Chapter 39

Escape!

<o> </o>

The seagulls screamed as they wheeled around overhead. The
docks of Rio were a massive affair, sprawling. Several large container ships
docked cheek to jowl with huge passenger liners that offered Rio as one of the
major destinations of their cruise lines. Scattered around them were smaller
cargo ships, many which looked to be on their last legs. These freighters were
known as tramp steamers, valued for their cheapness and durability at sea. Most
of their owners were small operations, or even privately owned vessels that
hauled freight everywhere in the known world. It was one of these ships that
Nightshade had apparently booked passage.

The Crimson Mermaid appeared to have one
engine in the breaker yards. Her hull was in bad need of sandblasting and
painting, several leprous rust patches appeared on her hide. The ship was
sitting upright and stable enough, though Sylvie wondered how well it would
actually hold up in the high seas. The ship was outfitted with four cargo
cranes, only one of which appeared to be in operation, the one in the fore. As
for the other three, only one appeared to be in any condition to operate in the
aft, and the other two looked to have been cannibalized for spare parts.
Exposed girders and gaping holes in their mounts attested to their inability.
What might have been black and red paint was so old it almost appeared white.
There was a curious dent in the bow of the ship, as if they had run against
something at high speed, but apparently that did not affect the ship's
seaworthiness. On the stern jackstaff a small Israeli flag flew. Sylvie
suspected that flag to be a cover or something, for the crew was certainly NOT
from the Middle East. Most of what she saw appeared to be of Asian ancestry,
with a few Russians, South Americans and others thrown in for fun.

The condition of the ship appeared to dismay many of her
fellow performers, and Sylvie smiled with satisfaction as she saw several of
them cluster around Nightshade, angrily demanding what they were doing sailing
on this ship. Sylvie was unsure of what Nightshade was saying, but she imagined
he was telling them that this was the only ship that was sailing that was
heading for Africa at this time. With a shrug, Sylvie turned back to continue
speaking with Taryn. Absently, she picked at the fringe on her buckskin shirt.
Nightshade had made her wear it, probably thought that it would bring crowds in
to see them in costume. Taryn was dressed in her buckskin as well, and had her
war paint on with the tanning solution.

Taryn and Sylvie's trailer had already been loaded aboard
the ship, as had several of the others holding the gear for the carnival. The
last few RVs and smaller trailers were on the docks waiting their turn. In the
very back, Sylvie could see Mrs. Grogan's trailer at the very back, with
someone at the wheel of a small pickup that was pulling it. Sylvie imagined
that it was Ms. Halls, the woman had practically been living over there caring
for her since Mrs. Grogan had a weakness episode and had been unable to come
out of the trailer for three days. Poor Taryn had grown increasingly frantic,
which led to Nightshade canceling one of her shows as she had been completely
unable to focus on her work. He had not been happy about that, but had seemed
to understand. Halls had been in her RV continuously after that.

Mrs. Grogan's weakness was a weight that settled over
Sylvie's mind, dragging her down. Sylvie feared that the move was making Mrs.
Grogan's condition worse, and that she might even die on the trip over. Sylvie
had gone to Nightshade's trailer to plead with him against the move. Nightshade
had merely looked thoughtful and grave at the same time. I'm sorry miss Mathison, Nightshade had finally said. I can't cancel the move now, for I have
commitments I must honor. However, I can assure you that she will have the best
medical care I can provide on the move. Ms. Halls has already volunteered as
her caretaker, and I am sure she can handle any situation that arises during
the voyage. Of course, looking at the ship that was to take them, Sylvie
wondered if any situation covered the sinking of the ship.

"We're going to Africa, in that?" Taryn asked incredulously.

"Don't look at me. I'm not the one who hired it." Sylvie
shrugged. "Besides, I'm thinking the ship is meant to look that way."

Taryn pursed her lips a moment. "Smugglers?" she asked
thoughtfully.

"Seems like Nightshade's type, right?"

Taryn snorted. "Yeah, right. Nightshade's type would be
sailing in one of those cruise ships. High-class in appearance, but scum at
heart."

Sylvie shrugged. "Perhaps those guys didn't want to pack
along a menagerie like us."

Taryn laughed. "Right. That would be a twist, folks turning us down. Sylvie, any cruise ship would
love to have us aboard. Their attendance would skyrocket just so people could
see us. Nightshade is taking this route because there are fewer people to talk
to, and they're going to all be in his pocket."

Sylvie grunted sourly. "You've got a point. I should have
seen that." Sylvie shook her head. She had been getting …not soft, but
complacent when she realized her escape could take a while. She should pay more
attention and be on the lookout for more information that could help.

Taryn clapped her on the shoulder. "Buck up me hearty! At
least this way, we're still together."

"On a rickety tub in the middle of the ocean? Yeah right."

The Grogan RV pulled up beside them and stopped. Sylvie
looked up in surprise, why had Halls stopped here? The window rolled down and
Sylvie gaped as her mom stuck her
head out the window. "Follow us!" She hissed.

