Danger Bay Cyber-Story—Chapter 4
Edited by Boomer Jack Boardman
We continue our repackaged re-runs:
Episode 10—The Shadbush Factor, by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)
Episode 11—A Decision! by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)
Episode 12—A Three Hour Tour, by Jay Merton (writing as Molly Halloran)
We ended the last episode with:
“A license to do business,” Maggie answered.
There was total silence in the café. For at least thirty seconds.
“You aren’t looking for tax breaks?” Gamboge asked, incredulously.
“Nope,” Maggie replied, with her trademark wide smile—widening.
“Road improvements?” asked an equally incredulous Sam Silverthorn.
“Don’t see the need,” Maggie replied.
“Just the license?”
“Yep,” Maggie, now smiling very wide indeed, answered, “And some kind of flat parking fee arrangement those willing to provide space. We’ll include the fee in the voyage or tour ticket price.”
“OK then,” Hiram Silverthorn said, “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll discuss the matter and get back to you in the morning.”
The Sparrow folks left the townspeople to their deliberations, and went down to the bay where the Sparrow was moored. Ines, not part of the Sparrow operation nor a townsperson, remained on the boardwalk outside.
She was enjoying the cool Lake Superior air and the fragrance of the lake and nearby pines when she saw Shadbush standing in front of his bar across the road. Ines crunched across the gravel of the parking lots to Shadbush’s.
“Excuse me sir,” she announced as she approached Shadbush, “I don’t mean to bother you…”
Shadbush, completely taken aback by this lovely apparition approaching out of the night, interrupted, “It’s not a bother, what can I do for you young lady?”
“I—um—,” she began, “was wondering why you left the meeting?”
“Because I know,” he replied with a touch of anger in his voice, “that the town will agree with those Sparrow folks, and soon we’ll be just like the Cities—gangs, welfare, crime—like everywhere else those people show up! I’m sellin’ out. I’m 75 years old, its time I retire anyway.”
Sensing an opportunity, Ines worked mightily to keep her Venezuelan blood from boiling—and succeeded—for the most part, and then said, “Would you consider selling to me?”
“Sure, but,” Shadbush replied, “do you have any idea what you are getting into?”
“I’m from Miami,” Ines replied, playing on the man’s misunderstanding of big cities, and then asked, “Do you have a price in mind?”
Shadbush, not exactly believing his good fortune, thought a moment, and came up with what he thought was an exorbitant price.
“Good grief,” Ines thought, “that’s chump change in Miami!”
“Fair enough,” she said, “Deal!”
“Really?” Shadbush exclaimed, thinking that maybe he set the price too low—still he wanted out. “I’ll ask Maggie to draw up the papers in the morning.”
As Shadbush was speaking, Ines observed Sarah leaving Silverthorn’s and driving towards the bay in her vintage red pick-up. The meeting appeared to be over as the townsfolk left the café. She excused herself and thanked Shadbush for his time.
[Episode 11]: She crossed the gravel lot to her little blue roadster, and followed Sarah down to the bay
“Sarah!” she exclaimed, as she pulled herself from the confines of her little roadster, “I’m buying the saloon!”
“Oh wow!” Sarah replied, “We’ll be neighbors! I thought you came to the Bay for a cruise.”
“I did, originally,” Ines responded, the excitement still in her voice, “but opportunity knocked, and well, I couldn’t help but answer.”
“Great—C’mon,” Sarah said as she started towards the pier, “I have some news for Maggie!”
The two of them hurried down to join the Sparrow bunch on the pier.
“Maggie!” Sarah with her best outdoor voice called out, “The town reached a decision!”
Maggie and I (Molly) quickly walked over to meet Sarah, hoping for the best, but…
“We’ll issue the appropriate permits tomorrow morning!” she announced, “the townsfolk’s concerns were answered, but, there is one little thing…”
“And that would be?” I asked with some apprehension.
“The flat parking fee,” Sarah replied, “$5.00 per vehicle per day of a cruise.”
“Molly?” Maggie, said passing that off to me.
“Agreed,” I replied, “and the docking fee?”
“Lar is working the numbers on that,” Sarah answered, “he’s thinking $500 per month.”
“OK,” Maggie replied, “that is very reasonable, I think. I’ll meet with him tomorrow. Hey, let’s take a celebration cruise!”
“I’m doing the cabbage patch!” Ines exclaimed.
“Where to Captain?” asked a crewman from the Sparrow’s deck.
“How about down to Two Harbors and back?” I suggested, “about three hours.”
“Are you sure we want to make a three hour tour, Ma’am?” the crewman asked in reply, a worried look upon his face.
[Episode 12]: “Sure, why not?” I answered, with some curiosity, “What’s your name crewman?”
“Gilligan, Ma’am.” “Boomer” Gilligan answered.
“Don’t you have something to do?” I asked, more of a suggestion, than a question.
“Yes Ma’am,” he answered with resignation to the inevitable, and with crewman Howell, left the Sparrow’s deck.
As they began preparing the main cabin for the cruise, Gilligan turned to Howell and asked:
“How is it exactly that I was cast as ‘Gilligan,’ Jay?”
“Molly’s idea,” Jay answered.
“Oh,” Boomer began, “Wait—Molly isn’t anything more than a figment of your crusty old imagination! She has no independent ideas.”
“True,” Jay replied with a smile.
Meanwhile as the crew and guests were visiting on the pier, the rest of the townspeople arrived, as word had spread that the Sparrow was about to sail, and all who wished could join the cruise.
“C’mon aboard folks,” Trigg called out, “we’re leaving in ten minutes.”
The three Silverthorns, George Gamboge, the brothers Farkleberry, Sarah & Ines joined the crew boarding the boat. Soon after, the Sparrow was under way and passed the breakwater motored onto Lake Superior. The water was unusually calm for the lake, almost still, as they set a course for Two Harbors.
“We are not fully stocked for a cruise yet,” Maggie announced, “but chef Mac has prepared some refreshments.”
“I’ll have a Brandy-Alexander, Mac,” Boomer Gilligan called out.
“You have work to do, Crewman,” 1st Officer Trigg Guudlender chided, “better get to it.”
“Yes sir,” Gilligan grumbled, and then turning to Jay he said quietly, “I think I hate you.”
Jay only chuckled.
“By the way, O hated one,” Boomer said as they left the main cabin, “how come you named yourself ‘Howell’ and not ‘Jonas Grumby’?”
“Who’s ‘Jonas Grumby’?” Jay inquired.
“Captain of the Minnow,” he replied, smiling.
Continued:
The Sparrow looks smaller???
It was then. We needed to make it larger–the beauty of cyberspace.