. She didn't know Puerto Zapato, the souls there and had no idea how to deal with these friends of Manny's.
"Where now?" she asked when she noticed that Manny was not about to return to the others.
"I want to know if Lola and my crew are here," he said. Every time Lola was in Puerto Zapato it was anchored in the same place, he had made sure of it himself. He had even considered buying that particular pier, but had never bothered to do it.
He hurried his steps because he was curious to see his crew and ship and tell them that he had survived the storm after all. He also wondered who had been made the captain after him and a part of him was jealous to whoever that might be.
Carla hurried after Manny, trying to keep the same speed as him. She was tired, not physically but mentally. She was fed up with the running around and the fact that her afterlife had turned into a strange mess.
Okay, she had been a security assistant in Rubacava to get some excitement in her afterlife, but that had been enough for her. She had never wanted to end up in an underwater mine or have anything to do with this strange and corrupted scheme.
All she had wanted was Manny and a quiet night in Rubacava. Had that been too much?
It didn't take long before Lola stood in front of them and Manny felt instantly better. Yes, he had to admit that he loved that ship.
"Hey, anyone in there?" he exclaimed and was rewarded almost instantly as a sailor rushed on the deck.
"Captain!" the sailor yelped after he gained the control of his jaw and it was clear from his voice that he was extremely happy. "We didn't think we'd see ya again! What happened?" he continued and his loud shout had lured others to the deck. They were just as amazed and shocked as their mate and Manny had trouble understanding their words under all the noise.
"May I come up there? It would be easier to explain," he asked and the men had a competition of who was allowed to let Manny up. He thought it was amusing that people liked him that much. In DOD everyone had just hated and despised him and they had merely stood him in Rubacava.
He climbed onboard with Carla and looked around. Lola was just as nice as when he had last time stood on the deck and he wasn't surprised. He had not been gone more than a while, but the crew had taken good care of the ship anyway.
"So nice to have ya back, captain," the first mate said stepping through the group of men and Manny nodded at him.
"Thanks. You've taken good care of Lola," he said.
"Thank you sir. But where have ya been? What happened? Ya were swept into the sea, right?" the mate asked in curiosity.
"It's a long and complicated story. I'll tell it once I've taken care of a few things. Say, is there a pigeon onboard?" Manny asked and the mate looked surprised.
"A pigeon? After yar disappearance we found one in your cabin. Is it somehow important?" he wanted to know.
"Very important. Where is it now?" Manny asked. The mate gestured a sailor to step in. A very familiar pigeon sat on his shoulder stroking its bony wing.
"Ramon liked it the first moment," the mate, called Garcia, said.
"I collected seagull eggs when I was little and raised them into adults. Pigeons and seagulls aren't that different," Ramon said giving Meche the pigeon to Manny, who took it carefully.
"We thought the bird might be important so we kept it," Garcia said.
"Good work. I will be back soon and tell you everything," Manny said and headed down to his cabin. Meche pecked at his finger and he gave the bird a soft slap. It had never quite liked him, but according to what he had heard Manny the pigeon wasn't very keen on Toto either.
Carla followed him; she was interested in what Manny was up to.
"What are you doing?" she asked as Manny placed the pigeon on a table and took a small piece of paper. Then he snatched a pen from the table and started to write something with small and neat handwriting. He wrote fast and though Carla was very curious she didn't try to read the message.
When he was ready Manny folded the message nicely and attached it to Meche's foot. Then he took the bird, returned to the deck where he threw it in the air and watched as it spread its wings and left. The message was late and he knew Salvador had to be worried, but it couldn't be helped.
"I am very interested in knowing what that was," Carla stated.
"I have a friend in Nuevo Marrow and I write to him. That is a very long story too and I don't want to tell two the same day. You will know when we get to Rubacava," Manny said. He felt bad about hiding the truth of the LSA from Carla, but he wanted to keep things as simple as possible at the moment.
"We are going back to Rubacava?" Carla said in surprise. She hadn't thought she'd return to the town where she had lived for so long and it made her feel both happy and somehow scared.
---
"And what do you know about this incident?"
Hector LeMans' soft and yet full of promises of pain filled Nick's skull and made him flinch despite himself. He had known the moment would come and had prepared himself for it, but all the sentences he had practised seemed to have just disappeared in front of the cruel crime lord.
"Absolutely nothing, Mister LeMans," he assured. He had covered all of his traces, the guard who had delivered the message had fallen by his bullet and only his allies knew what he had done. Nick was surprised with how easy it had been. The cargo was probably in Rubacava already.
Only very few knew that the cargo had been stolen on the way to Puerto Zapato and each of those was a trusted man of Hector's. Those unfortunate who had had any idea of what had happened had been sprouted because Hector didn't want anyone to find out that he had been deceived.
He leaned on his desk.
"Honestly, Nick? Are you sure? It would be so much easier if you admitted it," the man said quietly and with threat.
"I swear I have nothing to do with this," Nick said. He knew that everyone who had even slight chance of being involved had to go through the same conversation. Hector hoped to scare the traitors into revealing themselves.
He knew that one guard couldn't have done it all by himself, there had to be someone much stronger and more intelligent involved. To him it didn't matter whether it was Maximino or Salvador, he'd shoot them both once the time was right.
Hector drew a gun under his desk. It was the same one he had used when he had shot Don Copal and he liked it for a special reason. With it he had shot all of his worst enemies and traitors. He played with it and caressed its shining surface.
"I give you two options Nick. You can either admit and get shot by the sproutella that takes care of it fast, or continue lying and face the pain. You might not like it, it usually takes an hour before the job is done," he said slowly.
Nick felt a cold shiver go down his spine, but he was not about to give up. He hadn't gone this far just to fail now.
"I have done nothing to harm you, Mister LeMans, but I will do everything to find the traitors," he said and his voice didn't even shake. Hector gave him a long and dark stare; it was probably the worst of his weapons.
Hector LeMans was a very strange dead soul. He was much bigger than anyone else and his bones were sickly green. His voice was very soft, but it totally lacked love and gentle care. But the weirdest parts of him were his eye sockets. Those who had to look him in the face could swear that they saw real eyes in his head.
He snorted.
"All right. You may go," he said and Nick left calmly. He didn't stop until he was in his own office and then he leaned against the door he had just closed and sighed in relief.
To be continued...
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