Chapter 4

A Quiet Dinner

  Locke's head swivelled. "Lenore?” He looked surprised to see his sister. “What's up?"

  "I found you! You're not the easiest guy to track down, you know."

  "Well I was just.."

  "Yeah yeah, at Randal's," Eleanor cut in. "Well? Introductions, who's your friend?"

  "Oh um yeah, th-."

  "This is Lana," Bellamy interjected.

  Locke shook his head and widend his eyes, "I know how to finish fuckin' sentences" he murmured humourously to himself.

  "Well it’s nice to meet you Lana, I'm Eleanor, but people just call me Lenore". She put her hand out in invitation.

  "Pleasure" Lana responded curtly, giving Lenore's hand a soft shake.

  Lenore raised an eyebrow and brushed it off.

  Locke pushed between the two of them. "Alright... well let us know if you need anything else while you're in town," he said. Lana nodded. He motioned to his friend and sister and the three of them started walking back towards town.

  “Well isn’t she just peachy!” Lenore stated sarcastically

  “What, you don’t like peaches?” Bellamy responded.

  Lenore leered in his direction.

  "So what's up sis?" Locke chimed in.

  "Yeah, you said you were looking for us?" Bellamy asked.

  Lenore’s face returned to normal. "Hmmm? Oh, I thought the three of us could go out for dinner tonight."

  "That's a great idea!" said Bellamy.

  Locke chuckled "Yeah sure, where were you thinking?"

  "I know just the place" she said with a wink.

  They marched back toward town, following Lenore’s lead. She kept tight lipped about where they were headed and what exactly they'd be having for dinner. The boys were becoming restless as their hunger grew. A grumble reverberated through the group. “Was that your stomach?” Lenore asked the boys, partly impressed yet slightly disgusted. “Wasn’t us,” Bellamy responded. Another grumble, this one louder, and another until a rhythm became recognisable. The beat was coming from further into town.

  They had been talking to Lana for what seemed like mere moments but even on the outskirts of town they could already tell something was different. Rearing the bend into town song blared into the ether. Where once was a quiet district now overflowed with vivacious personality. Laughter and cheer filled the streets. Men jostled with one another while women danced. Dice games were being played in the corner of every alley. Loud bartering could be overheard from down the street. It seemed that the visitors that Lana had set loose into Port Dover were commandeering the it’s versy soul and indulging it’s townsfolk with their vices. Locke was entranced, all this vibrant life in a town he often considered lifeless.

  Bellamy nudged lock on the arm and leaned over. “That fish isn’t cheap,” he said, impressed.

  Locke looked over to see a merchant handing what Bellamy confirmed to be an expensive fish, over to one of the new arrivals. The woman looked at the fish with a grin and proceeded to hold up four fingers while dropping a coin purse on the table. Bewildered, the merchant turned and grabbed the woman three more.

  A group of exotic dames waltzed through the street. Their faces were fierce and their apparel matched. Easily some of the most beautiful women Locke had ever seen. Each one a unique flower with different colored petals and magnificently shaped stem. Bellamy was bewitched under their spell, yet Locke felt wary of their thorns.

  Continuing on, Bellamy pointed at one of the eateries they passed. “Can’t we just stop at Reina's? She makes the best grilled snapper.”

  “Nope. Almost there. Besides, we always eat fish” Lenore replied, much to the boys dismay.

  As Reina’s fell behind them Locke overheard a tale of high seas adventure. A strange man was describing a story of imperial plunder fraught with danger and excitement. High seas adventure where only your wits could keep you alive. Treasure in such unbelievable quantity that Locke saw it for the fib that it was. However a reverence for these pirates was starting to form in the cockles of his heart.

  New and foreign music filled the air. A man was dancing with a woman in the street. Smiles etched into their faces as they pranced along to the music. Locke felt his body moving to their same rhythm, entranced by the splendor he started to dance just as Lenore brought their march to a halt.

  “Tacos!” she exclaimed, raising an arm and motioning upwards.

The boys looked up. An old dilapidated sign of a mustachioed man wearing a tall sombrero was towering above them. Beneath his mustache was a banner that read ‘Juan’s Taqueria' in scratched and aged paint. Lenore turned and without waiting for the boy's response she swiftly made her way through the small entrance. The boys looked at one another and then proceeded to follow the young lady into the restaurant.

