Haylock
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29 - Chekhov's Crab
🕑 Added 2024-04-12 08:00:05 +0000 UTCYou, as a descendant of the great Kraken Rider, should beware anyone selling directions to the heavens. This does not, however, mean one shouldnât try the techniques and meditations of other sects, churches, and families. Knowledge may be gleaned from the guidance of others, after all, even if your only insight is what not to do.
Though easier described than practiced, one should follow the whispers of their mind and body. There are many roads to enlightenment, and only oneâs instinct can be relied upon to take the correct path.
Excerpt from Chapter 6, House Kraken Manual
âAre you serious, Barry?â I asked as I patted Bill and Pelly, the birds crooning and leaning into my touch.
My two trusty pelicans had come and retrieved Roger and me, putting a pause on our battle. The moment weâd seen the panic in their avian eyes, Roger and I had raced back to New Tropica. Finding the gathering outside of the prison had been a surprise, but nowhere near as unexpected as the reaction Barry had to the question Iâd just voiced.
He seemed to sink into himself, his expression growing dark. I thought it would be momentary, but he only seemed to become more troubled with each passing second. He stared over at Deklan and Dom, the two men resting against a wall after having been dropped off by Borks.
âEverything okay, mate?â I asked Barry, raising an eyebrow, but he ignored me, his worried gaze locked on the two brothers.
He marched over, stopped before them, and bowed at the waist. âIâm sorry. I let my enjoyment of the plan coming together cloud my judgment. It is my fault you were attacked.â
âHuh?â Deklan blurted, putting voice to exactly what I was thinking.
Barry lowered himself to his knees, bending so his forehead almost touched the ground. âI should have neutralized the threat immediately. Instead, I dragged it out for my own amusement. Any number of us could have knocked Nathan out before he had a chance to experience a breakthrough. I canât take it back, but I promise that I will learn from this grievous error.
âEr,â Deklan said. âI think youâre being a bit too harsh on yourself.â
âAgreed, but apology accepted,â Dom added. âWeâve experienced worse, right, Deklan?â He nudged his brother, giving him a meaningful look.
âOh, yeah. Evil powers are bad and all, but they donât hold a candle to our dear motherâs cooking.â
Dom guffawed. âRemember the apricot chicken? That woman made meals that could have put the Cult of the Alchemistâs vilest concoctions to shame.â
âOh, you bastard. Iâd managed to forget the apricot chicken. What about the time she added those flavor bulbs to a stir fry? I swear, I loved that woman like nothing else, but some of the things she came up with...â
As the two brothers continued listing off their late motherâs crimes against humanity, apparently unaffected by their brush with death, Barry slowly raised his head, utter confusion plastering his face. When it finally dawned on him that they truly werenât bothered, he stood and turned my way, bowing at the waist again. âYou were right to chastise me, Fischer. I wonât let it happen again.â
âUhhhh, I didnât chastise you?â I leaned toward Maria, who was at my side. âDid I chastise Barry?â I stage whispered. âBecause I didnât mean to.â
âI donât think so?â she replied, peering between Barry and me consideringly. âYou did ask him if he was serious, though, which he maybe took as a reprimand?â
âOhhhh.â I clicked my fingers. âIs that what you meant, mate?â
He blinked at me, apparently unprepared for no one to be angry at him. âYes...?â he slowly said. âYou had every right to call me out on my failure.â
âYeah, nah. I wasnât at all upset about that. Your plan came together wonderfully, considering how complicated it was.â
He gave me the same look of confusion heâd given the brothers a moment ago. âWhat were you talking about, then?â
âYou set up a double-cross without me! A crime most foul.â
âAll right, you lost me,â Maria said, narrowing her eyes at me.
