//------------------------------// // Chapter 23: Holes, Balls and Falls // Story: Tidalverse: The Fearsome Foursome // by Alden MacManx //------------------------------// “Ship’s log, stardate 1606.01, 0800 hours. First Officer Fred recording. “Yesterday was quite interesting, what with finding some new neighbors here in Tarpon Springs. Our plans for the day are rather simple. Maw is going with Will to butcher and smoke several goats, as well as milk what nannies they can. Maw studied about how to process the milk so it doesn’t have such a bad taste to it, so she’s going to see if she can clean and bottle some, to put in the bridge cooler and keep. Frick, Foster, Fran and Sue are going to take the wagon to Wal-Mart and Lowe’s, first to get parts to build a wagon for them, and then get some additional supplies so they could plug in to what’s left of the Internet. Good thing we know how to set up a rig to get it off satellite. That and a generator and twenty gallons of gas, along with stuff to make a purifier. “Frack has a more interesting job to do. He’s going to go flying, and attempt to map the sinkholes that have appeared in these parts. We don’t know when many of them happened, but we can find out where they all are. Maybe there’s a pattern. Have not heard back from Old Birdbrain, but I’m not surprised. He probably has a big inbox to sift through. “I got the duty here today, which means completing the fueling, cleaning up, and scanning in pictures of the samples Maw got from Sunken Gardens. Some of the medicinals I’m familiar with, others not. That’s what the folk back at the Admiralty can do for us. Their information base is broader than ours. That way, they can tell us what to pick up when we head for Saint Pete later on in the week. “That’s all the news that is news at the moment. Until our next report. Deliverance out.” Fred saved and sent the log before starting the fueling pumps. A lot was done yesterday, but topping off always helps, including the two auxiliary barrels. Then, cleaning time in the saloon and galley. Maw can do the bridge. She wants meat, she can care for it! Cooking goat smells something horrible! The away team dropped Fran off at the Wal-Mart to hunt up what was needed to make a communications station for the locals, while the rest went to the Lowe’s to get the lumber and tarps to build a wagon with, not forgetting the waterproofing. “I know Will is interested in being picked up and brought to a better colony in the fall, but what about you, Sue? What do you think?” Frick asked as he held a plank down for Foster to cut into the right lengths for making the new wagon. “I can say for sure that I do not want to be alone, Frick. Will is a good person to know, but meeting others and finding a place I can fit into is good, too. I don’t know about going to sea, but settling somewhere else will be good. Just have to decide where,” Sue explained. “You have several options, Sue. Havana, Belfast, or Rotterdam are the primary options, while Savannah, Jacksonville and Mexico are alternates, depending on the ship route after pickup,” Frick told her. “That’s something we won’t know for a while yet.” “Do they speak English in Rotterdam?” Sue asked. “I don’t know any Spanish or Dutch.” “Most everyone in Rotterdam speaks English, either as a first or second language. The signage may be in Dutch, but I’m sure you can learn at least what you need to know to get around. What will you do when we get there?” Frick asked, taking the cut boards in his glow and bringing them to the wagon. “To be honest, I don’t know. I was studying botany at USF. Three semesters in, then I took time off to care for my grandparents. Whatever I find that I can do, and whatever they need to get done. If I have to learn something new, then I will. Better than being alone,” Sue concluded with a sigh. “We know about that,” Frick said before telling the story of Caleb and Landry while they gathered varnish and waterproofing. “They walked past here last year?” Sue said, amazed. “Not as close as you think. They went up I-75 past here to the I-10 to go to New Orleans. They were given a radio so they could listen to the WSU broadcasts. When they heard about us from the WSU, they headed out from their home in Louisiana to meet up with us, canoeing up the river for a while before hiking to Natchez. They camped there for a time before going to meet us in Vicksburg. Now, they’re all in Memphis, and should be heading out for Saint Louis in the near future,” Frick explained on his way out to deposit the varnishes, polyurethane, brushes and such into the wagon. Foster got the fasteners and wheels, while Frick had dropped off the tarps and straps they would need for the harness and frame. This wagon is not going to fold up for storing. “Caleb’s an earth pony, like me, right?” Sue asked. “That he is. Earth ponies are strong, tough, durable, stolid, and have a way with plants and the land. They can sense what’s right and wrong with plants and animals. So the books say, anyway,” Frick said. “Fred has a way of warding off dogs that’s downright impressive.” “What’s right and what’s wrong? How can I learn that?” Sue asked, more than a little overwhelmed. Foster spoke up. “Fred says it’s pretty much instinctive. It’s lakh Frick and I with ouah magic. If you ain’t a unicorn, it’s just not possible how to explain how we do ouah magic stuff. We don’t know HOW it works, we know we can MAKE it work and leave it at that.” “I can accept that,” Sue said after a little thought. “Will I have a chance to learn more of what an earth pony can do?” “What Fred can’t teach you now, or what you can’t learn from study, you will be able to learn when you get to where you decide to go. I’m looking forward to learning more spells,” Frick said