  Dim lights illuminated the small dining area. The windows were ajar allowing a cool evening breeze to swirl through the building. Lenore led the boys to a table at the front of the restaurant and the three of them sat down beside the window.

  “Why do we always sit near the window? You know you’re gonna freeze in that dress once the temperature drops”. Locke cautioned, pointing at Lenore’s clearly daytime attire.

  Lenore glared at him “I’m not so delicate that I can’t handle a small breeze, Locke”, her left eyebrow raised in disbelief “Besides I like people watching. Just look at that young couple. Making their way back home. They seem-”

  “Hello! Sorry to interrupt. My name is Riccardo, I’ll be your waiter this evening, what can I get for you?” He wiped his hands on his black waist apron and prepared himself to take their order.

  “Ladies first,” Bellamy said, gesturing to Lenore.

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  “Could we just get a platter of tacos for the table please?”

  Locke interjected. “Wait, you don’t have to-”

  Lenore spoke over him. “And three beers as well, please and thank you.”

  The waiter smirked. “Alright, I’ll be right back with your drinks!” He said happily and left towards the kitchen.

  “You know you don’t have to treat us,” Bellamy said.

  “Yeah but who else am I gonna spend my money on other than you two? To spend it only on myself would just be selfish.” She deflected.

  Locke Smiled back. “Thanks sis.”

  “Well I guess if that’s the way you see it I won’t decline a free dinner,” Bellamy added.

  The three of them sat there in silence. The boys seemed tired from running around all afternoon. They were slumped in their chairs and hunched over the table. Lenore could have sworn Bellamy had fallen asleep the way his face was distorting from his palm slowly sliding up into his cheek bone.

  “So… are you gonna tell me who those people were?” Lenore asked her brother.

  He looked at her puzzled for a second. “Oh them?” Locke motioned her closer. “I think they’re pirates,” he whispered.

  Lenore was taken aback, but she did her best to keep her composure. “And why are we fraternising with pirates all of a sudden?” She hushed back.

  “Fraternising?” Bellamy said bewildered “It’s hardly fraternising… more like... using for personal gain.”

  Lenore scoffed.

  Locke concurred with Bellamy. “You don't get it, this could finally be our ticket out of this place. Think of the adventure, the open sea, undiscovered islands and metropolitan cities. Literally anything other than sitting at Randal’s ‘till I drop dead of alcohol poisoning”

   “Well if you didn’t drink so much that wouldn’t be a problem…” Lenore retorted dryly.

  “You’re missing the point. Don’t you wanna see what existence is like outside of these mundane day to day lives? The world has so much to offer and we’re stuck here only experiencing a fraction of it.”

  “Okay sure, but why-” she moved her hand to the side of her mouth and lowered her voice, “-pirates?”

  “Cause they're free. Going where they want when they want, and no one to tell them what to do.” Added Bellamy.

  “Yes but they also rape, pillage, murder...” She stated while counting her fingers.

  “So does the Imperial Navy...” Locke responded

  “Now who’s missing the point.”

  “Ah whatever. Besides it’s not like they’re just gonna let us join up with them anyway.” Bellamy explained.

  “Why-- Oh!”

  The Waiter returned carrying a tray with their beverages. “Three beers” he said slowly as he placed each beer in front of them.

  “Thank you.” The three of them chimed in unison.

  “And your food shouldn’t be long.” He said as he turned back to the kitchen once more.

  “Well, should we make a toast?” Lenore asked, lifting her beer into the air.

  The boys followed her lead and lifted theirs as well.

  “To the best guys in the whole world.” She said, pushing her glass forward a tad.

  “Boo, that’s lame!” Bellamy teased. “How about we toast to the glory and fortune Locke and I will be getting if we can join that ship's crew?”

  Lenore rolled her eyes.

  Locke looked at the two of them. “To the future then.” He thrust his glass above the center of the table.

  Lenore followed suit with a smile.

  “Fine.” Bellamy said, deflated. “To the future.” And he thrust his glass into theirs.