Barry, clearly agreeing with the sentiment, stood upright and shook his head. âWhat on Kallis are you talking about? You told me to keep you out of everything possible, which Iâve been respecting. You wanted to be kept in the dark.â
âWell, yeah! I usually want to be kept out of things, but a double-cross?â I gestured at Anna and the rest of the allied conspirators. âA double-cross with undercover agents?â I let out a sigh. âFrankly, Iâm insulted you didnât bring me in on the fun. I missed out on a good time.â
Everyone just stared at me, and when one spoke, I continued yapping.
âYou warned me that Roger would start a tussle with me for the purpose of some secret mission, but I had no idea it would be for something so exciting. I thought it would be a boring plan, like showing our new friends how strong we are. Or how grumpy Roger is. Next time youâve got some plot right out of a thriller, bring me in, my guy. Also...â I turned toward Roger. âI was told youâd start a tussle with me, not that youâd try and turn me into deli meat. Show some restraint, you peanut.â
âYou did kick him into the ocean...â Maria said. âI think he showed miraculous restraint, considering.â
âYou... kicked him into the ocean?â Barry asked, a smile threatening to shatter his remorse.
Roger, his jaw only growing tighter the longer I talked, rubbed his temples. âIf I try not to land a fatal blow, does anyone mind if I attack him again?â
âNo,â came the answering chorus from almost everyone present.
âAh, I am surrounded by treacherous souls.â I cast an aggrieved look toward Maria, who had answered the loudest.
Before I could continue my diatribe in a no-doubt hilarious and endearing manner, Borks came padding into the street.
Nathan, the man who had been spearheading the little escape attempt, lay limp over Borksâs shoulders. Bruises covered the manâs body, his eyes so swollen that it looked like heâd had an allergic reaction. The two whoâd given him the swelling stood atop his back, striking heroic poses.
Corporal Clawsâs eyes were averted, and as she pretended to notice us, she let out a curious coo, as if to say, Oh. I didnât see you there.
Snips was playing along, and she mimicked Claws, blowing little bubbles of surprise.
âCome here, you little scamps,â I said, holding out my arms.
With a wiggle of her cute little tooshie, Claws leaped for me, crashing into my chest. Snips landed a moment later, nudging the otter aside and lowering herself to the crook of my arm.
Realizing we were missing a particularly disgruntled crab, I looked up. âYou said Rocky got blasted skyward by the breakthrough, right? Has anyone, uh, seen him? Shouldnât he have come back down?â
Snips shrugged, blowing dismissive bubbles and waving a claw.
âYeah,â I replied. âGood point. Heâll be right.â I hugged Snips and Claws tight. âMore importantly, you did well, girls. You too, Borks.â
He let out a yip in response, shrugging the traitor off his back and trotting over to lean against my leg. Maria crouched and fussed him all over, reiterating how good of a boy he was.
With Claws and Snips still in my arms, I strode over and peered down at Nathan, extending my senses. When I felt the power and aspect of his core, I scrunched my face up. âGross.â
Ruff, Borks agreed.
âGross?â Barry asked. âWhat do you mean?â
I turned toward Roger. âCan you feel it too?â
His chi flowed out, joining mine to prod at Nathanâs abdomen. âI can. Itâs disgusting.â
âFascinating,â Ellis said, scratching away in his notepad. âDo you think you can discern the intent of cultivators the more powerful they become, Fischer, or do you think it is this manâs ability that seems unpleasant?â
âNo idea, mate. I only know one thing for certain.â
âOh?â His eyes lifted, sparkling with the possibility of new information. âWhat is that?â
I grinned, looking at Anna, Zeke, and the rest of the cultivators that had gone undercover to help bring Nathan down. âI reckon the success of this mission calls for a celebratory feast...â
Snips and Claws perked up immediately, both leaning toward my face with pleading eyes.
***
Beneath the canopy of a gigantic tree, a soft breeze blew.
The wind washed over George, making the shape of his body seem to dissolve into a cloud of sensations. Calm as he was, the explosion of chi earlier had hardly affected him, his consciousness becoming more used to them over the past week.