with a little eagerness. “Me, too,” Foster said. “Once we figure out the basics, lakh telekinesis and light, we can go up from theah. Ah can do somethin’ with small rocks that makes them act lakh bullets out of a gun, an’ ah can throw a lariat-type spell that can tie another down at range. Thing is, ah can’t quite explain it to Frick. Ah can do it, but he can’t.” “While I can fire a magic bolt of rather high power. I managed to blow part of an obstructing bridge to gravel at a distance of about two hundred yards, and put a bolt through the head of something threatening the boat off the coast of Louisiana,” Frick told Sue. “Yeah, and crashed out for a good fifteen hours after each tahm,” Foster said in rebuttal, with more than a little dry wit showing as they went back into the Lowe’s for a generator and some more fasteners. “Everything demands a price, Foster. If taking a long nap after a blast is mine, I can live with that.” “Frick, can I borrow your radio? I want to call Fred. Something does not feel quite right, and I want to ask another earth pony’s opinion,” Sue asked, an expression on her face that brought concern to the unicorn’s faces. Frick took the radio from his neck and looped the lanyard around Sue’s. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I don’t know. If Fred feels something, then we’ll have a better idea,” Sue said as she made her way outside. Frick and Foster looked at each other, shrugged, then went back to scavenging. Outside, Sue found a shady spot, sat down, and checked the radio over before keying the mic. “Tarpon Two to Cornhusker Two, do you read?” she called, anxiety evident in her voice. After a moment, Fred’s voice came over the radio, as calming as a warm blanket in winter. “Cornhusker Two. Go ahead, Tarpon Two.” “Cornhusker Two, do you feel anything strange to the south? I do, and it’s making me edgy. It’s not right,” she reported. “Let me get outside and onto the ground. I’m on the boat. Stand by,” Fred called back. About two minutes later, he spoke again. “You’re right, Sue. There is something down south that is not quite right. Feels like a dozen dozen grubs boring through my flesh, making me feel like I’m a giant Alka-Seltzer.” “Those are the words I was looking for! Like something’s fizzing through me! It feels southwest of me. I say that because it’s the direction I both want to flee from and run to,” Sue reported. “It feels more southeast of me. Let me go back aboard and check a map. Maybe I can figure out where to look. How goes the salvage?” Fred asked, more to keep Sue calm than anything else. “We’ve got the parts needed for another wagon. They’re loaded in the wagon we have, then we’ll go to the Wal-Mart and see what Fran has managed to find to get some sort of base station built for us. Then, it’s back to the big rowboat. Nice thing about unicorns is that it’s easier to row the boat that way!” Sue said with a little giggle. “Does it feel any different to you now, Sue?” Fred asked. “No, still fizzy, off to the southwest. From where I’m sitting south of the Lowe’s, the line runs BEHIND the Wal-Mart and out. Does that help any?” “Yes, it does. With your line and my line, they intersect south of the bayou, in a blank spot on the map. BUT, here’s something curious. It’s about a mile or two due west of that sinkhole Will told us about. Hang on and let me call Frack and Frieda to have them look. Stay calm, Sue. I’ll tell you when to worry.” Fred said calmly. “Okay, Fred. I will,” Sue said before letting the radio hang from the lanyard around her neck, just breathing, looking for calm despite that funny fizzy sensation. “Husker Two to Husker Four. Where you at, Frack?” Fred called. “Down by the south end of Lake Tarpon. Finding big sinkholes here and there. Want me to head up to check the place you talking about?” Frack asked. “Yep. South end of the bay we’re moored at. Maw, can you break off what you’re doing and check it out as well? I think you’ll get there first.” Fred said. “Let me make sure this goat is secure on the hooks in the smoking tent. Will will prep another and get it hung. Tomorrow will be soon enough for Frick to come up here and smoke them proper,” Frieda called in. “The race is on, Frieda!” Frack laughed. “You’re in for it, Frack!” Frack met Frieda at the target site, losing the race because of the fact he had twice as far to go as she did, despite his speed advantage. They circled the field because looking down, a ring of ground about fifty yards in diameter, give or take some, was literally fizzing like an Alka-Seltzer. “What in hell is going on down there?” Frack said as they watched. “Why am I afraid that you’re more correct than you think?” Frieda said as the circle of ground dissolved. “I hate it when I’m right,” Frack muttered before looking up. “You know, I don’t mind being wrong sometimes!” he shouted to the heavens. “Frack, call this in. I’m taping this. Let’s move clear,” Frieda said in a commanding voice as a vapor started rising from the dissolving earth, which slumped into a sinkhole. A sinkhole that, when the vapors cleared, showed a horde of wriggling worms, which strongly resembled maggots, but far larger. “Ho-lee…” Frack breathed as he fumbled for his radio. “Tarpon Two to Cornhusker Two! I just hurked up yesterday’s dinner!” Sue called. “I can feel something bad too, Tarpon. I’m in the boat, but I can feel something vile going on,” Fred replied. “Got that right!” Frack called out as he and Frieda circled the sinkhole. “Maggots the size of rattlesnakes literally eating the ground all the way down to the water table!” “Keep a watch on it while it works. I want to know what happens next,” Fred ordered over the radio. “Cornhusker Three and Four copies orders,” Frack said as they watched. It took about