  Their tacos finally arrived and the three of them dug in, demolishing the platter like they’d been starved for weeks. The evening carried on, and they chatted uneventfully. Bellamy told them stories they’d both heard many times before but they laughed anyway. Lenore would snort and the boys would pick on her with snorts of their own. Locke ordered them more rounds and felt a sense of bliss he hadn’t for some time. The night rolled past them until it was high time they left the restaurant and went home. The siblings said goodbye to Bellamy and began their trek back up the hill to their house.

  “Thanks again for taking us out, I feel like I really needed that.” Locke said with his hands stuffed firmly in his pockets and his eyes captivated by the sterling night sky.

  “Yeah it was fun” Lenore smiled. “You know if you leave on this grand adventure you’ve imagined, we wouldn’t be able to do this kind of thing anymore.” There was an obvious snark in her voice. Locke put his arm around her neck and pulled her close.

  “Yeah you’re right, I’d probably miss you.. after all, who would I pick on!“ He jeered and began ruffling her hair with his other hand.

  “Hey!” Lenore exclaimed playfully as she struggled to escape her brother's grasp. “Locke, stop!” She laughed.

  He obliged his little sister and released her. The two laughed a little and Lenore gave her brother a swift playful jab to the arm. They carried on their meandering pace as the two of them were in no hurry to arrive at their destination. The moon had risen in the sky, it’s splendor illuminated their path while a smattering of sprinkled stars twinkled and flashed above them. a cool night breeze blew in off the ocean and over the hill in front of them. The trees swayed casting their wispy shadows along the grassy backdrop.

  “It’s kinda chilly huh?” Lenore prodded.

  Locke’s shoulders sagged. “I knew it.” He said, as he began sliding off his jacket. He moved closer to Lenore and wrapped it around her dainty shoulders.

  She smiled. “Thanks big brother.” She said triumphantly as she pulled the jacket tight across her front.

  “Yeah, yeah.” He conceded. The two of them marched side by side for a moment in silence.“So how do you feel about this whole pirate thing?” He said kind of nonchalantly looking around.

  “Oh? You’re asking ‘Moi’?” She motioned her hand to her chest, palm elevated with hyperextended fingers. “The great Locke wants to know how his little sister feels about his life choices?” She said dramatically.

  He rolled his eyes and replied dejected. “Of course I care what you think.”

  She took a breath. “Remember you told me when you were young that Dad used to take you with him, into the capital, and out fishing or even sailing in those storms? You used to talk about the giant waves and how the boat would hit them so fast that it'd leap into the air. You guys would come crashing down into the next wave and have to hold on for dear life. I think you miss that feeling. You want so badly to wander off on an adventure with him, but he's gone."

  "So what's your point?"

  "Well, I just think we have something good here. We get by quite happily. Besides, you can have adventures around here, you just choose not to. Bellamy goes out every morning, you never join him. You just sit at Randal’s and drink the days away... like Dad." She paused "Look I don't want to tell you what to do, I just feel like there are ways to get your fix here that wouldn't cost you all your teeth, or limbs."

  “But it's just so aimless here.”

  Lenore placed her hand on his back. “I know.” She said warmly. "We'll figure something out." They crested the hill and their small abode creeped into sight.

  “Ahh you’re right, It’s not so bad here. I have you and Bellamy, and Randal’s technically above ground”

  They arrived at home and began preparing for bed. They continued their discussion as they brushed their teeth and put on their pyjamas. But that night something was different. They went to their separate rooms as usual, but instead of falling asleep to the sound of his sister's obnoxious snoring, Locke lay awake. He stared restlessly at the ceiling. His mind became a torrent of inescapable possibility. His body wrestled back and forth as the seconds, minutes, hours ticked by. He wanted nothing more than to sleep, yet he couldn't.

  Two days passed. Locke hardly slept. He hardly did much of anything. His motivation had been completely sapped. He'd make his way down to the shipyard to work on repairing the ship and then wander around town observing the pirates before heading back to his house atop the hill. All day he'd think of nothing else but those pirates. It was on the third night, after several hours of tossing and turning, he opened his eyes and lay still staring at the ceiling. He couldn't shake the idea that this was his chance. What kind of idiot would just let it slip away. He threw off his covers and launched himself out of bed. Hastily grabbing some clothes and throwing them on, an excited grin began to carve itself into his face.