Brisk autumn breezes out of the north rattled the yellowing oaks and made the horses kick up their heels in the meadow. Cally had taken her laptop out onto the porch, because her office was being “renovated.” Ian May had given Bethany carte blanche again.
> Emerald<< There are still some things I don’t understand.
>
> Cally>> Good, that’s what I wanted you to tell me.
>
> Emerald<< For instance, you still never said what all the other things are that “aren’t all ghosts”
>
> Cally>> I can’t very well answer that until I figure it out, myself, can I?
>
> Emerald<< Your readers are not going to be satisfied with that answer. You will have to write more to explain it all.
>
> Cally>> I promise to, as soon as I know what to say.
>
> Emerald<< I mean, I don’t even know what I am, at this point, and I am me!
>
> Cally>> That isn’t why I asked you to read my rough draft. I was looking for continuity issues, grammatical errors and awkward phrasing.
>
> Emerald<< Well it’s awkward not knowing what’s going to happen with you and Ben.
>
> If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
>
> Cally>> Not for me, it isn’t. I kind of like it. And so does he. So you and everyone else can just stop playing matchmaker. :)
Nell was sitting in the wicker chair on Cally’s right, with her own printed copy of the rough draft in her lap. She peered over Cally’s shoulder, watching this exchange. “I agree,” she said, nodding at the monitor. “There are more questions, at the end, than we started out with. For instance, I want to know what’s going to happen to my character!”
Cally smiled at her. “I’m afraid you’re just going to have to find that out for yourself, Helen.”
> Emerald<< And we still never found out what George is doing here, so far from any Pirate Ships. Real ones, I mean.
>
> Cally>> That’s a whole different story.
>
> Emerald<< Then you have to write it!
>
> Cally>> Can we just stick with one book at a time, please?
>
> Emerald<< It’s not like we have all the time in the world, you know. Time is running out.
>
> Cally>> Until what?
>
> Emerald<< Until, you know, when everything we’ve been preparing for happens... when all the things Woodley is protecting have to face their fate.
>
> Cally>> You lecture me about not answering all the questions, yet you’re the one being vague.
>
> Emerald<< I’m telling you all I know. Your job is to figure out how to fit all the pieces together. Isn’t that what authors do?
>
> Cally>> No pressure, right?
>
> Emerald<< No, no pressure. :)
“No pressure,” Nell added.
In the wicker chair at Cally’s left, the Captain’s ghost snored on.