He unleashed a slow, ponderous breath, following its passage with his awareness as it flowed from his mouth. When he opened his eyes, he found Joel, the leader of Tropicaâs Cult of Carcinization branch, smiling at him.
âI know Iâm repeating myself here, George, but I must thank you again.â
âYou really donât need toââ
âNonsense,â Joel interrupted, gesturing at the rest of the cultists and Geraldine, who were deep in meditation. âThe past week since we exchanged the cultâs techniques with your houseâs manual has been wondrous and enlightening. To think weâve come so far in a mere span of days...â He smiled even wider, crows feet appearing beside his eyes. âI canât help but feel like we are almost taking steps on the path of carcinization.â
âWe should be the ones thanking you,â Geraldine said, opening her eyes and resting a hand on Georgeâs leg. âYour insights and techniques have been invaluable.â
Joel nodded. âIâm glad weâve been of similar benefit to the both of you.â He paused, pursing his lips for a moment. âAfter todayâs meditation, are you still sure that the superior form of the crab isnât for you...?â
George grimaced. Theyâd had this same discussion daily. âIâm afraid I have to follow my instincts still, Joel, just as the Kraken manual instructs. I canât speak for my wife, but for me, the form doesnât feel correct.â
âYou can speak for me, dear,â Geraldine said, reaching over and squeezing his hand. âYou know it doesnât feel right for me either. Sorry, Joel.â
Jess, Joelâs second in command, groaned as she stood and stretched. âAgain, Joel?â She walked over and sat down next to Joel, leaving the other members to their meditation. âI think it might be time to accept our friendsâ words.â She smiled at George and Geraldine. âYouâre always welcome to join our sessions regardless of whether or not carcinization feels right to you.â
George barely heard her last sentenceâhe was still tripping over the previous one.
I think it might be time to accept our friendsâ words, Jess had said, with no hint or deception in her voice.
âFriends....?â Geraldine asked. âDid you call us your⊠friends?â
George glanced to his left, his heart breaking when he saw her face. The statement had impacted her too, causing tears to swell in her eyes. As he watched, one of them fell, slowly rolling down her cheek.
âOh, dear...â George said, reaching out to wipe it away.
Jess inhaled sharply, covering her mouth. âDid I say something wrong? I didnât mean to overstep, my lady.â
George smiled at her, his own emotions threatening to boil over. âNot at all. We are grateful for your friendship, and my lady wifeâs reaction is one of...â George trailed off as an odd whistling sound came to his ear, and he cocked his head to the side, trying to discern where it was coming from. âCan you all hear that?â
Geraldine cupped a hand to her ear as she blinked away her tears. âWhat is it...?â
All too late, he stared up.
A creature of nightmare approached, its form massive and limbs numerous.
âGet backââ
It struck the ground like a boulder, sending sand flying in every direction. George scrambled between Geraldine and the monster, raising his fists in a defensive posture. âRun!â he ordered, but Geraldine remained at his back, her hands gripping his arm.
âI wonât leave you!â
âYou must!â he hissed. âI canât stand the idea of... what the frack?â he said, inadvertently copying a curse heâd heard thrown around by the commonfolk.
The sand had cleared enough for him to see, and what he found was enough to reset his thoughts.
The monster remained in the crater it had made, slowly getting to its many legs. Rather than run, the cultists were facedown in the sand, kneeling so low that their foreheads pressed into the sand. The creature stood upright in all its majesty, its beady eyes staring down at the bowing humans with an imperious gaze. It was covered in a hardened shell, with claws big enough to sever a manâs leg.
It was a spirit beast. George could feel it and the power it held.
âFrack me,â Geraldine said from beside him, also borrowing the commonfolkâs vernacular. âMaybe you were right about the crab form, JoelâŠâ
Comments
Beeees!
The title for this chap is perf. Also this will either immediately go to rockys head or he wont care
Jeremy Crowe
Great chapter! I love the character development for George and Geraldine!