fifteen minutes for the dissolving action to stop, revealing something floating on the water, the maggots dissolving as they fell into the hole. A quick flyby showed hundreds, if not thousands, of softball-sized objects drifting on the water’s surface. “That’s damn unusual,” Frieda said. “Got that right. What are they, ground maggots? What are they going to do, hatch into pony-sized flies?” Frack asked. “Can’t say,” Frieda said as she filmed a video with her phone. “Why don’t you head east and check out the other sinkhole? See what’s in there.” Frack shrugged. “Can’t hurt to look,” he said before taking wing. At the other hole, he found a lot of wreckage from mobile homes that had fallen in, but no floating softballs. A closer inspection just showed more wreckage, although some of the wood and metal pieces appeared… chewed, for lack of a better term. He also found small holes in the side of the sinkhole, holes about two inches in diameter, but there were hundreds, each about a foot apart, with trails leading to the higher ones. Once he saw enough, he flew back to Frieda. “I get this strange feeling they are more ground maggots than anything else,” he told his friend. “Oh, spiffing!” Frieda groaned. “Not something we needed, for sure!” “No, it’s not. Wonder what’s going to happen next. If those are really eggs, I’m not sure if I want to see what hatches out of them,” Frack said quietly. “Nor I. Doubt I can make an edible omelet with them, either,” Frieda said with a shrug. “I’ll go back to smoking goat. You going to help Frick?” “Not a bad idea. Head northeast from here and I should find it. I’ll see if I can raid some stuff from the Wal-Mart for a big spaghetti dinner tonight, with garlic bread spread,” Frack suggested. “Not a bad idea. Especially with chipped goat crumbles in the sauce, or some of it. I’ll make that pot of sauce upstairs.” “Good idea!” Frack said as he took wing to the northeast, while Frieda headed northwest, using the bay shore to guide her home. Yes, they use VFR, because minds and instincts do tend to battle, even six months after getting the flight capability. By the fifth of June, the crew had finished doing what they could for the two Tarpon Springs residents. The wagon was completed, along with an adapter that would allow Will’s tricycle to hook up to the wagon and pull it along, if needed. “Not good for over ground, but it will help on the roads,” Will observed after a test pull. A generator and battery bank was set up next to the house the two sheltered in when the weather was not right for the tents, with a computer system, satellite dish, and three satellite phones charging, as well as three radios. “After all, we could find someone else, right?” Sue commented. “I suggest you two shelter in the house next couple of days,” Frack said as the ship was getting ready to depart about noon. “There will be a storm here in the next day or two, and we want to get to Saint Pete before the worst of it gets here.” “How bad will it be, Frack?” Will asked. “Bad enough. I want to say hurricane, but if so, it won’t be a big hurricane. Just fairly nearby. Wonder what it will do to the eggs in the sinkhole,” Frack said as he untied the lines holding the Deliverance in place. “We’ll take a look after the storm passes. Thanks again for all you’ve done for us. See you again in a few months, hopefully?” Will said, holding out a beefy paw, which Frack shook with warmth. The group had already said goodbye over an early lunch. “That’s the plan. See you then!” Frack said, giving Sue a wing hug before taking off to land on the boat. Frick waved from the bridge as he piloted the boat out to the Gulf. They made the run down the west coast of the peninsula at about three-quarters full power, the swells gradually intensifying as the cloud cover slowly thickened. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge looked intact as they passed under it, despite having stood with no maintenance for a year now. Shortly after six, with Frieda at the conn, they neared their destination, Saint Petersburg’s North Yacht Basin. They chose there because it was the closest pier to Sunken Gardens. The weather was definitely getting nasty, a fresh breeze from the southwest. They hurried to get to this part of the city because then there would be land between the storm and their mooring point, lessening wave impact. As they searched for a safe place to moor among the wreckage of yachts and houseboats at the marina, a bright flash caught their attention. A white pickup truck appeared along the road that ran along the bay shore, one that swiftly lost control, jumped the curb and hurtled into the water with a loud splash. Frieda immediately headed that way, everyone else having heard the splash or the screech. Foster took charge of the scene. He’s handled many a wreck before, as sheriff of Rapides Parish, Louisiana. “Fran, relieve Frieda! Frieda, Frack, get first aid gear to shore! Frick, with me! We’s gonna get that out of the water and onto the shore!” he commanded, certainty and surety in his voice. Everyone turned to, Fran going to the pilothouse, Frieda taking the first aid kit from the bridge before taking wing from there, Frack took the first aid kit from the saloon, while Frick joined Foster on the after deck. The truck was visible under the water, bubbles coming from it as it filled and sank, the driver looking senseless behind the wheel. Together, Frick’s purple glow and Foster’s golden glow surrounded the truck, lifted it, and set it on the shore. “Foster, put me next to the truck! Let’s get the driver out!” Frick ordered. “Good idea, Frick. You is a smaller one. Up yuh go!” Foster grunted as he wrapped Frick in his glow and picked him up, putting him down by the passenger side of the truck.