Rattle The Stars

Chapter Ten: Comet Chase

“Just a few more tugs…that’s it.”

Alice watched a week later as Jim and Silver lowered a small longboat from the RLS Legacy’s bay.

“Now let it go. Good, lad.”

Jim stepped back and let the rope come loose of the boat. Silver jumped in, swept his hat off and gave a salute. The little boat dropped out of sight.

Jim’s radiant smile vanished. He gave a half-hearted wave, then turned from the open bay with a sigh.

“What’s the matter?” Alice asked. She put a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Nothing,” Jim grumbled, but the way his brows furrowed over his stormy blue eyes betrayed him.

“I see. You wanted to sail.” Alice grinned as Jim looked up at her in surprise. “It’s no secret, after all. You’ve already told me how much you love it.”

“Well, now that I’ve got this thing started,” Silver grumbled as he reappeared in the bay, his eyes glittering with mischief. He beckoned to Jim. “You getting in, lad?”

Jim turned, his eyes widening. “Yeah. Of course.” He hopped in, and Alice began to follow him.

“Whoa, now.” Silver cautioned her, putting his hands out before she could step into the boat. “I’m not sure if you’d like to come along on a teaching ride, lass. It might be a bit rough, especially with this rascal driving.”

Jim rolled his eyes, and Alice planted her hands on her hips and mustered up an indignant frown.

“I want to come. I am perfectly capable of handling it. Besides, I hear Mr. Hawkins is an excellent solar surfer.”

Silver arched an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Jim. “Is that so?”

Jim turned a mischievous grin on Alice and held out his hand.
“Come on, then, Miss Tea Cozy. Let’s see how well you do.”

Alice took his hand stiffly and shot him a playful glare as she stepped aboard, then settled herself opposite Silver and Jim.

“Now, Jimbo,” Silver began, “here’s where you’ll steer, and this gives it thrust. You’ll want to be careful and get used to using each one.”

Jim glanced at Alice as Silver spoke. Amusement danced in his blue eyes, and he winked.
“Both of you better hold onto your hats,” Jim teased. Then, without any further warning, he pulled the thruster and launched them into the sky.

Alice gripped the seat under her and let out a shocked cry.

Silver gripped his hat, his eyes wide. “Hold on, lass!” He cried over the boat’s noise, extending a hand to Alice.

She gripped his cyborg arm and let him haul her between him and Jim. This felt a bit safer, but she still felt every bump and turn the little skiff made.

Jim smirked and yanked the rudder, sending them rocketing towards a bright blue comet.
“Are you sure we should get so close to it?” Alice shouted as the comet burned in front of them, closer and closer to their skiff.

“Just hang on!” Jim gripped the controls with a fierce look of determination. He gave the rudder another sharp yank, and Alice was thrown against him. She clutched him for dear life as the skiff sailed through the lambent blue tail of the comet and spun in wild, dizzying circles. Alice no longer knew which way was up, but as she looked into Jim’s exhilarated blue eyes, she began to laugh.

He was clearly made to sail…and he loved every bit of it.

“I told you to hang on!” Jim shouted with a grin as he finally righted the skiff. “Not squeeze me to death.” He handed her a strip of fabric, and she realized with a start that it was the scarf that had been in her hair.

Alice loosened her grip and smiled sheepishly, grasping the scarf. “Well. I wouldn’t have had to hold on so tight had somebody not been trying to throw us overboard!”

Jim threw his head back and laughed, and Alice thought she’d never seen him look so alive, so happy…so at home.

*

They were now sailing with the comet, bumping along on icy waves through the sky.

Silver laughed, a great, big belly laugh.
“Jimbo, my lad!” He exclaimed. “What a ride!”

Jim felt a thrill of pride race through him. What he wouldn’t give for his mother to see him now…and his father.

Alice gazed around in wonder. Her terrified grip around Jim’s torso loosened, and a dazzled grin spread across her face. She tentatively stood and reached for the tendrils of icy comet tail streaking around them. As her fingers touched the glowing dust, she laughed again, like she had when they’d been spinning through space a moment ago.

“This is magical,” she breathed. When she glanced down at Jim, her eyes were sparkling with delight, and her long, blonde hair fell disheveled and wind-blown around her shoulders.

Jim smiled back at her, his heart racing and pounding with adrenaline.

There she was. The real Alice. The one he’d known was hiding within her.

“We’d best head back, lad,” Silver put in with a warm chuckle. “They’ll wonder where their longboat has gone.”

Alice reluctantly sat back down, and Jim maneuvered them out of the comet’s tail and back towards the Legacy.

But the image of Alice’s wide-eyed wonder and Silver’s pleasant surprise stayed emblazoned on his brain long after the comet chase was over.




AlyCatAuthor