Danger Bay Cyber-Story—Chapter Two

Edited by Boomer Jack Boardman

We continue our repackaged re-runs:

[Episode 4—Jay & Boomer visit Danger Bay…and meet Hiram Silverthorn! by Jay Merton)]:

The following morning…

“Jay! What have you done?” Boomer exclaimed after stepping out of my house, and on to the boardwalk outside Silverthorn’s Café here in Danger Bay.

As he, rather befuddled, came back through the door, not to my home office, but to the café, I said with a big smile, “Welcome back to Silverthorn’s!”

“You really are out of control,” Boomer cracked as he walked up to the counter, “to have dragged me into one of your fantasies.”

“It takes a bit of imagination on your part,” I quickly rejoined, “for you to realize you are here and not in the real world.. You must have needed a visit.”

“So, you’re the famous Boomer Jack,” Hiram Silverthorn greeted, “I remember you sitting with Jay at the table by the front plate-glass window a few days back.”

“I’ve been here before?” he replied, and then continued, “Jay, was I part of this before?”

“You must not be reading my posts,” I answered with feigned insult, and then turning to Hiram, “You were saying before my young surprised friend came in?”

“My grandfather started this restaurant,” he continued, “after leaving the hopelessness of the reservation in the forties, to start a new life. He struggled for a long time—first to be accepted by the locals, and then to establish this place. It helped some that he became friends with old Phineas Farkleberry, whose gas station brought in tourists.”

“I have a friend who runs the bus service on one of the northern reservations,” Boomer chimed in, “he says things are improving there.”

“You must be referring to Mike,” Hiram rejoined, “he does a great job with those old buses. And yes things are improving. With the small profits from our casino (the bands closest to the Cities make the big bucks), we are returning the money to invest in the res.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Investing in our schools, job training, abuse counseling, alcohol abuse prevention, police & fire,” he explained, “We have a long way to go, but Grandfather would be amazed at the changes there.”

“Do you ever think of moving back?” Boomer queried.

“Our home is here,” he answered mildly, “but we visit there every winter over Christmas. I want my kids to know the old culture and learn our history from the tribal elders, so every summer they spend three weeks on the Res with my cousin. They love it.”

“So, how’s business here?” I asked.

“Better than its been since they straightened 61 five years back,” Hiram replied, “moved it out of town 6 miles east, and killed most of our business. If it wasn’t for Farkleberry’s station, we’d have gone under. And now Molly’s cruise outfit may bring in more business. Oh, and before I forget, thanks for the new organically and shade grown, fair trade, (various blends) coffee source you set me up with Jay, I’m selling lots of breakfasts with that fine coffee.”

“Yah-sure, you betcha!” I said as I drained my mug.

[Episode 5—New Characters Arrive! by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)]:

The next morning finds Jay & Boomer enjoying their mugs of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French Roast coffee on the boardwalk of Silverthorn’s Café. Medlar Farkleberry has just opened his “Star Service” station (full service only, thank you very much).

Jay said he they were not going to be part of this story, but I guess the draw of Danger Bay is too much for them! Let’s listen in—

“Nice & quiet this morning,” Jay observed, “I see Lar is already open for the day.”

“Dark,” Boomer added, leaning against his car, “not like in the city with all its light pollution, gotta love it.”

“I need a refill of this fine organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French Roast coffee,” Jay said as he turned to go inside the café.

“Wait fer me fellers,” Lar shouted as he ran up to join them, “I’m ‘bout ready fer some java m’self!”

When they entered the café, they found Trigg Guudlender, Maggie Dokic, and Cyber-Daisy, all except for Daisy enjoying their mugs of (never mind—you know this part). Hiram Silverthorn and his son, Hiram Junior at the counter, and Hiram Junior’s twin, Sam behind the counter were already there.

Also at the counter was a familiar looking fellow in a maritime uniform.

“You look familiar,” Boomer said, a quizzical look on his face, “don’t I know you?”

“Maybe,” the large fellow replied, “name’s Mac, I’m the chief chef aboard the Sparrow.”

“Carl McIntyre,” Jay shouted with glee, “you old reprobate! I thought you were too busy since the “Codgers” broke up for this sort of thing.”

“The ‘Real World Carl’ IS too busy,” I said, “but I convinced the Cyber-Carl, as ‘Mac’ to help me out on the Sparrow.”

And then the café door opened, and in walked…

“Hey I know you,” Jay greeted with a big smile, “You’re…

[Episode 6—Hey, I know you by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)]:

“Hola amigos!” the familiar looking stranger greeted, interrupting Jay, “Deseo hablar con el dueño de la nave* ‘Sparrow’.”

“…Ines!” Jay continued, “Welcome to our little fantasy world. Ella es un barco.* Maggie runs the land based part of ‘Sparrow Cruises,’ you know Maggie of course, and Molly is the boat’s captain.”

“Hi Ines,” Maggie greeted, “this is a long way from Miami, no? Are you here to join us?”

“I wish a cruise on your magnificent ship—er—boat.” Ines replied.

“All lake vessels are called boats,” explained Molly, “even the thousand-footers. Funny thing, the smaller salt-water vessels that cross the lake to the Twin Ports, are called ‘ships’,”

“Just a cruise for now,” Ines replied, “I would like to see this Lake Superior of yours.”

“I’m sorry,” Boomer said, placing his mug of organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French Roast coffee on the counter, “I didn’t catch your last name.”

“Let me think about that,” she replied, “I’ll get back to you. Maggie, let me see your magnificent—boat!”

* Spanish courtesy of “Babel Fish,” any errors also courtesy of “Babel Fish,” I don’t speak Spanish—Molly.

TO BE CONTINUED…