"Wha-?" Sylvie managed to gasp out. Fortunately, Taryn kept
her head, grabbing Sylvie and running straight for the back of the trailer.
They swung in behind as the truck suddenly made a left turn and began driving
off the dock. Sylvie was certain they were going to get caught doing this.
There was no way Nightshade would let them go. And how the heck had her
freaking mother showed up here in
Rio?! Behind her, she began to hear shouts drifting back after her, but they
were suddenly drowned out by soft, feminine voices singing. The song seemed to
echo in her ears, making her blood pound and her pulse quicken. She wanted to
go back, she had to see who was singing. No, a voice sounded in her head. You
can't go back. You have to go on. Sylvie obeyed the voice, but couldn't
stop listening to the song:

Come to us

Come to us

<o> </o>

We are calling you to us,

From the sea beneath your feet

The water here is so nice and warm,

Won't you come and join us?

<o> </o>

Come to us

Come to us

<o> </o>

The water here is nice and warm,

Won't you come and join us

Where it is so nice and warm

<o> </o>

The song had a powerful magic to it. Around the dock people
were stopping and listening, not even car horns blared. Everyone stared at the
edge of the dock where the music was coming from spell bound. Sylvie followed
the back of the trailer as they moved through the crowd. Her mind was whirling
with questions. Who were those voices? What were they? How could they make her
feel such bliss?

They had made it as far as the first alleyway when Sylvie
heard Nightshade somewhere behind her. He was yelling. Sylvie felt her middle
tighten in fear, Nightshade never yelled. He must really be furious, she
realized dimly. She wondered what he would do to them if he caught them, and
shuddered at the thought, suddenly wishing the trailer would move faster.

As they left the docks behind them, the voices lost power
with distance, and soon the sounds of the city began to flow around them once
more. People stopped to gawk at them as they ran behind the trailer. Sylvie
tried to keep track of the twists and turns that her mom took, but it was
impossible. They went through so many by-streets and over main avenues that it
left her feeling bewildered. She wondered how long her mom had been in the city
to learn so much about it, but decided it would have to wait until she was
safely out of Rio.

They were entering a marketplace when Sylvie heard the
screech of tires behind her. Turning around, she saw big John and Nightshade
tearing up the road, chasing them. Sylvie felt her heart flutter in her throat.
She couldn't go back! Not now! Grabbing Taryn's hand, she broke into a gallop
trying to escape. She was whipped around almost into the side of the trailer by
Taryn. Sylvie felt the stinging deep in her arm and turned to ask her what the
hell was wrong with her. Words died as she glimpsed Taryn's face. The eyes were
filled with hate and her lips curled back from her teeth in a snarl. Her tail
was swishing angrily and she had stopped running. Instead she was pawing the
ground, looking as if she was gathering herself for a charge.

"Taryn! What are you doing?!" Sylvie shrieked.

"I'm DONE Sylvie!" Taryn shouted. "I'm finished with him
chasing us, snapping at us, keeping us like…like pets! I'm going to end this!"

"Yes, I'm sure, but not now!" Sylvie said desperately.
Nightshade and Big John were getting closer, and Big John had something he was
holding outside the window. Sylvie knew with a strange sort of clarity that it
was a pistol of some sort. They had to get out of there now! "Come on, we can't
fight them, we'll be killed!"

"Then go! Go Sylvie! Save yourself. I'm not letting him have
my mom!" Taryn shrieked. She looked every inch an Indian Princess. Reaching out
with one hand, Taryn grabbed a wooden bench and splintered it. Wrenching free
one of the legs, she waved the makeshift club above her head. With a wordless
roar of rage, Taryn charged the rapidly oncoming car.

Sylvie had stood by in stunned silence, watching Taryn make
her club. Now seeing her friend attack cleared the last doubts in her mind.
Giving a silent prayer that her mom would get Mrs. Grogan to safety, Sylvie
grabbed her rifle from its sling on her back. As it was just a show piece
without any bullets, Nightshade had let her carry it to increase the effect of
the costume, but it would make for as good a club as what Taryn had. With a
shout to match Taryn's, she raced after her friend.

Nightshade saw them coming and smoothly pressed the
accelerator. He knew that if he stopped he would be trampled under the hooves
of an angry Taryn. Sylvie desperately tried to catch up to Taryn, wanting her
to turn to the side before she got ran over. If she got hit by the car, she
could have broken legs, and legs don't heal on horses well.

The same thought must have registered with Taryn as well,
Sylvie realized with some relief, for she swerved to the side at the last
minute. Smoothly swapping the club around so the broken edge faced the car,
Taryn bent at the waist and jabbed at the tire. The rubber exploded outward,
sending shrapnel everywhere. Taryn had to have been hit, but she gave no sign
of it. The car, minus one of its tires, skidded wildly before Nightshade could
bring it back under control. He clipped two stands and a sandwich board before
plowing into the back of a car. Nightshade and Big John got out of the wreck
and turned to face them. Taryn was moving towards them, swinging her club.
Sylvie followed closely, feeling the anger and hatred of the past few months
fill her until she thought she would burst.

Nightshade swung his hand out of his pocket and Taryn jerked
to a stop. Sylvie spotted the gun and reacted without thinking. Swinging the
rifle up to her shoulder, she aimed with one smooth motion and fired. The rifle
bucked smoothly in her hands as she felt time start to slow. Nightshade was
just beginning to face her fully, his left eyebrow starting to raise. Big John
was tensing, his hand on his large handgun tightening. Taryn was opening her
mouth to scream, what and at whom Sylvie wasn't sure. A car horn was blaring in
the distance, and coming closer.